From Our Files
For 133 years HONOLULU Magazine has kept its readers and advertisers at the vanguard of fashion, insight and fun. Starting out as
Paradise of the Pacific in 1888 with a commission from King Kalākaua, we’re the oldest continually publishing magazine west of the Mississippi. Take a look into our archives.
Punahou alumna Chloé Selarque’s intricate embroidery pieces capture the grand grooves of the Ko‘olau, the perky peaks of the Mokes and the wavering blues of the Pacific. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Hawaii Magazine
The 5 Best Hotel or Resort Pools on Oʻahu in 2021
Finally, the Readers Choice category at the top of everyone s mind. Find out which hotel or resort on Oʻahu has the best pool!
Apr 26, 2021
When deciding what hotel or resort to stay at on your Hawaiʻi vacation, or even a staycation for locals, the bougie-ness of the pool is a factor of the utmost importance. Because, as we all know, lounging poolside is a necessary activity when on vacation. Deciding which pool on Oʻahu is the best, however, is a truly arduous task. How can you pit those beautiful bodies of water against one another? Fortunately, our readers did that for us by voting in HAWAIʻI Magazine’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards, giving us a list of the five best pools on Oʻahu.
Mothers of Reinvention
From the moment Honolulu shut down in early March 2020, restaurants and bars have valiantly swiveled to counteract the pandemic’s effects. We have had a dazzling choice of takeout (with spots such as Senia turning it into a high art), chef kits (Pai Honolulu had a creative series), and premium produce (MW Restaurant sold farmer friends’ goods). But some are reinventing the integral idea of what a restaurant is. Alejandro “Aker” Briceño, the former Nobu Honolulu pastry chef who was part of the pioneering eateries V Lounge (where he introduced the city to Neapolitan pies and Caputo flour) and Prima, returned to Honolulu in 2019 after five years with Nobu Malibu expressly to open a V Lounge 2.0 with then-partner Chris Kajioka. They were negotiating a lease when the pandemic hit. “It changed everything. Financially it didn’t make sense,” Briceño says.
Gold Key – Lobby Luxury
The Highlights: Designers faced two challenges at this beloved resort. First, how to tackle the massive renovation? Second, what’s the best way to spotlight and embrace local culture to create an authentic and contemporary experience? The answer: Give it some soul. At the heart of the public space is a loggia around which the program unfolds. There, a centuries-old canoe, a remnant of the property’s previous life, highlights the base of the central stair. In the multistory atrium, the design team crafted a central hale structure, added murals by local artists, and created seating zones to control circulation.
Hawaii Magazine
Live in one of Oʻahu’s most food-centric districts; your stomach will thank you.
Feb 25, 2021
Oʻahu foodies know: Kaimukī particularly along Waiʻalae Avenue has it all, from old-school diners to trendy brunch spots to inventive bakeries. You can find hot pot, ramen, farm-to-table restaurants, vegan eateries and burger joints all within walking distance. It’s home base for much of Honolulu’s culinary talent a place where chefs old and new can see what works and what doesn’t.
And, according to the neighborhood experts at List Sotheby’s International Realty, it’s a great place to live, too.