Want to support wildlife conservation efforts? Here’s a fun and easy way!
In Hawaii, we believe that when you care for the land, it cares for you. The phrase we use is “mālama ka ‘aina.” The word mālama, which means “to care for and protect,” is a word and value that inspires us to care for the world around us… And that includes all of God’s amazing creations: the animals, the plants, the trees, the ocean, etc.
While we can and should do our part to become more eco-friendly, there are other ways we can support conservation efforts, and I think I found the perfect, FUN thing: Fahlo bracelets.
Fahlo is a company that partners with wildlife conservation efforts so you can track a real animal. With each bracelet purchased, you are supporting wildlife, on land and sea. The company has four animal bracelets to choose from: turtles, sharks, polar bears, or elephants.
And the best part? Each bracelet comes with an animal to track. You can download the Fahlo app (on Apple or Google Play) and see where your animal is in the world. I love this, as I feel a special connection to the turtles I’m tracking.
How do Fahlo bracelets raise awareness?
I get compliments on my bracelets all the time!
Have you ever worn a piece of jewelry and someone says, “I love that!” or “How cute!” — How many times has someone told me this about my bracelets? Too many to count! When people comment about the bracelets in real life or on social media, I love sharing about how the bracelets support sea turtles. That’s the beauty of these bracelets. With this jewelry, you can share about the wildlife you’re supporting and show them the animal you’re tracking! What better way to raise awareness about wildlife conservation efforts?
These bracelets also make amazing gifts. Imagine gifting a loved one a bracelet that not only supports a wildlife conservation effort, but comes with an animal to track? It’s so fun to see where your animal is. I love checking in with my turtles!
Use my link or use code LEIALOHA20 to get 20% off your Fahlo order!
Do the tracking methods hurt the animals?
I asked this question right off the bat. I wanted to know if the tracking is safe for the animals. Are the devices, attached to the animals, hurting them? I’d feel horrible if they did, so don’t worry. I looked into this too. Here’s the rundown on each animal:
Sea turtle tracking:
The sea turtle bracelets are my favorite!
Depending on the type of sea turtle, most trackers are placed on the turtle’s back using a resin or non-heat epoxy, which won’t hurt the turtle. These materials wear down after about a year and then fall off. For loggerhead turtles, the tracker must be attached to the dorsal ridge. So far the transmitter hasn’t seemed to affect the turtle’s travels or behavior. Find out more about turtle tracking here.
Shark tracking:
The tracking devices are placed next to or through the dorsal fin. The website says that the sharks don’t react, as the dorsal fin has no nerve endings. So, as far as we know, the device isn’t harming the shark, nor does it mess with their senses and behavior. The tags wear down over time. Another method they use is an acoustic tag, which they implant in the shark’s body cavity. The device lasts up to 10 years and shows no side effects. Find out more about shark tracking here.
Polar bear tracking:
A collar, made of flexible, synthetic material is placed around the polar bear’s neck. I felt worried about this but the more I read about it, the more I realized how important the data is for our understanding of polar bears, and what we can do to protect them. Find out more about polar bear tracking here.
Elephant tracking:
Like the polar bears, the elephants are tracked using collars. The website didn’t say much about how they apply the collars to the elephants, but the collars have incredible benefits. One of the benefits is that one of the algorithms of the tracker checks for unnatural movement, which can warn if an elephant is potentially in danger by poachers. The tracker informs local wildlife management and enforcement, who can respond much more quickly than if the elephants didn’t have the collars. Find out more about elephant tracking here.
Is Fahlo a scam?
I know. I asked this question too, and I’ve done all the research. When I went to each wildlife conservation website, they confirmed their partnership with Fahlo… which means, the money you spend on your bracelet IS going to that wildlife conservancy! So is Fahlo a scam? No, it’s legit. 🙂
What are the bracelets made of?
I did a little more digging on this one and had an awesome contact to let me know the details. You will receive your bracelet in a compostable brown bag. The bracelet itself is made of crushed stone. The main charm is made of plastic and produced in China by a family-owned business. The bracelets are shipped from Dallas, Texas.
What size does the bracelet come in?
The bracelets are one-size-fits-all. But… I have tiny wrists so I actually cut my bracelet and re-strung them with three less beads. My sister got some for her daughters and they didn’t mind the bracelets being a little bigger. It’s just a matter of preference. 🙂
Want a bracelet to support wildlife conservation?
I have turtle bracelets and aim to get some shark bracelets soon. I love wearing my bracelets and get compliments on them all the time. If you want to take the dip and get some Fahlo bracelets for yourself, use my link or use code LEIALOHA20 to get 20% off your Fahlo order!
In conclusion, MAHALO for your efforts to mālama ka ‘aina. I truly believe that when we make an effort to connect with earth and the animals, it can bless our lives in amazing and beautiful ways. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions. Or if you got a bracelet, let me know which one you got! Are you a shark, turtle, polar bear, or elephant kind of person? I’d love to know!
Manoa Falls, Oahu. A popular and easy hike for tourists and locals alike, Manoa falls is a beautiful, 150-foot falls in the lush Manoa valley. It’s 1.7 miles round trip, with a muddy, gravel terrain. Part of the hike is uphill, but it’s generally an enjoyable and lovely hike. With a misty rain and colorful rainbows, Manoa falls has sometimes been called “valley of rainbows.” Very fitting!
This article will cover the basics of Manoa Falls hike—how to get there, how much it costs, what to expect, etc, AND the history, my favorite part. There are so many stories surrounding this area. Some stories are mysterious, while others are tragic. But if you plan on going to Manoa falls, you’ll definitely want to keep reading!
