On Hawaii: The loveliest fleet of islands
that lies anchored in any ocean.
Mark Twain,
1835-1910,
American Humorist, Writer and Lecturer.
 |
The Holland
America Logo
In the early 1600s Henry Hudson set sail from Holland in a tiny
ship called "de Halve Maen". His long voyage across the Atlantic
heralded the beginning of Dutch exploration and settlements
in the New World. During this century's great era of Trans-Atlantic
elegance on cruise ships, Holland America's ship the Nieuw Amsterdam
II (1938- 1973) came to represent all the luxury, magnificence
and splendor of that time. The emblem adopted by Holland America
shows the Nieuw Amsterdam II alongside "de Halve Maen". Together,
these two ships symbolize the centuries old seafaring tradition
of the Dutch and longstanding friendship between Holland and
America. |
|
| |
| The prefix "ss" in a ship's
name stands for "steam ship" meaning that the ship's propulsion is
provided by steam which drives turbines to turn the propellers. The
prefix "ms" in the name stands for "motor ship" meaning that propulsion
is by huge reciprocating motors. |
| |
|
All colors
and varieties of the hibiscus were official Territorial Flowers
adopted in the early 1920s. At statehood in 1959, the first
state legislature adopted many of Hawaii's symbols as part
of the Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS, state laws). It wasn't
until 1988 that the yellow hibiscus, which is native to the
islands, was selected to represent Hawaii. For this reason,
many older photos and postcards show the red hibiscus as the
state flower. These weren't incorrect at the time.
|
 |
In
Hawaii when a flower is worn behind the ear it sends a romantic
message. A flower behind the left ear, closest
to the heart, signifies that you are taken and a flower behind
the right means you are single and available. |
|
| |
Leis officially represent the
different islands of Hawaii.
 |
The
Big Island of Hawaii is represented by the red variety
of lehua blossom. The blossom of the ohia lehua tree is
typically found growing on the slopes of the island's
active volcanoes. It is rumored to produce rain when picked
and is sacred to the volcano goddess Pele. |
|
| Maui
is represented by pink lokelani or "heavenly rose." This
locally grown variety is smaller and more fragrant than
other long stem counterparts which make it ideal to weave
into "haku" or "wili" style lei. |
 |
|
 |
Molokai
is represented by the tiny white kukui blossom. They are
typically woven into a "haku" style among generous amounts
of kukui nut leaves. |
|
| Lahaina
is represented by the light orange kaunaoa, which is more
of a vine than a flower. It is gathered and braided or
twisted together to fashion an open ended rope style lei. |
 |
|
 |
Oahu
is represented by a bright orange flower, which also represents
high ranking royal or political officials. It is strung
into a lei by stacking the paper-like blossoms onto a
string. |
|
| Kauai
is represented by the small purple-green pea-ike mokihana,
which is actually a fruit. It is grown on the slopes of
Waialeale and is typically interwoven with maile, which
highlights the mokihana and protects the wearer from irritation.
|
 |
|
| There are other flowers
(orchid, pikake, plumeria) as well as leaves (ti and especially
the fragrant maile leaves), nuts, shells and other items used
in leis. |
|
|
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Copyright
© 2009-2010 BCDEnterprises. All rights reserved.
|
|
