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Hawaii Magazine
Hawaii news, events, places, dining, travel tips & deals, photos | Oahu, Maui, Big Island, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai: The Best of HawaiiCatch-and-Release Fishing Returns to Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden on Oʻahu 15 Apr 2025, 2:00 pm
Situated at the foot of the Koʻolau Mountains on Oʻahu’s Windward Side, Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden spans 400 beautiful acres. Opened in 1982, the garden is the youngest and largest botanical garden owned and operated by the city and county of Honolulu.
The property features six tropical gardens—which are inspired by geographical regions—and it also boasts a reservoir lake, Loko Waimaluhia. The lake is 12 feet at its deepest and covers 32 acres. In the event of flooding, the lake has the capability to expand to 150 acres. The garden was actually designed and built to provide protection for the Kāneʻohe area in the event of major flooding.
Today, the garden lures thousands of visitors every day with its dramatic driveway and serene landscapes.
And for many years, visitors looked forward to the garden’s free fishing program. The activity ended during the pandemic and never restarted.
But beginning May 7, you’ll be able cast a line at Loko Waimaluhia again.
“We are so excited to once again offer this amazing recreation and educational opportunity to our botanical garden visitors,” Honolulu Botanical Garden Director Joshlyn Sand said in a news release.
In addition to facility improvements and staff training, the county’s Department of Parks and Recreation worked with the county’s information technology team to develop a free reservation system for the popular program. This is intended to help manage the hundreds of visitors eager to fish.
Similar to the online reservation system for the county’s campgrounds, fishing reservations will open at 5 p.m. two weeks in advance. If you’re looking to be one of the first to fish at Loko Waimaluhia again on May 7, reservations will open Wednesday, April 23 at 5 p.m.
With a reservation, fishing is permitted at Loko Waimaluhia on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The activity is open and free for all ages. You can bring your own pole (no barbed hooks or live bait), but if you need, you can also rent a pole for free from the botanical garden.
If you miss the chance to make a reservation, walk-ins are also welcomed. However, to ensure a spot, booking in advance is highly recommended.
“From helping launch the online reservation system, to making physical access to the lake easier, and getting our staff ready for the curious keiki and their ʻohana, there were a lot of improvements and upgrades that went into this reopening,” Sand said. “A big mahalo also to the garden visitors who patiently waited to once again enjoy catch-and-release fishing. We can’t wait to see the memories created through fishing at our beautiful, picturesque lake.”
To make free reservations, visit bit.ly/HoomaluhiaFishing.
15 Hawaiʻi Restaurants and Bars to Visit for Unforgettable Experiences 14 Apr 2025, 2:00 pm
If you’re like us, you love to eat—and you don’t always put a price tag on that experience. So we put together some of the most splurge-worthy dining experiences you can have in the Islands, from a candlelight dinner in a treehouse to breakfast on the rim of an active volcano. Every spot is Instagram perfect—and the food is incredible, too.
Food Splurges
The Treehouse at Hotel Wailea, Maui
The seven-course dinner in The Treehouse is customized for each guest.
Photo: Courtesy Hotel Wailea
Imagine dining under a canopy of mango and avocado trees in a real-life treehouse with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. This ultra-exclusive experience is offered at the adults-only Hotel Wailea on Maui—and it’s one of the most sought-after reservations on the island. While there’s no set menu, you can customize the private, seven-course dinner with the hotel chef who curates each dish to your preferences and prepares them tableside. You also have access to the hotel’s private wine cellar with expert pairings for each course. It’s pricey—$1,400 per couple (up to six guests) and another $250 per person for wine pairings—but the experience is priceless.
hotelwailea.com/dining/the-treehouse
The Rim at Volcano House, Hawaiʻi Island
The view from The Rim at Volcano House.
Photo: Janice Wei
In 2022 Kīlauea resumed erupting after a four-month pause, and I quickly booked tickets to Hilo for me, the husband and our then-5-year-old son. It’s not every day you can see an erupting volcano, and I wanted to take full advantage of our proximity to it. We basked in the orange glow of lava from our vantage point at Keanakāko‘i; the view was great and we didn’t have to trek for miles to get it. The Rim at the historic Volcano House is perched above Halema‘uma‘u Crater, where we dined on lobster crabcake, seared Kona kampachi and a 14-ounce Hawai‘i-raised rib-eye with wild Hāmākua mushrooms—all while gawking at the glow from the lava in the crater right outside. The building, which dates back to 1941 and has only 33 guest rooms, is built directly on the volcano within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Kīlauea started erupting again on Sept. 15, 2024, in an area where you can’t view it—right now, anyway. If it continues to erupt, you now know where to book the best seats on the island.
Naʻau, Hawaiʻi Island
Hawaiian kampachi sashimi
Photo: Andrew Richard Hara
ʻŌpae, Kūpeʻe, ʻŌhelo berries. These are not your typical ingredients—even in the Islands. But you’ll see them on the menu at Na‘au, a dining concept by local chef Brian Hirata. Only a handful of seats are available each week at Na‘au’s pop-up dinners on Fridays and Saturdays at the secluded Whitehaven Farm in Pepe‘ekeo. On white cloth-covered tables on the farm’s lānai, you’ll be treated to dishes composed of what Hirata has carefully and responsibly fished, foraged, hunted and prepared himself, like ‘ahi swim bladder (a fish organ delicacy) with chili crisp and lemon; slippery Jack mushroom risotto with gouda from Hawai‘i Island Goat Dairy; and Big Island beef lū‘au with stewed kalo (taro) leaves, locally sourced bread and nori butter. Take it from a former culinary instructor: This meal not only connects us to Hawai‘i’s cultural roots and food traditions, it’s also the only way to access Hirata’s profound knowledge about cooking and eating in
the Islands.
Welina Terrace, Kauaʻi
Welina Terrace at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay boasts panoramic views and a small-but-robust menu with upscale bites.
Photo: Mikkel Vang
There’s no better place to sip cocktails at sunset than Welina Terrace. Perched on the cliffs overlooking Hanalei Bay, this spacious lānai at the luxe 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay boasts panoramic views and a small-but-robust menu with upscale bites like truffle hamachi rolls, wagyu tataki and Brussels sprouts topped with yuzu-miso dressing. Best to dine on Thursdays, Fridays or Saturdays, when local bands play from 6 to 9 p.m. And make sure to nab a table on the lānai, so you can enjoy the breathtaking views of Mount Makana and Hanalei Bay.
