The Kahana Designs Journal

The Journal

The Kahana Designs Journal

Stories of Hawaiian culture — the akua, the islands, the flowers, the food, and the language. Written from our studio in Kailua-Kona.

Man in a tropical floral shirt standing by the ocean in Hawaiʻi
What to Wear in Hawaiʻi
What to wear in Hawaiʻi: the real packing list for island-casual style, from breathable daytime outfits to light evening layers and reef-safe habits. Read more...
Ripe red and yellow Kona coffee cherries on the branch in Hawaiʻi
Kona Coffee: From Cherry to Cup
Kona coffee is one of the world's most prized coffees. Here's how it travels from ripe red cherry on a Big Island farm to the cup in your hands. Read more...
A humpback whale breaches in Hawaiian waters off Oʻahu
Niho Palaoa: The Meaning of the Hawaiian Whale Tooth Pendant
The lei niho palaoa was a hook-shaped whale tooth pendant worn only by Hawaiian chiefs — here's what it meant and how it was made. Read more...
Aerial view of Diamond Head crater and Waikiki coastline in Hawaiʻi
Fun Facts About Hawaiʻi
From a 13-letter alphabet to islands that are still growing, these fun facts about Hawaiʻi cover the quirks that make the islands one of a kind. Read more...
Fresh ahi tuna poke bowl with mango, avocado, and cucumber, Hawaiʻi
What Is Poke? A Guide to Hawaiʻi's Favorite Dish
What is poke? A guide to the history, traditional style, and modern shoyu ʻahi version of Hawaiʻi's favorite fish dish. Read more...
Close-up of hands playing a ukulele on a sandy Hawaiian beach
The Ukulele's Hawaiian Story: History, Meaning & What Makes One Authentic
The ukulele didn't originate in Hawaiʻi — it descends from a Portuguese instrument brought by Madeiran immigrants in 1879. Here's the real history, what the name means, and how to... Read more...
Aerial view of a Hawaiian beach with palm trees, Hawaiʻi
Hawaiʻi Travel Etiquette: How to Visit Respectfully
A guide to respectful Hawaiʻi travel etiquette — from sacred sites and wildlife to local customs every visitor should know before their trip. Read more...
Person applying reef-safe sunscreen to their leg on a sandy Hawaiʻi beach
Reef-Safe Sunscreen in Hawaiʻi: What to Know
Everything you need to know about reef-safe sunscreen in Hawaiʻi — what the law bans, what ingredients to look for, and how to protect your skin and the reef on... Read more...
Carved wooden kiʻi guardian images standing at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, the ancient Hawaiian place of refuge for kapu breakers
Kapu: The Meaning of Hawaiʻi's Ancient Sacred Law System
Kapu was the ancient Hawaiian system of sacred law separating the holy from the ordinary — here's what it meant, how it was enforced, and how it ended in 1819. Read more...
Palm trees and beach umbrellas on a sunny Hawaiʻi beach
Is Hawaiʻi Expensive? A First-Timer's Budget Guide
Wondering if Hawaii is expensive? Here's an honest first-timer's budget guide to flights, lodging, food, and how to save on your Hawaiian vacation. Read more...
Hawaiian poke bowl with fresh ahi, avocado, and sesame, Hawaiʻi
Hawaiian Foods You Have to Try
From poke and plate lunch to malasadas and shave ice, here are the Hawaiian foods every visitor should try at least once. Read more...
Woman wearing a puka-shell-style necklace made of small polished shell chips on a Hawaiian beach
Puka Shell Necklace: The History and Meaning Behind Hawaiʻi's Iconic Shell Jewelry
What puka really means, where genuine puka shells come from, and why most necklaces sold under that name today aren't made from them. Read more...
Crowded tropical beach with palm trees and sunbathers in Hawaiʻi
First Time in Hawaiʻi: Things to Know Before You Go
Heading to Hawaiʻi for the first time? These hawaii travel tips cover island picking, packing, driving, culture, and budgeting so you land ready. Read more...
Snorkelers exploring the coral reef and turquoise waters of Hanauma Bay, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Snorkeling Hanauma Bay: A Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about Hanauma Bay snorkeling on Oʻahu — from the best times to visit to what you'll see beneath the waves. Read more...
Aerial view of a lush Hawaiian island coastline with mountains and turquoise water, Hawaiʻi
How Many Hawaiian Islands Are There?
How many Hawaiian islands are there? The short answer is 8 main islands — but the full chain includes 137 islands and atolls. Here's the difference. Read more...
Aerial view of a lush green Hawaiian island coastline with turquoise water, illustrating which Hawaiian island to visit
Which Hawaiian Island Should You Visit?
Not sure which Hawaiian island to visit? Here's a quick guide to Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, the Big Island, and more so you can pick the perfect fit for your trip. Read more...
A woman plays a ukulele on a rocky Hawaiian beach
The Hawaiian ʻUkulele: History, Meaning, and How It Became an Island Icon
The ʻukulele descends from Portuguese instruments brought to Hawaiʻi in 1879. Learn how it got its name, why King Kalākaua championed it, and why koa wood defines its sound. Read more...
Rainbow arching over Honolulu, Hawaiʻi during a rainy-season storm
What to Expect from Hawaiʻi's Rainy Season
Wondering about the Hawaiʻi rainy season? Here's when it hits, which islands and coasts stay driest, and how to plan around a few warm showers. Read more...
Pod of Hawaii spinner dolphins swimming just beneath the surface off the Kona coast
Spinner Dolphins of the Kona Coast
Meet the Hawaii spinner dolphins that rest in Kona's bays by day and hunt offshore by night, and learn how to watch them the respectful way. Read more...
Golden sunset over the ocean with silhouetted palm trees on a Hawaiian beach
Best Time of Day to See a Hawaiian Sunset
Wondering when to catch the best Hawaii sunset? Here's the golden window, island by island, plus the best beaches to watch from. Read more...
Dramatic orange sunset over the ocean at Paia Beach, Hawaii
What Does Aloha Really Mean? The Hawaiian Word Beyond Hello and Goodbye
Aloha is more than hello and goodbye — it's a Hawaiian philosophy of presence, breath, and respect that's even written into state law. Read more...
Aerial view of lava fields meeting green land and the ocean on the Big Island, Hawaiʻi
The Big Island in 5 Days: Volcanoes to Beaches
A 5-day Big Island itinerary covering Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Kona coffee farms, Mauna Kea stargazing, and the beaches of the Kohala Coast. Read more...
Dense mass of heart-shaped kalo (taro) leaves
Kalo (Taro): The Sacred Plant at the Heart of Hawaiian Culture
Why kalo (taro) is considered the elder sibling of the Hawaiian people, how loʻi kalo are grown, and how poi carries that story to the table. Read more...
View from an airplane wing over the ocean and coastline on the long flight to Hawaiʻi
How Far Is Hawaiʻi from the Mainland?
How far is Hawaiʻi from the mainland? Here's the real distance and flight time from major U.S. cities to Honolulu, plus why the islands feel so remote. Read more...

Browse all 246 articles by topic →