Years ago, I went on a ghost tour with Native Hawaiian storyteller Lopaka Kapanui, visiting haunted spots on Oʻahu. It was early evening, the sun had long set. We were standing in a remote area on the windward side of Pali Highway. And this is when Kapanui, who runs Mysteries of Hawaiʻi ghost tours, tells […]
You’ve probably heard of the age-old question: If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? For the team at Bizia Surf, falling trees not only do make a sound, they also make an impact. Founders and owners, Joey and Christine Valenti, opened a
While attending the famed Ka Ulu Lauhala O Kona Weaving Conference nearly a decade ago, weaver Kā‘eo Izon realized his kuleana (responsibility). The weaving club president asked his then 12-year-old protege, Kaha‘i Chan, to stand and be recognized. The crowd acknowledged her presence as a poignant first: Chan was among the youngest participants to ever attend
Last year Honolulu-based lei maker and stylist Meleana Estes made her debut in the publishing world with her gorgeous book “Lei Aloha: Celebrating the Vibrant Flowers and Lei of Hawai‘i,” a touching homage to lei making and the people in Hawai‘i’s lei community. Brimming with beautiful photos of lei and flowers, the book shares the
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
