Our hearts go out to everyone on Maui. You will remain in our prayers through recovery and as rebuilding begins. Maui Wildfires ongoing updates On August 8, 2023, wildfires swept through West Maui and leveled business districts, destroyed historic sites, gutted homes, and caused many deaths. The full effects of the devastation will take many months to unravel and rebuild. March 5, 2024: The disaster emergency relief period has been extended through May 4, 2024. … [Read more...] about Disaster relief: how and where to donate or volunteer
Best things to buy in April
Every month of the year, certain items are discounted due to overstock, holiday sales, or transitions from one season to the next. Here are the shopping highlights for April in Hawai’i stores. Of course, we think the best way to save money is not to spend it! But, when you need or want to, plan your spending to take advantage of the times of the year when what you buy is at the lowest possible price. Special events with shopping discounts and deals in April … [Read more...] about Best things to buy in April
Affordable April events and entertainment
Our April events calendar offers a wide variety of affordable entertainment across the Hawaiian Islands. We’ll continue to update this calendar throughout the month as many organizers announce new events. As always, we focus on “cheap” things to do with a kamaʻāina adult ticket price of $15 or less or a regular price of $25 or less. Sometimes we suggest events with higher ticket prices that we feel might be worth a splurge, mostly local music, film, and arts … [Read more...] about Affordable April events and entertainment
Where to get Easter bunny photos
The Easter Bunny's in town! Hop in to have a photo taken. Listed below are places to get a professional photo as well as any BYOC (bring your own camera) and free appearances with the EB. While Easter is a Christian holy day, it has also become a secular spring holiday celebrated by retailers and non-Christians around the world with spring flower bouquets, special holiday baked goods, and family gatherings with lots of food, along with photos with life-size … [Read more...] about Where to get Easter bunny photos
Target Stores annual child car seat trade-in event
Target Stores annual child car seat trade-in event every April allows you to trade in an old car seat and receive a 20%-off coupon toward a new car seat, stroller, or other select baby gear. You must be a member of the Target Circle™ loyalty rewards program, which is free and easy to join online. The next Target child car seat trade-in event is happening in stores April 14-27, 2024. How does the target car seat trade-in program work? To participate in the … [Read more...] about Target Stores annual child car seat trade-in event
Easter egg hunts around Hawaiʻi
Like Christmas, Easter is a Christian holy day that has also become a secular holiday celebrated by retailers and non-Christian communities around the world. Secular Easter events typically include photos with a life-size Easter bunny, spring flower bouquets, special holiday baked goods, family gatherings with lots of food, and Easter egg hunts. In the list below, we focus on Easter egg hunts that are free or low cost or are community fundraisers. Tips for … [Read more...] about Easter egg hunts around Hawaiʻi
May Day is Lei Day across the Hawaiian Paeʻāina
Lei Day is a uniquely Hawaiian celebration, honoring the tradition of making and wearing lei. The first Lei Day occurred in downtown Honolulu in 1927. Honolulu Star-Bulletin writer and poet, Don Blanding suggested the idea. In 1929, Lei Day became a state-wide celebration. Always celebrated on May 1st, Lei Day is not a state holiday, so businesses are open as usual. The celebration is marked by making and wearing lei, parades, contests, music, and traditional … [Read more...] about May Day is Lei Day across the Hawaiian Paeʻāina
Best bakeries and restaurants to celebrate National Pi Day (3/14)
"Pi", the sixteenth letter of the Greek alphabet (π), is used by mathematicians to define the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Regardless of the size of the circle, pi always calculates to 3.14. Therefore "Pi Day" is celebrated around the world on 3/14 (March 14). Anyone and everyone celebrates the day with a slice of pie, pizza, quiche, piroshki, hand pies, pot pies, or any other pie your heart desires. Unlike Pi, which never ends and the … [Read more...] about Best bakeries and restaurants to celebrate National Pi Day (3/14)
Academy Awards Oscars best picture nominees
Each year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recognizes excellence in the motion picture industry. Hundreds of millions of movie fans turn in to watch the glamorous ceremony as members of the academy are awarded an Oscar statue. About the Oscar Awards The Academy is a global organization limited to film artists working in the production of theatrically-released motion pictures. Membership is achieved through sponsorship and is reviewed every … [Read more...] about Academy Awards Oscars best picture nominees
