The Soothing Sounds of the Slack Key Guitar
While the ukulele may be the most widely recognized musical instrument associated with Hawaii, many kama`aina (locals) also consider the slack key guitar as one of the state’s instruments. While there are different theories on how the slack key guitar style was invented, the most popular story is that the first guitars were brought to…
The arctic avian: Hawaii’s snowbirds
Arctic residents vacationing in Hawaii during the winter may recognize a familiar face – errr fowl. The kolea, known to the rest of the world as the Pacific golden plover, migrates to Hawaii and other warmer places in the Pacific during the winter to escape the harsh arctic cold. These expert long distance fliers have…
Saimin: A local food celebrity
In Hawaii, kama`aina (local residents) are silly for saimin and for many, it’s considered the quintessential “Hawaii comfort food”. On a cool night, a hot bowl of noodles beats out the dinnertime competition. Not to be confused with Japan’s ramen, which it closely resembles, saimin is a local dish found only in the islands. The…
Mochi In Hawaii
One of the blessings of Hawaii is the cornucopia of foods from around the Pacific available. Traditional foods from all over the world make up our everyday choices. A common ingredient uniting many of these is rice. More than a staple, it is a key component of Japanese mochi, made during the mochitsuki ceremony. This time-honored tradition dates…
A violent volcano makes for one of Hawaii’s hottest sights
You’ve probably created a model of one in elementary school. Volcanoes are the stuff of science and spectacular sojourns. For those who travel to Hawaii — a visit to one of the few active volcanoes in the world today is a once in a lifetime experience, and stunning sight to behold. The baby of Hawaii’s…
Hawaii’s most spam-tastic snack
While it’s by no means on the cutting edge of Hawaii cuisine, Spam is one of the foods most often associated with the Hawaiian Islands. Right up there with poi, lau lau, loco moco and other local treats, you may have heard about Hawaii’s “other” favorite meat – Spam. And while islanders will eat it…
Splashing Out at Lani’s
When you live in Hawaii, life is a beach. And on the North Shore of Oahu, one of the must-see beaches is causing quite a splash. Shoring up between Papailoa and Chun’s Reef off of Kamehameha Highway, Lani’s (or Laniakea Beach Park as it is formally known) is a popular break for experienced surfers and…
Shaking it Up with Hawaii’s Shaka Sign
It shouldn’t be a shaka that Hawaii’s most well-known hand gesture is also known or referred to as the “hang loose” sign. Though there is no literal translation or meaning for the shaka, it is most commonly used to convey the aloha spirit as a motion of greeting or thanks. In Hawaii you’ll frequently see…
Hokulea, a Tradition of Hawaiian Voyaging
*Photo Credit: Chris Stankis Charting a course through Hawaii’s waters, the Hokulea — an authentic replica of an ancient Polynesian double-hulled voyaging canoe — is bringing about a renaissance of Polynesian voyaging techniques. Without any modern technology and using only Polynesian navigation techniques passed down generation through generation, the Hokulea has set her sights on revitalizing…
The Legend Behind Hawaii’s Goddess of Fire
Lighting up ancient Hawaiian legends, Pele (pronounced peh-leh) the goddess of fire, lightning, wind, dance and volcanoes is a well-known character. Otherwise known as ka wahine ai honua, the woman who devours the land, Pele’s home is believed to be Halemaumau crater at the summit of Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. However,…