As I walk around the corner of Keawe Street and Furneaux Lane in downtown Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island, bright red traffic signs shout, “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way”—which means I’m in the right place. I follow the edge of the building until I find a staircase. As I descend into The Hidden Nēnē, I’m […]
It had been a long day. While I’d love to complain about a hectic schedule or long commute, I was actually exhausted from all the fun I was having. Once I checked into the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai, a sprawling oceanfront luxe resort that looks carved into lava rock, I felt immediately energized. I donned
This story was originally published on Feb. 24, 2014. “You didn’t pre-order?” As she says this, the woman behind the counter at Two Ladies Kitchen stares at me in disbelief. A line of customers winds behind me and out of the small downtown Hilo mochi shop and onto the sidewalk alongside bustling Kīlauea Avenue.
Hawaiʻi Island is home to an incredible variety of local farms and producers, providing chefs with the opportunity to prepare creative dishes with the freshest ingredients available. Across the island, you’ll find restaurants committed to working and supporting local farms, ranchers and fishermen. The results are beautiful dishes highlighting the one-of-a-kind flavors of Hawaiʻi. Here
It’s well-known among locals that if you’re visiting Hawaiʻi Island, you better return with delicious omiyage (gifts) to share. From fluffy sweet bread to delightful strawberry mochi, some seriously iconic sweet treats can be enjoyed on Hawaiʻi Island. According to HAWAIʻI Magazine readers, these are the best bakeries on the Big Island in 2025.
In 2024, two chefs decided to deviate from Hawaiʻi’s regional fare, choosing instead to explore the cuisines and cultures of the Mediterranean. Through extensive research and dining experiences, they found similarities between Hawaiian culture and the cultures of the Mediterranean, especially when it comes to hospitality and the sharing of food. They also noted the
Around the world, hotels are reimagining the culinary options for their guests—and properties throughout Hawaiʻi are keeping up with the trend. Today, hotel guests don’t need to leave their resort to find vibey cocktail lounges with clever drinks crafted with premium ingredients. And it doesn’t end with beautiful beverages. From innovative omakase to twists on
Hawaiʻi Island, nicknamed the Big Island, is known for its grand natural wonders. Travelers can witness a fiery eruption at Kīlauea, hike to a 420-foot waterfall, ride horses in paniolo (cowboy) country, swim with manta rays and trek to a black-sand beach—and more, all on the largest Hawaiian island. Then, after working up an appetite,
Dreaming of a Hula Pie—but booked a trip to Hawaiʻi Island? Hopefully your trip is scheduled for late 2025. Because that’s when Duke’s Kona is scheduled to open. The iconic restaurant will open in a 15,000-square-foot oceanfront space at the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa. This marks the restaurant company’s first venture on Hawai‘i Island
“You’ve never been to Two Ladies Kitchen?” I couldn’t hide my shock. My co-worker had been to Hawaiʻi Island several times, and she had never once stopped at the famous mochi-ya on Kīlauea Avenue in Downtown Hilo. I didn’t think that was possible. I can’t recall a single trip to Hilo, the sleepy town on
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,
It’s that time of the year when elite athletes from across the globe test their mettle in the annual IRONMAN competition. Recent changes to the race format have seen the competition split between Kailua-Kona for the women’s competition and Nice, France for the men’s. But even as the competition sizes down, plenty of people from
