Hawaii Vacation Blog

Sunny Hawaii beach scenes warm the soul on cold mainland winters. But triple-digit summer temperatures may have you looking at a Hawaii vacation for relief from the heat as well. It’s been a hot summer on the mainland, if my Facebook and Twitter streams are to be believed. I see complaints about broken air conditioning, […]

People in Hawaii love to put furikake on rice, especially, and it is a common topping for other foods such as fish or even popcorn. I suggest you try it when you vacation to the Hawaii Islands. There are different flavors of furikake but they have common ingredients: chopped nori, sesame seeds, dried fish flakes, […]

SPAM Musubi: convenient, portable, and cheap. Most people love SPAM in Hawaii, and a musubi is the go-to way to enjoy the canned meat.  You’ll see SPAM Musubi everywhere in the islands. It’s kind of like Hawaii’s (tastier) version of a food bar or peanut butter sandwich. It’s common to see people pull one out […]

Hikers planning a Hawaiian vacation: Put Judd Trail on your agenda I’ve heard people talk about the Judd Trail (AKA Judd Memorial Trail) for almost as long as I’ve been in Hawaii. But for some reason I never did it, despite its perfect location just between Honolulu and the Windward side of Oahu. It wasn’t […]

The question is not whether to remove your shoes, but WHERE when your here on a Hawaii Vacation. Most people think of leaving shoes behind for slippers (flip flops) on the beach but they might not realize that it is unusual to wear even these indoors. Locals automatically shed slippers or other footwear at the […]

*Editors Note: This trail is on a private property, so please hike at your own risk. And like everything else, take caution when exploring Hawaii’s outdoors. Jumping off of a waterfall may result in serious injury or sadly, death. Be safe on your next trip to Hawaii. A narrow dirt trail, lined on either side […]

Is Hawaiian a race? The answer to this question is complex and requires an understanding of Hawaii’s unique geographical and cultural history.  If you’re looking for the shortest answer, then yes – the U.S. Census lists Hawaiian as one of the five+ options for a person’s race (White, Black or African American, American Indian or […]

Mandoo is a popular food in Hawaii that you’re sure to encounter on your vacation here. But what should you expect if you see these at markets or restaurants? Here’s our quick intro to Mondoo (and where to find the best in Hawaii).  What is Mandoo Mandoo are Korean dumplings that can be boiled, steamed, […]

The Kukuiula Village shopping center in Poipu is one of my favorite places in Hawaii to enjoy a leisurely afternoon of shopping and eating; two of my favorite things! If you’re here on you’re Hawaii Vacation the authentic plantation-style architecture, live music and lush tropical vegetation will encourage to take it all in. Fresh tropical […]

Hawaii claims nine spots on a new ranking of America’s Best Beach hotels. While they are all expensive resorts for Hawaii vacations , it is possible to enjoy the same views and many of the amenities for far less. The ranking is from readers of Travel + Leisure Magazine. The June edition lists the top […]

Where better to recover after wresting fish from the harrowing waters of Alaska than Hawaii? Fishing boat captains from the Discovery Channel’s Deadliest Catch seem to agree. They are on Oahu this week filming for the show that follows each season, After the Catch. The opening features the stunning beauty of Koko Crater and focuses […]

The Message Remains Timeless but Most of the Stories are Different The fact that each year over 40,000 people crowd Ala Moana Beach park, on a narrow strip of sand, that would normally hold a few thousand comfortably, is one example of how determined the crowds are to attend. This surprised me the first time […]