Posts filed under 'Customs, Practices and Pastimes'
Planning your dream Hawaiian wedding?
The good news, for your wallets, is that Hawai‘i's not the most expensive place to tie the knot. Manhattan, New York is. An average wedding costs the "happy" couple about $76,680, according to a recent study by TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com.
Hawai‘i, on the other hand, barely made it to the top 20. At number 19 on the list, an island wedding may cost about $29,600. Still a bit pricey. That could pay for a year of college tuition. But hey, like an investment in education, a legit wedding is an investment worthy of any relationship.
There's even better news for Hawaiian weddings, though. Much like a bride slimming down for the big day, there are ways to slim down that grand total. The DIYers use creative methods of saving money – by making the wedding favors, center pieces and even the dresses.
Finding a venue can be easy, too, with a multitude of island wedding packages available. Or if you're hoping to get hitched on the beach, then you're in luck because for the most part, that's completely free! Do it your way in Hawai‘i; a way that you can afford and will remember for years to come.
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
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Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
March 13th, 2013
Fourth of July without fireworks is like having Christmas without a tree. It's an important ingredient in the mix of festivities that – like Christmas trees – has become part of the holiday tradition itself. That's why Kailua has been trying to bring back the community's 65-year ritual of having a Fourth of July fireworks show on the bay.
Lack of funding forced the windward O‘ahu community to stray from tradition for the past few years. They usually kick off Independence Day with a parade and a fireworks display. Recently, it's just been the parade. The show alone costs about $70,000 and pays for the fireworks, signage, road blocks and off-duty police officers.
I remember going to the Independence Day fireworks show as a kid. We'd lug our coolers and chairs to Kailua Beach every year, squeezing in between beach mats and people who were there from the early morning. Others would roll up on their cruiser bikes and skateboards. Some even hiked to the top of the Kailua Pillboxes – where they got a panoramic view of the bay, as it lit up beneath the colorful sky. It always seemed like the entire windward community showed up for the party, which is what I miss the most.
The lack of fireworks seems to have really put a damper on the community. Thankfully, a newly-established nonprofit called Kailua Fireworks has come to the rescue. They've been busy trying to raise monies for the fireworks show, approaching residents and local businesses for donations. In fact, the nonprofit consists of business owners – mostly from the windward O‘ahu side – who've also donated to the cause.
Hopefully their efforts will bring back the fireworks tradition in Kailua that not only lights up the skies but the hearts of those watching as well.
KAILUA FIREWORKS / www.kailuafireworks.com
Photo Courtesy: Kailua Fireworks
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
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Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
March 3rd, 2013
The best part about any holiday or tradition is always the food, especially when that particular dish brings good fortune and good health. Sakura mochi falls into such a category for Girls' Day revelers. It's a light-pink mochi said to bring happiness and luck to the ladies.
In fact, sakura mochi maintains a ladylike poise of her own – making it almost too pretty to eat. Delicately wrapped in a cherry blossom leaf, the dainty-colored treat has a taste even more delicate. A subtle sweetness and hint of salty perfection tickle the fancies of your taste buds. Sakura definitely knows how to be pretty in pink.
And it's a speciality that can only be found for a few days during this time of year. Made with sweetened rice and a sweet red bean filling, you can buy it at almost any Japanese confectionary shop or bakery; some Hawai‘i supermarkets also carry them. But for a guaranteed way to try sakura, head to the local Girls' Day festivals that take place throughout the islands.
The sweet rice treat coincides with the blossoming of the sakura, or cherry trees, in Japan. Some places may even go as far as shaping the mochi into little pink flowers and serving them with a dainty cherry blossom branch. But no matter the presentation, sakura will remain a Girls' Day tradition for generations to come.
Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia Commons
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
March 2nd, 2013
CBS recently featured some of Hawai‘i's finest lei makers in a report called "The leis of Hawaii." The lucky reporter and photographer jet-setted to the Big Island, where they immersed themselves into the delicate fragrance and flourished history of these traditional "flower necklaces," as they called it.
I was impressed by the depth of the five-minute story, which covered everything from how lei came to the Hawaiian Islands to how they're used today. In addition to going to local farmers markets and lei shops, the news team got a firsthand tour of a private 10-acre farm on the Big Island. It belonged to a local family of lei makers.
The heartfelt interview with the grandmother and her adult granddaughter was perhaps my most favorite part. They shared the story and meaning behind each flower, each lei, and all the while, tears rolled down her granddaughter's face. It was a beautiful moment that not only showed passion but also showed the audience just how important the art of lei making is, even in today's modern world.
The granddaughter, who studied music in Massachusetts, returned to the islands to carry on the family tradition. She described this practice of giving lei perfectly: "While the lei will fade and go away, the love that was in that lei never dies."
I just love that. To watch the full report, go to www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50139825n.
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
January 30th, 2013
It's easy to spot a kukui nut tree in Hawai‘i; just look for the canopy of shimmering silvery-green leaves, and you'll know what we're talking about. They glisten under gentle morning rays, swaying this way and that, and bring us back in time, reminding us of Old Hawai‘i.
