HAWAII- Mahalo from the Aloha State

                                                               

It may seem odd that I include one of our 50 states in our journey around the world. The truth of the matter is Hawaii possesses a distinct and unique culture of its own, very different from mainland America. I can remember the fresh Hawaiian air dancing with notes of tropical hibiscus and fresh plumerias as I stepped out of the Honolulu Airport on onto the Waikiki Beach. It was April 1998, and I had my dear sister Annie, and my best friend Genevieve. We were in for a real treat. One week  in Oahu away from our corporate jobs. It truly was paradise.

                                                                   

 

Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, Hiking Diamond head, partaking in our first Luau, touring the Dole Pineapple plantation, watching Genevieve take surf lessons from a near centenarian native, soaking up the sun on the famous North Shore. It is a trip I will never forget. A year later, I returned to Hawaii. This time 10 days in Maui and Kauai. I must say I  favored the untouched raw natural beauty of Kauai and Maui to the congested tourist filled Honolulu. My favorite memory was kayaking in Kauai through the most serene waters and ending up in a beautiful waterfall. Pure nirvana.  
                                                                       

The term "Native Hawaiian" refers to  the people that arrived in Hawaii over 1,500 years ago from Tahiti and Polynesia. With only the stars to guide them, they sailed over 2000 miles in canoes to migrate to the islands. In 1778 Captain James Cook, native of England, sailed into Hawaii and had disastrous results. Traders and missionaries swarmed onto the Islands attacking many of the local customs and completely transformed and commercialized the economy with little regard for the natives.
                                                                     

 

In the last century sugar and pineapple plantations fueled Hawaii's economy bringing an influx of   immigrants from all over the world. Many coming from Japan, Korea, The Philippines, China, Portugal, and Puerto Rico.
                                                       

Lanai, under the leadership of James Dole, became known as the “Pineapple Island,” after becoming the world’s leading exporter of pineapple. This mix of immigrant ethnicities is what makes Hawaii’s population so diverse today.
                                                             

On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Oahu. Four years later, on September 2, 1945, Japan signed its unconditional surrender on the USS Battleship Missouri which still rests in Pearl Harbor today. In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th State of the United States. Hawaii is known for its Aloha spirit. The Aloha Spirit is a well known reference to the attitude of friendly acceptance for which the Hawaiian Islands are so famous. It also refers to a powerful way to resolve any problem, accomplish any goal, and to achieve any state of mind or body that you desire. In the Hawaiian language, aloha stands for much more than just "hello" or "goodbye" or "love." Its deeper meaning is "the joyful (oha) sharing (alo) of life energy (ha) in the present (alo)." Native Hawaiians believe that as you share this energy you become attuned to the Universal Power that the Hawaiians call mana. And the loving use of this incredible Power is the secret for attaining true health, happiness, prosperity and success.


 
                                                        

Although Hawaii is filled with sandy beaches, blue-sky waters, amazing volcanoes, and glorious sunsets, the  beautiful natural environment is not all there is to enjoy in this earth-bound paradise. The culture and tradition of Hawaii are actually even more interesting.  The graceful Hawaiian dances, the meaningful and religious songs, and the various interesting art forms seem to be created with only one purpose, and that is to serve as instruments through which the beauty and the mystery of the place is expressed. I remember going to my first Luau and seeing young native Hawaiian ladies performing a traditional Hawaiian Hula. I was captivated by the gracefulness, poise, and elegance of the dance.  

                                                                       

                                                                      

                                                                    

 

 

According to some, the hula represents the spirit of Hawaii through graceful  movements and captivating music. The hula is a local dance deeply rooted to the religion of the natives. Hawaiians actually believe that the first hula was performed by a god or goddess.  Because of this, the dance is considered more as a sacred ritual than as a form of entertainment. But through time, the hula became a part of celebrations and not just a spiritual performance or a form of worship.                                                                        The cuisine of Hawaii is just as beautiful as the land. It is all about making use of the fresh local delicacies such as fresh fish and citrus. We will cook traditional Poke(Raw Tuna with ginger,  red chilies, scallions, soy, sesame oil, and toasted  sesame seeds) and Lomi Lomi  Salmon(Smoked Salmon with scallions, Onions,  and Tomatoes).

                                                     

 Sources: http://www.to-hawaii.com/hawaiian-culture.php