How to get to Manoa Falls
If you are staying in the Waikiki area, you can choose to rent a Hui, like we did. It’s an easy car rental option that allows you to book it for a few hours or the whole day. Here are some other options: ride the bus, catch a ride-share (like Uber or Lyft), rent a Moped. It takes about 15-30 minutes to drive there, so I don’t recommend walking.
The park entrance fee is $7 (as of December 2021). When we went, they were able to take a card.
What to expect
The trails are muddy, but it’s a sort of wet, reddish mud, not sticky mud. So while the bottoms of my shoes got pretty muddy, they were easy to clean up. The trails have gravel to keep the mud down, and it definitely helps. Since the valley is lush and there’s water everywhere (including standing water), expect mosquitoes and bugs. We didn’t use bug spray and got bites on our legs, so you’ve been warned. >.<
While the hike is relatively short (1.7 miles roundtrip), it does get quite hot, humid, and muggy. An occasional breeze will blow through the area, but expect to get somewhat sweaty. The way to the falls is mostly uphill, but the incline isn’t too bad. Enjoy the plants around the area, including bamboo, ti leaves, koa, ‘ohia, and more!
The water has leptospirosis, so I don’t recommend swimming int it, or worse, drinking it!
What to wear and bring
Of course, since it’s a hike you want some good shoes but honestly, there were plenty of people doing the hike in their slippers as they were visitors to the island, or locals who frequent the area. While it might be nice to cover up from the bugs, it can get very hot, sticky, and sweaty.
It rains in the valley, or mists frequently, so I brought an umbrella.
A little history about Manoa Falls
I lived in Oahu for a while, but my parents hardly took us around town, which I completely understand. Waikiki and Honolulu are packed with people, tourists, and busy-ness. But I
Night Marchers
If you don’t know about night marchers in Hawaii, you must not have grown up there. My mom told us all kinds of stories, especially since she grew up in Pupukea on the North Shore, a place where the night marchers frequented.
Legends of night marchers and their origins vary, but the legends can all agree on one thing: the night marchers are a spirit army, and when you hear them, you better 1) get out of there or 2) lay flat on the ground with your head to the earth, and DON’T LOOK when they march past. If you do that, they won’t bother you.
Since Manoa valley has such an interesting past, including the legends and stories told about it, I can see why people think it’s haunted. And if we even disclude the Hawaiian folklore about the area, there have been several deaths of hikers within the valley. Though it’s a relatively easy hike, it still has its dangers.
The Tragic Story of the Princess of Manoa
I’ve been doing a lot of research on Hawaiian folklore and legends. I love fairy tale and mythological retellings, so be sure to follow me on social media or sign up for my newsletter to learn more about my books and when they come out!
King Kalakaua shares in his book about the beautiful princess of Manoa. Her name was Kahalaopuna, but we’ll call her Kaha for short. The fame of her beauty spread across the Hawaiian islands and many men tried to woo her. Betrothed to Kauhi, a young chief from Kailua, Kaha kept faithful.
One day Kauhi went to a popular bathing spot, where two lesser chiefs taunted him. They wore flower lei around their necks and said that Kaha gave it to them, as well as made love with them. The two chiefs could not see very well, a physical deformation, and this only further enraged Kauhi. He thought Kaha had not only betrayed him, but mocked him.
He resorted to kill her within Manoa valley.
Kaha’s ancestor owl, an ‘aumakua, restored her to life, and Kaha followed Kauhi, asking why he did such a thing. He didn’t answer, but, instead, killed her once more. The gruesome incident occurred three times, and the owl ancestor restored Kaha’s life.
She followed him until Waikiki, and, for the fifth time, Kauhi killed her. But this time, he buried her body under the roots of a koa tree. Satisfied that the owl couldn’t reach her, he left.
A young chief, Mahana, found Kaha’s body, alive, under the tree. He took her to his home, where she was able to recover with the aid from Mahana and his sisters.
Though Mahana and Kaha fell in love, they couldn’t wed because of Kaha’s betrothal. Kaha and her family confronted Kauhi, and he admitted to murdering her. He, along with the two lesser chiefs that lied about her from the start, were cooked in an imu and their bones tossed into the sea.
Kauhi’s family gods rescued his remnants and turned him into a shark. Because of this, Kaha was warned not to go into the sea.
Mahana and Kaha married and were happy for two years. One day, Kaha longed to return to the ocean. She took a surfboard and paddled beyond the reef. Kauhi seized his opportunity at revenge and devoured her.
The shocked and grief-ridden parents of Kaha retired to Manoa valley, her father known as Manoa Wind, and her mother as Manoa Rain.
So don’t be surprised if it rains within the valley, a misty, light rain, as though Kaha’s parents are weeping, missing their daughter.
The valley has a lot of mana, spiritual power and vibe, which is comparable with the Chinese concept of qi, chi, or life force. A young Chinese immigrant by the name of Lum Ching wanted to find a place suitable for the spirits. He searched until he came upon a spot where he felt powerful qi. He said, ““it’s the pulse of the watchful dragon of the valley. people from all directions will come across the seas and gather here to pay homage… the Chinese people must buy this area and keep it as sacred ground.”
The Chinese immigrants did buy the land, and the Chinese cemetery remains in the Manoa valley. The words “yi-cheng” inscribe the markers of the cemetery and mean “connection and righteousness.”
Is the cemetery full of qi? You’ll have to go and feel for yourself. 🙂
Final Thoughts
Have you gone to Manoa falls? When my husband and I went, we really enjoyed it. The hike was easy, the forest lush, and everything so green. The convenience and distance from Waikiki, where we stayed, was also a plus.
