Waimānalo Country Farms kicked off its Fall Festival on Sept. 27, 2025. Photo: Grace Maeda This story was originally published on Oct. 1, 2020 and updated on in September 2025. Autumn in Hawaiʻi is a subtle season. No golden foliage or snow days or apple-picking (apples don’t grow here). Fall is Hawaiʻi’s shoulder season—and is severely underrated. The weather…
Summer in Hawaiʻi is special. Photo: Getty Images/M Swiet Productions*This story was originally published on July 31, 2017. It’s easy to forget that it’s not summer year-round in Hawaiʻi. With our unwavering tropical weather, Instagram-ready beaches and lack of snow, seasons such as fall and spring are simply terms used to label school semesters. There are however, subtle differences…
“Here Comes Santa in His Red Canoe” by the Surfers Here’s a mele kalikimaka question: If Santa’s part of a crew of paddlers, which position does he take? Steersman? Stroker? Is Santa a middle, power guy? Unfortunately, “Here Comes Santa in His Red Canoe” doesn’t give us any answers, but the 1959 rock-a-hula tune does give us plenty to groove…
Here’s HAWAII Magazine’s list of the twelve most romantic songs ever to come out of our Islands. Many of the compositions that made the final cut were pretty obvious, but if we missed your favorite, feel free to let us know. Be sure to click on each of the song titles to hear them. 1. “Ke Kali Nei Au” (The Hawaiian…
This article was updated with a few new pidgin phrases. The original piece was uploaded on Sep. 9, 2019. EDITOR’S NOTE: For the sake of clarity, we will be using Hawaiian diacritics, such as okina (ʻ) and kahako (āēīūō) in this article. If you’re coming to Hawaiʻi for the first time, prepare to be blasted with phrases and words that…
This article was originally posted on Jan. 31, 2018. Since we missed a few celebs, we’ve decided to update the list. With a population of a little under 1.5 million people, Hawaiʻi puts out its fair share of musicians, athletes, actresses and actors. Here are a few local Hawaiʻi celebrities who have attained the status of stardom and, to answer…
Photos: Courtesy of Royal Hawaiian CenterCultural classes and Hawaiian entertainment returns to the Royal Hawaiian Center. Since the center opened its doors on Kalakāau Avenue in 1980, it has welcomed both locals and visitors and aimed to provide the best shopping and dining experiences and cultural lessons. Step into The Royal Grove to discover the legacy of Helumoa, Waikīkī’s historic…
Photo: Getty ImagesFrom “Hawaiʻi Ponoʻī” to Kaʻau Crater Boy’s “Surf,” there really is a song for every situation in Hawaiʻi, whether you’re catching you first wave in Waikīkī, pulling into the Waipiʻo Costco on a Saturday afternoon or watching the sunset at Magic Island. So whether you’re a local or a visitor, some of these situation-song pairings may ring true…
Photo: Courtesy of Ward VillageThe Park Ward Village, one of Ward Village’s latest residential offerings, is surrounded by nature. Inspired by the principles of midcentury modern design, the harmony between interior spaces and the world outside is clear. In designing the lush gardens within and around the residence, Don Vita, principal, VITA Planning & Landscape Architecture Inc., took inspiration from…
The Maui ʻākepa, a Hawaiian honeycreeper thought to be extinct. Photo: Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum/Jeremy SnellHawaiʻi has long been considered the endangered species capital of the world, as the Islands are home to hundreds of endangered and threatened plants and animals. On Wednesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed delisting nine more Hawaiʻi species from the Endangered Species Act—meaning,…
Kekoa, an endangered Hawaiian monk seal. Photo: Courtesy of Sea Life ParkKekoa means “warrior” in Hawaiian. And this warrior—an endangered Hawaiian monk seal known as KE18—lived for about a decade at the Long Marine Laboratory at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Now he’s back—and living at Sea Life Park in Waimānalo on Oʻahu. Photo: Courtesy of Sea Life…
Learn how to make local-style fried saimin by Foodland’s Keoni Chang. Photo: Courtesy of Keoni ChangFried saimin is a potluck staple in Hawaiʻi, a stir-fry of curly noodles, Spam (or char siu pork) and veggies seasoned with dry dashi (Japanese soup stock). You’ll see this dish on menus at local restaurants, okazu-ya and saimin stands. In fact, some places—like Leeward…
