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Hawaii Vacation Blog

A Visitor’s Guide to Royal Kunia Country Club 

Whenever I find myself bogged down from work or overwhelmed with a to-do list, I do what any logical person would: I golf. And my…

Why Hawaii Loves Iam Tongi, American Idol Winner

Though Iam Tongi’s American Idol season is fading into the past, he remains a beloved musician throughout Hawaii and beyond. Let’s take a look at…

‘Iao Valley State Monument and the legend of the ‘Iao Needle

We can now add Iao Valley State Monument on Maui to the short list of popular Hawaii natural attractions that require reservations for nonresidents. We’ll…

Liliha Bakery – an original classic

We wrote about the famous Liliha Bakery here at the HAT Blog a decade ago. We’ve been back many times since, and, frankly, nothing has…

Honolulu Museum of Art – home at HOMA

We’re happy to report that the HAT Blog visited the Honolulu Museum of Art (HOMA in brief) over the weekend. We’re also ashamed to confess…

Live music in Hawaii – a vacation essential

Every Hawaii vacation has its own soundtrack. You won’t hear it anywhere else. You can’t take the immediate intimacy of the sounds of the surf…

Makiki Valley Trail: A Walk Through History

Makiki Valley Trail on Oahu is one of the island’s most popular hiking trails. It’s well-maintained and clearly marked, making it a great choice for…

Monarch Poke – a new local favorite

A friend of the HAT Blog, Chef Adam Gilbert, opened Monarch Poke in Pearl City in November 2022. Located in a nondescript strip mall near…

3 best Honolulu pub crawls

The wind and rain continue to howl and lash here in Honolulu, and throughout most of Hawaii, with no sign of letting up any time…

Kealia Trail – a forest foray

I’m scrolling through the photo gallery on my phone, unable to muster the energy to do much of anything. Pictures from a recent hike on…

Tipping in Hawaii – here’s why

One of the most common concerns we hear from visitors regards tipping in Hawaii. Who should be tipped? When? How much? Food and beverage industry…

Vog in Hawaii has returned

Kilauea Volcano is again erupting on Hawaii Island, with a lava lake formed in Halemaumau Crater. Officials say that the lava is likely to remain…