I hope you enjoyed this article, as well as the stories I’ve shared. When we learn a little more about the places we visit, we appreciate it more! Let me know in the comments about your Manoa falls experience? Do you recommend it? 🙂
Mahalo!
Lei
If you’re looking for more ideas or things to do during your stay in Waikiki, check out these articles:
Looking for the next epic fantasy to read? How about a Hawaiian epic fantasy? There aren’t very many books about Hawaii written by Hawaiians, and I want to change that. My debut novel, Aloha State of Mind, came out in September 2021, and I’m happy to now announce my first ever Hawaiian epic fantasy novel.
It’s finally here, with characters from an ancient Hawaiian island, Kaimana Island. If you love young adult literature, characters you relate with, Hawaii, and adventure, this is for you! This post will cover everything you need to know about my newest novel!
The Title
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, and there isn’t much behind the scenes about the title, but here it is!
Rise of the Manō
I definitely wanted (and needed) the word manō in there, which means “shark” in Hawaiian. You will learn more about why it’s called this when you read the book! 🙂
The Genre
Rise of the Manō is a young adult epic fantasy. It is inspired by Hawaiian legends, folklore, and mythology.
So if you love:
HAWAII
Flawed, young adult protagonists
Mythology and folklore
Themes of friendship, loyalty, and trust
Convincing villains
Magical creatures (yes, this includes mermaids!)
Adventure
The Hawaiian culture
Sharks
Then you will enjoy this book!
The Actual Blurb
With that said, here is the blurb, the one that goes on the back of the book. 🙂
The alchemist, the messenger, and the true king must join together and destroy soran, the island’s ancient pools of long life and immunity. Will the three heroes put aside their differences to unify, or will they fall apart, along with the rest of the island?
Nohea will do anything to keep her loved ones from dying, but she is forced to watch as her fellow slaves succumb to illnesses and infections. Enraged by her inability to help, Nohea vows to find a cure, a remedy that could change the future of Kaimana island.
Little does she know that there is a cure… but it comes with a price, a heavy price. With a turn of the tides, Nohea finds herself wound up in politics, deceit, and betrayal. Rumors spread that a true ali‘i (king) of Kaimana Island is rising, one who will bring peace and balance to the island. Will Nohea listen to the promptings of her heart and follow him, losing all that she’s worked for, or pursue the course she vowed to follow?
Fans of young adult fantasy, magical folklore, and ancient mythology will be dazzled by the Kaimana Island Duology, a new epic fantasy set in an ancient Hawaiian world.
The Cover
I created a very simple cover and announced on my instagram about this book. But… I didn’t LOVE the first cover. It didn’t convey the genre I needed it to. So… I created a new cover and here it is (if you want to see the old one, check it out on instagram). I love it so much! What are your thoughts? I’d love to know in the comments! 🙂
When does the book come out?
The ebook is available now and the paperback is coming soon!
If you preorder the book, or order a paperback or ebook between January 19, 2022-January 29, 2022, you can get a cool swag pack! All you have to do is email me a screen shot of your order confirmation and an address that I can send the swag to. The swag pack includes:
A signed bookplate by the author (me)
A manō (shark) vinyl sticker
“Rise of the Manō” Bookmark
4 x 7 Character art
Map of Kaimana Island
To get your swag pack, either preorder the ebook before January 20, 2022, or order an ebook or paperback between January 19-29, 2022. Send me a screenshot of your order confirmation, along with your address, to naturallyaloha(at)gmail.com. And then I will send you the swag packet!
What are your thoughts?
Are you as excited as I am? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments! 🙂 I continue to learn things each time I launch a new book. While a Hawaiian epic fantasy might not be your thing, this is something I’m very excited about. I hope people will be inspired by this book and appreciate the representation, mythology, legends, and character growth. And, like all my other articles, I want to leave you with a little bit of my mana’o (thoughts).
Ho’ohana. Do meaningful work. Not everyone will like what you create or put out, and that’s ok. If it brings you joy, if you feel like you are fulfilling your life mission and purpose, something God has inspired you to do, then that’s what matters. People will judge either way. They’ll like you or not, and it’s OK. Because you are doing what you’re meant to do, and you’re enjoying every bit of it. That’s how I feel with this book and putting it into the world.
If you made it to the end of this article, we must be best friends. MAHALO NUI LOA for your aloha and support. I hope you’ll consider getting my new book and swim along the journey! 🦈
We just got back from a trip to Waikiki, Oahu, and I have to say I really enjoyed it! I grew up in Hawaii, and my parents avoided Waikiki as much as possible. I totally understand why, and you can read more about the reasons in Waikiki Pros & Cons. But overall it was an enjoyable trip and if you’re looking for a beach vacation, with hotels only a few blocks away from sunshine and salt water, Waikiki hits the top of the list. Though it can be pricey in some areas, Waikiki has a lot of great things to offer, namely, the convenience and the beach!
This article covers the following questions:
How do I get to Waikiki?
Where do I stay?
What should I do in Waikiki?
Where should I eat?
How do I get around?
What should I try?
How much does it cost to vacation in Waikiki?
Are there any cool hikes?
When should I go?
What was your favorite thing?
If you want answers to these questions, keep reading!
1. How do I get to Waikiki?
I imagine that someone who’s reading this is not from Hawaii. So, first things first: get your flights to the Honolulu Airport on Oahu. We got our flights from SLC (Salt Lake City) to Hawaii for a total of $20 per person. How?
