There'll be one less fireworks show when America celebrates her birthday this July 4th, and it's all thanks to those darn budget cuts. Kaua‘i's Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) canceled its annual tradition but hopes to bring it back next year.
We already told you about both the Kane‘ohe Bayfest and Kailua fireworks showfizzling out of the holiday festivities. Even Pearl Harbor had to say "nay" to their traditional show in the skies.
Not surprisingly, each Fourth of July event in the islands will draw thousands of people every summer. Last year, more than 10,000 people attended the PMRF show, according to The Garden Isle. I was among the crowd on the beach. We showed up early to get a spot and enjoyed the free entertainment and local grinds. The best part of this Kaua‘i event was that it was one of the only days that the public was allowed access to PMRF. (more…)
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
The only reason I'd imagine visitors wanting to stay on the west side of O‘ahu would be to get away from the city. It's more than 45 miles from Waikīkī (about an hour of driving one-way), so it's likely you'll want to do things on that side of the island.
Mākaha is probably the farthest and most secluded you'll get from the city life. There's a resort in the back of the valley and vacation condos on the beach. We stayed at the Makaha Beach Cabanas once as kids and loved how it was literally just steps from the ocean. Every night, we'd fall asleep to the soothing sounds of the water outside.
I remember seeing humpback whales one morning from the lanai and turtles swimming near the rocky cove below. There's a long stretch of white sandy beach that never really got crowded either, except for a few families having a beach day. You can walk to the point for the best view of daredevil surfers. I'm pretty sure in the summer months, or on calm days, it'd be a great place for snorkeling.
Keep in mind, you're in an isolated part of the island, so the area beyond the beachfront property isn't the most tourist-friendly. As in, there are not many places to eat or shop. It's pretty much just a few corner markets, some fast foods and drug stores; nothing like what you would find in Honolulu. (more…)
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
Airline travel can be an especially challenging experience for wounded service members and veterans. Having to take off a belt or jacket can be a major inconvenience for them, as a lengthy and even humiliating process at the airport.
A new policy would change that. The Helping Heroes Fly Act would allow severely disabled service members and veterans to undergo "sensitive screening" at airports, according to a release. The measure would improve a current Transportation Security Administration (TSA) program called the Wounded Warrior Screening Program and require all screeners to be trained on correct procedures.
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, who is from Hawai‘i, introduced the bill. She says in the release that the act "is a strong step toward ensuring they (wounded service members and veterans) do not face unnecessary hardships after having served our country with courage and dignity." (more…)
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
There's a slice of Laguna Beach in Hawai‘i that comes in the form of a pizzeria. ZPizza prides itself on 100-percent organic wheat flour baked fresh daily with zesty toppings, like MSG-free pepperoni and organic tomato sauce.
Simply put, this is the healthiest pizza will ever get – which sets it apart from other take-out and deliveries. Plus, ZPizza offers gluten-free and vegan options. We all know that eating healthy usually means you'll pay more, which is why the menu is a bit on the pricier side. Whole pies cost anywhere from $12.95 to $25.95, while slices start at $3.25.
But if you're willing to splurge on good food, then it's worth the price for a pricer pie. We got the Thai pizza, which is loaded with peanut sauce, mozzarella, red onions, cilantro, carrots, bean sprouts and spicy chicken. It was incredible but what convinced me to go for a second slice was that the pizza was also really healthy. Go figure. ZPizza also offers tasty sandwiches and salads. (more…)
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
Most likely not because the natural phenomenon is a pretty rare sight to come by; even seeing just one is unusual, but a Hawai‘i Island photographer managed to capture seven vortices in a photo he took several years ago. Check out this amazing shot:
The photo, titled "Volcanic Vortices," will be displayed at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History's annual exhibition this summer. Photographer Bruce Omori received the Windland Smith Rice International Award after his lava photo was selected out of almost 20,000 submissions.
“On an early morning shoot at the Waikupanaha ocean entry, lava from the Kilauea volcano poured into the sea. This created a huge escape of steam, and as it rose, multiple vortices began spinning off of the huge plume,” Omori described in his photo submission description. “My fumbling with the lenses turned into a panicked rush to switch my telephoto to wide angle lens to capture this awesome scene of seven vortices in a row.”
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
Lights, camera, action! A Hollywood extravaganza graced the beaches of Waikiki this past Sunday, as the cast and crew of NBC’s TODAY Show broadcasted live from the sand. With an array of sets, from sitting poolside to standing alongside Tahitian dancers to overlooking Diamond Head and the West Side, the backdrop for stop number 1 of 5 on The Great American Adventure was spectacular. While hosts like Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie, Natalie Morales and Willie Geist awed over the scenery, fans awed over them, and I awed over the entirety of the event.
