Kahana Designs

A man wearing a fresh flower lei smiles, a traditional Hawaiian welcome
Hawaiian Lei Meaning: Flowers, Etiquette & the Spirit of Aloha
What a Hawaiian lei really means — its Polynesian origins, the flowers and their symbolism, the etiquette of giving and receiving, and the spirit of aloha woven into every garland. Read more...
Red ʻōhiʻa lehua blossom (Metrosideros polymorpha), a native plant endemic to Hawaiʻi
Native Hawaiian Plants You Should Know
A friendly guide to native Hawaiian plants you should know — from ʻōhiʻa lehua and koa to kalo and naupaka — and why these endemic species matter. Read more...
Sunlight glinting across the Hawaiian ocean off Oʻahu, the realm of the makau
The Makau: Meaning of the Hawaiian Fish Hook Symbol
What the Hawaiian makau (fish hook) really means: its symbolism of strength and safe passage, the legend of Māui's hook Mānaiakalani, what it was carved from, and how it is... Read more...
Close-up of white and yellow plumeria flowers in bloom, Hawaiʻi
How to Grow Plumeria
Learn how to grow plumeria — the fragrant flower behind the Hawaiian lei. A simple, friendly guide to sun, soil, watering, cuttings, and winter care from our Native Hawaiian–owned studio... Read more...
Vibrant pink hibiscus flower in bloom, a beloved tropical flower of Hawaiʻi
Hawaiian Flowers and Their Meanings
A guide to Hawaiian flowers and their meanings — hibiscus, plumeria, bird of paradise, pīkake, and lehua — and the aloha they carry in island culture. Read more...
Close-up of a floral aloha-style Hawaiian shirt pattern
What Makes Hawaiian Clothing Authentic? Aloha Wear, Culture & Design Explained
From the holokū and muʻumuʻu to the aloha shirt and palaka, here is what truly makes Hawaiian clothing authentic — its island history, its makers, and the meaning behind the... Read more...
Hawaiian outrigger canoe crew paddling a waʻa together on the ocean, Hawaiʻi
Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Paddling: The Story of the Waʻa
A guide to the Hawaiian outrigger canoe (waʻa) — its design, sacred history, and the thriving sport of outrigger canoe paddling in Hawaiʻi today. Read more...
Waikīkī Beach at twilight with Diamond Head in the distance, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Duke Kahanamoku: Father of Modern Surfing
Duke Kahanamoku was an Olympic champion swimmer and the father of modern surfing who carried Hawaiian wave-riding to the world. Here is his story, his legacy, and the aloha spirit... Read more...
White plumeria flower on dark sand, the classic bloom of a Hawaiian lei
Authentic Hawaiian Gifts: How to Choose Meaningful, Locally-Made Pieces (Not Touristy Souvenirs)
How to tell authentic, locally-made Hawaiian gifts from mass-produced souvenirs — from the lei and Niʻihau shell leis to lauhala, koa, and what "Made in Hawaiʻi" really means. Read more...
Surfer riding inside a large barreling wave on the North Shore of Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
The History of Oʻahu's North Shore
The North Shore Oʻahu history runs from ancient Hawaiian fishing villages and royal surf to the plantation era and the rise of the world's most famous surf coast. Read more...
Beginner surfers taking a surf lesson in the warm waters off a Hawaiʻi beach
Best Surf Spots for Beginners in Hawaiʻi
A friendly guide to the best Hawaii surf spots for beginners — from Waikīkī to the Kona coast — with safety tips, etiquette, and how to catch your first wave... Read more...
Lava from Kīlauea meeting the sea on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi
Traditional Hawaiian Art Explained: Kapa, Kākau & the Symbols Behind the Designs
A plain-language guide to traditional Hawaiian art — kapa barkcloth, kākau tattoo, and kiʻi pōhaku petroglyphs — and what their recurring symbols actually mean. Read more...
A pair of nēnē (Hawaiian geese), Hawaiʻi's state bird, on a grassy coastal hillside at Kilauea Point, Kauaʻi
The Nēnē: Hawaiʻi's State Bird
Meet the nēnē, the Hawaiian goose and Hawaiʻi state bird — its volcanic home, its remarkable comeback from near extinction, and how to see one respectfully. Read more...
Plumeria flower resting on dark volcanic sand on a beach in Kauai, Hawaii
Hawaiian Jewelry Meaning: Symbols, Materials & How to Spot Authentic Pieces
A Native Hawaiian–owned studio explains what Hawaiian jewelry means — the makau fish hook, honu, puka shell, plumeria and koa — and how to tell authentic pieces from souvenirs. Read more...
A vibrant coral reef underwater in clear tropical water, Hawaiʻi
Reef-Safe Sunscreen in Hawaiʻi: What to Know
A clear guide to reef-safe sunscreen in Hawaiʻi — what the law bans, which ingredients to look for, and how to protect your skin and the coral reefs at the... Read more...
Aerial view of Hanauma Bay, a crescent snorkeling cove on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Snorkeling Hanauma Bay: A Complete Guide
Everything you need for Hanauma Bay snorkeling on Oʻahu — reservations, fees, hours, the marine-life rules, and tips for a respectful day at Hawaiʻi's most famous snorkeling cove. Read more...