After you get your flights, you’re probably wondering how to get to your hotel, or wherever you’re staying. Due to the pandemic, many hotels shut down their shuttle services, but no need to worry. Ride share programs like Uber and Lyft are a breeze! We used Lyft, because Delta offers ride credits. You can also refer each other and continue to get ride credits. Our Lyft rides never cost more than $20 and it was sooooo nice to have someone pick us up and take us straight to where we needed to go. I can’t recommend the ride share programs enough! And don’t forget to take advantage of ride credit coupons, like those offered by Delta or referral programs. 🙂
2. Where do I stay in Waikiki?
This largely depends on your budget. We stayed at the Ewa Waikiki Hotel, which was a low-budget option (a little less than $100 a night). Airbnb and VRBO are not allowed in Waikiki at this time so, unfortunately, ours got cancelled. However, there are options for hotels, like the one we stayed in, that was much more affordable.
It was definitely dated, but we really didn’t do anything there. We were there to sleep and shower, and the rest of the day we were at the beach. It’s a no bells and whistles sort of place but gets the job done. 🙂
If you have a credit card that gives you points, you might consider using those points to book your hotel stay and keep the cost low.
Or, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous and don’t mind sharing space with others, there are plenty of hostels in Waikiki with affordable nightly prices.
3. What should I do in Waikiki?
I loved Waikiki because there was just so much beach space. Rent a boogie board or surfboard and hit the waves. Simply relax on the beach and read a book. Take the kids to the bay areas of Waikiki and play in the water there.
If you have some extra cash to spend and want to ride around Waikiki, rent a moped for a day and drive around town.
There are plenty of activities to do, like shopping at Ala Moana or the International Marketplace, but I think the main thing is to hit the beach. It’s literally a few blocks from the hotels and it’s gorgeous. I’ve never seen water the color of those at Waikiki beach, and the sunsets are absolutely breathtaking.
Many hotels offer live music in the evenings, but if you’re like us and didn’t have a fancy hotel, you can sit on the beach near the hotel and listen. It’s absolutely lovely.
There’s so much more to do in Waikiki but to save you some time, I made this map with Wanderlog. If you download Wanderlog, you can search and save this map for your trip!
I also included restaurants on the Wanderlog map above. The food of Waikiki is a little underwhelming. It wasn’t my favorite, but has normal food chains—we’re talking Starbucks, McDonalds, Pandas, Subways, etc. Waikiki doesn’t have REAL Hawaiian food, like laulau, poke, lomi salmon, etc but I think Zippy’s is the closest thing to that.
If you check out the map above, I’ve listed a bunch of restaurants that I recommend!
5. How do I get around in Waikiki?
If you’re staying in Waikiki, you’ll most likely WALK everywhere. The beaches and hotels are so close together, there’s no sense in getting a car… unless you plan to explore the rest of the island.
We had a shark snorkel tour in Haleiwa, so we rented a Hui. Hui lets you rent a car for as little as $9 an hour. We used it to get groceries, drive to our shark tour, and, when it rained on one of the days, we explored the rest of the island. I can’t recommend Hui enough. They pay for gas, cleaning, and everything. It’s SO easy!
Waikiki has other options too, like renting a moped or 3-wheeled car (I’m not sure what it’s called). They have Biki Bikes, which cost about $4 for half an hour (and at that rate, you might as well get the car!). Waikiki also has scooters, which we never used but according to the advertising said it was about $1 per ride.
You’ve got options instead of renting a car for the entire trip. Because remember, if you rent a car for the whole trip, you’ll have to pay parking fees, which can run up to $25 a night?! The hotels really get you there.
We planned to stay in Waikiki the whole time, besides the shark tour, so using the Hui was the best choice for us. However, be sure to look into your options and plan accordingly. Also, don’t forget to use code MYFIRSTDRIVE for $10 off your first Hui ride!
Boogie boarding, surfing, snorkeling. If you want some fun foods, there are acai bowls at smoothie places. If you feel up to it (I didn’t, because the smells were overwhelming for me), try some food trucks.
7. How much does it cost to vacation to Waikiki?
This will vary from person to person and depends on how much you eat out, where you stay, and the cost of flights and activities. Here’s a little breakdown of what we spent for a 7-day trip:
I’m missing some things, like our shark tour, but overall we spent about $2000 on a trip for two. You can really cut the cost of food by buying groceries and eating out less, as well as booking a cheaper hotel.
8. Are there any cool hikes around Waikiki?
Yes! Diamond Head hike is a super easy hike that’s not far from the heart of Waikiki. We took a Lyft ride to get to Diamond head and caught another Lyft back to one of my favorite restaurants (Chun Wah Kam).
Manoa Falls is another hike that’s not too hard to do. It’s an easy one, albeit a little muddy with mosquitoes. We rented a hui car when we went and it was $7 for parking.
9. When should I go to Waikiki?
I don’t know the perfect answer to this question, as I lived on Oahu but never went to Waikiki until now. However, when we went, in December, it wasn’t nearly as packed as I thought it’d be. The nice thing about Waikiki is that it’s usually very sunny and the waves and water are consistent, unlike other parts of the island, like North Shore. No matter the season, Waikiki doesn’t change very much. The beaches, sun, and weather stays pretty mild all year round, and the waves are the most consistent I’ve seen in my life!
10. What was your favorite thing about Waikiki?
I loved the convenience and the beaches. I loved being able to wake up in the morning and walk a few blocks to the beach. No matter if we woke up early or slept in, I loved that we could be at the beach within a matter of minutes.
I didn’t like ABC stores until we actually went into one. Those stores were incredibly convenient too, so if you forgot something it was no big deal!
Although the beaches were crowded in some parts, I actually really loved the beaches in general. The waves were perfect, and the water… WOW. It was this gorgeous blue color and it didn’t get sand all up in your swimsuit either! I couldn’t believe how pretty it was.
