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.

Passports and travel documents packed for a trip to Hawaiʻi
Do You Need a Passport to Visit Hawaiʻi?
Do you need a passport for Hawaii? Here's what U.S. citizens, residents, and international travelers actually need to fly to the islands. Read more...
Carved wooden kiʻi guardian images at Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau, the ancient Hawaiian place of refuge
Puʻuhonua: The Meaning of Hawaiian Places of Refuge
What a puʻuhonua (place of refuge) was in ancient Hawaiʻi, why the kapu system made sanctuaries necessary, and the story of Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau on Hawaiʻi Island. Read more...
Aerial view of Waikiki Beach and Honolulu, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Oʻahu Travel Guide: Beaches, Hikes & Local Eats
Your Oʻahu travel guide to the best beaches, hikes, and local eats — from Waikiki to the North Shore, with tips from our Hawaiʻi-based studio. Read more...
Rows of adjustable gold and steel rings each set with a small real opihi shell, displayed on a jewelry tray
Opihi Jewelry: The Meaning Behind Hawaiʻi's Rarest Shell Rings and Necklaces
What opihi are, why Hawaiians call gathering them dangerous work, and how their shells become some of the rarest, most meaningful jewelry in the islands — opihi rings, opihi necklaces,... Read more...
Aerial view of a Hawaiian valley sloping from mountains to a turquoise bay, illustrating the mauka-to-makai ahupuaʻa land division
Ahupuaʻa: How Ancient Hawaiians Divided Land From Mountain to Sea
What an ahupuaʻa was, how it stretched from mountain to sea, and why this land system is still studied as a model of sustainability today. Read more...
Aerial view of Kaanapali Beach resorts and coastline on Maui, Hawaii
15 Best Things to Do on Maui
The 15 best things to do on Maui, from Haleakalā sunrise and the Road to Hana to Kaanapali Beach and Lahaina — a local's guide to Hawaii's Valley Isle. Read more...
Vintage Kauaʻi and Aloha ʻOe signs on a fence, representing Hawaiian language and culture
What Language Do They Speak in Hawaiʻi?
What language do they speak in Hawaiʻi? English and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi are both official, plus Hawaiian Pidgin — here's how they fit together. Read more...
A silversword (ʻāhinahina) rosette growing on Haleakalā's volcanic cinder, Maui
ʻĀhinahina: The Meaning of Hawaiʻi's Rare Silversword Plant
What the rare, silver-leafed ʻāhinahina means in Hawaiian culture, why it grows nowhere else on Earth, and why it blooms only once. Read more...
Humpback whale tail fluke breaching the ocean surface in Hawaiʻi
Humpback Whale Season in Hawaiʻi
Everything to know about Hawaii whale watching season — when humpback whales arrive, where to spot them, and how to watch responsibly. Read more...
Colorful lit-up ALOHA sign with bamboo and thatch backdrop, Hawaiʻi
How to Pronounce Hawaiian Words
Learn how to pronounce Hawaiian words with this simple guide to the Hawaiian alphabet, the ʻokina, kahakō, and common phrases like aloha and mahalo. Read more...
Iolani Palace tower with the Hawaiian Kingdom flag, historic seat of Hawaiian royalty in Honolulu
Hawaiian Featherwork: The Meaning of ʻAhuʻula and Mahiole
The royal feather cloaks and helmets of Hawaiian aliʻi — how ʻahuʻula and mahiole were made from māmo and ʻiʻiwi feathers, and what they meant. Read more...
Hawaiian plate lunch with fried meat, rice, and egg in Hawaiʻi
The Hawaiian Plate Lunch
What is a Hawaiian plate lunch? Learn the history and classic combo of rice, mac salad, and protein behind Hawaiʻi's favorite comfort meal. Read more...
Aerial view of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head crater in Hawaiʻi
Hawaiʻi Bucket List: Experiences for Every Traveler
From Waikiki sunrises to volcano hikes, this Hawaiʻi bucket list rounds up the must-do experiences every traveler should add to their island itinerary. Read more...
Green ulu (breadfruit) growing on a tree, fruit and deeply lobed leaves in Hawaiʻi
ʻUlu (Breadfruit): The Canoe Plant That Fed Ancient Hawaiʻi
ʻUlu (breadfruit) crossed the Pacific with Polynesian voyagers and became a Hawaiian symbol of abundance, resilience, and family provision. Read more...
Hawaiian shave ice topped with pink syrup, Hawaiʻi
Hawaiian Shave Ice, Explained
Hawaiian shave ice is more than a summer treat — here's what makes it different from mainland snow cones, where it started, and where to try it. Read more...
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...

Browse all 220 articles by topic →