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Hawaii Culture

To many people, Hawaii culture brings to mind hula dancers in grass skirts and lei tradition. And Hawaiian history started with Captain Cook or even Pearl Harbor. You can travel to Hawaii with this in mind, and have a good time. But Hawaii culture is much more complicated and interesting.

Hawaii culture is the result of overlay after overlay of varied cultural groups. Hawaii culture have Polynesian roots - Polynesian came to Hawaiian islands from the Marquesas and established the first settlements (about 600-700 AD). These settlers brought with them their gods, their plants, their culture and their language. The second wave of migration came from the Society Islands. Then, in different times, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese and Korean arrived on Hawaii, and they also had some influence on Hawaii culture.

Hawaii language

Hawaii language belongs to a family of languages from central and eastern Polynesia, which includes Hawaiian, Tahitian, Tumotuan, Rarotongan and Maori. Musical and sensuos, it has so many vowels that that a face needs to smile to speak >>

Hula - Hawaii dance

Hula is the soul of Hawaii expressed in motion. It is the characteristic manifestation of the Hawaii culture: the dancers shows the life of nature in their art. Hawaii hula is unique and totally different from other Polynesian dances. It began as a form of worship during religious ceremonies, but it gradually evolved into a form of entertainment >>

Lei tradition

Lei making is the most beautiful forms of Hawaii culture. This lovely tradition of placing a flower garland around a neck of someone represents in the best way the Aloha spirit of Hawaii. There are many different types of lei - they range from a simple plumeria flower lei to the intricate feather lei. Ancient Hawaiians made lei for the neck, wrists and ankles. Now the neck and head lei are most widely used.

Luau

Luau custom, originating from a tradition to pay homage to ancestral gods with song, dance and offerings of food, is an integral part of Hawaii culture. In our time luau lost its pagan roots and became more commonly a chance to relax and enjoy family and friends with good food and music. Today Hawaii luau is a major tourist attraction and dozens are held daily throughout the islands >>

Hawaii legends

Mythology is a separate and fascinating part of Hawaii culture. Ancient Hawaiians lived in harmony with nature, they respected animals and natural phenomenons and imputed divinity to them. It was reflected in Hawaiian myths and legends >>