Hawaii Vacation Blog

Duke’s Waikiki is one of Oahu’s most iconic attractions. It’s more than just an attraction, though, and it offers some of the most affordable and fresh seafood dining in all of Waikiki. Hawaii Aloha Travel enjoyed a dinner with out-of-town friends there recently, and we were reminded of what makes a special place for residents […]

The Hawaii Tourism Authority has released its statistics for December 2019 Oahu vacation rental units. The numbers suggest that Oahu’s crackdown on illegal vacation rentals is having a significant market impact in The Gathering Place. The numbers include the supply and occupancy rates, as well as average daily price. The numbers do not distinguish between […]

Even if you’re vacationing during the rainy season in Hawaii, you’ll likely still be able to enjoy a good amount of sunshine. Still, a rainy day is the best time to discover local Hawaii businesses. Here’s what to do if the idealized “day at the beach” isn’t in the forecast during your Hawaii vacation.  When […]

Several endangered and at-risk native Hawaiian bird populations are rebounding thanks to the efforts of government agencies, nonprofits, rigorous scientific research, and volunteer efforts. Hawaii bird watching is on the rise. U.S. Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt recently made the announcement that Hawaii’s state bird, the beloved Nene Goose, is no longer on the […]

Merriman’s Restaurant at Ward Villages in Kakaako is the latest iteration of visionary chef and restauranteur Peter Merriman’s commitment to locally sourced meats, seafood and produce. A recent Monday evening at the new restaurant during the holidays was quite busy, with a line at the door and every table and seat at the bar full. […]

Honolulu has joined leaders in the United States and around the world in the fight against pollution and climate change. A single-use plastics ban was passed by the Honolulu City Council recently. This may lead incoming Oahu visitors to ask, “What does this mean for me?” The short answer to that question is “Not a […]

Hawaii is famous around the world for its perennial sunshine and warm weather. Even in winter, the weather is generally mild. But for those of us that live here, winter in Hawaii brings a perceptible change in the weather. It gets a little wetter, a little chillier. It also brings two major attractions to Hawaii’s […]

We’ve written about Hawaiian monk seal encounters on this blog before. We’ve always encouraged visitors and residents alike to respect monk seals’ space, in the (fairly) rare instance of a monk seal sighting on any one of Hawaii’s countless beautiful beaches. , after all, are an endangered species. A recently released study by the examines […]

Foil surfing continues to grow in popularity around the world, spawning an offshoot of the surfing industry that is attracting more and more water sports enthusiasts every year. In Hawaii, visitors can try out the new-fangled way to ride waves with a number of outfits that offer lessons and equipment rentals. Hawaii is the ancestral […]

At the top of Nuuanu Avenue, about a mile and a half from the bustle of Downtown Honolulu, Oahu visitors can visit the Royal Mausoleum. Known as “Mauna Ala” in the Hawaiian language, it is the final resting place of many members of Hawaii’s royal family and retainers. It is an excellent way to experience […]

The Kahala Hotel and Resort, just minutes outside of Waikiki on Oahu, is one of Hawaii’s premiere luxury properties. But at The Kahala, the hustle and bustle of the Aloha State’s epicenter of tourism seem a million miles away from the gently lapping shores and swaying palm trees of Kahala Beach. Opened in 1964 and […]

The Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) and Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) have created a new video “Kuleana Campaign” to educate visitors about cultural norms and practices unique to the Aloha State. These unwritten rules are important to knowing what it means “Live Aloha” while enjoying a Hawaii vacation. All of the videos are available […]