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Travel Weekly editor in chief Arnie Weissmann recently spent some time in Panama's San Blas islands and wrote about his experiences and interaction with the native Kuna people there. Pictured here, a Kuna woman holds a mola she created.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

Travel Weekly editor in chief Arnie Weissmann recently spent some time in Panama's San Blas islands and wrote about his experiences and interaction with the native Kuna people there. Pictured here, a Kuna woman holds a mola she created. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

Related Article: Read the related story here.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

Related Article: Read the related story here.

Molas made by Kuna women on the San Blas Islands.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

Molas made by Kuna women on the San Blas Islands. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

A Kuna revolt in 1925 resulted in the indigenous group attaining semi-autonomous status in Panama. Startling to some visitors, the flag commemorating the revolution still displays the symbol of the revolt, a swastika.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

A Kuna revolt in 1925 resulted in the indigenous group attaining semi-autonomous status in Panama. Startling to some visitors, the flag commemorating the revolution still displays the symbol of the revolt, a swastika. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

The Kuna have developed a distinctive style of sail configuration to get among the 300-plus San Blas islands.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

The Kuna have developed a distinctive style of sail configuration to get among the 300-plus San Blas islands. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

The boat that shuttled us between islands was typical of the tourist boats, including the graffiti-style graphics on its sideboards.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

The boat that shuttled us between islands was typical of the tourist boats, including the graffiti-style graphics on its sideboards. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

Visitors relax on one of the shallow sandbar ''swimming pools'' that are dotted among the islands.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

Visitors relax on one of the shallow sandbar ''swimming pools'' that are dotted among the islands. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

Tourists prepare to ship out from Icodub Island, which caters to visitors.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

Tourists prepare to ship out from Icodub Island, which caters to visitors. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

Many of the tourist islands offered accommodations in tents for $150 per person, per night, double occupancy.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

Many of the tourist islands offered accommodations in tents for $150 per person, per night, double occupancy. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

Dog Island, typical of where most tourists stayed.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

Dog Island, typical of where most tourists stayed. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

Dog Island provided the opportunity to snorkelers to explore a coral encrusted shipwreck.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

Dog Island provided the opportunity to snorkelers to explore a coral encrusted shipwreck. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

The overwater bungalow, San Blas-style. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

Our host, Elias, intends to build a second overwater bungalow next to his first, and has already sunk the piers. As in much of the world, he said that rainbows portend good luck to the Kuna.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

Our host, Elias, intends to build a second overwater bungalow next to his first, and has already sunk the piers. As in much of the world, he said that rainbows portend good luck to the Kuna. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

The view of Corbisky Island from the bungalow. Elias' other accommodations, a subdivided bunkhouse, is on the left.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

The view of Corbisky Island from the bungalow. Elias' other accommodations, a subdivided bunkhouse, is on the left. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

Elias' wife embroidering a mola. Her work was displayed on the wall to her right.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

Elias' wife embroidering a mola. Her work was displayed on the wall to her right. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

A Corbisky Island classroom. Principal Elias is on left, Weissmann's 12-year-old son on the right.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

A Corbisky Island classroom. Principal Elias is on left, Weissmann's 12-year-old son on the right. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

Corbisky Island's church. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

Corbisky Island depends primarily on solar power and, despite a relatively traditional environment has access to satellite television.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

Corbisky Island depends primarily on solar power and, despite a relatively traditional environment has access to satellite television. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann

A Corbisky Island resident flattens cans by lifting and dropping the head of a sledge hammer in preparation for recycling.

Photos & Videos Central / South America Travel

Kuna culture in the San Blas islands

A Corbisky Island resident flattens cans by lifting and dropping the head of a sledge hammer in preparation for recycling. Photo Credit: Arnie Weissmann