Ua Kuluma Ke Kanaka I Ke Aloha.It Is Natural For People To Behave In a Loving Way.– Hawaiian Proverb Aloha is one of the world’s most famous words, derived from an enchantingly beautiful language with only 13 characters. Most people on Earth have had at least a passing glimpse of Hawai’i thanks to the magic of movies, television, and music. But, in order to grasp the true meaning of the word aloha, let us try to slow down to the…
Come join the class, it’s called Hawaii 101 or What everyone needs to know about these enchanted isles. Whether you’re a wahini (wa-heenee) woman, or kane (kaw-nay) man, a malahini (mawla-heenee) newcomer, or a kama’aaina (kawmah-eye-nah) children of the land, it’s good to know the basics about your islands. First, there are 8 islands, actually a couple hundred stringing halfway up to Alaska, but there only are 8 main ones. And each island has a nick-name. Hawaii Island is so…
In comparison to the daytime activities, nightlife in Kauai may well be described as limited. Nightlife entertainment on the island are not, however, completely non-existent. Here are a few places you can visit for Kauaii nighttime activities. Header image by Garden State Hiker. Trees Lounge Trees Lounge is located at 440 Aleka Place, Kapaa, on the east side of the island. It is known for offering island music, drinks, food, and other kinds of entertainment from Monday to Saturday. One…
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…
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…
Snorkeling with sea turtles in Hawaii is an incredible experience and understandably at the top of the list for many visitors to our islands! Here we share with you the best turtle snorkeling locations on each island in Hawaii and tips for how to fully enjoy them! Sea turtles are known as honu in Hawaiian, and two species can be spotted near-shore: the Hawaiian green sea turtle and less frequently the Hawksbill sea turtle. There are fantastic sites to snorkel…
The Jurassic Park franchise will forever be synonymous with Hawaii. It’s unlikely the next movie will return here for filming, though, considering that 2018’s Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom blew Isla Nublar to smithereens. But there’s always the second island, Isla Sorna, where both The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III are set. The former included shoots at the Na Pali Coast and Kipu Beach on Kauai but was predominantly filmed in California’s redwood forests. Jurassic Park III filming…
Hawaii has been used as a literal green screen for many action movies and comedy flicks over the decades. But the explosive blockbuster Tropic Thunder brought a mixture of both to the island of Kauai. So while the “Garden Isle” is one of the most serene islands you’ll find in Hawaii, the following Tropic Thunder filming locations were anything but during the time of filming. The film stars Ben Stiller (who also directs), Robert Downey Jr., Steve Coogan and Jumanji:…
Based on the bestselling novel of the same name, director Alexander Payne’s The Descendants (2011) was filmed in Hawaii. And much like 1999’s Molokai: The Story of Father Damien, or more recently, 2011’s Soul Surfer, The Descendants is both filmed and set in Hawaii. As it shares its storytelling between the islands of Oahu and Kauai, as you can imagine, there are plenty of The Descendants filming locations waiting to be discovered. George Clooney plays Matt King, a native Hawaiian…
Hawaii has seen a great deal of inspirational real-life stories in its time, but that of “soul surfer” Bethany Hamilton is one that tends to stand out more than others. It’s fair to say that most people will be familiar with the story of the young surfer who lost her left arm in a shark attack on Kauai’s North Shore back in 2003. After all, it’s one that has since been told in both book and film. Based on the…