Category: Hawaii Culture & Happenings

Small changes convert “all done” into the Hawaiian word for a skirt worn by female horseback riders. Depending upon where diacritical marks are placed, “pau” can mean completed, smudge, moist or skirt. The okina looks like a single open quote mark. It sounds like a pause, like when you say “uh-oh.” It is not an […]

Representations of the Buddhist goddess of mercy, Kuan Yin, appear throughout Oahu. This figure has now grown beyond her plantation roots to inspire woman seeking the pine feminine — a counterpoint to male-dominated religion. Kuan Yin (also Kwan Yin) came to Hawaii with plantation workers. She was known as a bodhisattva, one who seeks enlightenment […]

Banyan trees are common in Hawaii but they grow in a very uncommon way: their roots are in reverse, reaching down to the ground from the branches above. These enormous trees give shelter from both sun and the frequent light misty rain, providing a gathering place for commerce and conversation. A single banyan can shelter […]

The Byodo-In Temple is located at the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park in Kaneohe. It was first established on June 7, 1968 to commemorate the first Japanese Immigrants to Hawaii, Byodo-In translates to “Temple of Equality – not to discriminate” and is home to Amida, a golden Buddha unique to the entire world. The […]

The day after Christmas is celebrated as Boxing Day in the United Kingdom.  Here in Hawaii, December 26 is also celebrated but it’s because boxes of fireworks go on sale. Lines at stores form before sunrise with locals ready to buy their quota of explosive fun.   Fireworks permits must be purchased for firecrackers; many […]

Christmas in Hawaii is always a great idea! Just ask Shaka Santa (or the many residents who celebrate the Holiday season in the islands)! “Mele Kalikimaka,” I say with a smile to my neighbors, friends, and family. It means “Merry Christmas” and is a common phrase used in Hawaii during the holiday season. I look forward […]

I expected beaches and water when I came to Hawaii, but I was surprised by the beauty of its mountains. They are so sharp and stark — the only reference I had was that they looked like the misty mountains in Japanese prints. I enjoy my daily commute through the mountains from Kailua to Manoa, […]

Are you looking for a historical and scenic experience while golfing in Hawaii? Moanalua Golf Course is in a gorgeous location in Honolulu, and it’s one of the country’s oldest golf courses.  Finding the Best Golf Courses on Oahu I started golfing a few years back, starting at the playful par-3 Executive Course at Hawaii […]

You can’t visit Waikiki without seeing the Duke Kahanamoku Statue. This festive and welcoming sculpture stands tall at the shores of Waikiki, honoring the famous Hawaiian who rose to fame as a swimmer, a surfer, and the Ambassador of Aloha.  But there’s more to this statue than meets the eye. Here are 7 things you […]

More and more people are wearing tattoos these days, all over the world. The social stigma is far less than it’s been over the years, and “body art” has come to be admired in most circles. In Hawaii, tattoos have a significance of their own. Early explorers noted that both men and women wore tattoos […]

As soon as you arrive in the islands on your Hawaii vacation, you’ll see it: Locals gesturing to each other with their thumbs and pinkies extended, their middle three fingers curled into their palms with the back of the hand facing the person being greeted. Sometimes the hand is rotated back and forth to emphasize […]

When on vacation in Hawaii don’t be afraid to drink the water. There are lots of vacation destinations that come with built-in cautions about water quality. Hawaii definitely is not one of them. Oahu in particular is blessed with water that ranks with the best quality in the world. Part of the reason is the […]