HAWAII // USA
Aloha! Hawaii, a land kissed by the Pacific, is eight main islands, each different enough that people argue about which is best. Modern island life. The word you will hear most is ohana. It means family, stretched to include anyone who has been taken in. Hawaii was a kingdom with its own monarchy until 1893, when it was overthrown with American help. ‘Iolani Palace in Honolulu is the only royal palace on American soil, and the last queen was imprisoned in an upstairs room of it.
Today, Hawaii dances to a beat, where you hear hula drums and ukulele most evenings. Honolulu’s Chinatown has the markets and the lei stands, side by side, and the lei are strung by hand while you wait. As the sun dips below the horizon, a golden halo graces the sacred peak of Mauna Kea, casting its blessing on this archipelago
And then there’s Kauai, the Garden Isle, a lush haven of emerald valleys, cascading waterfalls, and golden beaches. Polynesian navigators found these islands by reading swells and stars, with no instruments. Stone temples called heiau are still standing, often with no sign to tell you what you are looking at. The crafts of Kauai’s artisans, from delicate Ni’ihau shell jewelry to intricate kapa designs, offer a tangible connection to the island’s cultural heritage.
The volcanoes of Hawaii stand as both guardians and storytellers, their fiery eruptions shaping the very land beneath our feet. Yet, in these molten depths lies a crucial lesson about our planet’s delicate balance. As the world grapples with the pressing challenge of climate change, Hawaii’s volcanoes serve as a stark reminder of nature’s awesome power and our collective responsibility to safeguard the environment. The islands’ unique geological landscape not only bears witness to Earth’s turbulent past but also offers a poignant reflection on the urgency of preserving its future.
