By Kara Mae Adamo
One day, the moon goddess Hina was walking along the shore, her feet pressing into the soft sand as she breathed in the cool sea air. As she walked, a small glimmer of red caught her eye. Curious, she walked over to find a beautiful Kapa cloth made from the bark of the magnificent, twisted trunks of Banyan trees that grow on the island.
Captivated by the beauty of the garment, Mahina wrapped herself in the cloth and continued on her way. It turns out, the Kapa cloth was enchanted, and soon her womb was filled with the powerful heartbeat of a supernatural baby son: a little boy she would call Māui.
When he was born, Hina wrapped her son up in locks of her own hair and then set him on a bed of limu kala. Supported by jellyfish in the sea, Māui then traveled to Kuaihelani, where he developed many powers–chief among them, the ability to slow down the sun so that the cool Hawaiian nights could last just a little longer, allowing Māui to support his mother in her celestial work.
Legend has it that Hina eventually grew tired of being stuck on land, wanting instead to shine brightly in the sky where she rightfully belonged. First, she used a rainbow to travel toward the sun, but the heat grew to be too much for her. The following day, she used the rainbow to travel to the moon–named Mahina after the goddess herself.
From up in the sky, Hina has proven a faithful companion to sailors, warriors, and fishermen, and farmers for centuries, providing guidance in the dark.
It is in the soft silvery glow of Hina’s moonlight, protected by the shadows of the Hale Mahina Mountains in a place called “The House of the Moon” that Mahina Hawaiian Rum is crafted.
Balanced and rich, Mahina Hawaiian rum smells like nutmeg and tastes like brown sugar, vanilla, and caramel. Made from the sweet molasses of raw turbinado sugar, Madagascar vanilla, cocoa essence, cloves, cinnamon, citrus oils, and Kona coffee, this rum is smooth straight out of the bottle, perfect for sipping on its own or in an island cocktail.
It has a lovely caramel finish that makes you think of creme brulee or banana fosters–especially when paired with banana liquor.
The rum is strong enough, but at 80 Proof it’s smooth as silk. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed sipping it out on the shore, under the loving, maternal eye of the legendary Hina, mother of Māui and goddess of the moon.
Worshipped throughout Polynesian cultures, Hina continues to mean a lot to the islanders, and she’s started to mean a lot to me. My boyfriend, Chris, has three beautiful daughters—all of them part Hawaiian on their mother’s side–and the middle daughter is named Mahina, after this incredible, powerful diety. We call her “Hina” for short, and every time I look at the moon I do think of her and how powerful I know her parents knew she would be from the moment she was born.
So, Mahina Elliott, this blog was for you. You’re nowhere near old enough to drink and I don’t expect you to ever read it, but know that I love the story of your namesake and that I believe that, like the goddess Hina, you will prove to be impactful and powerful in your own wonderful, cosmic life.
As to the adults: if you do come to this magnificent, transformative place, buy a bottle of Mahina Hawaiian Rum and take it to an isolated place at night. Watch the waves crash along the surf, look up at the sky, and take a swig for Hina, the lunar goddess, mother of Māui, and guiding light of Hawaiians everywhere.
Cheers.
Aloha.
Kara Adamo is a globe-trotting bartender, booze nerd, and booze writer. She is the author of Fancy Grape Juice: De-Snootifying the World’s Snootiest Beverage; Artimals: Coloring the Whimsical Wild; and Brews & Hues: A Coloring Book About Beer. Adamo is also a UX designer, teaches online mixology courses, and is currently working on the 2nd edition of Fancy Grape Juice.
Karita's Travels 