The 2021 Ola Pono Award Winners
Volunteers are a vital part of Hawai‘i’s nonprofits—every year, hundreds of thousands of them donate their time and talents to keep our communities moving forward.
People & Profiles
The History of Hawai‘i From Our Files: Honolulu’s First Official Photographer Arrived in 1846
The 100-year-old story of Hawaiʻi’s first photographer, from our files.
Tavana’s Newest Release, “Sway,” Showcases Collaboration in a Time When We Crave It Most
The artist talks about why you may hear running in the background of his songs, how a weekend festival inspired his first slack-key song and why he wants to play in your backyard.
These Two Unlikely Friends Cooked and Delivered Free Gourmet Meals Throughout the Pandemic
When Moku Kitchen shut down, the chef teamed up with his best friend’s girlfriend’s mom to feed her friends and neighbors.
2020 Women of Distinction
It is HONOLULU Magazine’s pleasure to introduce this special section spotlighting outstanding local women—leaders, humanitarians and all-around fearless females—who have made their mark as a force in this community.
Learning About the Life (and Interstellar Hopes) of Honolulu’s Tuxedo Man
After Raymond Kenneth Petry died in August, we wanted to find out more about the mysterious man’s work.
The Shark Chronicles Part II: 5 Years After He Saved A Shark Attack Victim, A Filmmaker’s Journey
What makes one person paddle toward a violent shark attack while others flee? In the case of Keoni TeTawa Bowthorpe, the factors are many and complex, but begin with his culture and upbringing.
Overheard in Honolulu: Two Leaders in Honolulu’s Theater World Talk About Entertainment During Quarantine
Fall usually means packed playhouses applauding the start of the theater season. Not this year.
The Shark Chronicles, Part I: Catching Up with a Shark Attack Victim 5 Years Later
The shark swimmer, the shark attack victim and the filmmaker who saved him: Five years after a fateful day, they’ve reunited in Hawai‘i.
Learn About Identity From These 7 Artists at the Next Virtual PechaKucha
The Hawai‘i State Art Museum’s presentations will take place on Instagram in October.
In the Room with COVID-19: Hawaiʻi Nurses Talk About Patient Care in a Pandemic
For COVID-19 patients hospitalized in isolation, nurses provide a crucial human connection—at the risk of their own safety.
Fall Fashion: 5 Local Hawai‘i Artists, Designers and Business Owners Wear the Newest Trends
This year, the fashion world is focusing on stories of hope, happiness and the return of bubble hems. Following the feel-good trend, we feature five amazing creatives—in the season’s best styles—who share what joy looks like on them.
Passing Notes With Hawai‘i Public School Teachers Jaimi Dennis and Liann Sanerivi
We put two people in a room to talk story, then stay out of the way.
What It’s Like as a Hawai‘i Mail Carrier During a Pandemic
“Our trucks would be full of these huge cases of toilet paper and sanitizer.”
How the Arcadia Family of Companies Copes with COVID-19
The retirement group adapted its pandemic plan quickly to keep residents and those under its care safe.
COVID-19 Hits Home: Three Oʻahu People Who Contracted COVID-19 Talk About Their Illness and Long Recovery
The number of coronavirus cases in Hawai‘i just surpassed 4,000, with more than 2,000 of those cases recorded in the past two weeks.
The History of Hawai‘i From Our Files: Lecturer Fanny W. Krause Travels North America to Teach People About the Hawaiian Islands
In 2015, Japanese people made up a large percentage of Hawai‘i’s population, despite 1907’s informal agreement between the two countries to stop allowing immigration to the U.S. (including Hawai‘i).
Meet the 2020 Ola Pono Award Winners
Volunteers are a vital part of Hawai‘i’s nonprofits—every year, hundreds of thousands of them donate their time and talents to keep our communities moving forward.
Life Interrupted: 15 People. 15 Stories of Sudden Change, Courage and Community During COVID-19
We asked Honolulu residents—teachers, police officers, home care workers, nurses and more—what life was like for them when the pandemic first arrived on O‘ahu.
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.
A Former Waikīkī Hotel Worker Talks About the Moment the Pandemic Became Real to Her
After her hotel closed, Aina Iglesias started delivering food to make ends meet.
This Month, Local Organizations Will Mark Black August with Events Aimed at Education, Understanding and Building a Better Future
Passionate, emotional and powerful.
Nominate an Outstanding Individual or Organization for HONOLULU Magazine’s Ola Pono Awards
Know someone who volunteers their time and talents to make our islands a better place? Submit your nomination by Aug. 28, 2020!
The History of Hawai‘i From Our Files: “Honolulu Never Forgets Memorial Day”
A parade, speeches, and performances by the Kamehameha Glee Club and the Kamehameha Girls’ Glee Club were featured at ceremonies held across town in 1915.
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We aren’t picky, we’re just…discerning.
Hawai‘i is full of amazing places. Most of them you’re free to visit, but there are a few where you’re just not allowed. Here’s a peek into Hawai‘i’s coolest off-limits corners.
We take a look inside your high school yearbooks to find what’s changed about the local high school experience over the years, and what’s stayed exactly the same.
Hole-in-the-wall general stores dishing up their own eats—even if it’s just one ‘ono item—are a beloved part of Island life. Here are a few of Hawai‘i’s best.
Need something to read—or hand to someone who does? Here’s HONOLULU’s first-ever list of the most iconic, trenchant and irresistible Island books, as voted by a panel of literary community luminaries.