Below the ocean's surface, an otherworldly place exists. A place colored with life in one of its most free-flowing forms. Sea creatures dance across the ocean's floor while hills of coral roll alongside them, shimmering in the sun's streaming rays. The ocean is alive!
An underwater world of its own, filled with so much life and beauty.
And when you dive into Hawaiian waters, you'll find something similar, with some of the most unique creatures swimming right in front of you. Heck, they'll probably be swimming right along side of you! Snorkeling, scuba diving or swimming can be the best ways to experience this aquatic ambiance, but before you do, take time to educate yourself about this expansive underwater ecosystems many creatures call "home."
Beaches, like Hanauma Bay, have made an effort in teaching visitors about these sea animals' homes. As a marine life conservation area, Hanauma shows a short video on things you'll likely see during your explorations undersea and how to be careful not to step on the reef or touch any living creatures.
Adding Color to the Reef
You could also check out an interactive book I recently came across called, "The Complete Hawaiian Reef Fish Coloring Book" by local Kaua‘i author Monika Mira. It's won a few awards and is being used in classrooms statewide as an extensive guide to the Hawaiian reef. And while it may be labeled a coloring book, it actually has some really valuable, easy-to-understand information that could be useful to both children and adults. The introduction talks about the precious underwater ecosystems in Hawai‘i that has less than 700 species of reef fish as compared to the 2,000 one might find in the Philippines. Of the 700 in the islands, 25-percent of the species are endemic and found nowhere else in the world. (Even I didn't know this!)
(Left) Do your homework before any underwater explorations using this coloring guide. (Right) Author Monika Mira is an avid conservationist and outdoor enthusiast.
It then goes into describing the different parts of the coral reef, which itself, is also alive and feeds off of zooplankton and other microscopic nutrients. This is why it's extra important not to step on or touch them; stepping on them would cause permanent damage that will eventually kill the reef and the creatures living inside. The book is great for helping people to identify the different fish they might see while in Hawai‘i. Monika breaks down the anatomy of a fish (fin and mouth designs, body shape, coloration and scales) and then describes more than 80 species of fish found in the island's oceans, including their scientific, common and Hawaiian names.
Here's what the coloring book looks like inside.
Read up on how to identify a Palani (Eyestripe Surgeon Fish) by its white tail spine or how to pronounce one of the longest fish names ever, also the Hawai‘i state fish, the Humuhumunukunukuapua‘a (Lagoon Triggerfish). But be sure to share what you've learned with the little ones who are also gearing up for an underwater adventure, and while you're at it, let them go through the coloring book for an even better understanding.
This book is just one of the many ways you can learn about our precious underwater ecosystems. You could also research articles and videos online, talk to a marine conservationist or check out other books about the reef. This one, however, is a little more hands-on in helping both adults and children to understand the relationship between the reef and its living inhabitants.
Photo Credit (second and third): Monika Mira
THE COMPLETE HAWAIIAN REEF FISH COLORING BOOKby Monika Mira / Eco-friendly guide to Hawaiian reef and fish / Purchase at www.lucid-hawaii.com, Amazon.com or various Hawai‘i bookstores / $16.95 / hawaiianfish@lucid-hawaii.com
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.
With our calm beaches and kid-friendly attractions (like the new elephant exhibit at the Honolulu Zoo!), Hawaiʻi is the perfect family vacation getaway. Parents, however, can always use a little getaway for themselves, finding it difficult to have those much needed date nights when on vacation. Here's some good news…Sound the trumpets…Aloha Sitters is here to help!
Aloha Sitters offers hotel sitting services on O‘ahu. Kids stay inside or travel out and about the island.
Aloha Sitters is geared toward visiting families. It's an offshoot of KeikiSitters, a babysitting company that was started in 2007 by Kathy Custer. It all began when Kathy posted an ad on craigslist offering her services as a babysitter and was overwhelmed with responses by families desperate for childcare services in Hawai‘i. She then decided to begin her own childcare business. Nine months later, her website, www.keikisitters.com, was born. KeikiSitters was an outlet for sitters to advertise their services so that families could conveniently contact them.
