2025 Hale ‘Aina Award Winners: The Best Restaurants in Hawai‘i
Congratulations to this year’s Hale ‘Aina Award winners announced on June 2, 2025.
HONOLULU Latest Stories
Three Standout Drinks From Hale ‘Aina Award-Winning Cocktail Bars
Raise a glass at these cocktail bars recognized by our readers as providing the Best Cocktail Programs.
The Owners of Giovedì, the 2025 Hale ‘Aina Awards’ Best New Restaurant, Are Unapologetically Themselves
The folks at Giovedì spent years working for others before branching out on their own—and now they’re bringing home gold.
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.
Connecting with My Doppelgänger
Seeing my Vegas-based alter ego living his best life on Instagram sent me on a journey.
Empty Bowl Hawai‘i Returns to Support the End of Food Insecurity
At this fundraising event, you pick a ceramic bowl and fill it with soups by beloved local restaurants like The Pig & The Lady and MW Restaurant.
These Local Bag Lei Are Totes Charming
There’s nothing we love more than a local spin on a global trend. Case in point, Hawai‘i’s answer to the current bag charm obsession: island-inspired adornments for your carryalls.
The Era of Kala‘e Parish Has Arrived
The rising Hawaiian country artist was a standout winner at this year’s Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards.
Find Furniture Gems of Yesteryear at Today, Tomorrow
Today, Tomorrow offers an eclectic array of furniture from a wide span of design periods.
Through the Looking Glass With Glass Artist and Teacher Bud Spindt
A master artist finds joy in teaching basics to beginners.
We Tried It: Beginning Ballet for Adults
Queen Emma Ballet gave me another chance to embrace my inner ballerina.
Trade Your Secondhand Reyn Spooner Shirts for New Threads
You can now trade in pre-owned shirts for store credit through the Reyn’s Again program, with those in good condition given a second chance.
Honolulu Rail Expands With Four New Stations
The oft-criticized Honolulu Rail project’s next stops will be at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, the airport, Lagoon Drive and the Middle Street Transit Center.
Art Installation Wahi Pana: Storied Places to Complete This Fall
The final phase of the public multimedia art project will be unveiled at various O‘ahu sites.
Is Tourism Really Way Down?
We got visitor data to see where the tourism industry stands since COVID.
The Pig & the Lady: From Farmers Market Pop-Up to the City’s Hottest Restaurant
Revisiting the backstory of this six-time James Beard Award semifinalist a day before the Chinatown restaurant closes to move to a new home.
Things to Do on O‘ahu in September 2025
Experience “A Night in Morocco” with Hale ‘Aina award-winning restaurants, enjoy the Aloha Festivals pageantry, dance around the yagura at the island’s biggest bon dance and more.
What’s Open or Closed in Honolulu for Labor Day
Your guide to which Honolulu City and County services will be available or suspended in observance of Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 1, 2025.
What to Eat During September’s Okinawan Feastival in Honolulu
Okinawan Festival is this weekend. Okinawan FEASTival continues the celebration with special dishes at 16 restaurants until Sept. 15.
Where to Park in Kaimukī
Want to shop or dine in Kaimukī? Here’s an insider guide on where you should park.
What You’ll Eat at the 2025 Hale ‘Aina Gala Plus Everything Else You Need to Know
Indulge in dishes from Hale ‘Aina Award-winning restaurants from past and present, and immerse yourself in an evening of Moroccan-themed entertainment, henna stations, psychic readings and dancing under the stars.
Local I‘a Fish Fry Plates Will Help Clear Invasive Ta‘ape Off Our Reefs
Come for $12 plates of fried fish, rice and salad on Labor Day Monday or get some ready-to-cook ta‘ape snappers to go.
Your Insider Guide to Empty Bowl Hawai‘i
Slurp soup from top chefs to support the Feed the People Hawai‘i program on Sept. 27.
Best Breads: My Tour of Fresh Loaves Around Honolulu
Frolic’s former intern embarks on a loaf-by-loaf quest to find her favorite bread on the island.
