In the world of pro surfing, the NorthShore on Oahu is considered "Mecca." Famous “Sunset” and “Pipeline” beaches are where the professionals come to surf. But for me, one of my favorite places is on Oahu’s SouthShore - Waikiki. I know you may think I am crazy, it’s crowded, there is no parking and it’s full of tourists getting surf lessons. But to me – it is always a party surfing wacky wonderful Waikiki.
In Hawaiian, “Waikiki” translates to “spouting fresh water” for streams and springs that once fed the wetlands in the area. Historically, the Waikiki area has long been a place for leisure. Popular for fishing, surfing and outrigger canoeing with ancient Hawaiians and later in the 1800’s, a retreat for Hawaiian royalty and a playground for celebrities and the wealthy.
While my sister is not a celebrity or wealthy nor royalty, she does live in England and a few years ago I took her for a lesson not knowing what to expect. She had the time of her life! The good news is that if you are a beginner, Waikiki is truly the best spot to learn. There are rental spots all along the beach and for lessons, the iconic “Waikiki Beach Boys.” These guys are amazing and for decades have been teaching celebrities, children and tourists from all over the globe. Many of them even speak fluent Japanese. The most famous beach boy is Duke Kahanamoku, who grew up on the shores of Waikiki and became the world’s greatest ambassador of surfing and aloha.
Now even after living in Hawaii for over ten years, the best thing I can do after working inside an office all day, is hitting the waters of Waikiki. Even if the waves are super small, I always enjoy myself. The energy of the other surfers, views of Diamond Head and the “pink hotel” and the spectacular sunset and hope of seeing that infamous “green flash.”
Waikiki is such an iconic spot, the backdrop for countless movies and commercials, weddings and serving as the hub of the Hawaii tourism industry. It is campy and kitschy and surfing the famous waves of Waikiki should be on everyone’s “must do list”. And also on that list, be sure to include a post surf Mai Tai to celebrate your rite of passage surfing wacky wonderful Waikiki. (Posted by CM & Images Web ).
This is embarrassing – but I can’t cook. My family knows as do all my friends and boyfriend. So what this means is that I eat out – a lot! My top number one place to go is the Olive Tree Café just outside Kahala Mall here in Honolulu.
The Olive Tree is a casual Greek restaurant that serves the tastiest dishes. The ingredients are fresh and the staff is attentive and friendly. When I walk into the café, I often feel like "Norm" from Cheers, as I am greeted with aloha by Rich, Romey or the owner Savas. The setup is very informal, you seat yourself, and on busy nights you “stalk out tables” as customers leave to secure a spot. They do not have a liquor license so you can bring you own and there is no corkage fee.
I always start off with humus and pita bread or the mussels. Then move on to my signature meal - the Greek salad. I often also order the fish or lamb Souvlaki which is also yummy. Olive Tree has daily specials, so be sure to inquire when you place your order at the counter. While the menu isn’t extensive, it is quality. Savas really embraces the concept of “fresh” in all his dishes. One Saturday I was eating there and no joke, a guy backed his truck up and they brought in a huge fish into the kitchen that was mostly likely swimming in the ocean just moments before. Now that is fresh!
I recommend calling in your order, and then taking it to the beach or some other fun Hawaii spot. When my mother was here, I had multiple requests to pick up Olive Tree and bring it back to her Waikiki hotel. We opened a bottle of wine and dined on her lanai. If you are looking for an inexpensive, delicious meal - go to the Olive Tree Café. And for the record, no they aren’t paying me and yes I do have to pay for my meals there. As a matter a fact – I think I hear an order of humus calling my name now. (Posted by CM & Images S.Bulletin, HNA).
Growing up in Rhode Island, I loved watching Magnum PI. Not sure if it was his Ferrari, mustache or the beautiful scenery of Hawaii. But one thing is for sure – I loved his short-shorts and aloha shirts!
The Aloha shirt is an international symbol of Hawaii and recognized around the world. Over the years it has evolved from its’ humble beginnings in the 1930’s to become a beloved uniform for the aloha state and those seeking the relaxedisland lifestyle.
The modern Aloha shirt was devised by Chinese merchant Ellery Chun. Chun began sewing brightly colored shirts for tourists out of old kimono fabrics he had leftover in stock. The newspaper was quick to coin the term “Aloha shirt” to describe Chun’s fashionable creation. Local residents, especially surfers, and tourists couldn’t get enough. Within years, major designer labels sprung up all over Hawaiiand began manufacturing and selling Aloha shirts.
