As I bounced along the dirt road to my cottage on Kauai’s west side, I felt I had traveled to another time in Hawaii’s history. Booking a stay at Waimea Plantation Cottages will make you feel that way, the bucolic homes are interspersed in a coconut grove overlooking the ocean, far removed from the hustle […]
For the past 25 years, Hawaii Forest and Trail has cultivated a reputation for fun, knowledgeable tours of some of Hawaii Island’s most thrilling locales. Founded by husband and wife, Rob and Cindy Pacheco, their company is known for taking visitors and residents on adventurous activities, such as stargazing atop Mauna Kea and hiking on
For breakfast, a visit to Café Haleiwa is a must. The North Shore staple has been serving generous portions of American cuisine to salt-crusted early morning surfers since it first opened in 1982. And though its traditional breakfast platters are good, the real winner here is the café’s dessert Belgian waffles. 66-456 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa,
The price of paradise in 2018? Pretty darn high, and getting higher, thanks to everyone wanting a piece of the Hawaii experience. That’s why we’re always on the hunt for hacks that cut down on cost—while still giving the best the Islands have to offer. Here are some of our favorite ways to do it:
Inside each tank is an adult day octopus—called hee in Hawaiian—native to Hawaii waters and active during the daytime. At Kanaloa Octopus Farm, it’s a look and touch kind of experience. It’s a sunny Friday afternoon and I’m on a tour with 20 other people. Kanaloa Octopus Farm is located at scenic Keahole Point, about 10
Craving something sweet? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Try these tropical snacks on the Waikiki strip for the best ways to get your sugar high. These addictive mochi doughnuts come in all kinds of unique flavors. Photo: Elena Bragg MoDo doughnuts The Japanese-style mochi doughnuts have a chewy consistency with unique flavors, such as
Bernadette Perreira often comes from her home in Pukalani, Maui, to walk through Kealia Pond National Wildlife Refuge. The 704-acre wetlands, near Maalaea Harbor, is home to her favorite birds, aeo, or Hawaiian stilts. Thanks to Maui County and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Perreira and other visitors can easily enter the wetlands on
I was on an Upcountry Maui mission. There were specific places I wanted—no, needed—to stop on a whirlwind day exploring the island’s Kula district. I craved fresh cream puffs from Komoda Bakery in the cowboy town of Makawao. I had plans to stroll the fields of Alii Kula Lavender Farm, high up on the mist-kissed
With Hawaii’s sunny, tropical climate, numerous hikes and beaches around every corner, the Islands perfectly match the adventurous and excitable spirits of our favorite canine companions. Whether they’re chasing sand up and down the beach or kayaking to unknown lands with their owners, the pups of Hawaii always seem to have a smile on their
I wasn’t even there yet, but already I was more relaxed. I was driving east in my compact rental car to Upcountry Maui. The area, hugging the slopes of Haleakala, is known for its agriculture and has been farmed since early times. Today, Upcountry has cultivated a reputation for harvesting strawberries, onions, protea and lavender and
Birdsong and the quiet splash of my paddle: Those are the only sounds I hear as I kayak upstream against a gentle current. Bright orange hau blossoms float in the eddies. Fish dart in and out of still, sunlit stretches of water. To either side, there are fern-covered hillsides and rain forest greenery in the
Ready to dive in? When you want to make a splash, it’s safe to say that these are some of the grandest pools around. Montage Kapalua Bay, Maui Lounge on the secluded poolside day beds at Montage Kapalua Bay. Photo courtesy: Montage Kapalua Bay The tropical gardens surrounding Montage Kapalua Bay’s multi-tiered, blue pools with
