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.

Statue of King Kamehameha the Great in front of ʻAliʻiolani Hale, Honolulu
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...
Freshly harvested taro (kalo), the source of poi, in 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...
A surfer carrying a board at sunset in Hawaiʻi
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 blossoms, the iconic flower of the 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...
A green sea turtle (honu) swimming over a reef in Hawaiʻi
Honu: the sacred sea turtle of the Hawaiian Islands
Meet the honu — Hawaiʻi's sacred green sea turtle. Its place in Hawaiian tradition, where to see one, and how to share the shoreline respectfully. Read more...
Pele Hawaiian volcano goddess canvas wall art — Kīlauea fire deity
The legend of Pele: Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes
Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes, is the maker of new land. A guide to her story, her journey from Kahiki, and how Hawaiians honor her today. Read more...
Hawaiian lauhala (hala/pandanus) weaving in progress
What Is Lauhala? A Guide to the Sacred Hawaiian Weaving Tradition
Lauhala — the woven leaf of the Hawaiian hala tree — is one of Polynesia's oldest and most enduring crafts. Here's what lauhala is, where it comes from, and why... Read more...
A shell and bead necklace, traditional Hawaiian adornment
Adorned by the Islands: The History of Jewelry in Ancient Hawaiian Culture
Long before Western explorers arrived on the Hawaiian Islands, the people of Hawaiʻi were crafting stunning ornaments from shells, bone, ivory, and feathers. Discover the deep history of jewelry in... Read more...
Lauhala Weaving: The Sacred Art That Wove Together Ancient Hawaiian Life
Lauhala Weaving: The Sacred Art That Wove Together Ancient Hawaiian Life
For centuries, lauhala weaving has been one of the most sacred and essential crafts in Hawaiian culture. Woven from the leaves of the hala tree (Pandanus tectorius), lauhala products —... Read more...

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