Don’t get confused: Hawaiʻi Island is not where Honolulu is. (That’s Oʻahu.) But this is the island that’s home to an active volcano—Kīlauea—and the world’s tallest mountain (from base to peak)—Mauna Kea. It’s often referred to as the Big Island, and for good reason. Spanning 10,931 square miles, Hawaiʻi Island is nearly twice as big […]
With Halloween just around the corner, those annual spooktacular events are back. From haunted houses to trick-or-treating festivities and free pumpkin patches, there’s more than enough to do this Halloween in Hawaiʻi, and we’ve included a few events from around the Islands that will surely have you screaming in fright and delight. OʻAHU Hallowbaloo Saturday,
Located on the northeastern side of Hawaiʻi Island, Hilo is a quirky town filled with loveable charm, fascinating history and jaw-dropping natural wonders. While the town itself is often considered quiet and sleepy, Hilo is filled with life. Here, the streets are lined with hole-in-the-wall shops and beautiful hiking trails that are just short drives from
Standing among a row of tall, verdant trees, Kea Keolanui hands me a small leaf and says, “Chew on this.” The bitter taste is slightly mouth-numbing and I have zero guesses of what this spice is. Keolanui tells me it’s clove. The aromatic flower buds are from Syzgium aromaticum tree, which are native to Indonesia
Are you considering a trip to Hilo? The colorful town is known in the Islands as the birthplace of the iconic loco moco and famous around the world for being home to the Merrie Monarch Festival. It’s also a bucket-list destination for those planning to see the epic Kīlauea eruption. READ MORE: Best Loco
Seeing a waterfall in Hawaiʻi. Yes, it’s a thing. And one of the most accessible waterfalls is ʻAkaka Falls on Hawaiʻi Island. In fact, you can see two waterfalls—ʻAkaka Falls and the smaller Kahuna Falls—on this short but beautiful hike through a lush rainforest filled with bamboo and wild orchids. And it’s only a half-hour
Waimea on Hawai‘i Island, known for its green pastures, cattle and cowboys, has long been considered paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) country. But it’s more than that: Today, it’s a popular destination for delicious food, fine arts and local culture. Here are some places you can visit during your trip to this quaint, historic country town. Waimea
Throughout the Islands, residents and visitors alike are looking forward to the return of Hawaiʻi’s most beloved summer events. Over the years, many of these festivals have become community traditions. And for the last two years, summers haven’t felt quite the same—for many reasons—one being the absent festivals. Fortunately, many of these festivals are making
If there‘s one thing park rangers do best is give advice. And the friendly—and knowledgeable—rangers at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Hawaiʻi Island have put together a list of tips for anyone planning a trip to its sprawling 333,308-acre park. Here’s how you can plan like a ranger—and trust us, you may want to bookmark
Snorkeling is one of the most enriching ways to see the vast array of wildlife throughout the Hawaiian Islands—from a safe and respectful distance!—and these spots were voted the best by our readers for the 2021 HAWAI‘I Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards. If you’re looking to get your feet wet in the world of snorkeling on
Ever wonder how chocolate is made or how a cacao bean turns into a chocolate bar? Touring a cacao farm (or a few) is the perfect place to learn about the beloved treat. Though cacao is a relatively new commercial crop in the state, farmers on Hawai‘i Island are working hard to develop the industry
It’s a sunny Saturday morning in Hilo when my boyfriend and I drive up a rocky road to Lavaloha cacao farm, gazing at the clear, blue sky and empty fields along the way. At the top of the hill, we’re greeted by large palm trees swaying in the wind next to a quaint farmhouse overlooking Hilo Bay. We park the car and
