Category: Hawaii Culture & Happenings

Even as a seventh grader, I thought Hawaii’s Plantation Village had made a cool visit. Going back as an adult, and my thoughts about this outdoor museum remain the same. I mean, what’s not to love about history? The museum takes visitors on a journey back to the early 1900s, when the plantation era had […]

Breaking News: Spam now made in teriyaki flavor. LOL. You might have done one of several things after reading that sentence. Squealed with excitement while licking your lips; plotted where to get your next musubi; cringed in disgust or scratched your head at all the fuss. My reaction had been a mixture of hunger and […]

Happy 50th birthday to the Polynesian Cultural Center! More commonly known as PCC, the Mormon-church-owned center attracts thousands of visitors ever year – over 30 million to date. But even more impressive are the thousands of Mormons who traveled to Hawaii in celebration of this week. These include alumni of the nearby Brigham Young University-Hawaii, most […]

Every year, Hawaii celebrates the birthday of its only queen and last reigning monarch with a day of festivities. Song, dance and cultural demonstrations take place on the lawn of Iolani Palace; however, on her 175th birthday, Queen Liliuokalani had been honored with a different kind of gift. A new bronze plaque graces her six-foot-tall […]

Cat lovers visiting Hawaii get to tickle their fancies with a festival of viral cat videos. Dog lovers, on the other hand, get a festival filled with tail wagging and slobbery kisses. The Da Kine Canine Festival happens every year in the heart of Kailua. Dozens of pooch and their owners make their way to […]

While most know Koko Head Crater for its grueling uphill climb, the cinder cone volcano actually holds an important place in Oahu’s history and geography. First off, it is a headland that best defines the southeastern side of the island. The neighboring counterpart of Koko Head, however, seems to overshadow this ancient tuff cone. The […]

Hawaiian storm names represent a unique intersection of culture, science, and tradition. They’re a reminder of the importance of preserving language and heritage, even in the face of something as unpredictable and powerful as a hurricane.

When the Kakaako area of Oahu gets its new boutique shopping area in a few years, what will happen to all the cool murals we see today? Some cool, local art in Kakaako. The industrial part of Honolulu used to be just that: industrial – gray and grimy and unattractive to visitors. Now, it has […]

Oftentimes, the intricate beauty of statues, sculptures and other forms of artwork get overlooked. Either they blend in with their surroundings, or they’re situated in an obscure area. Honolulu, for instance, has a long list of public art works – from stainless steel figures to painted murals. Although I have lived here all my life, […]

​First Break Waikiki, a local boutique located in the Waikiki Sheraton, is popular with the tourists, but locals should check it out, too. Walking through the hotel’s lobby, you can’t help but notice this bright, attractive storefront. Its breezy fashions call out to be tried on and then worn straight out to the beach or […]

It’s been three years since singer-songwriter-surfer Jack Johnson came up with some new tunes. But his fans understand; he’s been busy being a family man, as a husband and father to three little keiki. We always see him cruising with his kids at Rocky Point (on Oahu’s North Shore), so it’s cool that he still […]

While summers may be the most convenient time to visit Hawaii, keep in mind that it’s also a time for hurricanes. Hurricane season is from June to November, but so far, we’ve been lucky. The last major hurricane hit Hawaii in 1992. A Category 4, Hurricane Iniki hit the Hawaiian Islands in 1992. That doesn’t […]