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.

Thatched beach umbrellas on the sand facing the ocean in Hawaiʻi
Best Hawaiian Island for First-Timers
Not sure which Hawaiian island to visit first? Here's the best Hawaiian island for first-timers, based on what kind of trip you actually want. Read more...
Aerial view of Waikiki and Honolulu skyline on Oʻahu, one of the main Hawaiian Islands
The Complete List of Hawaiian Islands (2026 Guide)
The full list of Hawaiian Islands, from Hawaiʻi Island to Kauaʻi — plus the smaller islands, atolls, and islets most visitors never hear about. Read more...
Close-up of vibrant magenta Cordyline fruticosa (ti leaf) leaves, the sacred plant of Hawaiian culture
Kī (Ti Leaf): The Meaning Behind Hawaiʻi's Most Sacred Plant
Why the humble ti leaf shows up in hula skirts, house doorways, laulau wrappers, and leis across Hawaiʻi — and what it really means to Native Hawaiians. Read more...
Freshly harvested Kona coffee cherries and beans held in hands, Hawaiʻi
Kona Coffee: From Cherry to Cup
Discover the story of Kona coffee — from hand-picked red cherries on Hawaiʻi Island's volcanic slopes to the rich, smooth cup in your hands. Read more...
Colorful Hawaiian print shirts hanging on a rack, Hawaiʻi
What to Wear in Hawaiʻi
What to wear in Hawaiʻi for every activity — from beach days to luau nights — plus packing tips that keep you comfortable and culturally respectful. Read more...
Polished shell-disc necklace, a modern cut-and-polished style often sold as puka style jewelry
Puka Shell Jewelry: The Real Story Behind Hawaiʻi's Most Iconic Necklace
What puka shells actually are, why they were everyday Hawaiian beach adornment long before the 1960s-70s surf craze, and how to tell authentic natural shell from imitation beads. Read more...
Fresh Hawaiian poke bowl with marinated fish, rice, and sesame seeds
What Is Poke? A Guide to Hawaiʻi's Favorite Dish
What is poke? Learn the history, traditional ingredients, and modern styles behind Hawaiʻi's favorite raw fish dish. Read more...
Thatched beach umbrellas on a Hawaiian shoreline, Hawaiʻi
Hawaiian Games Online: Play Kahana Sky Birds, Our Free Island Game
Play Hawaiian games online for free with Kahana Sky Birds, a browser flying game from Kahana Designs featuring Nene, Honu, Io, and Pueo. Read more...
Vibrant magenta ti leaf (Cordyline fruticosa) close-up, the sacred kī plant of Hawaiian tradition
What Does Ti Leaf (Kī) Mean in Hawaiian Culture?
Ti leaf, or kī, is one of Hawaiian culture's most sacred plants -- used for centuries in protection, purification, hula, and ceremony. Here's what it really means. Read more...
Aerial view of palm trees, outrigger canoes, and surfers on a turquoise Hawaiian beach
Is Hawaiʻi Expensive? A First-Timer's Budget Guide
Wondering if Hawaii is expensive? Here's a realistic first-timer's budget guide covering flights, hotels, food, and activities so you can plan your trip with confidence. Read more...
Tiki mugs and a mai tai cocktail on a bar counter, Hawaiʻi tiki style
Mai Tai Recipe: The Free Tropical Drink & Mai Tai Mixer
The best mai tai recipe and 24 more island cocktails, scaled to any party size with our free Tropical Drink & Mai Tai Mixer from Kahana Designs. Read more...
Fresh poke bowl with chopsticks, a classic Hawaiian food
Hawaiian Foods You Have to Try
From poke to plate lunch, here are the essential Hawaiian foods you have to try — where they come from and what makes them so ono. Read more...
Tropical fruit and party food buffet spread for a Hawaiian luau in Hawaiʻi
How Much Food for a Luau? Free Luau & Party Food Calculator
Wondering how much food for a luau you actually need? Use Kahana Designs' free Luau & Party Food Calculator to get exact kalua pork, rice, and drink amounts for any... Read more...
A coconut palm tree leaning over a sandy tropical beach with ocean waves
What Does Niu (Coconut) Mean in Hawaiian Culture?
Coconut palms look like postcard Hawai‘i, but niu arrived with the first voyagers and carries meaning that has little to do with the beach. Read more...
Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head at sunset, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
First Time in Hawaiʻi: Things to Know Before You Go
Heading to Hawaiʻi for the first time? Here's what to know before you go — from island choice to local etiquette — so your trip starts off right. Read more...
Outdoor luau party food buffet spread in Hawaiʻi
Luau Menu Planner: Plan a Free Hawaiian Luau Menu Online
Build a complete luau menu in seconds with the free Luau Menu Planner — appetizers, mains, sides, and drinks tailored to your guest count. Read more...
Aerial view of a turquoise Hawaiian coastline with mountains, showing the kind of island scenery travelers weigh when deciding which Hawaiian island to visit
Which Hawaiian Island Should You Visit?
Trying to pick which Hawaiian island to visit? Here's how Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and the Big Island compare so you can choose the right fit for your trip. Read more...
Hawaiian Plate Lunch Builder: Build a Free Hawaiian Plate Lunch Online
Try the free Hawaiian Plate Lunch Builder to build a classic local plate lunch with a main, two scoops rice, and mac salad, then get scaled recipes for any number of plates. Read more...
Black volcanic lava rock coastline in Hawaii with turquoise water
Pōhaku: What Stone Really Means in Hawaiian Culture
Pōhaku, the Hawaiian word for stone, names something Hawaiians have never treated as ordinary. Here is what stone really means in Hawaiian culture, from temple walls to poi pounders to... Read more...
Aerial view of a Hawaiian island coastline with turquoise water, Hawaiʻi
How Many Hawaiian Islands Are There?
How many Hawaiian Islands are there? A quick guide to the 8 main islands, the full 137-island chain, and which ones you can actually visit. Read more...
Fresh poke bowl with salmon, avocado, edamame, and sesame seeds, Hawaiʻi style
Build Your Own Poke Bowl: Free Interactive Poke Bowl Builder
Use our free build your own poke bowl tool to design a custom Hawaiian poke bowl — base, protein, toppings, and sauce — with a scaled recipe card. Read more...
Lava erupting at night from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii
The Big Island in 5 Days: Volcanoes to Beaches
A 5-day Big Island itinerary hitting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kona coffee farms, and black sand beaches — the ultimate Big Island itinerary for first-timers. Read more...
Black unisex Hawaiian-inspired t-shirt from Kahana Designs
T-Shirt Size Chart: Free T-Shirt Size Calculator for Unisex Tees
Use our free t shirt size chart and size calculator to find your perfect unisex tee fit in seconds — from Kahana Designs, a Native Hawaiian–owned studio in Kailua-Kona. Read more...
Close-up of heart-shaped kalo (taro) leaves in Hawaii
Kalo (Taro) and Hāloa: What the Elder Sibling Story Means in Hawaiian Genealogy
In Hawaiian genealogy, kalo (taro) isn't just food — it's the elder sibling of the Hawaiian people, born from the story of Hāloa. Read more...

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