Hawaiian hula dance: where to see & learn hula
Here is a very brief introduction to the indigenous Hawaiian dance known as hula. It is intended to give you an appreciation of the history of hula and an overview of its many forms. We include a list of some of the major hula festivals throughout the year across Hawaiʻi, as well as free hula shows and demonstrations held in shopping malls and other locations throughout the Hawaiian Islands. What is hula? Hula is a very complex dance form unique to the Hawaiian … [Read more...] about Hawaiian hula dance: where to see & learn hula
Kauaʻi: Waimea Town Celebration 9-day festival with rodeo, ho’olaule’a, contests
Kaua'i's largest and longest-running festival held in the plantation town of Waimea. The celebrations is hosted by the Historic Waimea Theater and Cultural Arts Center, a non-profit organization with a mission to provide benefits to local charity and non-profit groups in the community of West Kaua'i. Please bring canned foods for Hawai'i Food Bank's ORANGE & GREEN food bins at all events. The 9-day festival begins President's Day weekend and includes … [Read more...] about Kauaʻi: Waimea Town Celebration 9-day festival with rodeo, ho’olaule’a, contests
Oʻahu: How to get free admission or discount tickets to HoMA
Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA) holds one of the largest single collections of Asian and Pan-Pacific art in the United States, along with works from America, Europe, Africa, and Oceania. The museum has more than 50,000 works of art, spanning 5,000 years of history and representing all of Hawaii’s cultures.HoMA collections include paintings, decorative and traditional arts, woodblocks, and textiles. Located in downtown Honolulu near Blaisdell Center, HoMA is … [Read more...] about Oʻahu: How to get free admission or discount tickets to HoMA
Oʻahu: Food trucks & other cheap eats in Waikīkī
Here’s our list of food trucks, grab & go markets, and food courts throughout Waikīkī. They are great options when you are looking for an affordable meal or quick bite. All of them are located within Waikīkī, along a 1.5 mile stretch on Kalākaua and Kūhiō Avenues. These locations offer a variety of popular eateries that are enjoyed by tourists and locals. Waikīkī food trucks and food halls Peruse the list below or use our Google Map at the end of the … [Read more...] about Oʻahu: Food trucks & other cheap eats in Waikīkī
Best places to buy Hawaiian gifts & souvenirs
Listed below, we offer a list of gifts and souvenirs that are uniquely Hawaiian, including Aloha wear, jewelry, crack seed, local honey, sea salts, quilts, tropical prints, koa wood carvings, and of course Hawaiian music. We also suggests some of the best places to buy Hawaiian made goods, including independent shops, craft stores, artist galleries, farmers markets, malls and stores, online retailers, and other locations around the Hawaiian Islands. House … [Read more...] about Best places to buy Hawaiian gifts & souvenirs
Maui shopping centers, malls, and outlet stores
Here's a rundown of major shopping areas on the island of Maui. We focus on shopping centers, outlet malls, and other stores offering basic necessities, discounted goods, locally made products, and cultural entertainment. Our list begins in Kahului and then West Maui from Lāhainā to Kihei and Wailea. Queen Ka'ahumanu Center in Kahului Queen Ka'ahumanu Center (QKC) is Maui’s largest shopping center and Kahului "town square" since 1972, featuring family … [Read more...] about Maui shopping centers, malls, and outlet stores
Oʻahu: Best shopping malls for holiday sales
Holiday weekends throughout the year are especially popular times for retailers to entice you to shop and save. You can find sales and discounts on a variety of seasonal goods. Stores, shopping malls, and major brands may also host special events and giveaways. Listed below is a list of the best holidays for shopping sales and discounts. Then, scroll down for a list of some of the biggest and best shopping malls throughout Hawaiʻi. Best holidays for shopping at … [Read more...] about Oʻahu: Best shopping malls for holiday sales
Contemporary Hawaiian Arts: Galleries, Craft Markets, Festivals
Listed below are resources for buying contemporary Hawaiian arts and crafts across the Hawaiian Paeʻāina (island group). You'll find several lists, including Art Galleries and permanent Craft Marketplaces, followed by seasonal Art Fairs, Craft Shows & Holiday Bazaars. If you're looking for hands-on art and craft making, we also offer a list of Visual Art Education centers where you can find workshops and classes in visual arts that are available to the … [Read more...] about Contemporary Hawaiian Arts: Galleries, Craft Markets, Festivals
