Kekoa means “warrior” in Hawaiian. And this warrior—an endangered Hawaiian monk seal known as KE18—lived for about a decade at the Long Marine Laboratory at the University of California at Santa Cruz. Now he’s back—and living at Sea Life Park in Waimānalo on Oʻahu. Kekoa, a 9-foot-long male, was removed from the wild years ago […]
There’s nothing quite like driving from Honolulu to the east side of Oʻahu—especially if you’re using the Interstate H-3. Literally cutting through the Koʻolau Range using a series of tunnels and positioning drivers high above the treeline of Haʻikū Valley, the route reaches its crescendo as commuters come out of the tunnel’s eastern exit and
Haʻikū Stairs, aka Stairway to Heaven, is one of the most Instagrammed trails on Oʻahu—even though it’s been closed (read: off-limits) since 1987. (Though you’d never know that from social media!) So Honolulu officials decided it was enough. Yesterday Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said he plans to move forward with removing the controversial stairs, which
History lives all around us—even in our street signs. Yes, those light green indicators of where you are in the city also happen to be named after significant figures, places or people in Hawaiʻi’s history. And in Waikīkī, once home to Hawaiian royalty, there are dozens of street signs all with their own fascinating tales.
Updated, 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, Hawaiʻi recorded its highest single-day COVID-19 count—1,678 new cases—prompting government officials to come up with a plan to slow the spread of the highly contagious virus. So, beginning Sept. 13, anyone who wants to enter a restaurant, gym, bar, movie theater or other Oʻahu business will need to show proof
Driving up to Sweet Land Farm in the sleepy community of Waialua, with shining blue skies overhead, my 4-year-old son was glued to his Kindle. It was the only way I could keep him occupied during the 45-minute drive from our home in Honolulu to the farm, tucked away between a massive, Mainland-owned egg farm
Shave ice, an ice-cold, pillowy-soft sweet treat imported from Japan in the early 20th century and then given Hawaiian-style spins like tropical flavors and a foundation of ice cream, is high on many visitors’ must-eat lists. Pick up a guidebook to the Island of Oʻahu and you’re almost certain to find the most famous shave
For years, Pounders Restaurant, the signature eatery at the Polynesian Cultural Center, was churning out burgers, steaks, sandwiches and pizzas to visitors to the center or on their way to Oʻahu’s North Shore. But a couple of months ago—and almost by chance—chef, cookbook author and “MasterChef” judge Graham Elliot was named the restaurant’s executive chef,
The popular Maunawili Falls Trail, a 2.8-mile trek to a swimming hole in Windward Oʻahu, will be closed for two years starting on July 15. The state is planning major improvements to the trail, which starts in the quiet Maunawili Estate subdivision, which has been inundated with hikers in recent years. Residents have long complained
Lifeguards are working longer hours on Oʻahu beaches—and that’s good news for beachgoers. Beginning on July 11, hours changed to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., extended from from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Right now lifeguard towers at the beach will continue to operate under the old hours; mobile response vehicles will be working the
Halepuna Waikīkī by Halekūlani had only been open a few months before the world changed and locked down. It had just undergone a whole year of transformation from its former self, the Waikiki Parc Hotel, and throughout 2020, went through another round of upgrades to accommodate post-pandemic rules and travelers. Since so few visitors have
Some of the grandest hotels and resorts on Oʻahu are those with only a few hundred rooms. Standing in defiance to the saying, “bigger is better,” these boutique hotels have astounded visitors and locals with their perfectly manicured properties, stylish rooms and distinctive personalities. Below are just five—trust us, there are many more—of the best
