It’s not at every hotel that, after mailing a coconut (yes, you read that right), you can hop on a beach bike and ride along a shoreline path to dinner. But that’s what it’s like at Kona Village, a Rosewood Resort, a luxury retreat originally built in 1961 on a lava field fronting storied Kahuwai […]
It may be a simple concept, but you can’t help but smile in awe at Reef’s Real Fruit Ice Cream truck. And that’s the goal for Abby Alvin, owner of the vibrant food truck in Kīhei, Maui. With a huge grin, she says it brings her joy watching her customers’ reactions—whether it’s their first or tenth time to her business—as they watch their ice cream swirl out of the machines. Real fruit
Step into The Dotted Line on a weekday around noon, and you’re likely to see tables of business professionals making deals over Wagyu burgers and miso yuzu salmon. By 5 p.m., a similar crowd gathers to sip cocktails and enjoy pūpū. The Dotted Line is tucked in The AC Hotel by Marriott, which opened in
From Kō, its signature and recently refreshed restaurant, to Pilina, its new lounge, Fairmont Kea Lani is creating a dining scene within its beautiful grounds. Known for its spacious suites and luxe villas perched along Wailea’s golden sands, the resort continues to raise the restaurant bar by thoughtfully showcasing local ingredients in imaginative dishes and
I did a lot of interisland travel this year—at least 10 trips I can remember—all for food. There were several notable restaurant openings, but four stood out. They’re the places I would return to again and again—and in some cases, I already have. One restaurant is tucked in Maui’s ritzy Wailea, which is having a
*This story was originally published on Dec. 3, 2024, and updated in November 2025. A languid afternoon, a tray of desserts, maybe a glass of Champagne. That’s how I want to spend the holidays. And afternoon tea service, especially the ones on Oʻahu, offer all of that—and sometimes an ocean view. Here are six
When my older brother came back to Maui on his college breaks, he would often pick me up from school and we’d spend the rest of the afternoon at the beach. Many days ended with us grabbing plates of poke at one of his favorite spots, a shave ice stand in Pāʻia—which remains one of
Red Salt at Koʻa Kea Resort on Poʻipū Beach is an ode to Kauaʻi’s red earth and the red ʻalaea (salt) it produces. The restaurant pays homage to this sacred ingredient by incorporating it with the island’s bounty—from the land to the sea. With fresh, local ingredients, Red Salt weaves together Hawaiian tradition and the
As I walk around the corner of Keawe Street and Furneaux Lane in downtown Hilo on Hawaiʻi Island, bright red traffic signs shout, “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way”—which means I’m in the right place. I follow the edge of the building until I find a staircase. As I descend into The Hidden Nēnē, I’m
It’s been four years since Hilo-born chef Sheldon Simeon published his first cookbook, “Cook Real Hawaiʻi,” putting local favorites like pork adobo, wok-fried poke and Spam musubi on a culinary pedestal. And he’s been busy. The two-time “Top Chef” finalist, who continues to run Tin Roof in Kahului, Maui, earned a James Beard Award nomination in
My first bite of the Kona kampachi crudo bursts with bright citrus, delicate herbaceous notes, and a punch of spice, balanced by the silky richness of avocado purée. Slow-dripped tomato water serves as an homage to Taylor Ponte’s childhood in Upcountry Maui, where he would sip the juice left behind in bowls of lomi lomi
It had been a long day. While I’d love to complain about a hectic schedule or long commute, I was actually exhausted from all the fun I was having. Once I checked into the Four Seasons Resort Hualālai, a sprawling oceanfront luxe resort that looks carved into lava rock, I felt immediately energized. I donned
