Tongan Father’s Day Tradition in Hawaii

It’s early in the month of June, and families are already looking forward to celebrate Father’s Day. Like entering into the new millennium, my island Kingdom of Tonga has to beat the world in celebrating Father’s Day. In Tonga, Father’s Day is celebrated on the Sunday...

The Ultimate Hawaiian Experience

Hawaiian legend states that in the ancient past, the Hawaiian god Maui once went fishing. As he was fishing, his hook caught on the ocean floor. Thinking he’d caught a fish, Maui began to pull on his line, trying to raise his catch from the water. He pulled and...

Life as a Samoan

Am I like a Samoan? Besides professional wrestling, I had never met or seen a Samoan person until I was in sixth grade. Seeing men like the Rock and Rikishi wrestler), or various other members of the Anoa’i Family, caused me to believe that all Samoans had larger than...
Jonah Kuhio: Prince of the People

Jonah Kuhio: Prince of the People

Every year on March 26 in the State of Hawaii we celebrate the birthday of Prince Kuhio. But who are we celebrating?  He was known as a fascinating, internationally educated, charming, passionate man who spent the majority of his life serving his people – who he...

The People of the Sea

My oldest grandson is a mix of a lot of ethnicities–he is, on one half–Maori, Tongan, Hawaiian, Chinese, Samoan with traces of Fijian and on the other half a European mix from Norway to the Netherlands. His name reflects this mixture, influenced by his...