Food costs here in Hawaii can be very high (or not). I’m often amazed by visitors fresh from the plane buying hundreds of dollars of overpriced food at the grocery store. If you’re going to be here for a week or so, just a little extra planning could put hundreds of dollars of savings in your pocket. Enough to […]
Yesterday I gave you my advice on what to do when your hotel room does not live up to expectations. Normally I complain immediately if I’m unhappy. On my recent trip to New York I was stuck with a bad room for 6 nights. Here’s what happened at New York’s Millennium UN Plaza Hotel: I booked a “superior room” […]
THIS IS A SUPERIOR ROOM ON THE HOTEL’S WEB SITE: THIS IS THE SUPERIOR ROOM I WAS GIVEN: I was expecting multiple windows, a corner room, and updated furnishings, based on the superior category I reserved. This is the first of two parts on what to do if your hotel room does not meet expectations. Tomorrow I’ll tell you […]
I’ve been very fortunate to spend the majority of my life’s flying time in the front of the plane. It started decades ago and I’ve rarely flown in economy since. One of those rarities is pictured above when we made the mistake of flying economy from LAX to Bangkok. I’m not sure however that the photo does justice to […]
I’ve been following a recent controversy between the Skin Cancer Foundation and Environmental Working Group over how sunscreens are tested. Beat of Hawaii previously wrote about sunscreens back in May. According to the New York Times, the Skin Cancer Foundation, which also tests sunscreens for safety and effectiveness, complains that the testing done by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) […]
I’m prone to seasickness (though not to airsickness). Sitting in the back seats of cars and buses doesn’t leave me feeling all that great either. How about you? If you’re bound for Hawaii, the water starts getting rough here, generally about October. Today’s post might help if you’re planning on any of the following: Na Pali boat tours Mainland […]
The softness in the airline sector is directly impacting hotel reservations and room pricing. PKF, a hospitality research firm, believes that for every 1 percent domestic airline capacity reduction, there will be up to .39 percent less hotel demand. If they are correct, U.S. hotels could see as many as 40 million fewer room nights occupied this year! This […]
If you’re looking for that completely unique gift to bring home with you from your Hawaii vacation, look no further. Hamakua mushrooms are a gourmet treat from Hawaii and some of the best mushrooms I’ve tasted. They have both a wonderful flavor and texture. You can legally import them to the mainland, inasmuch as they are not a plant […]
Hawaii’s banana industry may be well-positioned for a serious comeback. They are certainly growing well in our backyard. This photo shows our latest crop growing amidst Blue Ginger. Prices of Hawaii bananas have never been competitive with Central America in the past due to the high cost of land and labor. The scale is starting to tip in favor […]
Hawaii Superferry is not sustainable as a passenger ferry. Its problems are much worse than those the airlines are facing. This is because Superferry’s vessel, the Illikai, uses far more fuel per passenger than does an airplane. Last month, Superferry carried only 29% of its passenger load, according to USA Today. Low ridership occurred in spite of: $49 promotional […]
Earlier this year we offered our 10 Hawaii safe driving tips. You can save money, and your life, by slowing done and buckling up. Here are two things you should know: 1. Hawaii speeding fines are expensive. Up to 29 miles over the speed limit, the fine is $5 per mile and a $57 court administration fee. If you’re […]
As a regular feature at Beat of Hawaii, I enjoy sharing comments I’ve made elsewhere on the web: Day trips from Honolulu.
