HAWAI‘I Magazine Spring 2023

SPRING

28

Readers’ Choice Awards

You voted and the results are in. After receiving and counting thousands of votes, we are pleased to announce the winners of our 11th annual Readers’ Choice Awards. From poke shops to beaches, lū‘au shows, museums, art galleries and more, find out what our readers consider the best of the best in Hawai‘i. And mahalo to everyone who voted this year; we couldn’t do this without your love and knowledge of Hawai‘i.

62 A Lū‘au Legacy

For nearly 40 years, the Old Lāhainā Lū‘au has enchanted guests with moving hula performances and authentic and contemporary Hawaiian fare. What guests don’t see are the hours of meticulous preparation leading up to each night.

BY GRACE MAEDA

PHOTOS BY RYAN SIPHERS

photo: ryan siphers

ISLAND HOPPING

16 O‘ahu: Under the Sea Shark’s Cove on O‘ahu’s North Shore is every snorkeler’s paradise.

BY KEVIN ALLEN

19 Maui: Preserving Protea

On the slopes of Haleakalā, Malolo Farm is not only conserving rare cultivars of Protea flowers, it’s also maintaining a family tradition.

BY GRACE MAEDA

22 Kaua‘i: The Night Market

The monthly festival is helping to strengthen the community and the connection between residents and visitors.

BY ALLISON FRASCATORE

25 Hawai‘i Island: Sweet Success

A Honoka‘a schoolteacher goes from winning a cookie contest to starting Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies.

BY CATHERINE TOTH FOX

9 Editor’s Page

The Best of the Best BY KEVIN ALLEN

10 Ho‘omaka

10 Keeping with Tradition 12 Bowled Over 14 Q&A with Actress Lindsay Watson

68 Kau Kau Lei & Lounge BY KEVIN ALLEN

70 Mālama Stitching Together Community BY GRACE MAEDA

72 One Last Look

74 Like a Local Traditional Treasures BY CATHERINE TOTH FOX

ON THE COVER

The cliffs of the Nāpali Coast can be viewed in a variety of ways, and it looks magnificent from the sea.

PHOTO BY SPENCER LEE (@spencerlee808)

PHOTO BY DAVID CROXFORD

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HAWAI‘I Magazine (ISSN 0892-0990) All contents copyright © 2023. Published quarterly by aio Media Group, 1088 Bishop St., Ste. LL2, Honolulu, HI, 96813-3113. Phone: (808) 534-7520/ Fax: (808) 537-6455. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to HAWAI‘I Magazine, 1088 Bishop St., Ste. LL2, Honolulu, HI, 96813-3113. © 2022 aio Media Group, LLC. All rights reserved. Any unauthorized copying, distribution, or adaptation is strictly prohibited and will result in liability of up to $100,000. Periodicals Postage Paid at Honolulu, Hawai‘i and at additional mailing offices. Subscription rate is $19.99 for 4 quarterly issues. Canadian and foreign surface, add $9 extra per year payable in U.S. funds. Single copy price is $5.99 U.S., $5.99 Canadian. Please allow 6-8 weeks for new subscriptions to begin. When changing address, give six weeks’ notice and address label from latest copy, as well as new address with ZIP code. Occasionally, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies that offer products and services that we believe would interest our readers. If you do not want to receive these offers and/or information, please write us at aio Media Group, 1088 Bishop St., Ste. LL2, Honolulu, HI, 96813-3113. Phone: (808) 534-7520/Fax: (808) 537-6455 or send us an e-mail to circulation@pacificbasin.net. Unsolicited manuscripts and photographs are not accepted. Please wait for a response to your query before sending materials. Reasonable care in handling manuscripts and photographs will be taken, but HAWAI‘I Magazine cannot be responsible for unsolicited materials. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Circulation Dept., Station A, P.O. Box 54, Windsor, ON N9A 6J5; cpcreturns@wdsmail.com Printed in the U.S.A.

The Best of the Best

Our biggest issue is back.

READERS’ CHOICE IS BACK with another year of lists and picks, and with it comes a bag of mixed emotions from our editorial and art staff.

Putting together such a massive list—with the help of our readers (that’s you), who voted on their favorite Hawai‘i beaches, restaurants and more—is a huge undertaking. But, the finished product, which you’re holding right now, is worth the effort. More than just a place for people to vote on what they think is the best of the best in Hawai‘i, our Readers’ Choice Awards feature (page 28) is a great tool to plan your trip and learn about Hawai‘i businesses, activities and more, as vetted by travelers to the Islands and locals.

This year is also a big one for hula, as the 60th Merrie Monarch Festival opens its doors to the public once again at the Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium. It’s the first year since the COVID-19 pandemic that the stands of the stadium will be filled with spectators. To commemorate the occasion, we have two hula-related stories in this issue. The first starts our Ho‘omaka section (page 10) and focuses on an O‘ahu-based hālau (hula school), Hālau Mōhala ‘Ilima, which will be competing in the upcoming festival.

Our second feature (page 62) is an in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at one of Maui’s best lū‘au, the Old Lāhainā Lū‘au. From before guests arrive until the last stage performance, putting together a lū‘au of such magnitude requires a lot of effort and planning, and it’s a fascinating process to watch.

Foodies will find this issue especially interesting, as our editor-at-large, Catherine Toth Fox, advises us on where to find food and drinks in weird, but delectable, bowls (page 12). Cat also writes about a locally famous cookie store on the Big Island, Mrs. Barry’s Cookies (page 25), which will surely trigger your sweet tooth. And I took a walk into Chinatown to see the newest speakeasy on the block, The Lei Stand (page 68), which pays homage to new and old Honolulu with its too-cool-for-school bar and lounge

that wheels and deals in delicious bites and locally inspired craft cocktails.

So, here’s to our Readers’ Choice Awards issue. Like a lū‘au, it takes a lot of planning and work to make it happen, but we’re so happy you can enjoy it.

HO‘OMAKA

Keeping with Tradition

O‘ahu-based Hālau Mōhala ‘Ilima is competing in the 60th Merrie Monarch Festival, the first competition open to the public since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

BY KEVIN ALLEN

IIN A STUDIO ABOVE KIMO’S SURF HUT IN KAILUA ON O‘AHU , the sound of moving feet and the rhythmic thumping of an ipu (a Hawaiian percussive instrument made from a gourd) fill the space.

since 1979. Running from April 9 to 15, the festival, now in its 60th year, perpetuates hula and the Hawaiian culture with a weeklong celebration of the arts, which includes a Hawaiian arts fair and a grand parade through Hilo. All of this culminates in a handful of significant hula competitions, with hula hālau (hula schools) from across Hawai‘i taking the stage.

This year’s festival is the first to be open to the general public since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. While tickets are hard to come by—if you don’t have one already, don’t expect to get in—the Edith Kanaka‘ole Stadium will once again be filled with hula lovers and practitioners, watching it all happen live. It’s been a long time coming.

OPPOSITE Students of Hālau Mōhala ‘Ilima practice with steadfast diligence.

ABOVE LEFT

Māpuana de Silva learned hula under the guidance Maiki Aiu Lake.

Hālau Mōhala ‘Ilima was founded on Jan. 31, 1976, by Māpuana de Silva. A graduate of Punahou School and kumu hula (hula teacher) under the guidance of Maiki Aiu Lake, aka Auntie Maiki, Silva started the hālau to perpetuate Hawaiian culture, the ‘āina (land) and her people’s identity through the discipline of hula—and to keep dancing. Specializing in teaching the old ways of traditional hula—the kind that has been passed down from generation to generation— and the ancient loina (rules, customs) she learned from Auntie Maiki, Silva has adhered to her mentor’s tenets for more than four decades.

ABOVE RIGHT

Hālau Mōhala ‘Ilima practices ancient hula, which has been passed down through generations.

Silva’s hālau will be competing once again in the upcoming Merrie Monarch Festival on Hawai‘i Island, an event they’ve been in

Back in Kailua, the students of Hālau Mōhala ‘Ilima continue their practice, and the sounds of mele (songs) about their home, Kailua, reverberate late into the night. Many of the mele were written by Silva’s husband, and the hālau bring voices and movement to the songs. For those chosen to be a part of the hālau’s Merrie Monarch Festival team, practices are intense and the dancers steadfast.

Follow The Merrie Monarch Festival at merriemonarch.com.

photos: aaron k. yoshino

Bowled Over

Five unique ways to get served on O‘ahu.

EVERYTHING TASTES BETTER IN HAWAI‘I , right? We found five treats that are even better served in unique vessels, from fruit shells to Spam cans.

Soft Serve in a Pineapple

Banán is known for Instagram-worthy bowls of its plant-based soft serve made from local bananas. But the Waikīkī shop upped its game with the Pineapple Yacht, a half-pineapple crammed with banana soft serve and topped with chunks of fresh papaya and pineapple, slices of strawberries, puffed quinoa, crunchy granola, shaved coconut and honey. Guilt-free and pretty, too! banan.com

Açaí in a Coconut

Chill out on O‘ahu’s North Shore with the most photogenic açaí bowl on the island. Hale‘iwa Bowls boasts colorful frozen treats with blended açaí berries topped with local bananas, coconut flakes and raw local honey. For a few extra bucks, get it served in a hollowed-out coconut shell that you can take home. haleiwabowls.com

Soju in a Watermelon

Find innovative bar dishes with a Korean spin at DB Grill, a hip eatery in Kapolei, about 25 miles west of Waikīkī. We’re talking bulgogi tacos, duck fat fried rice and Korean-style

chicken sandwiches. And, of course, there’s soju, a smooth, rice-based spirit made on the Korean Peninsula. While the bar serves creative cocktails made with soju, its showstopper is the watermelon soju served in—you guessed it—a watermelon. dbgrillhi.com

Shave Ice in a Waffle Bowl

The edible bowl from Matsumoto Shave Ice in Hale‘iwa is definitely something we didn’t see coming. Several years ago the iconic shop started serving the Ichiban Special, a huge helping of shave ice topped with sweetened condensed milk, azuki beans (red beans cooked in sugar), balls of mochi (Japanese rice cakes) and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. And it’s all served in an edible waffle bowl made in Japan, originally to hold soba noodles. matsumotoshaveice.com

Cocktail in a Spam Can

When Michelin-starred chef Michael Mina opened an open-air, oceanfront fish-focused restaurant at the Four Seasons O‘ahu at Ko ‘Olina, we expected elevated dishes that showcased local ingredients—but not a cocktail in a can of Spam. The popular If Can, Can cocktail features your choice of spirit mixed with orange Curaçao, lime, pineapple and orgeat poured over crushed ice and into an empty—and never used, don’t worry—classic Spam tin. minasfishhouse.com

Lifeguard Wins Prestigious Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational

In order for the Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational surf contest to run at Waimea Bay on O‘ahu’s North Shore, waves have to be consistently larger than 40 feet. In the last 34 years, it’s only been held 10 times, including earlier this year. North Shore native Luke Shepardson, who was working as a lifeguard at Waimea Bay during the contest, took first place in the prestigious event. The win was fitting considering the contest is named after the late Eddie Aikau, one of the first lifeguards at Waimea Bay. The 27-year-old Shepardson beat out 39 other contestants to win the $10,000 prize— all in the county’s lifeguard uniform.

—Catherine Toth Fox

Sonic Drive-In Opens on Maui

Hawai‘i may not have Trader Joe’s or IKEA, but now we’ve got a Sonic Drive-In— and its Maui location, which opened in February in Kahului, is offering something you can’t get on the Mainland. Only in Hawai‘i, Sonic is serving a teriyaki burger developed specifically for the Islands. It features a 100% pure beef patty topped with a teriyaki sauce, American cheese, teriyaki aioli, onions, lettuce and tomatoes served on a toasted bakery bun—perfect with either the drive-in’s cherry limeade or classic chocolate shake. Sonic plans to open more drive-ins in Hawai‘i.—CTF

Luke Shepardson

FASHION, DINING, CULTURE, IN THE HEART OF WAIKI –KI –. WELCOME TO OUR LEGACY.

FASHION, DINING, CULTURE, IN THE HEART OF WAIKI

FASHION, DINING, CULTURE, IN THE HEART OF WAIKI –KI –. WELCOME TO OUR LEGACY.

TO OUR LEGACY.

Apple Store | Fendi | Harry Winston | Hermès | Jimmy Choo | kate spade new york | KITH | Rimowa | Saint Laurent

Apple Store | Fendi | Harry Winston | Hermès | Jimmy Choo | kate spade new york | KITH | Rimowa | Saint Laurent

Apple Store | Fendi | Harry Winston | Hermès | Jimmy Choo | kate spade new york | KITH | Rimowa | Saint Laurent

Salvatore Ferragamo | Tiffany & Co. | Tory Burch | Tourneau | Valentino | Doraku Sushi | Island Vintage Wine Bar | Noi Thai

Salvatore Ferragamo | Tiffany & Co. | Tory Burch | Tourneau | Valentino | Doraku Sushi | Island

Salvatore Ferragamo | Tiffany & Co. | Tory Burch | Tourneau | Valentino | Doraku Sushi | Island Vintage Wine Bar | Noi Thai

P.F. Chang’s | Restaurant Suntory | The Cheesecake Factory | Tim Ho Wan | TsuruTonTan Udon | Wolfgang’s Steakhouse

P.F. Chang’s | Restaurant Suntory | The Cheesecake Factory | Tim Ho Wan | TsuruTonTan Udon | Wolfgang’s Steakhouse

See daily Center & restaurants hours, culture schedule & all there

See daily Center & restaurants hours, culture schedule & all there is to discover at RoyalHawaiianCenter.com

Open Daily | Kalākaua Avenue and Seaside, Waikīkī | 808.922.2299

Open Daily | Kalākaua Avenue and Seaside, Waikīkī | 808.922.2299

FREE

The Rising Star

Maui actress Lindsay Watson is making a name for herself with recent breakout films about Hawai‘i.

