It may have seemed like your typical lū‘au—except, maybe, for the horses. But if you know the history of O‘ahu’s North Shore, where the Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay is perched, it all makes sense. The North Shore was once home to cattle ranches, where paniolo, or Hawaiian cowboys, worked the land on horseback. In fact, the hotel […]
Tucked on Oʻahu’s Windward Side, the once-sleepy town of Kailua often charms visitors and locals with its go-with-the-flow vibe and sandy coastlines. Just one look at Kailua Beach and Lanikai, and you’ll be enamored, and you might even be tempted to wake up before dawn to watch the sunrise from the top of Kaʻiwa Ridge.
The soft glow of the string lights shines down on groups of customers, some seated at a high top while others play giant Jenga around a picnic table, and a few dance to a local funk band called The New Salts. This place, “it’s about bringing the sugar mill back to life,” says Nate Sisler,
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
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
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
While growing up on Maui, it was always a treat to visit Oʻahu. Here, the energy is electric, from the crazy shorebreak at Sandy Beach and the bustling nightlife of Waikīkī to the trailblazing adventures of Kualoa Ranch. Oʻahu is the third-largest Hawaiian Island. However, it’s also “the Gathering Place,” home to about 1 million
As schools of shiny silver fish dart by, a creature much larger catches my eye. A spotted eagle ray glides gracefully beneath me, the first one I’ve seen in the wild, its pectoral fins fluttering like wings. I’m in the ocean off Kahe Point, and I’m captivated. The waters surrounding the Hawaiian Islands are home
Every year, we invite our readers to cast their votes for their favorite places across the Islands—including surf breaks. Here are the best surf spots on O‘ahu, according to our readers. Whether this is your first time in the lineup or you’re already shredding, you’ll want to check out these Oʻahu surf breaks. 1. Waikīkī
It’s well known that the Hawaiian Islands are dotted with exciting activities and adventures, and seeing these breathtaking islands from high above has always topped my list of can’t-miss experiences. And now that I’ve done it, what can I say? My helicopter adventure took me over the legendary Nāpali Coast, which stretches along the remote
It’s 9 a.m. in Hale‘iwa on O‘ahu’s North Shore and surfers, paddlers and visitors are already hitting the beach and surf shops. But there’s another side to the world’s surfing capital: Tucked back from the main road, behind eateries and a row of palm trees, is the nonprofit Mālama Loko Ea, which has been restoring
