As I walk around the corner of Keawe Street and Furneaux Lane in downtown Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island, bright red traffic signs shout, “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way”—which means I’m in the right place. I follow the edge of the building until I find a staircase. As I descend into The Hidden Nēnē, I’m […]
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.
Tucked on the northeastern side of Hawaiʻi Island, Hilo is a charming town well known as the home of the iconic Merrie Monarch Festival in the spring. It’s also just a 45-minute drive from Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and for months, visitors have been flocking to Hilo, hoping to witness Kīlauea’s epic but sporadic eruption
Referred to as the Olympics of hula, the Merrie Monarch Festival is one of the biggest events in Hawaiʻi. The 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival kicks off this week in Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island, which features three consecutive days of competition: The Miss Aloha Hula competition on April 24, the kahiko division on April 25 and
At least we weren’t the only ones. Like many of you, we had been captivated by the fountains of lava from Kīlauea, shooting up over 1,000 feet above Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The recent eruption—now exiting its Episode 16—has lured volcano enthusiasts from around the world to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to witness this extraordinary sight. It
While hula is the main attraction at the annual Merrie Monarch Festival, the gorgeous flowers used in lei and other adornment are show-shoppers, too. Many of these flowers are native to the Islands and have cultural significance to Native Hawaiians. Here are some flowers you might see on stage this year. Read More: 6 Iconic Tropical
The 61st annual Merrie Monarch Festival runs from March 31 to April 6, with the competition held at the Edith Kanakaʻole Multipurpose Stadium in Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island. One of the largest events of the year, the festival features three straight days of competition—the Miss Aloha Hula competition on April 4, the kahiko division on
Hana Hou Hilo bustles with energy. Once an antiques and collectibles store focused on Hawaiiana and Oceania art and accessories, the boutique in sleepy Hilo town now sells an assortment of locally made goods, curated jewelry and apparel, as well as zero-waste, sustainably made products. And it all started with a wahine (woman) and her
“You’ve never been to Two Ladies Kitchen?” I couldn’t hide my shock. My co-worker had been to Hawaiʻi Island several times, and she had never once stopped at the famous mochi-ya on Kīlauea Avenue in Downtown Hilo. I didn’t think that was possible. I can’t recall a single trip to Hilo, the sleepy town on
We’re back in Hilo—this time with digital media specialist Emily Smith. This sleepy town on Hawaiʻi Island is one of our favorites. (We did an entire podcast about it back in EP89.) This time we visit Honomū Goat Dairy—and play with baby goats—and grab mochi from Two Ladies Kitchen. We also dined at the award-winning
The light rain, the cozy gray mornings, the old buildings and shops that haven’t changed in decades. Everything in Hilo is a little slower, a little quieter, a little more relaxed. The sleepy town on Hawai‘i Island’s east side isn’t on the top of most travel itineraries, with visitors only flying in for the hourlong
Stretching across a massive 4,028 square miles, Hawaiʻi Island is the largest and youngest of the Hawaiian archipelago. It boasts a diverse and awe-inspiring landscape, from active volcanoes to cascading waterfalls, from black-sand beaches to lush valleys. But despite its size and diversity, it’s an island often overlooked by travelers to the Islands—and it’s an
