Our top dining pick at Ala Moana Shopping Center is the Mariposa. It’s located on the third level of Neiman Marcus. We recently had a most pleasant and reasonable lunch there for under twenty dollars per person. The location is incredible; upstairs and ocean side in the center of the mall. It’s a large restaurant with fabulous views of […]
This photo might give you some idea that there is trouble brewing at the beach in front of the Sheraton Waikiki. The problem is that there is no beach. The small amount seen in the photo is only visible at very low tide. At all other times, the waves lap up on the beach wall where I’m standing. The […]
I have a new and perhaps surprising favorite on the Waikiki Strip after my recent six night stay. It’s Aqua’s Park Shore Waikiki Hotel. This is my pick for best views and location in the moderately priced category. Just look at the view from my spacious oceanfront lanai. With a view like this, who cares about the hotel’s vintage […]
This is great news that we hope will be enduring. The VOG has been irritating to our lungs and skin and that of visitors, and has hurt Big Island tourism. It has also been destructive to crops including vegetables and flowers. Recently we’ve noticed that even in southerly wind conditions, the VOG throughout the Hawaiian Island chain seems to […]
Update: We are sad to announce that Jimbo closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. For under twelve dollars, I enjoyed this hearty bowl of Udon noodles tonight at Jimbo’s in Honolulu. This local style eatery has been a favorite of mine for years. It’s not easy to find, tucked 50 feet back from the sidewalk on King […]
Off the beaten track, on the rural island of Lanai, sits a small hotel that’s undergone big changes lately. When I stayed at Hotel Lanai two years ago, it needed a good touch up both inside and out. Hawaii travel icon, Mary Charles, came to its rescue as the new owner. She went to work immediately on upgrading the […]
The four Matson Navigation ships carrying fresh cut Christmas trees are arriving. The first arrived on November 15, and the final ship will arrive on December 6. While the total number of trees shipped is unknown, Matson says that they transport more than 100,000 Oregon and Washington grown trees each year. The trees typically go on sale in Hawaii […]
View Larger Map Obama is all the rage. Many people plan to capitalize on the new president’s long-tailed roots. There have been articles already written about tours in Africa and Chicago. Now comes a new entry to the mix, the Obama Tour Hawaii. Since the places where Obama lived and went to school in Hawaii are on private property, […]
We recently tried these northwest Big Island restaurants and came away surprised. Bamboo is in the quaint town of Hawi, while Daniel Thiebault and Merriman’s are in Waimea (Kamuela). 1. Bamboo. We came here with perhaps the lowest expectations, and to our surprise, enjoyed the best food. While it is simple, in a bamboo coffee shop sort of way, […]
When you arrive in Hawaii, or any destination for that matter, you don’t want to get stuck trying to find your luggage when many bags look alike. Plus, similar looking bags have a higher chance of being taken by mistake. To make my luggage stand out, I’ve been custom labeling it for years. Above is an example of what […]
When we want to get away and escape Kauai, the first place that comes to mind is the Big Island’s Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel. We just concluded our fifth stay there last week. Where to find the best deal: This is not the $69 night experience we told you about in February. The hotel’s website features some off season […]
Hotel: As you may know, Kauai’s Princeville Resort is getting a facelift and rebranding in 2009. We were up there recently to check on the start of construction. The rooms are being gutted and the furnishings sold by liquidators. Everything looked gaudy and tacky with ridiculous sale prices. We resisted the urge to take home a used towel, bathrobe […]
