Out of the sun but just a few steps from the pool, Earl’s is an oasis of shade, boozy beverages and scrumptious pūpū (appetizers). Its drinks sport tropical colors, from sunset gold to electric blue, and its vibe—from the low-key but classic-looking bar to the inviting lounge furniture and art deco-esque custom kiawe branch sculpture […]
Chef Robynne Mai‘i never imagined she would be nominated for the prestigious James Beard Award, an honor she felt was unattainable for a first-time chef-owner with a small (but very popular) restaurant in faraway Honolulu. “We didn’t conceive Fête and run Fête with the aspiration of winning a James Beard Award,” says Mai‘i, who opened
Jim Little has been in the Hawaiʻi plumeria business for 50 years. Growing and cross-pollinating plumeria—known in Hawaiian as melia—since 1973, as Jim Little Nursery & Farms, Little has produced some of the most vibrant, fragrant and unique plumerias in the world. From ruffled flowers to plumeria in stunning shades of red and yellow, these
Early on a crisp morning I flee rush hour in Honolulu for solitude in the Ko‘olau Mountains. I set out on the Pali Highway, the view through my windshield gradually changing from concrete towers and sprawling neighborhoods to dense forests and rugged mountain ridges. O‘ahu is known as the Gathering Place, where fast urban pursuits
Waking up to a view of Diamond Head from your balcony. Sipping a mai tai under the banyan tree by the ocean. Enjoying a relaxing lomilomi message in the hotel’s world-class spa. That’s the kind of experience you can have at the grand Moana Surfrider, a Westin Resort & Spa, in the heart of Waikīkī.
About a few miles outside of Waikīkī is the charming town of Kaimukī. One of the oldest communities on Oʻahu, Kaimukī (pronounced ky-moo-kee) was once the site of King Kalākaua’s ostrich farm. The first road paved here was Waiʻalae Avenue—still the main thoroughfare—in 1925. It’s now a bustling little town with some of Oʻahu’s best
I’m rolling through ʻEwa on the West Side of Oʻahu, headed for the shore. However, I’m not planning to surf in the ocean, but in the state’s largest wave pool. Spanning over 100 feet wide, the Oʻahu wave pool, Wai Kai Wave is a first for Hawaiʻi. As an avid surfer, I was stoked to
On a cool Saturday morning, 45 volunteers wearing water shoes and hats start a 10-minute trek from Kuli‘ou‘ou Beach Park to Paikō Beach on O‘ahu, nets in hand. The group is on its way to the Paikō Restoration Area to pull out invasive algae with folks from Mālama Maunalua. The nonprofit stewardship organization is committed
The credits roll as the lights come on. I’m seated in the foyer of the Hawai‘i Theatre and I can’t stop staring at the walls. Intricate gold detailing highlights the delicate ornaments and fixtures fixed around the theater screen, which had just finished showing “The Princess Bride.” The viewing had been unlike any movie-watching experience
Most visitors to Oʻahu end up staying in Waikīkī—and for good reason. The beachside neighborhood offers a wide variety of accommodations—from high-end oceanfront resorts to cozy boutique hotels to cheap hostels—and tons of things to do. But if you’re looking to ditch the crowds—and you should!—get in a car (or hop on the city bus)
Açaí and superfood smoothie bowls exploded in popularity thanks to their touted benefits and beautiful presentations. And the craze is still strong. In the Islands, local shops take açaí and smoothie bowls to the next level. Here, you’ll find açaí bases packed with extra superfoods and smoothie bowls topped with Island favorites like poi and
You haven’t been to Oʻahu until you’ve been to Waikīkī, the bustling, beachfront neighborhood on the island’s sunny south shore. It’s a mix of modern resorts and historic landmarks with a perfect view of Lēʻahi (aka Diamond Head). There are high-end shops and dive bars, upscale restaurants and hole-in-the-wall eateries—and you don’t need a rental
