Nestled along the slopes of the dormant Hualalai volcano on Hawaii Island, a traditional stone forno (Portuguese for “oven”) burns with sweet anticipation. Master baker Laurie Westrich, her hair wrapped up in a palaka (checkered) bandana and wearing a matching apron dusted with white flour, rakes the hot kiawe coals heating up the forno’s domed […]
“This is the fish of the future,” David Lukela, chef de cuisine of Beachhouse at the Moana, tells me on a sunny Waikiki afternoon. The fish in question is the Hawaiian Kanpachi, a premium member of the amberjack family that has caught the attention of the culinary world. Dubbed by some as “the wonder fish”
Lauhala weaving is an esteemed tradition in the Hawaiian Islands that dates back long before contact. In Hawaiian, lau means “leaf” and hala refers to the “pandanus” tree. The weaving of the tree’s leaves produces beautiful works of art—mats, baskets, clothing, accessories and bed coverings. To weave lauhala, an artisan needs deft fingers, a creative mind and a great deal
Today marks the maiden voyage of the Hokulea, the first double-hulled Hawaiian voyaging canoe to set sail since the time of Kamehameha the Great, from the Hawaiian Islands to Tahiti. It was a major achievement that sparked a thriving interest, awareness and perpetuation of traditional, non-instrument Polynesian navigation to this day. Adjacent to the current
After two nights of group hula competition, the 54th annual Merrie Monarch Festival at the Edith Kanakaole Stadium in Hilo, Hawaii Island concluded with awards given to the best halau (groups) in the Islands. Twenty-nine halau (20 wahine, nine kane) vied for top awards with their kahiko (ancient) and auana (modern) performances, telling moolelo (legends)
When it’s in full swing, the Merrie Monarch Festival brings out more than just the best in hula. Off the stage, attendees put on a quite a show of their own in stylish clothing, headwear and accessories. Floral prints, intricate lei and a bold affinity for color found their way onto the crowd this year,
The chants about Panaewa Forest, which lies between Kilauea and the ocean on Hawaii Island, describe it as having been created by the violent force of Pele and healed by Hiiaka. It became a lush rain forest, with towering ohia lehua trees and red lehua rain. The environment was rich with every plant needed for healing
We hope you’re ready for another year of phenomenal hula and Hawaiian music as the 54th annual Merrie Monarch Festival gets underway tomorrow, Thursday, April 20 through Saturday, April 22 in Hilo, Hawaii. Though tickets have been sold out for months, you can still enjoy the competition from the comforts of home. Each moment is captured live on television,
It’s the hottest ticket in Hawaii—the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo, Hawaii Island this week. Beginning with Easter Sunday, a week of festivities will culminate with amazing hula performances under the bright lights of the Edith Kanakaole Stadium for three nights of competition (all Hawaii Standard Time): Miss Aloha Hula: Thursday, April 20, 6 to
Traditional hula practices thrive on Hawaii Island, particularly during Merrie Monarch. We asked lunar calendar expert and researcher Kalei Nuuhiwa for her insights on how to respectfully approach people who are practicing their traditions. Picture this: It’s a perfectly beautiful day at the Kilauea crater. The smoke is rising above Halemaumau. The wind is blowing softly
Every Spring, Hilo comes alive during the annual Merrie Monarch Festival—an internationally-acclaimed celebration of Hawaii’s most beloved art form, the hula. Three nights of exhilarating competition unite a total of 28 men’s and women’s hula halau (groups) from across the Hawaiian Islands and the continental U.S. this year, alongside visiting dancers from Asia and Polynesian
Who needs GQ when you have Prince Kūhiō? Born Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole in 1871, the Hawaiian figure achieved a marquee of notable titles to hang around his neck like the bossiest chain of humblebrags. He was an heir to the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, part of a rebellion to reinstate Queen Liliʻuokalani to her throne, a