1hotels.com/hanalei-bay/taste/welina-terrace
Sushi Sho, O‘ahu
Sushi Sho’s innovative poke done three ways, with onaga, ‘ahi and Alaska salmon.
Photo: Courtesy The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikīkī Beach
Like a Speakeasy, you’ll find Sushi Sho—one of Honolulu’s most acclaimed sushi bars—behind an unassuming door at the far end of a (separately owned) restaurant on the seventh floor of the Ritz-Carlton Residences in Waikīkī. Inside, across a dark room, a spotlight illuminates a man wielding a samurai-sized sushi knife one minute, and sculpting warm rice and glistening fish into bite-sized nigiri the next. In front of a glimmering gold backdrop, master sushi chef Keiji Nakazawa presents a 27-course omakase (dishes selected by the chef) menu. Key to everything is his respect for both Hawaiian culture and 200-year-old sushi traditions, such as curing, pickling and aging fish as compared to serving it raw. For his lau lau (a traditional Hawaiian dish), instead of pork he steams Copper River salmon and local opah cheek, wrapped in taro leaves and serves it with a tosazu gelée made with ‘ahi dashi vinegar and yuzu kosho (salted yuzu peel and chile paste). Sake pairings, chosen by Nakazawa, are available to add to your meal. Reservations for the 10-seat sushi bar are coveted, but diners can now make them online.
ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/hnlrr-the-ritz-carlton-residences-waikiki-beach/dining, @sushishohawaii
Kanemitsu Bakery, Moloka‘i
Get your hot bread filled with strawberry cream cheese, mango cream or ube cheesecake.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
When I was a kid, my family booked a weekend stay on Moloka‘i. The only memory I have from the trip was our middle-of-the-night visit to Kanemitsu Bakery in Kaunakakai. We walked down a dark alley and knocked on a wooden door. Someone came out, took our order and returned with the softest, warmest bread I have ever eaten, filled with generous slabs of butter, sugar and cream cheese. I was in heaven. The bakery still sells its hot bread out of the alley at night—there’s a window now with a handwritten menu—though you can also buy the pillowy loaves from the restaurant during regular business hours. And you can’t beat its fresh-out-of-the-oven loaves, split in half and slathered in your choice of fillings, including cream cheese, fruit jams, ube and cinnamon. Go early; the bakery does sell out.
Bar Leather Apron, O‘ahu
Co-owner and acclaimed bartender Justin Park uses kiawe wood to add a smoky element to some of his cocktails.
Photo: Courtesy Bar Leather Apron
Bar Leather Apron, owned by internationally acclaimed bartender Justin Park and local entrepreneur Tom Park—no relation—is the 2023 James Beard Award winner for Outstanding Bar—and for good reason. It’s inside a generic office building, where you’ll find glossy wood surfaces, burgundy walls and amber candlelight. Reserve an intimate table or a seat at the bar to watch expert bartenders in white-collared shirts, ties and leather aprons mixing handcrafted cocktails garnished with house-dried fruit twisted into flowers or arriving inside tall glass cloches enveloped with white oak or kiawe smoke. Service is impeccable, ice cubes in every shape and size are carved by hand and the number of whiskeys alone reach roughly 500, with exclusive single barrels handpicked by Justin Park. Fittingly, the E Ho‘o Pau Mai Tai on the menu was awarded world’s best mai tai three times.
barleatherapron.com, @barleatherapron
House Without a Key, O‘ahu
Sunset at House Without a Key is an unforgettable experience.
Photo: Courtesy of Halekūlani
If you’ve never had a mai tai at House Without a Key at sunset, live Hawaiian music wafting in the air, you’ve never experienced the magic of Waikīkī. Sunset at this outdoor restaurant at the posh Halekūlani—and at the new poolside bar, Earl’s—is an unforgettable experience. Not only is the signature mai tai superb, but the nightly live performances, including hula by 1973 Miss Hawai‘i Kanoe Miller, create the perfect ambience to relax as you watch the sun dip into the sea. The Sunset Cocktail Bites menu features a variety of local-style nosh, from a trio of poke to hoisin-and-honey-glazed ribs topped with coconut syrup. For dessert, indulge in a slice of the hotel’s signature coconut cake. And if you’re an Ernest Hemingway fan, the hotel recently reinstated Table 97, the acclaimed American novelist’s favorite seat, right near the ocean with views of Lē‘ahi (aka Diamond Head).
halekulani.com/dining/house-without-a-key
Eat in a James Beard Award-Winning Restaurant
From fine dining and signature dishes to humble saimin and a go-to spot for Hawaiian food, your options abound.
Fête, O‘ahu
It’s all in the name. Fête, or celebration in French, is where you go in Honolulu when you want to be festive, feel taken care of and enjoy all of the elements of a fine dining experience in a casual, fun and unpretentious setting. Last year chef and co-owner Robynne Maii was the first Native Hawaiian woman to win a James Beard Award—and the first Hawai‘i winner in 19 years. Her menu showcases local ingredients and flavors, from a twice-fried J. Ludovico Farm chicken to crispy shrimp grown at Kualoa Ranch on O‘ahu.
Roy’s Hawai‘i, O‘ahu, Maui, Hawai‘i Island
Macadamia nut-crusted mahimahi, blackened ‘ahi, misoyaki butterfish—these are some of chef Roy Yamaguchi’s signature dishes. As one of the founders of the Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine movement, he highlights locally sourced ingredients with Asian and local flavors.
Hamura Saimin Stand, Kaua‘i
Saimin, which combines various cuisines from the plantation era, is the classic ramenlike soup born in Hawai‘i. It is a simple bowl of broth made with chicken, pork, dashi and dried shrimp with noodles, scallion, fish cake, char siu (pork) and hard-cooked egg. And Hamura Saimin on Kaua‘i does it right. Locals love this institution for its nostalgic flavors, affordable prices and cozy wraparound counter.
Helena’s Hawaiian Food, O‘ahu
No trip to O‘ahu is complete without a meal at Helena’s. A pillar of the community, Helena’s is beloved for its Hawaiian staples, such as pipi kaula (short ribs), squid lū‘au (stewed taro leaves) and fried butterfish collars. Located in the heart of Kalihi, this should be on every foodie’s radar.
helenashawaiianfood.com, @helenashawaiianfood
Shhh! It’s a Speakeasy
The charm of these ill-kept secrets lie beyond their elusive entry points.
