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
Artists across the state are coming together under the banner of “Hawai‘i Arists for Racial Justice” to raise money and awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement, which saw a resurgence in public visibility due to protests ignited last week after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man from Minneapolis. Proceeds from this
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
Paul Massey is alone in the middle of a forest. To the untrained eye, the sylvan backdrop could look like any of Kaua‘i’s many rich, verdant wooded areas. And yet this forest is unique. This is the Kaua’i Food Forest, founded (and planted, cultivated and harvested) by humans and designed to be a producer of food, both
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
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
May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi. But this year—due to the COVID-19 pandemic—there won’t be the same kinds of celebrations. For starters, Honolulu’s 93rd annual Lei Day Celebration at Kapiʻolani Park has been canceled, and, with social distancing, we can’t even greet each other with lei and kisses on the cheek. SEE ALSO: How
“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
When COVID-19 struck the Islands and the rest of the world, people were canceling anything and everything they could. This hit our local musicians particularly hard. It’s been challenging for many artists who make a living gigging seven days a week to find work and income. Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner and Grammy nominee Kimié Miner lost
Maybe you canceled your vacation to Oʻahu this year. Or maybe you’re just looking for something cool to do while you’re quarantined at home. ʻIolani Palace, the only official residence of royalty in the U.S., launched free virtual experiences and online educational resources that allow you to tour the palace without leaving your living room.
