A rare plant has been making a stink at the Honolulu Botanical Garden, literally. The plant – also known as the "Corpse Flower" – lives up to its name because the more it starts to bloom, the stinkier it gets…as in, rotting flesh, dead horse stink. Last year, the plant was in bloom on the Big Island, but this is the first time for O‘ahu.
(Left) A pre-bloom amorphophallus titanium, or "Corpse Flower." (Right) Taken today as it starts to bloom. It should continue to fully mature into tomorrow (Thursday).
The stench won't stop hundreds of curious visitors from getting a whiff of what experts nicknamed "Big Stink," when it fully blooms tomorrow. That's because it only happens every three to five years, and although the botanical garden got the plant almost 10 years ago, this is the first time it'll bloom. It's also believed to be the only one on O‘ahu. Thousands showed up to see it each day when it was in bloom on the Big Island.
Our blogger Katherine Finch happened to be checking out the plant today. She said it smells like "rotten matter or meat with a sweetish overtone, like it really wants to be a flower." Way to find the good in this deadly-smelling plant, Katherine! I think I'll just take your word for it on this one.
The plant is an endangered species native to Sumatra, Indonesia and emits the horrific odor to attract the carrion beetles that pollinate the flower. If you're wondering why on Earth these beetles would enjoy such a stench; it's because they're the ones that hurry over to dead animals so that they can lay their eggs in the rotting flesh.
Katherine taking one for the team! She had the privilege of getting up close and personal with the putrid stench!
Officials say the plant is already starting to show its bright purple petals and excrete a pungent perfume. But once it finally is in bloom, it may only remain that way for a few days. Whatever you do, just don't forget to bring your nose plugs!
HONOLULU FOSTER BOTANICAL GARDEN / 50 N. Vineyard Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96817 (Map) / Opens daily 9am-4pm, closed Christmas Day and New Years Day / 808-522-7066 / Free parking; near bus route
Photo Credit: City & County of Honolulu (first, left); Katherine Finch
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
Published by Bruce Fisher
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.
May 16th, 2012
Hawai‘i loves its mangoes so much that we created a three-day festival dedicated entirely to the sweet island delight; not to mention, it'll be happening just in time for the peak harvest season. Mango Mania returns to the Big Island for its fourth year in July and welcomes mango lovers of all ages to enjoy a savory part of Hawai‘i's culture.
The many flavors of Hawai‘i – mangoes, pineapples and bananas.
Luckily, the star of the festival arrived just in time; local farmers had been experiencing a lack of rain during the past few months and worried that their crops would do poorly. But festival coordinators assured us that there will be plenty of mango to go around. You can try it in the form of a dessert, drink, food and even a dance.
The first day of the festival happens in Kealakekua, where a dramatic show of Mango Tango will get people to their feet. Of course, it wouldn't be complete without real edible mangoes. Attendees can enjoy a dessert bar and silent auction that night.
An assortment of baked mango treats. Mango turnovers really do sound magical…
The weekend continues with more juicy jive and celebrates the different mango varieties of the islands. There are many, but some of the popular ones that originates from the islands include Kurashige, Rapoza and Gouveia. Writing about this makes my mouth water! There will, of course, be some mangos for sale. Make sure to pick the reddish-yellow ones if you want to eat them right away; those are sure to be ready and ripe for your enjoyment.
MANGO FESTIVAL 2012 / July 28-29, 2012, 10am-5pm / Keauhou Beach Resort 78-6740 Ali‘i Dr., Kailua Kona, HI 96740 (Map) / Free to the public
MANGO TANGO 2012 / July 21, 2012, 630-9pm / New Thought Center in Pualani Terrace on Hwy 11 / $10 ticket donation for dramatic tango show, dessert bar and silent auction / Call 808-887-1292 for tickets
Photo Credit: Fern Gavelek
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
Published by Bruce Fisher
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.
May 16th, 2012
Don’t let travel agencies fool you with the catch phrase, “all-inclusive” because it’s not worth your time or money. And your vacation package certainly won’t be all-inclusive. But if you book the right way, through the right company, you can actually save on your vacation with all-inclusive packages. However, the travel agencies who can provide this service are extremely limited, and we recommend only booking through a local company.