Wild Orange, O‘ahu
Walk down a dark hallway and pop a nickel into the Aloha Maid vending machine to access one of Honolulu’s hippest speakeasies. Once inside, you can sit underneath a tangerine tree amid slot machine-covered walls and manga-lined bar tops while enjoying inventive craft cocktails and vegan bar snacks. Sign the wall while you’re there and don’t forget to keep some change in your pocket if you need to sneak out for a smoke break.
Green Lady Cocktail Room, O‘ahu
Transport yourself back to the Roaring ’20s, when absinthe drips were all the rage. But don’t skip on the cocktails crafted by some of O‘ahu’s most talented mixologists. Riffs on mint juleps and Singapore slings are just the beginning. To find this hidden gem in Waikīkī, ask the front desk at the White Sands Hotel to point you toward Room 8.
greenladycocktailroom.com, @greenladycocktailroom
Yours Truly, O‘ahu
After the U.S. annexed Hawai‘i in 1898, the Postal Service sent a cease and desist letter to a below-street level print shop in Downtown Honolulu that produced postcards depicting hula dancers in “exotic Hawai‘i.” The owner continued illegally. Yours Truly—a prohibition era cocktail bar with a secret located in the former illegal print shop—pays homage to a time when Hawai‘i tourism began to boom and rebellion soared.
yourstrulyhawaii.com, @yourstrulyhnl
This story was originally published in our Fall 2024 issue, which you can buy here. Better yet, subscribe and get HAWAIʻI Magazine delivered to right to your mailbox.
The Ultimate Weekend on Oʻahu for Families 10 Apr 2025, 2:00 pm
Known as the Gathering Place, Oʻahu boasts enough gorgeous beaches, picturesque hiking trails, award-winning restaurants and world-class museums to please everyone in your ʻohana. But with all of its thrilling activities, it’s difficult to narrow down what to do in a single weekend.
Here’s what it takes to create an exciting weekend on Oʻahu with your family.
Where to Stay:
Located about 27 miles west of Waikīkī in Ko ʻOlina, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, is a popular choice among families for a weekend getaway. Here, you’ll feel the essence of Disney, from waffles and shave ice shaped like Mickey Mouse to ʻukulele versions of classic Disney songs. Plus, with three sprawling swimming pools, epic waterslides and multiple restaurants, you don’t even have to be a Disney fan to enjoy your stay.
If you’re looking to stay closer to town, Hilton Hawaiian Village sits on 22 acres in Waikīkī and boasts five pools and a waterslide—a rare find in this area. And with its convenient location, you’re never too far from the exciting activities of Hawai‘i’s visitor hub.
Friday Night
Watch a Fireworks Show
Hilton Hawaiian Village hosts a fireworks show every Friday evening—and it’s become a Waikīkī tradition.
Photo: Getty Images/Naomi Rahim
Since 1988, Hilton Hawaiian Village has hosted a fireworks show every Friday evening—and by now it’s become a Waikīkī tradition. If you’re staying at the resort, there’s a few ways to watch the show. You can book an oceanfront stay in the Rainbow Tower for a front-row seat without having to leave your room. You can also watch the show from Bali Oceanfront, the resort’s signature restaurant, or attend the resort’s lūʻau on the Great Lawn and watch the sun go down from there. But no matter where you stay in Waikīkī, you can find a sandy spot on the beach to watch the fireworks lighting up the night sky.
READ MORE: The Best Places to Watch the Friday Fireworks Show in Waikīkī
Saturday Morning
Grab Breakfast at Eggs ‘n Things
Whether you’re a traditionalist or love a sweet treat in the morning, Eggs ‘n Things has your family covered for breakfast. Here, you can fuel up on satisfying omelets and hearty breakfast burritos as well as mochi waffles and French toast made with Hawaiian sweet bread. Kids also have plenty to choose from: Keiki menu options range from fried rice and loco mocos to pancakes. You can visit Eggs ‘n Things in Waikīkī, Ko ʻOlina and Ala Moana.
Hit the Beach and Learn to Surf
Known as the birthplace of surfing, Waikīkī is a great place to learn to surf.
Photo: Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA)/Ben Ono
With typically calm conditions throughout the year, lifeguards on watch and shops right across the street, Waikīkī Beach is a great spot to set up camp for the morning.
Known as the birthplace of surfing, it’s also a fitting place to learn to surf, with plenty of surf instructors to choose from. If you’ve never set foot on a surfboard, you might want to check out professional surfer and Oʻahu local Jamie O’Brien, who recently opened his School of Surf, which introduces beginners to the sport. Or you can catch waves with the whole family, in a canoe. Waikīkī Beach Services has been offering canoe surfing rides since 1955.
Saturday Afternoon
For Lunch, Make it a Picnic
Musubi is a popular lunch for local kids and a great meal to take to the beach or a park.
Photo: Grace Maeda
Musubi is a staple lunch for local kids and the easy meal takes some stress off of parents. Musubi Café Iyasume has three convenient locations in Waikīkī. You can pick up musubi to enjoy at the beach or set up a picnic at nearby Kapiʻolani Park.
Learn How Chocolate is Made
This charming family-run farm offers guided tours to teach guests how cacao is cultivated.
Photo: Alexander Deedy
Photo: Alexander Deedy
After a morning in Waikīki, venture to Oʻahu’s Windward Side to learn how chocolate goes from bean to bar at 21 Degrees Estate. The charming family-run farm offers guided tours to teach guests how cacao is cultivated. With chocolate and honey tastings, it’s a sweet activity for kids.
47-546 D Māpele Place, Kāneʻohe, 21degreesestate.com
READ MORE: Visit This Charming Cacao Farm in Windward Oʻahu
Saturday Evening
Feast at a Lūʻau
Aulani, A Disney Resort, hosts an exciting lūʻau that’s entertaining for kids and adults. Prior to dining, kids can participate in cultural activities including kapa printing, poi pounding and bracelet making. For dinner, guests can feast on all the lūʻau favorites like kālua pig, poi and haupia. Then just sit back and enjoy the show. The enchanting production features fascinating legends about the area and ancient Hawaiʻi.
92-1185 Aliʻinui Drive, Kapolei, disneyaulani.com/activities/luau
Saturday Morning
Get Lost in a Pineapple Maze
Dole Plantation’s pineapple garden maze stretches 3 acres with nearly 2.5 miles of walking paths.
