We were happily surprised when Hawi captured the no. 3 spot in our poll. Two decades ago, Hawi, on the lush, yet seldom-visited North Kohala peninsula of the Big Island of Hawaii, almost disappeared into the past. The century-old buildings of the once bustling plantation town were boarded up and crumbling. Visitors were few. But a few years ago, a new generation of artists and entrepreneurs moved in. Attracted to the same tranquil small town life that kept longtime residents in Hawi, they restored the town’s decaying storefronts, filling them with unique and unusual boutiques, eateries, bookstores and galleries. Hawi today is vibrant again, but with no less of its small town appeal firmly intact. HAWAII Magazine has long been fond of Hawi and the small towns of the North Kohala peninsula. We’re happy our Facebook ohana shares that love, too.




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