For me, summiting hills or mountains, regardless of elevation, is worthy of celebration, especially now: I’ve just trekked 4,025 feet to the tallest peak on O‘ahu, and it wasn’t easy. Every year I aspire to complete an epic expedition in Hawai‘i and venture to places where few people have gone. Witnessing nearly untouched, endemic ecosystems […]
Maui has every kind of shop you can imagine, from big-box retailers to small, locally owned boutiques. And we suggest the latter to find unique gifts and souvenirs. Here are three shops we’ve recently discovered—and you should, too. The Monarch Collective, Makawao From ceramic plant pots and puka shell earrings crafted on Maui to silk
During my most recent trip to Moloka‘i, I heard a common refrain: If you’re in a hurry, you’re on the wrong island. There are even signs along some roads that say, “Slow down this is Moloka‘i.” Situated just 7.5 miles off Maui, Moloka‘i can seem a world away. It makes the easy-going Valley Isle feel
Anyone who meets Carissa Moore immediately feels her warmth and bright spirit. The humble athlete grew up surfing on Oʻahu’s south shore. But Moore is a house-hold name in the Islands. The professional surfer has spent the last 14 years competing on the World Surf League Championship Tour and during this time she’s clenched an
From fresh fresh flower blooms and verdant valleys to mild temperatures and less crowds, springtime is a severely underrated season in Hawaiʻi. Here’s proof why this time of year is great for visiting the Islands and these activities will help you spring into the season. 1. Experience Spring Foliage New flower blooms are ubiquitous for
This story was originally published on Feb. 9, 2022. It has since been updated. There’s a lot of pressure to plan a memorable Valentine’s Day, but the holiday often sneaks up on even the best of us. If you’re stressed trying to orchestrate an elaborate evening, unable to secure dinner reservations or still searching
Tucked away in his eatery on South King Street in Mōʻiliʻili, Robin Abad is swiftly slicing fresh fish, prepping pohole fern salad and carefully plating a row of short rib pipi kaula, all while talking story with his customers from behind the counter. He hands over fresh poke bowls, pork belly bao buns and smoked
Many first timers to Hawaiʻi set their sights on Oʻahu, thanks to its visitor-friendly activities and locales known around the world. The island is home to the state’s capital city, Honolulu, and sites including Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head (the Hawaiian place name is Lēʻahi), Pearl Harbor and the North Shore. While travelers should certainly include
On a Thursday afternoon in the heart of old Makawao town, volunteers sew with great care and beneficence. The day’s project is stitching bags for kūpuna (elders) to attach to their wheelchairs. In the spring of 2020, a group of Maui residents began sewing together to address the severe shortage of face masks on the
Outside my car window, all I see are lava fields—an archetypal characteristic of the landscape in Kailua-Kona on Hawai‘i Island. Ancient Hawaiians classified the distinct types of lava here as ‘ā‘ā, denoting rough and jagged rocks, and pāhoehoe for lava that’s smooth and billowy. The expanses of lava rock are a sign of the Big
After a morning spent hiking in Kōke‘e State Park, I feel rejuvenated leisurely swimming from one end of a 30-foot saltwater pool to the other. Just 10 minutes pass at the infinity pool at our hidden Kauaʻi getaway, but that’s more than enough time to know that we’re scratching our dinner reservation. My friend and
Early on a crisp morning I flee rush hour in Honolulu for solitude in the Ko‘olau Mountains. I set out on the Pali Highway, the view through my windshield gradually changing from concrete towers and sprawling neighborhoods to dense forests and rugged mountain ridges. O‘ahu is known as the Gathering Place, where fast urban pursuits
