Mokihana

Wayland Makanaokealoha Osomanu Hinds ’13, Director of Development at Wittenberg University, walks us through how to make the Mokihana to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

As we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we’re also celebrating family — and for Wayland, the Mokihana was the drink that was always on the table for the family lunches his grandmother would regularly host in his home state, Hawai'i.

Wayland shared some history about this drink and Hawaiian spirits in general:

“While none of the ingredients to this drink are necessarily Hawaiian, the adaptation is just that. Hawaiians, Samoans and our Polynesian cousins across the Pacific have adapted over time to various changes for survival and persistence, so adopting things and putting our own spin on it is very much a part of what make our cultures so special."

Ingredients

1 frozen limeade canister
Ice
Vodka
Purple orchid flower for garnish

Instructions

Keep limeade frozen until ready to serve.
Mix chilled water and frozen limeade in a pitcher as recommended — typically a 2:1 ratio.
Put ice in a rocks glass and pour 1.5 oz. of vodka.
Add limeade mixture to the glass.
Top with the orchid flower as a garnish and enjoy!
Optional: you may also blend this mixture for more of a slushy consistency, but the use of frozen limeade and chilled water is an easy way to achieve something similar.

Wayland Makanaokealoha Osomanu Hinds is a proud 2013 Ohio State alumnus, and is originally from Wai'anae, Hawai'i, on the island of O'ahu. Here are his remarks about his student experience: “Being both Native Hawaiian and Samoan on our campus where there weren't many others, I became closer with my culture and appreciation of it as I enjoyed various opportunities in our community to share and educate others. It's exciting to know that representation has grown here and flourishes through the existence of student organizations like the Hō'ike O Hawai'i club.”

Learn more about the Hō'ike O Hawai'i club