There's something genuinely exciting about a readers' choice awards that asks you to champion the places you actually love, not the ones a committee decides are worthy. Hawaiʻi Magazine's 2027 Readers' Choice Awards are open for voting, and we think this is one of the most direct ways to shape how the Islands are celebrated. It's not about abstract rankings; it's about the malasada shop you swear by, the beach where the water hits just right, and the lūʻau that made you feel like part of the ʻohana. Voting is your chance to put your own island soul on the map.
What makes this different from a typical "best of" list is the tangible payoff for one lucky voter: a round-trip flight for two on Hawaiian Airlines and a four-night stay at Waimea Plantation Cottages on Kauaʻi. That's not a discount code or a branded tote bag, it's a curated escape that mirrors the kind of discovery we talk about in pieces like From Sydney to Cairns: 3 Months of Coastal Discovery and Island Soul, where the journey itself becomes the reward. The prize feels intentional, designed for someone who values authentic, unhurried time in a place that matters. For the rest of us, the real prize is seeing our favorite spots get the recognition they deserve when the results drop in the Spring/Summer 2027 issue.
We also appreciate that the nomination process stays open for businesses that might otherwise fly under the radar. This isn't a closed system reserved for big resorts and established chains. If you've stumbled upon a hidden gem, maybe something as unexpected as the Sour and mysterious: a market find that demands local discovery we recently explored, you can submit it for consideration. That openness aligns with the adventurous, grounded spirit we champion: luxury isn't about exclusivity, it's about access to the real thing, whether that's a perfect poke bowl or a trail that leads to a view you'll never forget.
Here's the concrete takeaway: voting closes at 11:59 p.m. HST on Sunday, December 20, 2026, and no purchase is necessary. That means you have a few weeks to think about which businesses and spots have genuinely shaped your experience of the Islands. We'd suggest you cast your ballot not for the most famous name, but for the place that still makes you smile when you think about it. The winner gets a vacation; the rest of us get a list that actually reflects what the community values. That's a trade worth making.