What do you think?
Alright, that’s it! I hope something in here helped you plan your trip to Waikiki, or at least gave you a better idea of what to expect. Have you been to Waikiki? Or are you planning a trip? What is your favorite thing about Waikiki? Let me know in the comments, and enjoy your trip!
Here it is, the pros and cons of Waikiki! There are plenty and, as a local, I could understand why my parents avoided it like the plague haha. I knew Waikiki existed, but I just never experienced it for myself. Fast forward to now and we just returned from our trip to Waikiki. There were so many things I enjoyed, but so many things I really didn’t like.
I hope this article will shed a little light on the pros and cons of Waikiki and help you know what to expect.
Waikiki Pros
THE BEACH!
Wowzer. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a beautiful beach before. Golden sand stretches for a good while on Waikiki’s shores and it’s absolutely amazing. The cool thing about the water is that sand doesn’t get stuck up your swimsuit like it does on the North Shore, because the waves aren’t as rough. But my favorite part was the color of the water–it was so silky, smooth, and aqua looking.
There’s also something for everyone on Waikiki beaches. If you’re adventurous, rent a surfboard for $10 (for 2 hours) just a block from the beach. Have kids? There are cute bay areas with incredibly calm water, perfect for little ones. If you just want to lay back and relax (like me), there’s a lot of space for that too. I was seriously amazed at the color and consistency of the water and waves at Waikiki beach. I highly recommend!
Convenience
If you stay in Waikiki, you are literally only a few blocks from the beach. I loved being able to wake up early and hit the beach, or SLEEP IN and still get a good amount of time under the sun! Everything is quite close in Waikiki so you never have to walk that far for food, beach, or even the outdoor showers to rinse off the salt water!
And I have to mention that if you forget something (like sunscreen, sunglasses, sunhat, slippers, towels, etc), there are ABC stores literally everywhere. I went into an ABC store once on the Big Island (where I’m from) once and thought the prices were overrated , but my experience in Waikiki was different. The prices were fair for the convenience!
Great place for families
I don’t have kids, but I saw a lot of families and they looked like they were having a blast. Once you find your beach spot, you can pretty much stay there all day. There are a lot of cons, which I’ll get into next, but if you want to take the kids somewhere to enjoy the sun, salty water, and sand, Waikiki is such a great option. The convenience of walking a block to the beach was really nice! And the bay areas of Waikiki were just perfect for kiddos.
Waikiki Cons
Busy
People. People everywhere. On the beach itself, you’ll probably end up sitting less than three feet away from the person at your right and left. There are just SO many people. The North Shore is so different from Waikiki and a lovely break from the crowds, but the prices of hotels and places out there are definitely higher. So, for the price of the hotels and the convenience of the beaches, Waikiki is a great option.
No real Hawaiian food
I wasn’t actually looking for real Hawaiian food, because vacation means eating out at whatever places I want to eat out, even if that’s Panda’s express haha! So yeah, real Hawaiian here wasn’t even looking for real Hawaiian food but my husband loves and wanted the real stuff. We’re talking laulau, kalua pig, lomi salmon, and poke. While Waikiki has some fun stuff, like spam musubi and teri burgers, most of the cuisine is inspired by Hawaiian food. So you might see a kalua omelette, a coconut flavored something, pineapple on a burger, etc, but you won’t find REAL Hawaiian food. You’ll have to drive somewhere for that, sorry.
Homeless
The amount of homeless people in Waikiki really surprised me. I’ve always known that cities have plenty of homeless people, but you couldn’t walk one block in Waikiki without passing a homeless person. It was really sad and while I don’t know exactly the reasons for the homelessness, their presence really gave Waikiki a different vibe. You could tell some homeless people weren’t all there mentally, while others were on drugs. One homeless person, who looked pretty normal, walked through the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade yelling that he was hungry. I have so many opinions on homelessness but, as I said earlier, I don’t know the exact reasons.
The police are present in Waikiki, but the homeless people really aren’t out to get anyone, especially if you mind your own business. There was a homeless lady telling an officer he was “hewa,” which means “shameful or wrong” and he ignored her. You could tell that many of these officers knew the homeless people and they probably dealt with them many times, which, again, is just sad.
Anyway, you’re probably wondering: is it safe to walk around Waikiki then? Yes. I think it’s safe, especially if you’re out at reasonable times. I never felt like I was in trouble or scared when we walked around Waikiki. The homeless people don’t want to bother you–not to be mean but they seemed more concerned by other things. They really do mind their own business. I even walked out alone one of the nights to grab some food, and I felt ok.
Smells
If you’re a highly sensitive person like me, you might get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of smells. One second you smell weed (marijuana), the next second you smell sewage. Suddenly the wind changes direction and it smells like BO (body odor). Greasy food smells, strong perfumes, cigarette smoke, vape, and more were pretty much the only thing I could smell when we walked on the streets. The beaches were fine but boy those streets of Waikiki were smelly. It gave me such a headache.
Dirty
I think the county of O’ahu tries to keep Waikiki clean. But… with that many people in Waikiki, it can’t be perfect. It seems like the further southeast you walk on Waikiki, the more debris of plastic and branches wash up on the sand. Seagulls and pidgins are everywhere. And with so many homeless people, Waikiki feels somewhat dirty. Homeless people are on almost every corner, digging in the garbage cans, looking for leftover food to eat or cans/water bottles to recycle.
But here’s a positive example: we saw a guy who walked along the beach, each morning, picking up trash. What a champ.
