May 1 is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi, a merry day celebrating the beautiful symbol of aloha. Throughout the Islands, festivals are held to commemorate the history and significance of lei. One of the most exciting lei festivals is the annual Lei Day Celebration on Oʻahu, hosted by the City and County of Honolulu Department […]
While the action onstage at the Merrie Monarch Festival is revered as a visual masterpiece, the experience is a truly immersive one. Close your eyes for even a moment on ʻauana night in the Edith Kanakaʻole Stadium and youʻll smell palapalai and pua mēlia (plumeria); you’ll feel the movement of fierce hula steps; and you’ll
The Merrie Monarch Festival has officially kicked off. The festival is a week-long celebration of hula and Hawaiian culture. For anyone unsure of terms and people referenced throughout the festival, this is your elementary guide to what you may hear and see. ʻAuana – Modern style of hula we see today. Haumāna – Student. Hiʻiaka
On the hunt for an Easter activity with a Hawaiʻi twist? Transform plastic eggs into ultra-cute pineapples, shave ice cones and hula dancers. That’s right, it’s time to bust out your hoppy dance. Shave Ice Egg Supplies Plastic craft egg Markers Paper straw Glue dot (we used the 5-mm size) or hot glue and hot
As the sun begins to peak over Haleakalā, silence breaks on Maui’s west side with chants to the sun. Dozens of people, including kumu (teachers), kamaʻaina (locals and long-time residents) and visitors, stand in gentle surf at Honokahua Beach (D.T. Fleming Beach). Every year, the emotional and enriching e ala e and hiʻuwai ceremonies commence
Chinatown and Downtown Honolulu are among Hawai‘i’s most storied neighborhoods, with rich histories that date back hundreds of years. Chinatown, just ‘Ewa of downtown Honolulu, was home to thousands of Chinese immigrants who worked on Hawai‘i’s sugar plantations in the 1800s; it nearly burned down in 1900 during attempts to combat the bubonic plague. Years
Since the first event in 1964, the Merrie Monarch Festival has been a vibrant celebration of hula and Hawaiian culture. Excitement builds during a week of festivities, including parades, performances and Hawaiian art fairs, and reaches its peak during three nights of hula competitions. It’s when the quiet town of Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island, where
Reigning from 1825 to 1854—nearly three decades—King Kamehameha III was the longest governing monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The king was only 10 years old when he succeeded the throne and reigned until his death in 1854. To honor his birthday on March 17, the Royal Hawaiian Center welcomes all kamaʻāina (locals and long-time
While a car will take you to the far corners of any island, sometimes the best way to discover an area is by foot. From historic surf towns and colorful art districts to former plantation neighborhoods, Hawaiʻi is home to many great walkable regions. And you’ll quickly notice an afternoon can easily slip away when
There’s no easy way to say goodbye, but it’s what I have to do. I’ve been working for HAWAIʻI Magazine since I was in college, and it’s been the job of a lifetime. In my five-year tenure—starting out as a lowly intern, rising to staff writer and then associate editor before making it as interim
From ushering in progressive steps for women’s rights in local politics, to influencing national change and winning historic athletic competitions on a global stage, courageous wāhine (women) throughout Hawaiʻi’s history have shaped and inspired us all. Today, brave athletes, driven entrepreneurs and remarkable artists continue to leave us in awe as they write history. While
This story originally appeared in the July 2019 issue of our sister publication, Honolulu Magazine. No matter where Peggy Farias goes, nēnē follow. They show up in every shape and form, at the most unexpected times and places. They filled her childhood, congregating on her family’s sprawling Big Island estate in Hā‘ena as uninvited (and
