Snorkeling in Maui offers some of the best opportunities for swimming with sea turtles. If you’re interested in a deeper understanding of the marine biology of Hawaii, join Ocean Ramsey’s research team in Oahu. Anini Beach on the island of Kauai provides snorkelers with access to the Rhe Honoiki reef, the largest coral reef in Hawaii. And if you want to walk away from your trip with a one-of-a-kind experience, swim at night with reef manta rays on Hawaii’s Big Island.

It doesn’t matter which island you choose. If you’re snorkeling in Hawaii, you are sure to enjoy your underwater adventure. Here are the best places for snorkeling around the Hawaiian Islands, plus the specific sea life you can expect to see below the surface.

Fringing Reef—Molokai

Get here by boat or kayak and prepare to be wowed by the longest fringing reef in Hawaii, which attracts everything from hawksbill turtles to spotted eagle rays. Plan your trip during whale-watching season (December-March) when thousands of whales show up and serenade each other (and you).

Where is it? South coast of Molokai

How to experience it? Let Snorkel Molokai take care of everything, from the boat ride and gear to special tips and instruction, if necessary.

Who is it suitable for? All levels

Turtle Town—Maui

On Maui’s southern coastline, a series of underwater lava formations, created by eruptions of submarine volcanoes, makes a cozy home for sea turtles. Just remember: look, but don’t touch; these guys are endangered. Angelfish, moray eels, and octopus are an added bonus.

Where is it? At Maluaka Beach, south of Kihei, near the Makena Beach and Golf Club.

How to experience it? A tour company like Maui Snorkeling will take visitors there for a 5-hour morning adventure. A heck of a way to start a day.

Who is it suitable for? All levels

Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park—Big Island

Hawaii’s Big Island offers numerous snorkeling spots. Kayak along the calm waters of Kealakekua Bay while keeping your eyes peeled for Hawaiian spinner dolphins; they like to put on a show. Once you reach the protected shoreline of Ka’awaloa, hop out and snorkel alongside turtles, eels, reef sharks, and rays.

Bring a picnic lunch and sit a spell near the monument of British explorer Captain James Cook; however, if you kayak on your own you are not allowed to dock on shore.

Where is it? 12-miles south of Historic Kailua Village (Kailua-Kona) in south Kona

How to experience it? Sign up for some “Morning Magic” with Kona Boys and enjoy a guided tour of this magical area at the best time of day.

Who is it suitable for? All levels

Night Manta Snorkel—Big Island

Tour operators set up waterproof spotlights on the ocean floor to attract plankton, a surefire way to bring giant Pacific manta rays galore. Even though they are closely related to sharks, have wingspans up to 20 feet, and can weigh a whopping 3,000 pounds, snorkeling with them is perfectly safe. Their underwater performance has all the theatrics of Cirque du Soleil—back flips and all.

Where is it? Fronting Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay; south of Historic Kailua Village (Kailua-Kona)

How to experience it? During lobster season, Shoreline Snorkel makes the nighttime tour even more exciting. And sometimes an octopus might even swim by.

Who is it suitable for? Intermediate

Poipu Beach Park—Kauai

Tikes will dig the shallow-water lagoon at Poipu Beach, not to mention the wildlife. Shoreside, you’ll often find lounging monk seals. Offshore, it’s common to see humpbacks during whale season. While snorkeling, look for blue parrotfish, sea cucumbers, and this tongue-twister: humuhumunukunukuapuaa, Hawaii’s state fish.

Where is it? 25 minutes west of Lihue on Kauai’s south shore

How to experience it? Visitors who feel like exploring on their own but didn’t bring the right gear can stop by Boss Frog’s for everything from masks to beach chairs.

Who is it suitable for? All levels

North Shore—Oahu

Oahu’s North Shore is one of the best places for snorkeling in Hawaii. Play marine biologist for the day by hanging out with Ocean Ramsey’s research team. Galapagos sharks, tiger sharks, sandbar sharks, hammerheads, and sometimes even whale sharks roams these parts. If you’re not a fan of the apex predator, this trip could certainly change your perspective. Humans aren’t really on the lunch list.

Where is it? Haleiwa Boat Harbor

How to experience it? Book a private excursion with Hawaii Real Nature Tours to get the most from an experienced guide in this magical location.

