When you’re in Hawaii, you won’t go long without hearing the Hawaiian words aina and pono. You might recognize it in a passing discussion, read it on a sign or spot it on a bumper sticker. The word aina is even in the Hawaii state motto: “Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono.”  English Translation: “The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness.” As you can see from the motto, aina translates as “land,” but its meaning goes much deeper than a simple definition. To really understand all the layers of meaning of the word, you also need to understand the […]

When he visited the Hawaiian islands in 1866 as a special correspondent for the Sacramento Union, Mark Twain wrote about the islands’ “balmy airs . . . summer seas . . . plumy palms . . . remote summits . . . woody solitudes.” In short, Twain was charmed by the natural beauty of the islands he visited: Oahu, Maui and the Big Island. Many visitors and residents alike share his sentiments and admire the natural wonders that the isolated island chain has to offer. To celebrate the start of spring, we’ll be highlighting some of Hawaii’s most exotic and amazing endemic plants, which means […]

Thinking of retiring in Hawaii? The U.S. senior population is soaring. The number of Americans over 65 is projected to nearly double by 2060. Additionally, by 2040, the 80+ population is expected to exceed 28 million, which is more than triple the numbers that same demographic posted in the year 2000. As the baby boomer generation has grown up, its members have significantly impacted American life. This powerful generation filled public schools and created shortages in labor markets, where they’re expected to leave a large hole as they choose retirement. Now that baby boomers are reaching a mature age, they’re also expected to have a […]

March 31, 2020 Aloha Partners: To prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our state, Governor Ige has expanded the mandatory 14-day quarantine for air travel to include all inter-island passengers. Inter-island trips are from one Hawaiian Island to another, for example Oahu to Kauai, or from Maui to the Big Island. This new mandate will go into effect Wednesday, April 1, 2020, at 12:01 a.m. and extend through April 30, 2020. The quarantine does not apply to essential workers or to flight crews; however; those who do fly inter-island are being asked to wear protective equipment. We continue to adjust our business processes and procedures. […]

If you share the sentiments of legendary slack-key guitarist Keola Beamer, you might feel Honolulu’s city lights bringing you back again and again. Maybe the call has gotten so strong that you’re considering making Honolulu your home. If so, we’d love to welcome you to the Big Pineapple with an insider’s tour to Hawaii’s capital city. With a population of just around 350,000, Honolulu is Hawaii’s most populated urban area. Depending on how you define a city, it’s also one of the globe’s most isolated, along with Auckland, New Zealand and Perth, Australia. Because Honolulu is a major hub of activity, the city can offer […]

It seems like you can get an online quote for practically anything these days. You’ll find sites all over the internet willing to give you an instant estimate for things like car insurance, health insurance, redoing the siding on your house, ending the termite infestation you discovered in your attic, buying a color copier, ordering a case of pitted dates from Pakistan or even booking an Elvis impersonator for your next party. So when it comes to getting a quote for moving to or from Hawaii, you might wonder: Why does my moving company need to come to my house to give me a quote? […]