Hawaii

Hawaii 2025: Mauna Lani lives up to its name with breathtaking golf

Published

2 months ago

December 5, 2025

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Hawaii 2025: Mauna Lani lives up to its name with breathtaking golf

Mauna Lani resort in Hawaii offers a unique golfing experience with courses set in volcanic landscapes.
The resort features two 18-hole courses, the North and South, each with distinct challenges and seaside views.
In addition to championship golf, Mauna Lani provides a short course, a sunrise canoe paddle, and upscale dining options.
The North Course is known for trees in the fairways and a par-3 17th hole set in a lava bowl.
The South Course is famous for its scenic par-3s, including the 15th hole which requires a carry over a Pacific inlet.

(Editor’s note: Although the PGA Tour’s 2026 Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua was canceled, golf in Hawaii is very much alive and well. As the year comes to a close, Golfweek has been highlighting some of the state’s incredible courses and views.)

WAIMEA, Hawaii — A few decades ago, Ross Birch was a 20-something with big golf dreams and plenty of time to chase them. One day, he found himself walking outside the ropes alongside Jack Nicklaus during a practice round for the PGA Senior Skins Game at Mauna Lani. The setting was pure paradise — crystal-blue waters lapping against the shores of Hawaii’s two-course resort.

Nicklaus had played the South Course as part of the event’s 10-year run, which also featured legends like Arnold Palmer, Raymond Floyd and Lee Trevino. But when the Golden Bear turned his attention to the North Course — a layout dotted with large trees in the middle of fairways — even the 18-time major champion was flummoxed.

“What the hell is with these trees?” Nicklaus said, eyeing the first hole, a dogleg right guarded by a towering kiawe tree, a tropical cousin of mesquite.

Birch laughed and warned him there were plenty more surprises ahead. Nicklaus threw up his hands in disbelief, then motioned for Birch — who was working at another Big Island course at the time — to join the group.

“It was one of the greatest days of my life,” Birch recalls, “walking this incredible course with one of the greatest players ever.”

Today, Birch shares that story often in his role as Mauna Lani’s director of golf, a position he’s held since 2022. An affable host and solid player, he sprinkles anecdotes like this throughout an afternoon on either of the resort’s stunning seaside courses. And at Mauna Lani, there’s no shortage of tales to tell.

Despite the cancellation of the 2026 The Sentry, golf in Hawaii is thriving. Here, the game becomes an experience — teeing off on courses carved into volcanic landscapes, challenging seaside holes where waves crash just beyond the green, and soaking in panoramic views that stop you in your tracks. With more than 70 courses across the islands, every round is an adventure.

But Mauna Lani offers something truly special.

The North Course

Opened in 1988, the North Course is a mature track, its rolling fairways framed by weathered lava beds and kiawe forests. Trees often stand boldly in the middle of fairways, forcing creative shot-making, while trade winds add another layer of challenge. On the ninth hole, a par-4 near the water, strong gusts can turn an approach into a test of nerve.

Wildlife adds to the charm — and the challenge. Feral goats frequently wander across fairways, a quirky hazard that once caused serious backups. In fact, the state held a lottery in 2021 to relocate some of the herds, which had become invasive in the nearby Historic Park. That park, Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau, holds deep cultural significance as a place of refuge for defeated warriors and civilians during times of battle.

Survive the wildlife and navigate the narrow fairways, and you’ll reach the course’s crown jewel: the par-3 17th. From elevated tees, you’ll fire toward a green cradled in a dramatic lava bowl—a natural amphitheater and one of the most unforgettable shots in Hawaii.

The South Course

For those who prefer a more forgiving layout, the South Course delivers equally stunning views with fewer trees but newer, jagged lava flows. Opened in 1981, it’s a sensory feast — and home to two of the most spectacular par 3s you’ll ever play.

No. 7 demands a long iron or fairway wood to reach a green perched beside the ocean, with water hugging the left and a tall tree guarding the right. A well-placed bunker offers a lucky bailout for those who flirt with disaster.

Later, the shorter 15th hole tests your nerves with a mid-iron carry over an inlet to a green framed by palms and water. It’s no wonder this hole ranks among the most photographed in the country. No matter what your score, these two holes will be lodged in your memory for years to come.

Short course and more

As if the two courses don’t offer enough to keep a golfer fully engaged, Mauna Lani’s short course is the perfect way to spend some time before sunset, or to get the kids out on the course before a day at the beach.

