In the Hawaiian culture, names are immensely important. Names tell a story, share a history or honor a loved one. And that’s true even when that name is bestowed on a Hawaiian monk seal, one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world. In late May, a group of second-grade students from the Hawaiian […]
From the sparkling, crystal-clear seas of Honolua Bay to the ʻohana-friendly shores of Kāʻanapali Beach, the west coast of Maui on its own has an exceptional array of beaches, all in close proximity to one another. So close, in fact, it is feasible to hit all the best ones in a single day. And while
From her shaded treehouse bakery, Auntie Julia watches the cars roll by. Her establishment is quaint, a small green treehouse perched along Kahekili Highway, located in the hard-to-reach town of Kahakuloa, but her product—succulent loaves of homemade banana bread—is famous. When people ask where the best banana bread is on Maui, Julia’s Best Banana Bread
Hawai‘i Island is home to many great local bakeries serving delicious and homemade treats. Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, bakeries have flourished and became increasingly popular on the island. Here’s how you ranked the best bakeries on Hawai‘i Island in our 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. Note: Big Rob’s Bakery and Café, which took
Shave ice, an ice-cold, pillowy-soft sweet treat imported from Japan in the early 20th century and then given Hawaiian-style spins like tropical flavors and a foundation of ice cream, is high on many visitors’ must-eat lists. Pick up a guidebook to the Island of Oʻahu and you’re almost certain to find the most famous shave
For years, Pounders Restaurant, the signature eatery at the Polynesian Cultural Center, was churning out burgers, steaks, sandwiches and pizzas to visitors to the center or on their way to Oʻahu’s North Shore. But a couple of months ago—and almost by chance—chef, cookbook author and “MasterChef” judge Graham Elliot was named the restaurant’s executive chef,
Since opening in January 2021, Patisserie Nanako in Waimea on Hawaiʻi Island has been bustling with customers who wait in line hours before the bakery opens at 8 a.m. The family-owned shop serves fresh Japanese-style pastries such as pillowy strawberry shortcake, delicate Japanese cheesecake and classic tiramisu, along with Japanese pan (bread) and jelly drinks.
Ever wonder how chocolate is made or how a cacao bean turns into a chocolate bar? Touring a cacao farm (or a few) is the perfect place to learn about the beloved treat. Though cacao is a relatively new commercial crop in the state, farmers on Hawai‘i Island are working hard to develop the industry
You wouldn’t expect a slippah store to be a place for learning strategy, but in Kaua‘i’s Kapa‘a town, that’s exactly what Sole Mates turned out to be when I arrived on a weekday afternoon. In between walls lined with various kinds of rubber slippers, sandals and Hydro Flasks sits a wooden table with a burlap
It’s a sunny Saturday morning in Hilo when my boyfriend and I drive up a rocky road to Lavaloha cacao farm, gazing at the clear, blue sky and empty fields along the way. At the top of the hill, we’re greeted by large palm trees swaying in the wind next to a quaint farmhouse overlooking Hilo Bay. We park the car and
Of the premier attractions on Maui, catching a sunset at Haleakalā—which in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) means “house of the sun”—should be at the top of your list of things to do. From the summit, just over 10,000 feet in elevation, you can watch the sun gradually fall below the horizon as the clouds turn
Located in the heart of downtown Hilo, Kula Shave Ice is taking the beloved local treat to the next level with organic and fresh ingredients. Kula is committed to providing the highest quality shave ice on the island without using processed syrups and preservatives like the more “traditional” shave ice. “We make all our fruit
