The Hawaii Traveler

Today’s guest posts is from Mary Jo Manzanares, Travel & Culture Channel Editor and travel blogger at Flyaway Cafe.
“Hawaiian Eye” was a television series that ran from 1959 – 1963, and starred Robert Conrad and Anthony Eisley as crime fighting detectives in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The detectives hung out at the Shell Bar, where at least once an episode that ran into “Cricket,” a singer and photographer at the bar played by Connie Stevens. The bar was located at the Hawaiian Village Hotel, where the guys were house detectives and also had an office. Some viewers would swear that the guys …read more

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Because of its remoteness and high cost of living, Hawaii rarely hosts top-rated performance acts, but when they come through, it is to everyone’s benefit to take advantage of them!
I recently attended a Cirque du Soleil touring show called "Saltimbanco" and was blown away by the acrobatic talent that we islanders so rarely get a chance to see.  There was a cool concert at the Kaneohe Marine Base this summer that featured the music of "Everclear" and "Live."  "The Lion King" musical also came through last fall and was the perfect evening entertainment for families.  
Currently, the Bodies Exhibition is …read more

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Despite its unique cultural aura, Honolulu has just a handful of museums — most of which feature a blend of Asian and pan-Pacific artwork.  A rainy day can be the perfect time to catch up on your artistic side in paradise.  Here are your best options:
Contemporary Museum of ArtLocated in a garden setting in Makiki Heights, the Contemporary Museum is the only one in the islands that is devoted exclusively to modern art.  There’s a great little café situated amidst postmodern statues, and there’s plenty more to admire for at least a few hours.
www.tcmhi.org2411 Makiki Heights Drive#808-526-0232
Honolulu Academy of ArtsHawaii’s …read more

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There is no shortage of activity in bustling Honolulu.  With several great neighborhoods within 15 minutes from one another, something is bound to happen somewhere in town.  Here are a few best bets if you’re fortunate enough to be on Oahu during the right time of year.
Art After DarkThe Honolulu Academy of Arts hosts a rockin’ Pauhana Friday (TGIF) party once a month from 6-9 pm and for just $10 you get cool live music and dancing in the main courtyard as well as access to most of the art exhibits.  Every month features a special theme, making for a …read more

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Dear Friends,
It’s with some sadness and a lot of hope that I’m leaving the Hawaii Traveler.  It was a personal decision that had to be made, which didn’t make it any easier. That’s life, wherever you are.
If you’re itching to read more about the islands and traveling there, I highly recommend the “Revealed” series from Wizard Press.  There’s no question they’re the most thorough, helpful Hawai’i travel books ever written.
Thanks to the b5media blogging network and the other fine bloggers who have been so friendly and helpful during my tenure here, especially Mary Jo at FlyAway Cafe and Jon Rochetti …read more

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It has been raining in Honolulu for the past three days and there appears to be little end in sight.  Which got me thinking about two things: first, I feel bad for tourists who make the journey out to Hawaii only to find rain; second, I considered what kinds of activities there are two do in Hawaii that don’t involve being outdoors.  
Luckily, there are a few things that one can do on a rainy day.  Here are my top five choices:
1. Surfing! 
I mean, you’re going to get wet anyways, so it doesn’t really matter if it’s cloudy, dark, …read more

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Good news for loan seekers: On October 9th, the Bank of Hawaii  began lowering its base lending rate from 5.0% to 4.5%.  While that’s not a huge reduction, it can make a difference to the businesses and individuals suffering from today’s economic meltdown.   This is especially true in light of bank closures, the likes of which hit institutions likeBank of Hawaii provides comprehensive financial services to businesses, consumers and governments in Hawaii, the West Pacific and American Samoa.
Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by Jenn_Jenn

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If you know Twitter, you know that it’s a way that news and countless people’s communications are transmitted  around the world.  If you don’t know Twitter, it’s still that, and also a way to waste a fair amount of time reading little 140-character blurbs about the world and people’s lives. I love it.
Not long ago, the Twitterer CityMama wrote, “Mccain’s ‘obama discovery team’ has landed in honolulu… ‘Honolulu mayor is democratic, Harvard-educated, oh, and Samoan.’”
Stay tuned to Twitter for more breaking news, no matter how cryptic it may be.  

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How do you spell “relief?” Some spell it G-A-S. That’s because, for the first time since May, the average price of a gallon of regular gas in Honolulu dropped below $4.  O’ahu drivers are now paying an average price of $3.99 per gallon.
Gas isn’t always sky-high in the islands. Last year, California consumers were paying more than Hawaiians for regular gas.  Here’s hoping the trend in lower prices will continue.

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Norfolk Pines in Wahiawa
Surprisingly, a fair number of Christmas trees arrive in Hawai’i from Washington State; however, with the growing trend toward buying local, Helemano Farms may be getting a little more business in future seasons.Located in the cooler regions of Oahu’s central region of Wahiawa, the farm sprang from the agricultural curiosity of a retiree who has since passed away and left the farm to the rest of the family to care for and manage.  Today, Helemano Farms sells trees that stay green for over a month after they’ve been cut, and because their needles don’t fall, won’t make …read more

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