Tag Archives: Hawaii

Week in Waikiki, part one

06 Wednesday Mar 2013

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Is it really already March?  Wait, and I’m hearing some schools start Spring Break next week…say whaaaaaat?!?  OK, It’s been over a month since settling back in on the mainland and I definitely feel it’s time to say “Aloha!” to Hawaii again.  In previous posts I’ve covered my favorite part of the trip (Hanauma Bay) and where to stay (The Pink Palace) but I wanted to complete a more comprehensive post regarding Oahu, much like my guest blogger Kate provided.  My issue is that every time I go to write about our Hawaiian holiday, each little facet of the trip turns into a thousand-word recollection.  Oahu provided such vivid memories and rich experiences and thus, it’s left me LOTS to write about!  Our little winter escape held a new adventure day-after-day and I can’t wait to go back and experience more!

The Island      As friends & family check-in to ask how the trip went, I find my answer always boils down to the notion that Oahu truly has it all.  When conversing with folks who LOVE Hawaii and travel there annually, I’m used to hearing the specifics of what each island is known for…i.e., you go to the Big Island for this but to Maui for that; if you want to go whale watching you need this location, but the best beaches are here, the best snorkeling is there, and the lush gardens lie elsewhere still.  This was my very first trip to Hawaii, so all of it was new, fresh, and altogether wonderful to me.  As I’m learning more about the Hawaiian Islands individually, I see what I’ve heard is true — each island has its own nickname, reputation, and notable features.  That being said, I found that Oahu has everything I could ask for in a genuine Hawaiian vacation.  Snorkeling, hiking, beaches, surfing, Hawaiian culture, world-class dining, better-than-Beverly-Hills shopping…it’s ALL there.

Beaches      We spent most of time on Waikiki Beach, as that is where our hotel was located and where most of the action goes down.  Although the hotel staff was quite welcoming upon check-in, I didn’t feel like I’d truly arrived in paradise until that first glimpse of Waikiki Beach.  It’s quite beautiful with its glistening teal blue water, Diamond Head in the background, and sunsets that command adoration.  Ah, how easy it is to vibe-out with the iconic Hawaiian beach scenes happening on Waikiki:  the friendly & helpful “Waikiki Beach Boys,” the live Hawaiian music pouring out of a neighboring hotel, the shouts of Outrigger Canoe teams passing by, the surfer dudes checking out the girls in bikinis…  No fancy excursions necessary — it was cool to just sit, do nothing, and soak up some sun on legendary Waikiki Beach.  Now I know why the locals seem so chill — that easygoin’ Hawaiian attitude is contagious!  One of my most relaxing afternoons was spent with my cousin, lying on our beach towels in the sand & catching up over Mai Tais.  As for water activities, I particularly enjoyed Stand-up Paddleboarding — it’s a thing I’ve taken up at home and it was neat to experience one of my new favorite activities in a different environment.Me on Waikiki Beach!

Of course, watching the surf along the North Shore MUST be addressed!  We were there in January, so the waves were dangerously high and quite a spectacle to see crash so close to shore.  We made the hour-ish drive up North one morning and it was worth it to witness the mighty power of the sea and the tallest waves I’ve ever encountered.  The surfers were out pretty far, but at our stop at Waimea Bay, I got to gawk up-close at some of the gnarliest bodyboarding in the world.  The epic waves at shorebreak blew my mind with their force…boogieboarders had to be expert-level (and carry a death-wish) to attempt those crashing lips and powerful pockets.IMG_8302

We saw so many wipe-outs and a couple guys actually lose their boards, needing verbal coaching by the lifeguards on loudspeaker to navigate back ashore.  Appropriately, only those surfers with years of experience and all the proper gear were allowed to touch the water that day.  I actually got called-out by a lifeguard for standing too close to the waterline.  Apparently, these waves have been known to swell unexpectedly, fiercely crashing down and pulling unsuspecting beachcombers out to sea.  Scary, but exhilarating to watch from the sand!  We swung by the Pipeline, Shark’s Cove, and Laniakea Beach as well.  Laniakea Beach is also known as “Turtle Beach” because you can get super-close to endangered Hawaiian green sea turtles basking on the beach — great photo-op!IMG_8200

