This Saturday April 12th I had the pleasure of attending a party for the Cambodian New Year. It was an eclectic group of people gathered to celebrate Khmer food, dance, music and culture. While the Cambodian community here in Hawaii is small, they are an important part of our island.
Looking around the event, there were monks, families with children and seniors, all types of people. It got me thinking about how multi-cultural the state of Hawaii is. And it is that blending of cultures that makes Hawaii so unique and unlike any other place.
Have a look as you drive around and you will see a true melting pot of images and activities; Buddhist and Mormon temples, people performing martial arts and hula in the parks right along archery and tennis. Where else can you have a shave ice, SPAM musubi and amazing Greek and Thai food all in the same neighborhood? I think it is those contrasts that make Hawaii so interesting and a great pace to live. The mix of cultures and traditions of many different places converging on our island grants residents and tourists alike the opportunity to try new foods and experience things outside our own personal culture.
Now I am not advocating that you try something totally extreme like scorpions or monkey brains, but having an open mind and trying new things makes us more receptive to new experiences which are vital to better understanding one another. A vacation is the best time to be flexible and try something new. Whether it is art, music or food I encourage you to try at least one new island treat while in Hawaii.So in closing I leave you with something new I learned this weekend aloha and “soowa sdey chenam tmey” that’s Cambodian for Happy New Year. (Posted by CM – images Star Bulletin & Wikapedia)
Hawaii’s Waikiki aquarium is one of the first aquariums in the country to conduct coral research as a primary focus. It’s part of the Coral Reef Outreach Network. Fitting since today a lot of the living coral in U.S. aquariums actually comes from Hawaii. 2008 is the "International Year of the Reef," so year long global efforts have been made to raise awareness about the importance of coral reefs and threats to their sustainability. The aquarium is hosting a variety of programs as well as a summer concert series. So keep in mind the following reef saving tips, the next time you are swimming here in the waters of Hawaii: 1) Don’t touch it, stand on sand 2) Don’t pollute 3) Don’t feed the fish 4) Eat what you catch
Passengers holding American Airlines tickets for Hawaii do not have to worry about the recent AA cancellations. The planes that were grounded, MD 90’s are smaller commuter planes that usually fly between hubs. This is great news for some folks have been calling us concerned that their flights might be canceled especially in the wake of all the recent cancellations we’ve had. Over 500 flights have been canceled yesterday and today leaving over 100,000 people stranded in airports all over the country.
I am happy to report that one of my favorite TV shows is coming to Hawaii. We heard through the coconut wireless that HBO’s top rated program “Entourage” will be filming in Hawaii this month. There was even a posting on Craigslist looking for extras!
For those who have been living under a rock, “Entourage” is a TV series loosely based on actor and former rapper Mark Wahlberg - remember Marky Mark & the Funky Bunch? The Emmy Award winning series now in its 5th season follows the Wahlberg character “Vincent Chase”, played by Adrian Grenier, on his rise to fame and his motley crew of hometown friends from Queens along for the ride.
The program is hysterical and if watch, you will not be disappointed. Two other notable characters are “Ari Gold” the abrasive but somehow endearing agent and his long suffering assistant “Lloyd”. I can’t wait to see what adventures they will have here in Hawaii. The islands are the perfect back drop for the guys and all their antics. So when you are out and about in Hawaii – keep your eyes open for the bad boys of “Entourage”. (Posted by CM – images HBO).
You may know them as “flip-flops” or as my Australian mates call them “thongs”, but here in Hawaii we wear “rubber slippers”. Living on an island, slippers are an essential part of an un-official Hawaii uniform. Flip-flops were inspired by traditional woven Japanese sandals.Post war, versions were briefly popularized by servicemen returning from Japan. There are a few important things you should know about slippers, price doesn’t matter. In fact here in Hawaii, it almost seems that the less expensive your slipper – the better it will be. One of my favorite slipper shopping spots is Long’s Drug Store where I purchase my size 10 “Locals” slippers.
Another vital bit of slipper etiquette, when entering a home in Hawaii it is customary to always remove your shoes. Yet another good reason to wear them, easy-on and easy-off. Typically you will notice a stash of slippers outside the doorway. Which brings me to another pointer – when leaving a large party don’t be surprised if someone may have “upgraded” and taken your slippers upon their departure. By don’t worry; in keeping with the Aloha Spirit, they will be sure to leave you their older pair. (Posted by CM – images Wikapedia).
It’s been a tough week for Hawaii tourism as 2 major airlines, Aloha and ATA have ceased operations. Aloha’s last day was March 31st and this gave passengers just 1 day to make alternate flight plans. Following ATA’s bankruptcy filing on Thursday, Oakland International Airport was left without any direct flights to Hawaii. All the latest new, weekly weathercast, spotlight feature and more.
We learned late last night that ATA, a discount airline which services Hawaii from Los Angeles Oakland, Phoenix, and Las Vegas canceled all their fights and has gone out of business. Coming on the heels of the Aloha Airlines bankruptcy, this is yet another blow for travelers who wish to come to Hawaii. The company issued a statement Wednesday night saying they could not stay in business after losing a key contract for military charter flights. These charter flights were a big part of their business and they say they cannot operate without that income.
