Across the Islands, you can find local bakeries making malasadas. The deep-fried, sugar-dusted doughnut is best served warm to enjoy its crisp exterior and soft, fluffy center. Like many iconic dishes in Hawaiʻi, the origins can be traced back to the Islands’ plantation days. READ MORE: So, What’s the Big Deal with Malasadas? Malasadas arrived in Hawaiʻi with Portuguese plantation laborers from […]
In a quiet Kaua‘i neighborhood, where plantation-era homes sit beside a modest mix of local shops and businesses, Tip Top Motel, Café, & Bakery endures as a beloved institution. The food is straightforward and comforting, the service warm and unpretentious, and each visit feels like home. As it approaches its 110th anniversary, Tip Top stands
Maui is well known for its golden beaches and crystal-clear waters. Snorkeling off the Valley Isle offers a window into a beautiful underwater world, where you can encounter colorful coral formations and an incredible variety of marine life. Just remember to always observe Hawaiʻi’s wildlife from a respectful distance. Here are the top five snorkeling spots on Maui that HAWAIʻI Magazine
Across the Islands, Hawaiʻi’s lifeguards respond to emergencies and make lifesaving rescues. However, they also work to prevent accidents by educating beachgoers about ocean conditions and potential hazards before problems arise. Chris Latronic, public information officer for the Honolulu Ocean Safety Department, advises visitors and residents alike to speak with lifeguards before entering the water
*This story was originally published on Sept. 13, 2021, and updated in June 2026. History lives all around us—even in our street signs. Yes, those light green indicators of where you are in the city also happen to be named after significant figures, places or people in Hawaiʻi’s history. And in Waikīkī, once home
It’s been more than two decades since Kaʻiulani Blankenfeld began her career at Fairmont Orchid. A lifelong hula practitioner and teacher, Blankenfeld brings invaluable knowledge to her role as director of Hawaiian culture at the resort on the Kohala Coast on Hawaiʻi Island, a job she’s filled since 2019. Blankenfeld joined Fairmont Orchid 25 years
The Pan-Pacific Festival returns to Oʻahu for another year of cultural celebrations. From June 12 to 14, events will take place at various locations from Ala Moana to Waikīkī. More than 1,000 visitors from Japan are expected to participate in the festival, along with more than 2,500 local performers and participants. The free event attracted more
The waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands are home to an incredible array of marine life, from vibrant schools of fish to playful dolphins and magnificent manta rays. Whether you’re snorkeling, surfing or relaxing on the beach, you may encounter some of Hawaiʻi’s marine wildlife. For their protection and your safety, always observe wildlife respectfully and
I’ve never fished in my life, so I’m a little nervous as I drive up to a fish farm on a Monday afternoon. It’s a holiday, so kids are out of school, and cars pull up one after another. Families line a pond that’s 20 yards wide, 70 yards long and 7 feet deep, with
HAWAIʻI Magazine received more than 600 photo submissions in its annual photo contest this year. Mahalo to everyone who submitted an image of Hawaiʻi! HAWAIʻI Magazine selected finalists in each of the categories, and is now asking readers to vote for their favorite images. To say mahalo for completing a ballot, one eligible voter will win a getaway
Hawaiʻi is home to dozens of state parks scattered across the Islands. However, there are only a few national parks in Hawaiʻi. Like state parks, Hawaiʻi’s national parks and national historic sites are vital to protecting its natural environments and rich culture. From witnessing a volcanic eruption at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Hawaiʻi Island
Every June is World Ocean Month, with June 8 designated as World Ocean Day, a global observance recognizing the importance of our planet’s oceans. The ocean plays a vital role in sustaining marine ecosystems, economies, cultures and communities around the world. In Hawaiʻi, the ocean and its coral reefs have long been essential to the
