Seeing a waterfall in Hawaiʻi. Yes, it’s a thing. And one of the most accessible waterfalls is ʻAkaka Falls on Hawaiʻi Island. In fact, you can see two waterfalls—ʻAkaka Falls and the smaller Kahuna Falls—on this short but beautiful hike through a lush rainforest filled with bamboo and wild orchids. And it’s only a half-hour […]
Waimea on Hawai‘i Island, known for its green pastures, cattle and cowboys, has long been considered paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) country. But it’s more than that: Today, it’s a popular destination for delicious food, fine arts and local culture. Here are some places you can visit during your trip to this quaint, historic country town. Waimea
Throughout the Islands, residents and visitors alike are looking forward to the return of Hawaiʻi’s most beloved summer events. Over the years, many of these festivals have become community traditions. And for the last two years, summers haven’t felt quite the same—for many reasons—one being the absent festivals. Fortunately, many of these festivals are making
If there‘s one thing park rangers do best is give advice. And the friendly—and knowledgeable—rangers at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Hawaiʻi Island have put together a list of tips for anyone planning a trip to its sprawling 333,308-acre park. Here’s how you can plan like a ranger—and trust us, you may want to bookmark
Snorkeling is one of the most enriching ways to see the vast array of wildlife throughout the Hawaiian Islands—from a safe and respectful distance!—and these spots were voted the best by our readers for the 2021 HAWAI‘I Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards. If you’re looking to get your feet wet in the world of snorkeling on
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
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
The view from Uēkahuna, the highest point on the rim of Kaluapele, the caldera of Kīlauea, is unlike any other—and the popular bluff has reopened this week after being closed since 2018. That year, magma drained from Halemaʻumaʻu, the summit crater, triggering months of repetitive earthquakes, damaging ash clouds and the eventual collapse of Kīlauea
The beaches on Hawaiʻi Island are some of the best in the state—and there are a lot of them. Due to the island’s ever-growing coastline and massive size, there are hundreds of beaches dotted along the Big Island, some of which can’t be found in magazines or on websites. Even the ones that are easy to
In February 2020 Nāhuku, more commonly known as Thurston Lava Tube, reopened at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Hawaiʻi Island after nearly two years of closure due to the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. Then COVID-19 happened. The popular walk-through lava tube and rainforest trail—one of the top attractions at the national park—closed just a month after
I’m banking hard, shifting my weight to meet the sloped dirt trail ahead of me. My balance doesn’t fail me, and I coast through the turn, only to have to lean left, then right as a series of tight corners puts my cycling abilities to the test. Finally, the path straightens out just enough to
There are numerous reasons why visitors and locals love Onekahakaha Beach Park. Just south of downtown Hilo on Hawai‘i Island’s eastern shoreline, this family-friendly beach park is well-suited for those traveling with keiki (children). Lifeguards are on duty year-round. The beach’s expansive sand-bottom cove is protected from the ocean’s turbulent swells by a wall of lava rock and
