Every year Arlene Yonamine, who lives in Hilo on the Hawaii Island, and her sister Norma, who lives in Kaneohe on Oahu, return to their Hawaii Island hometown of Hakalau to share their love of making mochi (rice cakes) with island visitors.
"They are masters at creating the mochi balls from the mother mass of steamed rice — quite an art, indeed," said Akiko Masuda, of the eponymous Akiko's Bed & Breakfast. "They come back every year to literally lend their hands. We are blessed."
While this native-to-Japan treat is enjoyed all year long in the islands, the Annual Traditional Mochi Pounding for New Year festivities take place toward the end of December, bringing good luck to visitors from around the world. It started 21 years ago, with 23 people, mostly neighbors, and has grown. The plantation village of Hakalau has changed very little since that time.
"This past year, we had between 600 and 700 people visit our wee village to participate in an ancient tradition: mochi pounding and other activities," Masuda said. "We still make the traditional rice cakes the old-fashioned way. Everyone who comes to take their turn at pounding the delicious sticky rice has good luck for the next year."
According to Paula Simpson Takamori, owner of Travel to Paradise for more than 20 years, island visitors are looking for real Hawaiian experiences, where they can immerse themselves in the history and the culture.
"The biggest buzzword in our industry is 'authentic experience,'" Takamori said. "There are plenty of people who come to Hawaii for the weather in the winter, to get away from the snow. But for many, it's not only about going to the beach."
Holo-Holo Charters’ Na Waiwai Land & Sea Tour on Kauai includes a private hula show.
• Tours like Holo-Holo Charters' Na Waiwai Land & Sea Tour on Kauai give people the authenticity they're looking for, according to Takamori. A one-of-a-kind Native Hawaiian cultural experience, this five-hour guided tour is authentically off the beaten path. Starting with a visit to the National Tropical Botanical Gardens and one of the largest collections of native Hawaiian flora in existence, the expedition then includes a short hike to the bottom of one of the Garden Isle's secluded waterfalls and a private hula show by award-winning Halau Ka Lei Mokihana o Leinaala.
The "sea" portion of the tour begins with a walk through a canoe garden and a short course about the hokulea, or star compass, used by early Polynesian voyagers. Finally, participants enjoy a cruise along Poipu's sunny south shore at sunset, a locally sourced dinner and an evening of traditional Hawaiian music.
"I love this tour, because it gives visitors a real sense going back in history," Takamori said. "Imagine yourself transported to the Hawaiian days of yore."
• Another experience Takamori recommends is touring the only official royal palace on American soil. The Iolani Palace, which served as the official residence for the last two Hawaiian monarchs, King David Kalakaua and later Queen Lilioukalani. Hawaii's royal past is considered the only monarchy in the history of the U.S. Take a tour through the palace or relax on the grassy lawn for a day of performances by a local hula group.
"I'm so in love with Iolani Palace," she said. "I encourage everyone to do this; it's the best one-hour history lesson you'll get. It's a great learning experience."
• For those who love the exciting and mysterious world beneath the waves and are dedicated to helping endangered species, a Hawaii vacation can also be a unique opportunity to participate in one of the world's longest-running citizen-scientist projects: the Great Whale Count.
There are 60 sites along the shores of Maui, Oahu, Kauai and Hawaii Island where volunteers gather to count whales, all part of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary efforts to protect the endangered humpback whales and their habitat. The Hawaii whale count takes place during the peak migration/breeding and calving season of January, February and March. Register online at www.pacificwhale.org/research/citizen-science/great-whale-count.
"I've sent clients out to do this," Takamori said. "They had a great time. This is on my own list. It sounds so cool."