Dreaming of Vintage Aloha
As luck would have it, we are planning a little escape in January. We fell in love with Hawaii last year and were determined to return. This time to the big rock, the island of Hawaii itself. It's home to one of the most active volcanos on the planet, which has been bubbling lately (don’t panic mom!), and a range of climate zones from rainforests and black sand beaches to desserts and snow-capped mountains. It is also the historic heart of the Hawaiian people. This has been my addiction in the last few weeks. I’ve been digging through vintage maps of the “Sandwich Islands” (the name James Cook bestowed upon the island chain in honour of his trip sponsor) and incredible archival photographs. Including the oldest known image of a surfer from 1890 (there is an interesting story behind this image here).
I’ve also been studying the history of the strategically placed Pacific island chain, and last year had a chance to speak to Keone, a Hawaiian elder and teacher who reminded us that there still is a portion of the population that quietly fights for Hawaiian independence and believes the territory to be illegally occupied. If you want a summary of this story, you can watch a cartoon cat tell it.
So until next year, we dream of mango trees & ocean waves and learn. Enjoy some recent finds below.
