More and more Native Hawaiians are moving to the Pacific Northwest. In fact, Washington state has the third largest number of Kanaka Maoli, or Native Hawaiians, outside of Hawaii and California.

As they move here, people are bringing their beloved customs and traditions with them. Like the artform of making lei, which are garlands made using all kinds of materials including flowers, nuts, clay and feathers.

Seattle Times business reporter Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton belongs to this community and was curious about how cultural traditions and customs have evolved in the Seattle area. Her article, Hawaiian lei makers blossom in Seattle area, but challenges grow, dives into this issue.

Boyanton spoke with Meet Me Here host Jeannie Yandel about what she learned from local lei-makers for this story, and about the history of lei in Hawaii.

This interview originally ran on KUOW's daily news podcast, Seattle Now.

Where’s your favorite place to meet up around arts and culture in the region? Drop us a line at meetmehere@kuow.org.

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Meet Me Here listeners, if you still don't have any plans for this weekend, fear not. The Weekend Warmup is here to help with a whole bunch of ideas for fun things to do around the region this weekend.

Hosted by KUOW's Jason Megatron Burrows.

LINKS:

• The 29th Annual Model Train Festival - Washington State Historical Society
  • Opens Fri 12/19 - runs through Jan 1, 2026
• 2025 Winter Beer Fest – WA Brewers Guild
  • Fri/Sat - 12/19-20
• Hell’s Belles at the Croc
  • Sat 12/20
• United Indians Native Art Market » United Indians of All Tribes Foundation - Daybreak Star
  • Sat/Sun - 12/20-21
• Seattle Torrent vs Boston Fleet
  • Sun 12/21 - 2pm

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/meet

Meet Me Here is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When you visit an art museum, you are the VIP. At least according to art curator and Schmidt Ocean Institute artist-at-sea-manager, Haley Ha.

She says the people who work behind the scenes at art museums care enormously about visitors and their experiences.

One result from all that work? Haley says art museums are places where you slow down, enjoy yourself, and connect with yourself or with friends.

Haley also gives us the inside scoop about three of her favorite pieces at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, where she previously worked.

They include a deeply moving sculpture in SAAM's entryway by Kondo Takahiro, Park Young-sook's Moon Jar (which counts among its superfans a member of the K-Pop boy band BTS), and Ai Weiwei's Water Lilies, a 50-foot-long mural made entirely of Legos.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Me Here listeners, if you still don't have any plans for this weekend, fear not. The Weekend Warmup is here to help with a whole bunch of ideas for fun things to do around the region this weekend.

Hosted by KUOW's Jason Megatron Burrows.

LINKS:

• SPORTS!
  • Seahawks vs Indianapolis Colts - Sun 1:25pm
  • Buffalo Sabres at Seattle Kraken - Sun 5pm
  • Seattle Torrent vs Ottawa Charge - Wed 7pm
• WildLanterns: Night Owls (21+) - Fri 12/12
• Mozart & Mutts: Annual Holiday Concert - Fri 12/12
• Jurassic Quest | Washington State Fairgrounds
• The Naughty Novel Social Club: Krampus Edition
• DEAF SANTA CLAUS - Sun 12/14

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/meet

Meet Me Here is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Books are the best gift you can give. And this holiday season, our book besties are recommending their favorites of this year and more. Host Katie Campbell opens the mail bag with KUOW producer Brandi Fullwood to find out which books you'll want to give this year… and maybe a few you’ll want to keep for yourself.

Here's a list of some the books our book besties recommend this year:

• To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage
• Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico
• Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
• I'll Make a Spectacle of You by Beatrice Winifred Iker
• Archangels of Funk by Andrea Hairston
• Hild by Nicola Griffith
• Horsefly by Mireille Gagné
• Milk Fed by Melissa Broder

Looking for even more recommendations? Check out Katie Campbell's write up on KUOW.org: https://www.kuow.org/stories/holiday-gift-guide-books-ditch-gift-cards-gimmicks-seattle-readers

Your support helps create shows like Seattle Now, Soundside, and Meet Me Here!

Become a KUOW member today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Meet Me Here listeners, if you still don't have any plans for this weekend, fear not. The Weekend Warmup is here to help with a whole bunch of ideas for fun things to do around the region this weekend.

Hosted by KUOW's Jason Megatron Burrows.

LINKS:

• Live Wire with Lindy West, Meagan Hatcher-Mays, Mohanad Elshieky, R. Eric Thomas, The Brudi Brothers, and Rick Steves
• WTO/99 - Northwest Film Forum
• 21st Annual Urban Craft Uprising Winter Show
• Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition | PMSC-FB
• KRAMPUS BREMERTON
• Seattle SantaCon
• Scintillating sci-fi striptease
• Kraken vs Detroit - Sat 12/6
• Kraken vs Minnesota - Mon 12/8

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/meet

Meet Me Here is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The holiday season means trees, cookies, family, spirituality, or presents to many. For Meet Me Here's Dyer Oxley, it means it's time to watch his favorite Christmas movie — "Die Hard." This 1988 action flick staring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman has become a Christmas tradition for many, including the actors behind "A Very Die Hard Christmas," a holiday musical performed at Seattle's Green Lake Bathhouse Theatre each year.

But not everyone agrees that "Die Hard" can be a Christmas tradition. Week in Review host Bill Radke is in that camp. He challenges Dyer's "Die Hard" opinion in a special holiday throw down. Bill and Dyer debate a modern holiday question: Is "Die Hard" a Christmas movie?

EVENT RECOMENDATION:
Seattle Krampus: Go see Krampus at various holiday events in December. Krampus will show up at the Seattle Christmas Market at Seattle Center on Dec. 12-13.

Where’s your favorite place to meet up around arts and culture in the region? Drop us a line at meetmehere@kuow.org.
Got an arts idea you want to pitch KUOW? Email us at arts@kuow.org

Help support the local stories you love! Give now at https://www.kuow.org//donate/meet.

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Are you meeting up with family or friends over the holidays? Someone will likely be roasting meat and veggies, maybe mashing potatoes and someone else will likely be watching a loud football game on TV. Sports seem almost inevitable this time of year. But what if you’re not a fan? This week, we will give you all the tips and tricks you need to fake your way through a sports conversation this holiday season. No need to fumble that conversation with your uncle.

Event Recommendation:

Holiday Magic Cabaret - Dec 14 and 20

Where’s your favorite place to meet up around arts and culture in the region? Drop us a line at meetmehere@kuow.org.

Got an arts idea you want to pitch KUOW? Email us at arts@kuow.org

Your support helps create shows like Seattle Now, Soundside, and Meet Me Here!

Become a KUOW member today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.