After a few months, Kathy was contacted by a hotel desperate for sitters and was asked if KeikiSitters could begin servicing their establishment. The sitters were so good, that concierges started talking and that one hotel snowballed into nearly 100 hotels. Now, a quarter of these hotels – from the new Disney Aulani to multiple Waikīkī hotels to those branching out to vacation rentals – use Aloha Sitters almost daily. Aloha Sitters is proud to have 35 of the company’s best-of-the-best sitters on-call (myself humbly included!) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In 2011 alone, Aloha Sitters serviced 797 vacationing families!
Kathy Custer shares some Aloha with visiting families and parents needing time for that romantic beach walk.
“While on vacation, parents don’t have time to interview a new sitter," Kathy said. "They are in a foreign place and are looking for someone responsible to take care of their most precious possession. This is where we come in.”
Potential sitters go through a rigorous interview process. They are required to have a background check, at least five years of childcare experience, a children-related bachelors degree and be CPR/First-Aid certified. Kathy also looks for energetic sitters with bubbly, upbeat personalities and must be comfortable in the water since many take kids swimming in pools and the ocean. Once accepted into the company, sitters post a bio and picture on Aloha Sittersʻ website for parents to peruse.
Upon arriving to the hotel, sitters bring stimulating games, crafts and toys to keep children entertained and happy during the time they are cared for. They can also take children (with the parents' permission) on various excursions outside of the hotel. I recently babysat a three-year-old for 10 days, who I took everywhere – from the North Shore beaches to the Honolulu Zoo. I also took her to see Christmas exhibits, multiple playgrounds and more! Children will not only be lovingly and responsibly cared for but have an enriching and adventurous experience in a new place. Sometimes the kids get to see more of Hawaiʻi than their parents do!
We had fun visiting the Honolulu Zoo and seeing the Christmas wreath display.
I highly recommend Aloha Sitters, and not just because I work there! Kathy Custer runs a top-notch company that has both the children’s and parents' needs constantly in mind. She and her sitters provide a nurturing, fun-filled experience for children while giving parents time for those long romantic walks on the beach, and in turn, giving both parents and children tropical memories to last a lifetime.
ALOHA SITTERS /www.alohasitters.com / 808-861-7294 / Services available on O‘ahu 24hrs a day, 7 days a week
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.
One of my best friends just had a baby boy. She’s definitely the go-green, tie-dye wearing kind of gal who has even spent several months in Haiti working with underprivileged children. Simply put, she’s my all-time favorite hippy! And now my all-time favorite hippy mama. What a great combo. When the baby shower came around, I wanted to get her an eco-friendly baby gift. Luckily, I stumbled upon Baby aWEARness in the Mānoa Marketplace.
VIDEO: Baby aWEARness creates a new way of living for Hawai‘i parents.
Parents visiting the island should check out this store, even if you’re not the hippy type. "Baby A," as they call themselves, educates parents and parents-to-be with an in-store resource center and monthly workshops. A few shelves of books and magazines allow customers to learn about everything from healthy cooking for baby and mom to what the first few weeks of motherhood is like. Baby A invites professionals from the community to share their love for children through classes such as, keiki (children) hula, mom and baby yoga, baby sign language classes and Japanese sing-a-longs.
The store prides itself as being O‘ahu’s only cloth diaper retail store and having a full-time, in-store lactation consultant that helps mothers to continue breastfeeding. Cloth diapers have been making a comeback recently for its eco- and pocket-friendliness and added comfort for baby. Baby A’s selection of cloth diapers – as well as their other products – has a nice touch of Hawaiiana to them. If it’s not the colorful Hawaiian prints, then it’s the push for locally made baby things.
Cloth diapers make a comeback in the Hawai‘i market as a sustainable way to catching those baby poops.
Mothers who want to share a green product they’ve created, also known as Mamapreneurs, often sell their things on consignment here. Mothers helping mothers – another sustainable concept that has made a strong impact on this local business.
Mamapreneurs, or in this case a Papapreneur, get crafty for the First Annual Handmade Holiday Market earlier this month.
