What’s New in the Hawaiian Islands

by Noreen Kompanik
Last updated: 8:10 AM ET, Fri September 5, 2025

Hawaii’s visitors and locals alike can immerse themselves in the spirit of the Hawaiian Islands by exploring its breathtaking natural landscapes, vibrant communities and unique-to-Hawai‘i activities and events.

Mālama Hawaiʻi & Culture

• Bishop Museum (O‘ahu) and the Hawaiian Council reimagined the museum’s retail space as a hub for Hawai‘i-made products and cultural storytelling.
• Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and Spa(O‘ahu) Southern Sun represents a new immersive art experience tracing the story and history of Waikīkī.
• Wahi Pana: Storied Places (O‘ahu) unveils its third phase of island-wide public art installation openings at several culturally significant sites in September 2025.   
• Wayfinder Waikiki (Oʻahu) launched two new sustainable guest experiences designed to deepen connections with Hawaiian culture and the ʻāina (land).  

New Hotel Developments

• Ala Moana Hotel by Mantra (O‘ahu) is undergoing extensive refurbishment in 2025.
• Ka La‘i Waikīkī Beach (O‘ahu) launched a multimillion-dollar redesign in celebration of its 15th anniversary.  
• Mauna Kea Beach Hotel (island of Hawai‘i) is launching a major restoration project to preserve its renowned art collection commissioned by Laurence S. Rockefeller.  
• Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa (island of Hawai‘i) invites guests to immerse themselves in the rich history and heritage of Hawai‘i and Keauhou Bay in its newly renovated Aloha Cultural Center.  
• Royal Lahaina Resort and Bungalows (Maui) will launch Mana Up Market, the accelerator’s first Maui retail presence.  
• The Royal Sonesta Kauaʻi Resort on Kalapakī Beach unveiled a multimillion-dollar transformation for the oceanfront property.  
• The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach (O‘ahu) completed its multiphase, multimillion-dollar renewal.    
• The Royal Hawaiian (O‘ahu) debuted a new Historic Gallery displaying the hotel’s storied past as the Pink Palace of the Pacific.  
• Wailea Beach Resort (Maui) unveiled a resort-wide refresh, introducing all-new Signature Oceanfront Villas ranging from one to four bedrooms with open-concept layouts and spa-like features.  

Culinary Offerings

• Big Island Bees (island of Hawai‘i) organic ‘Ōhi‘a Lehua honey was honored with the Good Food Foundation’s 15 Years of Good Food Awards.
• Boarded Up by Chubbies Burgers (O ‘ahu) is a revamped concept from Chubbies Hawaiʻi resurrecting its signature smash burgers in Honolulu’s Kaimukī neighborhood.  
• Cooking Kaua‘i’s culinary experiences at The Shops at Kukuiʻula offer hands-on lessons creating beloved local dishes.  
• Fumi’s Kahuku Shrimp (Oʻahu) brought its locally sourced, garlic butter-drenched shrimp from North Shore to Honolulu at the Makai Market Food Court in Ala Moana Center.  
• Moo Bong Ri (Oahu), a Korean culinary franchise opened its first Hawai‘i eatery in Honolulu named Moo Bong Ri Soup and Yakiniku.  
• Lahaina Brewery/Koholā Brewery (Maui) now doing business as Koholā Brewery, has acquired Mahalo Aleworks and resumed brewing operations in Upcountry Maui following the 2023 Lahaina wildfires.  
• The Pig and The Lady (O‘ahu), Honolulu’s award-winning Vietnamese restaurant is relocating to Kaimukī’s Civil Beat Plaza in fall 2025.
• Sera (O‘ahu), in Honolulu’s Renaissance Hotel spotlights coastal Mediterranean cuisine in the space formerly occupied by Mara restaurant.  
• Side Street Inn (Central O‘ahu) brings Portuguese-inspired comfort food to Ewa Beach at Wai Kai.  
• Romer House Waikīkī (O‘ahu) added the final addition to its neighborhood island clubhouse experience with the arrival of Honolulu cocktail bar The Lei Stand.
• Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice (Maui-born) opened its first O‘ahu storefront in Waimānalo.  
• Wabisabi Dining (O‘ahu) offers daily rotating dishes — including tonkatsu, sushi, tempura and shabu‑shabu at its secret teppanyaki-style Omacase experience in Honolulu Park Place.  

