Storyteller Statue, Honolulu, Guia do visitante e o que fazer por perto

The Storyteller Statue stands on Kalākaua Avenue in Waikiki, Honolulu, and honors the Hawaiian storytellers who kept their people's history alive through chant, song and dance. It is a free, open-air stop that makes a good way into the oral traditions behind Hawaiian culture and the legend of Lehua and ʻŌhiʻa.

The story behind it

Hawaiian culture was carried for generations by storytellers rather than by written pages. They used poetry, music, chant, song, hula, verse and genealogy to hold on to the identity of their people and their land. Two forms matter here: mele, meaning song, and oli, meaning chant. A mele oli is a chant performed by one voice with no instrument, while a mele hula is a chant joined with dance or musical instruments.

One well-loved tale tells of the lovers Lehua and ʻŌhiʻa. Lehua gathered flowers and made leis, while ʻŌhiʻa played the ʻohe hano ihu, the Hawaiian nose flute. Pele, goddess of the volcano, was jealous of their bond and tried to tear them apart. In the end the two became the ʻōhiʻa tree, a sturdy and handsome tree, and the crimson lehua blossom that grows on it, so they would stay together for good.

What to look for

• The figure of the storyteller itself, which stands for the voices that passed Hawaiian knowledge from one generation to the next.
• The red lehua blossom and the ʻōhiʻa tree in your mind as you stand here, since the legend of the two lovers is one of the best-known stories told in this tradition.
• The Kūhiō Beach area around the statue, where Hawaiian music and dance are part of the local setting.
• The beachfront promenade along Kalākaua Avenue, which links this spot with other points of local history within a short walk.

Tips for your visit

• Plan 10 to 15 minutes for the statue alone, longer if you stroll the beach and promenade nearby.
• Go early in the morning for quieter streets, or near sunset for softer light and a cooler walk.
• It is outdoors on a public street, so you can see it at any time without a ticket.
• Check current schedules if you hope to catch a live hula or music performance in the area.

See it on a quest

Romantic Honolulu: Lovers in Paradise suits this spot well, because the legend of Lehua and ʻŌhiʻa is a love story. You reach the statue on foot as one stop of a longer route through Waikiki, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle on the spot. One ticket covers the whole group.

Kid Quest: Solve the case of the lost senses in Honolulu is a good pick for families. Children walk between places, hear about each one from the app and solve a puzzle in what is in front of them, so the statue becomes something to look at closely rather than pass by. One ticket covers the whole group.