Bon dance season in Hawaii is now under way. The Japanese observance of o-bon — Hawaii shortens the word to “bon” — honors the spirits of family members who have passed away. You’ll find o-bon festivals slated for just about every weekend at Hawaii hongwanji missions and temples, from June through August. According to tradition, […]
Hawaii will celebrate its King Kamehameha Day this weekend — and next weekend — with ceremonies, parades and other cultural celebrations paying tribute to King Kamehameha the Great, who established the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810 and was its first monarch. The first King Kamehameha Day, proclaimed by King Kamehameha V to honor his grandfather, King
If you happen to be in the Islands tomorrow, you’ll be in one of the best places on the planet to witness a rare celestial alignment, during which Venus passes between the Earth and Sun. The planet’s trek across the disk of the Sun — known as a transit of Venus — will be under
The Disney Wonder — a 964-foot ship that holds 2,700 guest passengers — is skimming Hawaii waters for the first time. In the middle of a special 15-night cruise, it arrived in Honolulu yesterday. The Disney Cruise Line ship — complete with Donald Duck and nephew Huey on the stern and a Steamboat-Willie bow —
They drift about on trade winds, marring Hawaii’s landscapes and posing threats to marine life. Floating plastic bags can kill marine animals, such as green sea turtles (hono) that become entangled or ingest the buoyant trash, mistaking it for a jellyfish snack. Also, in addition to cluttering beautiful scenery in the Islands, non-biodegradable plastics and
The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary’s third and final volunteer-centered whale-spotting effort for the 2011-12 season, Ocean Count, is slated for Sat., March 31. Both Hawaii residents and visitors are invited to take part in the annual Ocean Count census. This weekend’s survey is slated for 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on the
It’s about five minutes past 9 a.m. and I think I’m late. I imagine a shirtless and tanned tour guide from Outfitters Kauai waiting impatiently for me at Nawiliwili Harbor, the starting point of my day of stand-up paddle boarding along Huleia River. Darting toward the harbor, which is nestled against Lihue on the island’s
The Hawaii International Film Festival’s 2012 Spring Showcase will include screenings of 34 films as well as a panel discussion and concert spotlighting music from the Oscar-winning Hawaii-filmed The Descendants. Now in its 15th year, the film fest will get under way on Fri., April 13 and wrap up on Thurs., April 19, with screenings
Will you be on Kauai this week or next? If so, consider taking some time to attend birthday festivities held in honor of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole. Prince Kuhio Celebration-Kauai 2012 festivities, sponsored, in part, by the Hawaii Tourism Authority and Kauai County, will wrap up on March 26 — the state holiday that salutes
We’ve counted the votes from our latest HAWAII Magazine Facebook Ohana poll question: Which Hawaii park is is your favorite? The top five vote-getters are on the pages ahead. Hawaii boasts seven National Park Service-managed parks, sites and monuments, 55 state parks, and scores of county/city parks. Your picks range from shoreline settings with strong
Next month, popular Hawaii singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, along with Oahu-based musician friends Paula Fuga and John Cruz, will stage seven all-acoustic shows in the Islands. The tour is in support of an album slated for release on April 17, Jack Johnson and Friends — Best of Kokua Festival. For information about pre-ordering the album, click
Hawaiian Airlines and New-York based JetBlue Airways this week announced a partnership agreement that will aims to ease travel to the Islands from the East Coast. Starting this week, customers will be able to purchase single tickets combining travel on both Hawaiian and JetBlue, allowing for “seamless” travel between the carriers’ networks, according to a
