Hāna Air & Ground Tours
Hāna Air & Ground Tours is locally owned and family operated. Our family values and perpetuation of culture have been passed down from generation to generation. We believe that proper protocol and aloha will connect anyone to Hāna’s most special places. It is our mission to educate our guests about the Hawaiian culture and the wonders that Hāna has to offer. We want to create opportunities for our local community and to support the preservation of our beautiful home.
Kaiolohai Funes Smith - Founder & Owner
Kaiolohia Funes Smith was born and raised in Hāna. He was brought up by his great grandmother Nani Kaaihue Smith. His grandmother was a master leimaker, lauhala Weaver, fisherman, cook, hula dancer and musician, expert in planting and gardening, and one of the last manaleo or Hawaiian speakers from Hāna. Growing up, he was blessed to learn many of these traits.
Kaiolohia at a young age could sing and play different types of musical instruments such as Ukulele, guitar and upright bass. His falsetto vocal skills was intruded at age 5 when he entered the annual Aloha Week Falsetto contest and won 1st place and over all. There he continued his music playing for the Hotel Hāna Maui, and started traveling around the world at age 15. He released his first album in 2002 when he graduated from High School. Kaiolohia went to the University of Hawaii at Hilo where he studied business management and music. There he had the desire to come back to his home town Hāna and start his own business to help bring jobs to the community. Kaiolohia is well-respected in the Hāna community and thru out the Hawaiian islands and world. His music and humbleness has taken him to places, and he is forever grateful to everyone who has helped him in his success and never forgetting who you are and where you come from.
Mahalo Ke Akua.
Brief History of Hāna
Let us start with a small Oli Aloha (Welcoming Chant) of Hāna, inviting you to our home, wishing you safe passage and proper protocol.
“Onaona i ka hala me ka lehua
He hale lehua no ia na ka noe
O ka`u no ia e `ano`i nei
E lia`a nei ho`i o ka hiki mai
A hiki mai no `oe
Hiki pu no me ke aloha
Aloha e, aloha e”
[Translation]
Fragrant with the breath of hala and lehua
This is the sight I long to see
Of this, my present desire
Your coming fills me with eagerness
Now that you have come
Loves comes with you
Greetings, greetings
Now that you have been granted permission into this sacred place we call home, let us begin our journey.
Hāna is located on the eastern side of Maui and has a population of about 1,200 people. Hāna is known for its laid back life style, easy going atmosphere and friendly people.
The history of this old town is still shared by many of the old timers. When I was young, stories of ranching, farming and fishing were told by many. Life wasn’t always easy, but the land and the surroundings of Hāna always provided hope of survival for its people. Families came together for all occasions, always ready to lend a helping hand for one another.
Many historical sites in Hāna still stands today.
The Hāna Pier - Used for sugar cane during the sugar plantation. Old train tracks can be seen today. And at night locals say they can hear the train horn blowing in the wind.
Hāna Old School - Located on the slopes of the famous Ka’uiki Hill, the old Hāna School is used for local businesses and the Maui community college outreach center.
Wananalua Church - One of the oldest churches in the Hāna District. This church was built by stones from a sacrificial heiau. It is said that lights and other supernatural activists occur at night in the church.
Fagan’s Cross - A special monument built for Paul Fagon. Who built the Hotel Hāna Maui.
Hāna Town Center - There are two main stores: Hasegawa General store operating out of the old Hāna Theater, and the Hāna Ranch Store, located above the Post office, Hāna Ranch Restaurant, Bank and Gift Shops.
Hāna Food Trailer Park - Located where the old Hasegawa General Store used to be. From a mysterious fire out break, the store was burnt to the ground, leaving this old historical place only in our memory.
Hāna Laundry Mat - Still standing today, used by the hotel Hāna as their laundry facility. This old building used to be a liquor store.
Haneo’o - Old Hāna Airport, still can be seen today, is now used as a pasture for Hāna Ranch cattle.
Hamoa Landing - Old boat landing area.
Puuiki Church - One of Hāna’s oldest cemeteries.
Hāna Cultural Center - Once the police station and jail.
Old Milk Dairy - Located in the Ranch property just out of Hāna town.
Make Man Bridge - Famous bridge in Hāna, known for a train crash that occurred during the 1920’s while transporting sugar cane. Many men died, and till this day the sound of men yelling is still heard.
Many stories and legends of Hāna will continued to be passed down for many generations to come. We will always remember and respect these special wahi pana or sacred places, and show aloha for our beloved home.