Hanging lights over an island are definitely still relevant — I think the bigger question now is the style of the fixture rather than whether pendants themselves are “in” or “out.” For a transitional/traditional kitchen, I’d look for something with a distinctive shape but without making it overly ornate.

I recently put together a video showing 8 very different designer lights in actual interiors, and it might give you some useful ideas for shapes and styles:
https://youtu.be/nKEcEzpYHhk