Hawaii Vacation Blog

When the weather guy says it’s going to be “another gorgeous day” in Hawaii, do we even think twice about how lucky we are? Other parts of the world see far worse conditions, like the “snow tsunami” in Russia that swallowed roadways and buildings or the midwest blizzards that cause multi-car pileups and fatalities on […]

Hanalei is the beginning of Kauai’s far north. After passing lush pastoral Kilauea and the premiere Princeville Resort, you’ll begin your descent into the valley, where a single-lane bridge leads into one of Kauai’s Edens. Unfortunately, this cute old bridge is also the only way in and out of town, so when it rains heavily, […]

Like a hand-sewn flower lei, “Aloha” has a variety of meanings that make up this beautiful Hawaiian word. It may not be physically worn like a lei but rather embraced with love and affection. Each flower represents an important element that make up the overall lei – or in this case – the overall meaning […]

‘Tis the season when cherry trees bloom brightly throughout Hawaii, casting a warm pink hue over streets and neighborhoods. The delicate flowers thrive in Wahiawa on Oahu and in Waimea on the Big Island, where the weather’s just cold enough to inspire an annual bloom. The cherry season not only marks the beginning of spring, […]

Did you know that you can visit the actual place where ancient Hawaiian chiefs were born? Located in Oahu’s Waialua district, Kukaniloko Birthstones is one of the most significant cultural sites on the island. During ancient times, Kukaniloko was religiously sanctioned and symbolically marked as a place of chiefly power, according to Hawaii State Parks. […]

ʻŌhiʻa Lehua is one of Hawaiiʻs most important trees, as its past is interwoven with so much history, and its beauty represents so much of Hawaiiʻs culture. But its future is threatened. As Rapid Ohia Death sweeps through the Island of Hawaii, the tree is becoming more treasured than ever.  Interested in learning more about […]

Just across the way from the famous Waimea Bay – where The Eddie big wave invitational happens – surfers ride a different kind of wave; a wave that’s on land and forms only after heavy rains bust through the mouth of Waimea River. This standing wave is similar to the manmade ones at water parks, […]

Have you ever heard of Malaekahana State Recreation Area on Oahu? This is a fantastic spot to enjoy a quiet beach, great scenery, and (when conditions are right) good snorkeling and kayaking.  It’s also one of the few places in Hawaii where you can camp by the beach, which makes it a popular spot for […]

Two lion-dogs stand guard at the entrance to Hamilton Library, located on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. I walked past them every day for a year before noticing that they are not exactly identical. And, in true Hawaiian fashion, they have many local cousins. Called koma-inu, these statues were brought from Japan in […]

A vintage postcard can speak a thousand words about the history of a place or an era. I came across one online from 1926 that shows a black and white photo of a Japanese fountain at Kapiolani Park. It’s surrounded by swaying palms, with Diamond Head in the background Although collecting vintage postcards has become […]

“Come, we go holoholo!” In Hawaiian, holoholo means “to cruise.” This can be an actual boat cruise, or to cruise around in a car or by foot. When you holoholo, you don’t have any firm destination or planned route – instead, it’s about the journey.  Experiencing Holoholo in Hawaii You’ll see the word holoholo a […]

The rocks of Ulupo Heiau continue to keep their ancient vigil, as new sets of hands maintain their massive formation. Heiau are traditional places of worship in Hawaii, and you’ll find them throughout the islands. Ahead, we’ll learn about one of Oahu’s oldest heiau and how these temples have been restored and maintained across the […]