“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 […]
In 2018 an eruption of Kīlauea volcano on Hawaiʻi Island caused major damage the island, destroying more than 700 homes and devastating residential areas in Puna. It also damaged the summit area of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Halemaʻumaʻu crater grew from 280 feet deep to about 1,600 feet deep, and its diameter more than doubled.
We’re back in Hilo—this time with digital media specialist Emily Smith. This sleepy town on Hawaiʻi Island is one of our favorites. (We did an entire podcast about it back in EP89.) This time we visit Honomū Goat Dairy—and play with baby goats—and grab mochi from Two Ladies Kitchen. We also dined at the award-winning
The light rain, the cozy gray mornings, the old buildings and shops that haven’t changed in decades. Everything in Hilo is a little slower, a little quieter, a little more relaxed. The sleepy town on Hawai‘i Island’s east side isn’t on the top of most travel itineraries, with visitors only flying in for the hourlong
During my exciting three days attending the opening weekend of the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (KCCF) on Hawai‘i Island, it was finally time to drive out for a farm tour or two. With the purchase of a $5 festival button, KCCF offers free tours for attendees at multiple coffee farms around the island, so attendees
The Donkey Mill Art Center partners with the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival (KCCF) each year, providing free workshops with the purchase of a $5 festival button. Attendees can check out cultural activities that make Hawai‘i unique: natural dye, lauhala weaving, lei making and live demos. Thanks to an invitation by KCCF organizers, I had the
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,
‘Tis the season to shop local and fill gift bags and boxes with handmade gifts for your loved ones. Of course handmade gifts made by the folks in our own communities are the best, and Hawai‘i Island offers up craft fairs all over the island where residents and visitors can find unique, handmade items. Events
What It Is An annual celebration of the heritage, culture and history of Kona coffee, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival has a legacy spanning more than fifty years, drawing visitors from across the globe to experience the unique flavors and traditions of this special product. Dubbed as the oldest food festival in the state, the
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
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
