Before the fire. Before the drums. Before the crowds and the stage lights—there was the nifo oti, the Samoan war knife. Fire Knife Dancing is a show-stopping finale to many luaus. But long before, it was something else entirely: a weapon. The nifo oti, which...
Catholic Saints are practically innumerable. There are over 10,000 people that have been canonized as saints, but only two are directly associated with Hawai‘i—Marianne Cope and Joseph de Vuester a.k.a. Father Damien. May 10th marks the celebration of Saint Damien,...
May is the start of Invasive Species Awareness Month in Hawai‘i. While recognizing this issue as an "awareness month" is in its eighth year, invasive species have been a problem for much longer than that. The isolated evolution of the plants and animals over...
Today starts the annual celebration known as National Park Week. If you ever needed an excuse to get out and explore America's backyard, this is a great time to do it. The writer and historian Wallace Stegner famously called the national parks "...the best idea we...
Heading to Hawaii? Whether you're soaking up the sun, snorkeling with sea turtles, or just floating your worries away, a little ocean-themed humor is the perfect way to keep things light. So, before you dive in (literally or figuratively), here’s a fresh batch of...
Snorkeling in Hawaii is like diving into a tropical aquarium without the glass walls. Whether you’re gliding over shallow coral gardens or exploring volcanic lava formations, you’ll encounter a vibrant underwater world teeming with colorful marine life. But before...
Stargazing in Death Valley is like nature handing you a VIP pass to the universe. The skies are so dark and clear that the stars practically yell, “Look at me!” But what really steals the show are the constellations. It’s like a cosmic scavenger hunt, and honestly,...
Hawaii’s Big Island is a land of myths and mysteries, from the ancient legends of Pele to the unexplained lights over Mauna Kea. But the most recent addition to the island’s lore is decidedly feline: reports of a big cat—yes, a predator straight out of the savannas...
Ever wonder what planet Tatooine looks like in real life? Welcome to Death Valley, my friend—where George Lucas and crew brought us iconic shots of a certain galaxy far, far away. Of course, they didn’t haul droids and banthas across scorching dunes just for the...
We want to tell you about the time we almost cried Stargazing in Death Valley. And not in a sad way—more like in a “the universe is infinite and I’m just a speck of cosmic dust” way. If you’ve never been, Death Valley is one of those places where you can't help...