I fell in love with some cute onesies that had hand-painted Hawai‘i designs on them. Even the baby swaddles came in a few Hawai‘i-themed prints. Hawai‘i has always been about sharing the Aloha Spirit with others, so why not start with the youngest family member? Your baby may be too small to wear a fresh lei, but he's/she’s never too small to rock a dancing pineapple on his/her front-side.
All in all, Baby A is a great place to pick up some baby goods and tips for both locals and visitors alike. No matter what, it will at least be an experience to consult a lactation expert!
BABY AWEARNESS / Open Mon-Sun 10am-6pm, Sun 10am-1pm / Mānoa Marketplace, 2752 Woodlawn Drive, Suite 5-209, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96822 (Map) / 808-988-0100 / Free parking; Near bus stop
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.
I met Rexann Dubiel about two years ago at a sustainable holiday craft fair. Her spunkiness and cheer so appropriate for that time of year instantly drew me to the little booth in the shade. A few others had already been escaping the heat and steadily perused through her things; a spread of photo albums, coloring books and pastel clothing neatly dressed the table.
We got to talking about the humid weather, and aside from my digressed train of thought as to what an interesting name she had, I couldn't help but notice what Rexann had been cradling the entire time. A stuffed doll – to be more specific, a small waving dog with oversized eyes and ears – nicely conformed to her hip as she held it to one side, her other hand gesturing as she spoke to me.
The journalist in me had to ask, "What's that doll about?"
Everything BUT a dog-eat-dog world for Rex the Surf Dog and his owner Rexann, shown here at a North Shore literacy fundraiser.
Come to find out, she too had some journalism background, so she gladly painted a story for me with her words – the complete history of Rex the Surf Dog. As an avid traveler and teacher at Sunset Elementary, she put the two together by turning her adventures abroad into a learning opportunity for her students. That's when Rex the Surf Dog was born. A homage to her late wired hair fox terrier named Honey, the stuffed dog made the perfect traveling companion and even came with a blog she created, so students could keep up with his worldly treks.
He's put on a lot of mileage for a little guy who never has to pay for a plane ticket. How lucky! Since we last met, he's been across the Continental United States, Mongolia, Tokyo, Tuscany, Paris, London, England, Korea, the Galapagos Islands, Devon, Puerto Rico… the list goes on and on. Oh, and one more place: to the top of Mauna Kea.
Happy Fourth! Rex in Rockport, MA just before the reading of the Declaration of Independence.
His heart-emblazoned chest, big smile and bold graphics have also made him somewhat of a celebrity. He and Rexann have been published in "National Geographic" and featured on television and in various newspapers and magazines. Most recently, Rexann received the Classroom SuperHero award, as part of the National Education Association recognizing outstanding teachers nationwide.
He 'ain't no Snoop Dogg, but he sure enjoys hanging with other celebs. World champion surfer Kelly Slater and some big name filmmakers took time to snap a pic with Rex the Surf Dog. And not to mention the many others who live the surfer's lifestyle, such as artists, athletes and surfboard shapers from around the world. He's also big on reading. Last year, Rex hosted a movie showing for surf movie "Fiberglass and Megapixels," which raised $6,000 for a summer literacy program that Rexann created called "Right on Reader."
(Left) Surf tips from world champion surfer Kelly Slater earlier this year in Long Beach, NY. (Right) Getting directions from NYPD officers last summer.
Right on is right! Just a few years ago, the pair had just begun their journey together, and today, they've surpassed everyone's expectations – going above and beyond to see the world and to share a little piece of Hawai‘i with others. You can get your chance to meet Rex the Surf Dog and his owner Rexann at the Hale‘iwa Farmers Market every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. But hurry! They just may be taking off for another adventure!
Photo Credit: Rexann Dubiel
REX THE SURF DOG / www.rexthesurfdog.com / Contact Rexann Dubiel at dubieldesign@hotmail.com
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.
Families are flocking to this weekend's "Oh Baby! Family Expo" at the Blaisdell Center exhibition hall. The event is billed as catering to "Hawai‘i's prenatal to preschool families," and with more than 150 vendors offering children's clothing, toys and unique made-in-Hawai‘i items there's plenty of shopping to be had. Most vendors are offering 10 to 40 percent off show purchases, and remember to ask about show specials.
Made-in-Hawai‘i items will be for sale. Today is the last day of the expo.
