The Hawaii Traveler

Cleopatra, or Cleo as she was known, was the Honolulu Zoo’s resident old timer, and in fact was the second oldest hippopotamus in captivity in the U.S.  During her tenure there, she became fast friends with just about everyone, including a young hippo that she adopted as her own.  But Cleo was suffering under the burdens of old age, and at 3,500 pounds, she was unable to stand on her own.  A zoo veterinarian put her to sleep last Saturday at the age of 52.
Cleo’s body will be sent to a university lab for research and study. Thanks, Cleo, for …read more

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I’ll never forget the year we visited Kaua’i during one of its rainier times.  Usually, there is a little moisture to be had each day on the island that is home to the wettest place on the earth, but this trip was especially “dewy,” as my dad called it.   My aunt who was with us was fussy about her hair–still is, and so after hunting for the perfect umbrella, continued her sightseeing and shopping as well as she could–much to the delight and confusion of the locals, who went so far as to take pictures of her umbrella.  That’s because …read more

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If you’re a local full-time or half-time resident looking for an activity you can do with your little ones that is as educational as it is fun, consider taking a Music Together Class.  Music and music proficiency has long been associated with higher test scores, higher IQ, appropriate avenues of expression, a sense of confidence, better coordination, and more. And now there’s a way for parents who aren’t necessarily considered “musical” to pass along those gifts to their children.  Music Together. (Tip: Even if you don’t live on the islands, but would like to try out a Music Together class …read more

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Having just recently changed hands, Maple Garden is one of the few places on the islands that proves the usual theory wrong.  With the new owner, there are some popular dishes clearly missing from the menu like the "shao bing / yoh tiao" (sesame pancake and fried dough sticks), but some decent additions like the pork and pickle noodle soup and thick Shanghai noodles somewhat make up for them. 
The lunch buffet is a bit too ordinary and expensive to justify, but there are plenty ala carte dishes that will satisfy your Chinese food craving.  
The atmosphere is essentially the …read more

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If you’re wondering if Hawaiians hand out pineapple instead of candy on Halloween, there’s only one way to find out: Come on out, wearing your best Elvis costume, of course.And while you’re here, don’t miss Hallowbaloo, Oahu’s most totally awesome art and music festival that takes place on October 31. (Coincidence? I think not.)
Other Halloween celebrations around the islands:

Halloween in Lahaina, Maui is always fun, and draws a big crowd. Sounds like this year, there’s going to be an effort to curb the “Mardi Gras” atmosphere and make things a little more  family-friendly. Find other kid-friendly Halloween activities at About.com
The …read more

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Several years ago, I was behind the wheel in Kaua’i, on my way to the north shore’s Tunnels beach, my favorite.  I didn’t have much time on the island, and wanted to see as many turtles as possible while I was there, and still enjoy a burger in Hanalei.  I had crossed the seemingly endless chain of one-way bridges on the way there, and had been so kind as to wave the car on the other side over instead of going first every time.Near the end of my drive, I was getting anxious. I could see the water from the …read more

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O’s Bistro – Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
It’s been while since I was at O’s, and in fact, I still remember when it was called Oodles of Noodles.  But now Oodles of Noodles is all grown up– in fact, I think the name alone makes this quite apparent.
O’s Bistro is now in the same location at the Crossroads Mall in Kona on the Big Island, near Wal-Mart and Cold Stone, which makes it possible for you to eat too much, but you can buy a bigger pair of shorts for the ride home.
But what endears me to O’s  is that they’ll make you …read more

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In what was already a grim atmosphere in the financial sector, Lehman Brothers filed for  Chapter 11 Bankruptcy yesterday.  One of the markets hardest hit in the shuffle is tourism. So it stands to reason that the year’s shakeup and yesterday’s collapse of an economic giant continues to weaken Hawai’i’s already tremulous  visitor industry as people hold off on vacations and other large purchases.But with visitor counts down, and retailers slashing prices, and tourism packages upping the ante with a free night’s stay, free meals, and other complimentary offerings, the time is right for less financially anxious visitors to make …read more

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You might think of Hawaii as a quite respite dotted with little grass shacks and small gaggles of beachcombers lugging their snorkeling gear to and from their swatch of shade under a waving palm tree. And for the most part, that ’s what it is. Except for Honolulu, which has grown into a center of commerce and culture. It’s a real city, with skyscrapers, crowds, and most of all, traffic.
In an attempt to alleviate some of the pain associated with the lack of rail-based public transportation on Oahu, the city and county of Honolulu launched TheBus in the ’70s. It …read more

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The problem with private jet travel is the carbon footprint associated with it.  But now, there’s Safari Air, which has partnered with Growthink.
Growthink said it will handle business development, growth strategy and marketing initiatives for Safari Air, which plans to commence service to Honolulu and a few other prime cities next summer using a Gulfstream IV aircraft. Safari plans to offset its carbon emissions by purchasing carbon offsets. In fact, it’s calling itself “the world’s first carbon-neutral luxury private airline.”
Flights will feature everything from concierge service and MacBook laptops to an unlimited selection of Netflix movies.
Now if only there was …read more

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