All about Aloha Friday & how to celebrate
The tradition of Aloha Friday goes back to the mid-twentieth century. During summer, businesses relaxed their dress code requiring a business suit and allowed Hawaiian-made aloha shirts to be worn during the warmer months. Eventually, Aloha Friday became official, and wearing aloha wear was encourage every Friday all year long. In the 1990s, the tradition of establishing a day for a more relaxed dress code spread to California, becoming known as Casual … [Read more...] about All about Aloha Friday & how to celebrate
Hawaiian Islands Farmers Markets
Listed below are farmers markets currently operating throughout the paeʻāina (archipelago, i.e. Hawaiian Islands). We also provide tips for getting the most out of your shopping day and a guide to what’s in season throughout the year. Tips for shopping at farmers markets Bring shopping bags, baskets, or rolling cart Bring cash in small denominations ($1, $5, coins) Prepare a shopping list to help you shop efficiently Be flexible and adapt your … [Read more...] about Hawaiian Islands Farmers Markets
Maui Invitational college basketball tournament Thanksgiving Week
The Maui Invitational is an annual NCAA basketball tournament that takes place Thanksgiving Week in Lahaina, Hawaiʻi. The event has long been considered the nation's preeminent early season college basketball tournament. Eight NCAA Division I men's basketball teams are invited to compete, playing three games in three days. ESPN networks offer live television coverage of all 12 Championship Round games. The Maui tourney continues to provide schools an opportunity … [Read more...] about Maui Invitational college basketball tournament Thanksgiving Week
Hawaiʻi: Kīlauea volcano eruption report September 2023
An eruption began at Kīlauea summit on September 10, 2023 on the downdropped block in Kīlauea 's summit caldera. By September 16, based upon visual and geophysical observations, the eruption had ended. Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions have decreased to near pre-eruption background levels. Live-stream video of Halemaʻumaʻu from the northwest rim of the caldera, looking east is available at: https://www.youtube.com/usgs/live. More eruption … [Read more...] about Hawaiʻi: Kīlauea volcano eruption report September 2023
Kīpuni Aloha no Maui – reflection and prayer for our beloved Maui
Join all of Hawaiʻi on September 1, 2023 for a statewide vigil in support of Maui. This day is centered on emotional and spiritual healing that is rooted in Native Hawaiian practices with leaders from diverse faiths. Watch ceremonies streaming live or attend a ceremony at one of the locations listed below. This vigil is in line with ‘Aha Pule Pualu, the assembly of kumu hula, and cultural practitioners for collective prayer and reflection over an anahulu, a … [Read more...] about Kīpuni Aloha no Maui – reflection and prayer for our beloved Maui
Ultimate Guide: budget-friendly transportation in Hawaii
Lucky you live in Hawai’i! For a budget-friendly island lifestyle, keeping transportation costs down is essential. We got you covered with this comprehensive list of transportation options, whether you're commuting to work, running errands, or heading to the beach. Listed below are many ways Hawai’i residents can shave costs like ice. We examined how to get around Hawaiʻi without a car using aloha 'aina alternatives like walking, bicycling, public transportation, … [Read more...] about Ultimate Guide: budget-friendly transportation in Hawaii
Hawaiian Airlines annual Holoholo Challenge
The Hawaiian Airlines Holoholo Challenge launched in 2020 as an opportunity for friends to holoholo (go out) and stay connected. Inspired by the Hawaiian Islands, the virtual fitness challenge features courses that span the distance between some of our state's most treasured places. In that first year, the Holoholo Challenge celebrated the landscapes of Oʻahu. Every year since, the challenge has focused on a different island. In 2021, the Holoholo Challenge … [Read more...] about Hawaiian Airlines annual Holoholo Challenge
30 stunning botanical gardens you can visit in Hawai’i
One of the more relaxing and affordable ways to enjoy the outdoors in Hawai’i for residents or tourists is to spend time in one of the many botanical gardens or arboretums throughout the islands. Whether you desire a leisurely garden stroll, are a home gardener, or serious botany student, there is a garden for you to visit. Most of the gardens in the lists below are privately owned. All are open to visitors. Most have free admission, but a few have an admission … [Read more...] about 30 stunning botanical gardens you can visit in Hawai’i
