History & Culture

“In the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, Nov. 28 was an official holiday called Lā Kūʻokoʻa, or Independence Day. This was the day in 1843 when England and France formally recognized Hawaiʻi’s independence,” according to a letter published on the subject.

Upon his return from his around-the-world tour in 1881, Kalākaua’s experiences abroad had reinforced his understanding of the power of national symbols and redoubled his commitment to supplant American currency in the Islands with his nation’s own.

Maui Nui or Greater Maui, is a modern geologists’ name given to a prehistoric Hawaiian Island built from seven shield volcanoes. Nui means “great/large” in the Hawaiian language. This concept was first proposed 60 years ago by geologist Harold Stearns, who “recognized the geologic evidence for repeated episodes of island submergence and reemergence,” according to the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Lauʻī pekepeke – Short-leaved ti plant -ʻŌlelo Noʻeau: An insult applied to the kauwā (outcasts). Like small-leaved ti, they werenʻt of much use. Longer leaves were better liked because they were useful as food wrappers.

A single tree can produce 200 or more fruit per season, making it one of the most prolific food trees in the world, thus a logical candidate to help relieve hunger in many areas around the world.

Both Hawaiian history and geological research claim the body of water that we know as Pearl Harbor was actually a river in ancient times of Hawaiʻi. The area around Pearl Harbor was named Puʻuloa, meaning long hill as it specifically refers to the rounded land area projecting into the sea at the long narrow entrance of the harbor.

First Hawaiian settlers brought with them very important crops to make sure that upon landing they would have plants that could provide basic necessities. These items or plants that were brought are often referred to as “canoe crops.”

Kiawe – Lilikoʻi – Haʻikū Kiawe – (often times pronounced as Keawe) – Is a species of mesquite tree. It is a thorny tree, native to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. While threatened in its native habitat, it is considered an invasive species in many other places.  The kiawe is a spreading bush or moderately sized […]

One who wishes to succeed should be alert to every opportunity, like one who catches birds by imitating their cries. ʻAhuʻula (Hawaiian feather capes) are such amazing works of art that show the modern generation what the ancestors of this culture used to adorn themselves with. These capes were made for those of higher ranking […]