Thousands of people participated in protests and marches in Hawaiʻi this weekend—joining hundreds of thousands around the world—in support of the Black Lives Matter movement following the killing of George Floyd in May in Minneapolis. There were families, friends, coworkers, classmates. Most people wore face masks—a sign of the times—and held handwritten signs that read, “Silence […]
Did you know that Honolulu used to have billboards? In fact, they littered Diamond Head and cluttered the space along city streets, which at the time were dry, dusty and lacked the vibrant flora we see today. And then, in 1912, a handful of women came along determined to beautify their city and eradicate the
A lot has changed in the 17 years since Bethany Hamilton lost her arm in a shark attack on Halloween morning in 2003. She’s published an autobiography; seen her story depicted in the movie, “Soul Surfer,” starring AnnaSophia Robb; and most recently released a documentary, “Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable,” that provides a glimpse into her experience as
When you put your heart into something, it comes through, whether you want it to or not.” Paul Okami tells me this in KoAloha ‘Ukulele’s showroom in an industrial part of Honolulu as I admire the handcrafted koa instruments hanging on the wall. As I pluck a few strings, I understand what Paul means. There’s
With a heavy heart, those close to William Awihilima Kahaialiʻi, better known as Willie K among his fans and just “Uncle Willie” to friends and family, announced that the beloved musician lost his lengthy battle with lung cancer. The Lahaina-born Maui native, who was known for performing Hawaiian, blues, rock and opera music for over three
Hawaiʻi’s not all pretty beaches and tropical weather. OK, it’s a lot of that, but scattered throughout the Islands are historic relics and sites, in all shapes and sizes. It helps that so many significant events have occurred in Hawaiʻi, from the arrival of Captain James Cook in 1778 to the unification of the islands
1. Leonard’s Bakery, 933 Kapahulu Ave., Honolulu Don’t let the long line stop you from getting those delectable malasadas! 2. Makai Research Pier, Kalaniana‘ole Highway, Waimānalo
While coconut trees may be ubiquitous in Hawai‘i, few of us know what to do with the nut itself. We drink imported coconut water and see the falling fruits more as a liability than a blessing. Ryan Burden is hoping to change that. When he’s not traveling around Maui trimming coconut trees, Burden, 38, runs
For 33 years, Hawaiian Quilt Collection has been a mainstay in Hawaiian quilting. Started by Michael John Gillan, who was raised in the beachside community of Kailua, the simple yet iconic patterns and prints featured on Hawaiian Quilt Collection’s pillows, bags and—of course—quilts have become household items among many residents and visitors. And the company
Most of us know the story behind the name Diamond Head, the iconic volcanic crater on Oʻahu that was so named by British sailors, who, while exploring the beach below in 1825, found calcite crystals sparkling in the sand. They thought they were diamond fragments and called the mountain Diamond Hill. (It was later changed to Diamond
If your daily—hourly?—drip feed of Hawaiʻi-focused Instagram and Facebook content is no longer filling that Island-shaped hole in your heart, YouTube might be your next best bet. And in today’s era, where being a vlogger is an actual profession, you’ll find a seemingly endless supply of beautiful Hawaiʻi videos and vlogs to peruse. To make
“Hi Meleana. This is Auntie Luana [Kawelu]. I’m calling to let you know that this is your formal invitation to participate in Merrie Monarch 2020.” This was the call that changed kumu hula Meleana Manuel’s life. A native of Volcano on Hawaiʻi Island, Manuel had competed in the prestigious Merrie Monarch Festival, known as the Olympics
