Tucked on Oʻahu’s Windward Side, the charming town of Kailua is known for its laid-back vibe and picturesque beaches. But beyond Kailua Beach and Lanikai, the town is home to a variety of cozy cafés, hip eateries and top-notch restaurants. And new businesses continue to open, adding to the colorful lineup of places worth checking […]
*This story was originally published on Aug. 5, 2021. From her shaded treehouse bakery, Auntie Julia watches the cars roll by. Her establishment is quaint, a small green treehouse perched along Kahekili Highway, located in the hard-to-reach town of Kahakuloa, but her product—succulent loaves of homemade banana bread—is famous. When people ask where the
In the heart of Lahaina, diners could count on savoring bowls of pasta made with quality flour from Italy and seasonal ingredients grown on Maui. For years, Sale Pepe Pizzeria e Cucina was the neighborhood’s go-to spot for celebrating birthdays and anniversaries or just enjoying Italian cuisine. Since the beloved restaurant fell to the Maui
People are lured to Oʻahu’s North Shore because of its famous surf breaks and beautiful beaches. And while these alone are great reasons to venture north, there are plenty of others, including dozens of local coffee shops, shave ice stands and restaurants. And lately, it seems like anytime I’m on the North Shore, an exciting
It’s pretty hard, especially in Hawaiʻi, to be wowed anymore by shave ice. But that’s what’ll happen when you try one from Chillest Shave Ice, a small shop that opened in May in Kaimukī on Oʻahu. Owner Aaron Wong crafts dreamy, cloudlike domes of snow-fine ice, soaked in syrups in unique flavors like creamy strawberry
SPAM musubi are synonymous with the local Hawaiʻi diet. A simple combination of white rice, SPAM, nori (seaweed), there’s really nothing better than a freshly made SPAM musubi—except for a free one. READ MORE: The History of 5 Local Grinds in Hawaiʻi L&L Hawaiian Barbecue is celebrating the 5th annual National SPAM Musubi on Aug.
I’m told we’ll have a table in the kitchen where the chef will prepare us a special meal. What I don’t expect to find is an actual chef’s counter bolted to the end of the pass—the table on which cooks slide finished dishes to an “expediter,” who then sends them out into the dining room.
Checking into your room and hitting the hotel bar for a mai tai has long been step one for many travelers to Hawaiʻi. And the next time they’re in town, those travelers might notice something different about their favorite watering holes. Throughout Honolulu and Waikīkī, hotels are reenvisioning basic lobby bars and swapping them for
This story was originally published on Feb. 24, 2014. “You didn’t pre-order?” As she says this, the woman behind the counter at Two Ladies Kitchen stares at me in disbelief. A line of customers winds behind me and out of the small downtown Hilo mochi shop and onto the sidewalk alongside bustling Kīlauea Avenue.
This story was originally published on July 13, 2021. In Hawaiʻi, people talk a lot about who has got the best local grinds—slang for food. It is a contentious subject because, in the Islands, we love our food! And while it may surprise Mainland visitors, 7-Eleven holds a very special place in the hearts—and tummies—of kamaʻāina
Most afternoons you can find Faria chef and co-owner Kawehi Haug prepping in the restaurant’s kitchen alongside her family. Haug’s dad—also the restaurant’s accountant—is scooping bay leaf butter onto dishes for bread baskets while her mom—head of human relations—is making desserts, and her hānai cousins are setting up the dining room and bar. When they
With a revolving menu of both wine offerings and delicious food pairings, The Tasting Room on Kauaʻi never gets stale. Wine and spirit lovers familiar with Kauaʻi’s south side have most likely met Dan and Ellen O’Connell, owners of The Wine Shop—a fixture in Kōloa Town for nearly 20 years. As a natural extension, “Dan-o”
