Author's posts
Apr 20
Polynesian Gods & Legends: Tiki, Kāne, Kū, Lono, Kanaloa & More
Across the immense Pacific Ocean, generations of Polynesian people passed down stories about creation, ancestors, gods, heroes, the sea, forests, storms, volcanoes, agriculture, warfare, death, and the origins of humanity. Many of these traditions share recognizable themes and even related names. Yet there is no single universal collection of “Polynesian gods.” Hawaiian traditions are not …
Apr 19
The Rich History of Tiki Culture
Dim lights glow behind woven shades. Bamboo covers the walls. Glass fishing floats hang from the ceiling beside ropes, carved figures, tropical plants, and mysterious objects collected from distant places. Somewhere in the room, a vibraphone plays beneath the sound of running water. Then an elaborate tropical drink arrives in an unusual ceramic mug. For …
Apr 16
The Fascinating History and Symbolism Behind Tiki Statues
Few objects are more instantly associated with tiki culture than the carved figure commonly called a tiki statue. With prominent eyes, strong brows, stylized bodies, dramatic mouths, and geometric forms, these figures have appeared outside tropical restaurants, beside swimming pools, in home tiki bars, on ceramic mugs, and throughout American Polynesian Pop for generations. Yet …
Apr 14
Hawaiian Sweet Rolls Recipe: Soft, Buttery Pull-Apart Rolls
Soft, lightly sweet, buttery, and beautifully golden, these Hawaiian-style sweet rolls are the kind of bread that disappears from the table almost as soon as the pan arrives. The rolls pictured here have exactly the texture we’re aiming for: deeply golden, glossy tops with pale, fluffy interiors that pull apart in tender strands. They are …
Apr 12
New Zealand Whitebait Fritters Recipe: A Classic Kiwi Favorite
Delicate, golden, and packed with tiny whitebait, whitebait fritters are one of New Zealand’s most distinctive seasonal foods. They are wonderfully simple: fresh whitebait is held together with just enough egg and a little flour, then spooned into a hot buttered pan and cooked until lightly golden. That simplicity is important. A good New Zealand …
Apr 11
Anzac Biscuits Recipe: Classic Oat & Golden Syrup Biscuits
Golden at the edges, chewy or crisp depending on how long you bake them, and filled with rolled oats and coconut, Anzac biscuits are one of the best-known home-baked treats associated with Australia and New Zealand. The biscuits in the photo have exactly the look we want here: broad, rustic rounds with deeply golden edges, …
Jul 12
Haleʻiwa, Oʻahu: A Guide to the North Shore’s Historic Surf Town
On Oʻahu’s legendary North Shore, Haleʻiwa combines surf culture, plantation-era architecture, local food, galleries, small businesses, beaches, and more than a century of recorded town history into one compact community. For many visitors, Haleʻiwa is the gateway to the North Shore. It is the place where the pace begins to feel different from Honolulu and …
Jul 11
Waimea Valley, Oʻahu: Waterfall, Botanical Gardens & Hawaiian Culture
Tucked into the lush North Shore of Oʻahu, Waimea Valley is a place where tropical gardens, flowing freshwater, archaeology, Native Hawaiian history, and one of the island’s best-known waterfalls come together in a single landscape. Many visitors arrive with Waimea Falls at the top of their list, and the waterfall is certainly beautiful. A paved …
Jun 20
Les Baxter and the Birth of Exotica Music
Before Martin Denny filled a Waikīkī lounge with vibraphone and bird calls, before exotica became a recognized genre, and before tropical mood music became almost inseparable from midcentury tiki culture, Les Baxter was already constructing imaginary worlds with an orchestra. Baxter was a composer, arranger, conductor, and recording artist whose career stretched across popular music, …
Jun 19
Martin Denny and the Sound of Exotica
A vibraphone shimmers over a quiet piano. Hand percussion begins to pulse underneath. Then, just when the music seems settled into a sophisticated late-night groove, a bird calls from somewhere beyond the bandstand. Another answers. Frogs croak in the darkness, a gong sounds in the distance, and an ordinary lounge suddenly seems surrounded by an …
