Hawaii Vacation Blog

The only reason I’d imagine visitors wanting to stay on the west side of Oahu would be to get away from the city. It’s more than 45 miles from Waikiki (about an hour of driving one-way), so it’s likely you’ll want to do things on that side of the island. Makaha is probably the farthest […]

You can just feel the mana, or power, when driving by Makua Valley. Even though it’s inaccessible to the public today, the valley is still very much a visible part of Oahu’s northwestern shore. It’s also still very much alive with Hawaiian culture and history. What is Makua Valley Makua Valley is an area in […]

No trip to the North Shore could be complete without a stop at the Macadamia Nut Farm outlet. For the last 10 years visitors have been treated to everything Macadamia at this fun store near Kualoa Ranch on Kameameaha Hughway. Everything you can imagine and more made with Macadamia can be found here and all […]

Hawaiian lava sledding is as extreme a sport as it got for ancient Hawaiians. Racing headfirst downhill at speeds of 60 or 70 miles per hour sounds death-defying. But it’s how alii (royalty) enjoyed spending their free time, even if it meant getting a few injuries along the way. Hee holua, as it was called […]

There’s a little European-style bakery in the quaint Manoa community called Fendu Boulangerie. A boulangerie is a place that sells bread; fresh-baked bread made of all sorts of ingredients. Fendu, however, breaks that mold by also selling brick-oven pizzas, gourmet sandwiches and petite pastries. But it’s still the delicious aroma of baking bread that usually […]

On your drive up to Mauna Kea, silversword plants greet visitors eager to get to the top. They’re actually among a list of endangered plants found in Hawaii, which is why a recovery plan has been put underway to help save the silversword. ​Volunteers recently planted 100 plants on the slopes of the Hawaii Island […]

It was a case of the whodunit at the Moana Hotel, where a famous American murder mystery took place more than a century ago. Although the mystery of who killed Jane Stanford remains unsolved, it’s still a fascinating part of the hotel’s history that continues to be shared with guests today. ​Jane co-founded Stanford University, […]

The road ends at Kaena, where a grassy mountainside landscape greets the boundless white sand beach below. Not many people venture this far into the North Shore of Oahu, which is most likely why the stretch of beach and rocky coastline is almost always empty. Until recently, I completely forgot this place existed. We were […]

Cinnamon’s Restaurant puts a unique twist on pancakes. Serving more than just an original short stack, the eatery entices hungry customers with pancakes inspired by actual cakes, like red velvet, carrot and guava chiffon. And ever since putting the two together, these menu items have been literally selling like hot cakes! Cinnamon’s has been part […]

From Kailua to Kakaako – another Hele On Cyclovia shindig rolls on over to the south side of Oahu. In an effort to promote safe street transportation and healthy lifestyles, about 1.5-miles will be transformed into an open-street event for the community. Walk, bike, jog or segway. The coast is free and clear of all […]

Over the past decade, farmers markets have taken the “Buy Local” mantra by storm. In Hawaii, there’s at least one market a day on each of the major islands. In fact, it seems there are more and more markets being added to the list every other month. Here’s an updated list of farmers markets on […]

On days when you have extra time to kill, head over for a delicious breakfast and beverage from Morning Glass Coffee + Cafe in Manoa. This charming little spot often has a long line, and it moves even slower than you think it will. But it’s worth it to have coffee that seems expertly made […]