BY KEVIN ALLEN

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN LINDSAY

WATSON AROUND . The local girl— she grew up in Upcountry Maui, mainly in Kula—is making a name for herself in Hollywood, starring in Netflix’s “Finding ‘Ohana” as Hana who—like herself—has big dreams. And in “The Wind & The Reckoning” she portrays Pi‘ilani in an unapologetic and movingly real look at the actual events involving a small group of Native Hawaiians who resisted government-mandated exile after being infected with Hansen’s disease. The film has won multiple awards at festivals across the nation, including Best Film at the Boston Film Festival and Best Made in Hawai‘i Feature at the Hawai‘i International Film Festival. And even though the young star is still on the rise, she’s already looking ahead at what’s to come.

How’d you get into acting on Maui?

My parents always talked about how I was kind of the oddball child. I had two older siblings and they played sports and didn’t have a lick of interest in music or the arts or anything. And then came me. I secretly went and auditioned for my high school play at Kamehameha Schools—I was the only freshman—and I got a role in “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and that really started things for me. When senior year came around, everyone was applying for schools and I just knew I was going to move to LA to pursue acting.

Being a local and Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian), what’s it like representing the culture of the Islands in your films?

It’s huge for me. I felt this big connection and this big responsibility to make sure that this project (“Finding ‘Ohana”) was done well—especially if I was going to be a part of it. There were a few moments where I had to put my Hawaiian foot down and tell them things

weren’t right because local people are very quick to analyze any Hawai‘i media to make sure things are done right. Because if people are going to use your land and culture, they want it to be represented in the right way. And then jumping on “The Wind & The Reckoning,” that was such a bigger task. It’s a true story of these people who fought in some of the hardest times in our history. And having 80% of the film be done in the Hawaiian language, ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, I knew I had to put in 150% to make sure things were done correctly.

Is it weird, becoming famous? How has that journey been?

It is weird. When you’re in this industry, it’s always in the back of your mind that’s a possibility, that’s kind of the end goal. I never got into this industry for fame, but I always wanted to be a successful, respected actress. And I knew that territory comes being known in many places. Especially with streaming, these shows can go so far. I got messages from people in Africa and Sweden and all of these places I’d never expect people to know my name in.

What’s next for you at this point in your career?

The longer I’ve been in this industry, the more my eyes have opened to a lot of different opportunities and things I want to do. My end goal is to be a director and writer alongside being an actor, so I’ve been working on writing and creating some of my own projects. Seeing the back side and creative part of a film that leads up to the point of needing an actor—it’s been interesting for me to find this love and this interest in that side of things. But I’m always hoping to come back to Hawai‘i for a few projects; that’s always the ideal situation for me. Nothing is better than actually getting to do what I love and getting to do it back home. That’s the biggest blessing.

There were a few moments where I had to put my Hawaiian foot down and tell them things weren’t right ... if people are going to use your land and culture, they want it to be represented in the right way.

Lindsay Watson, second from the left.

Under the Sea

Shark’s Cove on O‘ahu’s North Shore is every snorkeler’s paradise.

STORY BY KEVIN ALLEN

PHOTOS BY AARON K. YOSHINO

AGROWING UP ON THE NORTH SHORE OF O‘AHU, I ALWAYS WAITED WITH BATED BREATH FOR OUR NEXT FAMILY EXCURSION TO SHARK’S COVE. To me, it was a magical underwater playground with so much to do and see. And now, as an adult who lives on the other side of the island, I still look forward to perfect summer days, when the waves are flat and the cove is calling.

Known for being a snorkeler’s paradise, Shark’s Cove and the surrounding area have so much more to offer than just what’s under the water. First, a warning for visitors: Finding parking can be a real headache. There is a main lot, which is one-way mind you, however it fills up quickly in the early morning. Your best bet for finding a spot will almost always be on the stretch of Kamehameha Highway past Shark’s Cove, going toward Sunset Beach and Ted’s Bakery. Here, visitors and locals can usually find parking on the side of the road. It’s hard to define exactly where you can park, as people really just park where their vehicles will fit, but try to take note of what others are doing. Just don’t park with your car jutting out onto the road. From there, you’ll have a bit of a walk, but that’s a small price to pay.

As you make your way to the cove, you’ll pass a smorgasbord of food trucks on the mauka (mountainside) side of the road. From heaping ice-cold cones of shave ice at North Shore Shave Ice to filling burgers from Seven Brothers, there’s more than enough here to fill you up before and after your day of adventure. And if you’ve forgotten any of the necessities for a day at the beach— reef-safe sunscreen, a towel or two, or even snorkeling masks—you can always hit up the Pūpūkea Foodland, which is right next to the food truck plaza.

Finally, it’s time to talk about the star of the show, Shark’s Cove. There are two distinct sections: Kapo‘o—the tide pools— and the main cove itself. Fun for all ages and accessible on most days of the year, except for when the waves are truly massive, Kapo‘o is sometimes referred to as the Pūpūkea Tide Pools. And it’s the place to be for those who want to see a variety of Hawai‘i’s colorful

underwater denizens without having to swim into the deep—or really without having to swim at all. The tide pools, home to more than 70 native fish species, serve as a pu‘uhonua (refuge) for juvenile schools of fish looking to feed on the loose micro-algae in the water. And you don’t even have to dip your head into the water to see them.

Natural rocky outcroppings protect the tide pools from wind and waves, keeping the water so clear that you can clearly see through the surface to the schools of fish below. And the bottom of the tide pools are covered with soft sand, so you don’t have to worry about cutting your feet on sharp reef or rocks. The area is a paradise for families. All throughout the tide pools you’ll find folks wading in the crystalline waters—and occasionally dipping into them entirely to cool off.

But it was always the main cove that enthralled me, then and now. Much deeper than the tide pools, you’ll have to wait for relatively flat ocean conditions before scrambling down into it. But once you’re in the water, you’ll be entering a whole new world. As deep as 15 feet, a smattering of large boulders cover the bottom of Shark’s Cove. Massive groupings of butterflyfish, damselfish, surgeonfish and more make their way in and around the cove’s various tunnels and caves. Vibrantly colored parrotfish also call Shark’s Cove home; they’re some of my favorite fishes to see while snorkeling here—and there are plenty. It’s no wonder the area has been rated one of the top snorkeling spots in the world.

As you swim out farther into Shark’s Cove, the water gets choppier and much deeper. For a lot of people, it’s best to stay well within the basin of the cove instead of venturing out too far. The cove also has a deep drop-off;

OPPOSITE Sandbottom tidepools perfect for families and keiki

ABOVE

On a clear day, you don’t even need a snorkeling mask to see under the water’s surface.

Preserving Protea

On the slopes of Haleakalā, Malolo Farm is not only conserving rare cultivars of Protea flowers, it’s also maintaining a family tradition.

STORY BY GRACE MAEDA

PHOTOS BY AARON K. YOSHINO

SURROUNDED BY A SEA OF BLOOMING PINCUSHIONS, MY CHILDHOOD FRIEND DECLARES, “THESE ARE DINOSAUR FLOWERS.” Pincushions, a type of Protea, don’t have delicate petals. Instead, tiny needles protrude in a cluster from the flower’s head, like something plucked from an extraterrestrial landscape. But my friend’s observation is more discerning. Proteas are some of the oldest flowering plants in the world and fossils of the flower have been discovered that date back 300 million years.

Descendants of these prehistoric flowers are growing on the slopes of Haleakalā. On their green shrubs, the pincushions explode with bursts of fiery orange, crimson red and blush pink.

For more than 30 years, Malolo Farm has specialized in growing rare cultivars of pincushions in Kula, Maui, and through a partnership with the University of Hawai‘i, has been cultivating a collection of pincushions unique to the Islands. “There are flowers here that you won’t find anywhere else in the world,” Paige Minney says. Minney’s parents started the 6-acre flower farm back in the 1980s and she grew up planting and harvesting pincushions along with other Protea varieties.

Here in Kula, the island’s fierce sun, the region’s brisk nights and Haleakalā’s volcanic soil create just the right conditions for growing Protea. Those conditions allow Malolo Farm to produce buds that Minney says will remain vibrant in floral arrangements for weeks. And unlike typical bouquets full of red roses or delicate daisies, Proteas are different. They have a whimsical and ethereal appearance yet distinctive sturdiness that results in dramatic arrangements.

Proteas are native to South Africa where the national flower is the king protea. The Protea genus is classified under the Proteaceae family, a name deriving from the shape shifting Greek god Proteus. The family’s genus and species indeed take strikingly different forms. The genus Macadamia is even a member of the family Proteaceae.

While Proteas have many shapes, the plants thrive in just a few areas in the world—Kula being one of them. Minney tells me that in the ’80s, the Upcountry area saw a boom of Protea growers thanks to its cool climate and nutrient rich soil. Her uncle helped establish dozens of Protea farms, including her father’s.

Minney’s parents were California natives, passionate about surfing and ocean sports. But once they settled on Maui, the tides changed, and their devotion shifted to the farm and diversifying their collection of pincushions. Over the years, Malolo Farm grew a reputation for offering florists and businesses an unusual selection of flowers. “The weirder the flower, the better,” Minney jokes.

On this clear morning, my friend and I are enamored by the verdant fields of pincushions in full bloom. As we take in the views of the Valley Isle, we learn we’re standing on one of the last remaining Protea farms in Kula. “Running a flower farm is not as glamorous as it sounds,” Minney admits.

Agriculture is a grueling industry, she says, and not cheap. Land, water and employees are expensive, but for family-run farms across Hawai‘i, finding a family member to take over can be the toughest obstacle. Minney says many neighboring farms—both Protea and other agriculture producers—are no longer in operation, and aging farmers and ranchers are retiring without kin willing to continue the family businesses—some of which have been around for decades.

Minney and her sister, Amanda, are not only conserving rare cultivars of Protea but working to ensure their family farm flourishes.

As we meander through rows of pincushions, Minney points to Proteas she planted when she was in high school more than a decade ago. Growing up on the property, Minney says she wasn’t planning to become a farmer herself, but the flowers were calling.

After living in California for a few years, Minney returned to the island in 2018 to help her mother, Ali, with the farm. Her sister followed in 2020. They maintain the property, propagate the plants, fill the orders and now host tours, too.

It wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic that Minney started welcoming visitors to the farm. She recalls hearing about neighboring residents who were searching for safe outdoor spaces to take their kids, so Minney decided to open the farm to local families, providing a peaceful haven during that chaotic time.

The idea of sharing the farm stuck with Minney. Now, she leads one-hour farm tours through the property she knows intimately, offering her knowledge and helpful tips on cultivating Proteas. “Nature is finicky,” Minney says, “so it’s important not to be too hard on yourself.”

The farm also hosts workshops, including wreath making during the holidays, and wanderlust-filled travelers can book photo shoots on the scenic property.

As we explore the farm, Minney identifies the parts of a pincushion, including its curled toes and where bees drink the flower’s nectar. She teaches my friend and I how to pick the perfect flower, which will depend on its purpose. It’s crucial to select a pincushion at the right age, she tells us. One that will be in a bouquet gifted tomorrow, will need to be at a ripe stage. If the flower will be used as a centerpiece in a few days, it’s best to choose a younger one that will bloom accordingly. But ultimately, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, says Minney.

For more information, visit proteasofmaui.com.

Paige Minney grew up planting pincushions on her family’s flower farm in Kula, Maui.

TheMarketNight

The monthly festival is helping to strengthen the community and the connection between residents and visitors.

STORY BY ALLISON FRASCATORE PHOTOS BY MAMI WYCKOFF

ASTROLL DOWN RICE STREET IN LĪHU‘E, UNDER THE SPORADIC SHADE OF MONKEYPOD AND PALM TREES,

leads to the historic County Building in the center of town, past the great lawn. Often the location for community gatherings, the Kaua‘i County Building is a nod to the past; it’s the oldest operating government building in the state, and a fixture downtown. Often referred to as “town” by locals, Līhu‘e is as close to the hustle and bustle of a city that Kaua‘i has, which is part of its charm.

And that hustle and bustle gets a little busier on the second Saturday of each month for Downtown Līhu‘e’s increasingly popular night market, which tranforms Kress Street into a thriving space for local vendors and entrepenuers.

Līhu‘e’s deep historical roots have expanded to support an artistic and culinary renaissance on the Garden Island as the community embraces post-pandemic life with adaptability, innovation and aloha. The result is an authentic Kaua‘i experience that restores connections between locals and visitors. Here, storefront murals help make for a picturesque (and Instagram-worthy) main street. Night market vendors line the area with everything from handmade jewelry and candles to splash proof bags, authentic souvenirs and secondhand treasures—and the best local food selection you will find at any market on the island.

The eclectic mix of local musicians taking turns setting the mood elevates the experience as you browse and chat with the vendors. A giant Jenga and Connect 4 is set up and children, whether they came from two miles away or 6,000, find common ground in a game or two. Kress Street comes alive as the veil between old Līhu‘e and new Līhu‘e is lifted between 4 and 8 p.m. every second Saturday.

Sprawling murals line the street and begin to tell their stories, like guides on a walking tour of Kaua‘i. Since 2020, artists have completed over 40 murals (and counting) across the island. Utilizing bus stops, unused storefronts and even electrical boxes, they’ve made the ordinary beautiful and brought back a tradition dear to the Islands—storytelling. From indigenous people to native flora, the murals—which depict scenes from the north shore to the westside of the island—tell stories of triumphs, struggles and a precious culture too often lost in the day to day. (Artistic scavenger hunters can visit kauaimurals.com to track the murals and their stories.)