Who is it suitable for? All levels

Tunnels (Makua) Beach—Kauai

Weird rock formations? Check. Large coral heads? Check. This spot in Kauai will keep you entertained with its caverns, channels, and tunnels. Look for goat fish, hogfish, filefish, green sea turtles, moray eels, trumpet fish, and wrasse. A word to the wise: Avoid winter when the waves can be gnarly.

Where is it? Kauai’s north shore; off Highway 560 about a mile west of Hanalei Colony Resort; near Haena Beach Park

How to experience it? Kauai Sea Tours is one of several companies that showcases the best of the island’s snorkeling with excursions that feature multiple stops. Might as well see it all!

Who is it suitable for? Different areas are good for different levels of experience, but everyone should remember to not step on the coral.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve—Oahu

This volcanic crater on Oahu’s east side is a marine life conservation area sheltered from ocean swells and packed full of fish. Needless to say, it’s wildly popular, so be prepared for crowds. Take a peek at crevices and caves while making friends with damsel fish, squirrel fish, porcupine fish, and trumpet fish.

Where is it? Oahu’s east side; from Waikiki take the H1 Freeway until it becomes Kalanianaole Highway, continue 10 miles. You’ll find the entrance at the top of the hill.

How to experience it? Hanauma Bay Snorkel Adventures runs tours every day except Mondays and Tuesdays, as well as most major holidays.

Who is it suitable for? All levels

Honolua Bay—Maui

Located on Maui’s northwest shore, Honolua Bay is a marine life conservation area, so your chances are good of tracking down diverse sea critters. Plus, you’ll be surrounded by rocky cliffs that help shelter the area from wind. Keep an eye out for butterflyfish, snapper, puffer fish, unicorn fish, and sea urchins. Afterward, watch the surfers to the right of the boat ramp. This spot happens to be one of the most epic surf breaks in Hawaii.

Where is it? 10 miles north of Lahaina along Hwy 30

How to experience it? Do it in style by boarding the luxury catamaran from PacWhale Eco-Adventures.

Who is it suitable for? Intermediate

Hulopoe Bay—Lanai

On the island’s south shore you’ll find this crescent-shaped bay dotted with shallow tide pools that house hermit crabs, sea stars, and small fish. Below the surface, you’re in for a treat. Spinner dolphins and sea turtles frolic here frequently. Plus, bandit angelfish, Hawaiian green sea turtles, and humpbacks (in the winter).

Where is it? Between the Four Seasons Resort Lanai and Manele Bay

How to experience it? Book Amstar’s incredible day tour from Maui to Lanai that takes visitors to Hulopoe Bay for exploring by land and sea.

Who is it suitable for? All levels

The post 10 of the Best Snorkeling Experiences in Hawaii appeared first on Islands.

Oahu

Big city, bright lights, broad beaches and beautiful vistas: Oahu has it all and then some. The third-largest Hawaiian island, it’s often called The Gathering Place, because it’s home to most of the state’s population — 900,000-plus people — and more than 5 million tourists flock to its iconic beaches annually. Between its cultural heritage, historical significance and modern luxury, Oahu’s myriad options fit almost any style — and spark your inner surf-goddess.

Oahu Value Wedding Venue: Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel

This colorful 645-room resort is proof that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get married in the heart of Waikiki. Aston’s 21st-floor Coconut Club can accommodate up to 120 for a terrace ceremony and buffet reception, while the beach is across the street and Waikiki’s nightlife is a short stroll away.

Oahu Midrange Wedding Venue: Hilton Hawaiian Village

Modestly priced but lavishly appointed corner suites at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort flaunt a full-on view of the ocean, beach and Diamond Head crater. If you’re tying the knot on the Great Lawn on a Friday evening, the resort outdoes itself with a wedding-worthy fireworks display to cap off the night.

Oahu Luxury Wedding Venue: Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina

Tucked in a secluded cove in Ko Olina — one of Oahu’s less-populated beaches just 30 minutes from Honolulu — the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina (formerly the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina) will be outfitted with a private lanai in every room, a championship golf course and both outdoor and indoor venues, including the sunset-facing lawn.

Oahu Luxury Wedding Venue: The Kahala Hotel & Resort

Saying I do at this gorgeous 338-room property affords you exclusive surroundings, yet allows your guests easy access to the activities and dining in Waikiki, a 10-minute drive away. Your event can be intimate or lavish (10 to 450 people). Exchange vows under an oceanfront arbor; then hold the reception on the lawn, in a seaside grill, or in one of several ballrooms overlooking a dolphin lagoon.