The popularity of the Aloha shirt boomed in the United States after WWII as major celebrities sported the Hawaiian wear. President Harry Truman wore Aloha shirts regularly, as well as John Wayne, Duke Kahanamoku, Elvis Presley, Jimmy Buffet and Burt Lancaster.
I still smile when I see someone wearing that signature red Aloha shirt made so famous by Tom Selleck. It now lives in the Smithsonian Institute. All would agree that no matter what color or style – the Aloha shirt still represents the feel of the islands and a dream of paradise. The good news is that no matter where you live you can always embrace your Aloha spirit and wear an Aloha shirt. From my experience they look best when accompanied with rubber slippers and a mai tai. (Posted by CM & Images Web).
One of the best ways to learn about our amazing ocean and all its beautiful creatures is to take a trip to the Waikiki Aquarium. While the aquarium is small, it is a little gem right on the shores of the Pacific. Over one hundred years old, the Waikiki Aquarium has been leading the way in ocean education and appreciation for both Hawaii residents and visitors.
I headed over to the aquarium Saturday afternoon and was delighted to be greeted by their highly attentive volunteers and staff as they welcomed me. The aquarium itself – is an open air structure playing to the natural beauty of the ocean and the surrounding landscape. Included in the price of admission, are “audio wands’ that are a cross between a TV remote and mobile phone. These information wands, allow you to take a self guided tour of the site at your own pace.
On site, visitors can see an amazing variety of marine life from the tropical Pacific Ocean and Hawaii. It is educational, granting you up-close views of reef sharks, corals, endangered Hawaiian monk seals, jelly fish and my favorite - the giant clam.
The aquarium is a great way to spend an afternoon for a family outing or even a casual date! Located in QueenKapiolaniPark(ocean side of course) at 2777 Kalakaua Avenue on the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, it is within walking distance to many of the hotels. This convenient address makes it an easy activity to incorporate after a day at the beach. It is opened daily from 9 - 4:30pm. The Waikiki Aquarium truly proves that big things come in little packages. (Posted by CM & Images CM & Web).
Hawaii has been, and always will be tops on my list, so it was nice to see Hawaii nab two prime spots in the “2008 Travelers’ Choice for US Destinations.” Perhaps I am too biased since I do live here – but come on…Hawaii is pretty great. I sort of feel bad for the other states, I mean how can they possibly compete against Hawaii’s beaches, beautiful sunsets and sights not to mention the Mai Tais and aloha spirit.
I was happy to see one of my favorite places making the list. Number 4, sunny Poipu on the island of Kauai. This is a great spot with a relaxed vibe yet it still manages to offer something for everyone. It has fabulous hotels, bars and as I learned from my friend Jody, a great surf break right off the beach in front of the hotels.
Ninth on the list was Lahaina on Maui. Again no surprise, since it is always a hit with travelers to the AlohaState. Lahaina’s rich whaling history and whale excursions combined with its’ culinary options, golf and shopping makes it also a terrific location for families or honeymoon couples.
That is the magical thing about Hawaii, it doesn’t matter if you are a family with kids, a large group, active, elderly or a couple looking to spark romance – Hawaii has something for everyone. This must be why people keep coming back to the islands year after year. (Posted by CM & Images Web).
I was reading in the paper and came across an article - “Haleiwa to be rebuilt.” The article headline made me sad. I know change is necessary to evolution, but for some reason I found this news distressing.
When I first visited Oahu I stayed on the NorthShore for two weeks and loved the charm of Haleiwa. So I was very interested when I learned that Kamehameha Schools has plans for Oahu’s famous rural NorthShore.
Part of the plan includes redeveloping the landmark Matsumoto Shave Ice building and adding 50,000 to 100,000 square feet of new commercial space in historic Haleiwa town. So what exactly does “redeveloping the landmark Matsumoto” mean exactly? How could you change the Mecca of shave ice?
According to the article in the Advertiser, the plan is to “revitalize the rural community.” These plans come after two years of community meetings where the developers incorporated suggestions by area residents. The good news is that the trust’s main goal is to keep the NorthShore’s rural character intact. As it stands now, the proposed development includes both affordable housing units, as well as market-priced homes. It will also incorporate a plantation-style “TownCenter” for new businesses, retail shops, a grocery and drug store as well as office space at the Matsumoto site, totaling 50,000 to 100,000 square feet.
The residential projects are expected to be completed in five to 10 years, with the overall plan targeted within the next 15 to 20 years. Let’s hope they also have a plan for all the traffic. (Posted by CM & Images HNA).
Now I don’t play golf, but living in Hawaii it is hard to ignore. It is a popular pastime and some of the world’s premier golf courses and tournaments are held here on our islands of Oahu, Maui and Kauai and the BigIsland.
