On Mokauea Island, the site of O‘ahu’s last traditional fishing village, families have fought for decades to preserve their traditional way of life. Images by Josiah Patterson A light summer rain falls on O‘ahu an hour after daybreak as BJ Bagood drives his boat the short distance from Ke‘ehi Harbor to his childhood home on Mokauea. As Mokauea is in the rain shadow of O‘ahu, the weather clears a few hundred yards out from his destination. Mauoli Ola, the traditional name for Sand Island, is in plain sight across the channel. Commercial jets and military aircraft occasionally roar overhead as t ..read more

Over the last few years, waves of change have rocked the surfing world, especially for Hawai‘i and women athletes. Images by Christa Funk Born and raised in the ahupua‘a of Waikīkī, near the fabled shoreline once graced by the beach homes of Hawaiian chiefs, I took up surfing in the late 1960s as a young teen and have been obsessed with it ever since. If I’d had any real athletic talent, not been so averse to cold water that I quit my Northern California college surf club, and been able to find work in Hawai‘i instead of having to move to New York City, I could easily have become my family’s w ..read more

Megan Kamalei Kakimoto embraces the macabre and ghostly side of Hawai‘i in her debut short story collection. Images by Meagan Suzuki A thrilling examination of the psyches of Native Hawaiian women, Megan Kamalei Kakimoto’s debut collection of eleven short stories Every Drop is a Man’s Nightmare is as haunting and titillating as its title suggests. The Hawaiian Japanese writer from Honolulu muses on ancient moʻolelo and a tragic history of colonization and exploitation, in order to conjure a present-day Hawaiʻi where cunning menehune appear on one’s doorstep, military strikes shower the island ..read more

The Oʻahu-based photographer speaks about his process, the value of mentors, and why it’s never too late to get started. Images courtesy of Matt Mallams Focusing on Oʻahu’s social landscape, photographer Matt Mallams captures the dynamic energy of youth and urban life on the streets of Honolulu. There is a beautiful geometry to Mallams’ photographs. His striking compositions are a reminder that pictures don’t just exist — someone has to make them. With a keen eye for color and an uncanny ability to choose an engaging vantage point, he skillfully brings order to the chaos he encounters. Ma ..read more

In gatherings of community, bon dances celebrate Japanese heritage and pass on ancestral traditions. Images by Michelle Mishina Growing up, my best friend Stephanie, like many local Japanese kids in Hawaiʻi, spent afternoons at the local Hongwanji, where she learned Japanese language and culture. She did so at the behest of her issei grandmother, who wished her granddaughter to cultivate ties to the homeland, a place Steph had in fact never been to, but of which her grandmother held in great reverence. Steph bore the burden of such cultural duty with mild reluctance; I tagged along because she ..read more

At Old Queen Street Stadium, a blink- and-you’ll-miss-it vintage clothing store, the magic and magnetism of Hawai‘i’s local sports scene lives on. Images by John Hook Stepping through the doorway of Old Queen Street Stadium in Kaka‘ako is a bit like stepping through the wardrobe to Narnia, only if instead that closet led to an even bigger closet. The difference, though, is nonetheless transformative: It feels like every square inch of the shop’s dorm-sized space is used to showcase items dating back decades, ranging from high schools to the pros. Therein, all manner of memorabilia narrate diff ..read more

The beauty and brio on display in a Kaua‘i aunty’s floral headpieces captivate social media. Images by Hiroko Letman We never see her face, not really. The portraits are taken at elevated angles so we glimpse a corner of tanned forehead, the crinkle of under eye smile lines, an ear graced with a delicate hoop or pearl earring. If anything we see her profile at most, from the left side with its strong cheekbones. What’s always on view are the flowers, arranged artfully in her pulled back, silvering hair. This is the Instagram account of @hirokolele. The woman in the photographs is known simply ..read more

Milled-to-order sushi rice, handmade mochi, and Hawai‘i’s only shochu brewery exemplify the Japanese ethic and craftsmanship around perennial staples. Japanese artisans have crafted their foods in Hawaiʻi for over a hundred years. After arriving in 1885 to work on sugarcane and pineapple plantations their population quickly grew, many eventually opened businesses sharing the traditions, aesthetics, and expertise of their homeland. High-quality is synonymous with Japan, but like anywhere else, advances in technology can sometimes reduce quality. Foods that are artisan made, generally meaning ar ..read more

Riotous prints and sporty silhouettes imbue clothes with a rebellious warmth fit for Honolulu dwellers on the go. Images by Brandyn Liu Styled by Reise Kochi Creative Producer Aja Toscano Hair and Makeup Artist Risa Hoshino Hair and Makeup Assist Maile BinghamTamiko Hobin Style Assist Taylor Kondo Photographer Assist Matt Ramirez Above: Aiala, from Duet Agency, wears Alexander McQueen blazer, with detachable Keith Lafuente sleeves. Ella, from Honolulu City Club, wears Barragán dress and stylist’s own balaclava. Aiala wears Barragán dress and M33Ms earrings; Alec wears Barragán b ..read more

Milled-to-order sushi rice, handmade mochi, and Hawai‘i’s only shochu brewery exemplify the Japanese ethic and craftsmanship around perennial staples. Japanese artisans have crafted their foods in Hawaiʻi for over a hundred years. After arriving in 1885 to work on sugarcane and pineapple plantations their population quickly grew, many eventually opened businesses sharing the traditions, aesthetics, and expertise of their homeland. High-quality is synonymous with Japan, but like anywhere else, advances in technology can sometimes reduce quality. Foods that are artisan made, generally meaning ar ..read more