Hawaii Vacation Blog

In Hawaii, “Almost Pau” is a life strategy, a philosophy that is abidingly optimistic. “Pau” means finished, by the way, in Hawaii. Done. Over. In the past. “Almost pau” is a zen-like acceptance of the fleeting nature of minor inconveniences. “Pau hana” means work is done, literally, but it also embodies the time of day […]

Hawaii’s Great Outdoors, its beaches and natural spaces, are generally the reason most people seek out a vacation in paradise. “Hawaii voluntourism” is an ever-growing movement among Hawaii visitors. Residents have embraced beach and natural space cleanups at unprecedented rates over the past two years, especially during the pandemic. There are many community organizations and […]

It’s been a long time since we’ve written about Oahu’s Rabbit Island Hawaii. Seen from the Makapu’u Lighthouse Lookout, Makapu’u Beach Park, and much of the Windward Side, it’s a familiar sight for residents whether or not they know its history and status.  The improved Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail and increased public parking to accommodate the […]

A Hawaii golf adventure is a dream for many, and it’s one reason we occasionally write about Hawaii golf courses here on the HAT Blog. Another reason is that Hawaii golf is a major contributor to Hawaii tourism revenue and to the state’s tax coffers, to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars each […]

The Merrie Monarch Festival begins on April 17, 2022. The beloved hula festival was begun in 1963, conceived as an effort to attract visitors to Hawaii Island. It celebrates the legacy of beloved King David Kalakaua, the Merrie Monarch himself, an elected king whose legacy of devotion to arts and culture and to the best […]

For the most recent Hawaii Vacation Podcast, Aloha Bruce and Yaling Fisher offered listeners some important information about “Big Island Pro’s and Con’s.” It got us here at the blog thinking in terms of “dos and don’ts” for Big Island visitors. New restrictions at Waipio Valley came immediately to mind. Back in February of this […]

Hawaii Tourism officials released Hawaii visitor arrivals and spending numbers for February 2022, which indicate a near return to pre-pandemic levels. This was not unexpected, but it is remarkable: those 2022 arrival and spending numbers are nearly back to normal even with just a trickle of visitor traffic arriving from Asia and other international markets. […]

First, some facts about flying to Hawaii: I love to travel. I view air travel with the same loathing as anyone would fear a root-canal or an IRS audit. I’ve just returned from a trip to Denver. We flew direct on United. Our return trip was on the final full day of Hawaii Safe Travels […]

The Hawaii Aloha Travel Blog recently returned to the Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu after a long three years. We are happy to report that it remains one of Waikiki’s “must-do” establishments. The food is great, the prices are reasonable even for Waikiki, and the location is central to pretty much everything there is to do […]

Hawaii celebrates Prince Jonah Kuhio Day to mark his birth on March 26, 1871. It is one of three State holidays in Hawaii honoring two of Hawaii’s most beloved figures (King Kamehameha the Great is the other) and momentous statehood that followed Hawaii’s territorial status after the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893. While […]

Hawaii’s newest Irish pub, Black Shamrock Tavern, opens fittingly on Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2022. It is the newest iteration of an Irish pub in the historical T.R. Forester Building in Downtown Honolulu, which has been part of the Irish Corner in the Chinatown Arts District for decades. The Black Shamrock’s owner Jay Neihbur […]

Several of Oahu’s most popular ocean recreation destinations are also home to a wide variety of marine life and are listed as official Oahu Marine Life Conservation Districts (MLCD) by the Department of Land and Natural Resources Aquatic Resources Division. This makes perfect sense because the beaches that see the most resident and visitor traffic […]