*This story was originally published on May 5, 2015, and updated in May 2026. While plenty of bars and restaurants throughout Hawaiʻi will break out the Dos Equis, chips and salsa for today’s Cinco de Mayo holiday, many family homes will celebrate May 5 a little bit differently: by flying koinobori, colorful carp-shaped flags, in […]
*This web story was originally published in November 2020, and updated in March 2026. The short list was included in our FALL/WINTER 2025 issue. The best lū‘au in Hawai‘i will serve the authentic stuff: succulent kālua pig, creamy haupia and, of course, poi. So if you are lucky enough to get handed that perfect plate, here’s what you’ll be eating: From
*This story was originally published on March 3, 2020, and updated in February 2026. During Japan’s Edo period (1603-1868), families began displaying hina-ningyo or dolls, on the third day of the third month. Timed with the blooming of vibrant pink peach blossoms, displaying hina-ningyo was believed to ward off evil spirits. The custom became known
*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
*This story was originally published on Aug. 24, 2020. Born Aug. 24, 1890, Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku became one of Hawaiʻi’s most celebrated citizens during his lifetime. From winning gold medals for the U.S. Olympic swim team to serving as sheriff of Honolulu, the ever-suave Kahanamoku ended up becoming the Islands’ ambassador
This story was originally published on Sept. 26, 2017. Beginning in the 1850s, as the sugar industry grew and plantations began to multiply throughout Hawaiʻi, plantation owners—many tracing their ancestry to English and American missionary families—began importing contracted laborers from outside the Islands to supplement Hawaiian laborers. By the early 20th century, thousands of
This story was originally published on July 31, 2019. Perhaps you’ve seen the friendly, distinctively-colored nēnē (pronounced “nay-nay”) at a park, wildlife refuge, ranch, golf course or zoo in Hawaiʻi. But there’s more to these inquisitive birds than meets the eye. 1. The goose descends from the Canadian goose. Photo: Getty Images Did you
Share the aloha this holiday season with a Hawaiʻi-inspired gift. From guava pancake mix (for the home chef) to island-scented candles (for the self-care enthusiast), you can find sweet, heart-felt gifts from the Islands. Plus, you don’t need to break your budget on these items either. 1. CocoNēnē Ornament, $14 View this post on
For months I’d tolerated a pain in my neck that, in recent weeks, had radiated down to my lower back. Nothing—not massage or yoga or stretches I learned through hours of YouTube videos—offered much relief. I was at the point where I would try anything, including spending an hour in a hyperbaric chamber. On my
We should always be kind to the planet, but April 22 is Earth Day—officially the day we show special appreciation for our natural world. (It dates back to 1970, when Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson organized a national event aimed at raising awareness around important environmental issues.) And there’s a lot we can do, from volunteering at
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