In conjunction with the Rice Street Business Association, Alakoko, a local nonprofit, has created community partnerships and educational opportunities to strengthen Kaua‘i’s small businesses. With the Downtown Līhu‘e Night Market as one of their lead initiatives, Ala-

koko is increasing local sourcing, production and accessibility for Kaua‘i-made products. Alakoko means “road of blood” and points to the local entrepreneurs past and present who put their blood and sweat into creating something special.

“We believe stronger small businesses are key to a stronger community, which provides higher quality of living for locals, better employment and housing, all while keeping a more circular stream of wealth on-island for our future generations,” says Committee Coordinator Addison Bulosan, who describes the night market as a long-term vision sparked by the pandemic but 30 years in the making. Born and raised in the Līhu‘e area, Bulosan is a local butcher’s grandson and remembers the days when his family’s general store was on Rice Street and Kalena. “The emphasis and focus is on being a community together, the culture and the stories,” Bulosan explained, “whether it be a historical event or celebrating cultural practices.” All vendors must source locally to participate in the night market, he says.

Among the 20 core vendors and 20 rotating vendors, there’s something for everyone: If you’re looking for a taste of the Islands, you’ll find it here.

On the corner of Kress and Rice streets sits one of Kaua‘i’s two breweries, Kaua‘i Beer Co. Somehow seamlessly blending into the pop-up market, this spot with al fresco seating is perfect for a midmarket beer (and don’t forget the furikake fries!). And after tasting a flight of brews from Kaua‘i Beer Co., craft beer lovers will want to stick around for the

OPPOSITE Downtown Līhu‘e comes alive during its increasingly popular night market.

ABOVE

Night market vendors line muraladorned walls.

Kaua‘i Brewers’ Fest in April. The festival is another initiative by the Rice Street Business Association in conjunction with Kamāwaelualani, a nonprofit grassroots organization dedicated to art, culture, education and community activation.

At the end of Kress Street on market night, you’ll find a smattering of food choices. Hamura Saimin is nearly 100 years old and a Kress Street staple. Shaka Burger’s Asian fusion serves up delicious options like the Yakuza Burger and loco mocos, and Aunty Manapua’s steam buns and wontons always hit the spot. Kaua‘i Family Café is known islandwide for its Filipino cuisine, and you won’t believe how much soft serve can fit on its homemade cake cones.

Kaua‘i is filled with opportunities for growth, beauty and unforgettable experiences. With fewer than 75,000 residents, the Garden Isle is often overlooked, seen simply as a vacation destination. But for the right visitor, it can be so much more. Kress Street is a short walk, but a long journey for those who are listening.

A family-friendly event, the Downtown Līhu‘e Night Market is open from 4 to 8 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Admission to the event is free. Street parking on Rice Street can be the luck of the draw, but Līhu‘e is a small town so you’re just a short walk away from the action no matter where you park.

Over 40 local Kaua‘i vendors can be found at the night market.

Sweet Success

A Honoka‘a schoolteacher goes from winning a cookie contest to starting Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies.

STORY BY CATHERINE TOTH FOX

PHOTOS BY NANI WELCH KELI‘IHO‘OMALU

IN 1980 HAN SUNG “HAS” BARRY QUIT HER JOB AS A SCHOOLTEACHER AND STARTED A COOKIE BUSINESS. ALL BECAUSE OF A HOROSCOPE. She grabs her wallet and pulls out the astrological forecast, cut from the newspaper decades ago, and hands it to me.

“You are ready for changes in business matters,” it reads. “Don’t let anybody hold you down.”

“I was debating what to do,” she explains. “And then I saw this.”

Barry, now 86, started Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies two years after she won first place in a cookie contest in the first-ever Macadamia Nut Festival in Honoka‘a, a small town along the Hāmākua Coast of Hawai‘i Island where she lived with her husband and two kids. The contest required the use of macadamia nuts, so Barry spent two months working on a recipe. The cookies she entered in the contest were made with oatmeal and studded with chocolate chips, fresh macadamia nuts and raisins. Her award-winning cookies are still sold at her Kona shop—and they’re still among her bestsellers.

“All I got was $100 and a blue ribbon,” Barry says, laughing.

But that’s not all she walked away with. She also got the idea to start her own business, something that wasn’t all that unfamiliar to her.

Barry grew up in Kea‘au on Hawai‘i Island, about 10 miles south of Hilo. Her family, who emigrated from South Korea, raised vegetables, pigs and chickens. They also wove lau hala into mats that were sold at a friend’s shop. Barry’s parents later started Kea‘au Kim Chee, making and bottling the spicy Korean side dish made from fermented cabbage and other veggies. (The company’s name was later changed to Harry Kim Kim Chee, after her brother who was mayor of Hawai‘i County.) Entrepreneurship was in Barry’s DNA.

But instead of working in the kimchi business, Barry left Hawai‘i to get her teaching degree in California. That’s where she met her future husband, Jim. She got married and lived in Los Angeles for nine years before heading back to Hawai‘i Island to raise her kids. She got a teaching job in Honoka‘a and her husband signed on as the football coach at Honoka‘a High School.

Then she won the cookie contest, read her horoscope and everything changed.

Barry and her husband sold their Honoka‘a home and moved to Kailua-Kona, which they thought would be a bigger market for their cookies. In August 1980 she opened Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies in a small 429-square-foot shop in the Kona Inn. Her cookies— peanut butter, chocolate chip mac nut, oatmeal raisin, macadamia nut shortbread—were a huge hit. She was baking 200,000 cookies a day on average, 700,000 on busy days.

In 1997 Barry opened a new and much bigger location at the Kaloko Light Industrial Park, just five minutes from the Ellison

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Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies sells 13 varities of cookies, from coconut shortbread to coffee crunch.

LEFT

Cookies from Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies’ can be purchased at its retail store or online.

Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole. The 4,500-squarefoot shop is open seven days a week, with Barry’s son, Jamie, baking the 13 varieties the company now sells, including chocolate-dipped macadamia nut shortbread, coconut shortbread, coffee crunch and Hawaiian wedding cookies. The cookies are still made from scratch using fresh eggs, real butter and high-quality Guittard chocolate.

The most recent addition to the cookie lineup is the chocolatey Chocolate Whirl, which was a complete accident, Barry says. “When I was at the Kona Inn, the air conditioner didn’t work and I was mixing chocolate chip cookie batter and the chocolate chips started melting. I thought it was wasteful to throw them away, so I just baked it. Now I have to melt chocolate to make them!”

Just don’t ask the family to come up with new cookies; 13 is enough, Barry says.

The shop is the only brick-and-mortar place you can find Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies in Hawai‘i, though the company sells all of its products online, too. It’s not uncommon to find the unassuming shop, surrounded by an electrical repair company and building materials stores, packed with locals visiting Kona armed with cookie orders from friends and family.

“That’s the best part,” Barry says, “seeing people buying cookies and looking happy.”

Despite its success, the family has no intention of scaling up. There’s no need.

“Either you stay small or you go big, but you don’t go in-between,” Barry says. “We decided to keep it small. I don’t want headaches.”

Today, Barry is semiretired; she picks up supplies and ingredients from Costco a couple of times a week and works in her yard at her Hōlualoa home. (Jamie and his wife, Candice, run the company.) Her husband, who became a beloved teacher and football coach at Konawaena High School, passed away last year. They were married for almost 62 years.

There’s another part of that horoscope Barry keeps in her wallet. It reads, “You’ll be confronted with certain upsetting situations, but if you use your sense of reasoning, everything will work out to your advantage.”

That sounds about right.

Mrs. Barry’s Kona Cookies, 73-5563 Maiau St., Kailua-Kona, (808) 329-6055, konacookies.com

ABOVE

Mrs. Barry, now 86, is semiretired and her son and daughter-in-law run the business.

READERS’

O ICE AWARDS

2023

FIRST PLACE

BEST OF HAWAI‘I

You voted and the results are in.

READERS’ CH O ICE AWARDS

2023

BEST OF HAWAI‘I

After receiving and counting thousands of votes, we are pleased to announce the winners of our 11th annual Readers’ Choice Awards. From poke shops to beaches, lū‘au shows, museums, art galleries and more, find out what our readers consider the best of the best in Hawai‘i. And mahalo to everyone who voted this year; we couldn’t do this without your love and knowledge of Hawai‘i.

From Kaua‘i to Hawai‘i Island and everywhere in between, the winners below represent the best of the entire state. (Yes, that’s a big deal.) And for visitors still on the fence about where to book their travel to, check out the lists below to see what our readers say are the best islands, towns and more in Hawai‘i.

Best Hotel

Best Beach

Best Island

Best City/Town

1. Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i, Kaua‘i

2. Kā‘anapali Beach Resort, Maui

3. Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, Maui

4. Hilton Hawaiian Village, O‘ahu

5. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, O‘ahu

6. Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawai‘i Island

7. Halekūlani, O‘ahu

8. Four Seasons Resort

Hualālai, Hawai‘i Island

9. Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua

1. Hanalei Bay, Kaua‘i

2. Po‘ipū Beach, Kaua‘i

3. Kā‘anapali Beach, Maui

4. Waikīkī Beach, O‘ahu

5. Lanikai, O‘ahu

6. Hāpuna Beach, Hawai‘i Island

7. Kailua Beach, O‘ahu

8. Waimea Bay, O‘ahu

9. Wailea Beach, Maui

10. Mākena Beach, Maui

1. Lahaina, Maui

2. Hanalei, Kaua‘i

3. Honolulu, O‘ahu

4. Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i Island

5. Po‘ipū, Kaua‘i

6. Hale‘iwa, O‘ahu

1. Kaua‘i

2. Maui

3. O‘ahu

4. Hawai‘i Island

5. Moloka‘i

6. Lāna‘i

1. Hawaiian Airlines

2. Alaska Airlines

3. United Airlines

4. Delta Air Line

5. Southwest Airlines

7. Kapa‘a, Kaua‘i

8. Kailua, O‘ahu

9. Hāna, Maui

10. Lāna‘i City, Lāna‘i

VOTED

CITY/TOWN Lahaina, Maui

Best Historic Landmark

1. Pacific Historic Parks, which includes, Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona Memorial, USS Bowfin, USS Missouri, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, O‘ahu

2. Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park, Hawai‘i Island

3. ‘Iolani Palace, O‘ahu

4. World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (including the USS Arizona Memorial), O‘ahu

5. King Kamehameha Statue, O‘ahu

Best National Park

1. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai‘i Island

2. Haleakalā National Park, Maui

3. World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument (including the USS Arizona Memorial), O‘ahu

4. Pu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical Park, Hawai‘i Island

5. Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Moloka‘i

Best State Park

1. Waimea Canyon State Park, Kaua‘i

2. Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park, Kaua‘i

3. Diamond Head State Monument, O‘ahu

4. ‘Īao Valley State Monument, Maui

5. Kōke‘e State Park, Kaua‘i

Best New Restaurant

1. Papa‘aina, Maui

2. Fig & Ginger, O‘ahu

3. Marlow, Maui

4. Nami Kaze, O‘ahu

5. Margotto Hawai‘i, O‘ahu

Best Restaurant

1. Duke’s, O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i

2. Mama’s Fish House Restaurant & Inn, Maui

3. Beach House Restaurant, Kaua‘i

4. Roy’s, O‘ahu, Maui, Hawai‘i Island

5. Merriman’s Hawai‘i, O‘ahu, Maui, Hawai‘i Island, Kaua‘i

Best Bar or Lounge

1. Duke’s, O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i

2. Monkeypod Kitchen, O‘ahu, Maui

3. Lava Lava Beach Club, Hawai‘i Island

4. Tahiti Nui, Kaua‘i

5. RumFire Waikīkī, O‘ahu

Best Local Beer

1. Kona Brewing Co.

2. Maui Brewing Co.

3. Kaua‘i Beer Co.

4. Big Island Brewhaus

5. Aloha Beer Co.

VOTED BEST NATIONAL PARK

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai‘i Island

Best Local Spirit or Wine

1. Kōloa Rum

2. Ocean Vodka

3. MauiWine

4. Volcano Winery

5. Kō Hana Rum

Best Mai Tai

1. Duke’s, O‘ahu, Maui, Kaua‘i

2. Mai Tai Bar at The Royal Hawaiian, O‘ahu

3. Monkeypod Kitchen, O‘ahu, Maui

4. Tahiti Nui, Kaua‘i

5. Mama’s Fish House Restaurant & Inn, Maui

Best Malasada

1. Leonard’s Bakery, O‘ahu

2. Kaua‘i Bakery, Kaua‘i

3. Punalu‘u Bake Shop, Hawai‘i Island

4. T. Komoda Store & Bakery, Maui

5. Pipeline Bake Shop & Creamery, O‘ahu

photo: hawai‘i tourism authority (hta) tor johnson

G O

GRAND

GRAND HYATT KAUAI RESORT & SPA

—

Unwind on the soothing white sands of Kauai’s sunny south shore. Celebrate the sun in a water wonderland of pools. Refresh and renew at Anara Spa. Hit the links at Poipu Bay. Savor the flavors of the island at Tidepools, where bungalows set over a koi-filled lagoon welcome you to enjoy modern Hawaiian cuisine. 50 acres of discovery await.

