Author's posts
Jan 26
Birds of Polynesia: Native Species, Island Wildlife & Conservation
Across thousands of miles of the Pacific Ocean, the islands of Polynesia are home to birds found nowhere else on Earth. Some are instantly recognizable. The kiwi has become an international symbol of Aotearoa New Zealand. Hawaiʻi’s nēnē walks across volcanic landscapes. The enormous flightless kākāpō ventures out after dark, while jewel-colored lorikeets flash through …
Jan 02
Tahitian Poisson Cru Recipe: Raw Tuna with Coconut Milk & Lime
Fresh tuna, creamy coconut milk, bright lime juice, and crisp vegetables come together in poisson cru, one of the signature dishes of Tahiti and the wider Islands of Tahiti. Known in French as poisson cru au lait de coco—literally “raw fish with coconut milk”—this refreshing dish is colorful, simple, and surprisingly satisfying. The Tahitian version …
Dec 29
Spam Musubi Recipe: How to Make This Hawaiʻi Favorite
Spam musubi is one of those foods that proves a simple combination can be incredibly satisfying. A slice of savory, browned Spam rests on a compact block of warm white rice, and a strip of nori wraps around the center to hold everything together. The version pictured on this page is wonderfully classic: white rice …
Dec 24
Grilled Pineapple Teriyaki Beef Sliders: Tropical-Inspired Mini Burgers
Sweet grilled pineapple, juicy beef patties, sticky teriyaki glaze, and soft slider rolls make these tropical-inspired mini burgers an easy choice for summer cookouts, backyard parties, and casual dinners. They are small enough to serve as party food but filling enough to become the centerpiece of a relaxed meal. The best part of this recipe …
Dec 23
Teriyaki Spam and Pineapple: Easy Sweet-and-Savory Skillet Recipe
Crispy pan-fried Spam, caramelized pineapple, and a glossy teriyaki glaze come together in this quick sweet-and-savory skillet recipe. Serve it over hot rice for an easy dinner, tuck it into a sandwich, or add it to a casual tropical-inspired party spread. Spam has a genuine and distinctive place in modern Hawaiʻi food culture. Its popularity …
Dec 22
Homemade Hawaiian Pizza with Ham and Pineapple: Easy Recipe
Sweet pineapple, savory ham, tangy tomato sauce, and bubbling mozzarella make Hawaiian pizza one of the world’s most recognizable—and most debated—pizza combinations. Whether pineapple belongs on pizza may never be settled, but if you enjoy that sweet-and-savory contrast, making it at home is surprisingly easy. Despite its name, Hawaiian pizza did not originate in Hawaiʻi. …
Dec 06
5 Must-Watch Surf Films That Will Take You on an Epic Adventure
Surfing has always been unusually cinematic. A surfer paddles into an ocean that looks almost impossibly large, rises to their feet, and for a few seconds moves through a constantly changing wall of water. No two waves are identical, no ride can be repeated exactly, and the surrounding landscapes—from Hawaiʻi’s North Shore to Australia, Indonesia, …
Dec 02
Grilled Teriyaki Beef Skewers: Easy Homemade Marinade
Tender pieces of beef coated in a sweet-savory teriyaki marinade and grilled until caramelized around the edges make these easy teriyaki beef skewers perfect for summer cookouts, weeknight dinners, and casual parties. The marinade combines soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, honey, fresh ginger, and garlic. As the skewers hit the hot grill, the sugars begin …
Nov 25
Surf Rock Music: History, Sound & Essential Artists
Few styles of rock music are as instantly recognizable as surf rock. A guitar rings out with heavy spring reverb. Notes arrive in fast, sharp bursts. Drums push relentlessly forward. The melody seems to rise and fall like something moving across water, and suddenly the listener can picture Southern California in the early 1960s: surfboards …
Nov 25
Tiki Music Playlist: Exotica, Surf Rock & Polynesian Pop Favorites
A good tiki soundtrack should make the room change before anyone notices why. The lights seem warmer. Bamboo, carved wood, tropical plants, ceramic mugs, and glowing glass floats suddenly belong together. A vibraphone drifts through the speakers, percussion starts moving underneath it, a bird calls from an imaginary jungle, and an ordinary patio or living …
