Hawaii’s top hula halau and competitive dance groups, featuring both women and men, from elsewhere are now focused on final rehearsals for the 49th annual Merrie Monarch Festival’s three-night competition, which will begin tomorrow night on the Big Island with the Miss Aloha Hula Competition. But before the world’s premier hula contest gets under way […]
Former Van Halen front man, part-time Maui resident and celebrity liquor distiller Sammy Hagar is behind the latest addition to an ever-growing list of made-in-Hawaii spirits. Sammy’s Beach Bar Rum, a silver rum made from Hawaii-grown sugar cane, is the result of partnership between Hagar and Haliimaile Distilling Company on Maui. Both partners claim roots
A statewide holiday and annual celebrations this weekend on Oahu and Kauai will honor the birthday of Hawaii’s Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole. Who is Prince Kuhio? Born in the south Kauai town of Koloa in 1871, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole created much of the Hawaii the world sees today. A prince of the Kingdom of
“Ten years ago, we didn’t have many visitors,” says Panaewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens director Pam Mizuno, “but this past April, we had more than 4,000 people in one day.” The crowd that gathered even caught zoo vendors by surprise. “All the food vendors sold out, and the shave ice guy made $600 in three
Hawaii’s love for Spam is legend. We love it in Spam musubi. We have it for breakfast, like most folks would bacon and eggs. Top Hawaii chefs love experimenting with it. You’ll find at least a half dozen varieties of it on our supermarket shelves. Spam is even on the menu at every Hawaii McDonald’s
The 47th annual Merrie Monarch Festival kicks off tonight in Hilo. Tickets for the world’s premier hula contest are sold out. But hula aficionados who can’t make it to the Big Island festival can still watch the competition live from around the world on the web, or in high-definition television here in Hawaii. Hawaii TV
Hawaii’s annual tradition of celebrating Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole begins Saturday, a week before his March 26 birthday and the state holiday that bears his name. If you’re on Kauai from March 20 to 28, be sure to visit the Prince Kuhio Celebration of the Arts, a weeklong festival held in the south shore’s Koloa
The breathtaking view of Windward Oahu from the Nuuanu Pali Lookout hasn’t changed, but you’ll now have to pay to see it. Since last Friday, visitors to the popular site arriving by car are being charged a $3 parking fee. There was previously no charge to park in the lookout’s lot. If you’ve booked a
Is Mardi Gras celebrated in Hawaii? You bet. Every year for the last 10 years, right in the heart of downtown Honolulu. If you’re on Oahu tonight, the annual carnival madness of New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro is yours to enjoy on a slightly smaller if no less entertaining scale. Honolulu’s largest—and free—Fat Tuesday
HAWAII Magazine reader Lisa E. Weaver e-mailed us with a question about one of Oahu’s most popular annual food festivals: Will there be a Spam Jam festival in Waikiki this year? If so, when? You ask. We answer … with great news for Lisa and other Spam Jam fans. A date for the 2010 Waikiki
Hawaii’s second New Year—also known as the Chinese New Year—officially starts on Feb. 14, but Downtown Honolulu’s Chinatown arts district kicks off its celebratory events this weekend. The Year of the Tiger celebrations begin Friday with a choy cheng (traditional Chinese lion dance blessing) and continue with these events throughout Chinatown: Friday, Feb. 5: •
Hard Rock Café has established restaurants across the globe and more than 40 restaurants in America, but only the Hawaii locations—Honolulu and Maui—specialize in a fresh-fish menu. There are four entrées on the fresh-fish menu: fish tacos, the fajita-style ahi (tuna), the ahi tuna sandwich and, of course, the fresh catch of the day. Our
