When you’re making plans to celebrate the festive season, Hawaii might be the last place on your mind. You won’t see many people skiing unless you the volcanic peaks, and you won’t have to shiver through subzero temperatures. Can Christmas still feel like Christmas in Hawaii? Christmas in Hawaii is a wonderfully unique experience. In ancient times, the holiday coincided with a traditional Hawaiian feast called Makahiki. This is a four month long festival that marks the Hawaiian New Year and was held in honor of Lono, the god who used a net to fish up the sun and the moon from the ocean and set them into orbit. The modern incarnation of Christmas as we know it today...
It’s snowing in Hawaii. Seriously. The recent big storms passing through have bought plenty of snow with them, as much as 30 inches in some places. However before you swap your surfboard for a snowboard, keep in mind that you would have to travel approximately 11,000 feet to the top of the volcanic peaks of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. While this years snow has been unusually heavy, it’s a little known fact that it does actually snow in the tropical paradise of Hawaii every year. Although it’s generally confined to the summits of the three tallest volcanos across the islands and the snow cover isn’t on the ground for more than a couple of days. The name Mauna...
A Luau is a traditional Hawaiian feast and you haven’t really been to Hawaii unless you’ve attended one. A Luau is the ultimate “feel good” celebration designed to unite people and celebrate life and they incorporate favorite Hawaiian island traditions. Some Luaus are more party orientated while some are very traditionally and culturally orientated. Some are more focused on entertainment, others on food. Each Luau will celebrate something unique to Hawaii. In ancient times, Hawaiian people would come together to celebrate their happiness, a special events or even honor the gods with a grand feast. The reasons for celebration was varied such as enjoying a war victory, giving thanks for a bountiful harvest, launching a new canoe and celebrating...
Several traditional Hawaiian food dishes were originally introduced to Hawaii when the early Polynesians arrived between 200 and 500 AD. After the first contact with western explorers like Captain Cook, Hawaiian cuisine began changing dramatically. This was accelerated by the arrival of whalers and merchants, as well as laborers from various countries who came to work on the plantations. Although the islands of Hawaii include a diversified mixture of ethnicities all adding their own flavors, there remains a dedicated following of traditional favorites. Here are some three traditional favorites you simply must taste. Poke Pronounced POH-keh, this is undoubtedly Hawaii’s favorite dish and has been around for centuries. It’s basically cubed raw fish, usually tuna but sometimes salmon or tofu...
Surfers and locals were recently elated when it was announced that this years Quiksilver Big Wave Invitational competition would go ahead as planned. This was after a long period of uncertainty following negotiations between the World Surf League, Quiksilver and the Aikau family over the event. The exclusive and unique contest is also named ‘The Eddie’, after Hawaiian big wave surfing legend Eddie Aikau. Eddie was tragically lost at sea during a voyage from Hawaii to Tahiti. The double hulled voyaging canoe he was travelling in developed a leak and eventually capsized. All the crewmembers floated in the turbulent water for hours, not knowing when, or if, they would ever be found. Eddie, being a legendary surfer and strong swimmer...