Oahu Luxury Wedding Venue: Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa

If an infusion of historic charm is important to your day, Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa is the place. Built in 1901, the Beaux Arts-style stunner was Waikiki’s first hotel. The “First Lady of Waikiki” keeps guests gawking with nightly hula performances and event spaces like turn-of-the-century reception halls and a majestic banyan tree.

Maui

For an A-list island, Maui is surprisingly low-key and unpopulated. And that’s how the locals like it. Maui has strict building codes that limit structures to approximately 10 stories, so the undisturbed views of cloud-shrouded mountains, lava-rock cliffs and pineapple fields-cum-coffee orchards stay that way. Plus, it’s easy to circumnavigate, even though it’s Hawaii’s second-largest island.

Maui Value Wedding Venue: Aston Kaanapali Shores

A $14 million renovation gave this condo resort’s 400-plus hotel rooms, studios, and one- and two-bedroom suites (the latter two with kitchens) a warm Tommy Bahama feel. Situated on Kaanapali Beach North, it comprises two pools and a restaurant, plus a garden gazebo and a beachfront setting for weddings.

Maui Midrange Wedding Venue: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa

If you like onsite diversions, this 806-room property (updated in late 2010) on Kaanapali Beach is a great choice, with its six restaurants, two free-form pools (with a Grotto Bar and a 150-foot tube slide), a golf course and a spa. Event sites abound, from the intimate Ka Hale Aloha gazebo to the expansive Napili Garden and Lawn overlooking the Pacific.

Maui Luxury Wedding Venue: The Fairmont Kea Lani

The Fairmont Kea Lani has two- and three-bedroom villas with private courtyards and plunge pools, which are more affordable should you wed during low season (September through November). Fairmont’s honeymoon registry lets friends and family gift contributions like massage treatments, drinks at Luana Lounge and dinner at Kō.

Maui Luxury Wedding Venue: Andaz Maui at Wailea

The resort community of Wailea is on Maui’s leeward side, which means calm weather and water plus Instagram-worthy sunsets (#nofilter). Its newest resident, Andaz Maui at Wailea, has you at aloha: The elevated entryway provides direct eye contact with the horizon. The 297-room resort has three tiered, cascading pools, an apothecary-inspired spa and great snorkeling just offshore. Wedding spaces are plentiful and flexible; the event studio with an open kitchen offers an interactive vibe for rehearsal dinners.

Maui Luxury Wedding Venue: Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea is the most upscale option in Maui’s resort community of Wailea, but a stay of five nights can earn you up to $1,000 in resort credits. There are 13 event sites, but the Ocean Front Lawn (seats 200) is the most popular.

Maui Unique Wedding Venue: White Orchid Beach House

“The White Orchid Beach House is located on its own private sandy beach cove on the remote southern shores of Makena,” says Carolee Higashino of White Orchid Wedding. “This venue can hold up to 50 guests and is one of Hawaii’s only white-sand-beach oceanfront estates.”

Kauai

Hawaii’s fourth-largest isle (at 552 square miles, it’s one-third the size of Rhode Island), Kauai is small but mighty. Engaged couples and filmmakers alike swoon for the island’s epic scenery — Jurassic Park and Avatar utilized Kauai’s jungle-porn landscape to conjure both a prehistoric era and another planet. Pair that with rich history (legend holds that hula began here) and a wealth of only-in-Kauai wedding touches, and you’ve got a formula for an Oscar-worthy big day.

Kauai Value Wedding Venue: Courtyard Kauai at Coconut Beach

Set amid the towering palms of the Coconut Coast near Kapaa, this resort completed a $13 million renovation that enhanced the pool and beach area with a hot tub, a fire pit and daybeds. All 311 rooms have lanais, and 65 percent boast ocean views. Ceremony sites include a beachfront garden or lawn. Postwedding bashes take place beachfront or poolside (up to 300), in the indoor/outdoor Makai Lounge (up to 75), or in the Voyager Lanai or a ballroom (both up to 200).

