When you visit Hawaii, you might come across two sticks crossed in the shape of an X with two ball shapes on top. That’s a symbol of kapu and when you see it, you should take notice. That kapu symbol will most likely be warning you one that entry or further approach is forbidden because the point is sacred and ... Read More »

Forget what you know about the humble ukulele. Sure, the four-stringed instrument is the backbone of any Hawaiian song, but Jake Shimabukuro is out to show the world that the ukulele can play everything from Don Ho’s Tiny Bubbles to Michael Jackson’s Thriller–and sometimes both at the same time! (Email subscribers, click this link to see some amazing videos of ... Read More »

On our recent trip to Oahu, we saw our first ‘alae ‘ula at Waimea Valley (the waterfall place.) . This endangered bird is endemic to Hawaii (e.g. evolved in Hawaii and found nowhere else in the world). The Hawaiian moorhen is a waterbird, so they tend to live near freshwater marshes and taro fields on the of Kauai and Oahu. ... Read More »

Today’s Aloha Friday Photo was submitted by Marvin from Indianapolis, Indiana. Marvin sent this photo after reading our Hawaii Five-0 myths post on Monday, followed by watching Monday’s episode featuring the Mighty Mo (Battleship Missouri) in Pearl Harbor. He took this photo of Mighty Mo from the USS Arizona Memorial during one of his island visits from the heartland. Marvin ... Read More »

A few weeks ago, I asked you for your favorite songs from Hawaii to create the perfect playlist. Well, you really came up with some good ones! Your recommendations ranged from classic Elvis Presley and Don Ho tunes to artists with a Jawaiian-sound (mix of Reggae and Hawaiian styles). The most frequently mentioned artists were Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole, Hawaiian Style ... Read More »

People in Hawaii love to chat — so much so that they have a special term for it called talk story. If you have the chance to talk story when you are in Hawaii, seize it! Take the time to enjoy the conversation and learn about local life. You’ll likely come away feeling that your vacation just got a bit ... Read More »

When you visit Hawaii, you may see or hear of a beverage called POG. It’s pronounced like fog, but with a P. This strange-sounding beverage is a mixture of passion fruit, orange, and guava juices. In other words, it’s glass full of delicious. In Hawaii, you’ll find POG  in places like resort breakfast buffets and  in grocery stores. If you ... Read More »

No matter where you travel, shopping at a local farmers market is one of the quickest ways to get to know more about a culture. Not only will you learn more about the area you’re visiting, you’ll also have the opportunity to support the local economy by purchasing some tasty fruits, vegetables, and baked goods. You’ll also find floral bouquets ... Read More »

Today’s photos come to us from Karen who blogs at  Holoholo Hawaii. Karen is a docent at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. The photos that Karen is sharing is of one of the museum items from the newly restored Hawaiian Hall. This Hawaiian artifact is Liloa’s Sash. Liloa was the high chief who ruled in the 1500’s. His sash was ... Read More »

Today’s fact about Hawaii focuses on the Hawaiian alphabet. This 12-letter alphabet has five vowels and only seven consonants. For the most part, the consonants are pronounced the same way that they are sounded in English. The one exception is that the W is technically pronounced like the letter V is sounded in English. Though, visitors and locals will most ... Read More »