Off a picturesque beach in Kahala on Oahu, a young Polynesian voyager has carved out a niche for himself as a resident educator, tour guide and waterman at the Kahala Resort. Austin Kino, a 27-year-old junior navigator, has a seafarer’s eyes—blue, piercing, quick to read the subtle movements of wind, waves and wildlife. From years […]
Who needs GQ when you have Prince Kūhiō? Born Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole in 1871, the Hawaiian figure achieved a marquee of notable titles to hang around his neck like the bossiest chain of humblebrags. He was an heir to the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, part of a rebellion to reinstate Queen Liliʻuokalani to her throne, a
On March 23, 1950, a Hawaiian icon was born. The small town of Kalamaula, on the island of Molokai, welcomed George Jarrett Helm, Jr., and, unbeknownst to Hawaii’s political and cultural sphere then, he would become a man who would shape the contemporary consciousness of Hawaiian identity and values for generations. Aloha aina. Literally meaning
If you’ve driven through Windward Oahu, you’ve probably seen the rustic fixture that is the Waiahole Poi Factory, surrounded by greenery with the stunning Koolau mountains in the background and Mokolii (aka Chinaman’s Hat) just off the coast. But have you stopped there for lunch? The spot, which sells fresh poi in bulk and by the
Find your pitch, people. The Kamehameha Schools Song Contest is fast approaching and you can watch it live on TV or streaming online. This Friday, March 17, the annual music contest gathers the Kamehameha Schools Kapalama Campus high school student body (grades 9 through 12) to perform Hawaiian mele (songs) in boys, girls and co-ed groups. First,
It’s early on a bright autumn day in Kona and the sun is steadily baking the earth beneath my feet. Brittle blades crunch with each step and tiny clinging burrs linger on my long pants. I’m searching for the 3,000-foot-long Kaneaka, the longest remaining ancient kahua holua (sledding course) in Hawaii, on the steep slopes
The halls of Hawaiʻi’s history are filled with examples of powerful and inspirational wahine (women) who made progressive steps for women’s, indigenous and minority rights across the Hawaiian Islands. Their actions and achievements also instilled pride in culture and identity, regardless of gender. Adding to our list of “14 extraordinary women in Hawaiʻi’s history,” here
Located right on the beach in historic Haleiwa town next to Anahulu Bridge and Haleiwa Harbor, Surf N Sea stands as an iconic landmark. The classic vintage architecture rings of an era past. Originally, the building was a train station with rooms for rent upstairs. At the end of the 19th century, Benjamin J. Dillingham
Kūkaniloko, as translated from Hawaiian to English, means “to anchor the cry from within.” The massive central Oʻahu birthstone provided the strong support for mothers of aliʻi (royal) children during childbirth. Positioned on a padded bed-stone, leaning into the arms of her attendant as she braced against the backbone of Kūkaniloko, the mother would ride
In Hawaiian, “Makaha” means “fierce,” but, during Buffalo’s Big Board Surfing Classic, this beach park on the west side of Oahu is the opposite of its namesake. Aloha is abundant for the two weekends in the middle of February, when anybody can enter Buffalo’s Big Board Surfing Classic. Unlike the pressure-filled environment of most surf contests,
When many visitors step out of the plane and breathe in Hawaiʻi’s air, the first thing they often say is “it smells like flowers.” These six iconic flowers, although not all of them are indigenous, capture the romance and tropical beauty of the Islands. Plumeria Plumeria, found everywhere in Hawaiʻi. Few flowers remind people of
It wasn’t easy crowning winners in our 18th annual HAWAIʻI Magazine Photo Contest this year. So many beautiful photographs were submitted by travelers from around the world in four categories—Outdoors, People, Culture, Abstract—and we did our best to narrow them down. Here, we feature some of the images that were top contenders in the final rounds of
