Category: Hawaii Animals & Nature

The great migration to Hawaii has begun for the ocean’s most acrobatic whales – the humpback whales (or Kohala in Hawaiian). Between November and March, more than half of the world’s humpbacks travel from their fertile Alaskan feeding grounds to the warm Hawaiian waters, where they mate, give birth and nurse their young. This year, […]

If you’re looking for a unique sight on Kauai, check out Maniniholo Dry Cave. This sandy, rocky wonder is on the island’s north shore. Let’s learn more about it, and discover a couple other caves on the Garden Isle.  What is Maniniholo Dry Cave Maniniholo Dry Cave is hundreds of feet deep and tall enough […]

A rare ocean creature has found a home at the Waikiki Aquarium, and it looks a lot like a swimming piece of candy. The peppermint angelfish (Centyropyge boylei) is the only one of its kind on display at a public aquarium. And unlike the seasonal peppermint candies we enjoy during the holidays, this peppermint can […]

On a typical Sunday morning in Chinatown, you’ll see people tugging their carts of fresh produce and speciality items, store owners moving busily about their compact spaces and clouds of deliciously-smelling steam wafting from various manapua shops and cutleries. This past Sunday, however, it was the floral shop owners who kept the busiest, restocking their […]

Kids can’t resist it, and adults never regret doing it – there’s something quite liberating about swinging to and fro on those hanging banyan tree roots. And although they’re not native to our islands, they’re definitely an appealing part of our landscape and history. A giant banyan near the aquarium is one of many throughout […]

If you happen to visit one of our beautiful parks in Hawaii, you may notice a furry weasel-like animal slinking around between trashcans and abandoned picnic tables. Sometimes mistaken for a squirrel by visitors, this secretive creature is actually a mongoose. You may remember mongooses (not mongeese!) through Kipling’s Rikki-Tikki-Tavvi, the fierce and beloved pet […]

You’ll quickly discover that not every Hawaiian island’s the same; each has a subculture of its own when it comes to foods, activities and landscapes. But it’s the special color and flower designated to each that really bring out their personalities. Both chosen elements are similar in hue and create a beautifully colored spectrum that […]

When one thinks of a cityscape, what comes to mind? Busy streets, skyscrapers, commuting businessers and… threatened native bird species? Honolulu has all of the above with its native seabird city dweller, the Manu o Ku! Also known as the White Fairy Tern, the Manu o Ku (pronounced mah-NOO oh KOO) is the only native […]

Let’s discover the romance behind Naupaka, a common Hawaii plant with a not-so-common story. There’s a story hidden in everything around us, and like many other cultures, Hawaii’s mo’olelo (stories) have become an integral part of the culture today. They define the place and its people and give meaning to everyday occurrences. One such story […]

Feathered, furred, and ferocious, Bishop Museum’s new dinosaur exhibit will turn what you thought you knew about the mesozoic era upside down. Based on new research from recently discovered fossils in Liaoning Province in China, the animatronic dinosaurs are brightly colored and boast feather or fur. Interactive exhibits allow kids to explore how the dinosaurs […]

It is whale season in Hawaii and a great way to see them is from a boat. Cruising on the Blue Dolphin—a 63 foot catamaran—I’m amazed at how many whales we see. They go off like fireworks. We see sprays of white plumes, splashing breaches, tail slaps and pectoral fins reaching for the endless blue […]

Hawaii is renowned for excellent sea fishing, with Hawaii charter fishing available, but did you know there’s freshwater fishing to be had as well? Catch and release fishing at Oahu’s Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden is great fun for families. On Saturdays and Sundays, fishing is permitted from 10am to 2pm in the garden. Located in Kaneohe […]