To Do     The stop at Waimea Bay led us to stumble upon lush Waimea Valley — an unexpected detour but worthy of the time and $15 pp admission.  This nature preserve and botanical garden is like something out of prehistoric times.  –It’s such a raw & lovely landscape, that’s the best way I can think of now to describe it.  The area is an “ahupua’a” (Hawaiian Land Division that extends from the mountains to the sea) and it’s a breathtaking experience to walk along the along the sunlit trails’ changing environment:  waterfall…to stream…to ocean.  It’s home to endangered plants & animals, too — you’ll definitely get to chronicle flora & fauna you’ve never seen before.  The best part of the park is reaching Waimea Falls, a 45-ft. waterfall at the end of our 2-mi hike through the rainforest.  Being used the chilly Barton Springs here in Austin, I jumped right in and swam straight through the chilly water to the base of the waterfall. It was awesome!IMG_0533…To be continued.  Week in Waikiki, part two, coming soon!

The Pink Palace

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

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During our time in Hawaii, we snorkeled, hiked, surf-watched, whale-watched, and wholly explored our little hearts out.  Each day, we’d set out in a different direction on a new adventure.  Regardless of how much fun we had while out and about, we’d so relish circling back to our home base at night.  After much research into the various Honolulu hotels, we chose to spend our six days at The Royal Hawaiian, a.k.a. the “Pink Palace of the Pacific.”Image

Do ya see it there, nestled among the more modern high rises that make up the Honolulu skyline?  This historic resort, built in 1927 & a flagship hotel in Hawaiian tourism, has an understated luxury and iconic old Hollywood glamour about it.  The open-air lobby (smelling of sea air & flowers), lush gardens, and proximity to both beach and world-class shopping are definitely brag-worthy.  It’s not every trip that you get to stay in a hotel with such a legendary past, so my second cousin and I partook in the hotel’s history tour.  A rep from the hotel serves as the group’s guide, escorting you to all corners of the resort and sharing behind-the-scenes stories of their most hi-profile guests.  And honey, they’ll dish on everyone from the likes of Marilyn Monroe & Dean Martin to Justin Bieber & a funny “sorry, but we’re booked” aside on Michael Jackson.  It’s rather interesting — I’d recommend it.  As a current hotel guest, hearing about all those famous people sleeping right where you’re sleeping — well, it feels kinda fabulous knowing your leisure time is enjoyed in the same former playground of royalty, dahhhling!Image

Living up to its moniker, the hotel is very VERY pink!  Although, not as pink as it was before the renovation, I hear.  See, the Historic Wing (where we stayed) went through a huge renovation just a few years ago.  Although management kept the intricate hand-carved wooden room doors, the floor-to-ceiling PINK was toned down quite a bit in a complete decor revamp.  Even so, the place still stands as an epitome of Royal Pinkness:  the bellman’s uniforms are pink, the hibiscus juice they offer you at check-in is pink, the ceiling is pink, the bathrobes are pink, and so on.  Contrary to what one might infer, the plethora of pink decor is actually not nauseating or tacky; the hued touches are all quite tastefully & elegantly pretty-in-pink.Image

The beach towels, chairs & umbrellas are pink, too.  The hotel boasts owning a “private beach” but it’s really only a stretch of sand farthest from the water, backing up to the resort.  Um, not exactly what I was picturing in my mind when I read about a private beach.  Preferring a closer view of the Pacific, we had to search for a patch of sand among the crowd at Waikiki Beach, nonetheless.  Even more of a let down:  they charge hotel guests for use of beach chairs & umbrellas.  Daily resort fee is $35, I think, and that’s about right, in accordance to what you’ll see at nice beachfront resorts.  What I’m not used to seeing, however, is a daily resort charge AND requiring rental charges for hotel guests’ use of beach furniture.  If I’m recalling correctly, two lounge chairs & an umbrella was $50 for the day.  That’s a little steep, in my opinion.  Second row from the water line, at that.  Plus, I opted-in on the $30-an-hour Stand Up Paddleboard charge…I would totally expect to fork over a fee for a board rental, though.  –What a delight it was to SUP in clear water & waves instead of the murky, flat Lady Bird Lake back at home!  I paddled out pretty far and although deep, the water was still the most luscious shade of bright teal.  I saw a sea turtle out there, too.  🙂

