Maybe I’m a bird nerd, but every summer I log in my calendar when I see the first kōlea of the year. It’s one of those momentous occasions for me, seeing a Pacific golden plover flap its long wings—these birds have a 17-inch wingspan—or perch on a rooftop in my neighborhood. Growing up on Oʻahu, I […]
Who doesn’t love the coconut? Even if you’re not a fan of its peculiar tasting water, or its fleshy meat, the coconut—or stone fruit—has become synonymous with Hawaiʻi’s island culture. To celebrate World Coconut Day, which was established in 2009 and is observed on Sept. 2, we’ve put together a list of eight Hawaiʻi-related coconut
If there was a silver lining to COVID-19 in Hawaiʻi, it’s Hanauma Bay. The protected marine bay in East Honolulu on Oʻahu closed to visitors on March 18 and still hasn’t reopened. (Other city beaches had reopened since, but the bay remained closed this whole time because visitors are required to watch an educational video
Born Aug. 24, 1890, Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku became one of Hawaiʻi’s most celebrated citizens during his lifetime. From winning gold medals for the U.S. Olympic swim team to serving as sheriff of Honolulu, the ever-suave Kahanamoku ended up becoming the Islands’ ambassador of aloha, giving swimming and surfing exhibitions around the world.
This is the third of three blogs about how Oʻahu neighborhoods have changed since the spread of COVID-19. Read what Waikīkī looks like here and Kailua here. It’s a weird feeling, walking through a relatively empty Haleʻiwa. It’s not a bad feeling, but it isn’t right. Being born and raised in the area—I’m from Pūpūkea,
Is there anywhere we’d rather be than in Hawaiʻi during its summer months—June through August? No, definitely not. But complaining is fun and there are definitely some real downsides to being in the Islands during summer, so here is our list of 15 summer problems every Hawaiʻi local would understand. 1. It’s too dang hot.
The Have Aloha Will Travel podcast is back again this week, with Cat and Kevin being joined by a very special guest, artist and designer Nick Kuchar! Nick, who has been an artist for his entire life and made a name for himself in the Islands with his retro-inspired art style, has actually spoken to
Artists across the state are coming together under the banner of “Hawai‘i Arists for Racial Justice” to raise money and awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement, which saw a resurgence in public visibility due to protests ignited last week after the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man from Minneapolis. Proceeds from this
When you put your heart into something, it comes through, whether you want it to or not.” Paul Okami tells me this in KoAloha ‘Ukulele’s showroom in an industrial part of Honolulu as I admire the handcrafted koa instruments hanging on the wall. As I pluck a few strings, I understand what Paul means. There’s
Small businesses can take many forms, from that little acai bowl stand down the street to that corner grocery store that’s got the best Spam musubi—you know the one—as well as a resident artist. And they’re all being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. For Oʻahu-based artist Nick Kuchar, who has made a name for himself
Maybe you canceled your vacation to Oʻahu this year. Or maybe you’re just looking for something cool to do while you’re quarantined at home. ʻIolani Palace, the only official residence of royalty in the U.S., launched free virtual experiences and online educational resources that allow you to tour the palace without leaving your living room.
Due to global spread of COVID-19 that has led to the shutdown of travel to Hawaiʻi, many of our local boutiques and designers have been forced to close—and that’s rough. Fortunately, we all have the power to support them—from leaving our homes. Our sister publication, HONOLULU Magazine, is hosting a special collaborative shopping event, now through
