The Livin' Aloha Blog

 Trees are some of the greatest living beings on earth. It's true without trees, humans would not survive. Trees are the sole source of fresh air, oxygen and carbon dioxide for most planetary species. With only about a third of the world’s forests remaining, it is high time to recognize how important trees really are. Our human story is interwoven with trees, and so at Livin' Aloha, we think we should all celebrate trees more.

The origins of the Hawaiian shirt go back over 100 years, when the garments were first worn by the Japanese people who were migrating to Hawaii in the early 20th century. In the 1930s, many of the world’s most powerful people, such as British royalty and US presidents, began wearing Hawaiian shirts.

From local joints to secret restaurants and adventure activities you won't find on any tourist itinerary, here are some places in Hawaii where you can feel like a local rather than a tourist. 

Did you know seeing a Hawai'i sea turtle is a sign of good luck? Honu are believed to have healing properties and were used in some traditional Hawaiian healing practices. In Hawai'i culture, a Honu symbolizes strength, longevity, and constant progress. Some Hawaiian families even have a turtle as a family crest.

Hawaiʻi has the highest number of endangered plants compared to any other state. Hawaii is characterized by high levels of endemism in both its native animals and plants, with over 10,000 species found nowhere else on earth. While only comprising less than one percent of the Unites States land mass, Hawaiʻi contains 44 percent of the nation's Endangered and Threatened plant species!

It’s time to cover some dos and don’ts for not coming off as a jerk when you visit Hawai'i. This post will cover some Hawaii etiquette for visitors, travelers, and locals alike. The gist of it is....respect the culture, respect the locals, respect the wildlife, and respect the ecosystems, respect the rules, and show self-respect.

Trees are an important part of our environment, and provide us with food, clean air and water, and other benefits, but trees are even more important here in Hawai’i. Trees help regulate our unique climate and ecosystems, and also sequester carbon, helping mitigate the greenhouse effect. Despite their many benefits, many forests in Hawai’ are threatened by invasive species, over development, agriculture, and a lack of forest management. 
I believe that Livin’ Aloha can become a permanent wheel of positive impact. Anyone who wears a Livin’ Aloha shirt is not only sharing aloha with the world because of the graphics of the shirt itself, but they’re actually sending aloha directly into the islands via ecosystem restoration, including planting trees and corals here that leave a lasting legacy of environmental stewardship.