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The first 24 hours were probably the most memorable span of time we spent at the hotel.  I say this because the rest of the vacation we were off swimming in waterfalls and hiking up Diamond Head and everything else under the sun.  Upon arrival, you’re greeted with a welcome lei of strung orchids for ladies and kukui nut necklaces for the gentlemen.  After sitting down for a personal check-in, you’re offered a warm towel and fresh chilled juice.  Our rooms weren’t ready right away, so a girlfriend and I changed in the hotel’s hospitality suite and headed straight to the beach.  That first glimpse of Waikiki Beach was to die for!  We found the perfect al fresco table at Surf Lanai Restaurant which is upscale yet beachside, so it’s exactly the calm cool atmosphere our jet-lagged souls were looking for.  We ordered a variety of menu items, including a ceviche trio, margarita pizza, and salad…um, hate to say it but honestly I didn’t care for the food.  It was one of those menus where you can’t decide what you want, ya know?  Overpriced, too.  What WAS amazing, however:  their original recipe Scratch Mai Tai!  Utilizing fresh squeezed pineapple & orange juices and served in the most picturesque setting, it was the perfect entre’ into vacation.Image

Initially, there was some going back-n-forth on our Honolulu hotel choice.  It was a toss-up between Halekulani, Moana Surfrider, and The Royal Hawaiian.  We ended up going with the Pink Palace due to its boutique atmosphere, its history, and the fact that it’s been around since luxury travel arrived to the Hawaiian islands.  Although we enjoyed the best dining of the trip at Halekulani’s restaurants, the best sunsets & live music at Sheraton’s RumFire, and original-recipe Blue Hawaiians at the Hilton; lodging at the Pink Palace was a no-brainer for that classic Hawaiian experience.  When you’re talking iconic architecture, a legend of hosting royalty/presidents/celebrities, good service and prime location — I’m convinced we made the best choice for my first visit to Hawaii!

Hawaii Highlight: Hanauma Bay

29 Tuesday Jan 2013

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As I was editing our photos from our trip to Hawaii last week, I was particularly inspired by our shots from Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve.  It was not the quality or artistry of our photography, but looking at those snapshots brought me right back to the experience of being surprised & delighted by this natural gem in O’ahu.Image

So, Hanauma Bay:  If you are ever visiting Honolulu (even for a night before hopping on to another island) — Go!  Please.  In fact, I wish I would’ve planned an entire day around this place.  Rather, visiting was more of an afterthought:  “Oh yeah, someone told me to go to Hanauma Bay, something about good snorkeling?  Let’s try to swing by before lunch.”  So we jumped in the car, trying to squeeze a field trip in before hotel checkout.  We had a mere hour there on the day we were leaving the island altogether — not. enough. time.  Ah, at least I’m glad to have seen it.

First, parking is an issue.  Deliberate, I believe, on the part of local governing authorities, in order to limit the amount of visitors impacting this protected marine ecosystem.  The park opens at 6 a.m. and their lot fills up fast…once it’s full, there’s really no other options.  When our car was turned away at 10 a.m., we continued our drive along the main coastal road to stop at the various scenic lookout points.  Actually, my second cousin who has lived on Oahu for years recommended we take this drive, raving about the breathtaking vistas along Kalaniana’ole Highway, Route 72.  Excellent diversion — she was right!Image

We made stops at Halona Blowhole, Eternity Beach Cove, and Makapu’u Lookout before heading back to Hanauma Bay.  All beautiful and worth stopping at, even for two minutes to get out & take in the scenery.  Luckily, our second try around Noon got us in…folks left for lunch, I guess?  –There’s no food sold down by the bay, only at the gift shop area at the top of the hill.  In typical state park fashion, parking is cheap at one measly dollar.  (Admission to the beach area is $7.50 per adult.)

One thing they make you do before going in is watch their safety video.  We were annoyed at this notion, given our time crunch, and tried to skip it.  Don’t do this.  They will catch you.  And don’t think saying you saw the video on your last trip there will get you out of it…they keep a list of names.  They are very proud of their facilities (rightfully so) and want you to pay heed by watching their program as an entrance prerequisite.  I was very glad, in the end, to have seen the video because it’s a valuable overview of the reef’s inhabitants.  Later, I would be mentally checking off fish shown in the video with fish I was seeing firsthand.