Hawaii-Aloha was founded in 1997 and became the online travel and tour company it is today in 2000. Which means we’ve had over fifteen years of experience as Hawaii’s local travel company, cultivating personal relationships with resorts, hotels, activity vendors, transportation services, tour groups, and more. We offer our clients exclusive savings on all-inclusive Hawaii vacation packages through our unique connection to Hawaii and its travel services, something no other company can boast.
We consistently offer our clients the best travel packages state wide, meaning you can find the deals no matter which island you wish to vacation on. These are presented at the best prices available and customized to your every wish, down to the very last detail. Because our travel agents are experienced in seeking out savings in every aspect of Hawaii traveling, by booking with us, you automatically save. Feel free to give a yelp of excitement when your travel agent books you your dream vacation in Hawaii, for less than you expected. Because this is our specialty, and we love offering it to you.
We can include in our price quotes your airfare and lei greeting with limousine transportation service, down to the dinners out, surf lessons, luaus, and spa days, and everything in between. The packages we can design for you are made through your specific outline, ranging from all-inclusive to semi-inclusive, to airfare or hotel only. However you wish your vacation to be, we make it happen at a price that is affordably within your budget. This is what being an all-inclusive Hawaii vacation package provider is really about. Giving our clients exactly what we promise, with no hidden costs or fees and with friendly service that is nothing short of the Aloha spirit.
Published by Bruce Fisher
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.
May 16th, 2012
Hawai‘i's filming industry has seen shows come and go. As for this upcoming season in television? We got both good and bad news. The bad news is that horror series The River has been canceled after its first season. The good news, which comes as no surprise, is that Hawaii Five-0 will be bookin' it into a third season.
Clark Quietly (Paul Blackthorne) played the producer of Dr. Emmet Cole's reality show.
Both ABC and CBS officially made the announcements this past weekend. Honestly, I'm a little bummed about The River getting canceled. It had an interesting plot and kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time, but I understand how the shaky camera movements can become distracting. The actors not only acted but filmed parts of the show as well. This gave it a documentary feel that was similar to Paranormal Activity and got mixed reviews from the audience.
The River was one of the few shows filmed in Hawai‘i that I couldn't recognize where it had been shot, which was a good thing. Most times, like in Hawaii Five-0, the setting is obvious – Magic Island, North Shore or Ala Moana Beach Park. This can be nice for local viewers to relate to or for tourists to get a glimpse of Hawai‘i; but I like to see Hollywood work its magic by making someplace look totally different. The River did a great job in convincing me it happened in the depths of the Amazon instead of Hawai‘i. The creepy doll scene in one of the first few episodes was filmed at Waimea Valley on O‘ahu, but there was no way I would have guessed that, since it looked like just a bunch of banyan trees.
Chin Ho is forced to make a tough decision in the Hawaii Five-0 second season finale.
Moving on to Hawaii Five-0. With a season finale like last night's, they owe it to the audience to have another round of episodes. There was a lot of gunfire and a huge explosion, but the most unexpected scenario involved the possible "death" of Kono (Grace Park). Chin Ho (Daniel Dae Kim) had to choose between saving the life of Kono or his wife Malia (Reiko Aylesworth). He chooses Malia and watches as the perpetrator duct tapes Kono before throwing her into the ocean to drown. Of course, we won't know until next season if she really did die or if someone rescues her. But man, talk about a suspenseful way to end the season.
Related Posts
Hawaii Five-0 Fans in the Spotlight
TALK STORY: Actor Taylor Wily from Five-0
Photo Credit: ABC and CBS
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
Published by Bruce Fisher
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.
May 15th, 2012
On a typical Sunday morning in Chinatown, you'll see people tugging their carts of fresh produce and speciality items, store owners moving busily about their compact spaces and clouds of deliciously-smelling steam wafting from various manapua shops and cutleries. This past Sunday, however, it was the floral shop owners who kept the busiest, restocking their refrigerators as customers shuffled in and out of the tiny stores in search of the perfect Mother's Day lei.
A handmade lei of orchids and ferns from Island Gifts & Flowers in Chinatown.
