It wasn't hard to spot Meka Nelson and Devo Brown at this month's Eat the Street, a popular food truck rally on O‘ahu. They were the ones wearing lei –halted dead in their tracks – or perhaps in the tracks of the tasty shrimp-and-bacon-mac-and-cheese they excitedly chowed down.
Either way, the two from Malibu had the right idea.
VIDEO: Foodies unite and rally for some local flavors at Eat the Street.
"What do the Hawaiians say? 'We don't eat 'til we're full. We eat 'til we're tired,'" said Meka, giggling as she gulped another cheesy bite. "I think that's what we're going to do tonight!"
Eat the Street's where it's at for a hungry, hungry Hawai‘i. And for tourists, it's a great way to get a true taste of the island's culinary diversity. The foodie's dream happens monthly and brings together lunch wagons that are sure to drive your taste buds mad! Guava chicken, garlic shrimp, ono pops and poke bowls top the list of local delights while the South heads overseas for some chicken and waffles all around.
But the longest line had to be right in front of the wagon selling the fried spam musubi,an interesting twist to a local fav. The truck's motto: "Everything tastes better fried." And that couldn't have been more appropriate by the looks of their menu. Mama's Homemade Fried Chicken, the fried Spicy "Bomb" Musubi (spicy ahi) and a few fried desserts like oreos and cupcakes.
By sunset, crowds fill in the Kaka‘ako parking lot in search of something to eat.
Eat the Street sprang from the website www.StreetGrindz.com – which lists various Honolulu street vendors – and every month, attracts thousands with a little rumbly in their tumbly to the Kaka‘ako parking lot. Organizers thought it'd be a low-key thing, but after almost a year of great food, full bellies and a side of entertainment, the Eat the Street fleet continues to grow.
Themes like Dia De Los Muertos for Halloween, Black Saturday and recently, Winterfest dress up trucks in their most delectable decor. This weekend, trucks wrapped in holiday lights made for an entirely different sight once the sun set, complete with a Chinese lion dance to ring in the new year.
Next month, the foodie force will be heading west to Kapolei (Kapolei High School / 91-5007 Kapolei Parkway / Saturday, Jan. 14, 4pm-9pm). But be sure to check the Street Grindz site for updates on when they'll be returning to their Honolulu stomping grounds in the coming months.
EAT THE STREET / 555 South Street, Honolulu, Hawai‘i (Map) / www.StreetGrindz.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.
Hawai‘i Five-0 ended the year with a beginning: the wedding of Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim). The characters of both Chin Ho and his new bride Malia are locals, who have the great good fortune of living in one of the most beautiful places in the world to get married. But you don’t have to live here to begin your new life in paradise. People from all over the world travel to the islands to get married. Soon, even more couples may make the trip.
The Five-0 cast shows its viewers just how beautiful a Hawaiian wedding may be.
Beginning January 1, civil unions are legal in Hawai‘i. Locals who plan and perform weddings are hoping the change in the law will bring a boost in business. While local researchers are predicting that it will. Unlike some domestic partnership laws, a Hawai‘i civil union is valid only after a ceremony performed by a person licensed by the Department of Health.
A working research paper published by The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai‘i (UHERO) was prepared during the legislative discussion on civil unions. It examined the potential impact on tourism. Hawai‘i is already a prime wedding and honeymoon destination, and the report says the same is likely to also be true for civil unions: “Some same-sex couples residing in other states that recognize civil unions or their domestic partnership equivalent [may] visit Hawai‘i for their … ceremonies rather than to have them in the dreary Oregon rain or Washington sleet or Nevada heat. Many will be accompanied by families and friends.”
It also notes that ceremonies for local couples will also attract off-island relatives and friends to Hawai‘i just like opposite-sex wedding ceremonies do today.
For many, a Hawai‘i beach wedding is a dream … and now for civil unions as well.
The UHERO report looked at the 2007 Annual Visitor Research Report. Here's the number breakdown:
-1.17 million visitor days associated with weddings.
-3.82 million visitor days associated with honeymoons.
-43 percent of those traveling to Hawai‘i to get married were from the U.S.
-49 percent of those on honeymoon were from the U.S.
It estimates that if Hawai‘i got even one percent more visitors from states where civil unions are legal, then that would add 9,500 additional visitor days and about $1.4 million in travel alone, with an estimated $2.2 million spent on events surrounding the ceremony.
