2024 HONOLULU Book Awards
In selecting our 2024 winners in seven categories, we considered heart, breadth of audience, readability and connection.
Author: Photos by Aaron K. Yoshino
Celebrating Wāhine Awards 2025
We’re honoring 39 outstanding business and community leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, health care workers, creatives and others for their impactful contributions to our community. After readers submitted nominations, the women were selected by HONOLULU editors. We asked our award winners to tell us more about their goals and sources of inspiration. Here’s what they said in their own words.
Photo Gallery: Native Seabird Manu-o-Kū Nesting Downtown
We spotted adorable baby manu-o-Kū in bustling downtown Honolulu.
Photo Gallery: Lāhainā Noon Over Sky Gate in Downtown Honolulu
Lāhainā Noon occurred on Monday, May 26, 2025, with our staff photographer and several others in attendance to see the phenomenon fulfill the Sky Gate sculpture’s intention.
Five Fab Fall Accessories
Top luxe brands are keeping us on our toes (albeit, furry ones) with captivating collections that are wild, slick and brilliant.
Best of HONOLULU 2022: The Best Shopping on O‘ahu
These 21 winners deserve a spot on your must-buy list.
Best of HONOLULU 2022: The Best Food and Drinks on O‘ahu
Find 13 of our editors’ favorites, plus 36 winners and finalists voted on by readers.
Best of HONOLULU 2022
From best Korean fried chicken to banh mi, the best way to get into pickleball to best beach blanket, we pulled together the top food, fitness, shopping, services and family-friendly picks.
“Artists of Hawai‘i Now”: John Mantanona, Aura Reyes, Noe Tanigawa
A group advocating for the houseless, Ka Po‘e o Kaka‘ako, shows what it’s like to live on the streets.
See Groundbreaking Works in Honolulu Museum of Art’s New “Artists of Hawai‘i Now” Exhibition
18 storytellers, activists and artists created a mix of video games, weapons, ceramics and more for the least traditional exhibition in its 70-year history.
“Artists of Hawai‘i Now”: Nā‘ālehu Anthony
The documentary filmmaker brings us on board with “Holomua,” which means “progress” in Hawaiian.
“Artists of Hawai‘i Now”: Lynda Hess
As the pandemic exacerbates domestic violence, “1,000 Flowers” provides a meditative healing space.
“Artists of Hawai‘i Now”: Juvana Soliven
“Body Weaponized” challenges the way we treat objects that are designed to hurt women.
“Artists of Hawai‘i Now”: Kauwila Mahi
Mahi’s project, “Kūikawalaki‘i,” explores the connection between past and future.
Aloha for the ‘Āina: A Curated Collection by Our Photographers In Honor of Earth Month
We asked our photographers, Aaron K. Yoshino and David Croxford, to curate a collection of their work in tribute of Earth Month.
Rethinking Hawai‘i: How the Visitor Industry Should Operate in the Future
The experts tell us how best to move forward when restrictions ease and tourism emerges.
Facing Fertility Challenges: How Options in Hawai‘i Provide Support and Hope
The joy of starting a family can quickly turn to heartbreak, but new-to Hawai‘i techniques, a rare insurance rule and local groups can help women overcome some of the challenges.
The Honolulu Family Behind Fukuda Seed Store First Sold Seeds to O‘ahu Gardeners 100 Years Ago
When the pandemic prompted people to create or revive home gardens, this mom and pop business found ways to keep up with the growing demand for DIY food.
What It’s Like Operating a Honolulu Care Home During a Pandemic
Here’s how Caring Mānoa keeps up social distancing while making sure residents maintain quality of life.
Crime Watch: What’s With All the Brazen Attacks in Honolulu the Past Year?
Violent purse snatchings and robberies in the last year left people feeling unsettled. We take a look behind the headlines.
What It’s Like Being a Police Captain and Father During the Pandemic
Mike Lambert runs Honolulu Police Department programs for the homeless population, which, during the early stages of Honolulu’s lockdown, meant setting up new self-quarantine sites. He also stopped living with his kids.
Local Experts Name Their Top Picks for Bourbon, Scotch, Whiskey, Beer, Wine, Champagne and Cocktails in Honolulu
What if you could choose your final drink on Earth? We asked Honolulu’s mixologists—men and women who concoct cocktails for a living—to describe what they’d want for that very last call.
What It’s Like Being a Restaurant Server Who Lost Her Job During the Pandemic
Mariana Lárez Matheus was laid off in mid-March, right before restaurants were ordered to close dine-in services.
What It’s Like Being a Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendant During a Pandemic
Even with the drastic decrease in visitors to the Islands, flights continue.
What It’s Like Being a First Responder During the Pandemic
Paramedic supervisor Marie Hathaway transported one of the first known COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i.
Mana Up Gives 30 Really Good Reasons to Support Local Hawai‘i Companies
Shop big mana’s house online.
Fashion Feature: Tropical Flora Isn’t the Only Thing Blossoming Right Now
Poppy hues, sleek suiting and cutting-edge accessories will soon be everywhere.
Eat a Sketch: We Take a Look Inside One of Honolulu’s Top Chef’s Notebooks
One winter dish started with a carrot.
Quail, Duck, Steeped in Tea, Fertilized or a Century Old: How Do You Like Your Eggs?
Hard-boiled chicken eggs are great. But these other egg options will definitely bring you out of your shell.
If You’re Obsessed With Astrology Then You Will Love These Necklaces
There are signs every wear.
Push for Preschool for All Hawai‘i Kids Receives Powerful New Supporters
Early childhood offers a critical opportunity for children to learn and grow in ways that help them thrive throughout their lives. Yet Hawai‘i politicians have been debating universal preschool for decades and the first public classes just started six years ago. Will this be the year big expansion happens?
Even With the New Push for Universal Preschool, Families With Younger Kids Will Still Struggle
Even with the new push for universal preschool, families with younger kids will still struggle.
Can We Ever Eat All Local in Hawai‘i?
The governor set a goal of doubling local food production by 2020. So how do we measure up?
What Would Hawai‘i’s Top Bartenders Choose as an Epitaph?
We asked our city’s beverage experts what they might like written on their tombstones.
Trend Watch: How to Wear a Sheer Maxi Dress in Hawai‘i
Perfectly sheer.
5 Low-Alcohol Cocktails to Get You Through a Post-Holiday Season Detox
Because getting blackout drunk is nobody’s New Year’s resolution.
Trend Watch: Add This Valentino A-Line Mini Dress to Your Christmas Wishlist
Here comes the bloom.
Your O‘ahu Neighborhood Guide: Kamehameha Highway in Wahiawā
Old meets new in this unique O‘ahu neighborhood off the beaten path.
HONOLULU Magazine and Jana Lam Team Up to Bring You the Tropical Christmas Stockings You Never Knew You Needed
Jana Lam’s workshop was bustling this season as her team of elves was making stockings bright, in collaboration with HONOLULU Magazine. Trust us when we say, yule love it.
Trend Watch: The Owner of Honolulu-Based Label Pi Collection Shows Us How to Wear a Modern Slip Dress
Local jewelry designer Lauryn Gordines shows us how to rock the slinky ’90s staple and spills on her latest project—it’ll get your creative juices flowing.
After 71 Years in Business, Hawai‘i’s Family-Run Foodland is Swinging for the Fences
Changes are happening across Foodland’s 33 stores, some gradual and subtle, others over the top. And there’s more coming.
Local Artists Paint Honolulu’s Streets With Surprising Hawai‘i-Inspired Art
It’s not just about massive murals. Some local artists are going smaller scale with their street art.
