Category: Hawaii Culture & Happenings

A soda with flavors like mango, lilikoi and pineapple can only come from a tropical island. Waialua Soda was born in Hawaii and continues to thrive, with recent mentions in Hawaii Five-O and Oprah’s “ O” magazine. The soda manufacturing company is located on Oahu’s North Shore, alongside a sugar mill from Hawaii’s past. A […]

Dramatic drum beats and gong hits poured into Waikiki’s buzzing streets below, starting from the door of a Pacific Beach Hotel ballroom. A colorful Chinese lion bobbled its over-sized head to the concussive musical medley and danced around guests celebrating my nephew’s first birthday last Saturday. The party included more than 100 of our family […]

Have you heard the story about Mark Twain and “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific”? If you think you know the real story, read on. “I have visited, a great many years ago, the Sandwich Islands-that peaceful land, that beautiful land, that far-off home of profound repose, and soft indolence, and dreamy solitude, where life […]

Of all the attractions available in Waikiki, one of the most popular is the free fireworks display each Friday evening from the Lagoon at the Hilton Hawaiian village. The fireworks show is a popular tradition that has been going on since 1988. It is a great way to celebrate Aloha Friday and enjoy the beautiful […]

The question is not whether to remove your shoes, but WHERE when your here on a Hawaii Vacation. Most people think of leaving shoes behind for slippers (flip flops) on the beach but they might not realize that it is unusual to wear even these indoors. Locals automatically shed slippers or other footwear at the […]

Is Hawaiian a race? The answer to this question is complex and requires an understanding of Hawaii’s unique geographical and cultural history.  If you’re looking for the shortest answer, then yes – the U.S. Census lists Hawaiian as one of the five+ options for a person’s race (White, Black or African American, American Indian or […]

Where better to recover after wresting fish from the harrowing waters of Alaska than Hawaii? Fishing boat captains from the Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch seem to agree. They are on Oahu this week filming for the show that follows each season, After the Catch. The opening features the stunning beauty of Koko Crater and focuses […]

Cinco de Mayo is an unofficial holiday in Hawaii, as it is in many states, but here it shares the day with another tradition. Called “Children’s Day” in Japan, most here call it “Boy’s Day,“ the 5/5 companion of “Girl’s Day” on 3/3. A co-worker brought these tiny origami treats with small chocolates inside for […]

Tahitian dance is the most well known of all the dance forms of the Polynesian Triangle in the South Pacific. It shares many of the historical roots that hula does in Hawaii; in Tahiti dance was used as an expression of their culture. They had dances to express different occasions, legends and customs. But unlike […]

You can’t help but notice the handsome stone tower that used to be the control tower for all boats in and out of Honolulu Harbor as you drive along Nimitz where it turns into Ala Moana. I believe the first time I went to Aloha Tower was when I was still in my tourist’ days […]

The unusual trees of Hawaii are stunning in their size and variety (not to mention the ability to grow flowers). The wood of these trees also becomes a beautiful work of art at the hands of a master artisan. Many will soon be on display in Hawaii’s Woodshow. The annual Furniture and Woodworking Show is […]

Step back in time nearly 800 years, when Waikiki Beach was a rocky shoreline and the surrounding areas were a marshy wetland ideal for growing crops, especially the Hawaiian staple: taro. At the edge of the present day University of Hawaii at Manoa campus, a productive loi (taro field) known as Ka Papa Loi o […]