Category: Hawaii Animals & Nature

8 Reasons We Love the Waikiki Aquarium

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 […]

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Autumn in Hawaii | Best Seasonal Experience

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 […]

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Here’s how I rediscovered the Honolulu Zoo

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 […]

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Visit the Hidden Kawainui Marsh on Oahu

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 […]

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Hawaii’s peace and quiet

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 […]

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Great news for Hawaii bird watching

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 […]

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Kilauea Volcano eruption continues, coverage falls off

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 […]

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A tragic legend in Manoa Valley

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 […]

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Waimea, Hawaii Island – Cowboy Country

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 […]

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10 Quirky Things to do in Hawaii 

We all know about Oahu’s must-do activities, like , , and the , just to name a few. But if you want to know a bit of the different, quirkier things to do here in Hawaii, look no further than us. We put our heads together and made a list of the quirkiest, most oddball things […]

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When and Where to See Turtles in Oahu

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 […]

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Best Hilo Botanical Gardens: Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden

Hilo is the perfect place for botanical garden. This town on Hawaii Island has a lush, rainy environment, a serene oceanside setting, and some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world. And Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden is the perfect place to see Hilo’s beauty in all its glory.  We loved our visit to […]

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