The Islands are home to an incredible and ever-evolving culinary scene. Exciting restaurants open every year, making it difficult to narrow down the best newcomers. So we asked our readers to vote. Here are the new restaurants that rose to the top of HAWAIʻI Magazine’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. READ MORE: A Local Food Writer’s Favorite Hawaiʻi Restaurants in 2025 1. Koast, Maui Chef Chris Cosentino opened Koast in Wailea, Maui, […]
This story was originally published on July 8, 2020, and updated in May 2026. Springer Kaye remembers growing up in Mānoa on Oʻahu with a neighbor who would share lychee with her family. It has always reminded her of summer in Hawaiʻi. “We would sit there, with that big paper bag of lychee, covered in
There’s beauty in the simplicity of the poke bowl. Rice—white or brown—is topped with cubed ʻahi, tako or other bite-sized chunks of seafood. (But most of the time, it’s ʻahi). Often the rice is layered with a thin sprinkle of furikake, a Japanese seasoning made of sesame seed and seaweed. And voila, the poke bowl! It can be eaten on the beach,
For 25 years, locals and travelers celebrated milestones and a variety of occasions at Alan Wong’s on King Street on Oʻahu. The restaurant closed in 2020, and more than five years later, Alan Wong’s reopened in The Kāhala Hotel & Resort earlier this month. It’s already booked for the next two months, with resort guests
*This web story was originally published in November 2020, and updated in March 2026. The short list was included in our FALL/WINTER 2025 issue. The best lū‘au in Hawai‘i will serve the authentic stuff: succulent kālua pig, creamy haupia and, of course, poi. So if you are lucky enough to get handed that perfect plate, here’s what you’ll be eating: From
To me, the best part of traveling is eating. You can learn a lot about the history and culture of a place through its foods; take Hawai‘i, for example. The Islands’ diverse cultures and rich history are showcased through its varied cuisine. You can find everything from Vietnamese pho to Portuguese bacalao to Puerto Rican
With its retro neon sign, pink-and-white-striped awning, blue script logo, and the usual line outside, Leonard’s Bakery has become a can’t miss destination for foodies on Oʻahu. The bakery, a family business that’s been famously featured in guidebooks, food blogs, Instagram roundups and more, is dedicated to keeping a local tradition alive. Since opening in
Hawaiʻi may be renowned for its mai tais and lava flows, but those classic tiki drinks are being reimagined for a new kind of bar guest. Whether you’re participating in Dry January or joining the growing number of people ditching alcohol altogether, Maui is a place to explore zero-proof tropical creations. I scoured bars across
It’s not at every hotel that, after mailing a coconut (yes, you read that right), you can hop on a beach bike and ride along a shoreline path to dinner. But that’s what it’s like at Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort, a luxury retreat originally built in 1961 on a lava field fronting storied Kahuwai
It may be a simple concept, but you can’t help but smile in awe at Reef’s Real Fruit Ice Cream truck. And that’s the goal for Abby Alvin, owner of the vibrant food truck in Kīhei, Maui. With a huge grin, she says it brings her joy watching her customers’ reactions—whether it’s their first or tenth time to her business—as they watch their ice cream swirl out of the machines. Real fruit
Step into The Dotted Line on a weekday around noon, and you’re likely to see tables of business professionals making deals over Wagyu burgers and miso yuzu salmon. By 5 p.m., a similar crowd gathers to sip cocktails and enjoy pūpū. The Dotted Line is tucked in The AC Hotel by Marriott, which opened in
From Kō, its signature and recently refreshed restaurant, to Pilina, its new lounge, Fairmont Kea Lani is creating a dining scene within its beautiful grounds. Known for its spacious suites and luxe villas perched along Wailea’s golden sands, the resort continues to raise the restaurant bar by thoughtfully showcasing local ingredients in imaginative dishes and