One of the shop owners I spoke with told me they're used to the madness – Mother's Day, Memorial Day, May Day or graduation season are all centered around aromatic strands of lei and fresh blossom bouquets. In Hawai‘i, it's common to honor our mothers with a lei. Some people choose their lei by the type of flowers used, while others choose them by visual appearance. My sister and I searched for the one that had the sweetest smell and ended up with a beautiful lei woven with orchids and tuberose. Typically, tuberose, plumeria, puakenikeni and ginger have the strongest fragrance. But according to the shop owner I talked to, tourists mostly prefer to have plumeria lei.
Plumeria flowers color the islands with its yellow, pink and red varieties.
Flower shops can be found on almost every corner of Chinatown; look for the buckets of bouquets outside or strands of lei hanging at the shady storefront entrances. Lei are generally much cheaper than the ones in supermarkets; plus, they come from smalltime local businesses, so it's always good to buy local! I like watching the ladies in the back stringing flowers into lei because it always reminds me of a mini lei-making factory.
Sadly, I just heard on the news that some grocery stores have been selling lei with PLASTIC FLOWERS in between real ones and not notifying customers. Stores have been charging the same, if not more, than the price of a real lei ($10). This is more than sneaky sales tactics; it's a disgrace to the culture and disrespectful to whomever the lei is given. I'd be offended if I received a fake lei like that.
Fresh bouquets can be made upon request. This is the ever-so-tropical Bird of Paradise.
Here's a list of several lei and flower shops in Chinatown that sell REAL flower lei. Be sure to check them out when you're on vacation. My aunty always buys lei when they're here, and after wearing it around, they leave it in their hotel room to keep the sweet smell around. These list of shops are also a good place to start if you're planning a Hawai‘i wedding and looking for fresh flowers at an affordable price.
CINDY'S LEI & FLOWER SHOPPE / 1034 Maunakea St., Honolulu, HI 96817 (Map) / 808-536-6538
LIN'S LEI SHOP / 1017 Maunakea St., Honolulu, HI 96817 (Map) / 808-537-4112
SHIRLEY'S FLOWERS / 1176-C Maunakea St., Honolulu, HI 96817 (Map) / 808-536-2218
LITA'S LEI / 59 N. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96817 (Map) / 808-521-9065
ISLAND GIFTS & FLOWERS / 69 N. Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96817 (Map) / 808-537-5347
VIOLET LEI STAND / 1165 Maunakea St., Honolulu, HI 96817 (Map) / 808-537-1106
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
Published by Bruce Fisher
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.
May 15th, 2012
The term “all-inclusive” has generated a stigma from travelers that was created by faulty advertisement, scams, and inexperienced agents. Which is unfortunate for us, because unlike many other competing companies, when we advertise all-inclusive, we mean it; everything. From airfare to transportation to day-to-day activities and dining, our specialists are expert at creating a complete travel package for their clients.
Hawaii Aloha Travel is one of the only companies who can successfully advertise all-inclusive vacationing, and we have the connections and relationships to back it up. Our local travel agents are experts at designing vacation packages that include and cover everything from head to toe. We have no hidden fees or costs and keep business with our clients as transparent as possible.
If you’re interested in pricing out a trip to Hawaii, then our agents can help. After filling out a quick form on our website, you will be contacted shortly by a Hawaii Aloha Travel representative, ready with a flexible quote for your to look over. We want to make sure we stick within your budget and work within your expectations, if not exceed them. Planning an all-inclusive trip to Hawaii is absolutely possible if you work with the right company. But remember, many agencies have exploited the term, so don’t be fooled by the competition.
If you’re wondering how Hawaii Aloha Travel can boast providing all-inclusive vacations, we’ll tell you right now it has everything to do with customer demand and our local roots. Because we’ve taken years to establish ourselves within our community of islands, we have been rewarded with exclusive deals and relationships that are only offered to us. Which is why we can confidently offer them to our clients, and we love doing it.
All-inclusive Hawaii is only truly all-inclusive if you’re working with us. You will have the benefits of dealing directly with Hawaii’s experts who are not only knowledgeable to the islands, but also friendly and eager to help. Getting clients the best rates on airfare, hotels, activities, transportation and everything in between is what we do best. So leave the details to us and begin planning your all-inclusive Hawaii trip today.
