Hawaii Vacation Blog

Each year, usually in mid-December, a weather system moves over the islands of Hawaii bringing thunderstorms, lightning, (relatively) cold temperatures, and high winds. Hawaii winter weather is unique in that what makes it special is the fact that it is actual weather. For the rest of the year, it’s mostly sunny skies and gentle trade […]

There is nothing on Earth more certain than the fact that the sun will rise. We’ll submit that it is equally certain that Hawaii sunrise views are spectacular, every day. Without exception. Full stop. Rain or shine. What the new day brings, good or ill, always begins with beauty. This is one of the many […]

Hawaii residents and visitors from abroad flock to Hawaii Island, the Big Island, to witness eruptions at the Mauna Loa Volcano. Thousands of images and videos of the spectacular event are zing around the internet when that happens showing the full glory of an active lava flow. We want to point out that fire goddess […]

 I was fortunate to be invited, along with my wife, to a small gathering by the peaceful waters of the Hawaii Kai marina. As we sipped delicious sunset cocktails, I found myself reflecting on its history as one of the islands’ ancient Hawaiian fishponds, or loko kuapa.. It came to be known as Kuapa Pond. […]

The annual Made in Hawaii Festival returned to Ala Moana Shopping Center over the Veterans Day holiday weekend. The HAT Blog bought a ticket ($15) and attended for a two-hour time slot just before lunchtime. It got us thinking about buying local in Hawaii, and about how many Hawaii small businesses rely on direct sales […]

It seems like every few months, Hawaii’s volcanoes make an appearance in the news. After all, the state is home to three active volcanoes, something that makes a visit here both special and sometimes nerve-wracking. So where do you go when you want a Hawaii Volcano Update?  Luckily, it’s easy to get info on what’s […]

In the previous HAT Blog, we wrote about the seasons in Hawaii, Fall in particular, and what makes Hawaii’s seasons unique. There’s a fifth season in Hawaii, however, and we’ll talk about it here. North Shore Oahu has its own “big wave season”, which spans the months between October and March. It’s commonly referred to […]

Autumn in Hawaii has almost arrived. You’d hardly know it, though, as we’ve enjoyed perfect, almost unchanging weather for weeks. There’s been a bit of isolated rain, and the average daily high temperature is pushing 90 degrees, but “the best weather on the planet” continues. Hawaii seasons and the changes between them are subtle.  Here, […]

The Honolulu on Tap Beer Festival returns to the Blaisdell Exhibition Center on Saturday, October 22, 2022. The event was cancelled in 2020 and moved to the outdoor Waikiki Shell in 2021. The festival’s return to the Blaisdell is another sign of Hawaii’s emergence from the pandemic. It’s wonderful.  There are about 15 craft breweries […]

The HAT Blog is back at the home office in Honolulu after a delightful week with the in-laws on Maui. I didn’t actually do a whole lot, but that was my personal plan to begin with. The others did, however, and we offer here some easy Maui vacation suggestions that we thoroughly enjoyed. We’ll also […]

We here at the HAT Blog have been on Maui for a few days for a 7-night stay with visiting family. Thus far, things have gone quite smoothly. We did encounter one minor snag. We also enjoyed a spectacular sunrise at the summit of Haleakala Crater. We offer a couple of Maui vacation tips from […]

Sea Life Park on Oahu, the beloved marine mammal park, bird sanctuary, and aquarium first opened in 1964. It has since evolved into an institution familiar to most residents of the island. It continues its nearly 60-year tradition of providing education and eliciting wonder in its visitors with the Limu Fest on Saturday, September 24, […]