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…
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