Traffic
We hardly drove on this last trip but we rented a HUI and bumped into traffic on our last day. Traffic is traffic. It’s annoying, makes the drive time longer, and sometimes can’t be avoided. If you do plan to travel around the island, try to avoid Waikiki/Honolulu area at normal peak traffic times, like mid morning, when people are heading to work, or late afternoon/evening when people are heading home.
How was your Waikiki experience? Do you agree with this list of pros and cons of Waikiki? Is there anything you’d add or take away from this list? Let me know in the comments! 🙂
Save “the pros and cons of Waikiki” list for later!
Swim with sharks in Hawaii? Are you crazy? Whenever my husband and I tell people we went swimming with sharks in Hawaii, they immediately give us a look that says, “What got into you?” I grew up in Hawaii, and sharks were one of those things that you knew swam in the ocean, but, if you didn’t bother them or do anything stupid, like splashing/flopping around, or swimming at dawn or dusk, then you were good.
I never thought I’d pay to swim with sharks though, and cage-less at that! But I started following Ocean Ramsey, a marine biologist and conservation activist, about a year ago. If you don’t follow her, I highly recommend it! She swims with sharks everyday, and the pictures and videos that she and her husband, Juan, take are absolutely beautiful.
You will see sharks in a whole new light.
Because I was also in the process of writing an epic fantasy that included sharks in it, I thought it would be wise to actually see sharks in the wild. For too long sharks have been demonized in the media. My mom never let me and siblings watch Jaws or other scary shark movies, and probably for good reason! Even just seeing images or clips from Jaws, I’m glad we didn’t watch it. There is so much more to sharks than meets the eye or what is portrayed in the media, and seeing them in the wild gave me that connection I really needed. I think it will for you too. Read on to find out where you can swim with sharks in Hawaii, why you should go cage-less, and why you should swim with sharks, as opposed to other wildlife animals!
Where can you swim with sharks in Oahu?
We went with One Ocean Diving, as it’s owned by Ocean and employees that she and her husband personally trained. The company offers a two hour shark snorkel three miles outside of Haleiwa harbor. There’s plenty of parking in the harbor, so it’s really not stressful. Just give yourself plenty of time to drive, especially if you’re coming from Waikiki.
There was such a stark difference of the look and vibe of One Ocean Diving versus the caged tour kiosks nearby. The caged tours showed “Jaws” -like pictures, quite an intimidating image. But One Ocean had such a different vibe: chill, not stressful, and respectful of sharks.
What can I expect on the tour?
The One Ocean Diving boat pulls up to this white framed-looking thing. Wait there and the workers will come talk to you. They’ll give you a waiver to sign, then you’re basically ready to go!
It didn’t take too long to get to the spot outside of the harbor, but it was a little choppy so if you get sea-sick easily, you might want to have taken something to help with that beforehand. As you ride out to sea, the guide will go over everything you need to know: what you’re allowed and not allowed to do, a little more information about sharks and their behavior, and some safety stuff.
Once at the spot, you’ll be told when you can go in. Enjoy seeing the sharks swim around the boat! The nerves and excitement are real! 😀
Don’t flop or splash as you go into the water. Enter calmly and enjoy watching the sharks swim below! If you feel confident enough, and want to get some cool footage with the sharks, you can ask the guide if you can dive down. Have someone else hold your GoPro so you dive down a little get some footage of you and the sharks. 🙂
The guides will tell you when it’s time to exit the water. Do so calmly. Once you’re back on the boat, take some deep breaths because that was AMAZING.
So why swim with sharks in Hawaii cageless?
There’s something about being in the ocean, not surrounded by a cage and watching the sharks beneath your fins. For lack of better words, it’s magical. I know there are people reading this and thinking, “There’s absolutely no way I’m getting in the water without the cage.” But with One Ocean Diving, there’s a guide with you. These guides have experience with sharks and they keep an eye out for every member on the tour. And let’s not forget to mention that these tours are small, maybe ten people max.
As the boat pulls up to the spot and you see the sharks swimming around, it’s nerve-wracking.
“I’m going in there?!” you ask, but then it’s absolutely exciting.
When you get into the water and actually see the sharks, you can connect with them on such a deep level. For me, I realized that the sharks really don’t want to bother you. They’re curious, and they have personalities, just like any other species, but it they minded their own business. It was incredible.
One Ocean Diving also has a 100% safe track record to date. Nobody has been hurt by sharks while on the shark snorkel tours with them!
Why swim with sharks in Hawaii? I would rather see dolphins, turtles, or whales.
There’s a Hawaiian value, mālama, which means to “care for and protect.” Sharks are a huge player in the ocean’s eco-system. Unfortunately, sharks are being slaughtered at an outrageous and unsustainable rate of 100 million a year—yes, 100 million. Sharks are apex predators and at the top of the marine eco-system. Not only do they keep things balanced as the species goes down the food chain, but they also feed on dead fish and trash, curbing sickness in marine wildlife.
When we seek understanding and actually go out and experience nature and wildlife, we’re more likely to mālama them. We understand their role, our role, and how we can help.
So yes, it’s totally cool if you want to find the dolphins, turtles, or whales, because I also believe that seeing and being around these creatures fosters the spirit of mālama. But if you have an irrational fear of sharks, or are haunted by images of Jaws, or simply want to understand sharks a little better, I think it’s totally worth it to take this tour. It’s safe, fun, and just an overall incredible and unforgettable experience.
How much does it cost?
When my husband and I went (December 2021), we got a discount code from the One Ocean Diving website, so it cost $120 per person. Follow One Ocean Diving or Ocean Ramsey on social media, or check the One Ocean Diving website to see if there are any promo codes!
What do I need to bring to swim with sharks in Hawaii?
