World Wide Voyage–Threads That Tie: The Hōkūle‘a Crew Connecting Hawaiian Culture to the World
By Le‘a Gleason Hawai‘i is a place where we navigate community and culture, finding a delicate balance between reverence for the past and enthusiasm for the future. It’s with this same careful attention to culture that we watch from afar…
Toward a Firewise Community: Follow the Lead of Kohala by the Sea
By Denise Laitinen Kohala by the Sea is the little community that could. This group of Hawai‘i Island residents has achieved a status reached by few communities in the entire country: they’re part of the nationally recognized Firewise Communities program.…
Dressing for a Holokū Ball
By Leilehua Yuen The first three rules my Nana, my paternal grandmother, drummed into my head about looking good in a holokū were: Posture Posture Posture They are still valuable rules today. Perfect posture and a sense of panache enable…
The Holokū
By Leilehua Yuen I remember as a girl longing for the day I would be deemed “a young lady,” mature enough to be allowed the privilege of wearing high heels, makeup, and that most elegant dress, the holokū. In our…
Ka Wehena: Ahi a Pele
Na Kumu Keala Ching ‘Ae, Mai Kahiki mai ke ahi a Pele Mai Kahiki mai ke ahi a Pele I pae Nihoa i ka poli o Hawai‘i Mai Kahiki mai ke ahi a Pele Kaha ‘Iwa i Kawaihoa e Pele…
What Withstands the Test of Time? The Lyman Mission House
By Le‘a Gleason Imagine sailing for six months, leaving the cool Atlantic Ocean, and passing into the breezy Pacific Ocean to land in a foreign place. The rain soaks the thatched roof of your new home creating an ever-present dampness…
Wa‘a Hoena: Outrigger Canoe Paddling–Bonding through Lōkahi (Unity) and Mo‘olelo (Tradition)
By Alan D. McNarie Septuagenarian (in his seventies) Rafael Ramirez still vividly remembers the first time he set a paddle in the water. “I paddled out and saw the reef and saw the fish, and I paddled back and said,…
Royal Order of Kamehameha I: Moku O Keawe
By Russell Paio and Peter T. Young Editor’s Note: In respect for Moku O Kona, this story will not include the diacritics of the modern Hawaiian language, with the exception of the name of the Hawaii Island–East side, Hilo area…
Ka Wehena: Keauhou
By Na Kumu Keala Ching Nani wale ku‘u ‘ike i Keauhou Nani wale ku‘u ‘ike I ka mana hunehune Noho la‘i ‘o Kanikani ka ‘ula I kai o Kaukulaelae Aia i ke ‘ala o ke ola Kapu malu ē Ho‘i…
Wahine Holo Lio (Women Riding Horses)
By Denise Laitinen They are easily one of the most popular parts of any floral parade in Hawai‘i. Sitting regally atop their horses adorned in lei, shimmering colored fabrics draping them from head to toe, the graceful women wave to…
Ka Puana–Lighting the Path
Following are excerpts from Kailua-Kona resident Kumu Keala Ching’s book, Lighting the Path. Used with permission. The Vision In 2008, Barbara Garcia and I had the vision of helping the Hawai‘i Island community increase their understanding of the Hawaiian culture.…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Island Spirit Healing Center & Day Spa
If you’re ready to feel truly relaxed and let go of stress, Island Spirit Healing Center & Day Spa can help! Ken Bevis, LMT, NCBTMB, Hypnotherapist, is a licensed massage therapist trained in Medical Massage, Swedish, Lomilomi, Sports Therapy and…
Bok Choy
By Sonia R. Martinez Bok choy (Chinese cabbage or pak choi as it is sometimes called) is one of those veggies we are able to find year-round in most of our island farmers markets. Brassica chinensis, the scientific name of…
Island Treasures: Luana Naturals—South Kona
Karen Kriebl received her Ph.D. from Ohio State University. She was a professor at OSU and Capital University in Columbus, Ohio and taught at the Out of Door Academy in Sarasota, Florida where she was known as “Doctor K.” In…
A Brief History of Queen Lili‘uokalani
By Peter T. Young She was born Lydia Lili‘u Loloku Walania Wewehi Kamaka‘eha to High Chiefess Anale‘a Keohokālole and High Chief Caesar Kaluaiku Kapa‘akea on September 2, 1838. At that time, children often were named in commemoration of an event.…
Celebrating a Long Time Advertiser: Trans-Pacific Design
