A Walk Through Hawaiian Architecture
For centuries Hawaii has been smack in the middle of some of the world’s busiest oceanic trade routes, making it a cultural melting pot that puts even the continental United States to shame. Our cultural diversity is obvious once you start to look, appearing in everything from slack-key Hawaiian guitar to street foods like spam musubi. The most monumental example of Hawaii’s cultural mashup is its architecture. Honolulu’s built environment, in particular, pays homage to the many world cultures that have passed through here: Polynesian, British, American, Japanese, Australian, and more have all left their mark. Each of these cultures introduced unique architectural elements, while embracing innovations like high ceilings and central courtyards that made life comfortable in hot, humid Hawaii. This cultural fusion didn’t come naturally, at first. The earliest American settlers tried to import their own architecture without…
Hollywood’s Tropical Backlot
With breathtaking vistas, secluded grottos, crashing waves, and endless beaches, Hawaii’s movie-star looks have made it a popular filming location. The first movies shot here, two short films called The Shark God and Hawaiian Love, debuted back in 1913. Since then, countless movies have either been set in Hawaii or used the islands’ lush, varied…
Tap into Honolulu’s Brewseums
In March 2020, a Honolulu original closed its doors forever. The Home of the Brave Museum and Brewseum was a one-of-a-kind repository for American military history. Located in a 1920s horse stable and once called Honolulu’s best-kept secret by the city’s mayor, the museum was the passion project of Glen Tomlinson and family. The collection included thousands of WWII relics, from Army-issue Jeeps and Harleys to model bombers that circled overhead on a rope and pulley system. The best part? This family business served up frothy mugs of homemade beer for you to imbibe while marveling at the Pacific’s largest collection of military memorabilia. Sadly, the Home of the Brave Museum shuttered during the COVID-19 lockdowns, though the Tomlinson family are currently raising funds to reopen in Durango, Colorado. In the meantime, we’ve brought you news of Honolulu’s other…
The National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth
On June 19th, 1865, General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and shared General Order Number 3, which proclaimed all slaves to be free. The announcement came two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. It became a National holiday in 2021 thanks to the relentless work of Fort Worth’s very own Opal…
Botanical Gardens in Bloom
May is arguably one of the best times to visit Honolulu. The city begins to dry out from its rainy season, ocean and air temperatures hit the high 70s to low 80s, and Hawaii’s famous biodiversity is on full display. Thankfully, O’ahu is home to no fewer than five botanical gardens where you can observe…
A Whale of a Good Time
Now that spring has officially sprung, Hawaii’s famed beach season is finally upon us. But the warmer days ahead spell the end of another unmissable island experience that’s worth catching while you still can: the annual humpback whale migration. Between late December and early May, thousands of humpback whales congregate in the warm, shallow waters…
The Best of Honolulu’s Live Music
Between the soothing sounds of the ukulele and the hypnotic harmonies of slack-key guitar, Hawaii is renowned for its musical heritage. Venues across Honolulu keep that legacy alive today, whether by supporting the performance of traditional music or promoting more recent innovations like “Jawaiian,” a Pacific spin on reggae. While this fertile musical soil has…
How Hawaii Fell in Love with SPAM
Peruse enough restaurant menus in Hawaii and you might notice a surprising ingredient among the pork, pineapple, and poi. Hawaiians consume more SPAM per capita than any other US state—a whopping five cans per person each year, totaling more than 7 million cans annually. There’s a cookbook dedicated to SPAM—Ann Kondo Corum’s Hawaii’s Spam Cookbook—an…
The BIG Islands
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauna_Kea#/media/File:Mauna_Kea_from_the_ocean.jpg Measuring in at just under 11,000 square miles, Hawaii is one of the smallest U.S. states. But we make the most of our tiny footprint. We boast big waves, a big culture, and some of the biggest attractions around. Here’s a sampling of can’t-miss destinations that will leave you wondering if, after all, everything…
Hawaii Five … Snow?
Earlier this week, visitors to Hawaii’s tallest peak were treated to an island rarity: fluffy white snow. Believe it or not, Mauna Kea is one of three mountains—along with Mauna Loa and Haleakela—that receives snowfall most winters. It’s a surreal experience to gaze down on our famous beaches as snowflakes drift down around you. While…
HONK for Hula!
November is squarely in the middle of our rainy season here in (usually) sunny Hawaii, but one can’t-miss bright spot is Hula O Nā Keiki on November 9-11. An annual event now in its 34th year, Hula O Nā Keiki (or HONK, for short) is Hawaii’s only children’s hula competition, where kids aged 5-17 vie…
A Scarily Good Guide to Halloween in Honolulu
Hawaii is famous for its endless summers, but we know how to have a blast in all seasons. We’ve rounded up three Halloween events in Honolulu that will have you screaming Alo-aaaah! Nightmare Pop-Up Bar, October 1—31 Kick off the fright nights with a visit to Nightmare, a Halloween-themed pop-up bar that’s open this month…