The Mountains of Hamakua – Pauku Ekolu: Mauna Loa (Part 3)

Posted in The Big Island

We have previously considered the fact that our district stretches far inland, around the mid-level regions of Mauna Kea, across the saddle between that mountain’s summit and to the middle of the summit crater of its giant neighbor, Mauna Loa. … Continue reading

The Mountains of Hamakua – Pauku Elua: Mauna Kea (Part 2)

Posted in The Big Island

In earlier articles in this series we have considered the fact that our district stretches far inland, around the mid-level regions of Mauna Kea, across the saddle between that mountain’s summit and to the middle of the summit crater of … Continue reading

The Mountains of Hamakua – Pauku Ekahi: Kohala (Part 1)

Posted in The Big Island

The part of Hamakua almost everyone tends to think of first, the coastal stretch along the State highway between Hilo and Waipi`o Valley, lies on the flank of Mauna Kea.  In earlier articles in this series, though, we have written … Continue reading

Hamakua i ke ala ulili – “Hamakua of the steep trails” – by Mary Kawena Pukui

Posted in Hamakua

From `Olelo No`eau: Hawaiian Proverbs and Poetical Sayings, by Mary Kawena Pukui. One of the most interesting ways to learn about the view people in times past had of the land is to hear the stories that have been passed … Continue reading

Ku’u Alo o Hawai’i

Posted in Hiking Tours

“Our precious Hawaiian trails” may seem an odd concept to those who seldom think about trails or who take them for granted. It is a remarkable fact, though, that one of the last acts of the Kingdom of Hawai`i was … Continue reading

Early Visitors to Hamakua – William Ellis

Posted in Hamakua

Most people living in Hawai`i are quite aware of the importance to our island economy of tourism, because more of us work in visitor-related fields than in any other. The draw of visiting tropical islands in the middle of the … Continue reading

Early Visitors to Hamakua – Isabella Bird

Posted in Hamakua

In 1873 an English woman arrived on Hawai`i Island. Her name was Isabella Bird; she shared with an earlier visitor, Rev. William Ellis (the subject of another article on this site) a great curiosity, a friendly and generous attitude, and … Continue reading

Umi-A-Liloa

Posted in Hamakua

fa`Umi-A-Liloa, Ali`i Hamakua Without doubt, the best known Hawaiian in history is Kamehameha I. His fame is due not only to his personal qualities, but as well to the coincidental overlapping of his life-span with the beginning of written history … Continue reading

Battlefield Hamakua

Posted in Hamakua

Hamakua is the ancient district of the Island of Hawai`i in which I have lived since arriving in the Islands in 1973. Following is one of a number of articles I wrote for The Hamakua Times, most intended to enhance … Continue reading

My First Christmas in Hawai’i

Posted in Stories from Hugh

Several years ago, when I was writing articles for our local newspaper, The Hamakua Times, I was instructed that the December article should have something to do with Christmas.  I first thought about the missionaries, their arrival in 1820, and … Continue reading