Plan your getaway today, call 808.742.1234 or visit grandhyattkauai.com. ta-207-370 -2400-01

Best Loco Moco

1. Rainbow Drive-In, O‘ahu

2. Zippy’s, O‘ahu, Maui, Hawai‘i Island

3. Koko Head Café, O‘ahu

4. Hawaiian Style Café, Hawai‘i Island

5. Café 100, Hawai‘i Island

Best Coffee Grower

1. Kaua‘i Coffee Co., Kaua‘i

2. Greenwell Farms, Hawai‘i Island

3. Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation, Hawai‘i Island

4. Hula Daddy Kona Coffee, Hawai‘i Island

5. MauiGrown Coffee, Maui (Coffee Bar

Temporarily Closed)

Best Swimwear

1. Tommy Bahama

2. Pualani Hawai‘i

3. Pakaloha Hawai‘i

4. Reyn Spooner

5. Acacia Swimwear

Best Aloha Wear

1. Hilo Hattie

2. Tommy Bahama

3. Kāhala

4. Tori Richard

5. Reyn Spooner

Best Jewelry

1. Nā Hoku

2. Maui Divers Jewelry

3. Honolulu Jewelry Co.

4. Hilton Hawaiian Village, O‘ahu

5. Paradise Collection

READERS

photo: hawai‘i tourism authority (hta) / ben ono

O‘ahu

O‘ahu, the Gathering Place, has been a visitor favorite since the first tourists arrived in Hawai‘i. Home to the ever-bustling Waikīkī, the sea-salt-dusted streets of the North Shore and the postcard-perfect Lē‘ahi (Diamond Head), O‘ahu is rich with culture, nightlife and activities perfect for the whole family.

Best Luxury Resort

Best

Best Boutique Hotel

1. Turtle Bay Resort

2. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort

3. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

4. Halekūlani

5. The Royal Hawaiian

6. Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikīkī Beach

7. Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko ‘Olina

8. The Kāhala Hotel & Resort

9. ESPACIO The Jewel of Waikīkī

10. Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa

Value Hotel or Resort

1. The Imperial Hawai‘i Resort

2. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort

3. Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort

4. Turtle Bay Resort

5. Marriott’s Ko ‘Olina Beach Club

6. Outrigger Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel

7. Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikīkī Beach Walk

8. Holiday Inn Express Waikīkī

9. Ala Moana Hotel

10. Hale Koa Hotel

1. The Imperial Hawai‘i Resort

2. Halekūlani

3. The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club

4. The Kāhala Hotel and Resort

5. Queen Kapi‘olani Hotel

6. Regency on Beachwalk Waikīkī by Outrigger

7. The Modern Honolulu

8. Aqua Palms Waikīkī

9. Lotus Honolulu at Diamond Head

10. The Laylow, Autograph Collection

Best Hotel or Resort for Families

1. The Imperial Hawai‘i Resort

2. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

3. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort

4. Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort

5. Turtle Bay Resort

6. Marriott’s Ko ‘Olina Beach Club

7. Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikīkī Beach Walk

8. Holiday Inn Express Waikīkī

9. ‘Alohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach

10. Hale Koa Hotel

tor johnson

Best Hotel for Romance

1. Turtle Bay Resort

2. The Royal Hawaiian

3. Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort

4. Halekūlani

5. Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko ‘Olina

6. Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikīkī Beach

7. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort

8. The Kāhala Hotel & Resort

9. Marriott’s Ko ‘Olina Beach Club

10. Surfjack Hotel

Best Hotel or Resort Spa

1. Moana Lani Spa at Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikīkī Beach

2. Spa Halekūlani at Halekūlani

3. Mandara Spa at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort

4. Infinity Massage & Spa at Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort

5. The Kāhala Spa at The Kāhala Hotel & Resort

Best Hotel or Resort Pool

1. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

2. Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort

3. Sheraton Waikīkī Hotel

4. Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort

5. Turtle Bay Resort

Best Vacation Timeshare

1. Hilton Grand Vacation Club at Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort

2. Marriott’s Ko ‘Olina Beach Club

VOTED BEST CAMPGROUND

Waimānalo Beach Park

3. Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa

4. Wyndham at Waikīkī Beach Walk

5. The Imperial Hawai‘i Resort

Best Bed & Breakfast or Inn

1. Diamond Head B&B

2. Mānoa Valley Inn

3. Sheffield House Bed & Breakfast

4. Manu Mele Bed and Breakfast

5. Hula Breeze B&B

Best Botanical

1. Waimea Valley

2. Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden

3. Foster Botanical Garden

4. Wahiawā Botanical Garden

5. Koko Crater Botanical Garden

Best

1. Waimānalo Beach Park

2. Bellows Field Beach Park

3. Kualoa Regional Park

4. Mālaekahana Beach Campground

5. Kahua Nui-Makai

Beach

3. Kailua Beach Park

4. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

5. Waimea Bay

Best Dinner Cruise or Sunset Sail

1. Star of Honolulu

2. Na Hōkū II Catamaran

3. Maita‘i Catamaran

4. Atlantis Adventure Cruises

5. Sail Holokai

Best Extreme Tour

1. Kualoa Ranch

2. Diamond Head Parasail

3. Skydive Hawai‘i

4.

Best Farm Tour 1. Dole Plantation

4. Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours

5. Honolulu Helicopters Tours

Best Golf Course

1. Turtle Bay Golf Courses

2. Ko ‘Olina Golf Club

3. Ala Wai Golf Course

4. Hawai‘i Kai Golf Course

5. Mākaha Valley Golf Course

Best Hiking Trail

1. Diamond Head Summit Trail

2. Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail

3. ‘Aiea Loop Trail

4. Kuli‘ou‘ou Ridge Trail

5. Kamanaiki Ridge Trail

Best Live Show

1. Paradise Cove Lū‘au

2. Hā: Breath of Life

3. Blue Note Hawai‘i

4. Rock-A-Hula

5. Magic of Mark Mauricio

Best Lū‘au

1. Paradise Cove Lū‘au

2. Ali‘i Lū‘au at the Polynesian Cultural Center

3. Germaine’s Lū‘au

4. Hale Koa Hotel Lū‘au

5. Chief’s Lū‘au at Sea Life Park

Best Museum

1. Pearl Harbor National Memorial

2. Bishop Museum

3. ‘Iolani Palace

4. Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

5. Honolulu Museum of Art

Best Surf Spot

1. Waikīkī Beach

2. Hale‘iwa Beach Park

3. Diamond Head

4. Pua‘ena Point Beach Park

5. White Plains Beach

VOTED BEST EXTREME TOUR Kualoa Ranch

photo: hawai‘i tourism authority (hta) ben ono

BEST SURF SPOT

Best Snorkeling Spot

1. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

2. Shark’s Cove

3. Kahe Point Beach Park (Electric Beach)

4. Waimea Bay

5. Ko ‘Olina Lagoons

Best Fishing Charter

1. O‘ahu Charter Sport Fishing

2. Hawai‘i Deep Sea Fishing

3. Maggie Joe Sport Fishing

4. Ruckus Sportfishing and Diving

5. SurReel Fishing Charters

Best Art Gallery

1. Wyland Galleries

2. Hale‘iwa Art Gallery

3. Clark Little Gallery

4. Greenroom Gallery Waikīkī

5. Pictures Plus

Best Shopping Center or Mall

1. Ala Moana Center

2. International Market Place

3. Royal Hawaiian Center

4. Pearlridge Center

5. Kāhala Mall

Best Clothing/Fashion Boutique or Store

1. Olive Boutique

2. Kealopiko

3. Fighting Eel

4. Allison Izu

5. Sig on Smith

Best Store for Sourvenirs

1. Hilo Hattie

2. Dole Plantation

3. SoHa Living

4. Island Sole/ Coco Nēnē Hawai‘i

5. ABC Store

READERS

GRAZING WITH ALOHA!

Waikīkī Beach

Waikīkī has waves for everyone, from first-timer surfers to veteran wave riders. You might even see professional surfers like Carissa Moore and Kelly Slater catching waves on this sunny coast. Summertime is the best for surf in Waikīkī, as swells roll into southern shores. The area is home to about a dozen surf breaks, from the friendly waves of Canoes to the racy righthanders of Three’s. There are kiosks and surf shops that rent out surfboards and offer lessons, so anyone can paddle out and surf the same waves Duke Kahanamoku did.—Catherine Toth Fox

Best Surf Instruction Co.

1. Waikīkī Beach Services

2. Big Wave Dave Surf Co.

3. North Shore Surf Girls

4. Hans Hedemann Surf School

5. Faith Surf School

Best Beach Gear or Water Gear Rental

1. Snorkel Bob’s

2. Waikīkī Beach Services

3. Surf N Sea

READERS CHOICE AWARDS

2023

BEST OF HAWAII

We specialize in chef-crafted grazing boards and modern style brunching.

Located at McCully Shopping Center, ground floor #103 Reservations & Take- out orders (808) 501-7249

fig.gingerhonolulu@gmail.com | www.fghonolulu.com @fig.gingerhonolulu

4. Go Bananas

5. Aloha Beach Services

Best Surf Shop

1. North Shore Surf Shop

2. T&C Surf Hawai‘i

3. Local Motion Hawai‘i

4. Surf N Sea

5. Aloha Board Shop

Best Transportation Service

1. TheBus

2. Waikīkī Trolley

3. Roberts Hawai‘i

4. Uber

5. Biki Hawai‘i

Best Resort for a Wedding

1. The Royal Hawaiian

2. Turtle Bay Resort

3. Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko ‘Olina

4. Moana Surfrider

5. The Kāhala Hotel & Resort

Best Wedding Venue (Not a Beach or Resort)

1. Kualoa Ranch

2. Ha‘ikū Gardens Weddings

3. Ko‘olau Ballrooms and Conference Center

4. Dillingham Ranch

5. Loulu Palm

Best Restaurant

1. Duke’s Waikīkī

2. Roy’s Waikīkī

3. Barefoot Beach Café

4. Hy’s Steak House

5. Orchids

Best Hotel or Resort Restaurant

1. Duke’s Waikīkī at the Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort

2. House Without A Key at the Halekūlani

3. The Beachhouse at the Moana Surfrider

4. Plumeria Beach House at The Kāhala Hotel & Resort

5. Morimoto Asia at the ‘Alohilani Resort Waikīkī Beach

Best Bar or Lounge

1. Duke’s Waikīkī

2. Maui Brewing Co.

3. RumFire Waikīkī

4. House Without a Key

5. Bar Leather Apron

Best Cheap Eats

1. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

2. Zippy’s

3. Nico’s Pier 38

4. Helena’s Hawaiian Food

5. Marukame Udon

Best Bakery

1. Leonard’s Bakery

2. Liliha Bakery

3. Kamehameha Bakery

4. Ted’s Bakery

5. Sugarlina Bakeshop

Best Breakfast or Brunch

1. Eggs ‘n Things

2. Liliha Bakery

3. Cinnamon’s

4. Koko Head Café

5. Café Kaila

The Gracious Side of Diamond Head

Your private oasis is just minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. The Kahala has everything you could wish for in a tropical beach resort; Perfect location, legendary service, award-winning restaurants, rich cultural activities, and more. Escape from the ordinary and experience what it means to live The Kahala life.

VOTED BEST BAKERY

Leonard's Bakery

photo: hawai‘i tourism authority (hta) / daeja fallas

Best Burger

1. Cheeseburger in Paradise

2. Teddy’s Bigger Burgers

3. Rainbow Drive-in

4. Ku ‘Āina Burger

5. Chubbies Burgers

Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant

1. Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman

2. Merriman’s Honolulu

3. Kahumana Organic Farm & Café

4. Moku Kitchen

5. Mud Hen Water

Best Food Truck

1. Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck

2. Fumi’s Kahuku Shrimp Truck

3. Big Wave Shrimp

4. Flyin’ ‘Ahi

5. Chubbies Burgers

Best Traditional Hawaiian Restaurant

1. Helena’s Hawaiian Food

2. Waiāhole Poi Factory

3. Haili’s Hawaiian Food

4. Highway Inn

5. Yama’s Fish Market

Best Noodle, Saimin or Ramen

1. Marukame Udon

2. Shiro’s Saimin Haven

3. Ramen BARIO

4. Palace Saimin

5. Shige’s Saimin Stand

Best Pizza

1. Big Kahuna’s Pizza

2. Round Table Pizza

3. Boston Pizza

4. J. Dolan’s

5. Pieology Pizzeria

BEST PLATE LUNCH

Best Plate Lunch

1. Rainbow Drive-In

2. L&L Hawaiian BBQ

3. Nico’s Pier 38

4. Kono’s

5. Alicia’s Market

Best Poke

1. Foodland

2. Nico’s Fish Market

3. ‘Ono Seafood

4. Tanioka’s Seafood and Catering

5. Fresh Catch

Best Happy Hour

1. Duke’s Waikīkī

2. Maui Brewing Co.

3. Tiki’s Grill & Bar

4. Kona Brewing Co.

5. The Chart House

Best Seafood Restaurant

1. Roy’s Waikīkī

2. Duke’s Waikīkī

3. Nico’s Pier 38

4. Hale‘iwa Joe’s

Best Shave Ice Stand or Store

1. Matsumoto Shave Ice

2. Island Vintage Shave Ice

3. Waiola Shave Ice

4. Uncle Clay’s House of Pure Aloha

5. Shimazu Shave Ice

5. 53 By The Sea Steak House

1. Ruth’s Chris Steak House

2. Roy’s Waikīkī

3. Hy’s Steak House

4. D.K Steak House

5. Bali Steak & Seafood

Rainbow Drive-In

Since it opened on the corner of Kana‘ina Avenue and Castle Street in Kapahulu in 1961, Rainbow Drive-In has been the go-to spot for satisfying plate lunches after surfing, hiking or just regular mornings spent out and about. The restaurant remains a local institution thanks to its nostalgic charm and plate lunches that never disappoint. Served with barbecue beef, boneless chicken and mahi mahi, the mixed plate is a favorite. And the 95-cent side of gravy to smother it all is worth every penny. While Rainbow Drive-In is best known for its Kapahulu location, it’s also in Kalihi, ‘Ewa Beach and the Pearlridge Center.—Grace Maeda

Rainbow Drive-In, Multiple Locations, rainbowdrivein.com

Maui, the Valley Isle, has the best of both worlds. With thriving towns and communities—like Wailuku, with its artsy vibe, and Lahaina for bar-hopping—Maui is perfect for almost any visitor. And with its natural charms, like ‘Īao Valley and the Road to Hāna, adventurous travelers will find endless things to do as well.