You'll also have a chance to meet and question service providers including photographers and artists, healthcare professionals, nannies and sitters. You may investigate educational opportunities as well. Keep an eye out for drawings and giveaways, both show-wide and per individual vendor. Some require you be present to win, and others will notify you via phone or e-mail after the show.
The show's demonstration area has hourly speakers and events designed to educate and to entertain. Saturday's featured speaker and author Maya Soetoro-Ng held an interpretive reading of her new book, Ladder to the Moon, inspired by her daughter's questions about her grandmother – Maya and President Barack Obama's mother.
Sunday's highlights will include a performance by local comedian Frank De Lima at 11 a.m.; the Baby Crawling Contest will be at 1 p.m.
Wear comfortable walking shoes; the hall is nearly 80,000 square feet, and there's plenty to see. The hall can be noisy and crowded, and keep a watch out for errant strollers. To attend to your children's needs, a private area for feeding and diaper changes has been set up. And if you prefer to explore the show sans children, a special infant and toddler play area and children's area with games, activities and inflatables are available for your kids to play under the observation of a parent or grandparent.
Bouncing houses and toys areas keep kids busy at the expo.
The snack bar has a lot of choices. However, prices are on the higher side, so you may want to time your visit before or after lunch. Instead, go to the nearby Ward area for more options and better prices.
Admission is $4.50 for adults, with a $1 off coupon available for download from the "Oh Baby!" web site. Children 10 and under are admitted free of charge. Catch the last day of the expo, tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
How to get there (from the city bus web site):
Bus to Board:
2 School-Middle Street
13 Liliha-Pu‘unui Avenue
Route B - CityExpress! School-Middle
On Kūhio Avenue heading away from Diamond Head, board 2 School Street-Middle Street, 13 Liliha-Pu‘unui Avenue or Route B - CityExpress!School-Middle to Beretania Street and Ward Avenue. Walk toward the ocean on Ward Avenue to King Street.
Bus to Return:
2 Waikīkī-Kapi‘olani Park
13 Waikīkī-Campbell Avenue
Route B - CityExpress! Waikīkī
To return, stand in front of the concert hall and board 2 Waikīkī-Kapi‘olani Park, 13-Waikīkī Campbell Avenue or Route B-CityExpress! Waikīkī. Buses run about 10 minutes apart. After 8 p.m., buses run 15 to 20 minutes apart.
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 Kilohana Plantation on Kauai is touted as a “one stop destination,” because it has activities, shops, a restaurant – and a railroad that links them.
Plantation owner Gaylord Wilcox built a 16,000 square foot Tudor mansion in the middle of 26,000 acres of sugar cane in 1935, according to the website. Today, visitors can tour his home, and the 105 acre property.
I’d read about the train ride in one of the tourist magazines, and it sounded fun. The vintage train is modeled after King Kamehameha’s personal car. The grounds are beautiful and I wanted to learn something about Kauai’s sugar plantation past.
My husband Dan and I sit with visitors from all over the world. Children, or keiki in Hawaiian, eagerly wait to see the animals—a feature of the tour. As we sit on mahogany seats in an open air car, and chug along the track, Jason—our guide for this ride—points out a patch of papaya trees and tells us they are rich in enzymes that aid digestion.
There are over 50 varieties of exotic fruit trees and plants such as bananas, taro, sugar cane, pineapple, lychee, and native Hawaiian hardwood trees on the property. And while I don’t learn much about Kauai’s plantation days, I do learn a lot about the types of fruit that grow here. We stop at a pen, where kids and adults disembark to feed over 80 rambunctious wild boar and goats.
Forty minutes later, we are back at the Train Depot where we can buy gifts made in Kauai. We sample local rum at the Koloa Rum Company, they have four kinds and have won awards for them. They have free tastings every half hour, and you get to try all four of their single-batch rum plus rum cake and a mai tai!
Prices:
Train – $18, $14 children 3-12, infants free
4 hour guided hike, train ride and lunch – $75/$65
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.
