Maile Lei Band

Remote lava fields along Hawaii Island’s southern coast hold a secret; an eroding cinder cone that crumbles into a luminous green sand beach. Look closely at the olivine sand and you just may get a glimpse of Pele’s tears. Papakōlea...

The transparent blue expanse of the ocean is a glittering window connecting us to the creatures below. We feel its power, strength, and life-sustaining force in the endless procession of waves. Moana (moh-AH-nah); ocean or open seaMaile (MY-leh); sacred...

Rivers of fiery, molten lava scorch a path across the land and flow into the sea, sending up a think, gray haze. Kilauea, home to Pele—creator and destroyer—expands the Big Island even as it lays waste. Kilauea (kee-lah-WAY-ah); much...

Golden sunshine lights up our morning hike in Kauai's Waimea Canyon, illuminating the rich, red earth. A rainbow is revealed, shimmering faintly yet full of color; a celestial path connecting the earth and the heavens. Punakea (poo-nah-kay-ah); barely...

Standing at the overlook at Kauai's northernmost point, the Milky Way is almost within reach. The proud lighthouse guards steep, plunging cliffs and glows bright under an endless canopy of stars. Lewa Lani (LAY-vah LAH-nee); highest stratum of the...

Sunny mornings on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa give way to cooler, misty afternoons. Rich, volcanic soil nurtures the coffee planted there, and only the reddest and ripest cherry is handpicked for roasting. Cherry; red, ripe coffee beansMaile...

Like a luminous blanket, moody morning clouds float between the crater and the heavens above. We drink in the moment, cradling hot Kona and contemplating the fading stars. Aolani (ay-oh-LAH-nee); heavenly cloudsMaile (MY-leh); sacred Hawaiian plant with...

Maile (MY-leh); sacred Hawaiian plant with fragrant, dark green leaves  Snow appears on the Big Island for a few days every spring, blanketing Kona's coffee plants in fragrant, white blossoms. Soon flowers turn to green berries, hinting at the...

Every evening the manta rays arrive, drawn to the lights at Kauna’oa Beach. The gentle giants glide past silently, glowing in the luminous green water. Maile (MY-leh); sacred Hawaiian plant with fragrant, dark green leaves  Each Kanilea pen...

Maui’s winding road to Hana takes you past a small, sheltered bay called Honokalani. Clear blue water swirls in beautiful contrast to the glistening black sand. We sit in sun-drenched bliss, listening to the music of the waves. Honokalani...