It’s right about now that one truly senses a shift; subtle at first as spring wanes, but then inescapable as the weeks steadily march into summer at its fullest. Surely, we aren’t the only ones being woken up far too early by the rising sun or noticing the climbing heat at midday. Seemingly immune to such seasonal changes, our kids relish their longer days with hours spent lazing with friends old and new. Likewise, we always welcome this issue’s arrival since it marks not only the new season but the magazine’s anniversary. This year marks our 18th!

Leading this month’s lineup is Ed O’Neill’s familiar face on the cover; he welcomed our team to the sunny Kona coast for a delightful afternoon of stories, shoots and smiles. Ever gracious and openly hospitable with an extra helping of aloha, O’Neill truly embodies the spirit of HILuxury’s featured subjects, as written by our own Yu Shing Ting in “Sterling Reputation” (page 70).

Further along — and also no stranger to the art of hospitality — Allison Schaefers shines the spotlight on Highgate Group’s Kelly Sanders and his transformative effect on the local hotel scene in “On a High Note” (page 92), and notable chef Michael Mina brings us all along for a day in the life of a culinary tour de force (“24 Hours with Michael Mina,” page 38).

Our team must have doubled down on the horsepower theme this month as there is plenty on tap all throughout this issue. From traveling by luxury locomotive in “Incredible Journeys” (page 96) to this month’s veritable automotive steamroller of an SUV with the Mercedes AMG GLE63s (“Ride Here, Ride Now,” page 52), to the horological powerhouses of 2024 in the watch section (“Tick Talk,” page 50), to the incredibly powerful on-stage images of rock icons by Michael Horikawa (“Rock of Ages,” page 62), there is a lot of energy waiting to be unleashed as the pages are turned.

On the more leisurely side of things, there is also plenty to take in during quieter moments. The Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui shares the results of their recent transformation with a suite of new dining offerings for guests and the Valley Isle community to discover. Find out more in “Straight from the Source,” on page 110. Closer to us on O‘ahu, writer Nicole Monton gives us the low down on Kitchen Door in Kapolei (“From Napa to Wai Kai,” page 106), where the Todd Humphries establishment also invites foodies and culinary adventurers to experience the latest with its farm fresh dining meets locally inspired modern cuisine. Say hello to summer!

Much aloha,
Margie Jacinto, Publisher