Hawaii Vacation Blog

The University of Hawaii Public Policy Center (UHPPC) has just released the results of a survey conducted by Anthology Research. A recent Honolulu Star-Advertiser headline construed the results of the survey of 700 residents to indicate that a majority of “Hawaii residents support limits on tourism”. Sure, 52% is a majority. But the margin of […]

Tucked just off of Ala Moana Boulevard on Cooke Street in Kakaako on the way from Waikiki to Downtown, Honolulu Beerworks looks much more like a charming farmhouse than a warehouse. Its corrugated walls are painted a clean blue-jeans blue, trimmed with white. It opened in 2014 and has been a vital part of Kakaako’s […]

There is nothing we enjoy more than connecting Hawaii visitors with the natural beauty and wonders that the Aloha State has to offer. (Well, perhaps nothing more than enjoying them ourselves.) Here on this blog, on the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast, and in person, through video, or live planning sessions, we encourage our visitors to […]

Anyone planning a Hawaii vacation this summer should be well aware of the multitude of daytime activities available. Snorkeling, surf lessons, hiking, museum tours, even simple strolls on the beach: these are the things that people come to do and see in the Aloha State. But what about after the sun goes down? The truth […]

It’s probably true that the first thing that comes to mind when planning a Hawaii vacation is not camping. White sand beaches? Sure. Tropical rainforests, waterfalls, and rainbows spanning remote valleys? Absolutely. But camping? That just sounds like work! I’m on vacation! It’s true, camping is not everyone’s cup of tea (or steaming mug of […]

Yeah, it’s out there. But for Oahu visitors who love golf, the long drive from Waikiki to the Ewa Beach Golf Club is always worth the trip. About a 25-mile drive from the Hawaii Convention Center in Waikiki, the course is gorgeous, challenging, and it enjoys almost-always perfect weather. The course is located at the […]

The Expedia travel website launched in 1996, revolutionizing the global travel industry. The idea was simple then and remained so for decades: give travelers a way to become their own travel agents. Expedia and other sites like it connected travelers directly with vendors, from airlines to hotels, from car rental companies to local eateries. Similar […]

The topic of fresh fish in Hawaii dining is dominated by the big ones: ahi tuna, marlin, mahi mahi. There’s good reason for that. They’re delicious. But Hawaii is home to a bewildering assortment of tasty reef fish that you are unlikely to find on the menu anywhere other than a dry-erase board on a […]

The Na Ala Hele Trail & Access Program was begun by Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry & Wildlife in 1998. The program monitors and maintains a network of hiking trails, many of them ancient and predating Western contact in the Hawaiian Islands. We’ll list some of our favorites below. Concern […]

The view from the summit of Mauna Loa on Hawaii Island is beyond compare. On a clear day, the horizon stretches out endlessly before you at 13, 678 feet above sea level. On an exceptionally clear day you can see the actual curvature of the earth itself. It is astonishing and absolutely unforgettable, and it […]

We’ll take a look at the wide variety of activities and experiences available that are centered around Haleakala Crater on Maui. The list is practically endless. We’ll stick to some general themes about the “House of the Sun” and how you can best plan a trip to make the most of it. As we have […]

Hawaii’s State Department of Land and Natural Resources has made significant improvements at a number of State Parks over the past year. The closures and the near-complete loss of visitors to parks during the pandemic created a unique opportunity to use that time to make the parks more accessible to visitors, and to implement strong […]