History & Culture
Ancient Peoples, Aloha Spirit
Wayfarers, voyagers, explorers. They came from the South Pacific, across 4,000 miles of open ocean, guided by the stars and the currents. Over 2,000 years ago, early Hawaiians thrived at this place where ocean, land, and streams merge in a rich and magnificent ecosystem. The North Shore’s first peoples were drawn by the abundance of wildlife and the fertile lands dotted with freshwater springs that made it possible for them to develop complex agricultural systems highly attuned to nature.
To this day, it is a civilization marked by ingenuity and resourcefulness—a native Hawaiian culture celebrated internationally for its artistry and sophistication. But the original Hawaiians also had a structured society, government and complex agricultural methods that were the precursor of 21st century concepts of self-sufficiency and environmental sustainability.
Hawaiian Culture
As a mid-ocean crossroads for Pacific Rim exploration, Hawaii has become home to many different ethnic groups who have contributed to its culture. Today, a “Native Hawaiian” can be defined as “any individual who is a descendant of the aboriginal people who, prior to 1778, occupied and exercised sovereignty in the area that now constitutes the State of Hawai‘i.”
However, Native Hawaiian culture is so much more.
Hawaiian people define themselves by their relationships with each other, their ancestors, and their land. Everyone has a kuleana (responsibility) to use his or her talents to the benefit of the entire ëohana (family). Built upon the foundation of the ëohana, Hawaiian culture ensures the health of the community as a whole.
The Ancient Hawaiians were among the first to understand that it takes a village to raise a child.
While Hawaiians have a strong sense of ohana—those related by blood or a common cause— their caring, compassion, and famous aloha spirit extends even further and represents a bright spot in a world of strife.
We invite you to be a part of our ohana here at Turtle Bay. Come, stay awhile. And return again when the ocean and the spirit of aloha calls you.
