Before the pandemic one of the highlights at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oʻahu for many visitors was the canoe show, where dancers, singers and musicians rode double-hulled canoes and surfboards through the canals that run through the 42-acre, Polynesian-themed park in Lāʻie. Here’s what “Huki: A Canoe Celebration” looked like in 2018: During the […]
Since 2020 the House of Mana Up has served as a public retail space for 100% Hawaiʻi-based artisans, designers and makers to share Hawaiʻi’s ingredients and culture with the world. This month the local retailer opened its new Kakaʻako store inside South Shore Market in Ward Village. There are now five locations across O‘ahu and
What started as a normal day on Aug. 8, 2023, ended with me helplessly watching as the island where I was born and raised was consumed by a fiery hellscape. The next morning, all of Maui awoke to discover the horrifying reality that our beloved, historic Lahaina Town was gone. The days that followed were
Hawaiʻi’s lighthouses and beacons shine a light on the Islands’ unique history and geography. Today, on National Lighthouse Day (Aug. 7), we take a look at the 15 lighthouses in Hawaiʻi that are associated with the U.S. Coast Guard and have, some for over a century, serve as beacons to safety for ships and boats
Held on Thursday nights, the Kailua Farmers Market has been going on for 20 years. It’s a Thursday night institution. The first time I went was several years ago back when we used to see actors from the show “Lost,” wandering around buying bread and vegetables. After many years away from the island, we moved
Love live music? Oʻahu has a slew of venues, from dive bars to upscale hotel restaurants. Here are several local favorites, some of which you may not find in guide books. Ala Moana You may know this area by its sprawling beach park and outdoor mall. Located right outside of Waikīkī, it’s easily accessible by
Where spring brings the Merrie Monarch Festival on Hawaiʻi Island, summer brings the Prince Lot Hula Festival to Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi’s largest noncompetitive hula celebration presented by conservation nonprofit Moanalua Gardens Foundation. The free annual festival, which started in 1978, honors Hawaiʻiʻs centuries-old legacy of hula and chanting, which was perpetuated by Prince Lot Kapuāiwa during
At 9:30 p.m. I sat at a table outside of Fête restaurant and watched a four-piece band set up on the corner of Hotel Street and Nuʻuanu Avenue on Oʻahu. “This guy comes every weekend,” co-owner of Fête Chuck Bussler said of the drummer. “He shows up with different musicians each time. It’s great.” With
After years of intentional planning and renovation, the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui completed its stunning cultural redesign this January. The project updated more than just the resort’s luxurious one-bedroom suites and two-story villas; it also introduced a reimagined lobby with a new bar and restaurant as well as an immersive Hawaiian cultural center. The
After a five-year the Pan-Pacific Festival returns today through Sunday, June 9 at various spots on O‘ahu, including Ala Moana and Waikīkī. The free event, which will feature performers from Japan and local musicians and arts, showcases everything from taiko to hula to food. And yes, there’s a parade, too. “We are thrilled to be
This week residents and visitors on Oʻahu have a unique opportunity to experience the depth and breadth of the various indigenous communities that make up the Pacific Islands. The 13th annual Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture (FestPAC) comes to Hawai‘i—for the first time—for 10 days of cultural exchange starting June 6, hosting more than
Mangoes, lychee, south swells and bon dances. These are all the things we look forward to in summer in Hawaiʻi. Wait—what’s a bon dance? The Obon—or bon—festival is an annual Japanese holiday held in the summertime that commemorates and remembers deceased ancestors. It is believed that their spirits return at this time to visit their relatives.