The WikiWiki short course is best played in flip-flops or with no shoes at all. Lined on the outside by towering palms, the course was originally part two holes from the main complex, but have since become a perfect way to enjoy tropical breezes for an hour or so, preferably with a Kona Big Wave or a dragonfruit margarita in hand.

We played the course as a group, two teams playing rotating shots, and the laughs and smiles were consistent. The short course sits up on a slight perch, so the winds are even more severe and the views of the Mauna Kea, the state’s highest point, are breathtaking.

Other amenities

Golf may be the star at Mauna Lani as the South Course is currently No. 13 on Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play in Hawaii and the North Course sits at No. 6, but the resort offers experiences that linger long after the final putt. One highlight? A sunrise canoe paddle that stirs the soul. Before dawn, our group pushed off into the gentle surf, working hard for 15 minutes to break free from the incoming waves. Then, as the first light crept over the mountains, our guides shared stories of the island’s heritage — how generations of Hawaiians gave thanks each morning to the sun and all it provided. It’s a moment that blends effort, beauty, and deep cultural connection — an unforgettable way to start the day.

There’s a reason both locals and visitors gravitate to the Clubhouse Bar. Perched on the second floor overlooking the practice facility, it offers sweeping ocean views and a relaxed vibe — the perfect spot to toast the day with craft cocktails and island-inspired bites.

Craving something more indulgent? Head to the nearby CanoeHouse, where Japanese-inspired cuisine meets a breathtaking oceanfront setting. Menu highlights include a melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu ribeye, local mushrooms like lion’s mane and ali‘i with koji barbecue and cashews, and the showstopper: The King Tower — a lavish spread of poached lobster, Kaua‘i shrimp, Hokkaido scallops, Japanese uni, local sashimi, oysters, and snow crab. It’s a feast as unforgettable as the view.

In Hawaiian, Mauna Lani means “mountain reaching heaven.” And after a day — or even a week — on these breathtaking shores, no matter what your scorecard says, you’ll drift off with a full belly and an even fuller heart.

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Supreme Court seems likely to strike down Hawaii’s restrictions on guns in stores and hotels – The Boston Globe

Published

11 hours ago

January 20, 2026

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Supreme Court seems likely to strike down Hawaii’s restrictions on guns in stores and hotels – The Boston Globe

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seemed likely to strike down Hawaii restrictions on carrying guns into stores Tuesday in the justices’ latest firearm case since their landmark decision expanding Second Amendment rights.

The Trump administration backed the challenge to the law barring guns in places like malls and hotels unless the property owner specifically allows them. It’s sometimes referred to as a “vampire rule,” for its permission requirement.

Hawaii, on the other hand, said the measure is aimed at ensuring private owners have the right to decide whether they want firearms on their property.

Conservative justices, though, seemed roundly skeptical of the state’s argument, questioning whether Hawaii could make similar rules restricting First Amendment freedom of speech rights on private property.

“You’re just relegating the Second Amendment to second-class status,” Justice Samuel Alito said.

Very few people had concealed-carry permits to carry guns in Hawaii before the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling that found the Second Amendment generally gives people the right to have firearms in public. The state has granted thousands since then, attorney Neal Katyal said.

Four other states have enacted similar laws, though presumptive restrictions for guns on private property have been blocked in places like New York.

If the court strikes the measure, Hawaii business owners could take their own steps to bar people from bringing in guns. The outcome won’t affect other state restrictions on guns in places like parks, beaches and restaurants that serve alcohol.

The case came before the court after it was challenged by a gun-rights group and three people from Maui. A judge originally blocked it, but an appeals court allowed it to be enforced.

The Supreme Court is expected to hand down a decision by late June.

The justices are hearing another gun case this term, about whether people who regularly use marijuana and other drugs can legally own guns.

In recent years, the justices have struck down a federal ban on gun accessories called bump stocks from Trump’s first term. They upheld regulations on ghost guns imposed under then-President Joe Biden, however, as well as a federal gun law intended to protect domestic violence victims.

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US Supreme Court to hear challenge to Hawaii handgun limits

Published

23 hours ago

January 20, 2026

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US Supreme Court to hear challenge to Hawaii handgun limits

WASHINGTON, Jan 20 (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court was set on Tuesday to weigh a challenge to a Hawaii law restricting the carry of handguns on private property that is open to the public, such as most businesses, without the owner’s permission.

