Liddo Bitta Tita

Kathy Collins (a.k.a. Tita) is an actress, storyteller and radio personality. Like Tita, Ms. Collins grew up on Maui.

hula girl illustration by Matt Foster

Da Rites of Spree-ing?

Tita reminisces about her favorite spring rituals from childhood.
maui beaches

Da Beaches of Maui County

Tita shares her memories and choices for the best beaches on Maui and talks about the famous Waikiki Beach on Oahu where her family picks seaweed fresh off the beach and eats it.
Tita new haircut

Da Long an’ Da Short

Inspired by her new short haircut, Tita shares Hawaiian, Filipino, Japanese and Chinese beliefs, customs and superstitions about haircuts.
Liddo Bitta Tita, Kathy Collins

Da Real Kine Christmas

Island holiday traditions can be funny and just as fun as a white Christmas!
Tita Kathy Collins

Da Muddah Tongue

Wala‘au with our newest columnist, Tita, a.k.a. Kathy Collins.
Kathy Collins as Tita

Tita vs. da Dragon

Tita welcomes in the Year of the Dragon with a tale of a Maui lizard goddess.
Kathy Collins on Luxury

Nuttin’ but da Bes

Tita talks about the luxuries of life from her perspective.
Kathy Collins Liddo Bitta Tita

Tita Leaves for Vacation

Tita goes on vacation to the East Coast.
april fools day trick

Eh, No Foolin’!

Tita has some tricks up her sleeve for April Fools pranksters.
Tita Kathy Collins

Dear Prezadent Obama

Tita addresses the president.
Kathy Collins

Da Glow of Mem’ry

In her column for July-August, Tita talks about cane burning in Maui.
Kathy Collins as Tita

Eh, Show Respeck!

This popular legend set in the forests of Kauai shares the story of Hawaiian fire goddess Pele and her sacred ohelo berries.
Kathy Collins as Tita

Da Las’ Word

Why I t’ink pidgin is da bes’ language. When come to words, pidgin is way mo’ efficient dan regulah English. An’ yeah, pidgin is one real language. Da real name is Hawaiian Creole English.
Tita Kathy Collins

Da Lei of da Land

Tita tells it like it is: May Day is Lei Day in Hawai‘i; Garlands of flowers everywhere. . . .
Kathy Collins as Tita

Tanks, Eh?

The Pidgin speaking alter ego of Kathy Collins, Tita, shares her favorite Thanksgiving story inspired by a famous brothers Grimm fairy tale.
Tita Kathy Collins

Eh, We Go Talk Trash

See, in da olden days on Maui, back when Tutu and Pops was helping their kids raise their kids, recycling came natural to all us local families.
Tita Kathy Collins

Spring Fevah

“April showahs bring May flowahs.”
Tita Kathy Collins

How dat old saying go?

Tita takes her talk story tradition on the road, up to Yellowknife, Canada.
Kathy Collins as Tita

Roses are red. Violets are blue.

Our local authority knows bes.
Kathy Collins as Tita

Da Big Ambrosia

Tita, the alter ego of radio personality Kathy Collins, takes on the Big Apple and decides its more like the Big Ambrosia.
Kathy Collins as Tita

Good to da Las Drop

Ovah here. da ua (rain) bring da pua (flowahs), no mattah what da calendah say.
Kathy Collins as Tita

Germ Wa’fare

Tita talks about local cures for the common cold Hawaiian style.
Kathy Collins as Tita

Da Odda May Days

For Maui born Tita, Kathy Collins, this month brings three reasons to celebrate here in Hawaii, including May Day, Mothers Day and Boys Day.
Kathy Collins as Tita

Obama Five-Oh!

Maui celebrity Tita says if the birthers had only gone to Obama's baby luau, there wouldn't be such a fuss about the president's birth certificate.
Kathy Collins as Tita

Da Perfeck Food

Tita talks about her love of poi and the annual East Maui Taro Festival happening in Hana.
Kathy Collins as Tita

Tita Fashionistah

Our local authority shares her fashion advice on what the well-dressed tita wears—and why.
Kathy Collins as Tita

Tita Would Go

Pidgin-speaking Tita answers the question: Where does someone from Hawaii go on vacation? She shares all about getting off the rock and exploring.

New Stories

Fork & Salad

Where freshness meets flavor on Maui By Savy Janssen                    When most people think of “farm to table,” they think of fine dining: candles and white linens,...