It’s 4:30 a.m. and I’m sitting in the second row aboard the Ohana, a covered aluminum catamaran, en route to see 2,000-degree lava plunging into cool seawater. We’ve been bouncing along the choppy ocean for about 30 minutes when, in the distance, the sky transforms from inky black to a radiating reddish-orange. A collective “Whoa” […]
It’s 3:30 p.m. and the lunch rush has finally slowed down, giving Aaron and Kristin Leikam a breather before the dinner crowd starts filing in. Husband and wife, the Leikams own Street Burger, a bustling neighborhood burger joint in Kapaa on Kauai’s east side. The two have been working in the restaurant industry for nearly
A welder by trade, John Reyno funneled his skills and enthusiasm for midcentury furniture into a new venture, Hawaii Modern. He buys mid-20th century furniture and objects, lovingly refurbishes and restores them and then sells them online. And this year, he opened a cozy shop in Kakaako in Honolulu, sharing his love of vintage furnishings
On a bright Tuesday afternoon, the roof of the Hyatt Centric Waikiki is buzzing. Couples relax on chaise lounge chairs and kids splash in the shallow pool. Just to the right is an unassuming rectangular garden, large heart-shaped leaves swaying in the breeze. These kalo (taro) plants were originally planted for aesthetic purposes, but thanks
When it comes to a romantic dinner with unobstructed ocean views, RumFire Poipu is hard to beat. For those of you familiar with RumFire Waikiki, the RumFire in Poipu is not the same: the menus are different, the hours are different and there’s no nightclub scene here. Located in the Sheraton Kauai Resort, the Poipu
Tim Veling is giving me the quick lowdown on bartending. Or rather, how to serve myself beer. It’s 6:30 on a Monday night and already the small bar is filling up. Tim and his wife, Holly, are the owners of Grace in Growlers, a beer tasting room in Kailua on Oahu’s Windward Side. Grace in
Stroll around Waikiki in the evenings and you’re bound to hear sweet falsetto voices, accompanied by skillful strumming on the ukulele and guitar. Listening to Hawaiian music in person is an integral part of visiting the Islands. In Waikiki, there’s one place that stands apart from the others: Kani Ka Pila Grille. This year, Kani
Satisfy your craving with a slice—or two—of delicious homemade pie from one of these classic Hawaii bakeries. Oahu: Ted’s Bakery If you’ve ever been to Ted’s Bakery, you’ll know why our mouths are watering. Photo: Michael Ocampo/Flickr When we think of pie on Oahu one place immediately comes to mind: Ted’s Bakery. Open since 1987
After more than a year of pouring into the sea, the fiery flow from Kilauea Volcano near the Kamokuna entry has stopped. Just as sporadically as it started, the flow changed course last November and no longer spills into the Pacific. Volcanoes National Park rangers and scientists don’t know when the lava could reach the ocean
Look at colorful, twinkling holiday parades, listen to island-inspired Christmas songs and pound—and eat—your own poi this month in Hawaii. Oahu 33rd Annual Honolulu City Lights 12/2–1/1 Honolulu City Lights is an annual tradition on Oahu, as Honolulu Hale transforms into the festive, twinkling home of Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele (aka Mr. and Mrs.
I wasn’t even there yet, but already I was more relaxed. I was driving east in my compact rental car to Upcountry Maui. The area, hugging the slopes of Haleakala, is known for its agriculture and has been farmed since early times. Today, Upcountry has cultivated a reputation for harvesting strawberries, onions, protea and lavender and
If you didn’t know what you were looking for, you’d miss it completely. I’m talking about the Four Seasons Resort Lanai’s guest lounge in the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu. The luxuriously posh lounge is tucked between gates 24 and 25 in the Oahu airport, adjacent to a large, colorful mural. The lounge is
