I’m sitting on my lānai (veranda), enjoying the breezes of Waikīkī and listening to the sounds of silence. That’s right, quiet, in Waikīkī. At night. No, I’m not staying at some isolated accommodation at one of the far ends of Waikīkī, where you can escape the noise at the expense of being blocks away from […]
The forecast called for sunshine—after all, this was Kaua‘i—and we planned accordingly. That meant leaving rain jackets and backpack shells behind. Luckily, that was the only mistake we made that weekend. When I turned 40, my husband took me on a hiking adventure to Kaua‘i. We stayed in one of the rustic cabins at Kōke‘e
Thanks to GPS technology, finding your way is easy today—unless you’re on the Hōkūle‘a. A wa‘a kaulua (double-hulled Polynesian voyaging canoe), the Hōkūle‘a has been making regular voyages since 1975, connecting with Indigenous cultures from around the world. Its Moananuiākea voyage, a four-year circumnavigation of the Pacific, is underway now. So on a vessel without
The menu at the Manago Hotel restaurant rarely changes. The papaya at breakfast is usually from someone’s backyard and, if they’re available, the ono (wahoo) and ‘ōpelu (mackerel scad) on the lunch and dinner menus are caught off the Kona Coast. Here, you can order liver and onions—a rarity!—and pickled ogo (seaweed). The main attraction,
Moments before the regatta’s start, everything is quiet and still. Six-person canoes line up next to their lane flags, each steadied by boat holders, one treading water at the nose, the other at the tail. The paddlers avoid looking at the competition; instead, they grip their paddles tightly, eyes forward. The wind silently pushes ripples
Trying to decide on what the best beaches in Hawaii Island are is no easy task. Fortunately, HAWAIʻI Magazine readers did the hard work for us by voting in our 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards, choosing their five favorite beaches in this all-star list of Big Island coastlines. 1. Hāpuna Beach One of the longest stretches
Satisfy your sweet tooth at these famous bakeries that make decadent treats on Hawaiʻi Island. From soft mochi to piping hot malasada, here’s how HAWAIʻI Magazine’s readers ranked the best bakeries they’ve enjoyed in 2023. Punaluʻu Bake Shop Located in Nā‘ālehu, this bakery was once located inside a restaurant where it became famous for its
A stroll down rice street in Līhu‘e, under the sporadic shade of monkeypod and palm trees, leads to the historic County Building in the center of town, past the great lawn. Often the location for community gatherings, the Kaua‘i County Building is a nod to the past; it’s the oldest operating government building in the
Outside my car window, all I see are lava fields—an archetypal characteristic of the landscape in Kailua-Kona on Hawai‘i Island. Ancient Hawaiians classified the distinct types of lava here as ‘ā‘ā, denoting rough and jagged rocks, and pāhoehoe for lava that’s smooth and billowy. The expanses of lava rock are a sign of the Big
You may have seen Lindsay Watson around. The local girl—she grew up in Upcountry Maui, mainly in Kula—is making a name for herself in Hollywood, starring in Netflix’s “Finding ‘Ohana” as Hana who—like herself—has big dreams. And in “The Wind & The Reckoning” she portrays Pi‘ilani in an unapologetic and movingly real look at the
Don’t judge a book by its cover, and don’t judge The Lei Stand by its front door. This Honolulu speakeasy pays homage to its Chinatown roots with its authentic-looking storefront and sign on Bethel Street. But once you shimmy through the plastic drapes separating the storefront from the bar, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.
In 1980 Han Sung “Has” Barry quit her job as a schoolteacher and started a cookie business. All because of a horoscope. She grabs her wallet and pulls out the astrological forecast, cut from the newspaper decades ago, and hands it to me. “You are ready for changes in business matters,” it reads. “Don’t let
