Category: Hawaii Animals & Nature

Whale Watching Hawaii: Many visitors come to the islands just for this activity. And for good reason. It’s an incredible experience to encounter one of Earth’s most majestic creatures in a beautiful location. Are you considering heading to Hawaii during whale season? Whether it’s your sole reason for visiting Hawaii or part of a full […]

“Nene Crossing!” “Watch out for Nene!” It seems like Nene in Hawaii get the royal treatment. And as an endangered, native species, they deserve it! Learn more about these protected geese, and then get ready to spot one on your next Hawaii vacation! What is the Hawaiian Nene? The Nene bird is a species of […]

Most Hawaii vacationers look forward to spending time in the water – whether they want to relax on the beach, snorkel along the shoreline, or even try surfing. But what happens when you want to enjoy Hawaii’s marine life from the comfort of land? You head to the Waikiki Aquarium.  This is a fantastic place […]

Autumn in Hawaii has arrived. You’d hardly know it, though, as we’ve enjoyed perfect, almost unchanging weather for weeks. There’s been a bit of isolated rain, and the average daily high temperature is pushing 90 degrees, but “the best weather on the planet” continues. Hawaii seasons and the changes between them are subtle.  Here, we […]

One of the wonderful things about entertaining visiting family and friends in Hawaii is that it will often lead to activities we might otherwise regard as “touristy” and take for granted. That is how we here at the HAT Blog found ourselves at the Honolulu Zoo recently, and it’s why we are still charmed by […]

The Kawainui Marsh State Wildlife Sanctuary in Kailua on Oahu comprises 830 acres. It is the largest freshwater wetland in all of Hawaii and home to several endangered native species. It is also home to the Ulupo Heiau, the largest ancient agricultural temple on the island. Kawainui Marsh is a natural wonder. Kailua is a […]

We think it’s fair to say that most people go on a Hawaii vacation, or any vacation, for some peace and quiet. Unless, of course, the point of the vacation is excitement like the action in Las Vegas, the hustle of New York City, or the carnival of Mardi Gras and year-round revelry of the […]

Several endangered and at-risk native Hawaiian bird populations are rebounding thanks to the efforts of government agencies, nonprofits, rigorous scientific research, and volunteer efforts. Hawaii bird watching is on the rise. U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt recently made the announcement that Hawaii’s state bird, the beloved Nene Goose, is no longer on the […]

The Kilauea Volcano eruption in the East Rift Zone of the Puna District on the island of Hawaii dominated the news cycle here and around the world for a few days. But the news cycle moved on as inexorably as the lava flow itself. The eruption remains as spectacular and calamitous as it was on […]

The beauty of Manoa Valley and the Manoa Falls hiking trail are no secret. Much lesser known is an old Hawaiian legend about the area. Improvements and maintenance to the trail have greatly increased the trail’s accessibility over the year. The 150-foot waterfall is only about a 20-minute walk from the trail head, and a […]

At an elevation of a half-mile above sea level (2,667 feet), Island is somewhere between heaven and earth. It’s vast, rolling pastures and stands of whispering ironwood pines are unlike any other landscape on the “Big Island”. is steeped in native Hawaiian history and culture and a cowboy, or “” tradition that dates back to […]

Pretty much everyone who visits Hawaii hopes to see the elusive – and endangered – (Hawaiian green sea turtle). Lucky scuba divers and snorkelers sometimes spot them in the waters of Turtle Bay, Lanikai Beach, and Hanauma Bay. But there is one place that almost never disappoints, whether you are swimming in the ocean or […]