The court will hear arguments in an appeal by the challengers – three Hawaii residents with concealed-carry licenses and a Honolulu-based gun rights advocacy group – of a lower court’s ruling against them. The lower court found that Hawaii’s measure likely complies with the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.

Hawaii’s law requires “express authorization” to bring a handgun onto private property open to the public, either as verbal or written authorization, including “clear and conspicuous signage.”

Hawaii argued in court papers that its law strikes a proper balance between “the right to bear arms and property owners’ undisputed right to choose whether to permit armed entry onto their property.”

The plaintiffs sued to challenge Hawaii’s restrictions weeks after Democratic Governor Josh Green signed the measure into law in 2023. They are being backed by President Donald Trump’s administration, which argued in court papers that Hawaii’s law “deprives individuals who want to exercise their Second Amendment rights of their ability to go about their daily lives.”

“A person carrying a firearm cannot pick up a cup of coffee, get lunch at a drive-through restaurant, stop for gas, enter a parking lot, go into a store, buy groceries or perform other routine tasks that require setting foot on private property,” Justice Department lawyers wrote.

A general view of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab

A federal judge preliminarily blocked Hawaii’s restrictions. But the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals largely ruled against the law’s challengers, prompting their appeal to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court did not take up an aspect of the legal challenge that focused on the law’s provisions banning the carrying of handguns at beaches, bars and other sensitive places.

In a nation bitterly divided over how to address persistent firearms violence including frequent mass shootings, the Supreme Court often has taken an expansive view of Second Amendment protections. The court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, widened gun rights in three major rulings in 2008, 2010 and most recently in 2022.

The plaintiffs in the Hawaii case have cited that 2022 ruling’s holding that the Second Amendment protects the right of individuals to carry a handgun outside the home for self-defense. That landmark 6-3 decision, called New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, was powered by the court’s six conservatives, over dissents from the three liberal justices.

The Bruen decision invalidated New York state’s limits on carrying concealed handguns outside the home. In doing so, the court created a new test for assessing firearms laws, saying that restrictions must be “consistent with this nation’s historical tradition of firearm regulation,” not simply advance an important government interest.

The court in 2024 ruled 8-1 that a federal law that makes it a crime for people under domestic violence restraining orders to have guns satisfied the court’s stringent history-and-tradition test.

In March, the court will hear a bid by Trump’s administration to defend a federal law that bars users of illegal drugs from owning guns.

Reporting by John Kruzel; Editing by Will Dunham

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Vintage designs by Hawaii icons showcased in muumuu exhibit

Published

1 day ago

January 19, 2026

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Vintage designs by Hawaii icons showcased in muumuu exhibit

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – When it comes to nā wāhine island fashion, there is nothing more unique to Hawaiʻi than the muʻumuʻu.

Aunty Lei Batty of DeStash Hawaiʻi says the muʻumuʻu brings people together through memory, culture and community.

“It is a strong part of our culture. People worldwide see our muʻumuʻus and they identify with who we are, and even the local people identify and have stories that are tied richly to a certain muʻumuʻu style and print,” she said.

That’s exactly what the Mayor’s Office of Culture and the Arts’ “For the Love of Muʻumuʻu” exhibit is all about.

From now until the end of January, many muʻumuʻu have a temporary hale at Honolulu Hale and Kapolei Hale.

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said, “What we wear for clothing becomes part of our culture and our traditions, and certainly, the history and the legacy of muʻumuʻus just speaks to the rich traditions of Hawaiʻi. We’re just really proud to be able to do this.”

Aunty Lei said, “I think the muʻumuʻu has evolved a lot throughout the different designers, the styles, the periods, through colors, through fashion.”

You’re invited to come down and check out many island fashion icons like Nakeʻu Awai, Reyn Spooner, Liberty House and Bete Muʻumuʻu, who over the years have really made their mark with their beautiful designs of the colorful garments.

“These pieces are iconic. They’ve lasted throughout the 66 years that Bete has been in fashion,” Aunty Lei said.

Most importantly, many island designers and fashion leaders in the islands say the legacy of the muʻumuʻu lives on and encourages the next generation to keep this fabric of island life alive.

“I want them to embrace and continue this beautiful culture, rich fashion history that we have,” said Aunty Lei.

The exhibit honors Muʻumuʻu Month, which began in 2014 when Kauaʻi designer Shannon Hiramoto challenged herself to wear a different vintage muʻumuʻu every day in January.

The community is invited, but not required, to dress for the occasion by wearing muʻumuʻu.

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