Best Luxury Resort

Best

1. Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

2. Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel

3. The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua

4. Wailea Beach Resort

5. Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows

6. The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas

7. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

8. Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

9. Fairmont Kea Lani

10. The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kā‘anapali

Value Hotel or Resort

1. Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel

2. Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

3. Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows

4. The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas

5. Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa

6. Napili Kai Beach Resort

7. Aston Kā‘anapali Shores

8. The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kā‘anapali

9. Maui Beach Hotel

10. Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

Best Boutique Hotel

1. Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel

2. Fairmont Kea Lani

3. Napili Kai Beach Resort

4. Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

5. The Plantation Inn

6. Hotel Wailea, Relais & Châteaux

7. Hāna-Maui Resort, a Destination by Hyatt Hotel

8. Montage Kapalua Bay

9. Pā‘ia Inn

10. Mana Kai Maui Resort

Best Hotel or Resort for Families

1. Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel

2. Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

3. The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas

4. Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows

5. Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

6. Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club

7. The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kā‘anapali

8. Honua Kai

9. Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa

VOTED

Molokini Crater photo: hawai‘i tourism authority (hta) / tor johnson

Maui

Best Resort or Hotel For Romance

1. Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

2. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

3. Wailea Beach Resort

4. The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua

5. Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel

6. Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

7. Fairmont Kea Lani

8. Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

9. Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows

10. Hāna-Maui Resort, a Destination by Hyatt Hotel

Best Hotel or Resort Spa

1. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

2. The Ritz Carlton Spa, Kapalua

3. Mōhalu by Spa Grande at Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

4. Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa

5. Spa Helani at The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas

Best Hotel or Resort Pool

1. Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

2. Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa

3. The Westin Maui Resort and Spa, Kā‘anapali

4. Wailea Beach Resort by Marriott

5. Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel

Best Vacation Timeshare Property

1. The Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas

2. Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club

3. Kā‘anapali Beach Club by Diamond Resorts & Hotels

4. Kama‘ole Sands

5. Honua Kai Resort & Spa

Best Licensed Vacation Rental

1. Kapalua Bay Villas

2. Maui Condo and Home

3. Hale Kai Oceanfront Condominiums

4. Ho‘olei at Grand Wailea

5. Vacasa, previously Condominium Rentals Hawai‘i

Best Bed & Breakfast or Inn

1. The Plantation Inn

2. Kula Lodge

3. Pā‘ia Inn

4. Lumeria Maui

5. Mangolani Inn

Best Beach

1. Kā‘anapali Beach

2. Mākena Beach (aka Big Beach)

3. Wailea Beach

4. Nāpili Bay

5. Kapalua Bay

Best Botanical Garden

1. Maui Tropical Plantation

2. Ali‘i Kula Lavendar

3. Maui Nui Botanical Gardens

4. Garden of Eden Arboretum

5. Kula Botanical Garden

Best Campgrounds

1. Haleakalā National Park

2. Wai‘ānapanapa State Park Campground

3. Camp Olowalu

4. Kīpahulu Campground

5. Hosmer Grove Campgrounds

Best Dinner or Sunset Cruise

1. Trilogy Excursions

2. PacWhale EcoAdventures

3. Pride of Maui

4. Ali‘i Nui Sailing Charters

5. Atlantic Adventures

Best Extreme Tour

1. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

2. Skyline Eco-Adventures

3. Kapalua Ziplines

4. Flyin Hawaiian Zipline

5. Rappel Maui

Best Farm Tour

1. Maui Tropical Plantation

2. Ali‘i Kula Lavender

3. Surfing Goat Dairy

4. Hāna Gold

5. ‘Ono Organic Farms

Best Guided Tour

1. PacWhale Eco-Adventures

2. Hāna Tours of Maui

3. Roberts Hawai‘i Heavenly Hāna

4. Valley Isle Excursions Road to Hāna

5. Kai Kanani Sailing

Best Helicopter Tour

1. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

2. Maverick Helicopters

3. Air Maui Helicopter Tours

4. Pacific Helicopter Tours

5. Sunshine Helicopters

Best Golf Course

1. Kapalua Golf, The Plantation Course/ Bay Course

2. Kā‘anapali Golf Courses

3. Wailea Golf Club

4. Maui Nui Golf Club

5. Kāhili Golf Course

Best Hiking Trail

1. Haleakalā National Park

2. ‘Īao Valley State Park

3. Kapalua Coastal Trail

4. Twin Falls Hike

5. Pīpīwai Trail

MAHALO

FRIENDS, VISITORS, & MAUI OCEAN CENTER ‘OHANA for making maui ocean center #1, three years in a row!

We appreciate your support & partnership inspiring wonder, understanding, & respect for Hawai ʻ i’s marine life.

BEST HIKING TRAIL

Best Waterfall Hike

1. ‘Īao Valley State Park

2. Twin Falls Hike

3. Pīpīwai Trail to Waimoku Falls

Best Live Show

1. Black Rock Cliff Dive Ceremony at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa

2. George Kahumoku Jr.’s “Slack Key Show”

3. Warren and Annabelle's Magic!

4. Feast at Lele

5. Old Lahaina Lū‘au

Haleakalā National Park

There’s 30,000 acres in Haleakalā National Park on Maui to explore, with more than 30 miles of hiking trails that range from quick 10-minute walks to multiday, overnight trips in the summit district alone. The terrain is diverse, too, from native shrubland with native birds and endemic plants to aeolian cinder desertscapes. One of the most popular hikes in the national park is actually in the Kīpahulu District on Maui’s east side. The 4-mile Pīpīwai Trail snakes through a thick bamboo forest and ends at the 400-foot Waimoku Falls.—CTF

Best Lū‘au

1. Old Lahaina Lū’au

2. Drums of the Pacific Lū‘au

3. Feast at Lele

4. Myths of Maui Lū‘au at The Royal Lahaina Resort & Bungalows

5. Royal Lahaina Lū‘au

Best Museum

1. Maui Ocean Center

2. Whalers Village Museum

3. Lahaina Heritage Museum

4. Baldwin Home Museum

5. Hale Hō‘ike‘ike at the Bailey House

Best Surf Spot

1. Kā‘anapali Beach

2. Launiupoko Beach Park

3. Kīhei Cove Park

4. Lahaina Breakwall

5. Ho‘okipa Beach Park

Best Snorkeling Spot

1. Molokini Crater

2. Kā‘anapali Beach (aka Black Rock Beach)

3. Kapalua Bay

4. Honolua Bay

5. Maluaka Beach

Best Fishing Charter

1. Luckey Strike Charters

2. Maui Fun Charters

3. Start Me Up Sportfishing Charters

4. Fish Maui

5. All About Fish

Best Zipline

1. Kapalua Ziplines

2. Maui Zipline Company

3. Skyline Hawai‘i

4. Flyin Hawaiian Zipline

4. Jungle Zipline Maui

Best Art Gallery

1. Lahaina Galleries

2. Bill Wyland Galleries

3. Maui Hands Art Gallery

4. Hui No‘eau Visual Arts Center

5. Curtis Wilson Cost Gallery

Best Shopping Center or Mall

1. Whalers Village

2. The Shops at Wailea

3. Lahaina Cannery Mall

4. Queen Ka‘ahamanu Center

5. Pi‘ilani Village Shopping Center

Best Clothing/ Fashion Boutique

1. Mahina

2. Holoholo Surf

3. Driftwood Maui

4. Keani Hawai‘i

5. Nuage Bleu

Best Store for Souvenirs

1. Hilo Hattie

2. Maui Swap Meet

3. Beachbumz Tiki and Gift Shop

4. Maui Hands Art Gallery

5. Maui Soap Co.

Best

Snorkeling/Scuba/ Surf Rental or Instruction

1. Snorkel Bob’s

2. Maui Dive Shop

3. Boss Frog’s

4. Maui Diving — Scuba & Snorkel Center

5. Maui Surfer Girls

Best Beach Gear or Water Gear Rental

1. Maui Dive Shop

2. Snorkel Bob’s

3. Boss Frogs

4. The Snorkel Store

5. Auntie Snorkel

Best Surf Shop

1. Honolua Surf Company

2. Maui Surfboards

3. Hi-Tech Surf Sports

4. Second Wind Maui

5. Foam Co.

Best Transportation Service

1. Roberts Hawai‘i

2. Kā‘anapali Trolley

3. Maui Bus

4. Uber

5. ‘Akina Tours & Transportation

Best Resort for a Wedding

1. Grand Wailea Maui, A Waldorf Astoria Resort

2. Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

3. The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua

4. Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel

5. Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort

Best Wedding Venue (Not a Beach or Resort)

1. Maui Tropical Plantation

2. Olowalu Plantation House

3. Merriman’s Kapalua

4. Ha‘ikū Mill

5. Maui Dragonfruit Farm

The ‘Ohana of Na Hoaloha Ekolu would like to thank all of our patrons for your continued support over the years, and especially those who selected our various businesses as being “No Ka ‘Oi” (the Best) for this year. We continue to share Aloha through unique experiences with residents and visitors based on Hawaiian values.

The ‘Ohana of Na Hoaloha Ekolu would like to thank all of our patrons for your continued support over the years, and especially those who selected our various businesses as being “No Ka ‘Oi” (the Best) for this year. We continue to share Aloha through unique experiences with residents and visitors based on Hawaiian values.

BEST L U ¯ ‘AU

BEST L U

¯ ‘AU

For Reserved Seats Cal l (808)667-1998

For Reserved Seats Cal l (808)667-1998

www . o l d l aha i n a l uau. c o m

www . o l d l aha i n a l uau. c o m

BEST NOODLE SAIMIN RAMEN

BEST NOODLE SAIMIN RAMEN

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- BEST BAKERY -

Best Restaurant

1. Mama’s Fish House Restaurant & Inn

2. Lahaina Grill

3. Merriman’s Maui

4. Roy’s Kā‘anapali

5. Huihui

Best Hotel or Resort Restaurant

1. Duke’s Beach House at Honua Kai Resort & Spa

2. Humuhumunukunukuāpua‘a at the Grand Wailea

3. The Banyan Tree at The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua

4. Nick’s Fishmarket at the Fairmont Kea Lani

5. The Restaurant at Hotel Wailea

Best Bar or Lounge

1. Monkeypod Kitchen by Merriman

2. Hula Grill Barefoot Bar

3. Down the Hatch

4. South Shore Tiki Lounge

5. Lehua Lounge at Andaz Maui

Best Cheap Eats

1. Maui Tacos

2. 808 Deli

3. Sam Sato’s

4. Cool Cat Café

5. Sunrise Café

Best Bakery

1. Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop

2. T. Komoda Store & Bakery

3. Sugar Beach Bake Shop

4. Maui Pie

5. Home Maid Bakery

Best Breakfast or Brunch

1. Kīhei Caffe

2. The Gazebo Restaurant

3. Sunrise Café

4. Duke’s Beach House at Honua Kai Resort & Spa

5. Huihui, Kā‘anapali Beach Hotel

Best Burger

1. Cheeseburger in Paradise

2. Hula Grill

3. Cool Cat Café

4. Teddy’s Bigger Burgers

5. Stewz Maui Burgers

Best Farm-To-Table Restaurant

1. Mama’s Fish House Restaurant & Inn

2. Hāli‘imalie General Store

3. Merriman’s Maui

4. Pacific’o on the Beach

5. O‘o Farms

Best Food Truck

1. Maui Fresh Streatery

2. Thai Mee Up

3. Kina‘ole Grill Food Truck

4. Geste Shrimp Truck

5. Dino’s Gourmet On-The-Go

Best Noodle, Saimin or Ramen

1. Star Noodle

2. Sam Sato’s

3. Tin Roof Maui

4. Ramen Ya

5. Da Best Pho & Vietnamese

Best Banana Bread

1. Halfway to Hāna

2. Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop

3. Aunty Sandy’s Banana Bread

4. Maui Bread Co.

5. Julia’s Banana Bread

Best Pizza

1. Lahaina Pizza Company

2. Flatbread Company

3. Pizza Madness Maui

Best Plate Lunch

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Best Poke

1.

Best Seafood Restaurant

1. Mama’s Fish House Restaurant & Inn

2.

