There are plenty of islands dotting the world's oceans, many offering their own unique vacation experiences. When it comes to the Hawaiian Islands, many of those attractions, including surfing and hula, are cultural foundations originated by Native Hawaiians centuries before European contact.
However, many voices in the Hawaii tourism industry today are not Native Hawaiian, and as travelers continue to seek authenticity and richness in their travel experiences, there has been an increased interest in booking Native Hawaiian operators that center their tours on the stories of the Islands' original inhabitants, as told by their modern descendants.
When Justin Billings and his mother, Kahealani Tau-a, started their tour company on the island of Oahu, they wanted to honor Kahealani's mother, Palmyra Kaaoaolahilahi Tau-a, by naming their company, Aunty Sweetie's Hawaiian Tours, after her. It offers a Taste of Oahu food tour focusing on small businesses and local food producers, including Leonard's Bakery, Manoa Chocolate and Waiahole Poi Factory. The operator also offers custom tours for small groups, with the guarantee that driver guides will be from Hawaii.
For clients with an interest in the spookier side of Oahu, Lopaka Kapanui draws on moolelo (traditional Hawaiian stories passed down) from his family for his Mysteries of Hawaii tours in Waikiki and Honolulu. During the tours, Kapanui shares stories about the haunted history of Hawaii's kings and queens, legends of the "night marchers" (who only appear during particular phases of the moon) and Kasha House in Kaimuki, which is reputed to be one of the most haunted places in the state. During the tour, Kapanui also shares with guests the protocols involved with visiting haunted places. He considers it his kuleana (responsibility) to preserve and share these stories.
Long-standing connection with the land is also a priority at Native Hawaiian-owned Makana Charters and Tours on Kauai. The private and group sailing tours, in boats ranging in capacity from 12 to 36 guests, explore the island's famed Na Pali Coast -- a treasured wahi pana (storied place) that is profoundly beloved by Native Hawaiians in story and song. Makana works exclusively with boat captains and crew that have deep-rooted connections to the land and its surrounding waters, noting that many of their crew spend their days off along the coast in their own boats.
Anelakai Adventures offers night snorkeling with manta rays. Source: Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau (IHVB)/Kawika Singson
With Anelakai Adventures on the Big Island of Hawaii, clients get to experience the calm waters of Keauhou Bay in a waa kaulua, or a double-hulled canoe -- a smaller version of the ocean-crossing canoes that brought the first Hawaiians to the Islands.
For an ecofriendly tour, guests paddle the canoe themselves while hearing stories about the tradition of canoe-paddling along with the Hawaiian-centered history of Keauhou Bay and the surrounding region. The company also offers night snorkels with manta rays, kayaking tours and a stargazing plankton tour on request.
Surfing, or hee nalu (literally translated to "wave sliding") was invented in Hawaii before being popularized around the world. Isaiah Moniz, owner of Oahu Surf School, grew up in a surfing family, cutting his teeth on Waikiki's famous surf breaks. He headed off to surf spots around the world before returning to Waikiki to share the sport with visitors in private, semiprivate or group lessons, with an eye on teaching respect for the ocean and cultural appreciation for the Hawaiian origins of the sport.
Hawaiian-centered surfing experiences is also the goal of Keoki and Ikaika, founders of Aloha Ocean Adventures in Kihei on Maui. They met as surf instructors at another surfing school but realized that Hawaiian values on experience and respect for the ocean weren't being shared at many surf school experiences on Maui, so they formed their own company to ensure they could offer the authentically Hawaiian experience they felt was missing. They offer both surf lessons for beginners and full-day surf safaris for those with a little more experience on the board.
On the north shore of Oahu, Kala Alexander (who visitors may recognize from the reboots of the TV series "Hawaii Five-O" and "Magnum P.I.") and Makua Rothman are also surfers, but their safaris aren't typical surf safaris. Their Haleiwa Shark Tours excursions include explanations of the deep connection between Native Hawaiians and mano (sharks); Hawaiians considered sharks carriers of significant mana (life force), and harvested them to capture that energy by using parts of the shark to make drums and war clubs and for food. The company's cage-diving experiences come with a money-back guarantee if clients don't see a shark. Whale-watching tours are also offered during the season, which runs from December through April.