OK, so you manage to nab a parking spot, pay admission, get past the educational film, walk down the big hill and YOU’RE THERE!  Not excited yet?  Neither was I.  It’s a pretty cove, but not the prettiest I’ve seen.  There’s a nice sandy beach, too, but the sand’s not the whitest you’ll find on the many local beaches at your disposal.  And as for the small circular stretch of beach that it is, it feels almost as crowded as Waikiki.  –Not the same vibe as Waikiki, though, and that helps, for sure.  Plus, what you learn to be actual living reef just looks like plain ol’ rocks from far away.  Or seaweed mush.  For a first-time snorkeler who doesn’t know what they’re looking at, it’s nice…but not hugely appetizing.Image

Plus, just as we were in line to pay the entrance fee, the skies suddenly turned grey and it began to sprinkle on us…and the little raindrops were quite chilly.  😦

We brought our own snorkel gear (all packed into my ONE carry-on bag, thankyouverymuch!) so we didn’t need to rent any.  But, that’s all ready & available for ya down at the beach if needed.  I’d recommend renting…looking back, I don’t know HOW I got six days worth of clothes plus two sets of snorkel gear into my single carry-on luggage?!?  –Guess I’m becoming quite the efficient packer!  Holla.

So, it’s raining-ish and the seawater feels cold (always does, at first, right?) and it’s still cloudy and I’m barely inching my body into the water when I spot the first one…

–a spritely little Convict Tang is inches from my shin!  I spin around in reaction to my husband (unwilling to get in the water) gasping & pointing, “There’s one!  They’re right here at your feet!!!”  Herein lies the beauty of Hanauma Bay:  you do not have to pay an arm & a leg for some ‘snorkeling excursion,’ take a boat off to some far off location, get seasick & worry about reef sharks; the huge variety of wonderous colorful tropical fish of Hanauma Bay are EVERYWHERE, swimming up to you even in knee-deep water.  Image

It’s simply amazing.  Aside from the previously mentioned Convict Tang (name’s appropriate — they are white with vertical black stripes, resembling being behind bars), here’s a short list of the fish I particularly remember interacting with:  Achilles Tang, Surgeonfish, Butterfly Fish, Sea Urchins and the Hawaiian State Fish:  the Humuhumu-nukunuku-apua´a, or the Reef Triggerfish.  Here’s a link to Hanauma Bay’s official Fish I.D. Card.  Might I point out, that this was my very first salt water snorkel experience…part of my amazement is likely due to the shock & awe of the much-loved hobby of snorkeling, period.  But, I’m convinced that this is still a very special place, indeed.  Image

It was just my husband and me, but I feel like this would be the perfect family destination…a place in which everyone from little kids to grandparents could enjoy.  There are lifeguards and a nice palm tree-shaded beach for sunbathers.  Oh, speaking of sun:  once I saw that first fish skim past my shins, I was all in!  That little sight of undersea wonder was all the motivation my pussyfootin’ butt needed to dive right on in.  The ocean was warmer than standing around in the rain, anyway.  Even so, the sun came back out in full glory within maybe ten minutes.  The fish were so plentiful, curious, hungry and all-up-in-yo-face.  I was taken aback at how close they would swim up to me.  I just loved it and didn’t want to leave…not Hanauma Bay, not Oahu later that evening.  I’m very glad to be nestled back home in my beloved Austin, Texas now, but I tell ya:  this natural wonder was such a treasure.  Hamuama Bay was the best part of my first-ever trip to Hawaii.

Kate’s Honolulu

17 Thursday Jan 2013

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In preparation for my very first trip to Hawaii, I reached out to an old friend who recently returned from her own O’ahu vacay.  I was so impressed with her pictures & all that they managed to do & see in just a week — I could tell her trip was quite the well-planned getaway.  I shouldn’t be surprised…Kate’s a well-seasoned traveler, both for business and pleasure.  We initially met while working at a PR firm in Chicago, where it was basically our job to fly all around the country spreading the word about our client’s latest campaign.  The experience turned our team –all bachelorettes fresh out of college & navigating our way into adulthood with big girl jobs in the city– into legit business travelers. Now, she’s married & the head of the PR division at a huge well-known company, she’s (of course) provided me with the most comprehensive & candid travel advisory.

My husband and I are set to spend a week in Honolulu and our list of possible to-dos has covered the spectrum of everything from hang-gliding to whale-watching.  I was getting a bit overwhelmed with all the possibilities a Hawaiian vacation has to offer  –I mean, princess problems, right?  Anyway, her thoughts on Honolulu were such a huge resource for me, that I just HAD to put them out there for any future island-hoppers who might come across this lil’ blog in planning their own vacation.  Enjoy!

The Island
*       The island is a metropolis, it’s the only island with a skyline and is quite bustling. You’ll see just about everything in both English and Japanese.Image

*       We did just fine without a rental car, but you might want to consider having one if you want to do some excursions to remote beaches on your own.
*       There is a trolley that runs along the Waikiki strip and we never had an issue finding a cab.
*       If you have the chance to island hop to another island, even only for a day, I highly recommend Maui. We spent the last half of our trip there and wish we had spent more time on Maui – it’s absolutely breathtaking. Quite possibly the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever seen.