If you’re interested in a Hawai‘i civil union ceremony, then the state of Hawai‘i Department of Health has set up an online application process. The website is not yet accepting applications, but there are questions and answers posted that guide you through the process. The same state website has information about how to get a marriage license for a traditional wedding.
No matter what brings you to the islands, you can enjoy the same dramatic beauty that framed the television wedding. The flowers, beach, sky and ocean are just as vivid as they appeared behind Chin Ho and Malia – no amount of decoration can improve on what nature has already provided.
Source: “The Impact of Civil Unions on Hawai‘i’s Economy and Government" by Sumner La Croix and Kimberly Burnett, published by The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai‘i (UHERO).
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.
Kalo is the Hawaiian word for taro. Taro is a “canoe crop,” a plant that Polynesian settlers brought with them because it provides a substantial amount of food. The leaves are always cooked, and when it’s wrapped around pork, it’s called laulau. The root, or corm, is baked or boiled, and is much like a potato. Except kalo has more fiber and less sugar than a potato and is very easy on the digestive system.
Kalo continues to play a great role in the Hawaiian culture. Today, it's also been introduced into non-Hawaiian households around.
Having sustained Hawaiians for thousands of years, kalo is deeply rooted in the culture and is considered to be the staff of life.
Recently, the Waipa Foundation and Limahuli Garden and Preserve hosted the annual Kalo Festival on Kaua‘i. The Waipa Foundation is a non-profit dedicated to preserving Hawaiian tradition and is located in an ahupua‘a, or subdivision of the land, on Kauai’s north shore.
Melodic guitar and soothing voices that are so uniquely Hawaiian echo through the damp afternoon air. It’s winter in Hawai‘i, and it rains a lot. But the rain is warm and doesn’t last long, so we don’t let it stop us from having a good time.
Music and face paint colored the Kalo Festival on Kaua‘i.
We are in a valley, surrounded by the towering peaks of Mount Makaihuwa‘a. Children with painted faces dance to the music as smoke billows from a fire pit, juicy huli huli chicken roasts and sputters over hot coals.
Vendors are selling T-shirts, taro cheese cake, deep-fried and sugar-coated poi mochi balls. Other items include uncooked taro corms, chocolate-covered bananas, beef stew with taro, fine-art photography, lemons and limes and chocolate grown and made on Kaua‘i.
Under the shelter of large canopy tents, folks participate in hands-on workshops. Hawaiians traditionally teach by doing and experiencing first-hand the particular practice. At the festival, people pound taro into poi using time-worn pounding boards and pestles called pōhaku kui ai.
A child uses all her might to pound kalo into pa'i'ai, or the undiluted form of poi.
In the center, a large canopy shades rows of long wood tables. Families enjoy the music while eating traditional Hawaiian food. No one is in a hurry; everyone has a smile on their faces. As I pop a chocolate-covered poi truffle into my mouth, the sun comes out and I feel very grateful to be celebrating Hawai‘i’s staff of life with such good people in a very beautiful place.
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.
‘Tis the season to be crafty! Something about this time of year makes many want to put on their coziest PJs, warm up some hot cocoa and do something artsy. Whether it’s making your own Christmas cards or creating the perfect gingerbread man, the holiday season inspires us to use our imagination and to produce creative magical masterpieces.
Hands down, some of the coolest holiday wreaths out there.
Honolulu Hale really gets into the spirit. There's the annualtree lighting and then the annual Holiday Wreath Contest, a perfect outlet for Hawai’i residents to put their Christmas craftiness to use. For the past 26 years, the mayor's Office of Culture and Arts encourages participants of all ages to enter in any of the three contest divisions: Adults (18 and older), Children and Youth (17 and younger) and Theme Category. This goes for both the individuals and groups that best depict the year's theme.
This year marks the 26th annual contest, with the theme of a “Holoholo (which means to go out for a pleasurable stroll, promenade) Holiday."
Hello, Kitty! Would you like some crayons or how about some maps?
Judging is based on creativity, workmanship and use of materials. Winners receive ribbons and monetary awards, which I’m sure comes in handy for last-minute Christmas shopping. First place prize is $150; second place is $100; and third place is $75. The Mayor's Holly Award at $200 goes to “Best in Show." There’s even six “Judges Choice Awards” at $25. With so many awards, almost anyone can be a winner!
(Left) Wreath wandering. (Right) The Mayor's Holly Award winner for this year, inspired by golden pears.
For the past 15 years, my art teacher mother has been participating in the annual contest with her students. The themes of their wreaths have ranged from Glam Rock to Volcanoes to Vintage Hawai’i and more. They've won a handful of awards, too.