Ancient Hawaiians used the nuts of the tree for spiritual, medicinal and navigational purposes; however, the most common usage was for light. When strung in a row on a palm-leaf midrib and lit, the nuts looked very much like a candle. In fact, this is how the tree got its Hawaiian name, which means "light" or "lamp." In English, it's more commonly called the candlenut tree.
Today, kukui nut lei has become a symbol of a Hawaiian vacation, thanks to tourism advertisements and popular media. Tourists and tour guides often wear them, as they're easily acquired and quite affordable. You can get the lei from gift shops and most street-side vendors in Hawai‘i.
This was not the case in ancient times, however, because only royalty were allowed to wear these lei made of sleek black nuts. It was a way to show the ali‘i's social status, as well as honor Lono, god of agriculture, peace and fertility. In fact, Hawaiians consider kukui to be the kino lau, or physical manifestation, of Lono, and it's because of this that kukui trees would be most abundant during times of harvest.
This Polynesian-introduced plant also honors the O‘ahu pig god, Kamapua‘a. If you look closely at the shape of the tree's leaf, then you'll notice it resembles the face of a boar. In elementary, I remember tracing the kukui leaf on paper and making pig masks out of them. This could be a fun outdoor activity if you're traveling with kids. The trees can be found growing all over the islands, usually at the base of mountains.
Unlike fresh flower lei, the kukui nut lei will last forever. You can bring them home with you as a reminder of your trip to the islands but most importantly, as a reminder of its history and significance to the Hawaiian culture.
Photo Credit: Bruce Fisher
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
January 28th, 2013
'Tis the season when cherry trees bloom brightly throughout Hawai‘i, casting a warm pink hue over streets and neighborhoods. The delicate flowers thrive in Wahiawa on O‘ahu and in Waimea on the Big Island, where the weather's just cold enough to inspire an annual bloom.
The cherry season not only marks the beginning of spring, but it honors the Japanese culture as well. In Japan, special rituals take place – including a viewing party, sake drinking and picnics. These traditions continue here in the islands through events hosted by local community groups, as well as a huge festival on the Big Island.
The Big Island's Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival began more than two decades ago in honor of the cherry tree; however, it has since grown to include an array of multi-cultural elements. From mochi pounding to Hawaiian quilt making, the festival attracts hundreds every year. Most of the events take place on Church Row Park, where the historic trees are in full bloom during the January to February months.
Hawai‘i's cherry blossom trees have a long-standing history in the islands. The trees in Wahiawa can be traced to a single tree brought from Okinawa during the mid-1950s. From that tree grew hundreds more. The civic association that strives to preserve their beauty claims to have the largest collection in the state. Waimea's grove, on the other hand, is just as old but comes from Taiwan.
I remember seeing cherry blossoms for the first time when I visited Washington D.C. as a kid. It was absolutely stunning; from one end of the main city street to the other, you could see a full canopy of pinks and whites. I also remember it being really cold, so I could never stand outside long enough to really admire their beauty. It'd have to be from inside of a building or a bus.
But in Hawai‘i, the weather's always nice, which means there's plenty of reason to be outside enjoying one of nature's most precious gems.
Photo Courtesy: Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
January 14th, 2013
Step back into ancient times when early Hawaiians honored Lono – their god of peace, prosperity and fertility – with Makahiki festivities. During this post-harvest period, Hawaiians played games, paid tribute to their chiefs, danced and feasted. No battles were allowed. It was all about giving thanks to Lono.
Turtle Bay Resort – in collaboration with several Hawaiian education programs – hosts an annual Makahiki celebration on the North Shore of O‘ahu. It's a day filled with traditional sporting events, such as ‘ulu maika (lawn bowling), uma (arm wrestling), he‘ihe‘i kukini (foot racing) and my favorite, he‘e hōlua (Hawaiian sledding). There will also be educational exhibits, cultural demos, hula and tasty foods.
Until this event, it was rare for visitors (and locals) to take part in such traditional Hawaiian activities. It's not that it wasn't allowed; there was just never an event for it. I remember celebrating Makahiki during middle school and having a blast! My favorite part was getting a chance to slide down a grassy hill on a Hawaiian sled. One by one, my classmates and I squealed all the way down the hill before leaping to our feet and sprinting to the top, just to do it again. Little did we realize, we, too, were stepping back into time and experience what our ancestors had done for years.
Whether you go for the cultural games, the entertainment or the food, I'd highly recommend checking out this Makahiki Kuilima event. It's free and something you probably won't find anywhere else in the world.
MAKAHIKI KUILIMA / Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013, 8am-4pm (Free) / Turtle Bay Resort, 57-091Kamehameha Hwy., Kahuku, HI 96731 (Map)
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
January 10th, 2013
Did you know that picking an 'ohia lehua blossom will make it rain?
That's what Hawaiians believed. But before I get into the story, you should know that the fiery red ohi‘a lehua is the most common native tree in Hawai‘i, with the red lehua as the Big Island's official flower. You're likely to see this tree near Kīlauea Volcano, as it's usually the first life form to come from hardened lava.