Spinner dolphins leaping above the ocean off the Kona Coast, Hawaiʻi
Spinner Dolphins of the Kona Coast
A guide to the Hawaii spinner dolphins of the Kona Coast — their nighttime hunting, daytime rest in the bays, and how to share the water respectfully. Read more...
A humpback whale breaching out of the ocean in Hawaiʻi
Humpback Whale Season in Hawaiʻi
A guide to Hawaii whale watching season — when humpback whales arrive in the islands, where to see them, and how to watch responsibly. Read more...
Overhead photo of a Hawaiian-style poke bowl over rice, a local plate meal in Hawaiʻi
The Hawaiian Plate Lunch
The Hawaiian plate lunch is the islands' most beloved everyday meal — two scoops rice, mac salad, and a hot protein. Here's its history, what's on the plate, and where... Read more...
Brightly colored Hawaiian shave ice with syrup being poured over finely shaved ice, Hawaiʻi
Hawaiian Shave Ice, Explained
Hawaiian shave ice is the islands' favorite cool-down treat — here's what it is, how it's made, and how it differs from a snow cone. Read more...
New This Week at Kahana Designs — June 8
Fifty-seven brand-new Hawaiian coffee mugs landed this week — from glowing reef wildlife to volcanoes, florals, surf, and Polynesian culture. Find your morning brew companion straight from our Kailua-Kona studio. Read more...
Ripe red coffee cherries on the branch, like those grown on the Kona Coast of Hawaiʻi
Kona Coffee: From Cherry to Cup
Kona coffee grows on the volcanic slopes above our home in Kailua-Kona. Here is the story of Kona coffee, from cherry to cup — how it is grown, picked, and... Read more...
Three colorful Hawaiian poke bowls with fresh ahi, vegetables, and rice, Hawaiʻi
What Is Poke? A Guide to Hawaiʻi's Favorite Dish
What is poke? Learn the history, pronunciation, and classic styles of Hawaiʻi's favorite dish — from ancient fishermen to today's poke shops — from a Native Hawaiian–owned shop in Kailua-Kona. Read more...
Overhead view of a fresh poke bowl with chopsticks, a beloved Hawaiian food, Hawaiʻi
Hawaiian Foods You Have to Try
From poke and kalua pig to malasadas and shave ice, this guide to Hawaiian food covers the iconic dishes you have to try on your next trip to the islands. Read more...
Aerial view of a turquoise tropical beach in Maui, Hawaiʻi
Which Hawaiian Island Should You Visit?
Trying to decide which Hawaiian island to visit? A friendly, island-by-island guide to Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and the Big Island to help you find your perfect fit. Read more...
Lava erupting from Kīlauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi
The Big Island in 5 Days: Volcanoes to Beaches
A 5-day Big Island itinerary from active volcanoes to black- and green-sand beaches, plus Kona coffee, Mauna Kea stargazing, and tips from our Native Hawaiian–owned studio. Read more...
Kalalau Valley and the Nā Pali sea cliffs of Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Kauaʻi for First-Timers: The Garden Isle Guide
A Kauaʻi travel guide for first-timers: the best beaches, hikes, towns, and tips for visiting the Garden Isle, Hawaiʻi's oldest and greenest island. Read more...
New This Week at Kahana Designs — June 1
Dozens of fresh Hawaiian designs dropped this week — new island tees across every theme, plus a big wave of digital oil-painting posters spanning beaches, wildlife, and akua. Browse the new arrivals from our Native Hawaiian–owned studio in Kailua-Kona. Read more...
Oʻahu Travel Guide: Beaches, Hikes & Local Eats
A friendly Oʻahu travel guide to the island's best beaches, hikes, and local eats — from Waikīkī and the North Shore to Diamond Head and plate lunch. Read more...
15 Best Things to Do on Maui
Looking for the best things to do in Maui? Our island guide covers Haleakalā sunrises, the Road to Hāna, snorkeling, Lahaina, and more from a Native Hawaiian–owned studio. Read more...
Lono: Hawaiian god of peace, rain, and the Makahiki harvest
Meet Lono — the Hawaiian akua of agriculture, rain, and peace whose return each year began the Makahiki, a four-month season of harvest, rest, and games. Plus a look at the new art and tees just added to the Kahana Designs shop. Read more...
Yellow Hawaiian hibiscus, the state flower of Hawaiʻi, printed on a black cotton tee
Hibiscus: the state flower of Hawaiʻi and its story
The Hawaiian hibiscus is the flower the world pictures as the islands — but Hawaiʻi's true state flower is the rare native yellow maʻo hau hele. Read more...
Hawaiian Pele volcano goddess canvas wall art evoking the living landscape of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Kīlauea
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: a guide to Kīlauea
A warm guide to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Kīlauea — Pele's home — covering what to see, when to go, and how to visit with respect. Read more...
Maui Road to Hāna canvas wall art showing a rainforest waterfall pouring into a still pool
The Road to Hāna: planning the perfect Maui drive
A calm, practical guide to the Road to Hāna — when to leave, the stops worth your time, bridge etiquette, and what waits past the town on Maui. Read more...
