Hawaiian Culture

Learning Hawaiian pidgin is a challenge for a non-native speaker, unless you plan to spend significant time in Hawai'i or among Hawaiian natives. Once you have absorbed the local culture, speaking...

When you go to Hawaii, the first thing to greet you is a lei. At the airport, at your hotel, people bestow a lei to welcome you. Different colorful flowers are used to make leis, but one of the...

There is no more traditional Hawaiian greeting than to have a fragrant, boldly colored lei placed around your neck, accompanied by a welcome kiss. Early Polynesian voyagers introduced the lei to...

Hawaii is famous for its tropical flowers and flower garlands, called leis. The flowers often have significance and are connected to island legends. According to master lei maker Barbara Meheula,...

The practice of using flowers to create garlands is an ancient one. Human cultures around the world have used flower garlands for ornamentation, celebration and ceremony.

The Hawaiian Islands have a distinguished culture with numerous traditions and beliefs. Many of the traditions and beliefs can be seen in the Hawaiian crafts, which can be purchased as souvenirs...

The online Hawaii Guide notes that the Polynesians have had the greatest influence on the culinary style of the Hawaiian Islands since arriving there in approximately 600 or 700 AD. But the...

This is an origami design that's useful for making money leis, which are traditional graduation presents, particularly in Hawaii. The nice thing about this design is that the strong dollar bill...

Coffee is a major industry in Hawaii. Some of the most famous (and best tasting) coffees hail from Hawaii. Kona, the most popular kind of coffee beans in Hawaii, have been in Hawaii since the...

Lei is Hawaiian for garland or wreath, objects strung together for placement around the neck. The lei has become the most popular and enduring symbol of Hawaii.

Hawaiian leis have a long and rich history that extends well beyond their popularity among tourists. Made from flowers and other materials, from leaves and feathers to bones and teeth, leis...

The Hawaiian Islands are made up of 19 islands and atolls. The islands form the U.S. state of Hawaii---America's newest and most southern state, and the only one entirely surrounded by water.

'Ōlelo Hawai'i, or the Hawaiian language, is the official state language for Hawaii. Though not commonly used in everyday life, it was once widely spoken throughout the region and was used...

Noni, a tropical fruit native to the Pacific Islands and parts of Southeast Asia, has been used for thousands of years. Also known as Morinda citrifolia, its traditional uses have ranged from tapa...

While a remarkably diverse mix of ethnic groups contributes to the culture of Hawaii, the culture of the islands has been shaped most clearly by Hawaiian Polynesian traditions, some of which are...

Hawaiian tattoos have become extremely popular in modern Western culture among tattoo artists and enthusiasts. However, while Hawaiian tattoo designs--from bold tribal arm and leg bands to...

Polynesia is a nearly 3,000-mile long group of islands in the eastern central Pacific Ocean. It is a triangular-shaped geographical area that peaks in the north at Hawaii. The western angle lies...

Hawaii became a part of the United States in 1959. Hawaii is known for its crystal clear waters, sandy beaches and tropical climate, and it is one of the most popular destinations for tourists. It...

Grass skirts often come to mind when Hawaii is mentioned. Hawaiians have shared certain aspects of their culture, including the hula, with the world. Many people wear a hula costume for Halloween...

Located on the Hawaiian island of Maui, Kahului, Hawaii is a port city that is home to over 30 percent of Maui's population. This shipping center is home to the island's main airport, as well as...

Hawaiian folklore is as rich and colorful as the islands. The remote location of the Hawaiian Islands and the early relative isolation from other populations gave rise to some of the world's most...

Kona, Hawaii, is historically diverse with colorful tales of active volcanoes, gods, coffee, culture and sea captains. Stories are told today to help keep alive the spirit of the big island.

Luaus examplify the spirit of the Hawaiian islands. Exotic food, drink and island themes carry revelers into the night, playing games and laughing the night away.

Been to Hawaii and want to bring that "aloha" vibe back into your daily life? According to the Hawaiian dictionary, "aloha", while being the common way to greet one another on...

Flowers are a large part of Hawaiian culture. Each island in Hawaii has its own island flower and color. The flowers are used to make leis, which are used in various traditions.