3. Lahaina Grill

4. Lahaina Fish Co.

5. Kimo’s Maui

Best Shave Ice Stand or Store

1. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice

2. Surfing Monkey Hawaiian Shave Ice

3. Halfway to Hāna

4. Breakwall Shave Ice Co.

5. Local Boys Shave Ice

Best Happy Hour

Best Steak House

1. Lahaina Grill

2. Ruth’s Chris Steak House

3. Roy’s Kā‘anapali

4. Kimo’s Maui

5. DUO Steak and Seafood

Tin Roof Maui

Okazuya & Deli Honokōwai

Takamiya Market

Kū‘au Store

Waikapū on 30

Foodland

2. South Maui Fish Co.

3. Tamura’s Market

4. Takamiya Market

5. Eskimo Candy

Pā‘ia Fish Market

1. Maui Brewing Co.

2. Kimo’s Maui

3. Lahaina Grill

4. Roy’s Kā‘anapali

5. Ruth’s Chris Steak House

4. Dollie’s Pub & Café

5. Marlow

VOTED BEST POKE Foodland

Kaua‘i

6. Timbers Kaua‘i Resort

7. Hanalei Colony Resort

8. The ISO Hotel Kaua‘i

9. The Cliffs at Princeville

10. The Lodge at Kukui‘ula

Best Hotel or Resort for Romance

1. The Cliffs at Princeville

2. Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa

3. Waimea Plantation Cottages

4. Hanalei Bay Resort

5. The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas

6. Ko‘a Kea Resort on Po‘ipū Beach

7. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

8. Marriott’s Kaua‘i Beach Club

9. Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort

10. Kaua‘i Shores Hotel

Best Hotel Resort or Spa

1. The Spa at Ko‘a Kea Resort on Po‘ipū Beach

2. Anara Spa at Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa

3. Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort and Spa

Kaua‘i, the Garden Isle, is among Hawai‘i’s most verdant islands. Packed with thriving botanical gardens and outdoor activities, the island is best known as the home of the majestic Nāpali Coast. And don’t forget about always-sunny Po‘ipū and surf-centric Hanalei. There’s plenty to love here, for both visitors and locals.

Best Luxury Resort

1. Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa

Best Value Hotel or Resort

1.

Best Boutique Hotel

4. Bamford Wellness at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

5. Alexander Spa & Salon at The Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort Līhu‘e

Best Hotel or Resort for Families

1. Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa

2. Waimea Plantation Cottages

3. Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club

4. Hanalei Bay Resort

5. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

6. Kiahuna Plantation Resort Kaua‘i by Outrigger

7. Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort

8. The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas

9. Kaua‘i Shores Hotel

10. Aston

on the Beach

2. The Cliffs at Princeville

3. 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

4. Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort

5. Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club

6. Kōloa Landing Resort at Po‘ipū

7. Ko‘a Kea Resort on Po‘ipū Beach

8. The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas

Kaua‘i Shores Hotel

2. Waimea Plantation Cottages

3. Marriott’s Kaua‘i Beach Club

4. Hanalei Bay Resort

5. Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort

6. Kaua‘i Beach Resort & Spa

7. Sheraton Kaua‘i Coconut Beach Resort

Islander

1. Kaua‘i Shores Hotel

2. Waimea Plantation Cottages

3. Hanalei Bay Resort

4. Marriott’s Kaua‘i Beach Club

5. Ko‘a Kea Resort on Po‘ipū Beach

8. Hilton Garden Inn Kaua‘i Wailua Bay

9. Kiahuna Plantation Resort Kaua‘i by Outrigger

10. The Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort Līhu‘e

9. Club Wyndham Bali Hai Villas

10. Hanalei Bay Resort

VOTED

BEACH Hanalei Bay

photo: getty images / backyard production

Best Vacation Timeshare

1. The Cliffs at Princeville

2. Marriott’s Kaua‘i Beach Club

3. The Point at Po‘ipū (Diamond Resort)

4. The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas

5. Hanalei Bay Resort

Best Bed & Breakfast or Inn

1. Hale Kua Kaua‘i Bed & Breakfast

2. Hanalei Surfboard House

3. Hale Ho‘o Maha Bed & Breakfast

4. Kaua‘i Shores Hotel

5. Tutu Hale

Best Beach

1. Hanalei Bay

2. Po‘ipū Beach

3. ‘Anini Beach

4. Mākua Beach (aka Tunnels Beach)

5. Kē‘ē Beach

Best Botanical Garden

1. Na ‘Āina Kai Botanical Gardens & Sculpture Park

2. Allerton Garden

3. Princeville Botanical Gardens

4. Smith’s Tropical Paradise

5. Limahuli Garden & Preserve

Best Campground

1. Nāpali Coast State Wilderness Park

2. Kōke‘e State Park

3. ‘Anini Beach

4. Polihale State Park

5. Kumu Camp

BEST BOTANICAL GARDEN

Best Dinner Cruise or Sunset Sail

1. Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures

2. Nāpali Coast Hanalei Tours

3. Blue Dolphin Charters

4. Kaua‘i Sea Tours

5. Holo Holo Charters

Best Extreme Tour

1. Kaua‘i Backcountry Adventures

2. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

3. Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures

4. Holo Holo Charters

5. Kaua‘i Sea Tours

Best Farm Tour

1. Kaua‘i Coffee Co.

2. Kaua‘i Sugarloaf Pineapple Farm

3. Lydgate Farms

4. Garden Island Chocolate

5. Hawaiian Organic Noni

Best Guided Tour

1. Kaua‘i Backcountry Adventures

2. Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures

3. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

4. Allerton Garden

5. Lydgate Farms

Best Helicopter Tour

1. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

2. Jack Harter Helicopters

3. Safari Helicopters

4. Island Helicopters

5. Sunshine Helicopters

Best Golf Course

Best Hiking Trail

1. Waimea Canyon Trail to Waipo‘o Falls

2. Kuilau Ridge Trail

3. Nounou Trail (aka Sleeping Giant)

4. Māhā‘ulepū Heritage Trail

5. Wai Koa Loop Trail (aka Stone Dam)

Best Live Show

1. Tahiti Nui Live Music

2. South Pacific Dinner Theatre

3. McMaster Slack Key Concert

4. Larry Rivera

5. Ahi Lele Fire Show

Best Lū‘au

1. Smith’s Family Garden Lū‘au

2. Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Lū‘au

3. Lū‘au Kalamakū

4. Ali‘i Lū‘au at Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort

5. Tahiti Nui Lū‘au

Best Museum

1. Kaua‘i Museum

2. Grove Farm Sugar Plantation Museum

3. Kōke‘e Natural History Museum

4. Hawaiian Style Surfing

5. Kelley’s Surf School

Best Nāpali Tour Co.

1. Capt. Andy’s Sailing Adventures

2. Blue Dolphin Charters

3. Kaua‘i Sea Tours

4. Holo Holo Charters

5. Island Helicopters

Na ‘Āina Kai Botanical Gardens & Sculpture Park

This private-estate-turned-botanical garden in Kīlauea sits on 260 tranquil acres. Years of labor went into creating this oasis, which now features a serene lagoon, a Japanese teahouse and an impressive collection of full-size bronze sculptures. Several types of tours are offered through the gardens, from cart rides to a moderate nature hike.—GM

1. Princeville Makai Golf Club

2. Po‘ipū Bay Golf Course

3. The Ocean Course at Hokuala

4. Kukuiolono Park & Golf Course

5. Puakea Golf Club

Best Surf Spot

1. Hanalei Bay

2. Kalapakī Beach

3. Anahola Bay

4. Kāhili Beach (aka Rock Quarry Beach)

5. Kiahuna Beach

Na ‘Āina Kai Botanical Gardens & Sculptural Park, 4101 Wailapa Road, Kīlauea, Kaua‘i, naainakai.org

Best Snorkeling Spot

1. Po‘ipū Beach

2. Mākua Beach (aka Tunnels Beach)

3. ‘Anini Beach

4. Kē‘ē Beach

5. Lāwa‘i Beach

Best Fishing Charter

1. ‘Ohana Fishing Charters

2. Captain Don’s Kaua‘i Sport Fishing

3. Hawaiian Style Fishing

4. Bonefish Kaua‘i

5. Breakaway Fishing Charters

Best Zipline

1. Kaua‘i Backcountry Adventures

2. Kōloa Zipline

3. Shaka Zipline Kaua‘i

4. Outfitters Kaua‘i

5. Skyline Hawai‘i

Best Art Gallery

1. Island Art Gallery

2. Halele‘a Gallery

3. Kela’s Glass Gallery

4. Aloha Art Gallery

5. Tabora Gallery

Best Shopping Center or Mall

1. Coconut Marketplace

2. Po‘ipū Shopping Village

3. The Shops at Kukui‘ula

4. Kukui Grove Center

5. Ching Young Center

Best Clothing/Fashion Boutique or Store

1. Crazy Shirts

2. Hula Girl

3. Blue Ginger

4. Mahina

5. Tropical Tantrum

VOTED BEST HIKING TRAIL Waimea Canyon Trail to Waipo‘o Falls

Best Store for Gifts

1. Sand People

2. Jungle Girl Island Imports

3. Banana Patch Studio

4. Bamboo Works

5. Tropic Isle Music and Gifts

Best Store for Souvenirs

1. Kaua‘i Coffee Co.

2. The Kaua‘i Store

3. Hilo Hattie

4. Kaua‘i Made

5. The Koa Store

Best Surf Instruction Co.

1. Hanalei Surf School

2. Kaua‘i Surf School

3. Titus Kinimaka’s Hawaiian School of Surfing

4. Hawaiian Style Surfing

5. Kelley’s Surf School

Best Snorkeling/ Scuba Instruction

1. Snorkel Bob’s Kaua‘i

2. Dive Kaua‘i

3. Boss Frog’s Kaua‘i

4. Fathom Five Divers

5. Nukumoi Surf Co.

Best Beach Gear or Water Gear Rentals

1. Snorkel Bob’s Kaua‘i

2. Kapa‘a’s Beach Shop

3. Boss Frog’s Kaua‘i

4. Nukumoi Surf Co.

5. Kaua‘i Bound

Best Surf Shop

1. Hanalei Surf Co.

2. Po‘ipū Surf

3. Tamba Surf Co.

Best Transportation Service

1. Alamo Rent-a-Car

2. Thrifty Car Rental

3. The Kaua‘i Bus

4. Roberts Hawai‘i

5. Sue’s Northside Taxi & Tours

Best Resort for a Wedding

1. Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa

2. Princeville Resort Kaua‘i

3. Hanalei Bay Resort

4. The Royal Sonesta Kaua‘i Resort Līhu‘e

5. Sheraton Kaua‘i Resort

Best Wedding Venue (Not a Beach or Resort)

1. Waimea Plantation Cottages

2. Beach House Restaurant

3. Na ‘Āina Kai Botanical Gardens

4. McBryde & Allerton Gardens

5. Wai‘oli Hui‘ia Church

Best Restaurant

1. Beach House Restaurant

2. Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa

3. Merriman’s Fish House

4. Bar Acuda

5. Jo2 Restaurant

Best Hotel or Resort Restaurant

1. Lava Lava Beach Club

2. Duke’s Kaua‘i

3. Tidepools at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort & Spa

4. Red Salt at Ko‘a Kea Hotel & Resort at Po‘ipū Beach

5. RumFire Po‘ipū Beach

Best Bar or Lounge

1. Duke’s Kaua‘i

2. Tahiti Nui

3. Tiki ‘Iniki

4. Happy Talk Lounge

5. Trees Lounge

Best Cheap Eats

1. Puka Dog Hawaiian Style Hot Dogs

2. Bubba Burgers

3. Da Crack Mexican Grinds

4. The Shrimp Station

5. Hamura Saimin Stand

Best Bakery

1. Kaua‘i Bakery

2. Hanalei Bread Co.

3. Kīlauea Bakery & Pizza

4. Haole Girl Island Sweets

5. The Right Slice

Best Breakfast or Brunch

1. Lava Lava Beach Club at the Kaua‘i Shores Hotel

2. Kountry Kitchen

3. Kalāheo Café & Coffee Co.

4. Tip Top Cafe

5. Ānuenue Café

Best Burger

1. Bubba Burgers

2. Kenji Burger

3. Kalypso Island Bar & Grill

4. Street Burger

5. Kickshaws

Best Farm-to-Table Restaurant

1. Merriman’s Fish House

2. Kaua‘i ‘Ono

3. Hukilau Lānai

4. Bar Acuda

5. Fish Bar Deli

Best Food Truck

Pizza

1. Brick Oven Pizza

2. Kīlauea Bakery & Pizzeria

3. Volcano Pizza Kaua‘i

4. Hideaways Pizza Pub

5. Scorpacciata

Best Plate Lunch

1. Kōloa Fish Market

2. Pono Market

4. Mark’s Place

Best Poke

1. Kōloa Fish Market

2. Hanalei Poke

3. Foodland

4. Ishihara Market

5. Pono Market

Best Happy Hour

1. Lava Lava Beach Club

2. Duke’s Kaua‘i

3. Kalapakī Joe’s

4. Keoki’s Paradise

5. RumFire Kaua‘i

Best Seafood Restaurant

1. The Beach House

2. Merriman’s Fish House

3. Duke’s Kaua‘i

4. The Dolphin Po‘ipū

5. Keoki’s Paradise

Best Steak House

Moloka‘i

Best Noodle, Saimin or Ramen

1. Hamura Saimin Stand

2. Kaua‘i Ramen

3. Pho Kaua‘i

4. Aloha Ramen

5. Wailua Drive In

Best General Store

VOTED BEST LAND ACTIVITY OR ADVENTURE TOUR CO. Hālawa Valley Falls Cultural Hike

Moloka‘i, the Friendly Isle, shows visitors and locals a different side of Hawai‘i—where time moves a little slower, everyone knows everyone by name and the aloha spirit is truly intact.

Best Beach

Best Restaurant

1. Paddlers Restaurant and Bar

2. Hiro's ‘Ohana Grill

3. Kanemitsu Bakery & Coffee Shop

4. Kualapu‘u Cookhouse

Best Place to Stay

Best Cheap Eats

1. Moloka‘i Burger

2. ‘Ono Fish & Shrimp Truck

3. Kanemitsu Bakery & Coffee Shop

4. Moloka‘i Pizza Café

Best Land Activity or Adventure Tour

5. Mana‘e Goods & Grindz

1. Hotel Moloka‘i

2. Moloka‘i Shores

3. Dunbar Beachfront Cottages

Co.

