*This story was originally published on Aug. 5, 2021. From her shaded treehouse bakery, Auntie Julia watches the cars roll by. Her establishment is quaint, a small green treehouse perched along Kahekili Highway, located in the hard-to-reach town of Kahakuloa, but her product—succulent loaves of homemade banana bread—is famous. When people ask where the […]
*This story was originally published on Aug. 2, 2016 and updated on Aug. 11, 2025. The next time you go to Kapaʻa, listen to the locals. The 8-mile drive from the Līhuʻe airport to the district’s historic center was the only set of directions I had upon arriving to Kauaʻi, and turns out it
This story was originally published on Dec. 15, 2018 and updated on Aug. 6, 2025. Oʻahu’s iconic North Shore is dotted with vibrant beach towns, each with their own historic sites and unique personalities. From famous surf breaks and picturesque beaches to top-notch food trucks and hole-in-the-wall bakeries, these local neighborhoods are all worth
This story was originally published on July 31, 2019. Perhaps you’ve seen the friendly, distinctively-colored nēnē (pronounced “nay-nay”) at a park, wildlife refuge, ranch, golf course or zoo in Hawaiʻi. But there’s more to these inquisitive birds than meets the eye. 1. The goose descends from the Canadian goose. Photo: Getty Images Did you
This story was originally published on July 13, 2021. In Hawaiʻi, people talk a lot about who has got the best local grinds—slang for food. It is a contentious subject because, in the Islands, we love our food! And while it may surprise Mainland visitors, 7-Eleven holds a very special place in the hearts—and tummies—of kamaʻāina
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 July 31, 2017. It’s easy to forget that it’s not summer year-round in Hawaiʻi. With our unwavering tropical weather, Instagram-ready beaches and lack of snow, seasons such as fall and spring are simply terms used to label school semesters. There are however, subtle differences between the summer and
*This story was originally published on Jun. 24, 2015 Where did the Spam musubi originate? What does “manapua” mean? We traced the history of five Hawaiʻi comfort food favorites all the way back to their earliest origins to decipher the roots of their modern-day multicultural appeal. Malasadas These chewy, steamed or baked buns, filled
After much anticipation, HAWAIʻI Magazine’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards is available and on newsstands! (Get your copy here.) From the best beaches and hiking trails to family-friendly resorts and lūʻau, this list represents the best of the best in Hawaiʻi. Over the next few weeks, you’ll get a sneak peek of the winners, as
Known as the Gathering Place, Oʻahu boasts enough gorgeous beaches, picturesque hiking trails, award-winning restaurants and world-class museums to please everyone in your ʻohana. But with all of its thrilling activities, it’s difficult to narrow down what to do in a single weekend. Here’s what it takes to create an exciting weekend on Oʻahu with
*This story was originally published on Dec. 5, 2013. It’s not uncommon to walk right past an important archaeological site on Oʻahu and not even know it. It happens all the time in Waikīkī. Right outside of a police substation on Kalākaua Avenue, near the beachside statue of Hawaiʻi Olympian Duke Kahanamoku, stands a
At least we weren’t the only ones. Like many of you, we had been captivated by the fountains of lava from Kīlauea, shooting up over 1,000 feet above Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The recent eruption—now exiting its Episode 16—has lured volcano enthusiasts from around the world to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to witness this extraordinary sight. It
