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The holiday chaos is almost here, and we’re already daydreaming about trading packed calendars and endless to-do lists for sunshine, ocean views, and a relaxing Hawaiian getaway. From a Maui rom-com to stories rooted in the islands’ communities, these picks bring a little warmth to November, whether you’re dreaming of a holiday getaway or happily staying put.
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Read It, Stream It
The Descendants
by Kaui Hart Hemmings
Beautiful surroundings, complicated feelings. After a boating accident leaves his wife in a coma, Matt King must reconnect with his two daughters while deciding the future of his family’s inherited land. Kaui Hart Hemmings’s Hawaii-set novel mixes grief, family friction, and unexpected humor, and Alexander Payne’s adaptation starring George Clooney and Shailene Woodley brings the islands’ sweeping scenery to life.
Home for the Holidays ✈️
Presented by Icelandic Provisions
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Streaming on Peacock
Steve Martin and John Candy endure canceled flights, missed connections, and one hilariously disastrous road trip in a desperate attempt to make it home for Thanksgiving.
Last Holiday
Streaming on Paramount+
Queen Latifah trades her mundane holiday plans for a lavish European getaway in this feel-good hidden gem.
Crowd-Pleasing Fuel for the Holidays
Thanksgiving travel means family, festivities, and feeding a crowd. Icelandic Provisions Multi-Serve Skyr—available in Whole Milk or Low Fat—makes breakfast easy with a thick, creamy base everyone can customize. Made with just two ingredients, it packs 17g of protein and 0 g of added sugar. Available at Whole Foods!
Ultimate Hawaii Movie Marathon
From sweeping island scenery to romance, family drama, and a little adventure, these movies bring Hawaii to your living room.
Love, Roots, and Island Views
The Unhoneymooners
by Christina Lauren
When food poisoning sidelines the wedding party, Olive gets the chance to take her twin sister’s Maui honeymoon—with Ethan, the best man she can’t stand. Their temporary truce comes with a catch: they’ll have to pretend to be newlyweds. Cue ocean views, sharp banter, and a fake marriage that becomes surprisingly difficult to dismiss.
Hula
by Jasmin ʻIolani Hakes
In Hilo, Hiʻi hopes hula will help her claim her place in a family celebrated for its ties to the dance. But questions about her identity and the history her family carries complicate that ambition. Spanning generations of women, this absorbing novel explores belonging, inheritance, and the stories a community holds close.
Hotel Spotlight
Together with Inside Hotels
Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
The Vibe: Beachfront bliss
The Location: Maui, HI
Instaworthy Accommodations:
Set on 40 oceanfront acres along world-renowned Kāʻanapali Beach, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa brings island luxury to your tropical getaway. Each guest room features a private lanai with views of the Pacific Ocean, West Maui Mountains, or the resort’s lush gardens. Start your day with a beachfront yoga class, then snorkel with sea turtles or relax by one of six pools (yes, there’s a waterslide). Or, if it’s pampering you’re after, Kamahaʻo Spa offers oceanside treatments that melt the world away.
Documentary Spotlight
Voyagers: Exploring Pacific Waters
Streaming on Hulu and Disney+
Long before modern maps, Pacific voyagers crossed vast stretches of ocean in handmade canoes, building navigation skills that connected islands from Guam and Fiji to Hawaii and Rapa Nui. Spanning more than 3,500 years, this documentary series explores the journeys, ingenuity, and seafaring traditions behind that extraordinary ocean world.
Hotel Spotlight
Together with Inside Hotels
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
The Vibe: Oceanfront luxury
The Location: Lahaina, HI
Instaworthy Accommodations:
Sitting on 54 acres along Maui's protected northwest shore, The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua is surrounded by 22,000 acres of open land—including the Honokahua Preservation Site, a sacred Hawaiian place directly adjacent. Recently redesigned rooms feature island-modern interiors, travertine bathrooms, and wide lanais overlooking the Pacific. Spend your days enjoying 70+ weekly experiences, lingering poolside or hiking coastal trails. The 17,500-square-foot spa draws on ancient Hawaiian traditions, and six dining experiences source ingredients from the resort's own organic garden. With island adventures like ziplining, ATV tours and horseback riding just minutes away, it's the kind of Maui home base you'll have trouble leaving.
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