1. Hālawa Valley Falls Cultural Hike

2. Purdy’s Natural Macadamia Nut Farm

1. Murphy’s Beach

2. Pāpōhaku Beach

3. Hālawa Beach

4. Kapukahehu Beach (aka Dixie Maru Cove)

5. Kepuhi Beach

1. ABC Stores

2. Foodland

3. Whalers General Store

4. Sueoka Store

5. Hee Fat General Store

1. Fresh Bite Kaua‘i

2. Porky’s Kaua‘i

3. Al Pastor Tacos

4. Chip Wrecked

5. Kickshaws

1. The Beach House

2. Bull Shed Restaurant

3. Duke’s Kaua‘i

4. Kalāheo Steak House

5. Wrangler’s Steakhouse

3. Hanalei Taro & Juice Co.

5. Sueoka Store

Lāna‘i

Hawai‘i Island

Hawai‘i Island, the Big Island, is the epicenter of volcanic activity in Hawai‘i, and Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is one of the only places you can go to see flowing lava. The island is also home to wonderful neighborhoods like Waimea, which boasts a unique paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) culture, and the ever-misty Hilo town.

Best Luxury Resort

1. Hilton Waikoloa Village

2. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai

3. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Lāna‘i, the Pineapple Isle, is best traveled in a four-wheel drive vehicle, as some of its coolest attractions are off the beaten path. However, Lāna‘i City, the island’s commercial center, has seen a round of recent development in the past few years and is a great place to explore.

Best Beach

1. Shipwreck Beach

2. Hulopo‘e Beach

3. Polihua Beach

Best Place to Stay

1. Sensei Lāna‘i, A Four Seasons Resort

2. Hotel Lāna‘i

3. Hulopo‘e Beach Park Camping

Best Land Activity or Adventure Tour Co.

1. Lāna‘i Jeep Rental

2. Trilogy Excursions (Maui)

3. Paragon Sailing (Maui)

Best Hiking Trail

1. Koloiki Ridge Trail

2. Pu‘u Pehe (aka Sweetheart Rock)

Best Cheap Eats

4. The Fairmont Orchid

5. Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection

Best Value Hotel or Resort

1. Royal Kona Resort

2. Hilton Waikoloa Village

3. SCP Hilo Hotel

4. Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel

5. Volcano House

6. Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa

7. The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort

8. Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Best Plate Lunch

9. Royal Sea Cliff House Kona by Outrigger

10. Kona Seaside Hotel

Best Hotel or Resort for Families

4. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai

5. Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection

Best Hotel or Resort for Romance

1. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai

2. Fairmont Orchid

3. Hilton Waikoloa Village

4. Royal Kona Resort

5. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

6. Volcano House

7. Grand Naniloa Hotel Hilo

8. Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection

9. Kona Seaside Hotel

10. Hale Kona Kai

Best Hotel or Resort Spa

1. Kohala Spa by Hilton Waikoloa Village

2. The Spa at The Fairmont Orchid

3. Hualālai Spa at Four Seasons Resort Hualālai

4. Mauna Kea Spa by Mandara at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Best Restaurant

1. Royal Kona Resort

2. Hilton Waikoloa Village

3. Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa

5. Auberge Spa at Mauna Lani Resort, Auberge Resorts Collection

1. Blue Ginger Café

2. Nō Ka ‘Oi Grindz Lāna‘i

3. Lāna‘i City Bar & Grille

4. Malibu Farm

5. Nobu Lāna‘i

1. Blue Ginger Café

2. Café 565

3. Pele’s Other Garden Deli

3. Munro Trail

4. Fisherman’s Trail

5. Kapiha‘a Trail

1. Blue Ginger Café

2. Coffee Works

3. Nō Ka ‘Oi Grindz Lāna‘i

4. Malibu Farm Restaurant & Bar

VOTED BEST HIKING TRAIL Koloiki Ridge Trail

photo: hawai‘i tourism authority (hta) tommy lundberg

BEST

Best Dinner Cruise or Sunset Sail

1. Fair Wind Cruises

2. Mauna Lani Sea Adventures

3. Body Glove Cruises

4. Paradise Sailing Hawai‘i

5. Tom Barefoot Tours

Best Farm Tour

1. Greenwell Farms

2. Kona Coffee Living History Farm

3. Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation

4. Hawaiian Vanilla Co.

5. Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm

Best Hotel or Resort Pool

Best Beach

Best Botanical Garden

Best Vacation

Timeshare Property

1. Waikoloa Beach Villas

2. Club Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort

3. King’s Land, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club

4. The Bay Club, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club

Best Bed & Breakfast or Inn

Best Campground

5. WorldMark Kona

1. Hōlualoa Inn

2. Dragonfly Ranch

3. Hilo Bay Oceanfront Bed and Breakfast

4. Volcano House

5. Aloha Guest House Bed and Breakfast

1. Hilton Waikoloa Village

2. Royal Kona Resort

3. Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa

4. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai

5. The Westin Hāpuna Beach Resort

1. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park

2. Spencer Beach Park

3. Laupāhoehoe Beach Park

4. Nāmakanipaio Campground

5. Hāpuna Beach State Recreation Area

1. World Botanical Gardens and Waterfalls

2. Hawai‘i Tropical Bioreserve and Garden

3. University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Botanical Gardens

4. The Pana‘ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens

5. The Umauma Experience

1. Hāpuna Beach

2. Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach

3. Mauna Kea Beach

4. Kahalu‘u Beach

5. Makalawena Beach

VOTED

BEACH Hāpuna Beach

Best Guided Tour

1. Mauna Kea Summit Adventures

2. Epic Lava Tours

3. Hawai‘i Forest & Trail

4. Kona Cloud Forest Guided Walking Tours

5. Greenwell Farms

Best Helicopter Tour

1. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

2. Paradise Helicopters

3. Safari Helicopters

Best Golf Course

1. Kona Country Club

2. Mauna Kea Golf Course

3. Hualālai Golf Course at the Four Seasons Hualālai

4. Hāpuna Prince Golf Course

5. Makani Golf Club

Best Hiking Trail

1. Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Kīlauea Iki Trail

2. ‘Akaka Falls Loop Trail

3.

4. Pololū Valley

5.

Best Lū‘au

1. Royal Kona Lū‘au, Voyagers of the Pacific

2. Legends of Hawai‘i Lū‘au, Hilton Waikoloa Village

3. Island Breeze Lū‘au, Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel

4. Sunset Lū‘au, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

5. The Mauna Kea Lū‘au, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Best Museum

1.

4. Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

5. Lyman Museum

Best Surf Spot

1. Kahulu‘u Beach Park

2. Old Kona Airport State Park

3. Banyans

4. Lyman’s Beach

5. Honoli'i Beach Park

Best Snorkeling Spot

1. Kealakekua Bay

2. Two Step, Hōnaunau Bay

3. Kahalu‘u Beach Park

4. Mauna Lani Beach

5. La‘aloa Beach (aka Magic Sands)

Best Fishing Charter

1. Bite Me Sportfishing

2. Marlin Magic

3. A‘u Struck Sportfishing

4. Fire Hatt Sportfishing Charter

5. Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm

Best Zipline

1. Umauma Falls Zipline & Rappel Experience

2. Kohala Zipline

3. Botanical World Adventures

Best Art Gallery

1. Volcano Art Center Gallery

2. Kailua Village Artists Gallery

3. Genesis Galleries

4. Extreme Exposure Fine Art Gallery

5. One Gallery

Best Shopping Center or Mall

1. Queens’ Marketplace

2. Keauhou Shopping Center

3. Parker Ranch Center

4. Prince Kūhiō Plaza

5. Kea‘au Shopping Center

Best Clothing/Fashion Boutique or Store

1. Hilo Hattie

2. Tommy Bahama

3. Sig Zane Designs

4. Jams World

5. Pueo Boutique

Best Store for Souvenirs

1. Waimea General Store

2. Kimura Lauhala Shop

3. Basically Books

4. Aloha Pawz

5. ABC Stores

Best Surf Instruction Co.

1. Kona Boys

2. Kona Mike’s Surf Adventures

3. Kahalu‘u Bay Surf & Sea

Best Snorkeling/Scuba Rental or Instruction Company

1. Snorkel Bob’s

2. Big Island Divers

3. Body Glove Cruises

4. Jack’s Diving Locker

5. Boss Frog’s

Best Beach Gear or Water Gear Rental

1. Snorkel Bob’s

2. Kona Boys

3. Boss Frog’s

Best Surf Shop

1. Kona Boys

2. Kahalu‘u Bay Surf and Sea

3. Oshima Surf & Skate

4. HIC

5. Orchid Land Surf Shop

Best Resort for a Wedding

1. Four Seasons Resort Hualālai

2. The Fairmont Orchid

3. Hilton Waikoloa Village

4. Mauna Kea Beach Hotel

Best Wedding Venue (not a beach or resort)

1. Volcano House

2. Hulihe‘e Palace

3. Nani Mau Restaurant and Gardens

4. Papa Kona Restaurant & Bar

5. Gecko Girlz Shave Ice

Best Restaurant

1. Merriman’s Big Island

2. Jackie Rey’s ‘Ohana Grill

3. Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill

4. ‘ULU Ocean Grill at the Four Seasons Hualālai

5. Brown’s Beach House at The Fairmont Orchid

Best Hotel or Resort Restaurant

1. Hotel or Resort Restaurant

2. Don the Beachcomber at the Royal Kona Resort

3. Brown’s Beach House at The Fairmont Orchid

4. ‘ULU Ocean Grill at the Four Seasons Hualālai

5. Beach Tree at the Four Seasons Hualālai

Best Bar or Lounge

1. Don the Beachcomber at the Royal Kona Resort

2. Kona Brewing Co.

3. Lava Lava Beach Club

4. Huggo’s

5. Kona Inn Restaurant

Best Cheap Eats

1. Da Poke Shack

2. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

3. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar & Grill

4. 808 Grindz Café

5. Café 100

Best Bakery

1. Punalu‘u Bake Shop

2. Two Ladies Kitchen

3. Tex Drive-In

4. Short N Sweet Bakery & Café

5. Lava Java Bakery

Kona Coffee Living History Farm

2. Hulihe‘e Palace

3. Pacific Tsunami Museum

5. Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Devastation Trail

Papokōlea Green Sand Beach

BEST BAKERY

3. Café Pesto

4. Bianelli’s Gourmet Pizza & Pasta

5. James Angelo’s Underground Pizza

Best Plate Lunch

1. Big Island Grill

2. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar & Grill

3. L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

4. Café 100

5. Pine Tree Café

Best Poke

1. Da Poke Shack

2. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar and Grill

Punalu‘u Bake Shop

When Punalu‘u Bake Shop first opened in the mid-‘80s at Punalu‘u Black Sands Beach Restaurant, it quickly became known for its sweet bread loaves. Today the bakery—now located in Nā‘ālehu, making it the southernmost bakery in the U.S.—gets more than 200,000 visitors every year. While the sweet bread is its best seller, the bakery also serves a variety of baked goods, including malasadas and anpan (Japanese sweet rolls), and plate lunches that you can enjoy in a lush, 4-acre tropical garden. And if you can’t get to Hawai‘i Island anytime soon, you can order Punalu‘u’s famous sweet bread online.—CTF

Punalu‘u Bake Shop, 5642 Māmalahoa Highway, Nā‘ālehu, Hawai‘i Island, (808)929-7343, bakeshophawaii.com

4. Moon and Turtle

5. Forc Restaurant

Best Loco Moco

1. Big Island Grill

2. Hawaiian Style Café

3. Ken’s House of Pancakes

Best Burger

4. Café 100

5. Pine Tree Café

Best Noodle, Saimin or Ramen

1. TK Noodle House Kona

2. Nori's Saimin and Snacks

3. Ken’s House of Pancakes

Best Farm-To-Table Restaurant

4. Noodle Club

5. Tetsumen

Best Pizza

3. Kona Grill House

4. Suisan Fish Market

5. Poke Market

Best Seafood Restaurant

2. ‘Umeke’s Fish Market Bar and Grill

3. Jackie Rey's ‘Ohana Grill

4. The Seaside Restaurant

5. ‘ULU Ocean Grill at the Four Seasons Hualālai

Best Shave Ice Stand or Store

1. Original Big Island Shave Ice Co.

2. Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice

3. Scandinavian Shave Ice

4. One Aloha Shave Ice Co.

5. Gecko Girlz Shave Ice

Best Steak House

1. Roy’s Waikoloa Bar & Grill

2. Merriman’s Fish House

3. Outback Steakhouse

4. Kamuela Provision Co.

5. Ruth’s Chris

1. Kona Brewing Co.

2. Big Island Pizza Napoletana

1. The Fish Hopper

1. Hilo Burger Joint

2. Village Burger Waimea

3. Cronies Bar & Grill

4. Ultimate Burger

5. Chubby’s Diner

1. Merriman’s Big Island

2. Hilo Bay Café

3. Foster’s Kitchen

Best Breakfast or Brunch

1. Island Lava Java

2. Ken’s House of Pancakes

3. Hawaiian Style Café

4. The Coffee Shack

5. Don the Beachcomber

A Lūʻau Legacy

For nearly 40 years, the Old Lāhainā Lū‘au has enchanted guests with moving hula performances and authentic and contemporary Hawaiian fare. What guests don’t see are the hours of meticulous preparation leading up to each night.

WRITTEN BY GRACE MAEDA

BY RYAN SIPHERS

PHOTOS

ABOVE

Old Lāhainā Lū‘au sits along the shore of Maui's west side.

