Hawaii Vacation Blog

Merrie Monarch Hawaii is basically the Olympics of hula. This week-long prestigious hula competition occurs each year in Hilo, putting the Big Island town on the map and bringing in a crowd of competitors and spectators. If you ever get a chance, you should definitely attend the Merrie Monarch Festival! A Merrie Event for 60 […]

Driving in the bustle of downtown Honolulu, it is hard to imagine over 100 years ago one of the best watermen on the planet lived on the busy corner of King and Bishop streets. Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku was born in 1890 at his family home. Duke was named after his father, who […]

On the mainland they are called “snow cones,” in Puerto Rico “piragua” but here in Hawaii we know it as “shave ice.” This is one fun treat that is worth trying. The tasty shave ice was brought to Hawaii in the 1880s by the Japanese immigrants who came to work on the sugar plantations. At […]

Exploring Manoa Valley is a must-do when visiting Oahu. Manoa is a residential valley neighborhood. It is approximately 3 miles inland from downtown, close to Waikiki and Ala Moana. While it may not be on the list for tourists, it is a worthwhile spot to check out, offering a look into one of Oahu’s older […]

I started out on a quest for the history behind Hawaii’s magical Mai Tai. This popular rum and fruit juice concoction has two very interesting men claiming ownership of its creative recipe. The well-known cocktail was purportedly invented at Trader Vic’s Polynesian-themed restaurant in Oakland, CA in 1944. Trader Vic’s amicable rival, Donn Beach claimed […]

One of the great things about visiting Hawaii is that someone will give you a flower lei. They smell nice and are beautiful, but do you know where the tradition comes from? What is the significance of receiving a Hawaiian Lei? Navigating to a new world In the age-old days, when the vastness of the […]

Kualoa Ranch is located on the northeastern side of Oahu in the countryside, less than an hour from Honolulu. The ranch terrain varies from rainforests and valleys to awesome cliff faces. It is truly a paradise for outdoor recreation, with many places accessible only by horseback or by foot. It is a beautiful spot not […]

Molokai, known as the “Friendly Island,” is home to the second-biggest cattle ranch in the islands and was a longtime haven for lepers before the disease was treatable. It preserves the ambiance of old-traditional Hawaii, perhaps a Hawaii of 50 years ago. With , a couple days here and you feel like part of the […]

With Makana, the monk seal who treats Hookipa as her vacation retreat, back on the north shore beach again, marine mammal officials are reminding the public that monk seals are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Endemic to the islands, the Hawaiian monk seals, Monachus schauinslandi, is known in Hawaii as ‘ilio holo i ka […]

I was recently asked to contribute to a article for a major travel magazine in which I was asked to recommend a “dream honeymoon” for couples with a unlimited budget and for those on a budget. While there many ways to do this, I offered the following advise: I have done a lot of dream […]

The title is really to get your attention. After doing the podcast “Over Shopping the Internet,” I felt the need to vent a little bit more about booking Hawaii vacations with our company. People are flooding us with calls and requests, struggling to understand the difference between our services and what online megastores like Travelocity […]

Making your flight to Hawaii more pleasant involves a few simple steps, many of which are recommended by airlines. Consider chewing gum, yawning, or sucking on hard candies to alleviate ear pressure during take-off and landing. Staying hydrated throughout the journey is crucial, so consume ample water. Additionally, to avoid stiffness, do light stretching exercises […]