Hawaii Vacation Blog

We’ll go out on a limb here and suggest that the kind of tree most commonly associated with Hawaii is the coconut palm. It’s a ubiquitous motif in picture postcards and paintings, on mu’umu’u and aloha shirts, even in the lyrics of some of Hawaii’s most beloved songs and movements in ancient hula. Fair enough. […]

Hawaii is home to a wide variety of native bird species. Many of them are on the Endangered Species List and some are “critically endangered”. Efforts are ongoing to protect these species, with limited success, across the state. Enthusiasts of birding in Hawaii, or simply “birdwatching”, have benefitted from conservation policies. Hawaii’s endangered forest birds […]

Surf lessons and beach rentals are a major attraction at Waikiki Beach. There are dozens of companies that cater to thousands of Waikiki beachgoers every day. Waikiki Beach Services stands out among those companies for a variety of reasons, not least of which is its deep connection to the world-famous Waikiki Beach Boys and their […]

If you plan on getting a spa treatment or massage in Hawaii, you’ll likely encounter one popular option: a Lomilomi massage.  Though this is a great treatment to enjoy during your time in the islands, it’s more than just a word used to lure in tourists. In fact, it’s a holistic practice that dates back […]

Hawaii is probably not the first place to spring to mind when you encounter to word “archaeology”. That distinction belongs, probably, to places like the great pyramids of Egypt, the Acropolis in Athens, or the Coliseum in Rome. And that’s rightfully so. However, human habitation in the Hawaiian Islands has been dated by researchers back […]

We think it’s fair to say that most people go on a Hawaii vacation, or any vacation, for some peace and quiet. Unless, of course, the point of the vacation is excitement like the action in Las Vegas, the hustle of New York City, or the carnival of Mardi Gras and year-round revelry of the […]

As Aloha Bruce discussed on a recent Hawaii Vacation Podcast, many Hawaii hotels and resorts have undergone significant renovations and remodels during the deserted days of the pandemic. In some cases, these improvements include kitchens or kitchenettes. Wonderful! Making your own meals once or twice during a Hawaii vacation is a great way to stretch […]

Downtown Honolulu is very much a walkable city, which is great news for residents and visitors alike. It’s a little over six miles from the iconic Diamond Head State Monument to the heart of Downtown, a flat south-to-north stretch with several straight-line routes along Ala Moana Boulevard, King Street, and Beretania Street.  And along those […]

Happily, with Summer 2022 comes the return of the Hawaii festivals and a variety of annual fairs and celebrations around the state that were shuttered by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. Virtually all pandemic gathering and capacity restrictions are lifted throughout Hawaii. The official start of summer in Hawaii is still more than a […]

As we barrel into Hawaii’s high-summer vacation season, we thought we’d point out some changes at a couple of Oahu’s popular visitor attractions. As Aloha Bruce noted on the latest Hawaii Vacations Podcast, visitor arrival numbers are approaching pre-pandemic levels. With Asia-Pacific arrivals expected to begin to surge as we move deeper into 2022, the […]

In Hawaii, “Almost Pau” is a life strategy, a philosophy that is abidingly optimistic. “Pau” means finished, by the way, in Hawaii. Done. Over. In the past. “Almost pau” is a zen-like acceptance of the fleeting nature of minor inconveniences. “Pau hana” means work is done, literally, but it also embodies the time of day […]

Hawaii’s Great Outdoors, its beaches and natural spaces, are generally the reason most people seek out a vacation in paradise. “Hawaii voluntourism” is an ever-growing movement among Hawaii visitors. Residents have embraced beach and natural space cleanups at unprecedented rates over the past two years, especially during the pandemic. There are many community organizations and […]