Published: December 2021

WHAT'S NEW LOOKING AHEAD TO 2022

December 14, 2022
 

HAWAI‘I – With the optimism and comfort to bounce back into travel, people are dreaming of distractingly beautiful and warm destinations more than ever before. There is no better way to start off the new year than a trip to the Hawaiian Islands, experiencing all of Hawaiʻi’s newest attractions. Enjoy the state’s vibrant music and arts festivals, or indulge in the Hawaiian Islands’ diverse and delectable culinary scene. For travelers interested in getting involved in the community on their vacation, we invite them to mālama (to take care of, preserve and protect) Hawaiʻi through a variety of enriching and meaningful voluntourism activities state-wide. We’ve got all the details below, plus additional updates on just about everything else new statewide.

For additional updates regarding each island, please reference the media sites of our individual Island Chapters: the Island of Hawaiʻi Visitors Bureau, Kauaʻi Visitors Bureau, Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau, and Oʻahu Visitors Bureau.

 
MALAMA HAWAI‘I

Alaska Airlines, in partnership with local Hawaiʻi non-profit travel2change, is furthering the connection between travelers to Hawaiʻi and the ʻāina (land). The partnership, which was announced on November 8th, makes it easier for travelers to find and participate in authentic educational and cultural experiences during their Hawaiʻi visit. The streamlined booking process provides travelers with a variety of Mālama Hawaiʻi partners to choose from. www.travel2change.org/alaskaair/

Fairmont Orchid (island of Hawaiʻi) resort is inviting groups to bond and experience Hawaiʻi Island on a deeper level with a variety of voluntourism opportunities, including a day spent with the nonprofit Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative. The west-side forest the nonprofit protects and preserves is an inspiring place where ancient wiliwili trees thrive in some of Hawaiʻi’s roughest terrain. Your team can sponsor and plant a grove of native trees within the forest as it works alongside Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative land managers to help perpetuate the area. You’ll walk among the wiliwili, see plant species endemic to this rare habitat, and learn about the culture and ecology of the forest while you help restore it. www.fairmontorchid.com/meet/voluntourism/

Leilani Farm Sanctuary (Maui), an idyllic paradise for rescued animals, is a new Mālama Hawaiʻi nonprofit partner located on Maui.  Amidst eight lush acres, this non-profit sanctuary is home to cow, donkey, goats, rabbits, pig, chickens, turkey, cats and more! Visitors are welcome to tour and lend a hand on the farm, meet the Leilani Farm Sanctuary animal ambassadors, and consider sponsoring one of the animals. Helping on the farm supports both the orphaned animals and uplifts Leilani Farm Sanctuary’s youth program. www.leilanifarmsanctuary.org/

Visitors looking to help Kauaʻi mālama the ocean and shoreline while visiting, can check in with the Surfrider Foundation, Kauaʻi Chapter. The nonprofit's Ocean-Friendly Visitors Program provides visitors with recommended ways they can protect shoreline flora and fauna as well as marine life. Suggestions include self-directed beach clean ups, using only reef-safe sunscreen and dining at ocean-friendly restaurants. These efforts go a long way toward not only helping keep the island’s beaches and ocean clean, but also helping protect marine life such as highly endangered Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles and coral. www.Kauaʻi.surfrider.org/

With Sustainable Coastlines Hawaiʻi (Oʻahu), help maintain the beauty of our beaches and coastlines by participating in a beach cleanup. Guests can remove debris and microplastics, and record their progress on data sheets. Register for small group cleanups online or borrow DIY beach cleanup kits to host a self-directed cleanup. www.sustainablecoastlineshawaii.org
 

NEW HOTEL DEVELOPMENTS

Say No To Snow at Alohilani Resort (Oʻahu) in December and enjoy a host of festive offerings, including Merry Malasadas and Mimosas at the Longboard Club, malasada snowman-making for kids, a nightly tree lighting ceremony and a hot chocolate station fronting the lobby’s 280,000-gallon oceanarium, family movie nights, and seasonal specials such as macadamia nut eggnog, Jingle and Mingle DJ nights at the Swell rooftop bar, and more. The resort also recently announced its January 1, 2022, upgrade to utilizing 100% renewable electricity as certified by Green-e® Energy, one of the leading independent certification and verification programs for renewable energy in the U.S. The property’s renewable-energy purchase commitment covers the entirety of its energy consumption, allowing meetings and conferences to be Green-e® certified. www.alohilaniresort.com/

