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Posts by Aloha
Bodegas in Hawaii
Yes, there are bodegas in Hawaii. They are not commonly referred as such here. “Bodega” is a Spanish word, only slowly and recently entering Hawaii vernacular. I say that because of a recent debate I had with a visiting stranger from a major American metropolis who insisted that so-called bodegas can only be found in…
Read MoreOpaeka’a Falls – Kauai’s forbidden waterfall
A lot has been written and discussed about Opaeka’a Falls on Kauai. It’s on Kauai’s windward side and is remarkable for its natural beauty and place in ancient Native Hawaiian legend and cosmology. We’ll make this much clearer: hiking to the waterfall is illegal. Its name translates to “rolling shrimp” and refers to the once…
Read MoreHawaii craft brewing at Village Bottle Shoppe
I am, admittedly, not much of a beer guy. Sure, I like a frosty one now and then, usually a Guinness. If I’m bending the elbow with friends, I’m likely sipping on a fine bourbon. I’m also highly aware of the remarkable Hawaii craft brewing community that has prospered and grown impressively over the past…
Read MoreOahu vacation pro tips for visitors
Oahu visitor arrivals are just a couple of ticks down from what they were in 2019, nudging back up to nearly 30,000 souls every day. The tourism vacuum of the Covid pandemic has filled quickly since its ebb. That means Oahu is busy. We’ll offer here some Oahu vacation pro tips as Hawaii tourism enters…
Read MoreWalking in Waikiki – a (sort of) love letter
I’ve had an unofficial policy of avoiding Waikiki unless I’m being paid to be there since before the pandemic. I’ve had an official policy of avoiding Las Vegas without generous remuneration for decades, for pretty much the same reason. There’s really nothing there for me. But we’ve a dear friend in town we haven’t seen…
Read MoreHawaiian pizza – what is it?
“Do you like Hawaiian pizza?” I was at a famous Waikiki Beach restaurant on assignment recently, Duke’s Waikiki, and the question would later send me into an existential tailspin. It was a simple and innocent yes-or-no question asked by a child on vacation with their parents. Sitting at the bar of my neighborhood pub days…
Read MoreHawaiian music: start with Gabby Pahinui, Pops
A confluence of factors, algorithms, and introspection among them, compel me to write a blog about Hawaiian music. It’s a fool’s errand. Books have been written and graduate studies courses have been taught about Hawaiian music and the major players who constellate the firmament of beloved performers who have forged its modern and mainstream identity.…
Read MoreHawaii’s tropical drinks – part of paradise
If you coming to the islands chances are you’re going to want a cocktail so here are some ideas for Hawaii’s tropical drinks. There are lots of them, and innumerable variations of each, depending on the hand that mixes them. Adult beverage culture and practice have evolved over many decades, with new ingredients, methods, and…
Read MoreHawaii’s hidden gems – wineries and distilleries
There are countless iconic attractions for visitors to Hawaii. From Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head to Waimea Canyon Kauai to Kilauea Volcano on Hawaii Island to Haleakala Crater on Maui, many of these attractions are known and marveled at by people all over the world. All have been covered over the years in pages here…
Read MoreHaleakala’s Red Hill – Pu’u ‘Ula’ula
The parking lot at the summit of Haleakala Crater in Haleakala National Park on Maui sits at the bottom of Pu’u ‘Ula’ula. It is known as “Haleakala’s Red Hill”, the translation of the name it was given by Hawaii’s ancients many hundreds of years ago. Haleakala’s Red Hill is the actual pinnacle of the mountain,…
Read MoreHamoa Beach – an East Maui treasure
Hamoa Beach at the far eastern tip of Maui is a stunningly beautiful and popular destination for Valley Isle visitors. It is a way of life for Maui surfers and fishing enthusiasts. It’s south of the storied Road to Hana, which means that getting there is an adventure itself. There are more than 600 hairpin…
Read MoreHawaii astronomy – Fall equinox
During the Fall Equinox in Hawaii (and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere). There will be almost exactly the same amount of night and day, with the days getting shorter until the Winter Solstice on December 21-22. It’s an exciting time for Hawaii astronomy because the stars will be out increasingly longer for the next…
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