From birthdays and graduations to weddings and momentous achievements, lei is a ubiquitous gift commemorating celebrations and life transitions. The gift is considered a symbol of gratitude, love and honor in Hawaiʻi. For many long-time residents, it’s a ritual to visit the neighborhood lei stand to pick a gift made from fresh pua (flower) such as […]
As the sun sets over the Pacific, Maui’s sky turns into a fiery canvas. Off the beach, calm, glassy waters shimmer with vibrant shades of red and orange. From the mountains, lucky observers watch as the magic hour casts its spell over the Valley Isle, and from a delightful seaside restaurant, diners feast their eyes
Most visitors to Oʻahu end up staying in Waikīkī—and for good reason. The beachside neighborhood offers a wide variety of accommodations—from high-end oceanfront resorts to cozy boutique hotels to cheap hostels—and tons of things to do. But if you’re looking to ditch the crowds—and you should!—get in a car (or hop on the city bus)
Açaí and superfood smoothie bowls exploded in popularity thanks to their touted benefits and beautiful presentations. And the craze is still strong. In the Islands, local shops take açaí and smoothie bowls to the next level. Here, you’ll find açaí bases packed with extra superfoods and smoothie bowls topped with Island favorites like poi and
Kauaʻi, also known as the Garden Isle, is a favorite among visitors and locals alike. Considered by some as the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands—other sources cite Ni‘ihau, by a couple of hundred thousand years—Kauaʻi is chock-full of culture, activities and ʻono (delicious) restaurants. It’s a great place for visitors to travel to, especially
It’s the quintessential meeting-eating place in Hawai‘i. Zippy’s, with 24 locations across three islands and plans to open in Las Vegas in 2023, is the local go-to restaurant chain for everything—picking up bentos for baseball practice, meeting friends for breakfast, pregnancy cravings, post-surf snacks, late-night get-togethers. The first Zippy’s Restaurant—on King Street in Honolulu—opened in
You haven’t been to Oʻahu until you’ve been to Waikīkī, the bustling, beachfront neighborhood on the island’s sunny south shore. It’s a mix of modern resorts and historic landmarks with a perfect view of Lēʻahi (aka Diamond Head). There are high-end shops and dive bars, upscale restaurants and hole-in-the-wall eateries—and you don’t need a rental
Regardless of the season, Hawaiʻi lures travelers with its warm weather, clear skies and cooling trade winds. But that doesn’t mean all seasons in the Islands are equal. Take the rainy season, which runs from November through March. This February, Hawaiʻi experienced a storm system referred to as a Kona low, a type of subtropical
The first time Markus Stolz ate baumkuchen, a traditional German cake that resembles a hollowed cross-section of a tree trunk, he was in Japan—not Germany. “It’s really soft and moist,” says Stolz, whose parents moved from Germany to Japan, where he was born and raised. “That makes this version much more different.” The German version
Episode 104 of the “Have Aloha Will Travel” is a tribute to Downtown Honolulu and Chinatown. The streets of these Oʻahu neighborhoods are filled with fascinating stories and are home to establishments that have persevered through some of the most transformative decades in Hawaiʻi. READ MORE: Your Guide Downtown Honolulu, Oʻahu These businesses include
The unofficial capital of Oʻahu’s North Shore, Haleʻiwa epitomizes the perfect beachside town. With a vast array of small, locally owned boutiques, a selection of eateries to fill the empty stomach of beachgoers and surfers alike as well as activities to do in the town itself, there’s a reason why locals and visitors love Haleʻiwa.
I love a good food hall. It’s like browsing a farmers market or street fair and letting your stomach guide you. I was bummed when I heard Waikīkī Yokocho, a Japanese food hall located in the lower level of the Waikīkī Shopping Plaza, had closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like many restaurants in Hawaiʻi—and especially
