Hawaii

NARBA, NASGA Head to Hawaii

Published

2 years ago

July 18, 2024

The North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association (NARBA) will team with the North American Strawberry Growers Association (NASGA) to host their 2025 annual meetings and 2025 North American Berry Conference at the OUTRIGGER Kona Resort and Spa on the Island of Hawai’i.

The event will take place Feb. 3-6 at the Kaleiopapa Convention Center, perched above the lava cliffs of Keauhou Bay.

“We are thrilled to host our 2025 annual meeting with the North American Raspberry and Blackberry Association in Hawaii, a location that offers a stunning backdrop and rich agricultural knowledge,” NASGA President James Powell says. “The conference will be an excellent opportunity for networking, learning, and sharing ideas with growers, researchers, and stakeholders in the berry industry.”

The conference’s sessions will feature emerging technological knowledge and offer a look at the future of berry growing across North America.

The conference begins Feb. 3 with an opening reception. Feb. 4 will consist of general sessions for both strawberry and caneberry growers. Feb. 5 will have two tracks to choose from, one featuring strawberry sessions and the other caneberry sessions. On Feb. 6 an Island of Hawai’i agricultural tour will be offered. Hotel reservations are available now, with early booking strongly advised. Conference registration will open in July for all attendees.

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This unique conference opportunity, giving members a chance to enjoy the warmth and beauty of Hawaii, while increasing their knowledge of the latest in berry research and innovation, is made possible through collaboration with NASGA and its members.

For more information, please visit https://www.raspberryblackberry.com/conference/2025-kona/

Thomas Skernivitz is Senior Editor, Horticulture Group, at Meister Media Worldwide. See all author stories here.

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Hawaii

Red Lobster exits Hawaii with closure of Waikiki location | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Published

2 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Press Room

Red Lobster exits Hawaii with closure of Waikiki location | Honolulu Star-Advertiser

GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER.COM

The dining room of the Red Lobster was dark and empty Tuesday after the restaurant on the ground floor of Ilikai Marina condos at 1765 Ala Moana Boulevard, closed on Sunday. The restaurant’s red lettering has been removed.

The Red Lobster in Waikiki has closed its doors for good after more than 30 years in operation.

The restaurant, which was located on the ground floor of Ilikai Marina condos at 1765 Ala Moana Boulevard, officially closed on Sunday, according to a statement from corporate headquarters in Florida.

“As part of our normal course of business, Red Lobster continuously evaluates individual restaurant performance and lease terms and may, from time to time, choose to close select restaurants,” said Red Lobster in the statement. “This closure reflected specific decisions tied to the unique operating conditions at this restaurant.”

On Tuesday, the red letters spelling out the restaurant name had already been taken down from the building’s exterior, while employees appeared to be removing items from the restaurant.

A paper sign taped to the glass on the front door said, “We have officially closed. Thank you for the 32 years of memories. Your Red Lobster Family.”

With the Waikiki closure, Red Lobster no longer has a presence in Hawaii.

The casual seafood restaurant chain, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2024 in Florida, has since closed more than 100 locations across the U.S.

According to Reuters, the company has blamed its bankruptcy on high inflation, unsustainable rent costs, and poor management decisions, including an “endless shrimp” promotion that caused $11 million in losses.

In April, the company brought back its endless shrimp due to thousands of social media mentions, but for a limited time only. Red Lobster is also known for its “Cheddar Bay” biscuits, which are served for free to in-restaurant diners.

Red Lobster did not say how many employees were affected by the permanent restaurant closure in Waikiki.

There was no notice posted with the Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, which is required for closing businesses with 50 or more employees in the state. The requirement does not cover part-time employees who work fewer than 20 hours per week.

“We remain committed to making thoughtful decisions that position Red Lobster for long-term success, stability and growth,” said the company in its statement. “Honolulu has been a meaningful part of our story, and we truly appreciate the guests and team members who have made this restaurant special over the years.”

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Hawaii

Most Americans Don’t Realize Hawaii Had a Royal Family—Until They Visit This Palace

Published

12 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Press Room

Most Americans Don’t Realize Hawaii Had a Royal Family—Until They Visit This Palace

Most Americans grow up learning about European royal families, from the British monarchy to the kings and queens who shaped the history of countries like France and Spain. But what many don’t realize is that Hawaii was once its own sovereign kingdom before it become a U.S. state, and there’s still a royal palace right in O‘ahu.

During a recent visit to Honolulu’s ʻIolani Palace, I found myself standing in rooms that challenge the assumptions travelers make about Hawaii. Beyond the beaches, luaus and pineapple drinks lies the story of a nation that once had its own monarchs, government and global relationships. Walking through the palace’s grand halls—and later, the room where Queen Liliʻuokalani was imprisoned—gave me a powerful reminder that Hawaii’s royal history is far more recent and more complex than many Americans realize.

ʻIolani Palace historian Zita Cup Choy tells Marie Claire that understanding Hawaii was once an independent nation fundamentally changes the visitor experience. That being said, Iolani Palace, built in 1882, serves as “both a royal residence and a place where a nation’s history, dignity and loss are held,” Cup Choy says.