Kauai Midrange Wedding Venue: Sheraton Kauai Resort

The sunsets here are spectacular, and now that this 394-room Poipu property has been rejuvenated (to the tune of $16 million), the rooms and grounds are equally special — think black-lava accents with flickering fire pits and tiki torches. Two beachfront lawns, an oceanfront cove and a garden pavilion make for lovely ceremony spots (up to 250), while receptions wow on the luau lawn or in one of four ballrooms.

Kauai Luxury Wedding Venue: The St. Regis Princeville

To the north, Princeville is home to Kauai’s plushest property, The St. Regis Princeville Resort. Wed on the Kamani Cove beach lawn in the shadow of Makana Mountain; the in-house events team dreams up eye-popping orchid arrangements and other decor details. Late night, serve Bloody Marys, invented at The St. Regis New York — each resort features its own local spin, and in Princeville it’s the Aloha Mary with Hawaiian Ocean Vodka, wasabi powder, sriracha and sea salt. For guests on a tighter budget, nearby sister property The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas offers modern studios to two-bedroom condos.

Kauai Luxury Wedding Venue: Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa

On the south shore, Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa is the grand dame of Poipu Beach, where monk seals often come ashore to sunbathe. The hotel’s luau is one of the best on the island, and weddings wow with dashes of native flair (hula dancers, conch-shell blowers, lei exchanges). Plus, couples marrying at any Hyatt can earn free honeymoon nights.

Kauai Unique Wedding Venue: Plantation Gardens

In Poipu, Plantation Gardens restaurant keeps the celebration all under one roof (er, sky), and its Moir Gardens doesn’t need much dressing up.

Kauai Unique Wedding Venue: Makai Golf Course

“Makai Golf Course in Princeville offers the most spectacular ocean-bluff site,” says Kauai wedding planner Lisa Insalata. “At the seventh hole, you can stage your events right on the perfectly manicured greens, with views of both the ocean and the mountains.”

Big Island

The Big Island, as one might guess, is rather large, which means it’s a massive canvas for show-stopping natural wonders. Geographically unique, it comprises 11 of the world’s 13 climate zones. Couples can wed on the beach with a snow-capped volcano in the distance and then entertain guests with rainforest treks or excursions to view the lava flow.

Big Island Value Wedding Venue: Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa

With a $20 million face-lift completed in September 2012, this 509-room resort retains its distinctive 1970s architecture — but with a sleek edge courtesy of Hawaiian designer Sig Zane. Nestled amid black-lava cliffs on Keauhou Bay, the Sheraton also has the coast’s only wedding chapel (seats 50) and reception sites like the Bayside Wedding Lawn (seats 180).

Big Island Midrange Wedding Venue: Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

There’s nothing fussy about this modern, 555-room Marriott on the Kohala Coast. Lava-rock-lined paths lead to the King’s Knoll, a wedding lawn by ancient Hawaiian fishponds (seats 75). Reception options include a pool terrace, the alcove (part of the resort’s restaurant) and banquet halls.

Big Island Luxury Wedding Venue: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

This 243-room enclave of two-story bungalows encompasses six pools, three restaurants, a golf course, a 2,600-foot-long beach and a snorkel pond with more than 3,000 tropical fish. Ceremony sites range from secluded Kumukea Beach and the lush Palm Grove to the oceanfront Wedding Tree. Hold your postwedding soiree at the Sea Shell Pool, on one of two lawns, in a Hawaiian amphitheater or in an indoor banquet room (many have lanais).

Big Island Luxury Wedding Venue: The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii

To the north on the Kohala Coast, The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii is a 32-acre playground. Here, an afternoon wedding at the Victorian-style Turtle Pointe Gazebo comes with a mountain backdrop, black-and-white coral and basking sea turtles. The event staff will even arrange for a ceremony arrival via outrigger canoe. Be sure to reserve Saturday night for the impressive luau celebration, a full-on feast with music, dance and history.

Big Island Luxury Wedding Venue: Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, on the Kohala Coast, offers a bluff-top ceremony site on the third tee of the resort’s oceanfront golf course, as well as hyper-manicured lawns, a tropical garden and a lava-stone patio. A rehearsal dinner in the terraced Garden Room is a crowd-pleaser thanks to the sprawling buffet.

Big Island Unique Wedding Venue: Lava Lava Beach Club

This beachfront property in Waikoloa offers four casual-chic cottages, a restaurant (seats 207) and a large reception lawn (seats 600).

