Sacred Hawaiian tree species threatened by deadly fungus; tourists can help save it. HONOLULU — A deadly fungus threatens one of Hawaii’s most beloved and important species, the ʻōhiʻa tree, and those believed responsible for spreading the disease are now being asked to help save it — tourists.
The native ʻōhiʻa is sacred to Hawaiians as a cultural touchstone and ecological underpinning for the state’s lush forests and abundant wildlife. The flowering evergreens that can tower to 85 feet comprise 80 percent of the state’s canopy, covering 1 million acres, and its nectar sustains birds and insects found nowhere else on Earth. Now, public agencies and private citizens are trying to avoid biological and economic catastrophe by proclaiming war against a deadly fungal disease coined “rapid ʻōhiʻa death,” or ROD, that is swiftly destroying the trees. What’s more, invasive species like the miconia tree, native to North and South America and called the “green cancer” of Hawaii’s forests, are choking out the ʻōhiʻa. Exclusive partnership between Mastercard and the Center brings Maui legend to life! - Polynesian Cultural Center.
The Polynesian Cultural Center has once again partnered with Mastercard to offer an exclusive Priceless experience.
As part of Mastercard’s new distance learning offering for their members, the Center has re-created the story of Maui pulling up the Hawaiian Islands in video and a companion story coloring book. This bundle will be offered to all of their members across the world. There are approximately 875 million Mastercard members worldwide. Both the Maui video and coloring book will be exclusive to Mastercard for one year. Traditional Polynesian Luau Foods - Hawaii Luaus™ Some of the delicious foods you’ll find at a traditional luau Whether you’re an adventurous eater or a bit more finicky, you probably want to know what it is you’re about to put in your mouth.
It’s not always self-explanatory when you look at a menu in an authentic Hawaiian restaurant. Dining locally in Hawaii will expose your palate to new flavors, and one place where this is especially true is at a luau. Though modern luaus are quite a bit different from their ancient forerunners, one thing that hasn’t changed is the sizable feast spread out in front of you. Blog. United States Geography - Hawaii. Hawaii is near the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
Honolulu, the state capital, is 3,850 kilometers west of San Francisco, California, 6,500 kilometers east of Tokyo, Japan, and roughly 7,300 kilometers northeast of the Australian coast. This might be viewed as a case of extreme isolation, and until the last few centuries this was probably true. But as countries around the Pacific Basin began to communicate more with one another and to use the ocean's resources, these islands became an important center of interaction. The Hawaiian chain is merely the visible portion of a series of massive volcanoes. Shapeshifting Dragons Hawaiian Mythology. Story by Shannon Wianecki | Illustration by Ana Karla Gherman In one of the most famous legends of ancient Hawaiʻi, Pele, the volcano goddess, sends her youngest sister, Hiʻiaka, to rescue a mortal lover.
Three moʻo (supernatural lizards) have captured Pele’s sweetheart and hold him hostage in a cave on Kauaʻi. Thus, Hiʻiaka’s mission involves a second errand: dragon slaying. Hawaiian Mythology (An Intro to Hawaiian Gods, Goddesses & Legends) Author Joseph Campbell once said, “Myth is the secret opening through which the inexhaustible energies of the cosmos pour into human cultural manifestation.”
There are few places in the modern world in which this connection between mankind, myth, and nature is more obvious than Hawaii (formerly known as “The Big Island”). Here, Hawaiian mythology is not just some relic of a distant past, but a very present spiritual belief among many of the island’s indigenous natives. More than 150 years before Charles Darwin wrote The Origin of the Species after visiting the Galapagos Islands, Hawaiian kahunas (or priests) recited an ancient creation chant– the epic Kumulipo– which traced humanity’s origins to a cosmic night, and established the concept of biological evolution. Polynesian Mythology - Myth Encyclopedia - god, legend, war, world, creation, life, hero, people, children.
Polynesia is a vast region of the Pacific Ocean consisting of many hundreds of widely separated, culturally and politically diverse island groups.