My mom has even wrangled me into entering when I was 10 years old. I made a hula girl gingerbread wreath. Although I didn’t win any awards, the experience was awesome, and it was amazing to see my hard work being displayed in that great hall.
Stokin' on Christmas cookies and this bad boy, right there! No big deal, just hanging in Honolulu Hale…
When I visited the wreath contest this year, I was impressed at the diversity of all of the wreaths' components; from traditional organic materials to stuffed animals to wine corks. There were even a couple that were in a sunburst shape, some made from bicycle tires and one that was comprised of cut-out hands in an oval shape.
This year, my mother's students had made a wreath that consisted of batik-dyed “rubber slippers” situated around a “wreath” made to look like the floor of the hall you were standing in! It is safe to say that the creative juices were flowing for these young participants, and the judges definitely had their work cut out for them!
My mom and her students' Christmas concoction (top right). Looks like the Honolulu Hale floor, huh?
If you are visiting Hawaiʻi during the holidays, make sure you visit Honolulu Hale! It's easy to find. In the front of the building, there's a giant Christmas tree and an equally mammoth-sized Santa. Make it past the entrance and through the forest of decorated Christmas trees, then wander down a quiet hall to find yourself a treasure chest full of holiday gems. Who knows, maybe it will even inspire you to make your own piece of Christmas magic.
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 lighting of a city's Christmas tree means the holidays have officially turned on for the year and 'tis the season to be holly/jolly/merry or all of the above. It's when snow starts to fall elsewhere around the world, and in Hawai‘i, it's a slight chill in the air around this time of year that pretty much sums up our "Christmas weather."
VIDEO: Christmas trees light up Honolulu and San Fran, each unique in its own way.
While we may not be able to make snow angels or have snowball fights, Hawai‘i's just as big on the holidays as anywhere else. Earlier this month, I had the chance to attend two different tree lightings, here in the islands as well as on the mainland, and I must admit, the mainland's got some competition when it comes to kicking off the Christmas season right!
I waited among 500 others who showed up to Honolulu Hale's annual tree lighting last week, wearing slippers and shorts thanks to the light trades. Much more comfortable than the 40-degree weather my family and I shivered through while patiently awaiting the Macy's tree to light up San Francisco's night skies. Five hundred's a lot for Hawai‘i, but for San Fran, I was told the 2,000 people who filled the streets and Union Square arena were about the norm. It wasn't what we expected but definitely part of an authentic holiday experience!
Christmas in Hawai‘i doesn't mean we have to put away the surfboards. It's a shakas to all and to all, a good night!
Hawai‘i had a quick parade following the actual tree lighting while San Fran had a similar version, except on ice. An outdoor skating rink invited the Grinch, Santa and some reindeer to the stage, complete with singing and dancing and of course, some figure skating. The parade down Honolulu's King Street had some cool floats, though, like the one with a few local musicians performing Hawaiian tunes for all that gathered. And we can't forget the AlohaBus decked out with holiday cheer!
But the moment the tree came to life at both places really showed just how much people love the holidays, no matter where in the world they may be. Macy's bought its tree this year while Hawai‘i received its 50-foot holiday tree as a gift from a local resident. The tree once sat in her front yard; it's what led her to buy the house in the first place.
Now its new hang out spot's in front of Honolulu Hale, fronting King Street. The lighting of the tree is not only the official kick off to Christmas but a reason to gather with loved ones – holding a hot cup of cocoa or, like I saw at this year's Hawai‘i lighting celebration, holding a spam musubi. LOL. And probably only in Hawai‘i will you hear a few scattered shouts of "hana hou" (encore) from the crowd to encourage a repeat of the tree lighting. Hmm, gotta wait till next year!
(Left) Christmas lights up Hawai‘i's coconut trees. (Right) You can't tell through the picture, but this tree's freezing in 40-degree weather!
Unti then, our very own Hawaiian Santa says it well, with a shaka big enough for anyone, from anywhere in the world to see!Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas!)
HONOLULU CITY LIGHTS / 530 King Street, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813 (Map) / Lights up at sunset, everyday till Jan. 2 / www.honolulucitylights.org / Metered street or lot 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.
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.
Everyone's a collector of some sorts, whether we realize it or not. Pokemon cards, recipes or bottle caps get stashed away somewhere in a box or get put on display in all their prized-possession glory. And for the subtle collectors, it's those music downloads or bookmarked websites saved on their computers that can easily be overlooked as a probable pastime.