Aqua-Aston Hospitality recently introduced a new reef-safe sunscreen amenity to its Hawaiʻi properties through a partnership with local mom-owned business Little Hands Hawaiʻi. During stays at Aston Poʻipū Kai and Aston Islander on the Beach, guests receive complimentary access to Little Hands Hawaiʻi’s lightly coconut-scented, reef-safe formulated sunscreen, available at the front desks of both properties. In addition to supporting Hawaiʻi’s small businesses, Aqua-Aston is an advocate for Hawaiʻi’s oceans and marine life through its #ForOurReef campaign, which educates guests and the community on the impact of coral bleaching. In January, Aqua-Aston will also introduce bulk bathroom amenities in a move away from single-use plastics. For more information, email, [email protected], or visit www.aquaaston.com/hotels/aston-at-poipu-kai or www.aquaaston.com/hotels/aston-islander-on-the-beach.
 
In March, Fairmont Kea Lani (Maui) resort will embark on its hoʻomaka hou (“new beginning”) multimillion-dollar transformation of its suites and villas collection. Each of the resort’s 413 one-bedroom suites and 37 two-story villas will be completely reimagined from top to bottom to create a luxurious space evoking stories of Maui’s rich cultural heritage. The resort has curated furnishings, touchpoints and amenities to “ensure every guest feels genuinely cared for in an exquisitely designed space.” www.fairmont-kea-lani.com/renovation/

Four Seasons Resort Lānaʻi will welcome a new observatory this winter. Working with the ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaiʻi, the resort’s Love Lānaʻi Cultural Advisors are developing a program spotlighting the history of Pacific voyaging, native Hawaiian traditions, traditional wayfinding methodology, and an overview of astronomy as it relates to Hawaiʻi and parallels with Hawaiian culture. Guests can participate in the weekly small-group program, which utilizes a state-of-the-art, fully automated single-meter class telescope observatory system featuring a direct-drive altitude-azimuth mounting system. The telescope is designed to excel at imaging on the largest-format charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras currently available. The Love Lānaʻi Cultural Program offers a variety of activities — many of them complimentary — for guests to explore the island’s storied places, share in its history and immerse themselves in Lānaʻi’s rich heritage. www.fourseasons.com/lanai/

Halekūlani (Oʻahu), which welcomed guests back in October after over a year of renovations, has reopened its iconic poolside restaurant, House Without A Key at Halekūlani. The restaurant is now open nightly, and features live Hawaiian music with hula performances, small bites and signature cocktails from  5 to 8:30 p.m. www.Halekulani.com/dining/house-without-a-key/

Hanalei Colony Resort’ soon-to-be-completed Hale Ho‘omaha (Kauaʻi) (“House of Relaxation”) is aimed at adding even more value to guest vacations. The two-story venue includes a new pool and expanded gazebo designed to offer plenty of sun and shade, new furniture, two new grills, and tropical landscaping creating a relaxing refuge. The venue’s second level offers an expansive multiuse hospitality suite with a wet bar and other amenities, offering guests another spot to mingle and entertain. With the resort’s new late checkout program in place, Hale Ho‘omaha will also offer guests a comfortable space to relax, refresh and make the most of their departure day from Kauaʻi. For more information, visit www.hcr.com/ or email [email protected].

The Kauaʻi Shores Hotel invites its guests to start their day with yoga, relax by one of the property’s two pools, or explore nearby Kapaʻa town with free beach-bike rentals. Guests can also experience casual dining and live entertainment at the hotel’s on-site Lava Beach Club, which it describes as “a true toes-in-the-sand foodie experience.” For a limited time, guests can enjoy every fifth night free so they can linger longer at Kauaʻi Shores Hotel. www.kauaishoreshotel.com

Each week Kōloa Landing Resort at Poʻipū (Kauaʻi) offers complimentary cultural and educational activities –– including ʻukulele lessons, lei-making classes and hula lessons — as well as fun and fitness-forward activities — including morning yoga, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) classes, and s'mores on the lawn. www.koloalandingresort.com/

Visitors looking to learn the craft of Hawaiian lei-making and its importance to Hawaiian culture can participate in classes at The Laylow, Autograph Collection (Oʻahu) every Friday. And on Mondays, guests are invited to grab the ʻukulele in their room and head to Hideout’s fire pits for an instructor-led lesson. www.hideoutwaikiki.com/

Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection (Island of Hawaiʻi) is offering special culinary and cultural experiences from December 26 through January 1. Guests are invited to savor the island of Hawaiʻi’s bounty with themed dinner nights — featuring Alaskan king crab and shellfish, slow-cooked paella and fresh salads as well as daily catch — or absorb refreshing ocean breezes at the resort’s Cinema by the Sea series, presenting classic films under the starry night sky. Mauna Lani’s first-ever Night Market will offer local and continental US retailer products ideal as special gift for loved ones back home. www.aubergeresorts.com/maunalani/experiences/new-year/

Sheraton Kauaʻi Coconut Beach Resort will debut its brand-new waterfront Lūʻau Event Pavilion this winter as one of the largest venues of its kind on island. Also new, the resort’s Picnic Series, launched in November, was created to be adaptable for any season, occasion and traveler, with picnic packages crafted for guests to enjoy personalized experiences. The resort’s Experience Kauaʻi Bicycle Package allows active travelers to take in the island’s breathtaking views on a ride along a new 8-mile oceanfront bike path connecting to Kapaʻa town. The Romance in Kauaʻi Picnic Package is made for couples who wish to enjoy the romantic magic Hawaiʻi offers. Another great resort option is the Coconut Beach “Meat” in Paradise Picnic, allowing foodies to indulge in artisanal cheeses and charcuterie selections.

Sensei Lānaʻi, A Four Seasons Resort is introducing two new sports performance packages for golf and tennis enthusiasts looking to improve their game and well-being. The tailored programs are not traditional tennis or golf clinics but extensions of the resort’s Optimal Wellbeing Program, which uses technology to track and analyze each guest’s unique health data through WHOOP personal digital fitness and health coach bands. The program also includes consultation with exercise physiologists, nutritionists, mindfulness coaches and other practitioners while layering in additional golf and tennis performance metrics through detailed video analysis and instruction. An integrated team of Sensei guides collaborate with golf and tennis instructors to create a personalized program featuring private assessments and lessons, focused one-on-one sessions, spa treatments, well-being classes and more. www.fourseasons.com/sensei/

The Surfjack Hotel and Swim Club (Oʻahu) recently unveiled its new collaboration with online marketplace Society6 with a new penthouse suite offering guests what it calls “a shoppable experience.” The hotel’s Society6 Suite is filled with local art available for in-suite purchases through The Surfjack Collection. The suite, like the entirety of the hotel, is pet-friendly, allowing guests to vacation with their furry friends. The Society 6 Suite is open for reservations, which start at $400 per night. www.surfjack.com/

Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort and Spa (Oʻahu) debuted its multimillion-dollar comprehensive reimagination in August, introducing a new single-acre pool and amenity deck with two pools and a new open-air restaurant overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The beachfront resort also offers completely refreshed guestrooms and suites with private balconies, a modernized open-air lobby, its Royal Kaila Spa and culturally focused guest programming. www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/hnlmc-waikiki-beach-marriott-resort-and-spa/overview/ 

 
CULINARY

An exclusive, one-of-a-kind dinner tour of the National Tropical Botanical Garden’s Allerton Garden (Kauaʻi) is offered every Tuesday and Thursday. The Allerton by Fire dinner is served at the Allerton Estate House, accompanied by live Hawaiian and Polynesian dancing, music and a fire-knife performance. Capacity is limited for the intimate, open-air lūʻau-style tour. www.ntbg.org/allerton-by-fire-21/

Chef John Mastubara recently opened his new restaurant Feast in Oʻahu’s Mānoa Valley neighborhood, featuring a menu of dishes refined throughout his career working in a number of prestigious kitchens. His menu includes a hamburger steak aiming to match the comforting flavors of a Hilo diner. www.feastrestauranthawaii.com

Barefoot Beach Cafe (Oʻahu) is open again with dine-in service and nightly live music from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., and additional afternoon performances on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you’d like  more social distancing, the café’s Picnic in the Park happens Fridays and Saturdays  from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., allowing you to bring your own beach chairs and blankets to enjoy local food, music and sunsets. www.barefootbeachcafe.com/

International Market Place (Oʻahu) recently welcomed two locally owned restaurants, Moani Waikīkī and Skybox Taphouse, to its open-air, third-level Grand Lānai. In addition to the new restaurants, locally owned vintage clothing boutique South Shore Studio, art gallery DeRubeis Fine Art and jewelry workshop Gem Studio recently joined the center’s curated collection of retailers. More stores are slated to open through the end of the year. www.shopinternationalmarketplace.com/

