Today, we continue our Kūpuna Series, bringing you stories of the elders who convey the heart and soul of Hawai’i. As I begin writing this, I am reflecting on the many unique opportunities I have had during my 30-plus years of studying Hawaiiana*, to be in the presence of the remarkable Kūpuna. One of my… Read more »
A 3-Day Long Weekend Like No Other – Maui’s Greatest Hits!
Like us, you’ve been dreaming of a quick getaway somewhere that’s fun and relaxing. You have seen the ridiculously low airfares to Maui. Are you wondering if it is worth it to go to Maui for a long-weekend? Will 3 or 4 days be enough time? YES!! It is worth it. It will be enough… Read more »
The Sweet Sounds of Paradise – Musicians of Hawai’i Series – Part 1
Hawaiian Music… When you hear those two words, you immediately hear the double strum of the ‘ukulele and the languid steel guitar, bending musical notes to perfection. It sounds like the swaying trunk of a coconut palm. And then, enter the impossibly sweet falsetto voices singing in 4-part harmony. You are transported! Those three together,… Read more »
How Hawaii’s Anthurium Became Its Most Popular Bouquet Flower!
Anthurium flowers never fail to mystify people. From this day since they were first introduced people ask if they are real. These stunning flowers were brought to Hawai’i from London in 1889 by Samuel Damon. Their cultivation and propagation went well until the 1970s when a fungal disease first appeared. This pest spread so… Read more »
Tattooing – A Gift to the World from Hawai’i and Polynesia
When I tell someone that the art and practice of Tattooing first originated in Polynesia and Hawai’i, people do not believe me. However, it is true. The art form of Tattooing was utterly unknown in the western world before Captain Cook’s first voyages through Polynesia and Hawai’i. Even the word, Tattoo, is one of a… Read more »
Great Women of Hawaii’s Past and Their Stories Brought to Life – Part 1
Women hold up half the sky. This proverb by Mao Zedong and Hawaii’s Creation Chant fuels us to write our next series. The creation chant for the Hawaiian Islands says that the very first human created was a woman known as Lailai. She is also associated with the goddess Pele, sometimes referred to as the… Read more »
The Rich, Colorful, and Vibrant Face of Lāhainā Today – Pt 2
If you have been to Maui, you have been to Lāhainā. Lāhainā has been rich, colorful, and vibrant since it was called Lele in ancient times. The town was chosen as the royal capital in 1820 by King Kamehameha the Great. It remained the capital until 1845. People came from all the islands to do… Read more »
King Kamehameha the Great – The Unification of the Hawaiian Islands
If you have ever visited Hawai’i, you have heard of the legendary King, Kamehameha the Great. He was the one person who was capable of achieving the impossible – uniting the Hawaiian Islands under one rule and one kingdom by 1810. Kamehameha’s vision was much like that of the United States, to form one nation… Read more »
Hawaii’s Rainbow Culture: The Unique Story of Pidgin and How Proudly it Has Thrived
Hawaiian Creole is a language we fondly call by just one name in Hawai’i – Pidgin! You may hear someone in conversation say, “I could barely understand him; he was speaking pure Pidgin!” Scholars call it Hawai’i Creole English. Like any creole language, it has a rich linguistic history. This history is based on the… Read more »
Catch the Big One, Fishing on Maui!
For those who love fishing, Maui will seem like an angler’s paradise! So many beautiful fish and fabulous fishing spots to experience! And then, the joy of cooking up some of the freshest and most tender fish you have ever eaten. This is the stuff lifelong memories are made of! The adrenaline rush of landing… Read more »