Big Island Unique Wedding Venue: Puakea Ranch

If saying your vows at a resort isn’t your cup of tea, consider upcountry Puakea Ranch for a heavy dose of Old Hawaii. (Don’t be surprised if you hear farm animals in the background at this cattle-ranch-turned-B&B.)

Big Island Unique Wedding Venue: The Falls at Reed’s Island

To the east in Hilo, The Falls at Reed’s Island is a luxury vacation rental with soaking tubs, a gourmet kitchen and a waterfall you’ll have all to yourself.

Lanai Luxury Wedding Venue: Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay

Most weddings take place on the four major Hawaiian islands — but don’t rule out the smaller ones. Bill Gates sure didn’t. He married on the Challenge at Manele golf course, which overlooks the Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay. Consider Hulopoe Bay if your guests are OK with a short walk: A marine preserve, this white-sand beach is footsteps from Sweetheart Rock, a natural altar sculpted by the sea.

The post Hawaii Wedding Venues for Any Budget appeared first on Islands.

Sure, everyone knows beaches in Hawaii are some of the best vacation spots, but which one should you explore first? Deciding which Hawaiian island has the best beaches is no easy task. From green-sand shorelines (yes, really!) to snorkeling paradises, these hidden gems and local favorites offer the expected luxury of a Hawaiian getaway combined with the relaxation desired in a vacation.

Some beaches, like the Punaluu Black Sand Beach on the Big Island, offer a chance to meet with “honu,” or green sea turtles. If you’re looking for exclusivity and seclusion, the best Hawaiian island for beaches is Lanai, as only 3,000 people live there.

Whatever you’re looking for in Hawaiian beaches, read on for our list of the top 10, must-see Hawaiian shores.

Waimanalo Beach, Oahu

In “paniolo” country, far from the bustling streets of Waikiki, sits unspoiled Waimanalo Beach, named the best beach in the U.S. by Dr. Stephen Leatherman, aka Dr. Beach. Five miles of talcum sand invite basking and beach combing along Oahu’s longest stretch of sand.

Tunnels Beach (Makua Beach), Kauai

The 1958 classic South Pacific was filmed here in Kauai, and it’s easy to see why: a golden half-moon beach, turquoise water rushing toward bone-white sand, waves that form perfect tunnels, mountainside folds of green — and it’s even better snorkeling underwater. You may have a rare sighting of the endemic triggerfish.

Punaluu Black Sand Beach, Big Island

Hawaii’s Big Island is one of the only places in the world where you can snow-ski in the morning and surf that same afternoon. It’s where verdant rainforests give way to molten volcanoes; where white sand meets black sand. “Honu” (green sea turtles) are partial to the warmth of the black sand on Hawaii beaches, so walk carefully.

Polihua Beach, Lanai

Polihua Beach, Lanai

Just 3,000 people live on the tiny island of Lanai, and it’s likely not one of them will be strolling Polihua the same day you are. Here, it’s not about the Jet Skis and lounge chairs. Bliss on Lanai is found amid the rolling sand dunes, high winds and roiling waters that give meaning to the Hawaiian adage, “Never turn your back on the ocean.” Instead, Hawaiians say, “Face it; respect it; know your place alongside it.”

Poipu Beach, Kauai

Palm trees are just waiting for a hammock to be strung up between them on Poipu Beach. Bring yours, and stay for a while because Poipu is not just another one of those pretty Hawaii beaches. Endangered Hawaiian monk seals (only 1,200 or so of these behemoth beauties remain) are known to visit this slice of shoreline in search of a little sun.

Makena Beach, Maui

Even though it’s less crowded than the Hawaii beaches in Kaanapali and Lahaina, Makena is one of the largest beaches in Maui, hence its nickname: Big Beach. As wide as a football field is long, Makena’s golden sands stretch for a mile between two clusters of black lava and beg you to claim a little patch as your own — at least for a day.

Kee Beach, Kauai

Amid a backdrop of ironwood and guava trees is the end of the road on Kauai and the beginning of the famed Na Pali Coast. To get the most staggering views of Na Pali, hike behind the public bathrooms and through a large dirt area to a secluded part of the beach, and look left. The only better vantage point is from a helicopter.

Kaanapali Beach, Maui

Kaanapali Beach, Maui

With the Pacific Ocean on one side and the rolling West Maui Mountains on the other, Kaanapali Beach’s three miles of caramel-colored sand were once a playground for Maui royalty. Now they’re home to a select group of resorts and condos, ranging from swanky high-risers to authentic low-key outposts. Visit in June for the annual Wa’a Kiakahi outrigger canoe races and “talk story” about the ancient art of sailing and the present desire to preserve a culture.

