Culture and Heritage of Hawaii

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Culture & Heritage

Culture and Heritage of the Hawaiian people!

Keiki with yellow plumeria lei and grass skirt; Photographer: James P. Blair

The state of Hawaii is a chain of major islands and small islets in the Pacific Ocean. Mark Twain famously called them "the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean." The Hawaiian Islands are the tips of underwater mountains created by molten rock spewing from a crack in the Earth's crust over a period of 25 million years. You can still witness this process taking place. The world's most active volcano is here in Hawaii.
The dominant language of the islands is English, but 85% of all places on the islands have names in the traditional Hawaiian language. The locals will happily tell you the interesting stories behind many of these.

Native Hawaiians, now comprising just 1% of the state's population, are a part of the Polynesian culture, which includes the natives of Easter Island and the Mauri of New Zealand. The modern population of Hawaii is a veritable melting pot of world cultures; with Caucasian, Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, Hawaiian, and other ethnicities all represented. This diversity of people assures that no one feels like an outsider in Hawaii. The islands provide a warm welcome and a friendly "Aloha!" to everyone, wherever they come from, however long they are planning to stay.

Try out the sport of Hawaiian kings (and beach boys). Surfing was born here and continues to be associated with the state culture of athleticism, sun, sea and fun. The best surfers in the world gather in Hawaii to ride the waves and compete in annual tournaments.

Heiau (temple) at Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (Place of Refuge), south Kona, Big Island; Photographer: Kirk Aeder. The state mammal of Hawaii, the humpback whale is an attraction in itself. Nearly 2,000 of these forty-ton giants migrate to the waters around Hawaii every winter to breed and have their young. Marine biologists as well as sightseers flock to the islands to see the majestic animals.

Back in the late 1700's, King Kamehameha the Great conquered all of the islands and founded the United Kingdom of Hawaii. He chose Lahaina on Maui to be his capital and the home of his royal family. The sheltered coast and beautiful beaches made this town the perfect dwelling place for a King. His wife Queen Kaahumanu was born in Maui's town of Hana. The royal palace was later moved to Honolulu and remains the state capital to this day.

Each of the islands has its own unique stories and long list of attractions. To really get a feel for this wondrous land, you'll just have to explore them all.

The Big Island

Waipio Valley, a stunning natural wonder on the north end of the Hamakua Coast, Big Island; Photographer: Kirk Aeder.

The island of Hawaii is commonly called The Big Island because it is larger than all of the other islands put together. It is also home to Mount Kilauea, the world's most active volcano. Since its eruption in 1983, it has been spewing 100, 000 cubic yards of lava almost daily. Locals say this is the work of the Hawaiian god of the volcano and fire, Pele. Variously described as a beautiful young woman on the beach, or an old woman with flowing white hair in the mountains, she is particularly active on the Big Island of Hawaii.

According to legend Pele can be alternately vengeful and benevolent, she can spare houses of people she likes, as lava flows wipe out the rest of the town. Visit Pele's finest work on display at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. There are the strange formations made from cooling lava, active lava flows, and natural fireworks.