In the new film The Descendants, director Alexander Payne paints a bittersweet portrait of Matt King (George Clooney), and of everyday life in the Hawaiian Islands. For non-natives, the film is also an education in the modern Aloha Shirt. Taken out of context, some Aloha shirts can be obnoxious, or even comical. But in Hawaii, surrounded by vivid, Jurassic-sized plants … Continue reading →

There is a tree growing on American soil that is familiar to everyone living in Japan, yet is virtually unknown to the rest of the world. The 130 year-old Monkeypod has been a living symbol for the Hitachi Group Corporation since 1973. It can be found in the privately-owned (open to the public), Moanalua Gardens on the island of Oahu … Continue reading →