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.

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...
Palm trees silhouetted against a golden Hawaiian sunset over the ocean
Best Time of Day to See a Hawaiian Sunset
Wondering about the best time of day to see a Hawaiian sunset? Here's how to time it right, plus the best spots across the islands. Read more...
Hawaiian oil-painting canvas print of the USS Arizona Memorial hanging as wall art
Wall Art Size Calculator: Find Your Perfect Canvas Size
Use our free wall art size calculator to find the ideal canvas print size for any wall — plus how Kahana Designs' Hawaiian oil-painting canvases fit the rule. Read more...
Aerial view of the Na Pali Coast cliffs and turquoise ocean, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Kauaʻi for First-Timers: The Garden Isle Guide
A first-timer's guide to Kauaʻi, the Garden Isle — the Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, best beaches, and where to eat. Read more...
Surfers at sunset in the ocean off Waikīkī, Hawaiʻi
What Time Is It in Hawaii? Free Live Clock & Converter
See the current time in Hawaii and convert it to your own time zone with our free what time is it in Hawaii tool — built by Kahana Designs, a... Read more...
A coconut palm tree reaching toward the sky in Hawaii
Niu: The Coconut Tree and Its Meaning in Hawaiian Culture
How the coconut palm arrived in Hawaii as a Polynesian canoe plant, why it's considered a body form of the god Kū, and how early Hawaiians used every part of... Read more...
Aerial view of the vast open Pacific Ocean with scattered clouds near Hawaiʻi
How Far Is Hawaiʻi from the Mainland?
Wondering how far Hawaiʻi is from the U.S. mainland? Here's what to know about flight distances, times, and time zones before you book. Read more...
Aerial view of Waikiki Beach and Honolulu skyline on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Oʻahu Travel Guide: Beaches, Hikes & Local Eats
Your Oʻahu travel guide to Waikiki, the North Shore, hikes, and local eats — everything you need to plan a trip to the Gathering Place. Read more...
Aerial view of a lush green Hawaiian coastline with turquoise water and sandy beach
Hawaii Trip Cost: Free Hawaii Trip Budget Calculator
Wondering about hawaii trip cost before you book? Use our free Hawaii Trip Budget Calculator to get a real estimate for flights, lodging, food, and more. Read more...
Sunset over a Maui, Hawaii beach with mountains in the background
15 Best Things to Do on Maui
Discover the 15 best things to do in Maui, from Haleakalā sunrise to Road to Hana stops, snorkeling, and sunset beaches. Read more...

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