It may have seemed like your typical lū‘au—except, maybe, for the horses. But if you know the history of O‘ahu’s North Shore, where the Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay is perched, it all makes sense. The North Shore was once home to cattle ranches, where paniolo, or Hawaiian cowboys, worked the land on horseback. In fact, the hotel […]
This story was originally published on July 8, 2020, and updated in May 2026. Springer Kaye remembers growing up in Mānoa on Oʻahu with a neighbor who would share lychee with her family. It has always reminded her of summer in Hawaiʻi. “We would sit there, with that big paper bag of lychee, covered in
It makes sense that only in Hilo can you order something called a gravy burger. The sleepy town on Hawaiʻi Island has the distinction of being the birthplace of the loco moco, the classic local dish of hamburger patties, white rice, brown gravy and eggs being first served at the now-defunct Lincoln Grill in Hilo.
Anyone who’s grown up in the Islands has either given, received or marveled at a piece of Hawaiian heirloom jewelry, the highly ornate, hand-engraved bracelets and pendants emblazoned with Hawaiian names or initials in an Old English-style font. But where did this jewelry and its unique style come from? Turns out the first Hawaiian bracelet
*This web story was originally published in November 2020, and updated in March 2026. The short list was included in our FALL/WINTER 2025 issue. The best lū‘au in Hawai‘i will serve the authentic stuff: succulent kālua pig, creamy haupia and, of course, poi. So if you are lucky enough to get handed that perfect plate, here’s what you’ll be eating: From
To me, the best part of traveling is eating. You can learn a lot about the history and culture of a place through its foods; take Hawai‘i, for example. The Islands’ diverse cultures and rich history are showcased through its varied cuisine. You can find everything from Vietnamese pho to Portuguese bacalao to Puerto Rican
Hula, surfing, Kona coffee and Spam musubi are all at home in Hawai‘i. But did you know we have the only commercial vanilla farms in the U.S., or that cowboys roamed the Islands before the Wild West? Here are five things that are distinctive to Hawai‘i that you may not have known about. (We didn’t, either!) Rock-Walled Fishponds According to Hawaiian moʻolelo
*This story was originally published on Feb. 4, 2021, and updated in January 2026. Romance and Hawaiʻi seem to go hand-in-hand. If you happen to be in the Islands for Valentine’s Day—lucky you!—here are some of the most romantic beaches, lookouts and places in Hawaiʻi. 1. Watch the Sunrise at Lanikai Beach Imagine watching the
Most locals know the concept of the ahupuaʻa, a land management system that extends from mauka (mountains) to makai (ocean). About a decade ago, the Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club installed signs marking the ahupuaʻa in the Koʻolaupoko district on Oʻahu—roughly Waimānalo to Kahuku. That inspired an islandwide program—a partnership between community organizations and the state—to identify the physical boundaries of
It’s not at every hotel that, after mailing a coconut (yes, you read that right), you can hop on a beach bike and ride along a shoreline path to dinner. But that’s what it’s like at Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort, a luxury retreat originally built in 1961 on a lava field fronting storied Kahuwai
*This story was originally published on Jan. 15, 2025, and updated in January 2026. The muʻumuʻu has come a long way from its reputation as a gaudy house dress. In fact, it’s very in vogue these days. So much so, January is Muʻumuʻu Month in Hawaiʻi. It started 11 years ago by Kauaʻi designer Shannon
*This story was originally published on Dec. 12, 20218, and updated in December 2025. Who says there’s no winter in Hawaiʻi? Here are 12 ways to enjoy the winter season across the Islands. 1. See Sand-ta Claus at Sheraton Waikiki View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sheraton Waikiki Beach