Photo: Courtesy of Dole Plantation
Dole Plantation’s pineapple garden maze is one of the few permanent botanical mazes in the U.S. and one of the largest in the world. (It was declared the world’s largest maze in 2008 but no longer holds the title.) The labyrinth of tropical flora stretches 3 acres with nearly 2.5 miles of walking paths. After navigating your way out of the maze, reward yourself with a refreshing Dole Soft Serve.
While you’re at Dole Plantation, you can also hop on the Pineapple Express Train Tour or take the Plantation Garden Tour to learn about the history of pineapple in the Islands.
64-1550 Kamehameha Highway, Wahiawā, doleplantation.com
Rodeo Competitions Preserve Big Island’s Unique Paniolo Cowboy Culture 9 Apr 2025, 2:00 pm
*This story was originally published on Feb. 13, 2018.
The steel gate kicks open and a calf darts from the roping chute into the open arena. It barely gains a 10-foot lead before 30-year-old Kalai Nobriga is after it on his champagne-colored horse, his lasso whirling over his head.
In what looks like a single fluid motion, he releases and lands the lasso, skids his horse to a stop while stepping from it, and runs the length of the rope until he gets his arms around the calf. He lifts it, turns it on its side and drives it to the dirt. Pinning it with his knee, he collects its legs and, in a flash, knots them together with a piggin’ string.
It all happens in 10 seconds.
Photo: Megan Spelman
Tie-down roping, or calf roping, is Nobriga’s favorite rodeo event. He likes how a quick time depends on so many variables coming together perfectly.
“It’s a team sport,” he says. We’re sitting at a weathered picnic table a few yards from the rodeo arena on the South Kona ranch his family has had for generations. “I can’t be that fast if that horse isn’t working for me. And he can screw me,” he says, snapping his fingers. “Just like that.”
Kealakekua Bay is just 5 miles south of the shady spot where we sit. That infamous bay where Capt. James Cook’s life came to a violent end in 1779 is also where fellow British explorer George Vancouver offloaded the first pipi (cattle) to Hawaii 14 years later, gifting Kamehameha I five California longhorn heifers and a bull.
In turn, Kamehameha enacted a kapu (ban) that made killing the animals a crime punishable by death. It took 20 years for the kapu to be lifted, long after the destructive pipi ahiu (wild cattle) population had exploded, but just long enough for the economic potential in hunting and beef production to become clear.
Nobriga began roping from horses when he was 8 years old, but had rodeoed in kids’ events since he was 5. He competed all four years in the National High School Rodeo Finals, a weeklong event on the continental U.S. that annually draws the 1,500 top competitors from the U.S., Canada and Australia.
“When I graduated from high school, I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. But people were calling me to ride (train) their horses.”
He started his own company, Kalai Nobriga Performance Horses, and now trains and sells horses by profession. When he’s not training horses, he’s training the next generation of cowboys and cowgirls, from keiki contenders to high school hot shots. But he reminds me that he never stopped competing after high school.
When I ask him about his goals for 2018, he tells me he recently purchased his Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association permit and just did his first few PRCA-sanctioned events.
“I’m in the California circuit, so I at least want to make it to their finals, and try to make the National Finals Rodeo top 15 in any of the events,” he says. The NFR is the Super Bowl of rodeo, the big time. “I’m hoping 2018 is a good year.”
Nobriga’s year begins at the Panaʻewa Rodeo Stampede, where he’s a six-time All-Around Cowboy winner. Held in Hilo each Presidents Day weekend for the past 26 years, the event has a reputation for being the most fun and spectator-friendly rodeo in the state, closer in style and energy to the professional rodeos on the continental U.S. Thousands turn out to the Panaʻewa district of Hilo each year for three days of festivities, which is a far cry from the early days when the only ones who showed up were the cowboys. All they wanted to do was rodeo, and they were going to do it whether or not anyone watched them.
Photo: Megan Spelman
Event organizer Nancy Cabral remembers how the Panaʻewa Rodeo Stampede turned a corner a few years ago when she and her husband, “Big” Al Nobriga, brought in a professional announcer and a star rodeo clown: Buster Barton and JJ Harrison. In the rodeo world, having a professional announcer and a clown can be the difference between an afternoon of friendly competition and an entertaining show.
“Bringing them down really made the event the place to be on Presidents Day weekend,” Cabral says. “The clown and the announcer come with these skits and jokes. Now that they’ve been coming for a few years they know all the cowboys and they like to tease them. It’s a really good time.”
In 1832, Kamehameha III invited Mexican vaqueros, expert horsemen with lots of cattle experience, to the Islands to teach their trade to the Hawaiian cattle hunters. The term paniolo (cowboy) is a Hawaiianized pronunciation of the word español, or Spaniard. These paniolo taught the Hawaiians to ride and rope, and passed on their herding and livestock traditions.
“We have two events—the poʻo waiu and double mugging—that are done nowhere else in the world,” Cabral says. “These events are unique to Hawaii because of our terrain and our history.”
Influenced by vaquero ranching methods, paniolo developed the poo waiu technique to catch pipi ahiu roaming through densely forested terrain. The animal was lassoed and tied to a tree, often a Y-shaped section of a tree called an amana. It was left overnight and retrieved in the morning after it had exhausted itself. It was then led back to a central corral. Present day rodeos re-create the amana by placing a large Y-shaped post at the center of the arena that competitors must use to lash their roped steer.
In double mugging, two paniolo work as a team—a roper on horseback and a mugger, or wrestler, on foot. The mounted paniolo ropes the steer while the grounded paniolo wrestles it. Together, they put the animal down on its side and one of them lashes three of the steer’s legs together with piggin’ string.
“A rodeo is a re-enactment of life in the field,” says author and former Parker Ranch veterinarian Dr. Billy Bergin, who’s written several books on the paniolo. “You see guys like Kalai developing and perfecting these ranching techniques. For many competitors whose ancestors were paniolo, rodeo competition brings history forward and is a constant re-enactment of what their great-grandparents did as their vocation.”
In this light, events like the Panaʻewa Rodeo Stampede are just as much about preserving Hawaiʻi’s unique paniolo heritage as they are about competition and entertainment.
“If rodeos like ours can’t convert those techniques of poo waiu and double mugging from being a vocation to being a sport, we totally lose our paniolo history,” Cabral says. “I mean, think about what a huge part of our whole island culture hula has become. It was almost extinct, right? And if it weren’t literally for Dottie Thompson (credited with revitalizing hula through competition at the Merrie Monarch Festival), it might only exist in a museum.”
