It sounds like the dream Hawaiʻi life: Buying an old farm in Puna on Hawaiʻi Island off an ad on Craiglist to start growing coffee. You wake up to the quiet of a farm, living minutes from the ocean, basking in the Island sunshine. Oh, and you’ve got your own coffee, too. Part of that […]
For 33 years, Hawaiian Quilt Collection has been a mainstay in Hawaiian quilting. Started by Michael John Gillan, who was raised in the beachside community of Kailua, the simple yet iconic patterns and prints featured on Hawaiian Quilt Collection’s pillows, bags and—of course—quilts have become household items among many residents and visitors. And the company
“Hi Meleana. This is Auntie Luana [Kawelu]. I’m calling to let you know that this is your formal invitation to participate in Merrie Monarch 2020.” This was the call that changed kumu hula Meleana Manuel’s life. A native of Volcano on Hawaiʻi Island, Manuel had competed in the prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival, known as the Olympics
Almost exactly a year ago, Fighting Eel designers Rona Bennett and Lan Chung teamed up with Hilo-based Sig Zane Designs—two local design powerhouses—to launch one of the most anticipated Hawaiʻi collabs since shave ice was topped with sweetened condensed milk. (You know what I mean.) The limited-edition line of alohawear was released just in time
Last month, when COVID-19 forced a statewide shutdown, shuttering shops and restaurants across the state, Honolulu designer Jana Lam was sick in bed with pneumonia. (Not the coronavirus, thankfully.) Two of her friends messaged her on the same day—with the same message: Make masks. “I was like, ʻOh, duh,’” she says (now healthy and back at
Life has really changed. Many of us are working from our living rooms now, with our kids attending school virutally and pets wondering why we’re home so much. We get our groceries delivered, we’re cooking more than we ever have before, and we’re matching our outfits to face masks. The spread of COVID-19 has impacted everyone in
Books offer the perfect escape during these uncertain times. And you can literally travel anywhere—even to Hawaiʻi—while you’re stuck at home. Here are a few suggestions of books to order (or download) for whatever mood you’re in. You’re Into True Crime In the early hours of Sept. 13, 1931, Thalia Massie, a young Navy wife,
When you wear a piece of jewelry, what does it say? Does it speak to who you are, personalized with your own name? Does it last through the ages, a symbol of your family, heritage and culture? Or, does it tell a story about a place—the island you call home and the beauty of your
Due to global spread of COVID-19 that has led to the shutdown of travel to Hawaiʻi, many of our local boutiques and designers have been forced to close—and that’s rough. Fortunately, we all have the power to support them—from leaving our homes. Our sister publication, HONOLULU Magazine, is hosting a special collaborative shopping event, now through
Sometimes you see a T-shirt so funny, so witty, that you can’t help but laugh. And Hawaiʻi, in particular, has a lot of inside jokes that only locals and those who have spent their fair share of time in the Islands would understand. Here is a quick list of T-shirts, all made by local designers, who
Eric Dill, CEO of Koʻolau Distillery in Kailua, had heard about other craft distilleries on the Mainland coverting their operations to making hand sanitizers amid the coronavirus pandemic. The demand is extraorindarily high—and the supply nearly nonexistent in Hawaiʻi. He thought, “If you’ve got the ability to help, why wouldn’t you be helping in these
Hawai‘i has a thriving regional publishing industry, complete with a children’s book scene crowded with fantastic titles. It’s also a favorite topic for national children’s book publishers looking to celebrate the story of diversity in America. Here are five favorites by local authors about the 50th state. Hawaiian Legends for Little Ones: Naupaka, Hina, Maui
