Category: Hawaii Travel & Vacation Info

Who were the Waikiki Beach Boys? They were surfing pioneers of a bygone era, who helped revitalize an ancient aquatic sport once hampered under European constraints. Most notably, however, the Beach Boys became Hawaii’s first ambassadors of Aloha. They celebrated in the spirit of the islands with everyone they met. While their charismatic and jovial […]

In this age of Trash Turned Treasure, it’s no wonder Glass Beach on Kauai has become a gold mine for beachcombers. Scattered throughout the small patch of sand are smoothed-out gems from the sea; gems that had once been a glass jar or beer bottle. Not many tourists know about Glass Beach. That’s because it […]

If there’s one tree in Hawaii that’s gotten the most attention, it’s the beautiful banyan outside of the Moana Surfrider. Standing at more than 115 years old, it’s withstood hurricanes, hung out with thousands of Moana guests and most impressively, witnessed the transformation of Waikiki into the hotel city it is today. It’s easy to […]

Did you know that there used to be an ostrich farm in Kaimuki? It belonged to Hawaiian King David Kalakaua, who became fascinated in these exotic birds during his worldly travels. For most of the 1800s, ostriches could be seen roaming the mountainside of this historic Oahu district. Later, and for many years, the land […]

Growing up, I’d hear the song “Waimanalo Blues” come on the radio. The soothing slack key intro always put me at ease, no matter if I was splashing around in the inflatable pool with my older brothers or dozing off immediately after, in the lawn chair next to Dad. My dad grew up in Waimanalo, […]

You can just feel the mana, or power, when driving by Makua Valley. Even though it’s inaccessible to the public today, the valley is still very much a visible part of Oahu’s northwestern shore. It’s also still very much alive with Hawaiian culture and history. What is Makua Valley Makua Valley is an area in […]

The road ends at Kaena, where a grassy mountainside landscape greets the boundless white sand beach below. Not many people venture this far into the North Shore of Oahu, which is most likely why the stretch of beach and rocky coastline is almost always empty. Until recently, I completely forgot this place existed. We were […]

From Kailua to Kakaako – another Hele On Cyclovia shindig rolls on over to the south side of Oahu. In an effort to promote safe street transportation and healthy lifestyles, about 1.5-miles will be transformed into an open-street event for the community. Walk, bike, jog or segway. The coast is free and clear of all […]

Sunset Oahu Hawaii: It’s the ultimate idea of beauty and serenity. Sunsets in Hawaii never get old, as there are so many places to see them.  Whether it’s from atop a mountain or down at the beach, the saga of the sunset can unfold in a multitude of ways. Here are my top picks of […]

Did you know that Waikiki used to have a grove of more than 10,000 coconut trees? Called Helumoa, the fertile piece of land was rich with agriculture, as well as history in the islands. Legend points to an Oahu ruler named Kakuhihewa, who planted the niu (coconut) after a scuffle with the mythical rooster, Kaauhelemoa. […]

The gentle gallop of horse hooves signal the start of another polo season for Oahu’s North Shore. Since 1963, it’s become quite the scene for the tiny nook of Mokuleia. Families and fans of the classy sport make their way to this countryside field every Sunday in the spring and summer months. The equestrians themselves […]

Contrary to what we see in Hollywood or hear as tradition, tossing lei in the ocean is a big NO NO. The flower creations not only pollute the surrounding waters but harm marine life as well. The lei drifts off to sea, and as the flowers peel off one by one, the string remains in […]