Nobriga recognizes the cultural significance in preserving these paniolo methods, though he’s more interested in talking about competition. Before I leave the ranch, Nobriga wants to make sure I mention his students, some of whom are now competing at the college level and doing well. He swells with pride when he presents his vision of a not-too-distant future, when the NFR grand entry is filled with riders carrying the Hawaiian flag, an unspoken statement of Hawaiʻi’s paniolo heritage.
Panaʻewa Rodeo Stampede
February 16-18, 2019. $8 presale, $10 at the gate, free for children (12 and under), 800 Stainback Hwy., Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island, (808)937-1004, hawaiirodeostampede.com.
5 Must-See Oʻahu Historic Sites You Haven’t Been To Yet 8 Apr 2025, 2:00 pm
*This story was originally published on Dec. 5, 2013.
It’s not uncommon to walk right past an important archaeological site on Oʻahu and not even know it.
It happens all the time in Waikīkī.
Right outside of a police substation on Kalākaua Avenue, near the beachside statue of Hawaiʻi Olympian Duke Kahanamoku, stands a cluster of rocks. Most people walk right past the four stones, surrounded by a metal fence. Actually healing stones, the pōhaku (sacred stones) are a part of Hawaiian history and culture.
The legend of the pōhaku tells of four healers—Kapaemahu, Kapuni, Kinohi and Kahaloa—who arrived from Tahiti, settled in Waikīkī and became renowned throughout Oʻahu. Eventually planning their return to Tahiti, the healers wanted their presence and power to remain on Oʻahu in a tangible form. So they placed their healing powers—or mana—in each of these stones to be used by the Hawaiian people in their absence.
The stones were lost for decades and later found after the demolition of a bowling alley in 1958. (They were used in the building’s foundation.) The stones were relocated to Waikīkī’s Kūhiō Beach in 1963, then moved in 1980 to where they remain today.
Inaccruately called “wizarding stones,” this important archaeological site is now called Na Pōhaku Ola Kapaemahu a Kapuni.
Travel around Oʻahu and you’ll find even more culturally and historically significant sites. Some are more accessible than others, but all are worth visiting.
Here are five to get you started:
Ulupo Heiau State Historic Site
Ulupō Heiau State Monument in Kailua on Oʻahu.
Photo: Getty Images/BackyardProduction
You wouldn’t expect to find a heiau (a Hawaiian temple) right behind a YMCA. But that’s exactly where you’ll find Ulupō Heiau, the second-largest such temple on Oʻahu.
The structure, located in the Windward Oʻahu town of Kailua, measures 140 feet by 180 feet with walls up to 30 feet in height. Built on the eastern edge of protected Kawai Nui Marsh, another site important to the Hawaiian culture, Ulupō Heiau may be more than 400 years old.
According to legend, the heiau was built by menehune (a legendary race of little people in the Islands). Oahu chiefs such as Kakuhihewa and Kualiʻi participated in ceremonies at this sacred site, later abandoned in the 1780s when O‘ahu was conquered by Kamehameha the Great. The structure’s origins may have been as an agricultural heiau, with springs feeding crops of taro, sweet potato and banana. Kualiʻi, however, may have converted it in his time to a heiau luakini (sacrificial temple), with an altar, an oracle tower and wooden images.
Heʻeia Fishpond
Heʻeia Fishpond on Windward Oʻahu.
Photo: Courtesy of Loko Ea
A short drive north on the Windward Oahu coast from Ulupō Heiau is another historic site that anyone can visit, tour and, on certain days in the summer, fish.
One of Oʻahu’s most historic Hawaiian fishponds, He‘eia Fishpond hosts community fishing events over several days each summer, where people can cast their fishing rods into the 800-year-old fishpond, currently under restoration.
A source of food for ancient Hawaiians who lived in this area, the walled fishpond encloses 88 acres of brackish water. It is built on a fringing reef extending from the shoreline into Kāneʻohe Bay. The ocean-facing wall of the fishpond is 1.3 miles long, forming a circle around it.
The nonprofit Paepae O Heʻeia cares for, protects and is in the midst of restoring this natural resource. The organization offers two types of fishpond tours: a one-hour guided walking tour and three-hour field trips for larger group. The three-hour trips include a service project working in the fishpond.
Kūkaʻōʻō Heiau
Mānoa Heritage Center stewards Kūka‘ō‘ō Heiau, the only intact and restored heiau (ancient temple) in the greater ahupuaʻa (land division) of Waikīkī.
Photo: David Croxford
Located in the backyard of one of Oʻahu’s most prominent homes, Kūkaʻōʻō Heiau in urban Honolulu’s Mānoa Valley is an ancient agricultural temple believed built hundreds of years ago by the valley’s earliest Hawaiian residents.
Restored in 1933, the heiau neighbors a Tudor revival style residence built in 1911 and also considered a historic site.
The nonprofit Mānoa Heritage Center, which is housed on the property, offers one-hour guided tours of the historic home and this heiau.
Puʻu O Mahuka Heiau
Puʻu O Mahuka Heiau on Oʻahu.
Photo: Davidr.808, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
O‘ahu’s largest heiau is Puʻu O Mahuka Heiau, overlooking O‘ahu’s North Shore.
Perched on the Pūpūkea cliffs above Waimea Valley and Bay, and believed to be more than 400 year sold, the heiau is comprised of three adjoining walled enclosures covering nearly two acres. The temple was once an important element of the social, political and religious systems of the valley’s earliest Hawaiian residents.
Down below, Waimea Valley itself claims 78 archaeologically significant sites, including religious temples, fishing shrines, fishponds and house sites.
Kūkaniloko Birthstone State Monument
Kūkaniloko Birthstones State Monument on Oʻahu.
Photo: Getty Images/okimo
Kūkaniloko Birthstone State Monument is located on a 5-acre field in the central Oʻahu’s upland Wahiawā town, considered the piko (Hawaiian for “belly button”) of the island. The roughly 180 lava-rock stones of the monument, once used as a royal birthsite, are believed to possess the power to ease the labor pains of childbirth. It is also estimated to be more than 900 years-old.
Tips for Visiting Hawaiʻi Archeological Sites:
Hawai‘i’s archeological sites are fragile and subject to damage and collapse. Pay proper respect these historic and cultural places by following these tips.
