Eight contenders will compete in the inaugural Ka Makou Kōnane Invitational Tournament at Bishop Museum on Oʻahu—the first of its kind in modern Hawaiʻi. Kōnane is a traditional Hawaiian board game, similar to checkers, that requires strategic and analytical skill. Two competitors from qualifying events on Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Kauaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island will convene in the championship tournament, the […]
ICYMI: Running clubs seem to be everywhere. You might have noticed while scrolling on your social media feed that many of your friends and colleagues are active in run clubs. In a place like Hawaiʻi where connection matters, these clubs offer a way to stay active, meet people and experience the Islands on foot. Whether you’re a kamaʻāina or a visitor, most clubs are free and you typically just have
Most locals know the concept of the ahupuaʻa, a land management system that extends from mauka (mountains) to makai (ocean). About a decade ago, the Koʻolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club installed signs marking the ahupuaʻa in the Koʻolaupoko district on Oʻahu—roughly Waimānalo to Kahuku. That inspired an islandwide program—a partnership between community organizations and the state—to identify the physical boundaries of
*This story was originally published on Dec. 31, 2019. People worldwide are welcoming the new year with spectacular firework shows and glasses of Champagne. In Hawaiʻi, we celebrate with popping firecrackers (to ward off evil spirits), eating noodles (which symbolize longevity), cleaning our homes (so you don’t carry your old life into the new year)
In Hawaiʻi, we’re decking the halls across the Islands at holiday parades, light shows and pop-up events. On Oʻahu, you don’t want to miss ’Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice, a spectacular 56,0000-square-foot wonderland. Held at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center, ’Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice, presented by American Savings Bank, is
Just in time for the winter surf season, The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay is bringing back its iconic bar. After a five-year closure, Surfer, The Bar returns as a pop-up from Dec. 5 to 13, welcoming kamaʻāina and resort guests to kick off surf season on the North Shore. While at the resort, it seems
*This article was originally published on Dec. 13, 2018, and updated in December 2025. There’s nothing better than picking out your own Christmas tree, and at Helemano Farms in Wahiawā, Oʻahu’s only Christmas tree farm, it’s easy. “We have the full service here,” says Carol, a longtime worker at Helemano Farms. “We greet our
It may be hard to believe, but there are certainly signs winter has arrived in Hawaiʻi. On Oʻahu, you know it’s the holiday season when a jolly 21-foot Santa Clause is throwing a shaka outside of Honolulu Hale. The annual Honolulu City Lights is one of the most anticipated festivals every year. Residents and visitors
*This story was originally published on Dec. 3, 2024, and updated in November 2025. A languid afternoon, a tray of desserts, maybe a glass of Champagne. That’s how I want to spend the holidays. And afternoon tea service, especially the ones on Oʻahu, offer all of that—and sometimes an ocean view. Here are six
ʻIolani Palace invites guests to walk its halls during its Queen Kapiʻolani Evening Tours in late December. The experience celebrates the queen’s birthday, with tours available only on Dec. 27 and Dec. 28. Tickets are available now. “In the evening light, you feel the presence of our aliʻi in these halls,” said Paula Akana, president
Five years after closing his award-winning restaurant—which had been a HAWAIʻI Magazine reader favorite—local chef Alan Wong is moving to Kāhala. The Kāhala Hotel & Resort, to be exact. The James Beard Award-winning chef and pioneer of the Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine movement will open Alan Wong’s at the luxe hotel in early 2026. The restaurant
*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
