*This story was originally published on Jan. 26, 2018. When it’s my turn to order at Kaimukī’s Crack Seed Store, I tell Mr. Young, the owner, that I’ll have whatever the guy in front of me had. What the guy had was a strawberry Icee with li hing mui (preserved plum) juice and vanilla […]
As a resident of one of the most isolated islands in the world—over 2,000 miles away from the Mainland—I’m asked a lot if I ever experience “island fever” on O‘ahu. And weirdly enough, for an ex-Bostonian who used to road trip across New England like nobody’s business, I don’t. For a while, it was because
Growing up on Oahu’s North Shore, TheBus was pretty much my only way of getting around before obtaining my learner’s permit. I’d catch it to school, to work at my first job, Matsumoto Shave Ice, to the beach and even into Honolulu, which took over two hours one way. But when I got my first
Hana, Maui, is, for most people, a stop on the journey and not a destination. But when given the chance to stay for a few days, I discovered so many things about this little town that I hadn’t noticed just passing through—hidden gems, historical architecture and cultural stories that made me realize how truly special
I’m not much of a craftsman. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve used tools and the only thing I’ve ever put together was my Walmart futon. But late last year, I got the itch to shape a surfboard, by hand. There was an allure there, to ride the waves on
On the southeast coast of Hilo Bay, the Waiakea Peninsula is home to 50 banyan trees along Banyan Drive, near Liliuokalani Gardens and Hilo’s most popular hotels, the Grand Naniloa and the Hilo Hawaiian. In an attempt to beautify the waterfront, the banyan trees were planted by local, state and national celebrities in the early
On first glance, it doesn’t look like much—a small ditch on the side of the road, only about 50 feet long, in the town of Waimea, Kauai. Most people who take the short detour to get here are more interested in the swinging wooden bridge across the street, but this little waterway holds a fascinating
In my small apartment, my ukulele does not have a stand. It’s a traveler. A vagabond of sorts. From the couch to the lanai (porch), from my bed to the breakfast nook, this mahogany noisemaker makes its way to all sectors of my humble studio. The little wooden instrument serves as the perfect momentary distraction
The sun is shining down on me as I order an açaí bowl from Wishing Well Shave Ice, a food truck situated right off the road at the beginning of Kauai’s dreamy town of Hanalei. The north shore of Kauai was hit hard last April by record-breaking rains that resulted in flooding, but the line
Lava bombs. Acid rain. Major eruption. These are just some of the terms I’d seen thrown around when referring to the Kilauea lava outbreak. So, as my plane grounded to a halt on the tarmac at Hilo airport, I was feeling a little skittish about my weeklong trip to the island of Hawaii, even knowing
I’ve heard the stories: whispered tales of blind turns, perilous cliffs and precarious one-lane roads, all told to me by unlucky souls who’ve had to experience this treacherous stretch of gravel firsthand. So as I take the wheel on the Road to Hana, prepping to drive it for the first time in my life, I
I’m standing in a large cave waiting for my friend to take a photo of my aura. This was once a shelter cave, no doubt used by Native Hawaiians to withstand the burning heat outside. That’s fascinating enough, but the cave’s unique feature—a round natural skylight in its roof—allows the sun’s rays to beam down