Sue is one of those lucky people who knew what she wanted to do in grade school. Her parents worked with interior designers and she loved watching them work. Sue received a four-year degree from Iowa State University in interior…
The Voice of an Angel: Kanani Enos
Kanani Enos grew up in a world of music, Hawaiian rhythm and melody reverberating through generations to create the living song she is today. “I grew up listening to my dad playing slack key guitar all the time,” she says.…
Featured Cover Artist: MField
Field (Mike Field) is the epitome of living the dream. The dream of balancing work, family and play to where they all blend together and afford a life with limited aggravation and continued delight. Raised in Hawai‘i, a celebrated waterman,…
If Walls Could Talk: APAC’s Long History at the Aloha Theatre
By Le‘a Gleason Every town has its theater. That place where people go to escape the confines of reality, get lost in a performance, or lose themselves on stage. To become something or someone else—as if to try on masks—has…
Viewpoint: Ahu‘ena Heiau
Kahu Mikahala Roy Publishers Note: The following mele and story, copyrighted by Mikalaha Roy, are in response to a story we published in the March/April 2014 issue. It is our desire to be pono by sharing more details on the…
Saving Hawai‘i’s Native Dryland Forests
By Denise Laitinen Every day, hundreds of Hawai‘i Island residents and visitors drive past them—most having no idea about the rare treasures they are zipping past as they travel along Māmalahoa Highway between Waimea and Kailua-Kona. These incredible treasures are…
Managing with Aloha: Kākou
By Rosa Say Kākou: The value of inclusiveness and the language of we. The value of communication, for all of us. We are in this together. Learn to speak the language of we. Tenth in an ongoing series. ”All of…
Wood Sculptor Jan C. Orbom
By Margaret Kearns Spanning more than four decades, Jan C. Orbom’s art has journeyed though many different mediums—from Hollywood set designer, to poet, wood sculptor, and classical guitar musician. Today, in his home perched high above the spectacular South Kona…
Each Place has a Voice of its Own
By Ku‘ulei Keakealani Place names in Hawai‘i are important for many reasons. Above all, it is to honor this homeland, its native language, people, and heritage. Despite the nicknames that are regularly used in place of actual names, it is…
Kūpuna Talk Story: Clayton Bertelmann, 1946–2004
By Keith Nealy As a filmmaker and a storyteller I have been blessed with the gift of sharing the mana‘o of more than 60 of Hawai‘i’s most revered kūpuna in spirited conversation exploring the cultural legacy they carry in their…
Healing Plants – ‘Uhaloa: Wonderful Weed is Useful for Many Ailments
By Barbara Fahs Residents in lower elevations on all Hawaiian Islands might have noticed a grey-green plant growing in seemingly impossible places on their properties. The plant is not especially attractive, so many people remove it from their carefully designed…
Ka Puana: Aloha Joe in Hawaii
Joe Holt (aka Aloha Joe) was born in Santa Barbara, California in 1978. After living in orphanages, foster homes, and even a forced child labor camp, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on his seventeenth birthday. He was…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Hawaii Water Service Company
Hawaii Water Service Company was formed in 2003 with the purchase of Ka‘anapali Water Corporation. Later, it purchased Pukalani Sewerage Treatment Works, Waikoloa Water Company, Waikoloa Sanitary Sewer Company, and Waikoloa Resort Utilities. Hawaii Water is a subsidiary of California…
Talk Story with an Advertiser: Bailey Vein Institute
Our leg veins have many one-way valves that allow blood to travel up toward the heart. Upon standing, the valves close in order to keep the blood from traveling backwards down the leg. When valves don’t close properly, blood travels…
Chocolate: Food of the Gods
By Sonia R. Martinez One of the perks of living in Hawai‘i is we can grow our own chocolate. Yes! Chocolate is made from cacao, and cacao trees grow very well on our island paradise. When strolling through the farmers…