Hanauma Bay, Oahu

Hanauma Bay, Oahu

A thousand-some years ago, a volcano erupted and created this perfect crescent-shaped nook protected from large ocean swells. The result is arguably the best snorkeling spot among all of the Hawaii beaches. More than 300 species of native fish — like damselfish and porcupine fish — scurry through the lava-rock tubes and shallow coral reefs eager to show you around. This beach is closed on Tuesdays.

Green Sand Beach, Big Island

Green Sand Beach, Big Island

No, that’s not a golf course. Here at Papakolea on the southern tip of the Big Island is one of the only four green-sand beaches in the world. The sand gets its color from olivine crystals created from the eruption of a volcano 50,000 years ago. You can drive to the top of the Hawaii beach in a 4×4, but opt for the hike instead to explore cave dwellings and “heiau” (Hawaiian temples) along the way. Oh, and don’t leave without building a green sand castle.

The post 10 Best Beaches in Hawaii appeared first on Islands.

Big Island’s 10 Amazing Sights | Best Food in Hawaii | Best Hawaiian Drinks

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The post Where to See the Best Real Hula in Hawaii appeared first on Islands.

SERVES 1

– 3/4-oz. Baileys Irish Cream
– 3/4-oz. Grand Marnier
– 3/4-oz. Kahana Royale Macadamia Nut Liqueur
– 3 oz. fresh-brewed Kona coffee, chilled
– raw sugar

Coat the rim of a 12-oz. double old-fashioned glass with one of the liqueurs and dip the glass into a plate of raw washed sugar. Fill the sugar-rimmed glass with ice and pour in all ingredients. Stir the mixture with a stick of Hawaiian sugarcane and serve with the stick left in the glass.

The post Tropical Drink Recipe: Kona Express appeared first on Islands.

What happened when you arrived at the Merrie Monarch festival?

I was in shock. People were speaking Hawaiian. Not just a few words – full conversations. I was designated a halau’s (hula school) photographer, but I wasn’t given a seat and was limited to this one little spot near the stage when they performed. Worse, there were hundreds of Hawaiian formalities in place at an event like this. Don’t make eye contact. Take off your shoes and align them on the floor just so. Don’t point your camera there. Don’t put your butt where it doesn’t belong. I was breaking rules without knowing it among leaders of the Hawaiian community. Thankfully, Lynn Cook, one of the veteran members of the halau helped me. But any fears I had entering this shoot only escalated once there.

But isn’t hula the dance that welcomes outsiders?

The hula you see in hotels is for tourists. The Merrie Monarch Festival showcases authentic hula in its purest form. It isn’t tainted by tourism. Preserving this type of hula was a big concern. So I set out to show what makes this type of hula special – not by documenting the festival itself, but by telling the story of one halau (hula troop). I figured that’s a side of Hula not many people ever get access to seeing. My goal was to get behind the scenes and reveal the intimate relationships between the girls, their halau and their kumu (teacher).

How were you introduced to the halau?

It was like, “By the way there’s this photographer. You’ll see her here and there.” That was it, and that was a problem. I didn’t want this photo essay to simply showcase the event. My challenge was getting the halau’s kumu (teacher), named Mapuana de Silva, to let me shoot the dancers off stage. But after day one, I realized what I wanted was going to be extremely difficult to get. Mapu didn’t want me shooting the girls out of context, which meant I was limited to that two-foot space next to the stage. So I had to come up with a plan.

What’d you do?

I set up a photo booth under the concrete bleachers where the girls prep. This area was closed off with drapes, and initially I wasn’t even allowed to peek my head in. So I set up a photo booth just outside to catch the girls as they came off the stage. But Mapu saw my booth, and with one look to Lynn, I knew it wasn’t going to happen and I took it down.

Why was everyone so guarded?

