Most visitors to Hawai‘i Island know the Keaukaha area for its beautiful lava rock beaches, its spectacular sunrise views, and the bustling Port of Hilo. It’s no surprise that this coastal shoreline, with access not only to the ocean but also an abundance of freshwater springs, holds significant cultural and historical value. Today, Keaukaha is a common gathering place for […]
The Kīlauea summit area in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is temporarily closed due to dangerous amounts of tephra falling. Highway 11 is closed between mile markers 24 and 40 due to dangerous road conditions. Kīlauea began erupting again at 9:17 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10. Lava fountains reached as high as 1,300 feet, producing large amounts of volcanic rock, ash and glass particles. Light
With its lush rainforests and fewer crowds, Kauaʻi feels wild and uncharted. As the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands, its beauty has been shaped by millions of years of wind, rain and waves, and its natural wonders are unrivaled. Here are five incredible landmarks on Kauaʻi that you won’t soon forget. 1. Waimea Canyon
As Earth Month approaches, many people are looking for meaningful ways to give back to Hawaiʻi and to support the long-term health of the Islands they love. Hawaiʻi’s native forests play a vital role in protecting fresh water, stabilizing soils, supporting native plants and wildlife, and strengthening the long‑term resilience of the Islands. Yet decades
*This story was originally published on April 22, 2021, and updated in February 2026. Latin superstar Bad Bunny took the stage as the halftime show performer at the 2026 Super Bowl on Feb. 8. Earlier in February, the Puerto Rican rapper and singer took home the Grammy for album of the year with “Debí Tirar
*This story was updated on April 1, 2026. From ancient fishponds and lush rainforests to a beautiful tapestry of traditions and culture woven into our communities, Hawaiʻi is an extraordinary place. This remote archipelago in the Pacific thrived as an independent kingdom for nearly a century before being overthrown by American and European businessmen.
On Jan. 1, 2026, Hawaiʻi increased the statewide transient accommodations tax, or TAT, from 10.25% to 11%, with each county allowed to impose a surcharge of up to 3%. Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green signed off on the increase in May 2025; the initiative establishes what state officials call the nation’s first climate impact fee, referred
*This story was updated on Dec. 24, 2025. A year ago on Dec. 23, 2024, one of the world’s most active volcanoes awoke. That morning, lava fountains spewed from a line of fissures at the base of the summit caldera. Declared episode one, the event was only a prelude to a series of dramatic eruptions at Kīlauea in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Prior to that, the
Hawaiian land snails are among the most threatened animal groups on the planet. Researchers believe 11 species of Endodonta once lived in the wild across the Hawaiian Islands—part of a family of about 200 species. Today, it is likely the last remaining species in the Endodonta genus. READ MORE: One Hawaiian Snail Dies, but the
The first confirmed humpback whale sighting of the 2025-2026 season was off the coast of Kauaʻi on Oct. 14, 2025. Holoholo Charters recorded the sighting at 7 a.m. Captain Kekoa and his crew aboard the vessel Holoholo spotted the whale along the island’s western coast while en route to Niʻihau for a tour. The
The first time I learned about the Alakoko Fishpond on Kaua‘i was back in 2012, when I hopped on a stand-up paddleboard on the Hulē‘ia River and glided right past it. Back then it was referred to as the Menehune Fishpond, named after the legendary craftsmen who worked at night, building heiau (temples) and fishponds.
