Tip #6: Mauka/Makai - Can You Give Me Directions Please?
Did you know: Ancient Hawaiians, like many South Pacific people, had no concept of ownership and that included land. Land on the Islands was divided into what is called "ahupuaa", which are pie-shaped pieces that cover an area from the mountains (mauka) to the ocean (makai). Today you still find the town of Holualoa high in the mountains, and Holualoa Bay down by the ocean (obviously). Fast forward to modern times and you will find that we still give directions according to the mountains and the ocean. If you ask a local person for directions you might hear "The restaurant is on the makai side of the road opposite where the Catholic church used to be on the mauka side". If you're a visitor, you most likely don't know where the Catholic church used to be, but you can tell the ocean from the mountains.
Whether it's mauka or makai, the right direction for everything Hawaii is online at Kapo Trading Company -- we deliver Hawaii to you!
To see tip #1, click here.
To see tip #2, click here.
To see tip #3, click here.
To see tip #4, click here.
To see tip #5, click here.
