Culture – Page 2 – HomeyHawaii

Hawaii State Symbols: State Flower, Bird, Fish and More

October 21, 2020 Dennis Gregory Comments 22 comments

Welcome to Hawaii! It’s always good to know the symbols of the state you visit. Best to start with the big 5 Hawaii state symbols, the state flower, the state bird, the state nickname, the motto, and the little state fish with the big name. Once you know these you’re on your way to being a real local. You can already guess other Hawaii symbols like the state sport, surfing, and the state musical instrument, the ukulele (pronounced “oo”-ku-lay’-lee” not…

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Hands sticking out from the ocean in Hawaii, making the shaka sign.

The Shaka Sign: One Way Ticket to Spreading Aloha

October 15, 2020 Gabrielle Bardell Comments 2 comments

The shaka has made its home in the hands of surfers around the globe. I’m here to tell you all about where this curious and friendly hand sign claims its origins and how the shaka continues to be relevant today. The shaka sign is a hand gesture that – by the general consensus – holds its origins in sweet Hawaii nei. To make it, all you have to do is make a fist and then stick your thumb and pinky…

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Musical notes on the Hawaiian background

Hawaiian Music, Its Origins and Evolution

October 14, 2020 Adrian Manuel Comments 6 comments

When the sound of Hawaii comes to mind, one tends to think of the soothing rhythms of the ukulele set to the gentle rustling of waves – background music commonly used in elevators, spas, and tropical-themed occasions. While Hawaiian music is often soothing and rhythmic, it is so much more than good background. Music is the very fabric of Hawaiian culture, its humble beginnings rooted in the origins of its people and its later evolution sparked by the arrival and…

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Official colors and flowers of 8 Hawaiian islands

Official Colors and Flowers of Hawaiian Islands

October 13, 2020 Dennis Gregory Comments 14 comments

Hawaii is such a Neverland you won’t be surprised that each island has its own color, 8 islands, 8 colors. Most all given for the color of flowers growing on each isle. The Hawaiian islands is a lei of colorful flowers, strung across the sea. Is this a charming state or what? Here are the official colors and flowers of Hawaiian islands from the bottom to the top, Hawaii to Ni’ihau. The Big Island – Red – Lehua flower First,…

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An Ultimate Guide to Movies Filmed in Hawaii

October 10, 2020 Dan Roberts Comments 8 comments

When it comes to film, there might be no place in the world that’s quite as versatile as Hawaii. Whether it’s the deeply rich landscape of the Na Pali Coast on Kauai’s North Shore, or the timeless wonder that is Ka’a’awa Valley in Kualoa Ranch, Hawaii simply knows no bounds, and can adapt to almost anything. In fact, the islands’ landscape is as versatile as the kind of movies that are filmed in Hawaii – in other words, there is…

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The Menehune are smart and strong mythical dwarf people of Hawaiian folklore. The legends tell us that the Menehune built temples and fishponds, loved to sing and dance, and shot arrows from magical bows to make people fall in love.

Menehune, Hawaiian Leprechauns

April 5, 2020 Dennis Gregory Comments 0 Comment

Lose your keys, it’s the Menehune. Can’t find your purse? The Menehune stole it. If you can’t find something, they took it. Stealing little things is part of their rascally nature. When you eventually find what you lost, it’s them giving it back to you. So who are these Menehune? Picture elves dressed in Hawaiian Ti-leaves between 6 inches and 2 feet tall, very smart, strong and skilled in building things with rocks. That’s the ancient, mythical Hawaiian dwarf called…

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Legend of Naupaka - Two hands holding naupaka flowers: male hand holding beach naupaka and female hand holding mountain naupaka.

The Legend of Naupaka

February 9, 2020 Dennis Gregory Comments 11 comments

It’s the Legend of Naupaka [nau-‘pa-ka], a beautiful Hawaiian Princess. Naupaka fell in love with a fisherman named Kaui [‘kau-i]. Over the years, the legend has been told in different ways, but the ending has always remained the same. One version of the story goes like this. Long ago in Hawaii, the beautiful Princess Naupaka, who lived high in the mountains, came down to walk along the beach. Many say she lived on the island of Kauaʻi [kau-‘a-i]. She had…

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A girl on surfboard with Waikiki beach in background

Oahu Surfing Guide: Ka He’e Nalu i O’ahu

May 1, 2019 Gabrielle Bardell Comments 0 Comment

All amazing photos in this Oahu Surfing Guide are courtesy of Matt Heirakuji. Surfing isn’t just a sport. It’s the bond shared between people and the ocean that humans have known for hundreds (maybe even thousands) of years. It’s an expression of self, of culture, and of one’s innermost longings to find stillness in world of chaos. And it all began right here in sweet sweet Polynesia. Lucky for us, surfing has evolved to capture a broad audience, with breaks…

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Kolohe Kai Summer to Winter new music album; collage of the disk on the ocean wave background

Kolohe Kai’s Enchanting ‘Summer to Winter’ Odyssey

April 20, 2019 Adrian Manuel Comments 0 Comment

Being among the most recognizable artists in Hawaii is more often challenging than it is glamorous. Just ask Iration, or better yet, Henry Kapono. It means living up to higher expectations each time. Kolohe Kai set those expectations for themselves early on, so in many ways it’s themselves they have to live up to. Since making a splash on the local airwaves in 2009, Kolohe Kai has released 3 albums and a handful of singles in recent years. The “rascals…

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Sunset on Maui beach; sun going down the ocean

Maui Nightlife: Best Things To Do After Sunset

April 18, 2019 Trip101 Comments 0 Comment

Maui, Hawaii brings more than beach loungers, sunshine, and lazy afternoons by the pool. As the spectacular sunset approaches, you might like to turn your mind to the evening entertainment. Maui nightlife options include stargazing at Haleakala, relaxing on a sunset cruise and maybe the theater, a luau, or a show later. To help you decide on your evening’s entertainment, here are a few suggestions on the best things to do at night. South Maui Nightlife Kihei Town is the…

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