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Iolani Palace exterior — The palace is located in the heart of Honolulu.
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A case holding a quilt in a room in 'Iolani Palace — The room where Queen Liliʻuokalani was imprisoned showcases a quilt she made while being held in the room, with the center reading, “Imprisoned at Iolani Palace, Honolulu, Oʻahu, we began this quilt there.”

Queen Liliʻuokalani was the Hawaiian kingdom’s last monarch, and she was imprisoned for nearly eight months in the palace after being illegally overthrown by a coup of American businessmen in 1893. “The overthrow was carried out by a small group with significant economic and political power, despite broad opposition among Hawaiian Kingdom subjects,” says Cup Choy.

The queen was forced to abdicate and lived the rest of her life as a private citizen until she died in 1917, dedicating her time to preserving Hawaiian culture and causes related to women and children such as the Lili‘uokalani Trust.

For many guests, myself included, the most emotional stop on the tour is the room where the queen was held. In the center of the Imprisonment Room sits a glass case displaying the quilt that Queen Liliʻuokalani worked on with her companions during her house arrest, and it reads more like a diary, with the piece stitched with significant dates and names of her supporters.

Queen Liliʻuokalani sitting in a chair for a portrait

Queen Liliʻuokalani was the last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian kingdom.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A statue and painting in Hawaii's Iolani Palace

Portraits of Hawaii’s royal family line the rooms in the palace.

(Image credit: Kristin Contino)

As a royal editor, one of the things that struck me the most was the similarity of ʻIolani Palace’s throne room to what you’d see at Buckingham Palace. The elaborate gowns on display reflect a Victorian style, and photos on display show the Hawaiian royals visiting the British royals.

Cup Choy says that “visitors are often surprised to learn that, despite Hawaii’s geographic isolation, the kingdom was modern, globally aware and intentional in how it presented itself to the world.” This includes innovations like electric lighting and telephones, showing how Hawaii was “an educated, literate and technologically advanced kingdom.”

Queen Liliʻuokalani remains one of the most revered figures in Hawaiian history, and Cup Choy says visitors are particularly moved by the monarch’s response to adversity.

Instead of encouraging violence, the queen “believed the wrong done to Hawaii should be addressed through diplomacy, international law, constitutional law, the courts and the Hawaiian Kingdom’s own governing institutions,” Cup Choy says. “She sought restoration without further bloodshed.”

A peacock themed blue gown at Iolani Palace

The Friends of ʻIolani Palace commissioned historic dress designer Iris Viacrusis to recreate four of the gowns worn by Her Majesties Kapiʻolani and Liliʻuokalani, like this peacock-themed design on display in the palace.

(Image credit: Kristin Contino)

Kristin Contino standing in front of a staircase at Iolani Palace

Marie Claire’s senior royal and celebrity editor, Kristin Contino, visits ʻIolani Palace in April 2026. Protective shoe coverings help preserve the building’s floors and carpets.

(Image credit: Kristin Contino)

Iolani Palace's throne room

With its rich red decor, the palace’s throne room feels similar to Buckingham Palace.

(Image credit: Kristin Contino)

Walking through the palace, it’s hard not to feel moved by the story of Hawaii’s royal family, and Cup Choy says there’s a careful balance between being a tourist attraction and “a sacred place in Hawaii’s history.”

As I learned during my recent trip, O‘ahu is full of rich cultural offerings, and Cup Choy says ʻIolani Palace works with travel partners to encourage visitors to the island to explore outside its beaches. Select properties like the Halekulani Hotel, one of the Leading Hotels of the World properties where I stayed on the island, offer free admission to the palace as part of a broader mission to introduce travelers to Hawaii’s story.

“Hawaii is often seen first for its natural beauty,” Cup Choy says. “The palace invites visitors to see the depth of its history and the responsibility to care for its people, culture and environment.”

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Hawaii

Logan Kalawaia to perform in next Hawaiian Music Series, June 25 | Maui Now

Published

23 hours ago

June 24, 2026

Press Room

Logan Kalawaia to perform in next Hawaiian Music Series, June 25 | Maui Now

June 23, 2026, 6:00 PM HST

Logan Kalawaia. PC: Lahaina Restoration Foundation

Maui musician Logan Kalawaia will headline the next installment of the Hawaiian Music Series from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday on the lawn of Waiola Church in Lahaina, according to concert series organizer Lahaina Restoration Foundation.

Parking is available onsite for the free concert, with additional spaces provided by the Lahaina Hongwanji Mission next to the Waiola Church lot. Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, mats or low-back beach chairs for seating on the lawn.

Kalawaia was born and raised on Maui and comes from a family with deep roots in Hawaiian music, drawing inspiration from his father and uncles. He has performed professionally since a young age and is known in Maui’s music community for a contemporary sound grounded in the traditions and storytelling of Hawaiian mele.

Music has long played a role in bringing the Lahaina community together, and the organization, in partnership with Waiola Church, is continuing that tradition by providing a gathering space for residents to reconnect and celebrate Hawaiian music.

Now in its 18th year, the Hawaiian Music Series is supported by the Maui County Office of Economic Development and parking fee revenues. Waiola Church is hosting the series for 2026.

More information is available at lahainarestoration.org.

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