Chocolate just may be the perfect gift—and not just for Valentine’s Day. And if you’re going to buy chocolate in Hawaii, you should find a chocolatier that sources locally. (Yes, we grow cacao trees in the Islands!) Choco lea, a charming chocolate boutique—with a white picket fence!—in lush Manoa Valley, crafts artisanal chocolates using a […]
Nestled amid old monkeypod trees and lush greenery in Manoa Valley on Oahu, the historic Waioli Tea Room, which opened in 1922, had been serving finger sandwiches and fragrant teas in pretty china until it closed four years ago. The beautiful restaurant, with its lava-rock fireplace and garden views, sat empty. But, late last November,
While leaving Costco one day in October 2016, Mitzi Toro looked down at her phone to see her website had crashed and her Instagram account was flooded with hundreds of messages—all because of a personal Instagram endorsement by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on one of his buzzworthy “cheat days.” “This is 16 ounces of handmade, hand
Just as Maui encompasses beauty in many forms, from the lush jungle along the Hana Highway to the sharp starkness of Haleakala, so too do the restaurants on the island provide excitement in various guises. Some serve food that’s almost universally comforting despite its regional origins, from American to Italian to Hawaiian, and others thrill
For breakfast, a visit to Café Haleiwa is a must. The North Shore staple has been serving generous portions of American cuisine to salt-crusted early morning surfers since it first opened in 1982. And though its traditional breakfast platters are good, the real winner here is the café’s dessert Belgian waffles. 66-456 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa,
It’s Saturday morning, and it’s early. Really early. Earlier than I’m ever awake on a weekend, and, judging by the stillness of the Wahiawa streets, earlier than most anyone else, too. Except, that is, for a line of determined sweet-tooths already forming at Uber Factory, a barely-there nook tucked into a wee side alley off
If Hawaii’s dining scene was treated like a sports team, Oahu (or maybe even Maui) could make a case for MVP, but the team’s Most Improved Player award would have to go to Molokai. Yes. Molokai. Despite having fewer than 8,000 residents, The Friendly Isle’s dining scene has managed to reinvent itself by diversifying, modernizing
Ready for a night on the town in Honolulu’s bustling tourist mecca? Just follow our handy step-by-step guide for some of Waikiki’s best cocktails and views, or if you’re looking for a deal, stop by one of the happy hour spots on our list earlier in the evening for cocktails and pupu (appetizers). Tommy Bahama’s
How does Hawaii like its mochi? Let us count the ways. No matter which culture these tasty tidbits are from, they’re made from sugar, rice and everything nice, and we’re into that. Here are some places on Oahu to get your local-style, Korean, Chinese, Japanese or Filipino mochi fix. Modern Colorful vegan options from Peace
The Road to Hana is a long and arduous journey, packed with twists and turns and plenty of stops. Around the 10-mile marker, when the waterfall hikes have got you feeling tired and hungry, take a break from the road and turn into the Garden of Eden. Here, you’ll find the Garden Café, a bright
Satisfy your craving with a slice—or two—of delicious homemade pie from one of these classic Hawaii bakeries. Oahu: Ted’s Bakery If you’ve ever been to Ted’s Bakery, you’ll know why our mouths are watering. Photo: Michael Ocampo/Flickr When we think of pie on Oahu one place immediately comes to mind: Ted’s Bakery. Open since 1987
A visit to these Islands isn’t complete without a stop at one of these hole-in-the-wall restaurants that every local swears by. OʻAHU Ethel’s Grill, a cramped 20-seat eatery on the ground floor of a walk-up apartment building, is one of Honolulu’s best hole-in-the-wall spots. It’s an ode to sumo wrestling—photos of wrestlers cover the walls—that