Place-based Hawaiian tee in the spirit of the classic aloha shirt, worn for a modern Aloha Friday
Aloha Friday and the rise of the Hawaiian aloha shirt
How Aloha Friday gave the aloha shirt its weekly stage in Honolulu — and how a plantation-era garment became Hawaiʻi's enduring uniform. Read more...
Haleakalā crater at sunrise — a volcanic Maui landscape shaped by how the Hawaiian Islands formed
How the Hawaiian Islands formed: the Pacific hotspot
How the Hawaiian Islands formed: a Pacific hotspot, a slow-moving plate, and a chain of volcanoes stretching across the deep ocean floor. Read more...
Hawaiian monk seal swimming through clear blue water on a giclée canvas print
The Hawaiian monk seal: an endangered beach dweller
The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the rarest mammals on earth — meet ʻīlioholoikauaua, the endangered beach dweller found nowhere else but Hawaiʻi. Read more...
The demigod Māui standing atop Haleakalā with a rope raised toward the rising sun, Hawaiian mythology canvas wall art
Māui the demigod: how he slowed the sun in Hawaiʻi
How the demigod Māui climbed Haleakalā at dawn and lassoed the sun to give Hawaiʻi longer days — the legend, the place, and what it means today. Read more...
Hula instruments illustrated on a black tee, a visual gateway to the history of hula and its sacred percussion
The history of hula: sacred rite to performance art
The history of hula reaches from sacred Hawaiian ritual to a living art form. Discover its mythic origins, kahiko and ʻauana styles, and revival. Read more...
Hawaiian canvas of the demigod Māui, a figure central to many common Hawaiian words and stories.
Common Hawaiian words you already know, and what they mean
A guided tour of common Hawaiian words — aloha, mahalo, ʻohana, pono, mana — what they really mean, and the worldview waiting underneath them. Read more...
Hawaiian humpback whale canvas wall art evoking the channels around Molokaʻi, the most Hawaiian island in the chain
Molokaʻi: the most Hawaiian island and how to visit
Molokaʻi is often called the most Hawaiian island. A slow look at Hālawa Valley, the world's tallest sea cliffs, Kalaupapa, and how to visit with respect. Read more...
A Kahana Designs tee design honoring the Nā Pali Coast, Kauaʻi's sacred sea cliffs
The Nā Pali Coast: Kauaʻi's wild and sacred sea cliffs
Explore the Nā Pali Coast — Kauaʻi's 17 miles of sacred sea cliffs, ancient valleys, and Hawaiian history along the Garden Isle's wild north shore. Read more...
A canvas portrait of a single Koa Ikaika warrior with feathered helmet, evoking King Kamehameha and the unifier of the Hawaiian Islands
King Kamehameha: the unifier of the Hawaiian Islands
The story of King Kamehameha, the chief from Kohala who unified the Hawaiian Islands into a single kingdom — and the world he left behind. Read more...
Hawaiian Lono god canvas showing taro and harvest imagery, evoking poi as the staple food of ancient Hawaiʻi
Poi: the staple food at the heart of ancient Hawaiʻi
Poi is the slow-pounded kalo paste at the heart of ancient Hawaiʻi — a foundational food, sacred plant, and family tie all in a single bowl. Read more...
Honolua Bay canvas wall art capturing the kind of wave that shaped ancient Hawaiian surfing
The ancient roots of Hawaiian surfing and heʻe nalu
Discover the ancient roots of Hawaiian surfing—heʻe nalu—from sacred Polynesian origins to the lineage that still shapes the sport today. Read more...
Moonlit Waikīkī after dark with Lēʻahi rising on the horizon — Oʻahu canvas print
Waikīkī after dark: a slower, quieter side of Honolulu
Waikīkī after dark is a slower city—seawall sunsets, torchlight at the Royal Hawaiian, slack key on the back streets, and ʻIolani Palace lit at night. Read more...
Handmade double row lauhala hoop earrings with natural shell pearls
Worn Heritage: The Story of Hawaiian Lauhala Jewelry
Long before lauhala was an earring, it was a mat, a hat, a sail. A look at the story behind Hawaiian lauhala jewelry — how the weave moved from everyday... Read more...
Plumeria lei design on a Hawaiian culture tee, an emblem of the iconic flower of Hawaiian lei
Plumeria: the iconic flower behind the Hawaiian lei
Plumeria is the flower most people smell before they see. A guide to its history, varieties, and place at the heart of Hawaiian lei tradition. Read more...
Mauna Kea Poliahu snow goddess canvas wall art — Hawaiian sacred summit
Mauna Kea: Hawaiʻi's sacred summit, stars, and snow
Mauna Kea is Hawaiʻi's sacred summit — taller than Everest base to peak, home of the snow goddess Poliahu, and a working temple still alive today. Read more...
Wailea Beach Maui canvas wall art — south shore gold sand tropical print
Wailea Beach: a complete guide to Maui's south shore
Wailea Beach is Maui's gentle south-shore crescent — golden sand, calm water, and sunset views toward Molokini. A complete guide for visitors to Maui. Read more...