• Learn some history before you go. Doing some research on the culture and history of these sites before you visit is always a good idea. Many of the sites lack interpretative signs or brochures, so learning a bit about their importance will give you a great appreciation for and deeper connection to the site.
• Be quiet. Being respectful of these sites—many of them sacred to Hawaiians—is important. Sometimes, that means taking in everything you see in silence.
• Visit from the outside. This is particularly true for places with rock walls. Don’t climb on the walls or over them as the stacked rocks may be unstable and collapse.
• Don’t take anything. It’s unlawful to take, excavate, destroy or alter any historic site on state land. Any person who violates this law is subject to a fine of $10,000.
• Don’t leave anything. It’s not appropriate to leave offerings at these historic and cultural sites. No rocks wrapped in ti leaves. No incense. No bottles of alcohol. This is not appropriate.
For A Good Time, Dial 855-Aloha 7 Apr 2025, 2:00 pm
“Ichi…ni…san…sake bomb!”
The chant from a young man a table over is followed by a thundering response from his eight friends, who pound on the table and yell back, “Sake bomb!” Shots of sake suspended by chopsticks over half-full glasses of beer shake, then drop into the suds as the 18 sticks that held them up spill onto the table. A server records them chugging their drinks with an iPhone. And everyone cheers.
855-Aloha, the newest of three restaurants that Table One Hospitality opened in Honolulu in 2024, is on the ground floor of Romer House Waikīkī—the island’s first adults-only hotel. It captures the spirit of a Japanese izakaya, a casual Japanese bar where drinks flow and people eat from shareable small plates in a refined, luxurious setting. Here, the sake bombs, or “shake (pronounced “shock-ay,”) bombs”—a reference to the shaka—are just the beginning. With a beverage program curated by beverage director Phil Collins that includes 10 craft cocktails, highballs, beer (both local and Japanese), wine and sake (selected by master of sake Stuart Morris), you could drink here all night.
The sake bombs or “shake (pronounced “shock-ay,”) bombs” are a reference to the shaka.
Photo: Craig Bixel
My boyfriend and I sit amid hues of blue in a curvy, well-cushioned corner booth that enables us to watch the action in the dining room while still enjoying an intimate date night. Just the menu alone is entertaining. The cover features the same royal blue panel with white hibiscus flowers you find on the sides of phone booths throughout Hawai‘i. There are telephone references galore, such as the *69, the evening’s cocktail special, and the Party Line, a platter of build-your-own sushi hand-rolls. These landline terms take me back to the early ’90s, and 855-Aloha’s live DJ keeps me there, spinning hits such as “Can We Talk” by Tevin Campbell and “Come & Talk To Me” by Jodeci. (Almost all of the songs have talking or telephone references.) Everything, from the art and photography on the walls to the chefs’ coats that read, “Call me,” pay homage to pay phones.
I start with the Who You Gonna Call cocktail, a citrusy Suntory Whisky Toki cocktail finished with salted coconut-macadamia nut foam, and follow it up with the Kiss Me Through the Phone, a matcha-flavored Awayuki white strawberry gin sour served in a ceremonial-style matcha bowl. Both pair well with chef and partner Shotaro “Sho” Kamio and executive chef Daniel No’s extensive menu of thoughtfully prepared Japanese comfort food.
Kamio’s time leading top Bay Area kitchens such as Ozumo and Yoshi’s in San Francisco and Iyasare in Berkeley, and No’s experience working in Michelin-starred Eleven Madison Park in Manhattan, shows in their cooking, both in technique and intent.
Some of the restaurant‘s popular dishes include the kara ebi, 855 kaarage, tsukene with egg yolk teriyaki and Sho Me the Wagyu.
Photo: Craig Bixel
The 855-Kara-age, or karaage chicken, humble bar fare in other places, is lightly battered and flash fried at a high temperature until crisp but not greasy and dusted with aonori (dried green seaweed). The crunchy umami bombs are transformed by a lemon wedge dipped in shichimi togarashi (Japanese spice mix) and squeezed onto the chicken for seasoning.
The menu is a hybrid, embracing traditional izakaya fare that Kamio grew up with in the countryside of Sendai, Japan. There’s the tsukune (a chicken, pork and beef sausage on a skewer) served with julienned shiso leaf and teriyaki dipping sauce with a bright orange egg yolk floating in the center; mapo yakko—chilled silken tofu smothered in a sansho pepper seasoned pork and shiitake mushroom ragu, simmered in agedashi and oozing chile oil; and the gyutan (beef tongue) caramelized on a sizzling platter tableside. Bun-bun hiyashi chuka—chilled ramen with crunchy vegetables in a goma (sesame) vinaigrette—is Kamio’s mother’s recipe, the yakisoba was his after-school snack growing up and the Sendai Motsu Ni “Chef’s Meal”—a stew made with a variety of beef cuts (including intestines), chicken offal and konjac (a Japanese root vegetable) in a sake-spiked miso broth—is the childhood dish he would eat as his last dying meal.
The What’s Your Math cocktail.
Photo: Brooke Fitts
There are also desserts—unexpected in an izakaya setting. Since they’re usually an afterthought in a traditional izakaya, I was thrilled to find kinako flavored panna cotta with Japanese pear butter and puffed rice—more like a custard than a jiggly gelatin, and the chocolate namelaka (“creamy” in Japanese), which is like a light and silky ganache. The sesame seed tuile adds crunch, while the tahini caramel offsets the richness of the dark chocolate with sweetness and a touch of salt. With the inclusion of POG (passion fruit, orange, guava) shave ice as the third dessert, and all of the local references scattered throughout the menu, the chefs have clearly done their homework.
Fittingly, the evening ends when my server drops a wooden checkbook designed to look like a phone book at my table. I’m already planning my return visit. Once 855-Aloha hits the coconut wireless, reservations are bound to fill up fast.
Open nightly from 5 to 10 p.m., 415 Nāhua St., Waikīkī, (808) 795-8012, izakaya855aloha.com
This story was originally published in our Fall 2024 issue, which you can buy here. Better yet, subscribe and get HAWAIʻI Magazine delivered to right to your mailbox.
A Different Kind of Vacation Awaits at Kauaʻi’s Historic Resort 6 Apr 2025, 2:00 pm
For more than 40 years, Waimea Plantation Cottages has offered guests an authentic Hawaiʻi experience. Nestled on 43 acres of tropical beauty, the resort features 59 one- to five-bedroom cottages, originally built between the 1880s and 1930s. These historic homes are spread across lush green lawns and surrounded by tropical trees and plants, giving guests plenty of space to unwind. The resort sits along a 2-mile-long black-sand beach and each of its cottages is equipped with a kitchen and private lānai. Imagine falling asleep to the sound of the waves and waking up to a birdsong serenade.