Beaches
*       Waikiki Beach is extremely crowded. You may want to consider exploring less populated beaches like the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve (said to have excellent snorkeling).
*       The North Shore is a really cool spot to visit, but you likely won’t be able to swim there. The day we went, we saw waves hitting 20+ feet. It’s now entering surf season and really only pro surfers should attempt those waters, could be quite dangerous. Regardless, seeing waves that huge is totally cool. Fun fact: Jack Johnson is from the North Shore.
*       Whale season should be in full swing by now, they were expecting some 50,000 whales to be entering the Hawaiian beaches. If you have the opportunity to do whale watching, you totally should. We just missed the whales by a few weeks and were totally bummed. By now parasailing should have shut down completely, they’re not allowed to operate when the whales are in.

To Do
*       We did an all-day excursion through Discover Hawaii Tours. I would definitely do it again, but perhaps skip the Polynesian Cultural Center. It included the following for about $120/person (Tour code 11A):
o       Pearl Harbor. This is hands down a must-see and do. The trick is that you want to go very early, right when they open. If you go, be sure to check out the short film that is shown, as well as the museum. The tour we did took a boat out to the USS Arizona War Memorial, completely sobering.Image

o       The Dole Plantation. This place is a tourist-haven but was actually really fun. There are beautiful grounds where you can see all the varietals of pineapples grown, a huge shop and a little restaurant. If you go, you have to try the Dole Whip, topped with chocolate. It’s heavenly. Also, there is an amazing little farm stand situated just outside the plantation, on the grounds, that sells leis the most gorgeous flower leis for under $10. If you spritz your lei with water, it will last several days.Image

o       The Polynesian Cultural Center. Set on probably 20+ acres of land, the center is all outdoors and has little villages inside it that share the history of the indigenous cultures that influenced the development of Hawaii. Our tour package included an authentic Hawaiian-style lunch, it was a buffet (unfortunately, I give the food a C+ at best). Image
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o       Our tour guide also took us on a few detours at the end, showing us the site of a few movies that were filmed there (Jurassic Park, Lost, etc.) as well as a Chinese Buddhist Temple that is a replica of a historic monument in Asia.  He also drove us by the hospital where President Obama was born (not to be confused with Kenya).

*       My husband decided he wanted to scuba dive in Honolulu, even though he is not certified. If either of you have interest in this, there is a place called AquaZone that operates out of the Waikiki Beach Marriott. With only taking a 15 minute pool-side course and then 20 minutes practicing in the pool, he was able to go out on two dives. Since I didn’t want to scuba, I was able to accompany the small group to snorkel at a minimal fee. For me personally, this was fantastic because although water was deep (not ideal for snorkel), we bumped into a family of endangered sea turtles (the huge ones, 100+ pounds). I got to swim with them for about 30 minutes – and it was almost religious it was so cool. My husband really enjoyed the dives as well (about $200 for the day).

*       Shopping! The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center on Kalakaua is basically the Rodeo Drive of Honolulu – fabulous shops, including Tory Burch, a favorite of mine.
*       Spa! We went to the Mandara Spa in the Kalia Tower in Hilton Hawaiian Village since that’s where we were staying – absolutely wonderful.
*       Diamond Head. There is a really cool, short hike you can do up to the top of Diamond Head that has really awesome views of the island. Its under two miles both ways and I would recommend going early in the morning before it gets hot.
*       Hilton Hawaiian Village sets off fireworks every Friday night around 8pm – fun place to stop by for a drink and watch.

To Eat
*       Alan Wong’s — amazing! Make reservations.
*       SHOR American Seafood Grill at Hyatt Waikiki – request a seat on the open terrace – lovely. Also, make reservations.
*       Waikiki Beach Marriott poolside bar and grill was fantastic for lunch (Moana Terrace) – and you can stay and use the pool which is nice as well.
*       Other than that, we had a kitchen and cooked a lot to save money. There are tons of great Japanese and sushi restaurants you can explore as well.
*       You also can never go wrong with stopping into one of the many 5 star hotels in Waikiki for dinner or a drink (Trump, Halekulani, Kahala, etc.)

I hope this is helpful! We really enjoyed our time in Hawaii and are already trying to figure out when we can go back.

~KateImage