Ranging from Midway and Hawaii in the north to New Zealand in the south, the triangular area called Polynesia also includes Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, Tuamotu, the Cook Islands, and the Pitcairn Islands. Although the mythology of Polynesia took different forms on various islands, many of the basic stories, themes, and deities were surprisingly similar throughout the region. Foundations of Religion and Myth. Scholars believe that humans first migrated to Polynesia from Southeast Asia about 2,000 years ago. These people carried with them their mythological traditions about events, deities, and heroes. 9 Fascinating Stories Of Hawaiian Mythology Like many indigenous peoples, the ancient Hawaiians felt a deep connection to the aina (land), and used stories of their gods and goddesses to explain everything from lava flows to the creation of the Hawaiian Islands.
These Hawaiian myths and legends are full of passion, betrayal, love, and death, and are sure to astonish you. We’re aware that these uncertain times are limiting many aspects of life. While we continue to feature destinations that make our state wonderful, please take proper precautions or add them to your bucket list to see at a later date. Polynesian Mythology - Myth Encyclopedia - god, legend, war, world, creation, life, hero, people, children.
Blog. In a Word: Ohana = Family Valentines Day is upon us, and here in Hawaii, nothing reflects love more than OHANA.
Hawaii Literature. Hawaii Literature Hawaiian Humanities When it comes to artistic expression on the islands of Hawaii the first thing that many people think of is hula dancing and extravagant luau feasts.
But, what many people don’t know is that the Aloha Islands have a history rich in the art of storytelling, which has helped to shape the literary developments that are so prominent in current culture of the islands. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hawaii. Polynesians - Introduction, Location, Language, Folklore, Religion, Major holidays, Rites of passage. PRONUNCIATION: PAHL-uh-nee-zhuns LOCATION: Polynesia, a vast string of islands in the Pacific Ocean, including Hawaii, New Zealand, Easter Island, Tonga, and French Polynesia POPULATION: Unknown. Polynesian Religions: An Overview. Polynesia consists of several thousand islands contained within an immense triangle in the central Pacific with its corners at Hawai'i, New Zealand, and Easter Island. Polynesian peoples also inhabit a few "outliers" to the west of the triangle, such as Tikopia and Ontong Java in the Solomon Islands.
Polynesian islands range from the huge, continental North and South Islands of New Zealand through the high, volcanic islands found in the Hawaiian, Samoan, and Society (Tahitian) chains, to the tiny, low atolls of the Tuamotu archipelago. Although a good deal of cultural diversity does exist within Polynesia, even more noteworthy—given the vast distances between island groups and the striking ecological differences between the continental, volcanic, and coral islands—are the cultural consistencies that hold throughout the region. These include closely linked languages, related forms of social and political organization, and similar religious beliefs and ceremonies. Polynesian culture - Religion. Polynesian belief systems emphasized animism, a perspective in which all things, animate and inanimate, were believed to be endowed to a greater or lesser degree with sacred supernatural power. That power, known among Polynesians as mana, could be nullified by various human actions, and many of the region’s tapu (“prohibitions” or “taboos”) were intended to prevent such behaviours.
As is typical of animist cultures, religious concerns permeated all aspects of life. Top languages other than English spoken in Hawaii. Weather in Hawaii. Weather in The Hawaiian Islands is very consistent, with only minor changes in temperature throughout the year. There are really only two seasons in Hawaii: summer (kau) from May to October and winter (hooilo) from November to April. The average daytime summer temperature at sea level is 85° F (29.4° C), while the average daytime winter temperature is 78° (25.6° C). Temperatures at night are approximately 10° F lower than the daytime. Geography of Hawaii Facts & Information. Population: 1,360,301 (2010 Census estimate)Capital: HonoluluLargest Cities: Honolulu, Hilo, Kailua, Kaneohe, Waipahu, Pearl City, Waimalu, Mililani, Kahului, and KiheiLand Area: 10,931 square miles (28,311 sq km)Highest Point: Mauna Kea at 13,796 feet (4,205 m) Ten Geographic Facts About Hawaii Hawaii is one of the 50 states of the United States.
It is the newest of the states (it joined the union in 1959) and it is the only U.S. state that is an island archipelago. Hawaii is located in the Pacific Ocean to the southwest of the continental U.S., southeast of Japan and northeast of Australia. Hawaiian Myths and Legends. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Hawaii. Hawaii - Government and society. Polynesian culture - Religion. Hawaii-usa-climate#:~:text=Hawaii's climate is characteristically tropical,F (21.1°C) Polynesian languages. History, Religion, Traditions, & Facts. Facts, Topography, History, & Volcanoes.