*This article was originally published on Aug. 29, 2018. You can get a Hawaiian food plate lunch almost anywhere in the Islands, with nearly all of the required fixins (kālua pig, laulau, lomi salmon, etc.). But if we were to craft the best Hawaiian plate ever, here’s where we’d go. 1. Haupia: Yama’s Fish […]
It had been a long day. While I’d love to complain about a hectic schedule or long commute, I was actually exhausted from all the fun I was having. Once I checked into the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai, a sprawling oceanfront luxe resort that looks carved into lava rock, I felt immediately energized. I donned
Tucked on Oʻahu’s Windward Side, the charming town of Kailua is known for its laid-back vibe and picturesque beaches. But beyond Kailua Beach and Lanikai, the town is home to a variety of cozy cafés, hip eateries and top-notch restaurants. And new businesses continue to open, adding to the colorful lineup of places worth checking
*This story was originally published on Aug. 5, 2021. From her shaded treehouse bakery, Auntie Julia watches the cars roll by. Her establishment is quaint, a small green treehouse perched along Kahekili Highway, located in the hard-to-reach town of Kahakuloa, but her product—succulent loaves of homemade banana bread—is famous. When people ask where the
In the heart of Lahaina, diners could count on savoring bowls of pasta made with quality flour from Italy and seasonal ingredients grown on Maui. For years, Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina was the neighborhood’s go-to spot for celebrating birthdays and anniversaries or just enjoying Italian cuisine. Since the beloved restaurant fell to the Maui
People are lured to Oʻahu’s North Shore because of its famous surf breaks and beautiful beaches. And while these alone are great reasons to venture north, there are plenty of others, including dozens of local coffee shops, shave ice stands and restaurants. And lately, it seems like anytime I’m on the North Shore, an exciting
It’s pretty hard, especially in Hawaiʻi, to be wowed anymore by shave ice. But that’s what’ll happen when you try one from Chillest Shave Ice, a small shop that opened in May in Kaimukī on Oʻahu. Owner Aaron Wong crafts dreamy, cloudlike domes of snow-fine ice, soaked in syrups in unique flavors like creamy strawberry
SPAM musubi are synonymous with the local Hawaiʻi diet. A simple combination of white rice, SPAM, nori (seaweed), there’s really nothing better than a freshly made SPAM musubi—except for a free one. READ MORE: The History of 5 Local Grinds in Hawaiʻi L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is celebrating the 5th annual National SPAM Musubi on Aug.
I’m told we’ll have a table in the kitchen where the chef will prepare us a special meal. What I don’t expect to find is an actual chef’s counter bolted to the end of the pass—the table on which cooks slide finished dishes to an “expediter,” who then sends them out into the dining room.
Two scoops white rice, a scoop mac salad and a generous portion of a protein like teriyaki beef, chicken katsu or grilled fish—and you have the quintessential plate lunch in Hawaiʻi. The plate lunch—or mixed plate—is a symbol of the Islands’ plantation era when workers from different backgrounds shared home-cooked meals, resulting in a blend
Checking into your room and hitting the hotel bar for a mai tai has long been step one for many travelers to Hawaiʻi. And the next time they’re in town, those travelers might notice something different about their favorite watering holes. Throughout Honolulu and Waikīkī, hotels are reenvisioning basic lobby bars and swapping them for
This story was originally published on Feb. 24, 2014. “You didn’t pre-order?” As she says this, the woman behind the counter at Two Ladies Kitchen stares at me in disbelief. A line of customers winds behind me and out of the small downtown Hilo mochi shop and onto the sidewalk alongside bustling Kīlauea Avenue.