For those of you who are holding ATA tickets with our agency, we are working diligently to get through each of the bookings and find options for you. We are working on a priority basis handling the bookings that have immediate need first. With regards to cancellation fees and re-booking fees, we are working to keep those at a minimum and try not to charge any fees at all. If you’re thinking about calling your credit card company contact us first before you do that because chances are that’s not going to yield you much benefit either. The credit card company needs to get the money from somebody and if the airline is out of business, there is a good chance you will not get any monies back. Our hope is that we will be able to minimize the costs are customers as much as possible. Please be patient with us as we will work as fast as we can to get your booking finalized and settled.
The company issued this statement on its Web site:
"After filing for Chapter 11 on April 2, 2008 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Indianapolis, IN, ATA Airlines has discontinued all operations and cancelled all current and future flights. Following the loss of a key contract for our military charter business, it became impossible for ATA to continue operations. Unfortunately, we were not in a position to provide our customers or others with advance notice.
"We apologize for the disruption caused by the sudden shutdown of ATA and regret the impact on passengers, employees, suppliers, and other parties. ATA customers should seek alternative arrangements for current and future travel. A list of other airlines serving ATA’s destinations is available here.
"ATA customers who purchased tickets using a credit card should contact their credit card company or travel agency directly for information about how to obtain a refund for unused tickets.
"ATA currently is unable to provide refunds to customers who purchased tickets directly from ATA with cash or a check. These customers may be able to obtain a full or partial refund for their unused tickets by submitting a claim in ATA’s Chapter 11 proceedings. Information about submitting a claim will be available at the following website: http://www.bmcgroup.com/ataairlines.
"Customers who purchased tickets from Southwest Airlines for flights operated by ATA under the codeshare agreement should contact Southwest Airlines directly at (800) 308-5037."
Typically when I am visiting my friend Angela on Oahu’s Windward side I hang out in Lanikai. But the other week, I escaped the crowds and drove over to KailuaBeach. I forgot how lovely and less busy the beach is over beyond the boat ramp just a few miles away.
Usually, sister beach Lanikai gets all the attention and glory, but KailuaBeach has also repeatedly been ranked one of the best beaches worldwide. Part of the attraction is the steady trade winds making KailuaBeach a popular windsurfing and kite boarding destination. One of the world’s windsurfing pioneers Robbie Naish grew up right on KailuaBeach. Its crescent-shape, and open wide sandy beach is about 2 miles in length making it an excellent spot for walking. The ocean bottom slopes gently without any coral heads so it is a fantastic location for children.
Historically Kailua has always been a popular , with evidence pointing to the Ancient Hawaiians who were thought to have lived, fished and played on the slopes surrounding the area. In the Hawaiian languageKailua means "two seas," or "two currents".Even today, monuments and temple ruins can still be located in Kailua.
I encourage you to take the ride from Honolulu over the Pali Highway and explore Kailua. On your return to town, take a different route driving thru Waimanalo and Hawaii Kai on Oahu’s East shore. It is full of photo opportunities as you pass Makapu’u Lookout,Sandy’s Beach and HanaumaBay. There are numerous opportunities to get out and stretch your legs and see the many sides of Oahu.(Posted & Images by CM).
This Saturday April 12th I had the pleasure of attending a party for the Cambodian New Year. It was an eclectic group of people gathered to celebrate Khmer food, dance, music and culture. While the Cambodian community here in 
Now I am not advocating that you try something totally extreme like scorpions or monkey brains, but having an open mind and trying new things makes us more receptive to new experiences which are vital to better understanding one another. A vacation is the best time to be flexible and try something new. Whether it is art, music or food I encourage you to try at least one new island treat while in 
Hawaii’s Waikiki aquarium is one of the first aquariums in the country to conduct coral research as a primary focus. It’s part of the Coral Reef Outreach Network. Fitting since today a lot of the living coral in U.S. aquariums actually comes from Hawaii. 2008 is the "International Year of the Reef," so year long global efforts have been made to raise awareness about the importance of coral reefs and threats to their sustainability. The aquarium is hosting a variety of programs as well as a summer concert series. So keep in mind the following reef saving tips, the next time you are swimming here in the waters of Hawaii: 
Passengers holding American Airlines tickets for Hawaii do not have to worry about the recent AA cancellations. The planes that were grounded, MD 90’s are smaller commuter planes that usually fly between hubs. This is great news for some folks have been calling us concerned that their flights might be canceled especially in the wake of all the recent cancellations we’ve had. Over 500 flights have been canceled yesterday and today leaving over 100,000 people stranded in airports all over the country.
The program is hysterical and if watch, you will not be disappointed. Two other notable characters are “Ari Gold” the abrasive but somehow endearing agent and his long suffering assistant “Lloyd”. I can’t wait to see what adventures they will have 
You may know them as “flip-flops” or as my Australian mates call them “thongs”, but here in 
Another vital bit of slipper etiquette, when entering a home in 
We learned late last night that ATA, a discount airline which services Hawaii from Los Angeles Oakland, Phoenix, and Las Vegas canceled all their fights and has gone out of business. Coming on the heels of the Aloha Airlines bankruptcy, this is yet another blow for travelers who wish to come to Hawaii. The company issued a statement Wednesday night saying they could not stay in business after losing a key contract for military charter flights. These charter flights were a big part of their business and they say they cannot operate without that income.
Typically when I am visiting my friend Angela on 
Historically 