If the mai tai is Hawai‘i’s official cocktail, then POG is its official juice. Unlike Green River or Melona—flavors revered in Hawai‘i but not from Hawai‘i—POG was created on Maui at Haleākala Dairy (now Meadow Gold) in 1971. If you grew up here in the ’70s and ’80s you probably lived on the stuff. In […]
In Hawaiʻi winter brings cooler weather, humpback whales and, of course, massive surf to north-facing shores. Surfing—or heʻe nalu in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language)—is believed to have originated in ancient Polynesia and brought to the Islands, where it thrived. Once a sport reserved for aliʻi (Hawaiian royalty), commoners were allowed to hit the waves when
Picture relaxing in Hawai‘i. We’re pretty sure you imagined a beach. Hawai‘i has some of the best ones in the world, from the glittering sands of Lanikai on O‘ahu to the jet-black sands of Punalu‘u on Hawai‘i Island. And some of these beach locales have more than just sandy shores: You’ll find great restaurants, cute
Years ago, I went on a ghost tour with Native Hawaiian storyteller Lopaka Kapanui, visiting haunted spots on Oʻahu. It was early evening, the sun had long set. We were standing in a remote area on the windward side of Pali Highway. And this is when Kapanui, who runs Mysteries of Hawaiʻi ghost tours, tells
I’ve never found anything plain about vanilla. As a kid, I favored the richness of Baskin-Robbins’ French vanilla over gaudier rivals like Pink Bubblegum and Oregon Blackberry. And that small flat bottle of vanilla extract I’d use to make chocolate chip cookies was more than just an ingredient—it was something to savor. I’d inhale the
The first humpback whale of the 2024-2025 season was spotted off the coast of Kāʻanapali, Maui, on Oct. 8 by Capt. Matt Talbot and his crew. “Our crew and guests were ecstatic to be able to witness the season’s first sighted individual making its way through Maui Nui just a mile offshore, marking the start
It’s almost Halloween, and there are lots of spooky, festive fun to be had. Here are our picks for Halloween events you don’t want to miss. O‘ahu 3rd annual Halloween Surf-Off 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay For one of the more unique takes on a costume contest, head to the
Move over, Molokini. Kāʻanapali Beach is now the No. 1 snorkeling spot on Maui, according to our 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards. Not that should be a huge surprise since the popular West Maui beach—27 miles west of Kahului Airport—has been on the list for years. (Rounding out the Top 5 are Molokini Crater, Honolua Bay,
The early morning sun streaks through monkeypod trees as my wife, Kaila, and I walk the aisles of the Kapi‘olani Community College Farmers Market, run by the Hawai‘i Farm Bureau. Here, dozens of local farms and businesses sell their produce and products every week. And, it turns out, it’s also the perfect starting point for
Mention a mai tai and people might think of dimly lit bars adorned with tiki torches and wooden masks, or maybe people lounging under swaying palms sipping cocktails garnished with tiny umbrellas. No matter the specific imagery, when most people think of mai tais they also think of Hawai‘i. And while the mai tai didn’t
Despite facing unprecedented challenges following last year’s fires, Maui has remained resilient. But with visitor numbers at a fraction of what they were pre-disaster, the local economy continues to feel this financial strain. As a result, local resorts—in partnership with Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority—have come together to offer special discounts and perks to help revitalize responsible
Getting to Hawaiʻi is expensive—then traveling to Hawaiʻi Island just adds to that. And that’s just the airfare. There are hotel and car rental costs—especially if you’re on the Big Island, where there’s no public transportation. So here are some free things you can do to cut costs and still enjoy your Hawaiʻi vacation. 1.
