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Island that's home to Waimea Canyon, a.k.a. the Grand Canyon of Hawaii - NYT The Mini Clue

Across

  • The answer "HOST" fits because a host is the central figure of a late-night show, often the most important person (V.I.P.) who guides the program, conducts interviews, and entertains the audience.

  • KAUAI is the correct answer because it is a Hawaiian island nicknamed the "Garden Isle" and known for its lush landscapes. Waimea Canyon, referred to as the "Grand Canyon of Hawaii," is a famous landmark located on Kauai, making it the island referenced in the clue.

  • The answer is EBILL because it refers to an "electronic bill," which is a digital notification sent online by utility companies to inform customers about payment dues. "Online notice" aligns with the digital nature of EBILL, and "utilities" hints at typical bills like water, electricity, or internet services.

  • The answer is "GIJOE" because G.I. Joe is a famous action figure, first introduced by Hasbro in 1964 as a "movable fighting man." It became iconic and was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2004, honoring its cultural and historic significance in the toy industry.

  • The suffix "STAN" means "land of" in Persian, commonly used in Central Asian country names like Kazakhstan ("land of the Kazakhs") and Kyrgyzstan ("land of the Kyrgyz"). Hence, "STAN" is the fitting suffix shared by Kazakh and Kyrgyz.

Down

  • The answer "HABIT" fits the clue "Repeated activity" because a habit is an action or behavior performed regularly or repeatedly, often without much conscious thought. It aligns perfectly with the definition of an activity occurring repeatedly, making it the correct solution.

  • The answer is OUIJA because a "spiritualist's board" refers to the Ouija board, a tool used in séances to communicate with spirits. Participants use the board to spell out messages as a planchette moves across the letters, allegedly guided by spiritual energy.

  • The answer "SALON" fits because a salon is a business where stylists typically work, providing haircuts, styling, and other beauty-related services. The clue directly refers to the workplace of such professionals, making "SALON" the logical solution.

  • TILE is the solution because much of the iconic signage in the NYC subway system, such as station names and directional signs, is made using ceramic tiles. This durable and visually distinct material has been a hallmark of the subway’s historic design since its early days.

  • KEGS is the answer because it refers to cylindrical containers used to store and serve beer, commonly associated with large quantities. The clue specifies "Big beer barrels," and kegs are essentially smaller beer barrels but still considered "big" in a casual or relative sense.

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Solving today’s NYT Mini Puzzle and stuck on the 5-letter answer to the Island that's home to Waimea Canyon, a.k.a. the Grand Canyon of Hawaii clue? Don’t worry—Lady Puzzle Pro has you covered! Whether you want the answer right away, revealed letter by letter, or this wordplay seems too puzzling, keep reading for the explanation.

Island that's home to Waimea Canyon, a.k.a. the Grand Canyon of Hawaii Answer Explained

The answer is KAUAI.

This clue is asking for a specific Hawaiian island, and the biggest hint is the reference to Waimea Canyon, nicknamed “the Grand Canyon of Hawaii.” That comparison helps narrow it down: Hawaii has several islands, but Waimea Canyon is a standout feature of KAUAI, known for its dramatic natural beauty and lush landscapes. If you’re not familiar with Hawaiian geography, you might guess Maui or Oahu, but those are better known for beaches or cities like Honolulu. Knowing that KAUAI is sometimes called the “Garden Isle” helps connect it to scenic landmarks like this.

Now that you've cracked the 5A Island that's home to Waimea Canyon, a.k.a. the Grand Canyon of Hawaii clue, you're one step closer to completing today’s Mini Puzzle! If you're still stuck on other clues, don't worry—we've got you covered. Explore more NYT Mini crossword answers right here, or check out our tools for solving the NYT Crossword, Connections, or Strands.

Today’s NYT Mini Highlights

This Sunday Mini by Joel Fagliano is a tight and well-balanced 5x5, touching on a mix of topics—from toy history and spiritualism to Central Asian geography and NYC infrastructure. A couple of clues lean trivia-heavy, while others rely on everyday logic, making for a satisfying small solve.

Here’s what caught our attention today:

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NYT The Mini Crossword is a compact version of the New York Times Crossword puzzle. Usually 5 x 5, with larger grids on Saturdays, it offers mid-week equivalent difficulty clues with no progression over the week. It is accessible to anyone with or without a New York Times account. You can play it on nytimes.com/crosswords, The New York Times Games app (iOS and Android), and the Play tab of the New York Times News app. Games and All Access Subscribers can solve past Mini Crossword puzzles in the archive.

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