There's a lot of stamps in this Hawai‘i lot. Each worth much more than what they were originally sold for.
And believe it or not, postage stamps continue to top the lists of most popular collectibles. Even if you're not a philatelist – a cool word referring to a stamp collector – you might want to consider picking up a few on your next visit to Hawai‘i. They could be worth something one day. Millions, even. Hawaiian stamps and covers (envelopes) get auctioned off all the time. In 1995, a 143-year-old letter cover sold for $1.9 million, a U.S. record at the time. And a decade later, experts claimed a group of Hawai‘i missionary stamps to be worth as much as $10 million.
I came across an interesting newspaper article while doing some background research for this blog post. The headline read: "2-cent Hawaiian stamp was once murder motive." Turns out, a Paris collector was found dead in his apartment way back in the 1800s. Detectives searched the apartment and found nothing but a 2-cent missionary stamp had been missing. This clue helped them track down the murderer. The murderer confessed to killing the Paris man because he wouldn't sell the stamp needed to complete his collection.
First postage stamp of Hawaiian Kingdom and the one that caused the murder of a collector.
That's some pretty heavy stuff. And over a stamp? It's amazing how a craze can become just that – crazy! But perhaps the fuel to this fire could be just how much history lies in the square inch postal sticky, especially in Hawai‘i. WIth the transition from a Hawaiian monarchy to the 50th U.S. state, there's a lot that can be said in a tiny illustration. The first set of stamps called "The Missionaries" came out in the 1850s and today belong to only a few lucky collectors. These were the parent lot to the stamp previously mentioned as a murder motive. Around the same time, people started putting little images of Hawaiian monarchs on their outgoing letters. The latest of the stamp printouts featured monarchs such as, King Kamehameha I, King Kamehameha III and King David Kalākaua.
While stamp collecting isn't as big as it used to be, there are still heaps of philatelists as of late. The Hawaiian Philatelic Society meets monthly to talk stamps and bid on them. Nearly half of the members live in Hawai‘i while the others come from all over the world. They're so into it that they even issue a quarterly journal called Po‘okela O Hawai‘i.
Check out some collectible stamps or get ones you already have appraised. An annual Hawaii All-Collectors Show happens again later this year at the Neal Blaisdell Center in Honolulu.
Photo Credit: Greg Chang, Hawaii Philatelic Society
Sources: Cahill, Emmett. Illustrated History: Hawaiian Stamps. Volcano: Orchid Isle Publishers, 1987 (Photo Credit); "2-cent Hawaiian stamp was once murder motive." Star-Bulletin & Advertiser [Honolulu] 23 Feb. 1975: A-11; Ohira, Rod. "Isle letter cover delivers $1.9 million." Star-Bulletin [Honolulu] 8 Nov. 1995: A-3; "If genuine, Hawaii stamps could get $10M." Star-Bulletin [Honolulu] 19 Aug. 2006: A-6.
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.
Next time you're in Hawai‘i, consider island hopping. It's the best way to experience all that Hawai‘i has to offer. And with a new program offering lower rates for neighbor island travel, the idea of jumping from island to island may just be possible, after all.
Fly inter-island at an affordable rate all year long.
Hawaiian Airlines sent out e-mails today, announcing the "Neighbor Island Travel Plans." It's available only to HawaiianMiles members interested in locking in lower fares throughout a 12-month period, while supplies last. Customers can save up to 14 percent off its current lowest internet fares for nonstop travel between Honolulu and Kaua‘i (Lihue), Maui (Kahului) and Big Island (Kona and Hilo). If you're not a member, you can register on Hawaiian's site.
There are four plans from which to choose, ranging from $512 for four roundtrips to $4,588 for 60 one-ways. That's $64 per one-way segment with some restrictions for the My Favorite Island plan, to $76 per segment for Freedom, which is the largest unrestricted plan. The price includes a 7.5% U.S. tax, $3.70 segment fee and $2.50 TSA security fee.
Visit the Hawaiian Airlines site for more details, including advance booking requirements and blackout departure times. The travel plan is good towards non-stop flights only and for customers 12 years and older.
This comes at a time when Hawaiian's expanding its service throughout the world, most recently announcing a direct flight from Hawai‘i to New York. After 83 years of continuous service in the islands, Hawaiian has become the largest provider of passenger air service to Hawai‘i from the U.S. mainland, according to its site.
HAWAIIAN AIR NEIGHBOR ISLAND TRAVEL PLANS / Discounted inter-island travel fares for 12 months / www.hawaiianair.com/neighbor-island-travel-plan / 1-800-367-5320
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.
