How many species of animals, plants, microbes and fungi currently call Hawaii Volcanoes National Park home? With 333,086-acres of barren lava rock, dry forest and rugged coastline, that’s a pretty challenging question to answer. But, after this weekend’s National Geographic Society-organized BioBlitz, it could get easier. Themed I ka nana no a ike (by observing, […]
A statue of Father Damien represents the state of Hawaii in the U.S. Capitol’s National Statuary Hall in Washington D.C., and now an urban thoroughfare in Eastern Manhattan also bears his name. In an official ceremony on Monday afternoon (May 11), a block of 33rd Street not far from the East River and between First
Imagine this: It’s nighttime. A man dressed in a traditional Samoan lavalava skirt and grasses rapidly twirls a flaming, sharp-edged blade with focused skill and precision—his body is illuminated by its glow. He grabs another flaming knife and begins to twirl it while sending the first sailing five feet above his head. It peaks and
While plenty of bars and restaurants throughout Hawaii will break out the Dos Equis, chips and salsa for today’s Cinco de Mayo holiday, many family homes will celebrate May 5 a little bit differently: by flying koinobori, colorful carp-shaped flags, in honor of Tango no Sekku, or Boys’ Day. The traditional Japanese holiday’s original intent
Calling all bibliophiles, audiophiles and lovers of great stories! Honolulu has a festival tailor-made for you and it’s happening this weekend on the Honolulu Hale civic center grounds. The 10th annual Hawaii Book & Music Festival celebrates books, storytelling and music with a lineup of over 125 free events and activities, May 2 and 3.
On May 1 much of the northern hemisphere celebrates and welcomes spring, or celebrates unions and worker’s rights. In Hawaii, the day is a celebration of Hawaiian culture and tradition: May Day is Lei Day. Lei Day festivities often include fragrant floral lei-making competitions, hula and music concerts and the sharing of lei among friends
What’s pink and tinned and salty all over? Hawaii’s favorite luncheon meat, Spam! This Sat., May 2, Hawaii Spam fans and curious residents and visitors will celebrate the state’s adoration for the pink brick with a huge afternoon block party. Waikiki Spam Jam runs from 4 p.m. til 10 p.m. along Waikiki’s main drag. This
A HAWAII Magazine reader wrote in with this request: “I need the recipe for Hawaiian sweet bread rolls that was published in the magazine a couple of years ago. I have lost mine and my family is very sad…. It was made in a pie tin and 7 rolls were placed in the tin…I hope you
Gabby Pahinui played a defining role in popularizing Hawaiian-style kihoalu (slack-key guitar) and steel guitar music during the Hawaiian cultural renaissance of the 1970s. Largely self-taught, he grew to become one of Hawaii’s most influential musicians prior to his death at the age of 59 in 1980. It’s said Pahinui could pick up and master
Kalo (taro) burgers, chips, pancakes, fresh poi and more will be found in abundance in Hana, Maui this weekend. The East Maui Taro Festival, a free annual celebration, highlights the traditional Hawaiian dietary staple and, more broadly, celebrates eastern Maui’s Hawaiian cultural traditions and bountiful agriculture. Expect a large farmers’ market, food and craft booths,
Construction on what would be the world’s largest visible light telescope atop Hawaii Island’s Mauna Kea has been delayed indefinitely following ongoing demonstrations by protestors. The non-profit Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) Observatory Corp., with backing from the governments of India, China, Japan and Canada, plans to build a 180-foot tall, thirty-meter mirrored telescope on Hawaii’s
Artifacts from the Haaheo o Hawaii (Pride of Hawaii), a yacht owned by Hawaii’s King Kamehameha II that wrecked off Kauai in 1824, have been returned to the Island after decades of possession by the Smithsonian Institution and the Peabody Essex Museum. The Kauai Museum in Lihue is planning to display the artifacts in a