Every cottage holds a unique story, and many bear nameplates commemorating the families that once called them home. The history of Waimea Plantation Cottages is rich and distinct from other Kauaʻi hotels. You can learn more about the resort’s fascinating past here.
Preserving the Past Since 1984
At Waimea Plantation Cottages, the oceanfront pool is just steps away from the beach.
Through the years, the property has been improved to enhance comfort while maintaining the authentic charm of the cottages. Dirt roads have been paved, every cottage features air conditioning, and an oceanfront pool is steps away from the beach. Even with recent property upgrades, the simplicity of the original plantation homes has been preserved, allowing guests a glimpse into Hawaiʻi’s humble beginnings.
Design Your Vacation the Way You Like It
Whether you want to hike Waimea Canyon or take a boat tour along the Nāpali Coast,
create the perfect home base at Waimea Plantation Cottages.
Whether you want to spend the day hiking in Waimea Canyon, cruising on a boat tour along the stunning Nāpali Coast, relaxing in a hammock by the beach, or simply lounging by the pool, there are plenty of ways to immerse yourself in the tranquility and serenity of this island paradise. And sunsets are always a highlight: Here, guests have front-row seats as streaks of turquoise and magenta paint the sky and the sun dips below the horizon.
Dining In or Spoiling Yourself?
Guests can start the day with a peaceful breakfast on their lānai.
At Waimea Plantation Cottages, you have choices. Start the day with a peaceful breakfast on your lānai with the sounds of the ocean playing in the background. If you don’t feel like cooking lunch or dinner, walk across the lawn to Chicken In A Barrel for simple American fare, mouthwatering barbecue, or fresh pizza. For more dining options, you can explore the quaint towns of Waimea and historic Hanapēpē, just a short drive away.
We Make It Simple
At Waimea Plantation Cottages, there are plenty of opportunities for guests to relax and enjoy the tranquility of Kauaʻi.
From the moment you check in, the goal at Waimea Plantation Cottages is to ensure you have a stress-free, relaxing experience. Upon arriving at the lobby, the friendly staff will hand you the keys to your private cottage with an adjacent parking space. Want to watch a movie? Enjoy a free DVD of a recently released film in your cottage. If you didn’t pack enough clothes, no worries—a complimentary guest laundry facility is available, and you can even pick up free laundry detergent at the front desk.
The aim at Waimea Plantation Cottages is to provide an experience that you won’t find anywhere else on Kauaʻi.
9400 Kaumualiʻi Highway, Waimea, coasthotels.com/waimea-plantation-cottages
Photos: Courtesy of Waimea Plantation Cottages
We Missed Kīlauea’s Lava Fountains but Still Had an Epic Vacation 4 Apr 2025, 1:00 pm
At least we weren’t the only ones.
Like many of you, we had been captivated by the fountains of lava from Kīlauea, shooting up over 1,000 feet above Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The recent eruption—now exiting its Episode 16—has lured volcano enthusiasts from around the world to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to witness this extraordinary sight.
It definitely lured me!
A 1,000-foot fountain of lava within Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Photo: Courtesy of National Park Service/Janice Wei
When we saw the fountains on the local news on Wednesday morning, I immediately booked two roundtrip tickets—for my 8-year-old son and me—to Hilo to see this in person. I mean, how many times in your life will you be able to see molten rock shooting up like a geyser?
The plan was to catch the earliest flight we could get on and head directly to the national park (about a 50-minute drive from Hilo International Airport). At any moment, the fountain could stop. And so far, Kīlauea’s pattern has been that lava sputters from two vents within Halemaʻumaʻu crater before the fountaining starts, then it stops in about 24 hours. So the window is small.
A view of the fountaining lava from a helicopter during Episode 16 of Kīlauea’s recent eruption.
Photo: Courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey/D. Downs
We kept watching the live streams of the crater, courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey, and even when we landed in Hilo, it was still fountaining. Smaller but still going.
It took us about 45 minutes to get to the park entrance—when I received a text from a friend already there: The eruption had stopped. Literally, minutes before we arrived at Volcano House and the overlook of Halemaʻumaʻu crater.
To say I was bummed was a huge understatement. I wanted to immediately drive back to the airport, change my return flight and head home. I was done.
But my son convinced me that we could still have fun in the 24 hours we had planned to be on Hawaiʻi Island.
I took a deep breath. OK, I thought, maybe he’s right.
And he was.
There’s a lot to do on Hawaiʻi Island—and even just Hilo—even when Kīlauea isn’t actively erupting. So if you’ve booked a trip to Hilo, hoping you’ll be lucky enough to catch this temperamental volcano erupting, I’m here to say: You can still have a great time on the island if you—like me—missed it.
The Lava Glow at Night is Still Amazing
The lava lake at Kīlauea in 2023.
Photo: Courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey/M.Newman
There are several places within the national park to view the eruption at Halemaʻumaʻu. Some are super easy to get to—like the overlook at Volcano House—and others require a short trek. We decided to hit the overlook near Keanakākoʻi Crater, a mile-long walk (mostly paved) from the Devastation Trail parking lot. This overlook is the closest you can get to the crater. Since the fountaining had just stopped that day, we figured the glow from the lava would be the strongest that night. And we weren’t wrong! The lava lake glowed and crackled, sometimes lava sputtered and gurgled. It was amazing.
The National Park Has Great Hiking Trails
A hiker on Kīlauea Iki Trail in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Photo: Getty Images/Yiming Chen
This 333,308-acre national park boasts more than 150 miles of hiking trails. So even if you’re there when Kīlauea is erupting, you won’t want to skip trekking around the park. Hikes range in difficulty from easy walks and half-day treks to challenging expeditions through the park’s wild backcountry. One of the most popular trails—and my personal favorite—is the 4-mile Kīlauea Iki Trail, which starts in a native forest and ends with a walk across an otherworldly crater. Or walk through Nāhuku (aka Thurston Lava Tube), an easy walk through a 500-year-old lava tube with once a 2,000-degree river of lava once flowed. My son loved it.
Explore Hilo Town
Visit Waiānuenue, or Rainbow Falls, while in Hilo.
