Hawaii Vacation Blog

Vacationing During the Rainy Season in Hawaii? Go Local!

Even if you’re vacationing during the rainy season in Hawaii, you’ll likely still be able to enjoy a good amount of sunshine. Still, a rainy day is the best time to discover local Hawaii businesses. Here’s what to do if the idealized “day at the beach” isn’t in the forecast during your Hawaii vacation.  When […]

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Great news for Hawaii bird watching

Several endangered and at-risk native Hawaiian bird populations are rebounding thanks to the efforts of government agencies, nonprofits, rigorous scientific research, and volunteer efforts. Hawaii bird watching is on the rise. U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt recently made the announcement that Hawaii’s state bird, the beloved Nene Goose, is no longer on the […]

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Oahu’s best farm-to-table at Merriman’s

Merriman’s Restaurant at Ward Villages in Kakaako is the latest iteration of visionary chef and restauranteur Peter Merriman’s commitment to locally sourced meats, seafood and produce. A recent Monday evening at the new restaurant during the holidays was quite busy, with a line at the door and every table and seat at the bar full. […]

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Oahu leads US, world in plastics ban pollution fight

Honolulu has joined leaders in the United States and around the world in the fight against pollution and climate change. A single-use plastics ban was passed by the Honolulu City Council recently. This may lead incoming Oahu visitors to ask, “What does this mean for me?” The short answer to that question is “Not a […]

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Why winter in Hawaii is the best: waves, whales and weather

Hawaii is famous around the world for its perennial sunshine and warm weather. Even in winter, the weather is generally mild. But for those of us that live here, winter in Hawaii brings a perceptible change in the weather. It gets a little wetter, a little chillier. It also brings two major attractions to Hawaii’s […]

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Why your monk seal selfie may harm it.

We’ve written about Hawaiian monk seal encounters on this blog before. We’ve always encouraged visitors and residents alike to respect monk seals’ space, in the (fairly) rare instance of a monk seal sighting on any one of Hawaii’s countless beautiful beaches. , after all, are an endangered species. A recently released study by the examines […]

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Learn to Foil Surf in Hawaii

Foil surfing continues to grow in popularity around the world, spawning an offshoot of the surfing industry that is attracting more and more water sports enthusiasts every year. In Hawaii, visitors can try out the new-fangled way to ride waves with a number of outfits that offer lessons and equipment rentals. Hawaii is the ancestral […]

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Real Hawaii History at Royal Mausoleum

At the top of Nuuanu Avenue, about a mile and a half from the bustle of Downtown Honolulu, Oahu visitors can visit the Royal Mausoleum. Known as “Mauna Ala” in the Hawaiian language, it is the final resting place of many members of Hawaii’s royal family and retainers. It is an excellent way to experience […]

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Get Pampered in Paradise: The Kahala Hotel and Resort

The Kahala Hotel and Resort, just minutes outside of Waikiki on Oahu, is one of Hawaii’s premiere luxury properties. But at The Kahala, the hustle and bustle of the Aloha State’s epicenter of tourism seem a million miles away from the gently lapping shores and swaying palm trees of Kahala Beach. Opened in 1964 and […]

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Learn to Live Aloha: “Kuleana Campaign” Videos

The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) and Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) have created a new video “Kuleana Campaign” to educate visitors about cultural norms and practices unique to the Aloha State. These unwritten rules are important to knowing what it means “Live Aloha” while enjoying a Hawaii vacation. All of the videos are available […]

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Neighbor Island Waterfall Rappelling

Hawaii is home to a relatively new adventure sport gaining popularity around the world: waterfall rappelling (known also as “canyoneering”). It seems crazy to surrender to gravity under a torrent of falling water, tethered to life by only a thin rope and safety harness and belaying down a sheer, slick rock cliff. Maybe it is, […]

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Kona’s Family Band (family-friendly)

On Hawaii Island, Kona’s Ronnie V & the Family Band offer visitors and residents a live music experience that transcends the Hawaii trope of strumming ukulele and falsetto warbling. A mix of bluegrass and blues, gypsy jazz and folk, and an eye for the love of the land, the outfit is unique among the many […]

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