thedailyfeed:

Software billionaire Larry Ellison has made some strange purchases, but probably none this lavish — he bought Lanai, Hawaii’s 6th largest island! 

saltylulls:

The pipe

earth-song:

Maui Waterfalls - Honokohau Falls

It’s very GREEN here. I photographed these waterfalls from an open helicopter (doors off) near the summit of Puu Kukui in the West Maui Mountains, Maui, Hawaii. Honokohau Falls is said to be the tallest waterfall on Maui. It plunges in two tiers for a total of 1600 feet — making it the second highest falls in the United States (only Yosemite Falls is higher). Puʻu Kukui is one of the wettest spots on Earth and the second wettest in the state of Hawaii after Mount Waiʻaleʻale, receiving an average of 386.5 inches (9,820 mm) of rain a year!

(Source: quiet-nymph)

(Source: music-and-everything-else)

unknownskywalker:

Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

On the bottom lefthand side of the image is Pearl Harbor, site of the Japanese air raid which drew America into World War II. The harbor still serves as a U.S. Navy base.

Honolulu is located on Oahu, the most populated of the Hawaiian Islands. Just to the East of Honolulu is Waikiki Beach, with throngs of tourists and dozens of high-rise hotels. Overlooking Waikiki is Diamond Head, a volcanic crater formed from 70,000 to 500,000 years ago, long after Oahu’s principle volcanoes—Ko’olau and Wai’anae—stopped erupting.

The clouds in the upper right hand corner of this image are an almost permanent feature of Oahu. Trade winds blowing from the northeast are stopped by the 3,000 foot (960 meter) high mountain range, where they rain out most of their moisture. As a result, the windward side of Oahu is usually cloudy, and the leeward side is relatively clear and dry.

The image was captured by the Landsat 7 satellite’s Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) instrument on March 18, 2001.

(Source: zachmccaffree)

downundertheocean:

More 2tapped4TV-

This is why our island (Oahu) is getting all the rain, lightening and thunder » Doppler Radar NOAA

Cool. You can see the Waikiki concrete forest and inside Diamond Head crater. 

(Source: theespacecadet)

Most people don’t know that many local residents of Hawaii have an almost pathological obsession with Las Vegas. They go to Las Vegas in record numbers, many go repeatedly. In fact, Las Vegas is often jokingly referred to as Hawaii’s eight island. I think it is ironic that for as much as native Hawaiians complain about how haole people (haole is a pejorative term used for white people - now exclusively towards US mainland white people) have ruined their culture and taken their land, that they turn around and are more than willing to fly to Las Vegas, repeatedly, to gamble their money away to haole casinos. Yeah, I know. Amazingly stupid. But there’s your proof of equality. Local Hawaiians are equally as stupid as the rest of the world.

Flirtation Walk 1934 

Utterly unexpected. A Musical-romance with Dick Powell as a private stationed in Hawaii who gets involved with Ruby Keeler, the general’s engaged daughter. In order to avoid a scandal, the pair break up, but meet again years later when Powell’s at West Point producing the annual play that turns out to star Keeler.

The native Hawaiian “interpretive” dance/song/luau scene was both stupid and cool. I can’t describe it.  What blows me away is that they’re speaking real Hawaiian and signing in Hawaiian.  Perfect Hawaiian.

Hula Kahiko (Hula in the Ancient Style)

Don’t let the eerie invocation chant in the beginning fool you. What comes next is nothing short of spectacular and it is as close to ancient Hawaiian hula as it gets.

…

Halau Ka Ua Kani Lehua
Kumu Hula: Johnny Lum Ho
Miss Aloha Hula: Natasha Kamalamalamaokalailokokapu‘uwaimehanaokekeikipunahele Oda
Kahiko: “Mele Aloha No Kaulana-i-ka-poki’i E Keaomelemele”

2001 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival | Hilo, Hawaii (Big Island)

This now legendary performance of “Mele Aloha No Kaulanaikapoki’i E Keaomelemele” by Natasha Oda recants a story that goes deep into Hawaiian mythology. It centers around the offspring of the Gods Ku and Hina, the two mentioned in the title, Keaomelemele (golden cloud) and Kaulanaikipoki‘i (beloved little one of the sunset).  It tells of the Mo’oinanea dragon creature who acts as the guardian and protector to the Gods in their formative years. It details how Pele’s sisters (the shadow bearers) Hi‘iaka, Laka, and Kapo instruct the daughter’s of Ku and Hina in the art of Hula. And yet all of this is nothing but a crude introduction to what this story is really about.

The entire storyline encompassed by this tale and their full metaphorical meanings and what they reveal about Hawaiian culture and traditions is far too vast and complex to be conveyed in this short summary in any truly meaningful way. Suffice it to say, however, this performance provides a glimpse backward in time, back to Hawaii’s ancient past.  Miss Oda’s performance is done in the old style of hula and with the old form of chanting which we now call “kahiko.”.

It is should not be mistaken, however, for a rendition of an ancient hula or a repetition of ancient kapu (taboo) hula that was done in the past.  Such hulas carry the strictest kapu and can never, nor will ever, be performed in public. Their creation was not for any sort of vicarious voyeuristic exhibition or entertainment purpose.  To do so, would be unforgivable sacrilege and the violation of the kapu would mean certain death. They are so sacred and so secretive, in fact, that their continued existence is considered only myth today - a contention I’m perfectly happy with.