Traveler Magazine Andrew Harper Traveler Summer 2019 | Page 19

PHOTOS
TOP:
H AWA I I A N
POKE
BOWLS
MIDDLE:
FIRE
DANCERS
BOTTOM:
POLOLU
V A L L E Y,
H AWA I I
GET ACQUAINTED WITH
Hawaiian T R A D I T I O N S ,
FROM HULA DANCING TO
HERBAL HEALING.
AUTHOR
E R I CA M O O DY
You might be familiar with the Hawaiian custom of greeting guests
with a lei, a floral wreath worn around the neck. But it’s more than
just a decorative welcome. It’s a symbol of the people’s affections and
generosity. This is not the only tradition that has endured Hawaii’s rich
and fraught history—from Polynesian migration around 500 A.D. to
the infamous arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778 to U.S. statehood
in 1959, Hawaiians have worked to preserve the traditions that unite
the seven inhabited islands that occupy one of the most geographically
isolated places on the planet. Andrew Harper Travel’s resort partners
are embracing visitors’ desire to absorb culture by offering perks such as
authentic cooking classes, hula tutorials and spa treatments that make
use of ancient healing practices. Read on for ways to connect with the
“Aloha” way of life.