HAWAII TRIP PREPARATION
Manoa Falls, O’ahu: Everything You Need 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...
“Rise of the Manō” – The Hawaiian Epic Fantasy Book You Didn’t Know You Needed
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...
Waikiki: 10 Things You Need to Know Before You Go
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...
What You Need to Know: The Pros and Cons of Waikiki
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...
How to swim with sharks in Hawaii (and why you should!)
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...
Best 8 Hawaii Inspired Holiday Gifts in 2021
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...
5 Easy Hawaiian Nature Words to Know Before You Go
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...
5 Beautiful Hawaiian Cosmo Words To Know
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...
Hawaiian Music: Everything You Need to Know
When people ask me what Hawaiian music I like, it’s sort of a difficult question to answer. The term “Hawaiian Music” is a lot broader than people think. For example, I like the ancient style of Hawaiian music, used in hula dancing or chanting. I also like old...
10 Quick Resources to Learn the Hawaiian Language
Congratulations on your choice to learn the Hawaiian language! Over the years, interest has sparked in the Hawaiian language and now there are some fun apps, websites, videos, and books to help people learn the Hawaiian language. As someone from Hawaii, I've finally...