Mele Kalikimaka may be the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day. It means Merry Christmas, and as the jingle goes, it's "the island greeting that we send to you from a land where palm trees sway." Hawai‘i has got a lot to send to you during this season of giving, like handmade treasures that can be found at local shops, boutiques or craft fairs happening all month long.
Here's some neat stuff we've come across that would be a perfect way to pass along a touch of the islands with faraway ohana (family) or to treat yourself! Support local island businesses while spending no more than $100 per gift. For more Hawai‘i gift ideas, check out our Hawai‘i Aloha Travel podcast.
1) Tasty Music Makers
Add some Hawaiian flavor and put a twang in any meal with these Ukulele Salt & Pepper Shakers. Made by a Maui-based company, these shakers have a vintage feel of old Hawai‘i that's sure to bring you back to the good 'ole Duke days. $7.77 / www.creativehawaiiangifts.com
2) Hanging Holiday Terrariums
A great way to bring the holidays into your hotel room. Moss and drought-less flora fill these living ornaments and require just a quick spray of water once a week. Hang them near a window and let some island sunshine filter through. $24.99 /Living Hawaii Designs, found at Whole Foods Market / Kahala (O‘ahu) or Kahului (Maui)
3) Dress Up Your Drink
Chill drinks in style. The aloha shirt koozies keep their cool, made with neoprene material and fun prints. Mardi Gras, tropical parrot and lava flow designs all around. $4.99 / Dress to Chill / www.amazon.com
4) Decked-Out Decals
Here's a gadget for a laptop that's not so technical. Computer (also window and wall) decals made by local artist Holly Kitaura will personalize and Hawaiianize any seemingly simple surface. $10 / HollyvisionArt / http://hollyvision.biz
5) Shorebreak Shots
Hawai‘i's beautiful ocean gets bound together into a 182-page book. Local photographer Clark Little features the 'best of the best' wave images to be enjoyed as part of any coffee table collection. $100 / Clark Little Photography / www.clarklittlephotography.com/book.php
Photo Credit: Music Makers, Decals & Shorebreak Shots from respective companies; Hanging Holiday from Aimee Nicole.
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.
Hawai‘i got a rare celestial treat Saturday when the moon turned a dark, rustic red color. Starting at about 4 a.m., the Earth's shadow completely blocked the moon in a total lunar eclipse.
Dec. 10, 2011 lunar eclipse from Honolulu, Hawai‘i.
The red color came from some indirect sunlight that passed through the Earth's atmosphere. Every color except for red gets absorbed into the atmosphere, making the moon look similar to a vibrant sunrise or sunset.
Lunar eclipses are actually more common than their solar counterparts, but a full lunar eclipse is rarely viewable from Hawai'i.
Luckily, the clouds cleared up just in time for the show, which I was actually able to drag myself out of bed to watch. Correction: my nerdy boyfriend pestered me out of bed and dragged me outside to watch. It was pretty much going to be my first celestial anything.I've never seen a shooting star nor an eclipse of any caliber in my life! So with mugs of hot cocoa in hand and the pure silence of the night, my boyfriend, dog and I gazed in amazement at the crimson moon that seemingly phased back to its usual silvery gray with every sway of the leaves. I wondered if the universe had been as quiet as it was on Earth at those moments, as two huge masses moved in sync to create an extra terrestrial phenomenon.
Like many others around the world, we set up our camera and tripod to get some sequential lunar photos. To be expected, within a few minutes of the eclipse, videos were instantly posted to the web. Now that's almost as amazing as the eclipse itself! Another example of technology at its greatest and working at the speed of light.
I've read that some cultures believe an eclipse to be a bad omen. Chinese say it's when a dragon eats the moon. For me, the phenomenon turned out to be quite a refreshing and positive one. The whole experience was just so peaceful and came at a time in my life when I feel like everything's in its place–like a punctuation mark from the heavens to end a sentence in my life.
The next total lunar eclipse will be in 2014. Who knows where we'll be or what we'll be doing. I think it's actually pretty exciting not to know where you'll be in life – it keeps things fresh. Hopefully, you'll be lucky enough to be in Hawai‘i for the eclipse. Be sure to get away from the city lights and find a secluded place, like at the top of Round Top, Mauna Kea or Haleakala. May your stars align
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
1) Tasty Music Makers 
2) Hanging Holiday Terrariums
3) Dress Up Your Drink
5) Shorebreak Shots