Here's the story of a love triangle with a bitter-sweet ending. There may be different versions, but this is the one that I was told as a kid. It's one of my favorite Hawaiian love stories.
Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, was used to getting her way; so when she encountered a tall, handsome warrior named Ohi‘a, Pele knew the burning desire she felt for him was no mistake. She wanted him, forever.
Unfortunately, Pele was a tad too late. Ohi‘a had already fallen for the beautiful maiden, Lehua, to whom he vowed his eternal love. The boyfriend and girlfriend were inseparable; not even Madame Pele could change the feelings he had for Lehua.
But you never say "no" to Pele without suffering some type of consequence. And for poor Ohi‘a – as nicely as he might have rejected her – that punishment came all too quickly. Pele instantly zapped him into an ugly, twisted tree, and when Lehua saw what had become of her hunk of a boyfriend, streams of tears poured down her face. She cried so loudly that the gods had heard her. To make her feel better, they transformed Lehua into a gorgeous red flower before then placing her on the ohi‘a tree.
From that day on, the ohi‘a tree has blossomed with the beautiful red lehua flowers, and it's said that if you pick a flower, the skies will weep because the lovers have been separated.
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Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
January 8th, 2013
Very much like the New Years ball that drops in Times Square, Hawai‘i has its own version for the stroke of midnight: a gigantic lighted pineapple. And there are two! The one at the Mililani Town Center coincides with the ball drop in New York (7 p.m. Hawai‘i time), while the other at the Kahala Resort & Spa drops at Hawai‘i's midnight.
Although both vary in size, they're still very much pineapples. The 12-feet tall by 6-feet round Mililani pineapple drops from a 40-foot pole. It had its first annual drop to ring in the 2013 new year. The Kahala pineapple, on the other hand, is slightly larger at about 14-feet tall, 350-pounds and drops from the hotel's rooftop. This one started dropping in 2010.
While Hawai‘i's New Years' drops aren't nearly as jam packed with people as it is in New York, there's still a good turnout every year. The nice thing about Hawai‘i's pineapple drop is that you don't have to worry about losing small children in the crowds. The island events include games, food booths, live music and clowns – very family-friendly stuff.
If you were really hardcore into pineapple drops, you could watch the Mililani one drop first then jet over to the other side of O‘ahu to watch the pineapple drop at the Kahala resort. Either way, it's always fun to ring in a new year with unique traditions (and tropical fruit).
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
January 4th, 2013
Two lion-dogs stand guard at the entrance to Hamilton Library, located on the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa campus. I walked past them every day for a year before noticing that they are not exactly identical. And, in true Hawaiian fashion, they have many local cousins. Called koma-inu, these statues were brought from Japan in 1924 for the Shinto Inari Shrine on King Street. In 1942, after the outbreak of World War II, they were given to the university.
The stylized dog-lion appears in various art forms in many countries, including China, Japan, Korea and Tibet. They are spirit guardians and protectors. The male is on the right as you face them, the female on the left. Some of the most ornate statues I've seen locally are the small ones at the entrance to an inner courtyard at the Honolulu Museum of Art.
In China, they are called shishi or Fu Dogs (sometimes "Foo Dogs"). Placed in pairs at imperial palaces in historic times, they now are common at entrances to restaurants and other buildings. The male lion-dog has one paw resting on a ball, and the female has one paw on top of a cub lying on its back. Two huge statues face one another across Hotel Street at the entrance to Chinatown from downtown Honolulu. They were a gift from Kaohsiung, Honolulu's sister city in Taiwan in celebration of the 1989 bicentennial of the arrival of Chinese in Hawai‘i.
A Fu Dog at the Honolulu Museum of Art.
A pair of Fu Dogs stands at the makai and mauka ends of Jefferson Hall at the East-West Center, also located on the university campus. It was a gift from Taiwan in 1971 at the request of Chinese students. Their heads are turned toward one another, and both have one paw on a round ball. If you look closely, however, there is a clear gender difference.
The statues are called shisa in Okinawa, where there are two types of guardian lion-dogs. Unlike their Chinese cousins, they have both feet on the ground. Large figures are placed in pairs at entrances; the left with a closed mouth, the right opened. One legend has it that the open mouth wards off evil spirits while the closed mouth keeps good spirits in. Other stories are that one is inhaling and the other exhaling, representing life and death. The shisa at UH-Mānoa are a gift from the University of the Ryukyus, created especially to commemorate the creation of a Center for Okinawan Studies at UH.
Along with the large shisa seen at entrances, there is also a small shisa placed on a house roof. The roof shisa may be made of stone, plaster, china or wood and is believed to protect the house from fire, as well as keeping evil spirits away. I was excited to spot one of these recently on a house in Kane‘ōhe. Ordinarily, we would have passed too quickly for me to notice, but traffic was stalled due to the Christmas parade, so I had time to look around.
Now that I know a little about the history of these statues, I enjoy looking at them to identify the subtle differences. They pop up in the most interesting places in Hawai‘i!
Posted by Cynthia Scheopner Follow me on Twitter @Scheopner
Published by Bruce Fisher
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
January 1st, 2013
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