Island of Hawaii

Hawaii Rooted: Cliff Kapono

A young Hawaiian leaves home to further his education and returns with the ability to use chemistry as a platform to share ancestral wisdom with the modern world.

Hawaii Rooted: Keoni Kaholoaa

A park ranger once disconnected from his culture embraces his identity as a descendent of Pele, the volcano goddess.

Hawaii Rooted: Kaumakaiwa Kanakaole

Battling stereotype and cliche, a hula luminary expresses the meaning and power of hula from her Native Hawaiian perspective.

Hawaii Rooted: Sheldon Simeon and Brandon Lee

Two Hilo natives buck industry convention to create a more holistic, sustainable farm-to-table experience that can only be created here.

Discover the Island of Hawaii

See some of the exciting places and activities around the island.

Hear a Hawaiian Chant

This traveling mele (chant) takes us around the island of Hawaii to certain places that are special to composer, Kamaka Kukona and his kumu hula’s (hula teacher) ohana (family). The uahi a ka wahine (smoky ash hued sky of Pele) in the first verse takes us up to Kilauea, a spot they frequent for hula, while the second verse onward speaks of the birth places of Kukonaʻs kumu hula’s family members from Waimea all the way back to Hilo.