Most of the fears are based on how hula has been portrayed by tourism. Also, Lynn called the Merrie Monarch Festival the Olympics of hula, stating you can’t just get in the face of an athlete and snap photos as they prepare for competition. Halaus from all the Hawaiian Islands prepare all year for the event. It’s an intense process. Every dress and lei must be identical so a group moves as one. A single lei leaf falling on the dance floor deducts points. So everything is crafted with staggering detail, and culminates with a final dress check from Mapu just before going onstage. If a dancer meets her approval, Mapu ties a lei around her neck, and whispers a personal message. It feels a bit like a coronation, and while I couldn’t hear what Mapu whispered, I could tell this was a deeply personal moment between a student and teacher.

How did you get access to photograph all this?

I think that because I was honest, followed the rules, and asked appropriate questions, Mapu eventually opened up. Every day Lynn was allowed to grant me a little more access. Each day another barrier came down – especially as they all began to understand the story I was trying to tell.

What were some of the other surprises?

Well, the big wake up that Hawaii is very much its own nation. The island locals are embracing their culture and traditional ways more than ever, and this event reflects that movement. It’s beautiful. People come from all over the world. Hotels sell out. The event is a big deal. It even employs the island’s local motorcycle club (KOA) for security. They wore leather jackets. They had tattoos. It was quite a contrast to see all these girls and their flowery dresses next to these hardcore security guards, who were actually quite nice.

What makes this form of hula different?

The dancers move as one on stage, floating from one movement to the next in a ghostly levitation. The hotel hulas I’ve seen look like a series of individual poses. Strangely, the hula competition itself wasn’t the highlight for the dancers at the event. They seemed more motivated by the happenings afterward, dancing at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to pay their respects to Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes. They danced through the rain and bursts of sunshine that seem scripted to their movements. If you happened to be in the park that day, you could witness it all.

Any tips for travelers who want to see real hula for themselves?

Get tickets to the Merrie Monarch Festival, which is held April 8-14, 2012. Also, check out what my new friend and freelance writer Lynn Cook offers on hula, and the halau that I followed (here). There’s a lot to appreciate about this tradition that goes far beyond the hula we think we know.

The post Hawaii’s Real Hula appeared first on Islands.

SERVES 1

– 1 oz. guava juice
– 1 and 1/2 oz. 151 proof rum
– 1/2-oz. DeKuyper Tropical Pineapple Schnapps
– 1/2-oz. Kahana Royale Macadamia Nut liqueur
– 2 oz. pineapple juice
– 1 oz. grenadine

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass fillde with ice and shake lightly. Pour entire mixture into a 14-oz. hurriane glass, garnish with a fresh pineapple spear or maraschino cherry, and serve!

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Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands – specifically Maui and Kauai – were the resounding favorites for romance among readers who responded. As ISLANDS fan Jeneka Ossa explains, “Kauai is hard to beat with it’s crescent moon shaped beaches, stunning beauty and true aloha spirit.”

Jamaica

Jamaica – specifically Negril – was a close second for romantic island destinations, according to readers who responded to our Facebook question. Reader Shelley Wessels says she chose the island because of “the music, the laid back atmosphere, the night sounds, the flowers – it’s heaven!”

Tahiti

The Tahitian Islands – and primarily Bora Bora – have stolen the hearts of our readers. But one in particular who chose the destination, Daisy Carnitas, makes a good point: “Then again, it really doesn’t matter; When you’re in love, you can make anywhere be as romantic as you’d like!”

Greece

Who could forget about the Greek Isles – specifically Santorini – when it comes to romantic island escapes? Our readers, who responded on Facebook, voted the islands into the top 4.

The U.S. Virgin Islands

When it comes to romance, our readers love the USVI – especially St. Thomas and St. John.

St. Martin

From the Dutch St. Maarten to the French St. Martin, this island is a favorite for romance with our readers and Facebook fans.

The Maldives

Why is the Maldives an ISLANDS reader favorite for romantic island destinations? As Facebook fan Nouannapha Hehir explains, “There is nothing like an Island plotted in the middle of the Indian Ocean.”

St. Lucia

Who could forget about St. Lucia when it comes to island romance? Our Facebook fans voted it into the top 8 islands.

Fiji

The islands of Fiji were bound to make the list of top 10 islands for romance. Why? As Facebook fan Anne-Marie Gillard explains of Turtle Island, “It’s so lush and beautiful – an incredible island of romance, relaxation, adventure, and legend.”

Grenada

Rounding out the Reader’s Choice list of the most romantic islands around the world, our Facebook fans weighed in and selected Grenada, the Isle of Spice. Disagree with the list chosen by our social media community? Leave us a comment!

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