Aloha, Author at Hawaii Aloha Travel

Merrie Monarch Festival Celebrates Hula Tradition in Hilo

By Aloha | Apr 9, 2015 |

One of Hawaii’s most beloved festivals is underway in Hilo on the Big Island. The Merrie Monarch Festival is a hula competition that began in 1964 as an attempt to attract visitors to the Big Island, which was reeling due to the collapse of the sugar industry there. The festival honors King David Kalakaua, who…

Maui’s Weird Dancing Rules

By Aloha | Apr 7, 2015 |

In Hawaii, there are four county governments: the City & County of Honolulu (Oahu), Kauai County, Hawaii County (Big Island), and Maui County (Maui, Molokai, Lanai). Maui County has distinguished itself as somewhat peculiar in one rather particular regard, and that is its Liquor Commission’s policy on dancing in establishments that serve alcohol. Simply put,…

Waikiki Surfing by Moonlight

By Aloha | Apr 4, 2015 |

Waikiki surfing is more than a sport or a tourist activity. For many, it’s a way of life. But moonlit surfing in Waikiki is a unique experience, drawing athletes from around the world who want to catch a wave after dark. The Search For Uncrowded Surf Surfers are known, notorious even, for going to extremes…

Spring and the Lunar Calendar in Hawaii

By Aloha | Apr 1, 2015 |

There are Hawaiian-ized names for the months of the year, similar to their English counterparts but adapted to accommodate a language that has only five vowels and twelve consonants. April is “” in Hawaiian. But the Hawaiian lunar calendar is much more complex, with each of the 28 phases of the moon noted in close…

On the Waterfront at Honolulu Harbor

By Aloha | Mar 30, 2015 |

The single most important landmark for Hawaii’s economy isn’t a tourist attraction. Not really, anyway. Aside from the cruise ships that disgorge wobbly passengers at Aloha Tower, Honolulu Harbor is Hawaii’s shipping center, a sort of belly button, or piko, that connects our state to the rest of the world. Because well over 80% of…

Makaha Valley Country Club Golf: Worth the Drive

By Aloha | Mar 18, 2015 |

Along the Oahu’s Waianae Coast, the famous Makaha Beach and Yokohama Bay further up the coast are the most popular destinations for more intrepid visitors not dissuaded by the 90-minute drive from Waikiki or the grittiness of life out there. There is a string of public parks at beaches in Nanakuli, Waianae, and Maili, but…