We’ve all heard it before. We’ve also probably said it ourselves, too: “This isn’t what it used to be.” And: “I remember when this place was less crowded.” It’s usually the first thing we say when we return to a place 10, maybe 20 years later. Except this time, I’m saying it a month—a month!—after […]
I like to think that I’m in pretty good physical shape. I surf daily, go to yoga a few times a week and watch what I eat. But as I’m about 20 minutes into my kayaking journey to Na Mokulua, the two picturesque islands off the coast of Lanikai, I’ve come to realize that paddling a
There’s no doubt about it: The upcountry Maui town of Makawao is a must-see for visitors. It’s surrounded by beautiful ranchland, filled to the brim with chic boutiques, too-cool-for-school cafes and delectable breakfast, brunch and lunch spots, all the while sporting an unassuming but charming paniolo appeal. And although it’s small—you can probably visit every
There was a time when I spent a lot of time in Kailua. I’d meet up with friends on Kailua Beach in the late afternoon, all of us leaning back in beach chairs, strumming guitars and dishing about the guys we (OK, they) were dating. We’d get up before sunrise to hike to the pillboxes
A year ago Shannon Hiramoto was browsing the Salvation Army thrift store in Lihue when she came across a short muumuu, with bright pink and purple flowers and a ruffled neckline. She absolutely loved it and bought it for $4. The Kauai-born fashion designer has long had a thing for the loose-fitting aloha-print dresses that
Island-born locals like Alana Kysar know all too well how homesickness can tug on the heartstrings when they move away, but a comforting dish of mochiko chicken can often soothe the ache. What began as a means of easing homesickness for the Maui native and her Oahu-born boyfriend became a journey into the world of
It always happens when I’m standing at the overlook at the start of the Kilauea Iki trail, seeing the barren floor of the caldera, the scene of a spectacular eruption in 1959. The once-geologist major in me stirs. This roughly 4-mile hike is one of my favorites in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island.
It’s obvious when Mark Noguchi walks into Palace Saimin in Kalihi on Oʻahu that he’s been coming here for decades. Practically his whole life. “I’m a creature of habit,” explains the gregarious chef, who greets everyone in the kitchen with a hug and kiss on the cheek. “If you had to kill me, I would
Pools in Hawaii serve as a great alternative to the beach, nobody can deny that. However, one of the only downsides is that you can’t interact with the countless species of marine life that inhabit the waters around our Islands. Fortunately, a few cool pools in the state of Hawaii actually allow guests to swim with
Gentle ocean playgrounds with sand-castle-building potential, simplified menus for elementary palates, convenience stores stocked with snacks and floaties—these amenities quickly win the hearts of families vacationing in Hawaii. But choosing the ideal resort also depends largely on what kind of experience you’re looking for: Do you want to see it all, do it all or
As a traveler, there are some things I’ll never do. I won’t eat whale or turtle meat, I won’t surf alone at an unfamiliar break and I won’t jump off a cliff into a body of water. I tried to do that last one, standing at the edge of Ka Lae, or South Point, on
We’re half a mile off Maui’s northern coastline when Nick Moran says the magic words: “My hands aren’t on the controls. You’re flying all by yourself.” I glance to my left, where Moran is seated in the pilot’s chair of the helicopter, and his hands are completely removed from the cyclic, which helps to control
