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...
A traditional Hawaiian makau (fish-hook) pendant carved from bone, on lava rock
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...
Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing, c.1912, with his surfboard
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...
Colorful Hawaiian flower lei at a lei stand
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...
Traditional Hawaiian kapa barkcloth with geometric stamped patterns
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...
A puka shell necklace, traditional Hawaiian jewelry
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...
A Hawaiian plate lunch with rice, meat and a side
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 arrivals at Kahana Designs — folded apparel flat lay
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...

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