Honolulu, Hawaii and Diamond Head crater with rainbow, facing Southeast.

Although Hawaii’s tourism industry has taken some hard knocks in the past few years, 2004 is proving to be a major comeback. With its #1 industry back on track, there is no better time to get reacquainted with Hawaii.

Best of all, there are many new things to discover, making it an enjoyable and interesting experience for even the most seasoned island travelers. Take a look at what’s new in Honolulu.

Arts, Culture & History

View of downtown Honolulu at Bishop and King streets with First Hawaiian Center building (left) and Bank of Hawai‘i (right)

The Bishop Museum has begun construction on its new $40 million Science Learning Center that will explore Hawaii’s extraordinary natural world. The new facility is scheduled to open in 2005. Meanwhile check out the museum’s upcoming new exhibition, “If These Walls Could Talk,” on display Oct 2-Jan 4. Exploring environmental science, engineering, culture, and more, the exhibit will include 20 interactive features as well as an object theater. 808-847-3511, www.bishopmuseum.org.

The Honolulu Academy of Art hosts its 23rd annual “World Art Bazaar” Nov 27-Dec 12. This marvelous free market will feature gift items, folk art, home accents, jewelry, ethnic clothing, textiles, and more from around the world. Over 4,000 visitors attended in 2003. September welcomes “The Arts of Hawaii and its People,” which features special exhibitions of Hawaiian art from as early as pre-Western contact to modern day. Date TBA. 808-532-8700, www.honoluluacademy.org.

Downtown Honolulu as seen from the Capitol District

The new Na Mea Hawai’i store, previously Native Books, now features free Hawaiian concerts every Sunday at Ward Warehouse Amphitheater, 1pm-3pm. The new store has an incredible selection of handmade quilts, jewelry, clothing, crafts, and other goods made by local Hawaiian artists and craftmakers. 800-887-7751, www.nativebookshawaii.com.

Enjoy “A Day at Queen Emma Summer Palace” on Oct 4 from 9am-4pm. The event will feature Hawaiian food and music, hula dancing, free museum tours, crafts and goods, and a display of period costumes. 808-595-6291, www.daughtersofhawaii.org.

Art lovers will enjoy Sheraton’s area art celebrations: the Waikiki Art Festival in Kapiolani Park runs Nov 20-21, while the Ala Moana Art Festival in Ala Moana Park runs Dec 11-12. 808-922-3111, www.moana-surfrider.com.

Collectors won’t want to miss the Wiki Wiki One Day Collectibles & Hawaiiana Show, Oct 10, at the Blaisdell Center Hawaiian Suites. The show and sale features pre-1980’s collectibles and runs 11am-5pm. 808-941-9754, www.ukulele.com/wikiwiki.

A 450-pound brass replica of the USS Missouri is now on display at the Honolulu International Airport, on the Ewa Concourse walkway, thanks to the efforts of the USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc. 808-423-2263, www.ussmissouri.com.

Dining & Food Events

Blu Water Grill, a new waterfront restaurant featuring tropical cuisine, recently opened at the Hawaii Kai Shopping Center. 808-396-4402. Jackie’s Kitchen, an Asian-inspired American restaurant owned by actor Jackie Chan, is now open at Ala Moana Center. There are more than 40 Jackie’s Kitchen restaurants throughout Asia, but this is the first to open in the U.S. 808-943-2426, www.alamoana.com.

The Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce hosts Chopsticks & Wine 2004 on Oct 13. The event features tasting stations, fine wine, and sake selections, as well as live entertainment and a silent auction. 808-949-5531. www.honolulujapanesechamber.org.

September welcomes the Saturday Farmer’s Market at Kapiolani Community College, which features Hawaiian-grown and produced foods. The market has become a popular place to meet friends, shop, and enjoy breakfast. A different restaurant prepares hot morning meals each week. 808-848-2074, www.http://food.kcc.hawaii.edu/events/FarmersMarket.htm. Also beginning in September, the Honolulu Street Market at City Square in Kalihi will feature fresh produce, cut flowers, fresh-baked Kakaako breads, crafts and collectibles, and must-try Paniolo Popcorn. The market runs Saturdays, 9am-2pm. 808-221-6042.

Festivals

On Sept 10, famed Bishop Street hosts Ho’olaule’a, a celebration of Hawaiian dancing, food, and entertainment. This free event features plenty of special activities as well. Sept 12-21 welcomes Aloha Festival, the islands largest and most popular celebration. A true celebration of aloha, the festivities include downtown block parties, floral parades, a Royal Ball, multicultural cuisine, arts and crafts, and local entertainment. 808-589-1771, www.alohafestivals.com.

Celebrate all things German at the Ala Moana Hotel’s 34th Annual Oktoberfest, Hawaii’s biggest Bavarian festival. Oct 5-10, the Hibiscus Ballroom will transform into a “mini-Munich” for this celebration of live entertainment, sing-a-longs, dancing, food, beer, and more. 888-367-4811, www.alamoanahotel.com.

The Sheraton Princess Ka’iulani Hotel will host their annual Princess Ka’iulani Commemoration Week Oct 10-16. Throughout the celebrations, visitors can enjoy hula lessons, fresh flower lei making, ukulele lessons, and cooking demonstrations. The week wraps up with the 10th annual Princess Ka’iulani Keiki Hula Festival. 808-922-3111, www.starwood.com/hawaii.

The 24th Annual Hawaii International Film Festival will run Oct 21-31 this year. The festival expects to feature over 150 films from Asia, the Pacific Rim, and North America, as well as special symposiums and awards ceremonies. 808-528-3456, www.hiff.org.

Enjoy ceremonial dancing, drumming, frybread, and a variety of food and craft vendors at the 30th Annual American Indian Pow Wow at Thompson Square, Oct 2-3. 808-734-8018.

Nature

The Lyon Arboretum will offer “Foods of Hawaii” every Tuesday, 9am-1pm, starting on October 7. Upon arrival, visitors will proceed on a tour of the Arboretum, followed by a cooking demonstration and lunch. Not to be missed is the 2nd annual “Hawaii & Pacific Islands Kava Festival” on Oct 9, 9am-5pm. This new festival celebrates Awa, the Hawaiian Kava plant, an age-old medicinal root used in most often in teas, and a part of many traditional Hawaiian ceremonies. Visitors to the event will have the opportunity to taste-test Kava in tea and other forms, as well as talk with native Hawaiian speakers and try out Holua sledding. Live music, arts and crafts, and food will be featured throughout the day. 808-988-0456, www.lyonarboretum.com, www.kavafestival.org.

This year celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Waikiki Aquarium. Look for upcoming events and anniversary celebrations to be posted shortly on the aquarium website. 808-923-9741, www.waquarium.otted.hawaii.edu.

Enjoy a wide-open view of the night sky from the water with Sail Hawaii. On Oct 27, they will feature a special “Total Lunar Eclipse Sail,” featuring Hawaii’s best views of the phenomenon, as well as a dinner buffet. Throughout the fall season, various meteor-shower sails will be available as well. 808-306-7273, www.sailhawaii.com/meteorshower.html.

The 4,000-acre Kualoa Ranch, located a half hour from Honolulu in Kaaawa, opened the new Ho’okipa Visitor Center in June, where visitors can book tours, schedule activities, dine, and shop. New activities include a paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) round-up and new hiking opportunities. 800-231-7321, www.kualoa.com.

For more information on what’s new and upcoming in Honolulu, contact:

O’ahu Visitors Bureau

877-525-OAHU

www.visit-oahu.com