Attractions and Activities

• Blue Hawaiian Helicopters now offers tours departing from Lāna‘i Airport showcasing the natural beauty of Lāna‘i, Maui and Moloka‘i in a single flight.  
• Dolphin Quest (O‘ahu) and the University of Hawai‘i’s Marine Mammal Research Program launched “In the Wake of Whales,” a new short film supported by researchers studying the annual 3,000-mile migration of humpback whales from Alaska to Hawai‘i.  
• The Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Lookout is now open on Kaua‘i’s North Shore offering stunning panoramic views of lush Hanalei Valley, Hanalei Bay and surrounding forest reserves.  
• Honolulu Museum of Art (O‘ahu) will present a landmark retrospective of famed American Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt through October 12, 2025.   
• The Honolulu Zoo (O‘ahu) launched a new mobile app, “animals, plants, and people!” enhancing guest experiences with GPS-enabled maps, real-time updates and personalized itinerary planning.  
• Lydgate Farms (Kaua‘i) introduced a new two-hour immersive Honey Farm and Tasting Tour adventure.  
• Mana Cruises + Charters (O‘ahu) will offer sunset departures at 4:30 p.m. from Waikīkī and Ko Olina beginning September 15, 2025.  
• Mele: The Hawaiian Music Experience at Maui Ocean Center’s Sphere Theater brings Hawaiian songs and stories to life every Tuesday and Saturday evening.  
• Palace Theater (island of Hawai‘i) in historic Hilo celebrates its 100th anniversary with a lineup of events for Hawai‘i Island residents and visitors.  
• Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture and Design (O‘ahu) announced an expanded partnership with the Honolulu Museum of Art and Bishop Museum to enhance guest access and flexibility through a new dual-departure tour model.  
• The Shops at Wailea (Maui) celebrates its 25th anniversary in November 2025 with a commemorative event honoring culture, community and local artistry.    
• Scotty Browns (Kaua‘i) opened its first Hawai‘i location restaurant at The Shops at Kukuiʻula.  
• USS Arizona Memorial (O‘ahu) in Pearl Harbor is slated to begin a preservation project. Visitors can still experience the memorial with first-come, first-served tickets available daily at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial Visitor Center as advanced online reservations have been temporarily paused.
• Wai Kai (O‘ahu) launched AquaPeakz, a brand-new expansion of its popular AquaVenture floating playground.  
• Wild Side Specialty Tours (Oʻahu) is launching Savor the Sea: Fresh Uni, an immersive ocean-to-table adventure in fall 2025.

Festivals and Events

• Riding Your Waves of Joy (Maui) The Moore Aloha Foundation and Outrigger Kā‘anapali Beach Resort present the inaugural Riding Your Waves of Joy: Building Self-Worth Mother-Daughter Weekend August 30-31, 2025.  
• Okinawan Festival (O‘ahu) One of the state’s premier annual cultural festivals celebrates the Okinawan culture’s long history in Hawai‘i and its many contributions to the cultural fabric of the Islands.
• 54th Annual Waikīkī Roughwater Swim (O‘ahu) A Labor Day tradition since 1970, this iconic 2.38-mile (3.84 km) open water race challenges swimmers to tackle the Pacific swells.    
• 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II (O‘ahu) The Battleship Missouri Memorial unveils a brand-new interactive exhibit experience: Pathway to Peace.  
• 49th Annual Honolulu Intertribal Powwow (O‘ahu) Representatives of multiple Native American, American Indian and Alaska Native communities gather at Ala Moana Beach Park’s Magic Island on September 6, 2025.
• World Manta Day (island of Hawai‘i) at Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa on September 6, 2025, offers a free, family-friendly event dedicated to ocean education and manta ray conservation.  
• Aloha Festivals (O‘ahu) throughout September showcase Hawaiian music, dance, history and the culture’s contributions to the Hawai‘i community.  
• Home in the Islands Livestream (Oʻahu)  Outrigger Resorts and Hotels partners with Duke’s Waikīkī and musician Henry Kapono for the Home in the Islands livestream concert series via Facebook and YouTube beginning September 7, 2025  
• Kauluhiwaolele Maui Fiber Arts Conference (Maui) Hosted by the Outrigger Kāʻanapali Beach Resort, the conference celebrates the art of Native Hawaiian weaving September 11-13, 2025.
• Ke Kai Series (O‘ahu) — Hosted by the Outrigger Reef Waikīkī Beach Resort, this quarterly celebration of traditional Hawaiian voyaging culture is held on September 13.  
• Empty Bowl Hawai‘i (O‘ahu) offers travelers a unique farm-to-table experience on September 17, 2025, celebrating sustainability and local food culture.  
• Aloha Fun Ride (O‘ahu) — The event on September 28, 2025, follows the Honolulu Century Ride, designed to welcome a wider audience, especially youth and families to the island’s largest cycling event.
• Na Wahine O Ke Kai Canoe Race (O‘ahu) on September 28, 2025, is a long-distance outrigger canoe competition gathering over 1,000 paddlers from around the world to cross the rugged Kaiwi Channel separating Moloka‘i and O‘ahu.  
• Ironman World Championship (island of Hawai‘i) hosted by The Outrigger Kona Resort on October 11, 2025, challenges elite athletes with a grueling course of swimming, cycling and running.
• Molokaʻi Hoe 2025 (O‘ahu) — The Oʻahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association will present this 38-mile long-distance outrigger canoe race on October 12, 2025.  
• 45th Annual Hawaiʻi International Film Festival presented by Halekulani Hotel, features a screening of works from Hawai‘i’s filmmaking community, a world-class slate of international films, and film-industry events on Maui, O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and the island of Hawai’i from October 16-November 16, 2025.
• 15th Annual Hawai‘i Food and Wine Festival (O‘ahu, Maui, island of Hawai‘i) held October 17-November 2, 2025, features renowned Hawai‘i and international chefs, culinary personalities, and wine and spirit producers highlighting the state’s bounty of local produce, seafood, meats and other ingredients.  
• Honolulu Pride Parade and Festival (O‘ahu) on October 18, 2025, represents Hawai‘i’s largest LGBTQIA/MVPFAFF+ community festival event.
• Kāhuli Festival (O‘ahu), Bishop Museum’s annual Kāhuli Festival on October 25, 2025, celebrates the vital role of Hawaiian land snails in preserving biodiversity.  
• Hawai‘i Craftsmen (O‘ahu), a yearly juried exhibition celebrating excellence in the Hawaiian Islands’ fine-craft community since 1967 will be held from October 3 - November 1, 2025
• The Maui Jazz and Blues Festival (Maui) on October 23, 2025, will bring soulful sounds and vibrant rhythms to the Valley Isle.  

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