Honolulu Magazine

6 days ago | honolulumagazine.com | Maria Burke

Growing up in Kailua, my friends and I used to meet under the Buzz’s sign before setting out for summertime fun. More than 25 years later, Buzz’s remains a neighborhood fixture—almost exactly as it was—across from Kailua Beach. Still one of the town’s only “fancy” restaurants, yet with laid-back, beachy charm, it’s an expression of the area itself. This almost-in-Lanikai landmark is more than a restaurant—it’s where we grew up. As a child, it’s where you go for special dinners with your family.

6 days ago | honolulumagazine.com | Brie Thalmann

Stamen + Style creates bold looks for lei by mixing and matching different blocks of blooms. Editor’s note: This story was first published in December 2023, and Jill Harunaga’s flower-blocked style of lei has since blown up. She now teaches a highly sought-after class at Island-Boy. “Science is kind of creative,” Jill Harunaga says, noting my surprise at her previous career.

1 week ago | honolulumagazine.com | Laura Dornbush

Ko Olina Children’s FestivalSaturday, May 10, 3 to 8 p.m.This fan-favorite for local families celebrates childhood with ocean awareness activities, cultural arts and crafts, live entertainment—and of course, the highly anticipated Disney character appearances. End the afternoon with a picnic from local food vendors and a sunset showing of Moana 2. The event raises funds for Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children.

1 week ago | honolulumagazine.com | Katrina Valcourt

Ryan Kalei Tsuji and Tara Kanani Shimooka’s speakeasy-style bar closed last year but found a new permanent home (with validated parking). W hen The Lei Stand opened in late 2022, it was not easy to get in. Reservations at the hip, speakeasy-style bar often filled up well in advance, which meant it was not somewhere you just wandered into for pau hana or a night of Chinatown bar hopping. In summer 2024, much to the surprise of fans, it ceased normal operations,.

1 week ago | honolulumagazine.com | Brie Thalmann

Hawai‘i lei makers wowed again with fantastic submissions to this year’s May Day lei contest. The vibrant colors. The beautiful flowers. The awe-inspiring artistry. We look forward to this day every year—May Day or Lei Day (as May 1 was coined in the 1920s) is one of our most beloved local traditions.