Native Hawaiians navigated to the Hawaiian Islands, where they lived and flourished for centuries, carrying on the cultural traditions they brought with them and innovating new ones.

Hawaii is different, unique, special and unforgettable. Visit and experience Hawaii's rich native culture, filled with fascinating customs, music, legends, traditions and values.

Like many indigenous groups, Native Hawaiians find landscapes imbued with power and meaning for their association with events of creation or history, plant or animal resource gathering or ceremonial or spiritual practices.

The closeness between native Hawaiians and the natural world is especially strong with family ʻaumakua, deified ancestors who could take the form of an animal such as a shark, turtle, owl or for some families, the koholā (whale).

Learn more about the vital tradition of Hula in Hawaii, which combines rhythmic movement and storytelling. Find ways to experience Hula during your visit to Hawaii.

Whether it’s a unique natural wonder, a National Historic Site, Park or Monument, or a sacred place that connects us to Native Hawaiian customs, beliefs and practices, these sites will help you gain a deeper understanding of Hawaiʻi on your next visit.

The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) is a member-based 501 (c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to enhance the cultural, economic, political, and community development of Native Hawaiians.

Traditions honoring the sports culture and history of Native Hawaiians continue to be practiced today and play an important role in preserving customs passed down from generation to generation.

What does hula mean to native Hawaiians? For the native, for the Kanaka Hawaiʻi, hula is the bridge to our authenticity and our identity. And if we identify ourselves with our land base, then it's for the land. It's to facilitate that connection between the land and me, and to reaffirm my commitment as a native Hawaiian. How do you define oli?

Participating in and experiencing Hawaiʻi’s cultural events helps us understand that the native culture of these islands is alive and thriving, and that the cultures of those who later migrated to these shores add their brilliance to the dynamic, cosmopolitan Hawaiʻi of today.