Surfing’s origins trace back over a thousand years ago to the ancient Polynesians. Heʻe nalu as the Hawaiians called it or “wave sliding” was deeply ingrained into their culture and was considered the sport of the kings. To them, surfing was far beyond a recreational activity, it was an art, religion, and way of life. Today surfing has spread all over the world, where people from Dubai to Alaska and everywhere in between are riding waves. Hawaii (Oahu in particular) is universally considered the mecca of surfing, being the birthplace of the sport and the home to world renowned waves such as Pipeline and Waimea Bay.
Unfortunately, the sports popularity now overcrowds the ocean, especially in heavily populated areas like Waikiki. To offer an authentic surfing experience, it’s best to take a surf adventure on a private boat out into a secluded bay where the only crowd you will find will be the turtles swimming by.This allows you to truly connect with nature and experience the pure joy of surfing like the Polynesians did centuries ago.
I recommend highly recommend Hawaiian Surf Adventure. They have a lesson that includes a half an hour tutorial on land, a twenty minute boat ride, and one hour of surfing in the clear waters of the pacific. You’ll find the Instructors are personable and experienced surfers who will get you riding waves in no time. Video and photos of the session are also available in case you want to take back more than just your tan. They offer both group and private lessons.
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.
Young children in Hawaii learn how to enjoy the ocean safely in monthly free Ocean Clinics by Na Kama Kai.
Children ages 2-16 learn water safety, marine conservation, and stand up paddling in one-on-one lessons at the clinics held on beaches all over Oahu. Founded by pro surfer and waterman Duane DeSoto, the nonprofit's mission is "to empower youth by creating, conducting and supporting ocean-based programs, specifically targeting ocean awareness & safety in order to increase the capacity of youth in the community through cultural & environmental education."
At the most recent clinic, held at Haleiwa Beach on the North Shore, dozens of keiki took their turns on the water. Starting off with lessons in creating traditional Hawaiian wooden surfboards, the kids had a chance to sand and shape the wood both with modern sandpaper and the old fashioned way- with coral and beach sand.
From there it was time for lessons on the water. Certified volunteers, all expert watermen and women, each took a child out on the water. Younger and less experienced swimmers were safely buckled in life vests and paddled out to enjoy the water and the views. One lucky three year old observed a honu (green sea turtle) up close as it surfaced nearby. Older children, under close supervision, were assigned their own boards to paddle, and in the calm waters off Haleiwa kids as young as 6 practiced standing and paddling on their own.
After the 20 minute paddling session, the kids buckled their life vests and gathered to board outrigger canoes and experience a journey across the bay and up Haleiwa Stream, learning about the ecology and history of the area. Concluding the program is a lesson in geography and conservation, including the Northwest Hawaiian Islands and the pollution problems facing wildlife on all the islands. Kids are encouraged to help clean up their section of beach, reminded of the dangers of littering, and charged with being good stewards of both the land and the sea.
In August, the clinic will be at Ewa Beach Park on the 14th, and September's clinic is scheduled for the 11th at Kahana Bay on the windward side. Although the programs are free, donations for the hour and a half long program are welcomed.
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.
Stretching about three miles through Kailua wetlands, the Kawainui Marsh trail is a peaceful oasis right outside the hum of Kailua town. Consisting of a level gravel access road and a paved sidewalk, this family-friendly trail perfect for folks on Hawaii Vacations, is great for walking, jogging, biking, and strollers.
Once a great inland sea, the saltwater was eventually flushed out and replaced by freshwater runoff, and later became the largest cultivated freshwater fishpond on Oahu. Now protected wetlands, the marsh is home to hundreds of species of birds, fish, and insects- many of them threatened species. The trail is great for birdwatching, so bring your binoculars. On our recent trip we saw both the red-crested cardinal and the northern red cardinal, zebra doves, a red-vented bulbul, and a flock of common waxbills. More experienced birders will be able to spot a variety of endangered Hawaiian species.
Unobstructed views from the trail are stunning, from the panorama of the Ko'olau Mountains to Mt. Olomana and the Keolu Hills. Marsh grasses, reeds, and cattails gently wave in the tradewind breezes, and the sounds of civilization fade away to be replaced by birdsong. The sun plays hide-and-seek with the clouds, and in the afternoon often bursts through the clouds in dramatic rays of light.
