Known for its long stretches of golden and white sand beaches, drenched in sunshine and alive with swaying palms, Hawaii is a natural destination when you want to get away from it all. The Aloha State's rep as a party paradise belies the spirit that runs through this island destination. "Aloha" is more than a greeting in Hawaii, it's the very essence of combining past and present, life and love, and it runs like a current across the beaches, up the mountains and through the streets.
From the first Polynesians drawn to these islands when they were nothing more than a belief, an idea that land lay to the north of what is today Tahiti, Hawaii beckoned. The English explorers came, opening the door to the whalers, and the New England missionaries, the laborers, the Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Portuguese, who worked the sugar and pineapple plantations. Inevitably, the developers came too, building the expectation of Hawaii as tropical vacation paradise.
However, to see Hawaii through the melting remains of a rum libation is to miss what the islands mean. To wander only as far as the waves where your resort spills into the ocean is to be deaf to the call of “Aloha.”
Where will you hear this siren’s song? All over the islands, if you know where to look.
Gathering In
The island of O’ahu is known as The Gathering Place, and is home to Hawaii’s capital city, Honolulu and famed Waikiki Beach. Nestled in the Waikiki sands, you’ll find the Outrigger Reef Hotel, where Hawaiian history meets modern amenities. The newly renovated property is part of a Hawaiian-based accommodations chain, and each Outrigger property makes it a point to help connect guests with Hawaiian culture.
At the Reef, guests can take lei making, hula, and ukulele lessons. Tailored to all age and skill levels, these daily lessons are more than Hawaiian kitsch. In lei making, you’ll learn the stories and legends behind the flowers used and the history of the lei. Matt Sproat teaches the ukulele lessons, and he’s one of Hawaii’s biggest musicians. One half of the group Waipuna, Matt is a master of the falsetto, and can show you anything from how to play simple ukulele chords to more complicated arrangements.
Every Saturday, the Reef hosts the Na Ali‛i walking tour. Ali‛I means royalty in Hawaiian, and this hour and a half journey through Waikiki showcases places of historical significance.
To immerse yourself in Hawaii’s history, spend a day at the Polynesian Cultural Center, 42 aces dedicated to the history of Hawaii and the Pacific Rim. Villages here recreate settlements in Hawaii, Samoa, Aotearoa (Maori New Zealand), Fiji, the Marquesas, Tahiti, and Tonga; as well as a Rapa Nui and an 1850s-era Christian mission complex. With day passes, guests can walk through the villages, and watch re-enactors demonstrate how daily lives were lived on each of the islands. A long time favorite O’ahu attraction, the PCC breathes new life into Hawaii’s past. You might take part in a mock pig hunt in the Marqueses Village, or learn warrior skills in the Hawaii Village. Learn fast-paced Tahitian dance steps, see Tonganese drumming, learn how missionaries brought quilting to the islands, and figure out how to open a coconut. There’s also a nightly luau performance, special exhibits, and other interactive opportunities abound.
Walking Through History
It’s entirely easy to surround yourself with luxury on the 64-acres that make up the tropical playground of the Hilton Waikoloa Village, on Hawaii’s Big Island. Between the sweeping vistas of gardens and ocean, five world-cuisine restaurants, and a pool that houses turtles and dolphins, you understand immediately why Waikoloa is inevitably compared to Disneyland.
However, don’t let the man-made beach and monorail fool you. Tucked into every aspect of the Hilton Waikoloa is a cultural history that connects Hawaii’s past to its present. The brainchild of resort developer Chris Hemmeter, Waikoloa from its start was designed to be a place that paid homage to Hawaii’s multiculturalism.
While bulldozers were digging his vision out of the lava rock, Hemmeter traveled the world to bring back $6 million in art and artifacts, representing the ethnicities of the islands. Much of the collection hails from Asia and the Pacific Rim, with nods to Europe and the New World. Today the Hilton Waikoloa Village Museum Walkway collection is valued at more than $7 million and the 5,000 pieces include Han dynasty pottery, Samoan war clubs, Polynesian tapa cloth, oil paintings, a life-size Thai chariot drawn by six horses, a massive white marble Buddhas and outrigger canoes. The objects are strewn across the property, tucked into quiet enclaves, set amid sweeping panoramas, rising from the lobby colonnades, and even placed in some of the guest rooms.
The collection is looked after by art curator, Marica Ray, who hosts tours of the grounds and the art upon request. She offers guests the stories behind each piece, and this behind-the-scenes experience is one that you won’t find in quite the same way anywhere else on the islands.
Your historical walk through Waikoloa continues toward the edge of the grounds, where the resort’s main road gives way to the posh Queen’s Marketplace and King’s Shops. Here, you’ll find petroglyphs, ancient images carved into lava rock that date back to the first settling of Hawaii, circa 700 A.D. History buffs won’t want to miss this walk, and should continue their exploration with the Pukalo Petroglyph Field and Malama Trail, located about five miles north, in the Mauna Lani Resort.
Surround Yourself in the History of a People
Every Tuesday and Friday at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua, nestled in the sloping hills of West Maui, Clifford Nae’ole, the director of cultural affairs, leads guests through a unique tour of Hawaii. The seminar, “A Sense of Place,” tells the story of the Hawaiian people, from their beginnings on the islands, through the near-depletion of their customs and language, and onward into the current renaissance of Hawaiian culture. Those staying at the hotel, as well as others who are interested may attend the presentations, which begin at 10 a.m. The program begins with the presentation of Dr. Elizabeth Kapu’uwailani Lindsey’s award-winning documentary, “Then There Were None,” which is followed by a discussion of the history and subjects broached in the documentary. Afterward, Nae’ole leads guests on a walking tour to the border of the Honokahua Preservation Site, where he explains its significance to ancient Hawaiians, as well as its role in today's cultural renaissance. This 13.6 acre parcel is the final resting place of more than 2,000 Hawaiian kupuna (ancestors) dating from 850 A.D. to the early 1800s.
On the last Friday of the month, Nae’ole leads the Mai Ka Pu’uwai “Talk Story” Series. Mai Ka Pu’uwai means “from the heart,” and the series offers a forum where experts in various areas of history or culture, share their knowledge. In past forums, subjects included Ka Wai a Kane (The Water of Kane), explaining the Hawaiian ‘awa and ceremony. “I Remember When,” which brought kupuna or elders to share their stories of growing up in Maui.
Ritz Carlton guests who seek a more active approach to experiencing Hawaii won’t want to miss the Ambassadors of the Environment program, offered jointly between the hotel and Jean-Michael Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society. Various activities are offered daily, and guests can hike through the Hawaiian rainforest, snorkel among Maui’s beautiful coral reefs, and participate in underwater photography sessions, which allows them to explore the relevance of Hawaiian culture, learn about Hawaii’s unique ecosystems, and alternatives for a sustainable future.