Hawaii Vacation Blog

Waikiki surfing is more than a sport or a tourist activity. For many, it’s a way of life. But moonlit surfing in Waikiki is a unique experience, drawing athletes from around the world who want to catch a wave after dark.  The Search For Uncrowded Surf Surfers are known, notorious even, for going to extremes […]

There are Hawaiian-ized names for the months of the year, similar to their English counterparts but adapted to accommodate a language that has only five vowels and twelve consonants. April is “” in Hawaiian. But the Hawaiian lunar calendar is much more complex, with each of the 28 phases of the moon noted in close […]

The single most important landmark for Hawaii’s economy isn’t a tourist attraction. Not really, anyway. Aside from the cruise ships that disgorge wobbly passengers at Aloha Tower, Honolulu Harbor is Hawaii’s shipping center, a sort of belly button, or piko, that connects our state to the rest of the world. Because well over 80% of […]

Along the Oahu’s Waianae Coast, the famous Makaha Beach and Yokohama Bay further up the coast are the most popular destinations for more intrepid visitors not dissuaded by the 90-minute drive from Waikiki or the grittiness of life out there. There is a string of public parks at beaches in Nanakuli, Waianae, and Maili, but […]

Let’s face it. There is a whole lot that can go wrong when you’re traveling abroad. Weather delays and cancelled flights. Mechanical problems. Teething babies. High airfares. With so much beyond our control, savvy travelers know that taking care of the things we do have control over is our only defense against those forces that, […]

If you’re lucky enough to be in in Hawaii over the next few days you have to check out the annual Honolulu Festival.  All of the action begins tomorrow with a Friendship Gala featuring Hawaii’s own Raiatea Helm and ends with an amazing  Grand parade down Kalakaua Avenue. Now in it’s 21st year, The Honolulu […]

If, during your Hawaii vacation, you find yourself and/or your family invited to a potluck barbeque by someone you’ve met here, there are a couple of important things to consider. First, you’re probably pretty awesome. Locals here are warm and welcoming. But that doesn’t mean that we’re cavalier about who we allow into our lives. […]

For visitors to Hawaii, luau productions are a fun way to experience the hula-dancing, smiling Polynesian trope most people around the world are familiar with. Plastic flower lei, industrial amounts of luau food, a boisterous emcee: all of these have long been associated with the common perception of Hawaii by those who don’t know better. […]

There are two different arts festivals taking place on Oahu this month, PowWow! Hawaii and the Oahu Fringe festival. Pow!Wow! Hawaii focuses on the visual arts with a musical element, and the Oahu Fringe festival features performance art, music, dance, and theater. Pow!Wow! Hawaii is a series of events that feature gallery shows, lecture series, […]

For most Waikiki visitors, the jagged ridgeline of Manoa Valley is merely the pleasant green backdrop of a vacation in paradise. But Manoa offers treasures of its own, far from the rolling surf and deep in an almost impossibly lush forest. For residents who live or work in Waikiki, the Manoa ridgeline is as familiar […]

The coming weekend brings one of Oahu’s most popular events, attracting thousands of residents each year, the Punahou School Carnival. Like the annual Lantern Floating Festival, the 4th of July Fireworks at Magic Island, and the Aloha Festivals Parade, the carnival is a quintessential part of life for countless Oahu families. It’s a yearly ritual, […]

On the backside of iconic Diamond Head is East Honolulu and Maunalua Bay. Scarcely as well-known as its glamorous neighbor Mamala Bay (home to Waikiki Beach, the Honolulu waterfront and Pearl Harbor), Maunalua Bay begins at Blackpoint, a small, jutting peninsula crusted with elaborate, million dollar homes. Maunalua Bay is comprised of about 8 miles […]