Visit us on the web and fill out one of our forms and a travel agent will be in contact with you shortly. They will have a prepared quote based on the information you’ve given, so make sure to be as detailed as possible. If you’re not happy with the quote or wish to change your plans, rest assured that our agents will work with you every step of the way to make sure your all-inclusive vacation is perfect. And we won’t stop until you’re satisfied.
Published by Bruce Fisher
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.
May 15th, 2012
It's been nearly six years since Big Island residents and visitors could enjoy Keokea Beach Park, after a 6.7-magnitude earthquake badly damaged its main pavilion in 2006. This weekend, however, Keokea reopened to the public – with not only a repaired pavilion but a full renovation and expansion as well.
A view of the Kohala coastline as seen from Keokea Beach Park.
The park spans more than seven acres and has since received a total of $1.4 million in repairs. This includes a larger pavilion area, new restrooms and picnic tables and paved accessible walkways. Over the years, Keokea has become an important part of residents' upbringing on the Big Island, and as Mayor Billy Kenoi puts it, a pu‘uhonua (safe haven) for families.
Located on the the rocky shoreline of North Kohala, Keokea is referred to as a boulder beach because of the huge boulders and sea cliffs that surround the park. I wouldn't recommend swimming here because of the rough waters and crashing surf. Instead, children usually play in a small stream that runs through Keokea. You may also notice the manmade wall of boulders that create a somewhat calmer cove area; however, this still is not very safe for swimming.
There is still lots to do here. Most people come here to picnic, barbecue, fish or just enjoy the beautiful ocean scenery. Keokea is definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a non-traditional kind of beach that has everything but a white sandy shoreline.
KEOKEA BEACH PARK / Hwy 270, Mile Marker #27, Kapa‘au, HI 96755 (Map) / Amenities: restroom, barbecue grill, picnic table, showers, drinking water, campsite; Activities: picnic, fishing
Photo Credit: T. Ilihia Gionson
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
Published by Bruce Fisher
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.
May 14th, 2012
Some people just can't stand spam, while others eat the canned meat on the daily. And if you're like our Bruce Fisher, you've entered the jamming world of spam a little later in life only to find out it 'ain't half as bad.
All you need to make spam musubis – rice, spam, nori and a musubi maker.
I'm not one of those die-hard spammers but rather an occasional spammy, who packs a spam musubi to-go for those North Shore "road trips" or beach barbecue potlucks. I don't honestly think it makes a difference (in terms of nutritional value), but I'll usually push past the regular spam on a grocery store shelf to get the turkey kind instead. I think it's more a mental thing; if I know it's turkey, then it can't be all that unhealthy for me, right?
Regardless of what kind of spammer you may (or may not) be, it's absolutely vital to have this little guy in your kitchen:
It's a spam musubi maker that may not look like much. But in no time, this nifty gadget can pump out dozens of those "Hawaiian power bars" (LOL) in just a few simple steps. You can pick one up for less than $5 at any Hawai‘i store and take it with you for more spam munchies to enjoy at home. (I'm just imagining the grossed-out look on the faces of people who absolutely despise spam. That makes me laugh! Haha! But I'm sure there are plenty of stuff from other places that I wouldn't eat that others enjoy…like sauerkraut, yuck!)
Here's a step-by-step on how to make your own spam musubis in your hotel room or even back home. Start off with this kit of:
- 1 can spam
- 2 cups cooked rice
- 1 pack of nori (seaweed)
- musubi maker
- soy sauce or furikake (optional)
(1) Place rice in maker. (2) Put spam on rice. (3) Squish together spam. (4) All you need to do is wrap the nori.
Directions
Cut nori in half. Put base of musubi maker on top of nori.
Place about a paddle full of rice into the maker's base.
Fit cooked slice of spam on top of rice.
Add soy sauce on top of spam.
Use top part of musubi maker to push spam and rice together.
Remove maker and wrap nor strip around the block of rice and spam.
Enjoy your homemade musubi!
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
Published by Bruce Fisher
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.
