Trump Tower is Coming to Waikiki

Today Donald Trump announced his plans to build a luxury "Trump Tower" condominium hotel as part of the Outrigger's Waikiki Beach Walk project. The building will include space for condominium hotel rooms, luxury retail shops, and gourmet restaurants.

Donald Trump Plans Waikiki Trump Tower

More About Waikiki Hotels

All Types of Lodging on Oahu

Three New Hawaii Postage Stamps

Three Hawaii stamps are included in a new series
of postage stamps released this month by the United States Postal Service. The series is called "Wonders of America: Land of Superlatives" and it features forty of the most remarkable places, structures, plants, and animals in the United States. The three Hawaii stamps represent Molokai for having the highest sea cliffs, Kauai for having the wettest spot, and the Big island of Hawaii for having the most active volcano.

Hawaii Stamps - Images and Ordering Instructions

Molokai Artist Works in Batik on Wood

Artist Kealoha Pa of Kaunakakai on the island of Molokai paints batik designs on wood canvases and turns them into wall prints, room screens, coffee tables, gift boxes, jewelry, and murals. His favorite themes are Hawaiian and Asian inspired and each of his pieces is unique. He typically works with birch, maple, mahogany, and Hawaiian Koa wood. Pieces designed and created by Kealoha Pa can be ordered from his Studio Kealoha Web site.

Hawaii's Summer Surfing Season Kicks Off

The summer surfing season in Hawaii was officially launched last weekend with the May 27-29 "Surf Into Summer" competition, the largest amateur surfing contest in Hawaii. This year the Oahu event was moved from Ala Moana Bowls to Sandy Beach because of questionable water quality in the Ala Moana area. For results and more information see:

Event Thrives Despite Moving to Sandy Beach

Surf Into Summer - Event Web Site

Mural Contest: Filipino Legacy in Hawaii

The government of the Philippines has invited all Filipino artists age 18 and above to participate in a competition to paint a mural depicting "100 years of Filipino Legacy in Hawaii". The winning 8-1/2 by 12 foot mural will be permanently displayed at the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu, Oahu, Hawaii. For more details about the contest see 100 Years of Filipino Legacy in Hawaii Mural Contest.

Miss Hawaii Pageant is June 9

The 2006 Miss Hawaii Pageant and Scholarship Competition will take place on Friday, June 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Coral Ballroom of the Hilton Hawaiian Village resort. Fourteen women will compete for the title of Miss Hawaii and an opportunity to compete at the Miss America Pageant in Las Vegas in January of 2007. Hawaii has participated in the Miss America pageant since 1948 and two Miss Hawaii winners have been crowned Miss America: Carolyn Sapp, Miss Hawaii 1991, and Angela Perez Baraquio, Miss Hawaii 2000. Contestants in the 2006 Miss Hawaii pageant are:

Miss East Oahu: Natasha Akau

Miss Garden Isle: Angela Everhart

Miss Honolulu: Ana Marie Tsukano

Miss Island Ilima: Pilialoha Gaison

Miss Island Oahu: Ashley Layfield

Miss Kahala: Nicole Cabral

Miss Kauai: Jasmine Ornellas

Miss Kona Coffee: Rebecca Ynigues

Miss Leeward Oahu: Keaolani Mento

Miss Maui: Jill Lesley

Miss Molokai: Sky Leimana Ritte-Camara

Miss North Shore Oahu: Brandie Cazimero

Miss VIP: Sheri Canopin

Miss West Oahu: Kauionalani Ramos

Punchbowl Crater Memorial Day Service

The Annual Honolulu Mayor's Memorial Day Service will take place on Monday, May 29 at 8:30 am at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Punchbowl Crater, near downtown Honolulu. Memorial wreaths will be placed on the cemetary's dedicatory stone, thousands of flower leis will be placed on the graves, the Hickam Air Force Honor Guard will fire a 21-gun rifle salute, four Hawaii Air National Guard 199th Squadron fighter jets will fly a "Missing Man" formation over the cemetery, and there will be performances by the Honolulu Boy's Choir and the Royal Hawaiian Band.

City of Honolulu Event Announcement

Larger Photo of Punchbowl Crater

Swimming is Now Allowed at Kualoa Beach

The Hawaii State Department of Health has reopened Kualoa Beach for swimming after several months of the water bacteria counts being above safe levels. The rising and falling contamination levels at Kualoa Beach have not been completely understood, but the cause is probably related to the park's sewage system. The city of Honolulu has included $1.2 million in its proposed 2007 budget to replace the wastewater system at Kualoa Beach.

