*This story was originally published on Sept. 12, 2017. The 2025 Nā Wāhine o Ke Kai will be held on Sunday, Sept. 28. For more information, visit nawahineokekai.com. Considered the pinnacle of long-distance Hawaiian outrigger canoe racing, the Kaiwi Channel is a grueling 41-mile stretch of open ocean separating the Hawaiian Islands of Molokaʻi […]
During my most recent trip to Moloka‘i, I heard a common refrain: If you’re in a hurry, you’re on the wrong island. There are even signs along some roads that say, “Slow down this is Moloka‘i.” Situated just 7.5 miles off Maui, Moloka‘i can seem a world away. It makes the easy-going Valley Isle feel
This story is part of our Meet the Makers feature, which was published in our Fall 2023 issue. In Hawai‘i, we always try to support local. Whether we’re buying produce from the nearby farmers markets or shopping at the mom-and-pop boutique down the street, it means a lot for us to give back to our Island
In the Hawaiian culture, names are immensely important. Names tell a story, share a history or honor a loved one. And that’s true even when that name is bestowed on a Hawaiian monk seal, one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. In late May, a group of second-grade students from the Hawaiian
It’s the list you’ve all been waiting all year for. The votes are in, and the results are below. Hawaiʻi’s Top 6 islands, ranked from “best” to “still really amazing” by our readers. It’s not like you can go wrong traveling to any of these islands, but for curiosity’s sake, here are the results! 1.
There aren’t many situations more stressful than getting on a plane with a toddler. But I had wanted to spend a relaxing weekend at a beach house on Moloka‘i—just my husband, our son, another couple and me. It was the “our son” part that complicated the plan. I calculated what I needed for two nights and
If any one thing defines Hawai‘i to travelers, it would be our beaches. The Islands boast some of the most diverse stretches of oceanfront, from the jet-black sands of Punalu‘u on Hawai‘i Island to the otherworldly red landscape of Kaihalulu Beach in Hāna on Maui. And there’s so much to do on these beaches, from
Molokai-born Raiatea Helm was only 18 years old when she wowed the world with her sweet, melodic voice in her debut album, “Far Away Heaven,” in 2002. Since then, she has released five more albums and earned two Grammy nominations and six Na Hoku Hanohano awards (Hawaii’s premier music awards). Growing up on Molokai, she
When three friends launched Kealopiko in 2006, creating unique T-shirt designs that showcased Hawaii’s diverse ecology and native culture—not just your typical Hawaii imagery of palm trees and hula dancers—it was a refreshing change from the usual aloha ware. They went from screenprinting small batches of shirts to full-scale production, some of it done in
A refuge from the crowds, Molokai is full of sights of exceptional beauty, but visiting The Friendly Island means, first, getting into a Molokai state of mind, as the many signs you’ll see will say: slow down, don’t rush, just relax, ’cause this is Molokai. All photography by David Croxford. Dancers from Halau Hula O
Up until a year ago, I didn’t know I had relatives buried at Kalaupapa, nor would I have guessed I’d be walking the Papaloa Cemetery on the Molokai peninsula looking for them. As my turboprop plane began its descent into Kalaupapa just a few hours ago, I couldn’t help but be stunned by the beauty
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