May 14th, 2012
Travel agencies and resorts have repeatedly used the term “all-inclusive” to lure travelers. But be cautioned because unfortunately, they don’t exist. Not directly through the resorts anyways. Vacationers coming to Hawaii will find it impossible to book an all expense-included trip, which is why Hawaii Aloha has worked diligently to make it possible for their direct clients. All-inclusive resorts in Hawaii are hard to come by, but the agents at Hawaii Aloha have the insider connections you’ll need to book it. And yes, our all-inclusive resort packages really are all-inclusive. No myth here.
Hawaii Aloha Travel is one of the only companies that can actually book an all-inclusive resort vacation in Hawaii, and we started out by simply responding to our client demands. Because vacationers want to book trips where everything, from first class seats to the romantic dinners out, is included in the price estimate, we’ve worked to be an exclusive provider. We are in direct contact with the resorts and hustle to design and develop all-inclusive packages that include food, transportation, airfare, and activities. It is through our special relationship as locals to Hawaii that we are able to make this happen. And in the end, it adds more value to the customers, something Hawaii Aloha prides itself on.
Often times you’ll hear the all-inclusive catch phrase for popular resort destinations such as Mexico and Hawaii. The resorts and concierges strive to make it a reality, but in truth, unless you book through an experienced travel company, you will most likely be disappointed with your package. Often times they do not include food or transportation, and you are stuck within the limitations of a budget you believed included this. This two-word tag line is popular in the travel industry, but make sure to educate yourself on what truly is included, before solidifying through payment.
Check out our website to see the hotels we partner with, from high end celebrity style resorts to cost effective beach side hotels, we offer the best rates on all-inclusive packages for your Hawaiian vacation. And we span throughout the island chain too, so feel free to look into Maui, Kauai, Big Island, Lanai, Molokai, and Oahu as your potential destination. Remember, all-inclusive resorts in Hawaii are a myth, unless you’re booking with Hawaii Aloha Travel.
Published by Bruce Fisher
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.
May 14th, 2012
Kids can't resist it, and adults never regret doing it – there's something quite liberating about swinging to and fro on those hanging banyan tree roots. And although they're not native to our islands, they're definitely an appealing part of our landscape and history.
A giant banyan near the aquarium is one of many throughout Kapi‘olani Park.
You'll see them on almost every island in parks or along roadways. They can grow to be 100-feet tall and spread over several acres by way of birds and prop roots. (You know, those roots people swing from?) They're actually making their way to the ground so that they can grow into thick woody trunks. Sometimes they get so thick that it's difficult to distinguish them from the main trunk.
O‘AHU
And along with each Hawai‘i banyan comes a significant story planted into their budding roots. Take, for example, Kapi‘olani Park; you might stroll through or rest under the cool shade of the banyans, but did you know that they're almost as old as the park itself? The banyans come from China and India. And while they boast more than 100 years, they continue to serve as the growing foundation of the park itself. Be on the look out for more banyans along Waikīkī, particularly at the International Marketplace.
BIG ISLAND
A trip to the Big Island isn't complete without a cruise down Banyan Tree Drive. A street lined with banyans characterize Hilo's shoreline near the airport. Many call this the "Hilo Walk of Fame" because celebrities have been helping to plant the 50-plus banyans since the 1930s. They include former presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Richard Nixon, baseball player Babe Ruth, pilot Amelia Earhart and many other politicians, religious leaders and movie stars.
Instead of underground, banyan's roots grow above before connecting with the soil and growing into thick trunks.
MAUI
A particular banyan in Lāhaina, Maui has also become a part of Hawai‘i history when it was planted in the 1870s for the 50th anniversary of Christian missionary work. Imported from India, the tree stood at a mere eight feet, but today, it's nearly 60 feet tall with 12 major trunks…and still growing!
MOON?
Banyans continue to flourish in the islands as a living piece of history. But perhaps one you might not see as easily is the tree that Hawaiians believed to grow on the moon. As the story goes, Hawaiian goddess Hina fashioned the finest kapa cloth out of banyan tree bark, and did so on the moon, where she found it to be quite pleasant. (Mahina means moon in Hawaiian). The dark regions of the moon are said to be the banyan tree from which Hina makes kapa. The clear space is where a branch once grew but fell to Earth and took root, growing into the first tree of its kind.
Posted by Alyssa S. Navares Follow me on Twitter @Uamalie87
Published by Bruce Fisher
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.
May 13th, 2012
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