After a two-year hiatus, Waikīkī’s spectacular Friday night firework show relaunches on June 3. The fireworks show, presented by the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort, has lit up Waikīkī’s night sky nearly every week since 1988. It was paused in March 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The popular—and free!—firework show is a tradition […]
The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the world’s most endangered seal species—and for years its population in the Islands have been on a steady (and alarming) decline. But in May the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which has been monitoring the seal’s population trend and taken action to save them, reported the total population
Waking up in a fluffy cloud-like bed to the sun slowly warming Maui’s west side, there’s a rare sense of stillness and peace. The Pacific Ocean is glassy and smooth. The sun is gradually rising. Kāʻanapali Beach is slowly beginning to stir. Sitting on the golden sands of Kāʻanapali Beach, The Westin Maui Resort &
With its striking ridges, panoramic views and historical hiking trails, Lē‘ahi, also known as Diamond Head, is among Oʻahu’s most prominent features. More than 3,000 hikers visit the volcanic cone every day to climb the 1-mile trail to its summit. Travelers to Oʻahu this summer should know that beginning on May 12, 2022, the state
For the first time in documented history, green sea turtles nested at Bellows Field Beach Park on Oʻahu during the summer of 2020. Wildlife researchers claimed it was “unprecedented” behavior by sea turtles. Commonly referred to as honu in Hawaiʻi, green sea turtles are known to nest along Oʻahu’s various shorelines. However, according to the
After a federal judge in Florida struck down a nationwide mask mandate on airplanes, buses and other public transportation on Monday, many U.S. airlines—including Hawaiian Airlines—announced they would stop requiring masks aboard their flights. Masks are also no longer required at Hawaiʻi airports. This ends a two-year-long mask requirement from the Centers for Disease Control
On March 8, Hawaiʻi became the 50th state to announce it will drop its indoor mask requirement. Gov. David Ige announced the indoor mask mandate will expire with the current COVID-19 emergency proclamation at 11:59 p.m on March 25. “Together, we have reduced COVID-19 in Hawai‘i to the point where most of us will be
Visitors to Hawaiʻi Island will want to know about this. Waipiʻo Valley Road, which leads to one of the Islands’ all-time favorite attractions for visitors—Waipiʻo Valley—has been closed indefinitely and will only allow residents, property owners, farmers and leaseholders into the area for the foreseeable future. This is to address the deteriorating road conditions and
From limits on social gatherings to vaccination requirements for indoor activities, the remaining Covid restrictions across the four Hawaiʻi counties have been lifted. Following nearly two years of emergency COVID-19 restrictions in Hawaiʻi, the state’s four county mayors are dropping their emergency mandates. However, residents and visitors are still required to follow state travel and
Among easing COVID-19 restrictions across the country and Hawaiʻi counties, Governor David Ige announced the Safe Travels Program will no longer be in effect beginning March 26—exactly two years after the state’s first travel mandate. “Today, I am announcing that the Safe Travels Program will end when the current emergency proclamation ends on March 25,”
On March 4, 2020, the City and County of Honolulu enacted an emergency order to fight against COVID-19. Businesses were closed—and later reopened under strict guidelines—and the Safe Access Oʻahu program was put into effect, which required restaurants, fitness centers and event organizers to verify that employees and customers were fully vaccinated or had a
Oʻahu is home to many things—wonderful beaches, exhilarating hikes, mouthwatering eateries—and it has always been the epicenter of Hawaiʻi’s festivals and events. Earning its nickname as the Gathering Isle, Oʻahu is known for hosting some of the grandest gatherings in the state. But that all changed with COVID-19. Numerous festivals had to cancel their annual
