*This story was originally published on Sept. 12, 2017. The 2025 Nā Wāhine o Ke Kai will be held on Sunday, Sept. 28. For more information, visit nawahineokekai.com. Considered the pinnacle of long-distance Hawaiian outrigger canoe racing, the Kaiwi Channel is a grueling 41-mile stretch of open ocean separating the Hawaiian Islands of Molokaʻi […]
I haven’t reached the 2025 Maui Music & Food Experience yet, but already I can hear the echo of “Paint It Black” reverberating through the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa. I ask myself if it’s still considered a cover of the Rolling Stones’ original song when Bernard Fowler—who’s been in the world-renowned rock band
The theater lights dim, a drumbeat ripples through your headphones and the IMAX-style screen bursts to life with stunning footage that takes you from the slopes of Haleakalā to the depths of the Pacific Ocean. Live musicians and dancers blur the line between stage and screen in a fusion of Hawaiian tradition and modern technology.
There is a surprising treasure trove of world history nestled on the slopes of Lēʻahi on Oʻahu. And thanks to a new partnership with Bishop Museum, there are now more opportunities to explore Shangri La Musuem of Islamic Art, Culture & Design—the former estate of the billionaire heiress and philanthropist Doris Duke. The late Duke
It’s official: This September is the first Hawaiian History Month. Earlier this year, the Hawaiʻi State Senate adopted Act 167, designating September as a time to honor, reflect and recognize the complex history of Hawaiʻi. The month commemorates remarkable contributions of Native Hawaiians who have helped perpetuate Hawaiian culture—both in the past and today.
If you’ve ever visited Kauaʻi and thought, this view looks like it was plucked straight from the big screen, it probably was. The epic Nāpali Coast dramatically cuts into the Pacific, offering up a quintessential picture of paradise. With sea-sprayed limestone cliffs, water-streaked emerald mountains, rich volcanic red dirt and a tropical jungle setting that
Clap, clap, stomp. Clap, clap, stomp. We keep the rhythm inside our double-hulled canoe as our guides chant, “E ala ē, ka lā i ka hikina.” As they continue with the remaining verses, repeating the oli (traditional Hawaiian chant) over and over, the sun begins to rise over Hawaiʻi Island as if summoned. Floating in
This story was originally published on Oct. 2, 2018. I glance at my hastily scribbled directions and drive back down the road I came from. I was told there’s a manapua man in Pearl City, Oʻahu, but without a proper address, all I can surmise is that he’s on the corner of Moanalua Road
No trip to Hawaiʻi—especially for first-time visitors—is complete without attending an authentic lūʻau. These immersive gatherings share Hawaiian and often Polynesian history, culture, cuisine and dance to offer a glimpse into local traditions and storytelling. From beachfront settings and mesmerizing performances to flavorful dishes like kālua pork and lau lau, bottomless mai tais, and warm
This story was originally published on Aug. 16, 2021. While many of us know Hawaiʻi’s natural wonders by the names they’ve been given in modern times, it is much less likely to hear them go by their original names, the ones bestowed upon them by the Native Hawaiians. And those names are so much
This story was originally published on Feb. 20, 2020. Hawaiʻi’s first premier big wave surf spot wasn’t always Waimea on Oʻahu or Peʻahi (aka Jaws) on Maui. It was a break located on the west side of Oʻahu, just up the coast from Waiʻanae, called Mākaha. In the 1930s, surfing in Hawaiʻi was very different
In 2002, Disney introduced “Lilo & Stitch,” a quirky but heartfelt story set in a small town in Hawaiʻi. Filled with vibrant scenery and homages to Hawaiʻi, the animated movie is imbued with strong themes of ʻohana and community, which resonated—and still does—with audiences around the world. Based in a town inspired by Hanapēpē, Kauaʻi,
