Dear Hawaii Resident,Two of us are visiting the Big Island for a week, would you please tell us what to see and where to stay.Thank you,Mainland Visitors. Aloha Visitors, I’d love to! and welcome, e komo mai [e ko’-mo mai) to our beautiful island. A good advice needs to take into account your interests and I will give you some options to choose from. So, this itinerary is flexible and can be easily adjusted. You can fly to either Kona…
Come join the class, it’s called Hawaii 101 or What everyone needs to know about these enchanted isles. Whether you’re a wahini (wa-heenee) woman, or kane (kaw-nay) man, a malahini (mawla-heenee) newcomer, or a kama’aaina (kawmah-eye-nah) children of the land, it’s good to know the basics about your islands. First, there are 8 islands, actually a couple hundred stringing halfway up to Alaska, but there only are 8 main ones. And each island has a nick-name. Hawaii Island is so…
Welcome to Hawaii! It’s always good to know the symbols of the state you visit. Best to start with the big 5 Hawaii state symbols, the state flower, the state bird, the state nickname, the motto, and the little state fish with the big name. Once you know these you’re on your way to being a real local. You can already guess other Hawaii symbols like the state sport, surfing, and the state musical instrument, the ukulele (pronounced “oo”-ku-lay’-lee” not…
Hawaii is such a Neverland you won’t be surprised that each island has its own color, 8 islands, 8 colors. Most all given for the color of flowers growing on each isle. The Hawaiian islands is a lei of colorful flowers, strung across the sea. Is this a charming state or what? Here are the official colors and flowers of Hawaiian islands from the bottom to the top, Hawaii to Ni’ihau. The Big Island – Red – Lehua flower First,…
Lose your keys, it’s the Menehune. Can’t find your purse? The Menehune stole it. If you can’t find something, they took it. Stealing little things is part of their rascally nature. When you eventually find what you lost, it’s them giving it back to you. So who are these Menehune? Picture elves dressed in Hawaiian Ti-leaves between 6 inches and 2 feet tall, very smart, strong and skilled in building things with rocks. That’s the ancient, mythical Hawaiian dwarf called…
It’s the Legend of Naupaka [nau-‘pa-ka], a beautiful Hawaiian Princess. Naupaka fell in love with a fisherman named Kaui [‘kau-i]. Over the years, the legend has been told in different ways, but the ending has always remained the same. One version of the story goes like this. Long ago in Hawaii, the beautiful Princess Naupaka, who lived high in the mountains, came down to walk along the beach. Many say she lived on the island of Kauaʻi [kau-‘a-i]. She had…
I call it my sweet zone, my Hawaii place when everything comes together perfectly, when I am totally at rest. When you’re looking out of your dreary eyes, not seeing what is in front of you, feeling only bliss, that’s the sweet zone. It is easiest to feel when the environment is peaceful and leaves you alone. Hawaii does this, but Hawaii is not paradise, Hawaii is a place so peaceful that paradise can happen inside you. My sweet zone…
If you came to Hawaii and want to get in a boat, have I got some adventures for you! Kona boat tours, fishing charters, private boat rentals, snorkeling and scuba adventures – Kona has it all in the world of boats. The west side of the Big Island has clearest waters and the most diverse coral and marine life, just choose your boat adventure! Check out this Swimming With a Whale Shark experience. Not typical, you’l have to get really…
The Eruption’s over in Hawaii, nothing to see here, but there are still many exciting volcano adventures. (Header photo by Alan L.) You can hike through chirping Ohia forests, stand on the edge of a giant crater. Then explore an underground cavern. You too can be Indiana Jones. Head to the Volcano and live it for yourself, have an awesome experience you will remember forever. I’ll tell you about Hawaii volcano adventures in a minute, but first I will tell…
Ahh finally, you’ve landed, now what to do? So many exciting adventures on Maui, do you swim, surf, ride bikes, go whale watching, snuba or just hit the bars and restaurants? Your head is spinning. You have to sit down. You’re in a condo in Kihei in Magic Maui (thank you Homey Hawaii) ready to discover why they say the Hawaiian phrase, Maui no ka ‘oi, Maui is the best. You wonder a moment that the Hawaiian word for ‘best’…