Category: Hawaii Travel & Vacation Info

Many vacationers seek Oahu for one reason: Waikiki . The white sands, turquoise waters, fun surf breaks, premiere shopping, exciting nightlife… there are plenty of reasons why a traveler would want to explore Waikiki and all it has to offer. And while this area has been highly commercialized as a tropically urban, picturesque and lively […]

Ever since I got my Alaska Airlines credit card, I’ve been a die-hard Alaska Airlines flyer. I like their snack packs, service and in flight entertainment, but I have to admit, their prices have begun to get a little disheartening. I was recently shopping for a flight from Honolulu to San Jose, California, when I […]

The vacation to Oahu is booked. The room at the hotel has been reserved. You’ve made calls about restaurant reservations, activity plans and museum tickets. Everything is prepped for a wonderful vacation in Hawaii. But one problem some travelers encounter once they arrive on island is with the rental car. So you’ve chosen to book […]

I love to read. I also love pretty much any book- I don’t have a particular genre that I enjoy more than others. I’ll read biographies, historical non-fictions, the bizarre fictional work from authors like Tom Robbins and Kurt Vonnegut, the poetic tales from writers like Toni Morrison, the hilarious short stories of David Sedaris; […]

Car games for long road trips are something most kids do to pass the time. “I Spy” is usually the go-to, or maybe “Punch Buggy,” when a VW bug is spotted. That one wasn’t particularly popular when I was growing up, because at the time, souped-up Bugs were all the rage in Hawaii. They were […]

Because of the recent hurricanes that hit Hawaii, and the potential for more on the horizon (hurricane season is from June 1st till the end of November), I figured we might be seeing some wet weather for the next few months. But for anyone traveling to Hawaii during this time, don’t let this be a […]

I take a lot of cabs. As a professional musician who lives in town, I find it easier than battling traffic, finding and paying for parking, and lugging my gear to and from the venue from an always far away stall. I get door-to-door transpo for about twenty bucks. It occurs to me that most […]

There is a false sense of security in Hawaii’s outdoor environment. Yes the water looks tranquil and tropical, the trails appear peaceful and lush and the guidebooks paint a rosy image of the waterfalls and swimming holes that make everything seem like a dream. While I do agree that Hawaii is a relatively safe place […]

There are many Japanese cultural traditions and customs now woven into Hawaii’s social fabric. Among them is omiyage (oh-mee-YAH-ghee), or the tradition of bringing something, usually edible, back from your travels away from home to present to family, friends, or coworkers as a token of honor and respect. It should be something that is unique […]

During the winter months, or more accurately from November through March, Oahu’s North Shore gets top billing as the center of the surfing universe. And rightly so. But at the other end of Earth’s orbit, during the summer months, Oahu’s South Shore quietly lights up with swell without attracting the many hundreds of mainland and […]

I think everyone experiences a bit of nostalgia when they hear the word ‘summer.’ For me, I still think back to my youth; barefoot walks through the neighborhood, no school, sunny days that stretched into nighttime beach bonfires and swimming in my parents’ pool. Hopefully your thoughts go someplace relaxing and warm, like a vacation […]

Here on the islands, Hawaiian seashells are treasured like gems. Just walk into any jewelry store and you’ll see what I mean. You’ll see diamond-encrusted sunrise shells, gold-inlaid pearls, puka shell bangles, and more. These sea creature husks have been washing up on Hawaiian shores for centuries.  While many locals dive and beach comb to […]