We brought a little bag with water, a towel, our own snorkel gear, and a GoPro. If your snorkel and mask are white or yellow, you’ll have you use the black snorkel and mask they provide. They also provide black fins, as well as rash guards if you’d like to borrow. I did. 🙂
How do I get to Haleiwa harbor?
We stayed in Waikiki so we actually didn’t have a rental car for the week. However, we rented a Hui car for the day. This is such an easy and affordable way to get around the island, and I highly recommend!
By now I hope you’re convinced that swimming with sharks in Hawaii, on a little tour with One Ocean Diving, is totally worth the experience. Personally, I’ve grown up knowing that there are sharks throughout Hawaii, but it’s good to respect them, give them their space, and not provoke them. Hawaiians also have a cultural tradition of ‘aumakua, an ancestor who took the form of an animal. The ‘aumakua would serve their descendants by warning or protecting them. They might even offer comfort. On my mom’s side, the ‘aumakua is a manō, a shark, so I guess I never really worried about bumping into sharks. I later learned that ‘aumakua doesn’t mean that all sharks are your ancestors, but only one specific shark. And that’s ok too haha. 😛
As I stated earlier, I wrote a book that has the manō as a heavily featured character. My new book, Rise of the Manō, comes out in January 2022. Sign up for my newsletter and/or follow me on instagram to keep updated on the book!
Want to support conservation efforts?
Going on tours like this one, with One Ocean Diving, supports not only the One Ocean conservation effort, but a small and local business!
And if you love sharks, or become a shark lover, there’s another company, Fahlo, where you can buy bracelets and track your very own shark! I am an ambassador for their company and absolutely love their bracelets. They’re cute to wear or make great gifts for loved ones. I did a little more research into how “Save the Blue” (the conservation effort that Fahlo donates to) tracks the sharks, and the tags they use are small. The tags are inserted into the dorsal fin of the shark and, as far as they can tell, do not cause any harm to the sharks.
Use this link here or code LEIALOHA20 to get 20% off your order at check out! Get your Fahlo bracelet and track your very own shark today! 🙂
Watch our experience here!
Do you want to see mine and my husband’s shark experience? Check out this instagram post! Would you swim with sharks in Hawaii? Let me know in the comments below. Or if you got to experience this in Hawaii, let us know your thoughts! 🙂
Looking for Hawaii inspired holiday gifts? While I’m a huge about not consuming and doing what we can to help the environment, I also love giving gifts—meaningful gifts. So I want to start by saying the best gifts don’t cost money. As you may have learned with laulima, ho’okipa, or ‘ohana, the best gifts aren’t “things.” They best things are relationships, people, love, kindness, hope, faith, and so much more. This holiday season I hope we can give the gift or our attention, presence, aloha, and so much more.
And, if we want to give a physical gift, here is a list of the Hawaii inspired holiday gifts I came up with for 2021. I felt like these were meaningful gifts: things that support a cause, bring joy, or inspire positive change. I hope you enjoy browsing through this list, and be sure to watch for discount codes along the way!
Fahlo Bracelets
Do you love wildlife, specifically sharks and turtles? Want to support conservation efforts in a way that’s easy and fun? Fahlo is a company that sells affordable, cute bracelets and donates the proceeds to non-profit organizations like the Turtle Conservancy and Saving the Blue. Each bracelet comes with a shark or turtle that you can track. I love that I can wear a bracelet reminding me to mālama the earth and its animals. If the honu or mano isn’t your thing, Fahlo also sells bracelets to support polar bears and elephants!
If you want to get your own bracelet, or, even better, gift a bracelet to a wildlife loving friend, check out Fahlo.
Use my code LEIALOHA20 to get 20% off your order!
Aloha State of Mind
My debut novel, Aloha State of Mind, is a wonderful Hawaii inspired gift. This self help book covers 24 Hawaiian values to help you create paradise where you are. It’s an easy read, using examples from Hawaiian culture, lifestyle, language, and stories from my own life to help you bring Hawaii home.
You can’t really go wrong when you gift a Hawaii themed journal to a loved one. My “Live Aloha” Journals feature lines from Aloha State of Mind and come in both lined and unlined versions. These journals have a matte, anti-scuff finish and work as wonderful stocking stuffers, teacher gifts, friend gifts, classmate gifts, and so much more.
Start the new year right with a gratitude journal. This “Mahalo ke Akua” Gratitude journal includes scriptures, quotes, and plenty of space to record what you are grateful for on a daily basis.
This Etsy shop features a lot of awesome aloha-inspired products from shirts and hats to stickers and tote bags. Elle Chi is owned by two locals from Hawaii and everything is made with aloha, from the quality of the items to the way things are packaged and shipped. You won’t be disappointed by your purchase here, and you can feel good knowing that you’re shopping local!
Though ranging on the higher price end *due in large part to the cost of shipping!), Big Island Candies has the best chocolate dipped short bread cookies. There are other delicious chocolatiers in Hawaii, like Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut, but Big Island Candies is a whole new level. I’m also biased because I grew up in Hilo and frequenting the store was one of our favorite things to do! I highly recommend their original chocolate macadamia nut shortbread cookies (like the one pictured). I’m not an affiliate, I just love their stuff. 🙂
I have to add this because I personally think this is so pretty! My husband gave one to me on my birthday and I wear it nearly everyday. It’s classy, elegant, and has lasted a long time too. This would make a perfect gift for the Hawaii lover!
I met Karen on Pinterest and she is a wonderful artist. Her art is bright, uplifting, and tropical. Some of the scenes she paints are just so dreamy, including old, colorful plantation homes with stunning backdrops of waterfalls, mountains, and palm trees.
