Kā Molokaʻi Mahahiki, the annual Makahiki festival is a time of joy, prayer, and friendly competition in the Molokaʻi community. What is Makahiki? Makahiki is essentially a harvest festival held in ancient Hawaiʻi, a three- to four-month period between October and February. When the star cluster Na hiku o Makaliʻi (aka Pleiades, Subaru, Seven Sisters, or M45 in the constellation Taurus) appears on the eastern horizon at sunset, it marks hoʻoilo (winter or … [Read more...] about Molokaʻi: annual Kā Molokaʻi Mahahiki festival
Hawaiiana
May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi
Lei Day is a uniquely Hawaiian celebration, honoring the tradition of making and wearing lei. The first Lei Day occurred in downtown Honolulu in 1927. Honolulu Star-Bulletin writer and poet, Don Blanding suggested the idea. In 1929, Lei Day became a state-wide celebration. Always celebrate on May 1st, Lei Day is not a state holiday, so businesses are open as usual. The celebration is marked by making and wearing lei, parades, contests, music, and traditional … [Read more...] about May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi
Hawaiian hula dance: where to see & learn hula
Here is a very brief introduction to the indigenous Hawaiian dance known as hula. It is intended to give you an appreciation of the history of hula and an overview of its many forms. We include a list of some of the major hula festivals throughout the year across Hawaiʻi, as well as free hula shows and demonstrations held in shopping malls and other locations. What is hula? Hula is a very complex dance form unique to the Hawaiian Islands. It is not to be … [Read more...] about Hawaiian hula dance: where to see & learn hula
37 delicious local and Hawaiian foods are paradise in your mouth
Local food in Hawaiʻi is influenced by several different things, including “canoe plants” brought by sea voyaging Polynesian explorers to the Hawaiian paeʻāina (island group), followed hundreds of years later by many other dishes introduced by immigrants who arrived to work on the sugar and pineapple plantations. These culinary influencers were Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Portuguese peoples, along with other cultures. Traditional Hawaiian food The three … [Read more...] about 37 delicious local and Hawaiian foods are paradise in your mouth
Treasured heiau you can visit on every Hawaiian island
Listed below are heiau throughout the Hawaiian Islands that are open to the public. If you don’t know what heiau are, or wonder why you would want to visit these ancient sites, we provide a brief description of their cultural value, followed by tips for visiting these historical treasures to make the most of your time. If you are looking for the “real” Hawai'i, this is a good place to be. What are heiau? Heiau are remnants of sites used in ancient Hawai'i for … [Read more...] about Treasured heiau you can visit on every Hawaiian island
Introduction to Hawaiian music styles and instruments
Traditional Hawaiian music is characterized by percussion instruments, chanting, simplicity, and storytelling. As missionaries and immigrants to Hawaiʻi introduced their vocal styles and instruments, Hawaiians adapted each one to create modern forms of music that remain uniquely Hawaiian. Below we offer an introduction to traditional Hawaiian instruments and song styles, followed by modern forms adapted by Hawaiians through the use of string instruments, … [Read more...] about Introduction to Hawaiian music styles and instruments
King Kamehameha the Great
Kamehameha united all of the Hawaiian Islands in 1810, establishing the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. King Kamehameha I ruled as Hawaii's first king until his death in 1819. The Kamehameha Dynasty continued through four more monarchs, ending with King Kamehameha V (Lot Kapuāiwa). Lot was succeeded by Lunalio, grand-nephew of Kamehameha I and the first elected King of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Two more monarchs followed, King David Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani before the … [Read more...] about King Kamehameha the Great
Coming soon: Overview of Hawaiian arts, crafts, and culture
We're working on this article and will publish it soon. Since ancient times, Hawaiian cultural practices have included traditions such as poi pounding, fish ponds, and ʻahaʻaina (commonly called lūʻau), along with many fine arts and crafts including featherwork, wood carving, kapa or bark cloth (commonly called tapa), tatoos, and more. We'll delve into these and more to give you an overview of traditional Hawaiian culture. But wait, there's more! More … [Read more...] about Coming soon: Overview of Hawaiian arts, crafts, and culture
