This March, Hawaiʻi is honoring the 50th birthday of Hōkūleʻa, a symbolic voyaging canoe. When the vessel was first built and launched in the 1970s, it sparked a cultural renewal in the Islands and around the world. To celebrate the momentous 50th anniversary, the Polynesian Voyaging Society invites the public to a series of special […]
Since February is Mahina ‘Ōlelo Hawai‘i, Hawaiian Language Month, we thought it would be fun to share the literal meaning behind the names of some of Hawaiʻi’s most iconic places. Source: Hawaiʻi Places Names, 2002 Lahaina Meaning: cruel sun, from the old pronunciation Lāhainā. This waterfront town on Maui was destroyed by wildfires in 2023. Poʻipū Meaning:
Hawai’i offers a delightful variety of opportunities for displays of culture, creativity, and community. Whether you’re a Hawai’i resident or a visitor to the Islands, these festivals showcasing culture and food are worth putting on your calendar. For more of the latest activities and festivals in Hawaiʻi, check out HAWAIʻI Magazine’s calendar page. All the
It’s the start of the Lunar New Year, the Year of the Wood Snake. During the new year festivities, it’s important to gather with loved ones and kick off the festivities with a “reunion dinner” or meal, and one of the most interactive ways is with a fun dim sum lunch. Although you can enjoy
I had a neighbor who, every January, would drop off homemade gao on my doorstep. The steamed Chinese rice cake would be topped with sesame seeds and wrapped tightly with plastic wrap. It’s not the most visually appealing dessert—a caramel-brown slab not unlike the taro-based kūlolo—but man is it delicious. Nian gao is short for
Many people make the winding trip on Tantalus-Round Top Drive to the top of Puʻu ʻUalakaʻa State Wayside for the panoramic views. Yet, few people—visitors or locals—know about the small-scale lūʻau at the park. The Nutridge Estate is nestled on the slopes of Mount Tantalus, overlooking Honolulu. The estate opened in the 1920s as one
“Moana 2,” in theaters now, brings together the beloved characters of Motunui, along with enough new crew members to fill a canoe. Auliʻi Cravalho returns to voice Moana in the just released sequel to Disney’s 2016 hit animated movie. The spirited and bold actress talks story about production and what audiences can look forward to
For Kekoa Kekumano, weekends were made for fun. As a middle and high school student at Kamehameha Schools Kapālama, he and his friends would take TheBus from Mililani to Waimea Bay and Ke Iki Beach on the North Shore, where they would body surf and play in the shore break all day. Like many local kids
Every Thanksgiving for decades, the Kualoa-Heʻeia Ecumenical Youth (KEY) Project on Oʻahu has been cooking hundreds of turkeys in an ʻimu, a traditional underground oven. In fact, this practice is so popular, it’s become a tradition in the Islands, with groups and organizations offering the same service: For a fee, people drop off their Thanksgiving
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group is breaking ground with its first resident show in Hawaiʻi this December. The production is entitled ʻAuana, loosely translating to wander, veer off the beaten path or to embark on a journey in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language). Cirque du Soleil, famous for its jaw-dropping acts and theatrical artistry, promises
If the mai tai is Hawai‘i’s official cocktail, then POG is its official juice. Unlike Green River or Melona—flavors revered in Hawai‘i but not from Hawai‘i—POG was created on Maui at Haleākala Dairy (now Meadow Gold) in 1971. If you grew up here in the ’70s and ’80s you probably lived on the stuff. In
In 2021 Carissa Moore clinched her fifth World Surf League championship and a few months later became the first female to win an Olympic gold medal in surfing. And now the world can read all about it—and much more—in her new book, “Hawai‘i Gold: A Celebration of Surfing.” It’s a remarkable tribute to the sport’s
