Hawaii Vacation Blog

2022 roared into Hawaii under a “Kona low” weather system that darkened skies (and lit them up with lightning) and caused severe flooding in multiple areas throughout the state. For days. But sunny skies have returned, the winds have calmed, and the Aloha State is again enjoying perfect “beach weather”. This is great news for […]

Nuuanu Valley on Oahu is one of the most historically significant neighborhoods (or collection of neighborhoods) in all of Hawaii. Its importance goes back to ancient, pre-colonial times, through the establishment of the Kingdom Hawaii and its overthrow a century later in 1893, right through to the present day. The valley begins at the Nuuanu […]

We’re right in the heart of Hawaii Holiday Season , and the snow-covered small-town Christmas commercial trope is airing pretty much every second of every broadcast hour on at least one of countless networks during this time of year. It’s got us thinking about Hawaii small town Holidays. On television, happy families smile and laugh, […]

Virtually every Hawaii landmark has an ancient legend about its origin. Every scenic lookout, hiking trail, or famous (or secluded) beach and stretch of coast is home to lavish tales of magic and mayhem, of love and loss. Hanauma Bay at the tip of southeast Oahu is certainly no exception. Hanauma Bay State Park is […]

The annual Geminid Meteor Shower is at this moment heading toward planet Earth, set to streak Hawaii’s night skies on December 13-14. The celestial event is considered by astronomers and amateur stargazers to be the best of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. There is no better place to view the stellar spectacle than right […]

Aloha Bruce made another one of his casually astute observations on the latest Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast: most people booking a Hawaii vacation want to plan a day or two to “splurge” on their holiday budget. An expensive dining experience, perhaps, or a helicopter tour. Maybe a night in a luxury suite at an exclusive […]

During a trip to Maui in late September, some of our group set out on a couple of hikes that were, simply, marvelous. There are countless hiking trails on the Valley Isle, but the Waihee Ridge Trail and the Waiakoa Loop Trail were chosen as our hiking destinations in Maui for a couple of important […]

The 2021-2022 Winter Season on Oahu’s North Shore has begun with the recent arrival of significant swell and favorable winds. It’s getting good, and we are thinking about how different this season will differ from those past. 2020-21 was exceedingly weird and quiet for terrible reasons. Major surf contests at iconic breaks are off this […]

The 2021 Made in Hawaii Festival at Ala Moana Center takes place this week (November 11-13), showcasing Hawaii-made products, arts and crafts, food, fashion and apparel…all things Hawaii, really. Aloha Bruce has talked about the importance of being a respectful and mindful visitor to the Aloha State on the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast and we’ve […]

The completion of improvements to the Koko Crater Stairs hiking trail made headlines in the local news media last week. It has become a popular hike for residents and visitors over the past few years. High traffic had degraded the trail, which is made of railroad ties. The trail is much safer now thanks in […]

We’re in the middle of one of Hawaii tourism’s “shoulder seasons” when demand for travel, accommodations, and tourism-adjacent businesses like restaurants and tour companies dips below peak summer and winter levels. But what does shoulder season mean? Right now, in the middle of October, daily visitor arrivals are averaging ~20,000. Just this past August, that […]

A couple of weeks ago when settling in at a West Maui condo, I started looking into tee times at various golf courses in the area. Several are legendary, home to PGA events and some of the most dramatic views you’ll see in coverage of the pros on major networks. Green fees and club rental […]