RIGHT Hula, a beautiful form of storytelling, recounts epic tales, from legends of courageous voyagers to tragic lovers caught in the fiery wrath of Pele, the volcano goddess.

SPIRITED MUSIC, captivating performances, delicious Hawaiian fare—lū‘au are considered a must for travelers to Hawai‘i. These celebrations often take place with a dreamy sunset as the backdrop and a bounty of food—a mix of authentic and contemporary—shared by all.

However, prior to Western contact in Hawai‘i, ‘aha‘aina, or feasts, looked strikingly different. Strict rules in Hawaiian society prohibited men and women from eating together. Then in 1819, life in the Islands drastically changed. King Kamehameha II held a feast where he made a symbolic gesture: He ate among women. “This act of sitting and eating amongst men and women was the catalyst that ended the kapu system,” says Kawika Freitas, a manager at the Old Lāhainā Lū‘au. That year, the kapu system—the laws governing conduct and resources—was abolished, ushering in new customs in the Islands.

Two centuries later, visitors are invited to elaborate feasts to celebrate Hawai‘i’s vibrant culture. Although it’s now known as a lū‘au, Freitas says the term is actually a misnomer. Lū‘au is the name of the traditional dish consisting of chicken wrapped in kalo (taro) leaves and baked in coconut milk. But the term is widely used to describe parties and the Hawaiian dictionary even defines lū‘au as a feast.

At Old Lāhainā Lū‘au, tradition meets modern aloha and hospitality. “People come here to experience Hawai‘i,” Freitas says. And careful planning goes into every lū‘au, from hours of rehearsals to preparing the ‘imu (underground oven) in the morning and wrapping the lau lau. Let these pages transport you to the Old Lāhainā Lū‘au and and provide a peek behind the scenes.

ABOVE

The ‘imu has become an essential element to every modern-day lū‘au production. Typically, a pig is roasted in the underground oven and served to guests as pua‘a kālua (kālua pig).

RIGHT

A team of bakers prepare hundreds of taro rolls every day. The fluffy, purple bread is even more decadent with their homemade guava butter slathered on.

ABOVE

Lau lau is considered a labor of love. Bundles of pork are hand rolled in kalo leaves and steamed. The result is succulent meat that melts in your mouth.

LEFT

“Guests experience our culture through our food,” Freitas says. Diners feast on juicy lau lau, tender kālua pig, salty lomi lomi salmon, fresh ‘ahi, traditional poi and sweet haupia. And that’s all before the main course.

ABOVE

“Although we do this every night, we try to instill new energy,” Freitas says. “When the doors open, the switch goes on.”

RIGHT

The Old Lāhainā Lū‘au was the first lū‘au production in Hawai‘i to start greeting every guest with a fresh flower lei, a tradition it has continued.

ABOVE

The mai tai isn’t a local drink, but it’s ubiquitous in Hawai‘i. It’s the signature drink at most modern-day lū‘au.

LEFT

Cultural practitioners and artists teach guests about traditional crafts at exhibits scattered on the lawn. “People step back in time when they come,” says Freitas.

Lei & Lounge

An homage to Chinatown, The Lei Stand has made a name for itself as one of Downtown Honolulu’s coolest lounges.

BY KEVIN ALLEN

This Honolulu speakeasy pays homage to its Chinatown roots with its authentic-looking storefront and sign on Bethel Street. But once you shimmy through the plastic drapes separating the storefront from the bar, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. Neon lights illuminate a hyper-chic bar that balances on the edge of vintage and modern. The space is a love letter to retro-Honolulu while also paying homage to the Chinatown of the past few decades. A magnificent wooden bar counter separates guests from hip bartenders and their displays of spirits, which are complemented by boisterous palms and other flora. The dimly lit outdoor seating area features an actual lei stand, Dorothy’s, and looks just as stylish as the interior. It is quite the scene.

“We wanted to pay homage to Chinatown and this area, to be a part of this community and the vibe they had down here, and to pay homage to what Chinatown was back in the day,” says Ryan Kalei Tsuji, co-owner of The Lei Stand. Tsuji knows exactly what Chinatown was like in years past, even frequenting Bethel Union, which was the bar and restaurant that existed here before The Lei Stand. “Chinatown has that perfect balance of old-school and new-school, and you can be fun and take risks with your design because Chinatown is so urban and gritty,” adds Tara Shimooka, fellow co-owner of The Lei Stand.

The planning process for The Lei Stand was started by the two Honolulu locals over two years ago, during the COVID-19 pandemic. From the get-go, Shimooka and Tsuji said they wanted to create a space that would fill a void in O‘ahu’s current nightlife scene. Their mission: to put together a place where people could go for drinks and music, but not have to deal with rowdy drunken crowds or overly packed bars. They wanted to lounge, in a lounge.

“There are bars and clubs everywhere in Chinatown, but there was no real lounge vibe here,” says Tsuji. “When you go to Los Angeles and New York, they’re everywhere, but I feel like that was

missing the most here.” To accomplish their mission, The Lei Stand operates a little differently compared to most bars and clubs in Hawai‘i. First, you can’t get in without a reservation—unless you get really lucky. “It’s reservation only but we do accept walk-ins if we have space, but you know you’re getting a couch area or high-top if you reserve,” says Shimooka, a former bartender. And free space is hard to come by—even reservations must be made days in advance to ensure a spot.

DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER, AND DON’T JUDGE THE LEI STAND BY ITS FRONT DOOR.

The Lei Stand’s outdoor seating area is dimly lit and very cozy.

“I don’t want to say we’re high-end; we want everyone to come here and enjoy. But we have set a certain standard on what it means to be at a cool place to hang out and sit down, to have a cocktail and listen to good music,” says Shimooka. “We just want there to be something for everybody in Chinatown. You can get the club and the restaurants, but we didn’t feel, for us, that there was an upscale lounge that we’d want to hang out at, where you can get a really cool vibe and understand what Chinatown has to offer.” With an upscale lounge also comes an upscale menu and elevated bites. And with Kenny Lum, ex-bar manager of Nobu Waikīkī, as general manager and mixologist Art Deakins managing the drinks, the culinary side of The Lei Stand is in good hands. Cocktails are equipped with cheeky names to appeal to visitors and locals alike—like the Coconut Wireless

($19), an intriguing mixture of Bulleit Bourbon, house vermouth, bitters and washed coconut fat. The food items are just as charming. The Lei Stand’s small plates are perfect for sharing: Pūpū (appetizers) range from classic Chinese dim sum fare like shrimp shumai ($13) to chorizo hash browns ($9) and a lū‘au stew with chile pepper water ($11). There are a few larger plates as well, like the uni waffle ($19), which comes with a yuzu maple glaze and umami butter. You’ll want to keep that plate for yourself.

It’s not just the names that are local. James Beard Award-nominated chef Ricky Goings sources as much as he can locally, even doing a walk of Chinatown’s vibrant markets every morning to get the best ingredients he can and to put actual produce from Chinatown itself into his dishes. “We can’t pay homage to Chinatown just in decor and design,”

says Shimooka. “We have to do it with the people we work with and what we’re putting into our menu.”

A sum of its parts, The Lei Stand is clear with its aesthetic and culinary choices. It takes inspiration from Tsuji and Shimooka’s world travels—the idea for the floral bar came from a watering hole in Miami and the inspiration for the palmadorned back wall of The Lei Stand came from a space in London. The intentionality of The Lei Stand’s overall design is a refreshing pairing of old Chinatown and new. “The tie-in with the lei stand just seemed like a really easy fit,” says Tsuji, “to bring in a vintage historical sense of Chinatown while also incorporating a newer look to the renaissance that is happening today.”

The Lei Stand co-owners Ryan Kalei Tsuji (left) and Tara Shimooka (right).

41 Fires

Uni Waffle

The Lei Stand, 1115 Bethel St., Honolulu, (808) 773-7022, getleid.co.

Stitching Together Community

Through a wide breadth of sewing projects, this close-knit bunch touches lives across Maui.

BY GRACE MAEDA

ON A THURSDAY AFTERNOON IN THE HEART OF OLD MAKAWAO TOWN, volunteers sew with great care and beneficence. The day’s project is stitching bags for kūpuna (elders) to attach to their wheelchairs.

In the spring of 2020, a group of Maui residents began sewing together to address the severe shortage of face masks on the island. The volunteers established the Maui Face Mask Project and over three years, they produced more than 10,000 face masks for healthcare workers and residents.

While the sheer number of masks produced is impressive, the project’s true impact on the community is harder to quantify. During a time when many were isolated from their kin and close friends, the group provided a meaningful purpose and gratifying connections. While volunteers were sewing masks for first responders and neighbors, they were also stitching together a closeknit tribe. “It was a saving grace that developed into a functional family,” one seamstress says.

The Sewing Hui started in 2020 and volunteers remain eager to work together.

When its pandemic-related work concluded, volunteers found other ways to help the community, and the Maui Face Mask Project evolved into the Sewing Hui. “Volunteers wanted to continue meeting, so we figured we’d segue into other projects,” says Jennifer Oberg, the founder and director of the Sewing Hui. Today, the nonprofit consists of about 25 volunteers who meet every Thursday to sew a colorful assortment of items, which are donated to local organizations.

All are welcome to spend a peaceful morning or afternoon working with the volunteers at the Sewing Hui. Every week there’s usually at least one volunteer from out of town, Oberg says, and the group is always eager to welcome fresh faces. “It’s so sweet to have people come and make this a part of their trip,” she says. “It’s not something they always expect to do on vacation, but they get to be a part of the community.” And they don’t even have to know how to thread a needle: Oberg says that volunteers who don’t know how to sew can assist with other tasks, such as organizing fabric donations.

From stitching vibrant quilted bags that can be attached to wheelchairs for Hale Makua Health Services (an assisted living facility) to creating utilitarian curtains for Imua Family Services (a childhood development center), the Sewing Hui’s work touches individuals across the island. “We’re always open to hearing from the community about what it needs,” Oberg says. “If it involves sewing, we want to hear about it.”

Neighboring nonprofits and other mission-driven organizations often approach the Sewing Hui to partner on budding initiatives. When Maui Rapid Response, a group that supports unsheltered individuals and families, received a

generous donation of pants from Tommy Hilfiger, it turned to the Sewing Hui. The pants, it turned out, were more suited to cooler climates. The Sewing Hui stepped in and refashioned them into shorts, which were distributed at shelters around Maui. The extra material didn’t go to waste, either. The volunteers cleverly repurposed the fabrics into bags, which were distributed along with the shorts.

Oberg says she’s excited about an ongoing collaboration with the Alexander Academy of Performing Arts. Through the partnership, volunteers sew and tailor children’s costumes for performances such as “The Nutcracker” and “Sleeping Beauty.” Oberg recalls how volunteers were delighted to dress the army of rats in “The Nutcracker” this past winter.

Even in the academy’s off season the bright studio is filled with chatter and enthusiasm.

The Maui Face Mask Project worked out of an Upcountry high school, but Oberg opened her business studio as a workspace for volunteers. The professional dressmaker has more than 30 years of experience designing costumes for theater and opera productions and Oberg even worked on sets in Hollywood. In 2001, she moved to Maui and opened Jennifer Oberg Atelier in the rustic, charming town of Makawao, where she specializes in wedding gowns and attire for special occasions.

Volunteers meet here at the studio nestled along Baldwin Avenue. Today, several volunteers sit at sewing machines while others organize baskets filled with colorful fabrics—all of which were donated. The day is split between a morning session, which finishes with a group lunch, and an afternoon session, which includes a break for tea.

It’s a treat to watch this team at work. And it opens the eyes to the many different ways that visitors can engage with small circles of people in the local communities and mālama ‘āina

For more information about volunteering with the Sewing Hui or donating fabric, visit thesewinghui.com

Some volunteers have years of experience sewing, while others are new to the craft. Regardless, all are welcomed.

The Sewing Hui receives baskets of colorful fabric donations, which are turned into goods for the community.

Several volunteers work at sewing machines.

One Last Look

THE FABLED NĀPALI COAST ON KAUA‘I is one of the most recognizable places in Hawai‘i. Between the verdant sea cliff’s razor-sharp ridges, you’ll spot secret beaches and cascading waterfalls. When ocean conditions are just right, adventurous travelers can embark on guided tours that lead them to hidden sea caves where they can marvel at the beauty up close.

PHOTO BY DAVID CROXFORD

Traditional Treasures

The story behind Hawaiian heirloom jewelry.

BY CATHERINE TOTH FOX

JEWELRY COURTESY OF PARADISE COLLECTION

AANYONE WHO’S GROWN UP IN THE ISLANDS has either given, received or marveled at a piece of Hawaiian heirloom jewelry, the highly ornate, hand-engraved bracelets and pendants emblazoned with Hawaiian names or initials in an Old English-style font. But where did this jewelry—and its unique style—come from? Turns out the first Hawaiian bracelet was made in 1862 for the young Lydia Park, who later became Queen Lili‘uokalani, the last sovereign monarch of the Hawaiian King-

dom. The bracelet, which is now at ‘Iolani Palace on O‘ahu, is inscribed with the words, “Hoomanao Mau,” which translates to “a lasting remembrance.” It was handcrafted by Honolulu-based jeweler Christian Eckart and emulated English Victorian designs popular at the time. Since then, the Hawaiian bracelet has evolved to include tropical flower designs, raised lettering and scalloped edges. Today—more than a century and a half later—Hawaiian heirloom jewelry is still a symbol of love and friendship, and a great souvenir of your time in the Islands.

THE GOLD STANDARD IS BLUE