Perhaps it’s my Japanese side talking, but sushi is one of those things I could eat just about every day. There’s something about that perfect piece of nigiri – the rice with just the right vinegary tang, topped with a super fresh slice of fatty ahi, salmon, aji or mirugai… Ahhh. Bliss. If you’re a…
This year I made 12 resolutions for 2012. And one of them was to read a book per week. (Yes, I like lists!) When I was younger, I loved to read. Going to the bookstore was a treat for me and it wasn’t unusual for me to go through multiple books in a single day!…
When I was on the Kona side of Hawaii Island, a friend who lived there told me they go to Hilo to eat. After having visited, I can understand this. While there is some spectacular food on the Big Island – fresh, locally-sourced, and sometimes pretty pricey, there’s something to say for good old home-style…
One of the benefits of living near the resorts and hotels of Waikiki is that we’ve got world-class spa facilities available to us when we’re up for a splurge. A great way to treat yourself is to book a spa treatment at the Mandara Spa at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. The Mandara Spa Experience Check…
One of the main attractions of Hawaii Island, the largest of the Hawaiian Islands, is a visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. I grew up in the shadow of another volcano, the dormant Haleakala on Maui, but it was so exciting to see the active volcanoes on the Big Island. These mountains are sacred and…
UPDATE (2024): You can find details of the Ohana Club program which is the current package of discounts available to Hawaii residents. Note that the Ohana club is free to join and you’ll receive lifetime membership for signing up, including various offers and discounts (proof of Hawaii residency required – you’ll need to upload it…
My disclaimer for the next post: I’m the type of person who plans my vacation around meals. I like to get suggestions from friends and family who have lived or visited there, and if all else fails, I turn to Yelp or Twitter. There’s nothing I hate more than being forced into “just grabbing something”…
My first morning waking up in the mountains of South Kona and the stillness of the forest outside was almost overwhelming when compared with the city of Honolulu I’d left behind. Huge, stately ohia trees reached up to the sky with lush, green ferns and colored hibiscus flowers scattered throughout canopy below. A little bird…
While many think of beer (or sake) as the beverage of choice in Hawaii, you may be surprised to hear just how many spots there are for wine lovers in Honolulu. Wine Bars Restaurants Amuse Wine Bar – Self-service wine tastings (sold by the ounce) are accessed by a wine card purchased from the bar…
When I travel, I find myself turning more and more often to social media to help me get recommendations from locals on a town’s hot spots, best dishes, and up and coming chefs. Sites like Yelp and Foodspotting and their companion smartphone apps are extremely valuable for food-lovers and diners in Honolulu have embraced them…