Trail access is in two places- the most visible is off Pali Highway on the town bound side, just outside Kailua Town. If driving, look for the tiny parking area and back in if you can do so safely to make getting back out onto the busy highway easier. A quieter place to access the trail is on the other end, at Kaha St. off Oneawa St. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen- while there's usually a decent breeze, the trail isn't shaded so it does get hot. Best times to go are early morning before the sun is high, or late afternoon when the clouds along the western mountains offer some cover from the sun. Walking the entire trail length and back may be a bit much for some, so just turn around halfway. This is a trip where the destination isn't as important as the journey, so take your time to observe and relax!
Posted by Lisa Hoang. Follow me on Twitter @windwardskies
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.
View of the Hamakua marsh from the lanai at Big City Diner, Kailua.
When I'm not sure what I want to eat for breakfast, I head to Big City Diner. The menu includes mainland favorites like pancakes and eggs as well as local Hawaii touches like Loco Moco and Kimchee Fried Rice. On weekends, the brunch menu adds Eggs Benedict and Salmon and Spinach Benedict. A full bar makes a Bloody Mary or Mimosa possible.
I often order from the keiki (children's) menu. For five dollars I can get an egg, two strips of bacon or sausage and hash browns or steamed rice, pancakes with bacon or sausage, a "Mr. Chipper" chocolate chip pancake with whipped cream or a Keiki Loco Moco. It's always enough food. The price for children is four dollars and includes a cup of orange or Guava juice. It always amuses me to get the bill for a Bloody Mary and a Keiki Breakfast. On days like today, when I am tempted by the adult menu, half of it comes home with me in a box unless I can convince someone to split with me.
Mama’s Breakfast Bread Pudding
Topped with Haupia Crème Sauce,
Roasted Macadamia Nuts and
Real Whipped Cream with Two
Link Sausage And Two Strips
of Honey-Cured Bacon.
$7.99. Oh, my!
Big City Diner is very family and child-friendly. Recently, I took a three-year-old companion. The waitress allowed him to order his own juice selection, then invited him to pick out a toy and the color of a balloon that she then filled with helium and tied around his wrist. He was enchanted. I often see local families celebrating birthdays of their children at Big City Diner.
Although I usually hit breakfast, Big City Diner is open for lunch, dinner, and late night food. Here in Kailua, there is live music on Fridays. I know I've worked too late when I walk home past BCD and the band is playing on the patio. The atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. I've never been disappointed with a visit and I've certainly never left hungry.
For Hawaii travel information, call 1-800-843-8771 to talk with agents in Hawaii.
Things to know:
There are BCD locations in Kailua, Kaimuki, Ward, Pearlridge and Waipio.
Menus are available online.
The Kailua location is very near the main bus stop in town and the major intersection at the entrance to town (Hamakua and Kailua Road) and across from the Hamakua wetlands.
The Ward location is next to the movie theater, near the shops of the Ward Center/Warehouse.
They take all major credit cards.
Portions are generous.
Save money on food by eating like a local on your Hawaii vacation.
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
There are over 50 varieties of exotic fruit trees and plants such as bananas, taro, sugar cane, pineapple, lychee, and native Hawaiian hardwood trees on the property. And while I don’t learn much about Kauai’s plantation days, I do learn a lot about the types of fruit that grow here. We stop at a pen, where kids and adults disembark to feed over 80 rambunctious wild boar and goats. 
From there it was time for lessons on the water. Certified volunteers, all expert watermen and women, each took a child out on the water. Younger and less experienced swimmers were safely buckled in life vests and paddled out to enjoy the water and the views. One lucky three year old observed a honu (green sea turtle) up close as it surfaced nearby. Older children, under close supervision, were assigned their own boards to paddle, and in the calm waters off Haleiwa kids as young as 6 practiced standing and paddling on their own.
Unobstructed views from the trail are stunning, from the panorama of the Ko'olau Mountains to Mt. Olomana and the Keolu Hills. Marsh grasses, reeds, and cattails gently wave in the tradewind breezes, and the sounds of civilization fade away to be replaced by birdsong. The sun plays hide-and-seek with the clouds, and in the afternoon often bursts through the clouds in dramatic rays of light.
