Hawai’i lei makers once again graced the May Day lei contest with gorgeous displays. Lei kui by Melvin “Moki” Labra, winner of the 2026 Mayor’s Grand Prize. Photo: Courtesy of Honolulu Parks & Rec puakenikeni, pua kalaunu, Pele’s hair, plumeria – the list goes on of the beautiful flowers being presented as part of a lei-making competition in celebration of Lei Day on May 1 this year. Hosted by the Honolulu Parks and Recreation Department at Kapi’olani Park, this year’s event was themed “The meeting adjournedtranslated as “from the zenith to the horizon”. About 145 entries were submitted in various…
Author: kissnearme
FRolic’s 9th Annual Poke Fest is going to be a blast: Not only are veteran poke shops and newcomers competing for the fan-favorite King of Poke Fest vote, the competition fever has spread to exciting non-poke specialists who are also creating new poke dishes. It’s all happening at the island’s biggest poke celebration next Saturday, May 16, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Ka Makana Ali’i. The day isn’t just about nibbling: Trishnalei and the Situationships perform live from 5 to 7 p.m., and admission to the entire event is free, as well as keiki activities and music and entertainment…
Last updated on May 6, 2026 Last February, my family and I went to Cortina d’Ampezzo for the 2026 Winter Olympics. After experiencing the 2024 Summer Olympics in France, we knew we had to experience another Olympic event. And what better place to do that than the Italian Alps? The 2026 Winter Olympics had two co-host cities: Milan and Cortina. While Milan hosted perhaps the most popular events, such as figure skating, we decided to settle nearby Cortina to combine the Olympic Games with skiing. I really think Italians do it best when it comes to ski culture, including food…
Real time data Jason Leigh, professor of computer science and director of the University of Hawai’i’s Advanced Applications and Visualization Lab, is part of a $25 million National Science Foundation project to install 300 advanced AI sensors across the country to provide faster warnings for everything from wildfires to floods. Leigh’s team plans to deploy two or three sensors on the islands in yet-to-be-determined locations. He says that while AI-enabled sensors are expensive, costing $10,000 or more, they’re a relative steal compared to the rising costs of extreme weather events. In 2024 alone, the US saw 27 disasters that each…
Food & Drink Health & Wellness Style & Beauty Arts & Crafts Outdoors Fun & Games Food & Drink Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino Pair Rum and Chocolate at House of Mana Up The giant display of rum bottles in Mana Up’s latest location at Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikīkī means we’re in the right place. Reservations for tastings of Mānoa Chocolate and Kō Hana Hawaiian Agricole Rum, which last about 30 minutes, can be made online, but walk-ins are welcome if it’s not too busy. The reservations are available every half hour between 11 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. Once at…
Photo: Courtesy of the Junior Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines THere’s plenty to see, do and eat at this year’s Flores and Philippines Fiesta on Saturday, May 2 in Waipahu. The annual event has long been a gathering place for the local Filipino community, with food vendors, live entertainment, games, workshops, a Santacruzan parade, cultural programming and a balut eating contest, all at the Filipino Community Center. This year’s theme, “Rice: Where Each Grain Tells a Story,” means rice features in dishes, drinks and desserts. It’s a reminder of how central rice is to Filipino life, carrying flavors and…
“PBS Hawai’i had a goal from the beginning,” says Mary Bitterman, station manager from 1974 to 1979. “Our commitment, in a sense, was not to have programming for some people all the time, but to have programming for everyone.” Recording session at the Hawai’i Educational Television Studio, 1969. Photo: Courtesy of PBS Hawai’i To that end, the station, then called the Hawai’i Educational Television Network, or HETV, produced programs that highlighted Native Hawaiian culture, local food, music, and sports. There were live forums with panelists discussing local issues and a show dedicated to the elderly was called Pau Hana Years.…
53 by the sea it’s me they burn Waikiki Created by MW it’s me Coffee neighborhood location basalt Waikiki Big City Diner Multiple locations Gran Island Caramels Route of the Sea Chef Chai Pacifica it’s me The Espera Club House milan Elena’s home of the best Filipino food wastebasket Empire Steak House Waikiki Fig and Ginger McCully Hali’a by Side Street Inn Ewa beach Ige’s Lunchwagon & Catering yes Ko’olau Ballrooms Kane’ohe Cost Cost Waikiki Mango Street Grill location Restaurant MW it’s me Olive branch online Honolulu Press City center Plumeria beach house Kāhala Quiora Waikiki The surfing pig Kaimukī…
Laatst bijgewerkt op 24 april 2026 Toen ik mijn reis naar Zuid-Korea plande met mijn baby, Luna, en mijn beste vriendin, Nikki, en haar baby, had ik nog nooit van het eiland Jeju gehoord. Oorspronkelijk dacht ik erover om een reis naar Zuid-Korea te combineren met een reis naar Japan. Echter, met mijn totale reisduur van 2 weken, en omdat ik de reis niet wilde overhaasten (vooral met een baby!), besloot ik uiteindelijk Japan voor een andere keer te bewaren en mijn blik te richten op een andere bestemming binnen Zuid-Korea. Toen noemde mijn Koreaanse vriend Songly het eiland Jeju.…
Photo: Mari Taketa TAmashiro Market closes for good on April 30th, taking with it a part of Honolulu’s identity and a part of ours. But all of us who are grieving need to know this: This time capsule of a Kalihi fish and poke shop is a success story for the Tamashiro family, who are closing it on their own terms after 85 years. Brothers Cyrus and Guy Tamashiro are 72 and 69 years old. They deserve a long and healthy retirement. This is the story in a nutshell. But of course there is more, one more enormity. Three generations…