How to ‘Travel pono’ in Hawaii, from a longtime traveller

by Claudia Laroye

The grainy Super 8 video from Hawaii is hard proof that my 10-year-old hips don’t lie. I can’t hula to save my life. Unlike Shakira, there is no ease or grace in my stunted movements and awkward attempts to follow along with the Hawaiian aunties showing me how it ought to be done. The year is 1978. I’m attending the Kodak Hula Show in Honolulu,  Hawaii (or Hawai’i, the spelling used by most local Hawaiian people). In those days, the free program was a way of introducing Hawaiian culture to mainlanders, albeit with a decidedly commercial spin.

The final curtain fell on Kodak’s show in 1999. But in winter 2024, the iconic rhythms of four-string ukuleles and the melodic voices of the Merrie Monarch Festival singers and dancers once again filled the pineapple-scented air of Honolulu’s Waikiki Shell. The sounds are carried on the winds of change, as Hawai’i works to embrace Native Hawaiian culture and share it with new and longtime visitors.

As a traveller who has enjoyed more than 45 years of visitation to the Hawaiian Islands, I’ve celebrated everything from honeymoons to wedding anniversaries, significant birthdays, solo adventures and multigenerational trips. As women, we can ‘Travel Pono” and support a welcome shift in how Hawaiian culture is presented, experiencing Hawai’i’s unique history, culture and extraordinary beauty with purpose.

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Travel consciously: travel pono

We all love a beach holiday, am I right? And Hawai’i’s beaches are resplendent with golden (sometimes green, black or salt-and-pepper hued) sand and azure warm waters lapping beaches fringed in swaying palm trees or fragrant frangipani (plumeria) plants, flowers that when linked, form iconic leis, powerful symbols of welcome, love, respect and aloha spirit.

However, issues of over-tourism and cultural sensitivity are more part of our travel lexicon than ever before. As mindful travellers, we have it within ourselves to determine how to not just take and receive, but also to give – through appreciation, understanding and a commitment to travel pono.

To travel pono is to embrace the spirit of aloha and to consciously and safely explore the islands in a manner that is respectful to Hawaiian culture, wildlife, the environment and local residents. It’s the opposite of viewing Hawai’i as a movie set, backdrop or tropical theme park. Pono means “to do what is right” – to respect the environment, the wildlife, the culture and the kapu – off-limit areas and sacred spaces. It’s to swim with care around coral, buy local from farmers and artisans, tread lightly on the land, leave only footprints and pick up only garbage rather than shells, coral or sand.

How to Travel Pono in Hawaii

1. Embrace Native Hawaiian culture

The new Kilohana Hula Show borrows elements from its forerunner, but its performances and character are a marked departure from the past. The show is now presented by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) as a “modern reimagining of the classic hula shows of Waikiki.” It is a positive symbol of change in Hawai’i.

The CNHA’s mission is to provide an authentic showcase of Hawaiian traditions and to “perpetuate Hawaiian traditions, foster meaningful exchanges where both residents and visitors give and receive, and inspire mindful stewardship of these Islands we call home.” (Source)

2. Support areas like Maui

Some of those kapu off-limit areas remain in fire-devastated Lahaina, Maui. While the main town will take years to rebuild, most of the hotels and resorts in other parts of West Maui, like Ka’anapali, Honokowai-Napili, Kahana and Kapalua areas, are fully operational.

As Sherry Duong, Executive Director of Maui Visitors & Convention Bureau recently noted in an interview with Open Jaw Network, visitors are welcome to return “to experience the island’s unique charm while supporting local businesses and communities.”

Support can take many forms, including local stays, restaurant visits, and direct donations to the Maui Strong Fund, providing financial resources to support the immediate and long-term recovery needs for the people and places affected by the devastating Maui wildfires.

3. Use your trip to make an impact

Treasure is appreciated, but time is precious. It’s possible for women to enjoy Hawai’i’s charms while ensuring that its special places can continue to exist for future generations. As a mindful visitor, you can take your respect for the islands to the next level by paying it forward with your valuable time and talent.

Through the Mālama Hawai’i Program, women keen to give back through vetted voluntourism programs can qualify for a special discount or even a free night from a partner hotel when participating in one of the program’s dedicated volunteer activities.

There are opportunities available on every island – everything from beach clean-ups, native tree planting, sewing bees, coastal restoration work and more. Engaging in local volunteer opportunities offers travellers a way to give back and experience Hawaiʻi and its people on a much deeper and connected level.

As women, we can ensure that our precious time in Hawaiian islands includes creating mindful travel experiences and making unforgettable memories. Whether you choose to hula — well, that’s up to you.

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Where to stay in Hawaii: Women-owned or founded hotels and resorts 

Royal Grove Waikiki

A staple of Waikiki Beach since 1953, the Royal Grove Waikiki was built by a local family and is the first woman-owned and operated hotel in Hawai’iahh. This iconic coral-coloured paradise continues to give guests a taste of an authentic island way of life on the island of Oahu. Check rates here.

Aston Waikiki Circle Hotel

The Aston Waikiki Circle Hotel is an iconic round beachside hotel built in 1962 and was the first in Waikiki to be owned by an Asian woman, Emma Kwock Chun. The boutique Honolulu property is directly across from Waikiki Beach and within walking distance to some of the best dining, shopping and amenities in the area. Click here for availability.

Old Hawaiian Bed & Breakfast

Lory Hunter and her husband Stewart own and operate the Old Hawaiian B&B, a charming bed and breakfast in Hilo, Hawaii. The “Olde Hawai’i” style wooden structure with three tasteful rooms is situated on the Wailuku River above the laid-back streets of Hilo. Learn more here.

Hale Akua Garden Farm and Eco-Retreat

Founder Lori Grance and a dedicated team of farm and retreat staff have created a “home of the divine” on Maui at the Hale Akua Garden Farm and Eco-Retreat. In this secluded lush retreat and farm property, guests can ground themselves in an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible natural setting, with a variety of room and retreat styles. Check rates here.

Marjorie’s Kauai Inn

The Garden Isle is home to Marjorieʻs Kauai Inn, built as a classic Bed and Breakfast in 1993 by Marjorie Ketcher. This private property in the lush Lawai valley has three island-style rooms, borders on the Allerton Botanical Garden and is owned and operated by Alexis Boilini and her husband Mike since 2005. Learn more here.

How to Get to Hawaii

From Canada, Air Canada and WestJet offer multiple flights to the Hawaiian state capital Honolulu (HNL), on the island of Oahu, as well as direct flights to the islands of Maui, Hawaii and Kauai from many Canadian cities.

From the United States, travel from many American cities via American, Delta, United, Hawaiian, Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines. Check for flights here!

For more information, visit Go Hawaii, the tourism bureau website. 

Disclaimer: All of our articles are written by women who have travelled to these places. This article was sponsored by the Hawaii Tourism Authority to show another side to Hawai’i. We welcome your feedback in the comments below. 

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