Hawaiian Word of the Week
Lanakila: Victory

In Hawaiian, the word lanakila means “victory.” But here, lanakila has always been more than a single triumph—it is the perseverance of courage, strategy- the will to overcome. Few stories capture this spirit more than that of King Kamehameha the Great. The warrior  king who rose from the rugged landscapes of Big Island to unite all the Hawaiian Islands under one rule.

Kamehameha’s victories were not won easily. Battles were fought on steep pali (cliffs), where warriors clashed under the roar of crashing surf and the shadow of towering mountains. Legends tell of the Battle of Nuʻuanu on Oʻahu, where Kamehameha’s forces pressed their opponents back until they were driven over the cliffs, sealing his triumph and his legacy as the unifier of the islands. His name is forever tied to the spirit of lanakila—a victory of determination, vision, and strength.

That same energy, rooted in Hawaiian lore, still courses through the land. When you stand in the rainforest with Rappel Maui, rope in hand, listening to the rush of waterfalls that have witnessed centuries of history, you are stepping into that same spirit of challenge and triumph.

Your moment of lanakila begins with the first step backward over the edge of a cliff. It’s a modern-day echo of the ancient warriors who stood on pali, hearts pounding, facing the unknown. Each descent down a waterfall is a personal battle—will you take it on with lanakila? There is only one way to find out!

Rappel Maui’s call to Lanakila

At Rappel Maui, we don’t just guide you through an epic adventure—we give you the chance to embody the spirit of lanakila.  Where you can conquer your own cliffs and stand victorious in the heart of Maui’s rainforest. Then you can carry home a story that is yours alone, but tied forever to the islands’ legacy of triumph.

Because victory is not only remembered in history—it is lived, one rappel at a time.