Photos of Kualoa Beach Park

Aerial Advertising is Banned on Waikiki Beach

Last week the United States 9th Circuit Appeals Court upheld the city and county of Honolulu's ban on aerial advertising. The court said the Honolulu law is a reasonable restriction on speech, and that Hawaii has a right to protect the landscape it made famous. Hawaii has no billboards or other prominent outdoor advertising, and aerial advertising has been banned on Oahu since 1978. The Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, an anti-abortion group, said it plans to appeal the decision to the United States Supreme Court. For more information see First Amendment Center Article.

Award Winning Pineapple Rum Cake Recipe

This delicious pineapple upside down cake was created by Amanda Allison, and it won the grand prize in the baking contest at the 2006 Wahiawa Pineapple Festival on Oahu. The cake has the traditional topping made with pineapple, cherries, brown sugar, and butter, but this recipe adds two special ingredients to the topping: rum and macadamia nuts. The prize Amanda won for her cake recipe was a trip for two to the luxurious, upcountry Lodge at Koele on the island of Lanai.

Recipe in the Honolulu Star Bulletin

More Hawaiian Cake Recipes

Hawaiian Food Recipes

Tropical Drink Recipes

First Go! Aircraft Has Arrived in Hawaii

The first aircraft in the Go! Airlines fleet flew from Phoenix, Arizona to the Honolulu Airport last week, and more planes will be arriving soon. Go! will begin providing inter-island transportation on June 9, 2006 with 32 flights a day between Honolulu, Kona, and Kahului, Maui. When service to Hilo is added on June 30, the number of flights per day will increase to 62. Go! Airlines sparked a fare war when they offered inter-island fares beginning at $39 one-way and $59 round-trip. As soon as those fares were announced, Hawaiian and Aloha Airlines immediately matched them.

All Inter-Island Airlines in Hawaii

Overseas Airlines That Fly to Hawaii

"W" Hotel in Waikiki Has Been Sold

The 51 room W Honolulu Diamond Head Hotel has been sold by Anekona Properties to the Diamond Head Pacific Group. The hotel is no longer part of the exclusive W chain of boutique hotels that are managed by Starwood. After the sale is final in June, the hotel will be renamed "Resort Hawaii Diamond Head".

More About Lodging in Hawaii

Cruise Ships That Stop in Hawaii

Several of the top cruise lines have cruise itineraries that include Hawaii. There are Hawaii inter-island cruises available and round trip cruises from several cities on the west coast of the United States, Canada, and Mexico including Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle, Vancouver, and Ensenada. Double occupancy prices for entry-level cabins begin at approximately $900 per person for an inter-island cruise and and $1300 for a round trip cruise from the mainland West Coast. Singles traveling alone will need to double those prices.

Large Cruise Ships that Stop in Hawaii

More About Transportation in Hawaii

New Shopping Mall Is Coming to Lahaina

A new shopping mall, called the "Lahaina Gateway" is being built on 11 acres at the intersection of Honoapiilani Highway and Keawe Street in Lahaina on the island of Maui. The new shopping center is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2007 and it will have 725 parking spaces and 137,300 square feet of leasable area for shops and restaurants. Shops that have been signed so far include Cost Plus, Ohana Farms, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Central Pacific Bank, and the largest Barnes and Noble book store in the state of Hawaii.

More Hawaii Shopping Centers

New Maui Condos Rent For Up to $3000 Per Night

The new Wailea Beach Villas on the southwest coast of Maui can be rented as vacation homes for typically $1100 to $3000 per night, with a five night minimum. The ninety-eight unit condominium complex is located on 11 acres between the Grand Wailea and Outrigger Hotels in the developed luxury resort community of Wailea. Units have 2 to 4 bedrooms and they are 1900 to 3100 square feet in size.

More About Lodging in Hawaii

Taco Del Mar is Coming to Hawaii

The Taco Del Mar Mexican fast-food cafe is expanding to Hawaii. Ken Nascimento, owner of several Subway shops in Hawaii, was recently signed as the Taco Del Mar master developer for the Hawaiian Islands. His first three Taco Del Mar restaurants will be in Kunia, Kapolei, and Waipio, and he is planning to open 40 more locations in Hawaii and other parts of the Pacific. Taco Del Mar was launched in Seattle Washington in 1992 and its menu features Baja style burritos and fish tacos.

More About Dining in Hawaii

Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park

Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park is a 25 acre water park located about 40 miles west of Waikiki in the southwest Oahu town of Kapolei. The park has many waterslides, a wave pool, a river rafting pool, a children's play area, a food court, and a video game arcade. There is also an adult area with a hot tub, swimming pool, and bar, a children's birthday party area and a lagoon area for group parties. For more information and photos of the park see Hawaiian Waters Aerial Photo.