TikTok celeb—from Oʻahu!—Kirsten Titus. Photo: Courtesy of Kirsten TitusIf you’re not big on TikTok, or social media, you may not have heard about Kirsten Titus—who joins Cat and Kevin today on this week’s episode of the “Have Aloha Will Travel” podcast—but she’s a big deal. @pepperonimuffinCurrently thriving ☝️🥰☝️♬ original sound – Kenny 💌 Going by the username @pepperonimuffin, she has…
Photo: Courtesy of the Fairmont OrchidIf you’ve ever been to the luxe Fairmont Orchid on Hawaiʻi Island—and lucky enough to dine at Brown’s Beach House on a Tuesday or Wednesday—you might have tried the dessert special: the Tropical Malasada Shortcake. (At least you should have!) It’s a housemade malasada, sliced in half and filled with vanilla ice cream and topped…
The Aoki Tai from Doraku Sushi. Photo: Courtesy of Doraku SushiWhat better way to celebrate National Mai Tai Day—or any day, really—with a new take on the classic tiki cocktail. Ryan Birkett, head bartender at Doraku Sushi in Waikīkī, walks you through the recipe for Aoki Tai—new to the restaurant’s menu—which uses housemade falernum, a Caribbean cocktail ingredient spiced with…
Meet Kepuhinui, The Great One of Kepuhi Beach. Born on Molokaʻi during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kepuhinui did not get tags attached to his hind flippers, which is often done for young monk seal pups, so now his gifted Hawaiian name is an added identity. Photo: Courtesy of Hawaiʻi Marine Animal ResponseIn the Hawaiian culture, names are immensely important. Names tell…
Free Slurpee Day is on Sunday. Photo: Getty ImagesAloha Friday Picks is a weekly news blog that will run every Friday and features three things we recommend you do, try or experience over the weekend. Send us tips at media@hawaiimagazine.com. Count your blessings, because so far, this summer has not been unbearably hot. Sure, we had a week or two of uncomfortable…
Photo: Courtesy of HawaiianCheckers.comYou wouldn’t expect a slippah store to be a place for learning strategy, but in Kaua‘i’s Kapa‘a town, that’s exactly what Sole Mates turned out to be when I arrived on a weekday afternoon. In between walls lined with various kinds of rubber slippers, sandals and Hydro Flasks sits a wooden table with a burlap papamū, or…
Photo: David CroxfordAloha Friday Picks is a weekly news blog that will run every Friday and features three things we recommend you do, try or experience over the weekend. Send us tips at media@hawaiimagazine.com. Don’t have any weekend plans? Thinking about just resting and relaxing the weekend away? Well, that does sound nice, but if you want to do a…
A rainbow over Hoʻokipa Beach on Maui’s north shore. Photo: Getty Images/7MichaelMaui has long been the favorite of visitors to Hawaiʻi, beloved for its gorgeous beaches, stunning vistas and charming towns. And right now, as the Islands welcome more and more visitors, there are dozens of new (and perpetual) reasons to visit the Valley Isle. 1. Haleakalā National Park Sunrise…
Photo: Courtesy of Paula FugaHawaiian singer-songwriter Paula Fuga (@pfunklove) joins Kevin on the “Have Aloha Will Travel” podcast to talk about her new upcoming album, “Rain on Sunday,” which will be available for purchase on June 25. Born and raised in Waimānalo, Fuga has performed all over the world, from Madison Square Garden to The Sydney Opera House Forecourt—she’s also…
Head outdoors this weekend. Photo: Getty Images/ globalmomentsAloha Friday Picks is a weekly news blog that will run every Friday and features three things we recommend you do, try or experience over the weekend. Send us tips at media@hawaiimagazine.com. There’s lots to celebrate this weekend in Hawaiʻi—and masks outdoors is optional!—so here are some fun, get-outdoors things to do…
Photo: Royal Hawaiian CenterFor more than 40 years, Royal Hawaiian Center has been welcoming kamaʻāina (residents) and malihini (visitors) to experience the very best in cultural lessons, shopping and dining. Here is your guide to experiencing everything Royal Hawaiian Center has to offer. Embrace the Heritage Royal Hawaiian Center is built upon the historic lands of Helumoa. Waikīkī, meaning “spouting waters”, was a favored…
Photo: Getty Images/ tropicalpixsingaporeOʻahu is considered by many as the surfing mecca of the world. From the heavy-duty breaks located on the North Shore—which has even been given the flashy nickname of the “Seven Mile Miracle”—to the pristine fun-sized surf on Oʻahu’s southern shoreline, there’s plenty of surf to go around. And while there are hundreds of surf spots on the island,…
