Articles — history

Pronounced “ah-vah”, which means bitter, awa it is known as the Hawaiian kava drink. Hawaiian awa has many different names, depending on the region in the Pacific Islands and the cultural background. Many know it as kava around the world. It is called yaqona in Tonga, ‘ava in Samoa, sakau in Pohnpei, and malok in Vanuatu. Hawaiians have called it awa since it first came to Hawaii thousands of years ago. Awa, in the beginning, was mostly used for religious ceremonies. Certain Gods are associated with the use of Hawaiian awa, offering blessings to crops, hunting, fishing and even unions between families. Today awa...

What may seem like a simple wooden bowl to some, the kava bowl has deep rooted meaning in traditional kava drinking. Various cultures within the Pacific Islands have similar respect for the kava bowl. Small factors may change among cultures, like the name of it or how many legs it has. But overall, it adds significant value to the process of drinking and sharing kava. Origin of the Name For centuries, natives in the Pacific Islands have been drinking kava before ceremonies and rituals. Kava is prepared using the root of the piper methysticum plant, a member of the pepper family. The kava root...

Samoa is a group of islands in the South Pacific. Kava is called “ava” in the their culture, which varies from other islands in the Pacific Islands. Kava has immense importance in Samoan culture and is consumed at most celebrations. It is also consumed by leaders of the communities. In more recent times the effects of kava can be experienced by all villagers, but historically kava was reserved for a select few. For example, centuries ago, specific leaders would reserve kava for welcoming dignitaries, royalty and others of significant importance. It would have been considered a great honor to be asked to attend a kava ceremony. Drinking...

Oceana, the South Pacific Islands, is an almost magical place on this Earth. It is exotic and beautiful. Just visualizing the islands within this region offers a calming feeling. Oceana is comprised of three main regions, all with distinct cultural histories. Immersed in each region’s culture is the use of kava kava or often called just kava. Each area has their own traditions surrounding the use of kava. These traditions include both the kava preparation and the ceremonial uses. It has been stated that kava was domesticated to these parts of the worlds around three thousand years ago. Understanding the regions that...