Passionately Yours: Liliko‘i
By Sonia R. Martinez There are many varieties of Passion Fruit (Passiflora edulis), or as we know it in the islands, liliko‘i. The most commonly used in Hawai‘i is the yellow fruit (flavicarpa). A less common variety also seen in…
Island Treasures: High Fire Hawaii Gallery & Studio—Hilo
By Le‘a Gleason Shannon Hickey was born and raised in Chicago and has lived in Hawaii 25 years. She holds a degree in Art from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo and was deeply involved in ceramics and printmaking during…
Mark Yamanaka: “Just a regular dude that loves music”
By Catherine Tarleton Only in Hawai‘i. Only in Hilo, actually, can you buy a car, turn on the radio, and drive away listening to a hit song by the guy who sold it to you. Nine-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winner…
Boone Morrison: Hawai‘i Island’s Leading Restoration Architect
By Alan D. McNarie When I was about 11, my folks were touring the gold rush country,” reminisces Boone Morrison, sitting in the architect’s studio behind his house in Volcano. “We showed up in Sacramento and they were restoring Sutter’s…
Managing with Aloha: Kuleana
By Rosa Say Kuleana: The value of personal responsibility; “I accept my responsibilities, and I will be held accountable.” Eleventh in an ongoing series. One of my goals for our Hawai‘i is fully woven into the mission and healthy work…
Aloha ‘Āina: Waimea I Uka
By Ku‘ulei Keakealani On April 20, 2008 a group assembled on a misty Waimea morning. The destination was somewhat clear and somewhat vague, i uka, to the uplands, was our chosen destination. Were we on a journey for answers? Perhaps.…
Healing Plants: Māmaki, The “Stingless” Stinging Nettle
By Barbara Fahs You might have seen dried māmaki leaves for sale at your local drug store or farmers market. Tea made from this endemic Hawaiian plant is tasty and popular. Known as Pipturis albidus, māmaki is a perennial shrub…
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,…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Kiernan Music: A Legacy of Love from Father to Son
By Fannie Narte When you walk into Kiernan Music in Kainaliu, the guitars, ‘ukuleles, and musical paraphernalia that fill every wall and floor space overcome your visual senses. Without taking another step, you notice the unique instruments hanging on the…
Every Store Has a Story: B. Ikeuchi & Sons, Inc. Hardware Store
By Barbara Fahs At the gateway to historic Waipi‘o Valley, in the town of Honoka‘a, the B. Ikeuchi & Sons, Inc. Hardware Store has been serving up essential supplies to local residents since 1918. It holds the record for being…
Managing with Aloha: Lōkahi
Lōkahi: the value of harmony and unity. The value of teamwork—collaboration and cooperation. Harmony and unity—people who work together can achieve more. Ninth in an ongoing series. By Rosa Say When I was young, my family bought a 21-foot fishing…
Signature of One’s Life: The Story of Ben Mahi Samson
By Gayle ‘Kaleilehua’ Greco A signature is an imprint, a sign of one’s self that signifies who we are. A signature comes in many forms, as common as a signed name to as subtle as a familiar color. What happens,…