So when I heard that May is “PGA’s Free Lesson Month” it got my attention. It could be a good excuse to finally get one of those cute golf outfits! One of the sport’s biggest criticism is the high expense, so the PGA‘s “Play Golf America Program” is offering free introductory lessons for beginners, tips to casual players and the opportunity for avid golfers to fine-tune a specific area.
On Kauai, Princeville’s 18-hole Prince course and 27-hole Makai course will offer free golf lessons in May. Resort pros will provide personalized 10-minute lessons any day, with reservations. On the North Shore of Oahu, head to TurtleBay, the back drop for the new movie comedy “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and get started! For full details contact each hotel direct. (Posted by CM & Google).
If you are looking for a great family friendly event this weekend – head to the “I Love Kailua” Town Party, on Sunday April 27th. This annual community event on Oahu is in its 16th year and is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Started by the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle, this group has been devoted to keeping Kailua clean, green and beautiful. They will even be offering a "bicycle valet service." So it makes sense that this event is held close to Earth Day and features some of the areas best farmers market produce, flowers and local products. The event proceeds go back into beautification projects for the Kailua community.
This is truly a “non-tourist” experience where you can mix with local residents that live on the Windward side and all over Oahu. It is a huge, fun block party where you can see your neighbors, old friends and bring the dog. There is something for everyone, music, food, hula, local arts, native Hawaiian plants and orchids.
The cost is $3 for adults, children 12 and under are free. Buttons for entry are sold at 30 local establishments in Kailua. The buttons are always very cute and people collect them year after year. And even better the buttons will get you a discount when presented at participating stores. (Posted by CM – images SOET & Star Bulletin)
The folks at NPR really wanted to spin the Hawaii market negatively, but I wouldn’t let them. if you read the paragraph below you would think Hawaii is out of your price range, but it’s not!! Hawaii is a real value right now as the hotels start to offer great deals!! I was on the NPR show Day by Day click here to listen to what ii had to say about this issue.
NPR - Day by Day - If you’re dreaming of a spring vacation on the sandy beaches of Hawaii, think again. Rising fuel costs are making that sort of vacation a lot more expensive. And travel agents are seeing a slowdown in vacation bookings. Madeleine Brand speaks with Bruce Fisher, owner of the Hawaii Aloha Travel Company in Honolulu.
While my sister is not a celebrity or wealthy nor royalty, she does live in 
Waikiki is such an iconic spot, the backdrop for countless movies and commercials, weddings and serving as the hub of the 
This is embarrassing – but I can’t cook. My family knows as do all my friends and boyfriend. So what this means is that I eat out – a lot! My top number one place to go is the Olive Tree Café just outside Kahala Mall here in 
I always start off with humus and pita bread or the mussels. Then move on to my signature meal - the Greek salad. I often also order the fish or lamb Souvlaki which is also yummy. Olive Tree has daily specials, so be sure to inquire when you place your order at the counter. While the menu isn’t extensive, it is quality. Savas really embraces the concept of “fresh” in all his dishes. One Saturday I was eating there and no joke, a guy backed his truck up and they brought in a huge fish into the kitchen that was mostly likely swimming in the ocean just moments before. Now that is fresh!
Growing up in 
The popularity of the Aloha shirt boomed in the 
One of the best ways to learn about our amazing ocean and all its beautiful creatures is to take a trip to the Waikiki Aquarium. While the aquarium is small, it is a little gem right on the shores of the Pacific. Over one hundred years old, the Waikiki Aquarium has been leading the way in ocean education and appreciation for both 
On site, visitors can see an amazing variety of marine life from the tropical Pacific Ocean and 
Hawaii
Ninth on the list was Lahaina on 
I was reading in the paper and came across an article - “Haleiwa to be rebuilt.” The article headline made me sad. I know change is necessary to evolution, but for some reason I found this news distressing. 
According to the article in the Advertiser, the plan is to “revitalize the rural community.” These plans come after two years of community meetings where the developers incorporated suggestions by area residents. The good news is that the trust’s main goal is to keep the 
Now I don’t play golf, but living in 
On 
If you are looking for a great family friendly event this weekend – head to the “I Love Kailua” Town Party, on Sunday April 27th. This annual community event on Oahu is in its 16th year and is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 
The folks at NPR really wanted to spin the Hawaii market negatively, but I wouldn’t let them. if you read the paragraph below you would think Hawaii is out of your price range, but it’s not!! Hawaii is a real value right now as the hotels start to offer great deals!! I was on the NPR show Day by Day click here to listen to what ii had to say about this issue.