Enjoyed by residents and visitors alike, Honolulu’s iconic Liliha Bakery (Oʻahu) opened its newest location in November at the International Market Place’s Grand Lānai. The restaurant is the local eatery’s fourth Honolulu location. Liliha Bakery has built a loyal following over its 71 years in business and is known for serving up tasty local cuisine and unique bakery items like coco puffs and poi mochi donuts. Liliha Bakery is open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., serving breakfast, lunch and dinner all day. www.lilihabakery.com/

Chef Jeremy Shigekane reopened his new restaurant M by Jeremy Shigekane (Oʻahu) this past summer, retiring its former moniker, M by Chef Mavro. Guests of the restaurant experience modern Hawaiʻi French Bistro dining, exquisite 5-course tasting menus, and unique Bar M craft cocktails and mocktails highlighting local farms and purveyors. www.mbyjeremyshigekane.com/

Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection (Island of Hawaiʻi) welcomes acclaimed New York-based restaurant, Nami Nori, to the cherished Kohala Coast for an exclusive culinary adventure that blends the fresh ingredients of Hawaiʻi with the dynamic flavors of Japan. Join their little slice of paradise to experience curated culinary events taking place from February 11th to 24th. Featuring a three-course Temaki Dinner Experience in the iconic Francis H. Iʻi Brown Suite, a five-piece Temaki set designed for take-away, and a Temaki cooking class led by Nami Nori Chef Partner, Taka Sakaeda. For more information and to book, call (855) 439-4277 or email [email protected].
 
Original Magoo’s Pizza (Oʻahu)— which offers a menu of island-style pizzas, subs and chicken —  is opening a new location in Honolulu neighborhood Kaimukī. The new location features dine-in service, a full bar and all of Magoo’s classics, including its Famous Combo Pizza and Hot Ham and Mushroom Sub. In addition, Magoo’s will offer a pasta menu exclusive to the Kaimukī location. Magoo’s vegan pizza was voted 2021 Best Veggie Pizza in Hawaiʻi by Peta.org. www.originalmagoospizza.com/

Tasting Kauaʻi is back with new food tours. Its Saturday Downtown Līhuʻe tour returns with a variety of local restaurants and includes a beer tasting. Tasting Kauaʻi also recently launched a new Hanalei Town Walking Food tour on Sundays, featuring hidden local gems. Island-resident Tasting Kauaʻi guides share inside scoops on locally owned eateries with tour participants and introduce them to chefs and owners. Get a special 10% discount by using the code ALOHA10. www.tastingKauai.com/

 

ATTRACTIONS AND ACTIVITIES

The Bishop Museum (Oʻahu) exhibition Tatau: Marks of Polynesia debuted in November and will be open through July 4, 2022. Samoa’s tatau is one of the world’s most distinct tattoo traditions. Featuring photographs shot in a studio and on location in Samoa, Tatau: Marks of Polynesia showcases the work of traditional tatau masters as well as younger practitioners and artists adopting tatau’s motifs and styles for new media and art forms. The exhibition was curated by master tattoo artist Takahiro “Ryudaibori” Kitamura. It also highlights Samoan tattooing implements curated by Bishop Museum from its cultural collection, highlighting items from Hawaiʻi and Samoa. www.bishopmuseum.org/tatau/

Hawaiʻi CinemAttractions’ (Oʻahu) new Chambers Virtual Reality Escape Room allows visitors to plug into alternate worlds, dive into the depths of the ocean, or float in the weightlessness of space. Its premium, full-length virtual reality (VR) escape rooms feature advanced VR equipment and technology designed to create immersive and interactive experiences. Located at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Hawaiʻi CinemAttractions also features a retro arcade room and motion and sensory effects cinema featuring a variety of exclusive films. www.4dfxhawaii.com/

The Donkey Mill Art Center (Island of Hawaiʻi) invites visitors and residents to learn a new skill and connect with community at its cultural and arts classes and events. Sessions include kapa making, printmaking and ceramics workshops for children and adults at Donkey Mill’s facility in Hōlualoa town, local elementary schools and other locations on the island of Hawaiʻi’s west side. www.donkeymillartcenter.org/classes-list/
 
Hāna Distillers (Oʻahu), makers of Hāna Hawaiian Agricole Rum, is offering an assortment of premium and unique local goods for the holiday season. The selection includes Hāna’s Mystery Black Boxes, each containing at least one of Hāna’s award-winning rums and a surprise collection of goods from Hawai‘i-based brands. www.kohanarum.com
 
