HAWAI’I overflows with natural beauty. Piercing the surface of the Pacific from the ocean floor, the Hawai’ian Islands are garlanded with soft sand beaches and dramatic volcanic cliffs. Long days of sunshine and fairly mild year-round temperatures make this an all-season destination, and the islands’ offerings—from urban Honolulu on Oahu to the luxury resorts of Maui to the natural wonders of Kaua’i and the Big Island—appeal to all kinds of visitors. Less-developed Lanai and Moloka’i are quieter, but all the islands are rich in Hawai’ian culture.

Native Hawai’ians navigated to the Hawai’ian Islands, where they lived and flourished for centuries, carrying on the cultural traditions they brought with them and innovating new ones. With the influx of a diverse group of people to the islands, including the missionaries who converted many Hawai’ians to Christianity and immigrant laborers who worked the sugar cane plantations, some Native Hawai’ian traditions were widely adopted and evolved in the same pattern of assimilation, adaptation and innovation that affected the culture of newcomers, creating a shared culture of diverse influences commonly referred to simply as “local.” However, many Native Hawai’ian customs have been protected and perpetuated and are still practiced today.

The Ea Mai Hawaiinuiakea chant speaks of the genealogy of the Hawai’ian Islands themselves and includes references to the divine origins of early chiefs and kings. Genealogy chants such as this one are revered in Hawaiʻi as they affirm the connections between people and the land upon which they live. These connections help us better understand our privilege and kuleana (responsibility) to care for places and people.

Under UPCOMING VACATIONS & EVENTS you’ll find ALL of the current vacations we’re offering for Hawai’i at this time. View ACCOMMODATIONS in the region, as well as NEWS & TRAVEL TIPS or discover regional fare and libations under the GASTRONOMY section.