Halekulani Adds Tuesday Night Patio Grill

The House Without a Key is a lovely patio area at the luxurious Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki where every evening cocktails and pupu (hors d'oeuvres) are accompanied by hula, Hawaiian music, and a beautiful Diamond Head view. The House Without a Key recently started serving a grilled dinner every Tuesday that includes a meat or seafood grilled item and grilled fruits and vegetables. Dinner is $22-$25 USD and it is served on the patio until 9 pm every Tuesday night.

2006 Hawaiian Culture Awards

In May of 2006, the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) announced the fourteen recipients of their 2006 Hawaiian Culture Program Awards. The award winners were selected based on criteria designed to address the goals and objectives identified in the Hawaii Tourism Authority's Strategic Plan for 2005 through 2015. The Hawaii Tourism Authority was created in 1998 to promote and sustain Hawaii's visitor industry.

2006 Hawaiian Culture Award Winners

Do These Travel Books Reveal Too Much?

An article published by Honolulu TV station KGMB says one of my favorite Hawaii guidebook series - "Hawaii Revealed" - is revealing too many secret and sacred places in Hawaii, causing them to be overrun with tourists. I guess the same could be said about many of the most comprehensive guide books, but this book series is receiving some bad press because of it.

KGMB Honolulu TV News Story

KGMB News Story Hits a Nerve

Hawaii Revealed Guidebook Series

Share Your Opinion in Our Forum

The fourth annual New York Hawaiian Film Festival, an event known as "Pacifika", will take place May 19 through 21, 2006 in New York City. Featured films will include three documentaries by award winning filmmakers Eddie and Myrna Kamae and twenty-two additional Pacific Islander films. There will also be live Polynesian music, hula dancing, craft workshops, book signings, poetry readings, and a party with live Hawaiian music and food provided by the always popular L&L Hawaiian Barbeque.

Honolulu Star Bulletin Announcement

Pacifika 2006 - Official Event Web Site

Tattoo Studios in Hawaii

Tattoos are popular in Hawaii, and many Hawaiian tattoo artists specialize in Polynesian tattoo designs. It is believed that the art of tattoo originated in Tahiti, Samoa, and other parts of the South Pacific. Here is a directory of tattoo studios on Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island of Hawaii, and two books about Polynesian and Hawaiian tattoos. [Hawaii Tattoo Studios]

New Shops Are Coming to Ala Moana Soon

Nine new shops and cafes will open soon at the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu:

2006 May: L'Occitane Bath and Body

2006 May: Clark's Footwear

2006 Jun: Philip Richard Jewelry

2006 Jun: Juicy Couture

2006 Aug: Miss Sixty Jeans
Cafes and Snack Shops:

2006 Jun: Marble Slab Creamery

2006 Jun:Hibachi-San

2006 Jun:Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf

2006 Sep: Mrs Fields Cookies
Ala Moana Center was built in 1959. It was the largest shopping center in the United States until the Mall of America was built, and it currently claims to be the largest outdoor shopping center in the world. Ala Moana use to be an important gathering place for locals, but that has been less true since the 1990's, when high priced luxury shops replaced many of the local-style favorites. Ala Moana is a "must see" attraction for people who love to shop.

United is Adding Flights to Hawaii

In June of 2006, United Airlines will increase the number of weekly fights to Hawaii from the mainland and they will add 100 new jobs in Hawaii, to meet expected customer demand during the busy summer season. New weekend flights will be added from San Diego and Seattle to Honolulu, bringing to six the total number of cities with United Airlines flights to Hawaii: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Chicago, and now San Diego and Seattle. United also has flights to Honlulu from Osaka and Tokyo Japan. For more information about United's new flights to Hawaii see the United Airlines press release: "United Says Aloha to Customers".

Photos of Kualoa Beach Park

Here are ten pictures of Kualoa Beach Park, a Honolulu County park that is located on the windward coast of Oahu, just north of Kaneohe Bay. Kualoa Beach is not always the best place for swimming, but it's a wonderful spot to stop when you're driving around the island. It has large grassy areas that are perfect for kite flying, frisbee tossing, field games, and family picnics, and there is also a campground for overnight stays. The views from here are magnificent so it's worth stopping, even just to take a few pictures.