The Hawaiian islands are a chain of islands, or archipelago, in the Pacific Ocean that were created from a hotspot in the earth's mantle. The mantle is a layer of molten rock beneath the Earth's...

Mauna Loa is the largest volcano in the world and covers half of the island that it is located on. The myths and legends of Mauna Loa Hawaii are part of its rich history.

If you have ever wondered what people are talking about when they use some words in a sentence that seem out of place, they may have been talking pidgin. Once you learn how to speak Pidgin...

The practice of walking on hot coals, otherwise know as firewalking, originated in ancient times. It is still practiced in many tropical cultures, such as Hawaii. It's not something that should be...

To the native people of a Hawaii, the practice of lomi lomi, a spiritual healing art that is deeply rooted in Hawaiian tradition and culture, has withstood the test of time--even enduring...

Mauna Loa is considered the most massive mountain on earth. It occupies an area of 10,000 cubic miles. Mauna Loa, also the largest volcano on earth, is one of five volcanoes that formed the Big...

To make a Hawaiian lei for boys, use a large tea leaf as the base of the lei, tie flowers to it using soft yarn, and loop the leaves between each flower. Create a beautiful lei for boys with a...

A double lei uses twice as many flowers as a traditional lei, and each flower is threaded in a different direction. Create a full, beautiful double lei with a demonstration from a Hawaiian...

A silk lei is made up of silk flowers instead of fresh flowers, which allows them to last much longer. Thread silk flowers into a lei with a demonstration from a Hawaiian entertainment director in...

Making candy leis can be done by laying out a long sheet of cellophane, laying out a row of candy, wrapping the row in the cellophane and tying ribbon between each piece of candy. Create an edible...

To make a penny lei, lay out a long piece of cellophane, place small piles of pennies in a row across it, fold the cellophane over the pennies, and tie ribbon between each set of pennies. Make an...

When making a carnation flower lei, break off the hard part of the stem, pull the needle through the center of the flower, and tuck the stem into the previous flower. Continue threading carnations...

Making a feather lei involves sewing individual feathers onto a piece of velvet ribbon, which can be worn as a head piece or a head band. Create a feather lei with a demonstration from a Hawaiian...

Making a flower lei can be done using any type of blossom, string, dental floss or raffia, and a very long needle. See how to thread blossoms onto the string with a demonstration from a Hawaiian...

Hawaii has some of the most unusual tropical flowers, but not all of them are native to Hawaii. Many varieties found their way to Hawaii when the trade routes were opened to Asia. The...

The history of Polynesian art reflects the diversity of the region as well as its tumultuous history. Folklore, fertility and the supernatural were the principal themes, expressed through a...

Hawaii is a region that is very self-sustaining on its natural resources and food supply. The major food resources include pineapple and sugar cane to orchids and other edible flowers. These types...

The Hawaiian language is unique in that, unless you are actually from the state of Hawaii, you may have a difficult time mastering the language. Mainland Americans often have trouble with the...

A luau is a celebration most commonly found in Hawaii, yet has migrated to many other parts of the world. The Luau includes hula dances, hula skirts, leis, cool tropical drinks and fabulous food....

Hawaii is a state rich in cultural heritage and unique history. The islands were originally inhabited by the Polynesians and have been home to many others since including Tahitian immigrants and...

Leis are traditional Hawaiian garlands of fresh flowers, given to guests arriving on the islands and at special events. Fresh leis are often made with orchids, jasmine, plumeria flowers and ferns....

Although many people think that leis are only made of fresh flowers, you can use nuts, leaves, shells, feathers, paper, ribbon, yarn, beads and even candy. Some leis are braided, but many are...

Lei's is part of the Hawaiian culture. They are beautiful. Here is how you make a double lei.

Making a Hawaiian lei with ti leaves is a simple matter if you're lucky enough to have access to the leaves. The ti leaf plant is thought to bring good luck and ward off any evil spirits; the ti...

The island of Hawaii has a rich culture and traditions that go far beyond the images of white sand, blue skies and shimmering waters that we may conjure up when we think of it. From hula dancing,...