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In the modern day, the conch is a commercial symbol of the Hawaiian culture and is featured in various pop culture scenes, such as the children’s show “Spongebob SquarePants.” However, this whimsical shell holds both historical and religious significance to Native Hawaiians and continues to represent a vital aspect of the continuation of their traditions.  History of the Hawaiian Culture The history of the pu dates back to prehistoric times and was shrouded in supernatural glory. It is believed that a group of biologically small native Hawaiians known as the Menehune

Hawaiian Holiday Rentals You are planning your yearly winter vacation and you want to spend the holidays somewhere truly different. Why not escape the winter weather with a trip to a fabulous tropical island? Don’t bother breaking out your passports, come and enjoy a Hawaiian holiday trip. The Hawaiian island of Oahu is the perfect place to spend the holidays, and Ola Properties can find you the ideal vacation home to stay. Our Homes We offer many rental options, including condos, houses and even homes that are located on the

Fun Winter Activities to Enjoy Outdoors Warm breezes, swaying palm trees, pristine beaches, and warm Pacific waters welcome you during Oahu winters. With the sun shining high overhead and temperatures hovering in the high 70s year-round, every month is ideal for a tropical beach vacation on Oahu. Pack your swimwear and a jacket for evenings with cool ocean breezes, and come ready for a warm Hawaiian winter getaway. Check out these fantastic and fun winter activities on Oahu. Enjoy a Whale Watching Tour If you’re traveling to Oahu during winter,

The Hawaiian language was originally an oral language, with no written version. All stories, traditions, and myths could only be passed down and shared through chants, hula, and song. Out of the necessity of needing it to be easy to remember for recitation, the language developed to be quite poetic in nature, with many Hawaiian words having multiple meanings or conveying a complex thought. Beautiful Hawaiian Words  Words in Hawaiian can have many layers and may be interpreted in slightly different ways depending on context. Aloha, for example, can mean both hello, goodbye

The mesmerizing hula dance you see performed on the islands of Hawaii today has a long history rooted in traditional culture. Most visitors will see hula at a luau or a special event. (Paradise Cove Luau near Ko Olina Resort is one of the best in Hawaii!) Hula is such a part of Hawaii that it might be surprising to learn there was a time when hula was in danger of disappearing from the islands. The history of hula is the history of Hawaii. Before the Hawaiian people had a written

Introducing the Rare Hawaiian Monk Seal Neomonachus Schauinslandi, more commonly known as the Hawaiian Monk Seal, is not only one of the rarest seals found in U.S. waters but one of the most endangered species on the planet. These beautiful animals are native to Hawaii and are primarily found inhabiting the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.   Habitat While most seals like to keep things cold, the Hawaiian monk seal is downright tropical and prefers the warm waters and sandy beaches found on the coasts of the Hawaiian Islands. They spend most of their

What does the Hawaiian Shaka sign mean? Anyone who has visited the islands has no doubt seen the famous hand gesture coupled with the “Shaka” greeting! A shaka sign – the unmistakable pinky and thumb salute – is the ultimate symbol of Aloha and local culture in Hawaii. Interpreted to mean “hang loose” or “right on,” the Hawaiian Shaka is a constant reminder that in Hawaii, it is not the norm to worry or rush. The shaka sign represents the embodiment of “island style.” It conveys friendship, understanding, compassion, and

The ultimate engineering of the magical, man-made, Ko Olina Lagoons can be laid at the feet of one Herbert Horita. They were designed to be continually cleaned by natural ocean currents while serving the needs of the community without concerns of chlorine or chemicals. Sand for the beaches was brought in from the neighboring island of Lanai. The ocean is no more than six feet deep in the portion roped off for swimming. The Origin of the (Man-Made) Ko Olina Lagoons Ko Olina was once part of sugarcane plantations owned by

CHANCE is the possibility of something happening. We use this word a lot in Hawaii. The original translation or the root of the word basically remains the same in most of the ways that it is used, so keep that in mind when you hear it. You Like Chance? This is a phrase that many young lads might use to ask a young lady to take a chance on him. Another translation might be “Would you like to go steady”. By Chance… This is usually used when you have something in your hand

Chicken Skin literally means “goose bumps”, only it is almost never used to describe the goose bumps themselves. While we normally think of goose bumps when we are chilled, in Hawaii we rarely use “chicken skin” to describe the temperature or the weather. Rather it is usually used to describe how we get goose bumps.  Something Scary:  When a spooky story is told and the hairs on our arms stand up, we call this chicken skin.Many will actually use the term chicken skin when describing how scary the story is to them. [Morgan’s Corner was dark