Staged with enough lights to power a neighborhood, the production behind this event was simply fantastic. Happening between 1:00am and 4:00am Hawaii time, the natural lighting was obviously pitch black, however judging by the amount of artificial luminosity, you would have thought it was broad day. Then there was the Hawaiiana décor. And I’ve got to say, NBC’s team did a terrific job representing the island in the best way possible. Really capturing the aspects of Hawaii that make it unique and enticing to visitors, TODAY Show viewers most likely got the feel that Hawaii had come right to their living rooms.
The famous Royal Hawaiian hotel partnered with NBC’s TODAY Show to highlight Oahu and Waikiki as a great travel destination. Part of the series, The Great American Adventure, Waikiki kicked things off with some culture and festivity. Over 75 people were flown to the island to aid in the production of this event, and it showed in the impressiveness of it all.
A huge mahalo to Associate Producer Megan Kopf and Social Media Coordinator Anthony Quintano, who shepherded us around to the various sets. Part of an intimate group of press only, I felt well taken care of and the night seemed to run very smooth. Everyone from NBC was so gracious and nice, which really helped make the experience that much more enjoyable. With full access to all the behind-the-scene happenings, this live broadcast was quite the creation. You can tell someone really did their homework because everything, down to the flower leis the hosts were all wearing, was very well thought out for the accurate representation of Hawaii.
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
If you're driving in Hawai‘i while on vacation, make sure to buckle up. That means passengers in the back seat, too.
The new law includes children and adults; previously, adults didn't have to wear seat belts when sitting in the back of a vehicle. I always thought that was a no brainer. Sitting in the back seat doesn't necessarily mean you're protected during motor vehicle accidents. Yet, there are still people who choose not don't buckle up. I guess it's with the mentality that there'll be no legal reprecutions. But accidental death? Think again.
This coincides with the annual "Click it or Ticket" campaign encouraging drivers and passengers to buckle up when on the road. Those caught not wearing their seat belt face a $92 fine. In that case, drivers will be the ones cited. (more…)
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
You can just feel the mana, or power, when driving by Makua Valley. Even though it's inaccessible to the public today, the valley is still very much a visible part of O‘ahu's northwestern shore. It's also still very much alive with Hawaiian culture and history.
Hawaiians believed it to be the site where man was first created; hence, the name makua, meaning "parent" in Hawaiian.They also considered the valley as a place where spirits entered the afterworld. If you look up along the rocky cliffs, you'll see a handful of memorials made in honor of those who have passed.
But perhaps one of Makua's most significant roles in Hawaiian history was as a rest stop for travelers. Visitors on their way to Ka‘ena Point would land their canoes on the sandy beach directly in front of the valley, where they'd spend the night. Spanning more than 4,000 acres across the coast, Makua had plenty of room to spare. (more…)
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
Only one resort adorns Oahu’s fabled north shore and it’s Turtle Bay. Situated on it’s own point along the north coastline, Turtle Bay consists of 375 luxury guest rooms, 26 suites, 42 beach cottages and luxury ocean villas with scenic views of the Pacific Ocean. Surrounded by beautiful beachscapes, Turtle Bay offers guests privacy, seclusion, and the incredible sights of Oahu’s country counter parts.
In the midst of renovation, this resort is undergoing some major upgrades set to complete this October. However, the first wing of new rooms will be available to guests beginning June 2nd, boasting new interior décor, amenities, and renovations – just in time for summer. The guest room redesign includes all-new fixtures, furnishings, bedding as well as completely remodeled bathrooms with new tile, vanities, and walk-in showers. Managed by award-winning Honolulu-based architecture firm WCIT, so far the renovations have been a success. It’s easy to see if you take a peek at the property!
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
Those federal budget cuts are becoming a real kill joy. In addition to furloughs and shortened hours at major tourist attractions, like Pearl Harbor, the budget cuts also cut out Kane‘ohe's annual BayFest.
The Fourth of July event at the Marine Corps Base has been happening for more than 20 years. And every year, it attracted 25,000 people for carnival rides, fireworks and music concerts. Growing up, I remember watching Train and Fergie from Black Eyed Peas perform at BayFest. My family and I would always watch the fireworks show from the nearby vista overlooking Kane‘ohe Bay. (more…)
Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.
Published by Bruce Fisher
