Hawaii Vacation Blog

Oahu’s Leeward Shore – the westernmost area of Oahu – is rarely visited by vacationers, even though it’s truly beautiful. (It was used for principal filming of the 1965 movie “Hawaii.”) It’s a long drive, and there aren’t many attractions apart from the beaches themselves. The loveliest among those beaches is the isolated Makua Beach, […]

One of the most common questions we are asked is whether there is gambling in Hawaii. The short answer is no however, there are many reasons why and many theories on this issue. Hawaii is only one of two states that has no legalized gambling of any kind. That means no lotteries, horse races, sports […]

The clutter of billboards in the city of Los Angeles is notorious. They have more than 3,000 ILLEGAL billboards littering their streets and hillsides. On the other coast, Manhattan’s Times Square sports a Target billboard measuring 23,000 square feet. That’s half a football field. Some billboards across the country actually promote travel to Hawaii. The […]

Bellows Air Force Station, named after WW-I American hero Lt. Franklin Barney Bellow, was an important air field during World War II. Bellows Field was made a permanent military post in July 1941, and it was one of the airfields attacked during Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Fast forward 75 years and what you […]

What is it where you live? Pigeons that deface statuary, buildings and the occasional human head? Squirrels? Locusts? Mice or rats? Here in Hawaii, the pest of choice has been the mongoose. And we brought the pestilence on ourselves. The 1800s were big for sugar cane. Sugar plantations shot up on a lot of tropical […]

Plan on it. It’s Hawaii’s most visited attraction for a reason. The USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor on Oahu lures 1,500,000 people a year, and nobody leaves the experience unmoved or uninspired. Plan on a half-day, and make it in the morning as early as you can (from 7:30). The later you arrive, the […]

Want to see one of America’s Best Beaches? Poipu Beach on Kauai is often ranked as a top destination, and for good reason. But will you love visiting it? Read on to learn about this scenic locale and how to have a great beach day at Poipu.  The Best Things About Poipu Beach Poipu Beach […]

Mount Everest, The Matterhorn, The Meteor Crater, Victoria Falls, Ayers Rock, The Great Barrier Reef, and The Grand Canyon; they’re the seven Natural Wonders of the World.  Each is pretty impressive in itself, but you have to go a long way out of your way to see any of them. Here in Hawaii, we have […]

Undoubtedly, you’ve heard tales of Hawaii’s heavenly climate, often attributed to the enchanting “gentle trade winds,” a phrase as ubiquitous as “white sand beaches,” “swaying palms,” and “lush tropical gardens” when describing the islands’ allure. Yet, have you ever pondered the origins of these mystical trade winds, their elusive nature, and why they bypass other […]

Most people considering a visit to Hawaii know we have a lot of beaches here. Our six major islands all are completely rimmed with beaches, and all the beaches are accessible to you. You are, of course, aware of “Waikiki Beach,” the most famous of them all. It’s convenient to every Waikiki hotel. It backs […]

You may know them as “flip-flops” or as my Australian mates call them “thongs,” but here in Hawaii we wear “rubber slippers.” Living on an island, slippers are an essential part of an un-official Hawaii uniform. Flip-flops were inspired by traditional woven Japanese sandals. Post war, versions were briefly popularized by servicemen returning from Japan. […]

Back in the 1960’s the local brew to drink in Hawaii was Primo Beer. About ten years ago, the beer was discontinued when parent company Stroh Brewing decided to stop production. So Primo lovers were more than ecstatic to learn that their beloved beer was back and available this week on Oahu. Once the island’s […]