Learn 5 easy Hawaiian nature words before your next trip! Hawaii is known for its beautiful, unique, tropical plants and gorgeous landscapes. There are especially quite a few nature words that one comes across when living or visiting Hawaii. I think it’s important to know these basic words, and appreciate that they represent so much more than the object itself. When we learn more about the Hawaiian language and culture, we can appreciate and respect the Hawaiian islands so much more.
So here are 5 easy Hawaiian nature words that you should know before you go to Hawaii. Keep an eye out for these, and I guarantee that knowing the Hawaiian words will help you appreciate the nature of Hawaii so much more!
Flower
In Hawaiian, flower is pua, pronounced poo – ah. This is a generic term and doesn’t specify what type. Some flowers start with pua, and then specify the type, such as puakenikeni, while others have their own names, like aloalo (hibiscus) or melia (hibiscus).
Rainbow
Hawaii rains a lot, so it’s no surprise that rainbows appear on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis! Rainbow is anuenue, pronounced ah-noo-eh-noo-eh.
Fern
Hawaii has tons of ferns, and they’re incredibly beautiful. I hope people appreciate the beauty of ferns more, because they make the nature landscapes of Hawaii so tropical, vibrant, and green! Fern is kupukupu in Hawaiian and is pronounced koo-poo-koo-poo. Easy, right? 😉
Hawaiians and locals use ferns for mostly decorative purposes, like making a lei or floral arrangement. Ferns come in many varieties, and like the term pua, kupukupu is a generic word for fern. Some Hawaiian ferns have a word added to the end of kupukupu to identify a specific species, while others have their own, unique names.
Tree
La’au, pronounced, lah-au, is tree. Like the other terms in this article, la’au is quite general. Locals generally refer to a tree as kumu, but technically the kumu is the trunk. There are a variety of unique trees in Hawaii including the koa, rainbow eucalyptus, palm, and more!
Coconut
Lastly, you have to appreciate the coconut palm trees in Hawaii. Coconut is niu in Hawaiian, pronounced nee-oo. They aren’t so easy to crack open but are quite refreshing if you can get to the inside! Coconuts have been so useful for the Hawaiians for decades. While I’m not going to list off all of its uses, I remember being fascinated, as young girl, watching a performer at the Polynesian Culture Center use hibiscus twigs to start a fire and light the coconut fibers. Every part of the coconut can be useful!
I hope you enjoyed this article! Are there Hawaiian nature words you want to learn more about, or one that you think should’ve been included in this article? Let me know in the comments below!
This article is a part of my Hawaiian Nature series, so be sure to check out the others like it!
Hawaiian cosmo words are beautiful and meaningful. Growing up on the Big Island of Hawaii, I absolutely loved quiet nights in Mountain View. My siblings and I would lie on the road and stare up at the sky. Of course, this was before lots of people moved to the Big Island. There were always so many stars. And when the moon came out, it looked so magical against the colorful milky way.
In this article, I will share 5 Hawaiian cosmo words to inspire you to take more time out and admire the sky. There is so much to be grateful for, and when we admire God’s creations, we can feel a sense of place and peace. I hope by learning a little more about these Hawaiian cosmo words, you will be inspired to go out and experience nature for yourself!
Sun
Sun in Hawaiian is lā, pronounced “lah.” Hawaiians refer to each day as lā, and this includes days of the week. For example, Sunday is “lāpule,” which means “day of prayer.” Popular names include the word lā, such as Haleakala on Maui. Haleakala means “house of the sun.” Not very many people have the word lā in their name as far as I know, but it is a pretty and symbolic word.
Moon
Moon in Hawaiian is mahina, pronounced “mah – hi – nah.” Because the moon has several cycles, the Hawaiians added a word at the end of mahina to signify each moon cycle. There are also words to describe the halo effect around the moon, as well as the goddess of the moon (Hina). Check out Wehewehe and look up “moon” to find more variations on the word.
Stars
Star in Hawaiian is hōkū, pronounced “hoe – koo.” Ancient Hawaiians used the stars to navigate their wa’a, canoes, across vast oceans. A fun constellation that references Hawaiian mythology is Maui’s hook, more widely known as Scorpius. Hōkū is a popular name and includes Kahoku, which means “the star.” Most use the word with descriptive words at the end, such as Hokulani (heavenly star) or Hokunani (beautiful star).
Cloud
Ao is the simple word for cloud in Hawaiian. Pronounced “au,” ao usually has another word at the end of it used to described the type of cloud. For example, ao loa (long, high status) or ao ʻōnohi (rainbow colors). Use Wehewehe Online Hawaiian dictionary to find out more descriptions that Hawaiians used for clouds.
Heaven/Sky
Lani means heaven, sky, heavenly, or even spiritual. Pronounced “lah – nee,” lani is frequently used in names as a descriptor, like Hokulani, Leilani, Kailani, Ailani, Kalani, and more! However, it’s no surprise that people would use the word “lani” in their names. It symbolizes so much: heaven, heavenly, something sacred.
Let’s hear from you!
What is your favorite Hawaiian cosmo word? Is there one you love that isn’t listed here? Let me know in the comments!
Want to learn more about the Hawaiian culture? Check out my Free page for a free 5 Hawaiian Days to Wellness course or “Bringing Aloha Home” ebook!
E komo mai! 🌺 I am the author of Aloha State of Mind, a self help book that teaches you how to create paradise wherever you are. My blog, Naturally Aloha, focuses on all things Hawaii: culture, values, food, lifestyle, and more. I hope my writing inspires you to carry aloha with you everywhere! Learn more…
Get my debut novel, “Aloha State of Mind”
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Check out my Hawaiian Epic Fantasy, “Rise of the Manō”
