Category: Hawaii Culture & Happenings

There’s just something about the sweet sound of an ukulele that says, “Hawaii.” Maybe it’s the humble strum of the strings. Maybe it’s the simple, but meaningful chords. Maybe it’s the cool voice that usually accompanies the melody. Whatever it is, many people consider ukuleles to be the backbone of Hawaiian music, and, this weekend, […]

Hawaii’s beaches and tropical weather often overshadows its lush, local farms, but, this weekend, the 53rd annual Hawaii State Farm Fair is sure to garner all the attention! The Hawaii Farm Bureau (HFB), State Department of Agriculture, and Hawaii 4-H Livestock Council is sponsoring the event, which will be held at Kualoa Ranch in Kaawa […]

Close your eyes and imagine eating vibrant, delicious mangoes while taking in the sights and sounds of Waikiki. Sound like a sweet experience? It can be yours when you visit the seventh annual Mangoes at the Moana Event at the Moana Surfider, A Westin Resort and Spa. On Saturday, July 18th, mangoes make their return […]

When you land in Hawaii, you can immediately smell the sweet aroma of the islands’ many tropical flowers. It’s one of the many reasons visitors flock here. But, what if I told you the most popular flower in Hawaii right now smells like a dead body?! That’s exactly what’s happening at Foster Botanical Gardens this […]

What if you could “taste” your Hawaii vacation over and over again? Now, you can—thanks to a new company called Hawaii Snack Box. Each month, subscribers receive a treat box filled with five to seven Hawaiian snacks, such as li hing mui, arare, macadamia nuts, likikoi butter and jam, and other hard-to-find specialties. And, they feature […]

Any Hawaii event that attracts thousands of residents and visitors is certain to garner a great deal of media attention, and the annual Lantern Floating Festival that takes places at Ala Moana Beach Park each year is certainly no exception. It’s one of our most hallowed and honored traditions. It’s a Buddhist tradition, but as […]

Commercial micro-brewing and craft-brewing have been established in Hawaii for quite some time now. A handful of breweries and brew pubs have gained a strong foothold here and in other U.S. markets. A handful of brands like Kona Brewing and Maui Brewing have a variety of products, and brew pubs like Brew’d in Honolulu specialize […]

It’s time again for the annual Waikiki Spam Jam, the world famous (and uniquely Hawaii) Kalakaua Avenue street festival that celebrates the curious cured meat and raises funds and collects donations in support of the Hawaii Foodbank in the very heart of Waikiki on Saturday, May 2. Hawaii consumes more cans of Spam per capita […]

One of Hawaii’s most beloved festivals is underway in Hilo on the Big Island. The Merrie Monarch Festival is a hula competition that began in 1964 as an attempt to attract visitors to the Big Island, which was reeling due to the collapse of the sugar industry there. The festival honors King David Kalakaua, who […]

In Hawaii, there are four county governments: the City & County of Honolulu (Oahu), Kauai County, Hawaii County (Big Island), and Maui County (Maui, Molokai, Lanai). Maui County has distinguished itself as somewhat peculiar in one rather particular regard, and that is its Liquor Commission’s policy on dancing in establishments that serve alcohol. Simply put, […]

There are Hawaiian-ized names for the months of the year, similar to their English counterparts but adapted to accommodate a language that has only five vowels and twelve consonants. April is “” in Hawaiian. But the Hawaiian lunar calendar is much more complex, with each of the 28 phases of the moon noted in close […]

If you’re lucky enough to be in in Hawaii over the next few days you have to check out the annual Honolulu Festival.  All of the action begins tomorrow with a Friendship Gala featuring Hawaii’s own Raiatea Helm and ends with an amazing  Grand parade down Kalakaua Avenue. Now in it’s 21st year, The Honolulu […]