Photo: Getty Images/Png-Studio
This sleepy town has a lot to offer, from cute boutiques to family-run restaurants to the easiest-to-access waterfall on the island. We love grabbing bentos and Spam musubi from Kawamoto Store, browsing the used books at Basically Books, picking up boxes of mochi (my son loves the brownie-filled ones) from Two Ladies Kitchen, and indulging in a frozen hot chocolate from Puna Chocolate. You can also visit the Hilo Farmers Market, Waiānuenue (or Rainbow Falls) and Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo and Garden (which is free).
READ MORE: Why Hilo Should Be On Your Hawaiʻi Travel Bucket List
And that’s just Hilo! There’s way more to explore on Hawaiʻi Island, from the paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) town of Waimea to the sunny shores of Kailua-Kona. So don’t worry if you missed the eruption. There’s more to Hawaiʻi Island than a volcano.
3 Cool and Unexpected Hotel Bars and Lounges in Kailua-Kona 3 Apr 2025, 2:00 pm
Around the world, hotels are reimagining the culinary options for their guests—and properties throughout Hawaiʻi are keeping up with the trend. Today, hotel guests don’t need to leave their resort to find vibey cocktail lounges with clever drinks crafted with premium ingredients. And it doesn’t end with beautiful beverages. From innovative omakase to twists on traditional fare, these lounges are creating unforgettable dining experiences.
Whether you’re a hotel guest or just in the area, these bars and lounges in Kailua-Kona are worth visiting for enticing cocktails, noteworthy dishes and impeccable vibes.
1. Shipwreck Bar and Sushi at Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort
Sip on cocktails from the starboard of a restored schooner at Shipwreck Bar and Grill.
Photo: Courtesy of Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort
Shipwreck Bar and Sushi at Kona Village, A Rosewood Resort, is reinventing the typical beach bar experience. Set against the backdrop of the Pacific, guests are invited to sip on cocktails from the starboard of a restored schooner while enjoying panoramic ocean views. The playful bar menu features drinks like Mick, the Jungle Bird, inspired by a mynah bird named Mick. It’s made with a blend of bitter Campari, pineapple and passion fruit. You can of course sip on the bar’s signature mai tai, too. For delicious bites, the bar also prepares fresh maki rolls, nigiri and sashimi.
72-300 Maheawalu Drive, Kailua-Kona, rosewoodhotels.com/en/kona-village/dining/shipwreck-bar
2. Noio at the Four Seasons Hualālai
Noio, the newest dining option at the Four Seasons Hualālai.
Photo: Courtesy of Four Seasons Hualālai
Guests can embark on an exciting culinary journey at Noio, the newest dining option at the Four Seasons Hualālai. Perched above ‘Ulu, the resort’s signature restaurant, diners can enjoy unrivaled vistas of the Pacific. But the lounge offers much more than beautiful views. Noio boasts an omakase experience, featuring a rotating selection of some of the freshest fish on the island. In addition to omakase, diners can choose from a selection of carefully crafted sushi rolls and á la carte options. And an equal level of attention goes into the beverages at the lounge. You’ll find cocktails like the Noio Old Fashioned, made with Seikyo miso-washed whisky, fig syrup and bitters as well as the Kahakai Sour, featuring the resort’s exclusive Kuleana Nanea aged rum, Sudachi citrus, fresh pineapple and vanilla shiso syrup.
72-100 Kaʻupulehu Drive, Kailua-Kona, fourseasons.com/hualalai/dining
3. Binchotan Bar and Grill at Fairmont Orchid
Experience the Japanese tradition of robatayaki grilling at Binchotan Bar and Grill.
Photo: Courtesy of Fairmont Orchid
If you venture just a little north of Kailua-Kona, you’ll find Fairmont Orchid in Waimea. Here, guests are invited to experience the Japanese tradition of robatayaki grilling at Binchotan Bar and Grill. From seafood and wagyu beef to seasonal vegetables, diners feast on the freshest, most perfectly roasted ingredients. Here, you can dine on the beautiful terrace or take a seat at the alluring bar.
1 North Kaniku Drive, Waimea, fairmontorchid.com/dine/binchotan-bar-grill
Get Fresh Breads, Pastries and Halekūlani’s Famous Coconut Cake at This Oʻahu Bakery 1 Apr 2025, 1:00 pm
If you love the famous coconut cake from Halekūlani—and trust us, if you’ve ever had it, you’d love it—now you can get it any day of the week without having to dine at the iconic Waikīkī hotel.
Halekūlani Bakery, which first opened in 2019, serves artisanal breads, pastries, croissants and, yes, the hotel’s coconut cake (whole or by the slice), all freshly baked on site. It’s located across the street from the hotel and adjacent to the lobby of the Halepuna Waikīkī by Halekūlani, with specialty coffees and indoor and outdoor seating.
Starting in March, the bakery expanded its hours to 6:30 to 11:30 a.m. daily.
Inside the Halekūlani Bakery.
Photo: Courtesy of the Halekūlani
Many of the desserts and breads served here are baked on site, in the 887-square-foot kitchen and prep space behind the counters. (There’s even a small chocolate room.) The rest of the pastries and baked goods are made in the hotel’s kitchen across the street. Everything, including the puff pastry and laminated dough used for croissants, are made from scratch, explains Halekūlani Bakery pastry chef Michelle Baldomero, who has worked in the kitchens here for 26 years.
And the pastry team churns out a lot of baked goods, serving both the bakery and the hotel’s restaurants and room service.
For example, the bakery makes between 120 and 150 plain croissants—just the plain ones!—a day. It also bakes between 15 and 20 9-inch coconut cakes—its best-selling cake—a day.
The Halekūlani Bakery offers several different kinds of croissants every day, all made from scratch in house.
Photo: Catherine Toth Fox
The bakery recently unveiled some new items, including a fig and prosciutto danish—my fave—coconut danish, pineapple-ginger danish and matcha cream pan. It offers seasonal specials, too, including hot cross buns and carrot cake croissants for Easter.
Pastries at the Halekūlani Bakery.
Photo: Catherine Toth Fox
You can buy the coconut cake as a whole or slice. You can also preorder the cake — or the strawberry shortcake or chocolate truffle cake — with 72-hour notice.
Park is at the Halepuna Waikīkī by Halekūlani lot. The bakery validates parking up to four hours.
Halekūlani Bakery, 2233 Helumoa Road, Honolulu, (808) 921-7272, halekulani.com