Life + Culture

Striving For Magic

Magics Beach Grill’s new trio has a new dinner menu Article by Samantha Arredondo | Photography by Fletch Photography In 2023, Peggy Szelinski came on as Magics’ manager from her time at Merriman’s Waimea. Szelinski was looking for a challenge and desired to help shape and grow something new; that’s when Magics invited her in. “I remember standing out by the rock wall and all the staff coming up and introducing themselves to me … It felt like family. It felt like home,” Szelinski says. ...

September 2024

Life + Culture

Kona Brewing Company

The renowned brand brings it all back to being local and sustainable Article by Matias Arredondo | Photography by Fletch Photography Everybody remembers their first time at Kona Brewing Company’s pub or brewery. People feel emotionally attached to the brand, but others think the company belongs to the multinational Anheuser-Busch, owner of Budweiser, Stella Artois, and Bud Light. Though it was accurate a few years back, this company has decided to craft its own destiny. Kona Brewing Company...

September 2024

Life + Culture

Kuleana Rum Works

This North Kohala company defies stereotypes and proves rum and responsibility can be related concepts. Article by Matias Arredondo | Photography by Fletch Photography In 2007, Steve and Jackie Jefferson sailed around the Caribbean with their two little keiki. On the French island of Martinique, they tasted Rhum Agricole. This variety uses fresh-pressed sugarcane juice instead of molasses but only accounts for 3% of the global rum production.  “We had this huge moment. We had never tried...

September 2024

Arts + Culture

Art to Art

Each fall, renowned artists gather in Holualoa to create art together and raise funds for Hawai'i Island art teachers Article by Margaret Kearns | Photography by Fletch Photography About 40 artists representing Hawai’i, the U.S. mainland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand,  working in various mediums, participate annually in this invitation-only event. The 2024 Hawaii Artist Collaboration takes place over four days beginning November 2. Much of the completed artwork made from found objects...

September 2024

Arts + Culture

Behind The Brand

Kūha'o Zane shares about the history, heritage, and kuelana of Sig Zane Designs Article by Matias Arredondo | Photography by Sig Zane Designs If you’ve ever seen a green and white “Live Aloha” bumper sticker with a little lehua leaf, you already know about Sig Zane Designs. However, not many people knew what a lehua leaf looked like when that sticker emerged a few decades ago. As that campaign grew and gained recognition, the organic image became a Hawaiian icon. This is the story of the...

August 2024

Life + Culture

From Basic to Community-Forward Boutique Hotel

Connection is at the heart of this local hotel’s transformation Article by Sara Stover | Photography by Fletch Photography Standing on the serene lanai of PACIFIC 19 Kona’s recently remodeled suite, you’d never know you were in the annex of the former Kona Seaside Hotel, let alone in the heart of Kailua-Kona. Built in 1970, the hotel has undergone several renovations over the past two years, thanks to the vision of its new owners. In 2020, investment and development firm Nine Brains purchased...

August 2024

Life + Culture

Lava Lights Galleries

CJ Kale delights the world with his world-class photography Article by Matias Arredondo | Photography by Lava Light Galleries Anyone can take pictures, but not everyone can capture the essence of a moment. At some point, we all grabbed our cameras or phones and quickly shot at what we had in front of us. Yet, a true photographer must think outside the box, presenting what the eye can see with a nuanced perspective. That’s exactly what local artist CJ Kale achieves with his photography.  ...

August 2024

Local Services

A Place To Learn And To Call Home

Sue Brown: from preschool teacher to real estate agent Article by Sara Stover | Photography by Fletch Photography In 1982, Sue Brown and her family traveled from their home in Queensland, Australia to Hawai’i Island for what she assumed would be a short-term adventure. Her husband, Hilary, accepted a two-year position as manager of MacFarms of Hawai’i and the family relocated to their new home in South Kona. Soon after arriving, Sue searched for a preschool for her two-year-old son Tim and...

August 2024

Life + Culture

First Leadership Summit

Kona Coast Magazine creates a space to connect, build, and grow Kona’s business community Article by Margaret Kearns | Photography by Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Some 77 Kona professionals representing 50 different businesses attended the inaugural Kona Coast Leadership Summit presented here in June. In partnership with Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Kailua-Kona resident Taylor Stutts, publisher and national speaker, brought together experts on Hawai’i Island’s business environment as well as...

August 2024

Local Services

Mission Possible!

Working together and engaging Hawai'i Island community members, animal welfare groups here are dedicated to raising awareness and saving lives Article by Margaret Kearns | Photography by Andrew Hreha Working together and engaging Hawai’i Island community members, animal welfare groups here are dedicated to raising awareness and saving lives. Some say in ancient Hawaiian culture, individuals with animal companions were not referred to as owners but rather as their pets’ kahu, meaning...

July 2024