Early History
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The first people to set foot on Hawaii were probably Polynesian fishermen, or perhaps defeated warriors whose canoes were drawn hopelessly northward into unfamiliar waters. They arrived by a combination of extraordinary good luck and an uncanny ability to sail and navigate without instruments, using the sun by day and the moon and rising stars by night.
Settlers
Original settlers of Polynesia migrated through South-East Asia and Indonesia across Melanesia, before settling the Polynesian islands from 1000 BC to 500 AD. Hawaii was one of the last island groups to be settled. Archaeological evidence indicates the first Polynesians arrived in Hawaii from the Marquesas between 500 and 700 AD.
The first wave of Tahitians arrived in Hawaii in about 1000 AD conquering and subjugating the Marquesans, forcing them to build temples, irrigation ditches and fishponds. The menehunelegends of a tribe of little people may well refer to the Marquesans for the word ‘menehune’ is very similar to the Tahitian word for ‘outcast’.
The earliest Hawaiians had simple beliefs which were the result of being in tune with the spirits of nature. Offerings to their gods consisted mainly of praying and a sharing of their harvest. The Hawaiians had gods for all natural phenomena, consisting of the four main gods: Ku, Lono, Kane, and Kanaloa. Ku was the ancestor god and took charge of the male gods and Hina took charge of the females. They were responsible for heaven and earth, fishing, forests, and farming. Lono was the god of the rain, the harvest, fertility, and peace. Kane created the first man and was the god from which all Hawaiians descended. Kanaloa was the god of the underworld and ruler of the dead. Under these main four were many lesser gods.
Temples erected in ancient Hawaii, called heiaus, were built in two basic styles using lava rock. One was a rectangular enclosure built directly on the ground, the other consisted of raised terraced platforms with rocks piled high. Many of these heiaus can still be found throughout the islands today and are considered sacred places.
The Makahiki
According to legend, the god Lono, after a spiff with a chief who was lusting after Kaikilani, his wife, killed her and set sail on a canoe with a tall mast hung with sails and promised to return one day on a “floating island”. The Hawaiians remembered Lono each year with a harvest festival, called the makahiki, which lasted from October to February. Even during wartime, fighting would be suspended for the festivities dedicated to Lono.
While religion figures prominently in all of the activities of the kahuna, they were also experts in their professions or crafts. The temple priests w...
While Molokai may be one of the less visited islands of the Hawaiian chain, it nevertheless has some beautiful scenery and beaches. Papohaku Beach is over one...
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- Oahu
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Some consider the island of Oahu to be the prettiest of the islands. From the sandy beaches of Waikiki, to the majesty of Diamond Head, and the inland...
Oahu has it all. From the glitzy, busy lifestyle of Oahu and Waikiki, to the historical aspects of Pearl Harbor and Hawai'ian culture, to nature trails,...
Oahu offers a bit of everything for the hiker. From easy hikes, to more crowded touristy hikes (Diamond Head Crater), to very challenging hikes. And...
When one thinks of Oahu, one tends to think of Honolulu skyscrapers and Waikiki beaches. But the island includes many secluded areas and lovely beaches...
- Maui
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The island of Maui is known as the heart chakra of the Hawai'ian islands and the energy of love is greatly present... from the healing provided by Nature...
On Maui you can hike up at 10,000 feet where you will be above the clouds, or you can hike at sea level, whether by the ocean on impeccable sandy beaches,...
Whether your interests center in nature, spirituality, history, wine-making, or something else, Maui has a lot to offer. From the eastern side of the...
Camping on the island of Maui can range from desert-type settings such as at the Haleakala Volcano Crater, to the beach or tropical settings on the rest...
- Kauai
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In the system that classifies the Hawai'ian islands according to chakras, Kaua'i is the third eye (sixth chakra). Thus it has connotations and connections...
The island of Kauai invites the visitor to its rounded mountains softened with years of erosion. You can visit a fern grotto, farm homesteads and plantations,...
Kaua'i offers perhaps the most diverse choice of hiking trails of the Hawai'ian islands. It has its own "Grand Canyon" (Waimea Canyon) in the south,...
Kauai's climate ranges from the lush tropical settings of the North shore to the dry arid beaches of the south. The government of Hawaii provides sheltered...
- Hawaii
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The Big Island has a variety of attractions for the Nature Lover. From the beaches which range from white, green, or black sand, to the mountain...
The Big Island offers many options for the visitor, and of course no visit would be complete without a visit to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or...
The Big Island offers a variety of hiking choices for the beginner as well as the experienced hiker. You can hike up to the edge of mountains and volcanic...
The Big Island offers a wide variety of camping choices... from the black lava rock, to the lush tropics of the eastern shore, to the sandy beaches of...
- Molokai
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Molokai is known for its slow pace of life, for its awesome geography, its friendly people, and for Father Damien and his work with the lepers of Kalaupapa....
Molokai prides itself on being the "slower" Hawaiian island, one where the pace of life is still the way it was before modernisation came in and sped...
The island of Molokai is known worldwide due to Father Damian and his work on a secluded section of the island with the lepers at Kalaupapa. However,...
Molokai offers country parks and state parks for the camping enthusiasts. This is one of the less populated and less visited island thus providing you...
While Molokai may be one of the less visited islands of the Hawaiian chain, it nevertheless has some beautiful scenery and beaches. Papohaku Beach is...
- Lanai
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Lanai is one of the less visited islands due to the fact that for many years as it was mostly a huge plantation for the Dole company. However, as time...
While Lanai is not a very highly visited Hawai'ian island, it nevertheless offers a choice of activities for the visitor. Whether you prefer hiking or...
Lanai does not offer a lot of hiking trails. The Munro Trail is an easier hike while the Kuolanai is classified as rugged and dangerous. The Koloiki...