National Tropical Botanical Garden’s Limahuli Garden and Preserve (Kauaʻi) is hosting a plant sale on December 12, from 11 a.m to 3 p.m., offering the public an opportunity to shop from a selection of garden-grown native Hawaiian- and Polynesia-introduced canoe plants — flora originally brought to the Islands by ancient Polynesians — such as kalo (taro), wauke (paper mulberry), pia (arrowroot) and others. www.ntbg.org/gardens/limahuli/
 
The National Tropical Botanical Garden (Kauaʻi) hosts a weekly outdoor market on Thursdays at its  South Shore Visitors Center on Kauaʻi, across from Spouting Horn natural blowhole in Poʻipū. Market shoppers can find everything from fresh fruits and vegetables, to noodles, spices, sweets and miscellaneous treats, as well as jewelry, clothing, art, and household and family accessories, all of it located in a garden setting, with strict safety and health protocols enforced. The garden’s outdoor market also features live hula performances and tasty food offerings. For more information, call 808-742-2623 or visit www.ntbg.org/events/aloha/
 
Botanical instructor Wendy Hollender is returning for her 12th year of teaching botanical illustration at the National Tropical Botanical Garden (Kauaʻi) in Kalāheo. Hollender’s botanical illustration workshop will be offered in three one-week segments held in January and February. For more information and workshop dates visit www.drawbotanical.com/community-event/botanical-illustration-intensive-workshop-in-kauai-hawaii/
 
One of the most breathtaking ways to see the recent lava activity at Kīlauea volcano on the island of Hawaiʻi is by air. Paradise Helicopters, one of Hawaiʻi’s largest locally owned and operated air-tour operators, offers air tours to the volcano from both Hilo and Kona. The tour menu includes several doors-off and doors-on tours, and private charter experiences. From Hilo, guests can board the Lava and Rainforests Adventure, flying over lush east-side forests and waterfalls. Taking off from Kona, the Volcano Kohala Landing includes a flight over Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and a ground tour of the island of Hawaiʻi’s historic Kohala region. www.hawaiilavaupdate.com. www.paradisecopters.com/
 
A variety of fresh and unique products from local farmers, growers, artisans and food purveyors are always ready for customers of the Mahiku Farmers Market (Oʻahu), which happens every first Thursday of the month, from 4 to 8 p.m., on Level 1 of the Banyan Court at International Market Place. www.shopinternationalmarketplace.com/events/mahikufarmersmarket

Royal Hawaiian Center (Oʻahu) recently reopened its popular slate of complimentary cultural programs and classes, once again welcoming folks looking to learn to play the ʻukulele, dance hula, weave lauhala (pandanus) or craft lei. Shoppers are also invited to enjoy live Hawaiian music and hula in the center’s Royal Grove, Tuesdays through Fridays. www.royalhawaiiancenter.com/

 
FESTIVALS AND EVENTS

The Hawaiʻi Triennial 2022 (Oʻahu) (HT22) citywide art exhibition will be framed around the concept of Pacific Century - E Hoomau no Moananuiakea, interweaving themes of history, place, social activism, environmental change and identity within the context of Hawaiʻi’s unique location at the confluence of Asia-Pacific and Oceania. One of the largest periodic showcases of contemporary art in Hawaiʻi, HT22 will be presented across seven exhibition venues on Oʻahu, from February 18 - May 8, 2022. The 11-week exhibition’s venues are Bishop Museum, Foster Botanical Garden, Hawaiʻi Theatre Center, the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum, ʻIolani Palace, Honolulu Museum of Art, and Royal Hawaiian Center. www.hawaiicontemporary.org/ht-22
 
Celebrating its 6th year, Kauaʻi Steel Guitar Festival will be held at the Sheraton Kauaʻi Coconut Beach Hotel from March 31-April 2, 2022. The festival includes steel guitar performances by masters and youth players, steel guitar exhibits, hands-on experiences for festival guests, school presentations, workshops, open stage playing sessions, and public kanikapila (Hawaiian-style jam-session). Festivals offer performance opportunities for amateur and professional steel guitarists and provide visitors and residents opportunities to learn about and enjoy Hawaiian music and the Hawaiian steel guitar. www.kauaisteelguitarfestival.com

The Waikīkī SPAM JAM® (Oʻahu) is an annual street festival celebrates Hawaiʻi’s love for SPAM®. Great for all ages, the event takes place in the heart of Waikīkī and features local restaurants offering creative SPAM® dishes, entertainment stages, and Hawaiʻi crafters. This special event benefits the Hawaiʻi Foodbank, the largest non-profit in Hawaiʻi that feeds those in need. This year’s event is scheduled for April 23, 2021. www.spamjamhawaii.com
 

-pau-