Category: Hawaii Animals & Nature

Hawaii is such a romantic destination, and Hawaiian folklore is teeming with love stories. Unfortunately, many of these stories don’t have the happiest endings.  Still, they’re great to know and inspiring to hear. Plus they hold a lot of importance in Hawaiian culture.  So before you head to Hawaii for a honeymoon, anniversary trip, or […]

When I have visitors in town, they often ask me what to expect when visiting Hanauma Bay — besides the beautiful scenery. What they’re really asking is — what kind of cool marine life can I see if I go snorkeling there and where exactly might I find them? Lucky for them, I was able to dig […]

One of the many reasons I love Kauai is because I always discover a new and exciting place to explore no matter how many times I’ve been there! And, my recent trip to the Garden Isle was no different. Except THIS time, I got to discover a hidden cave system on Kauai that’s DEFINITELY off-the-beaten-path. […]

Have you ever wondered: When do sharks know humans are in the water? How do they sense their prey? How small is the smallest Hawaii shark? Anytime you jump in the ocean surrounding Hawaii, you’re sharing the water with sharks. So, it’s important you know as much about them as possible. Here are 12 Hawaii […]

If you’re an avid reader of this blog (and we hope you are!), you just read our post about how there’s been a significant spike in the number of shark bites — turns out, hungry females who have just given birth may be to blame for the increased number of incidents. But, you don’t want to […]

Every once in a while, a news story showcases tourists mistreating local wildlife, especially monk seals and sea turtles in Hawaii.  Thankfully, these extreme stories are fairly rare. After all, most visitors truly want to respect Hawaii’s wildlife and appreciate it in a mindful way. So, what are the rules about interacting with sea turtles […]

There’s nothing like a trip to Hawaii to inspire you to examine marine life — after all, when you’re in the islands, you’re practically living in the middle of a giant aquarium! However, no matter how much you snorkel and SCUBA, it’s impossible to experience all the marine life Hawaii has to offer… which is […]

The fate of dolphin tours in Hawaii has been a hot-button topic in the islands for years. But, now the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has put pen to paper and is proposing a ban that would, effecively, end the tours. Now, YOU have the opportunity to comment on the proposed ban and become […]

If you’re planning a trip to Maui, seeing the Haleakala sunrise might top your must-do list. Here, day breaks at 10,000 feet above sea level, casting golden hues across layers of endless clouds. Then, as the clouds clear and the skies turn blue, you get to enjoy one of the most magnificent places in Hawaii.  […]

My 11-year-old daughter is in the midst of a pretty amazing “science” project — she and three of her classmates are foraging Hawaii for native plants, dehydrating them using a homemade dehydrator, and adding them to food (she’s much smarter than I ever was).  Well, yesterday, I decided to join them on one of their […]

Like many people, I try to do my fair share to help the environment. I recycle, take care not to disturb the native plants and animals, and teach my children to respect the environment. But, I never thought about whale watching as an eco-friendly activity. In fact, I thought the OPPOSITE. Boy, was I wrong!? […]

Here in Hawaii, we know a lot about many of the sea creatures that inhabit our islands’ waters. But, sharks? Well, it can be pretty hard to get up close and personal with a living shark — you probably know why! In fact, used to be, when a scientist wanted to examine a pregnant shark, he […]