Kualoa Beach Photo Gallery

Nine Mile Fence Built Around Haleakala Rainforest

The East Maui Watershed Partnership has finished building a nine mile wire fence around 12,000 acres of rainforest on the windward slope of Maui's dormant Haleakala volcano. The new fenced area expands the zone that was protected by fences in 1985 and 1999 by Haleakala National Park and the Nature Conservancy. The main purpose of the fence is to keep out "invasive species" such as goats and pigs. Axis deer are also a problem in this area, but officials say it is not possible to build a deer-proof fence, although they are trying to develop some alternative deterrents. The wildlife in this area can be very creative: at one time the local goats learned to climb the Koa trees, and use them as springboards to jump over the fence! For more information, see the May 9, 2006 Maui News article.

Update on the Hawaii Superferry

The Hawaii State Legislature is debating a proposal to cut $10 million in funding that was previously approved for the new Hawaii Superferry project. The legislature has asked Hawaii Superferry executives to respond to some of their concerns about how the ferry will affect Hawaii's harbors, traffic, and the environment. The company hopes to put the first of two double-hulled, inter-island ferrys into service by the third quarter 2007. Critics say the neighbor island ports cannot handle an increase in traffic, and that two large high speed ferrys in Hawaii waters would have a serious negative impact on the environment. For more information see Introduction to the Hawaii Superferry.

Kapalua Bay Hotel on Maui is Closed

The Kapalua Bay Hotel on the island of Maui opened in October of 1978, and in April of 2006 it closed its doors for the last time. The hotel was shut down to make way for two luxurious resort and residential complexes. The Residences at Kapalua Bay will feature 84 condominiums with floorplans from 3000 to 4200 square feet, that will begin selling at $4 million per home. The Ritz-Carlton Club at Kapalua Bay will include 64 beachfront condominiums that will be sold as timeshare units with 5 star hotel amenities and services. The exclusive Kapalua Resort is a 23,000 acre master-planned resort community in West Maui that is known for its award winning golf courses. The area has two other hotels: the 548 room Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, and the 292 unit Kapalua Villas.

Popular Oahu Bakeries

A guide to some of the best and most popular bakeries on the island of Oahu. Where to buy the best Portuguese malasadas, Hawaiian sweetbread, chocolate-coconut cream pie, guava chiffon cake, Hawaiian style bread pudding, fried coconut turnovers, chocolate filled cream puffs, and many other Oahu bakery favorites.

Popular Oahu Bakeries

Oahu Restaurant Guide

Hawaiian Air Expands West Coast Service

This week Hawaiian Airlines announced their plans to increase the number of flights from the West Coast of the U.S. mainland to Maui and Oahu. In September of 2006, Hawaiian will expand its daily non-stop San Diego/Maui service from summer-only to all year. In October of 2006, they will increase their non-stop Seattle/Maui and Portland/Maui flights to daily service. In November of 2006 they will add four weekly Sacramento/Honolulu flights and they will also add three weekly Seattle/Honolulu flights. For more information visit the Hawaiian Airlines Web site.

Hawaii Visitor Industry Charity Walk

The 28th annual Hawaii Visitor Industry Charity Walk will take place May 6 on the island of Molokai, May 13 on Lanai, and May 20 on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island of Hawaii. The event is organized by the Hawaii Hotel and Lodging Association, and everyone is invited to participate. The benefit will raise money for local charities on each of the islands. The Oahu walk is 7 miles, the Maui walk is 5 miles, and walks on the other islands range from 1 to 3 miles. The minimum cost to participate is $35 and that includes your donation, snacks at each checkpoint and lunch at the end of the walk.

Koko Crater Has Hiking, Gardens, and Horses

Koko Crater is an extinct volcanic crater on the south shore of the island of Oahu. Inside of Koko Crater there is a botanical garden featuring plants that thrive in dry weather and an equestrian center where horses can be rented. One of the most popular Koko Crater activities is hiking to the top of Puu Mai - Koko Crater's highest peak - which is more then 1200 feet high. The Hawaiian Mountain and Trail Club hikes to the top of Koko Crater every year on New Year's Day. Attractions near Koko Crater include Koko Head, Hanauma Bay, Sandy Beach, and the Halona Blow Hole.

View Larger Photo of Koko Crater

Hawaii Mountain and Trail Club

2006 Hoku Music Award Nominees

The Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts has announced the artists and albums nominated for the 2006 Na Hoku Hanohano Music Awards. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on May 31, 2006 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort in Waikiki.

2006 Na Hoku Hanohano Nominees

Hawaiian Music Grammy Awards

Best Places to Skate in Hawaii

As far as I know, there is only one ice skating rink in Hawaii - the Ice Palace on Salt Lake Boulevard in Honolulu. They have public sessions, group and private lessons, and programs for figure skating and ice hockey. I have not been able to find any indoor roller skating rinks in Hawaii, but I know there use to be one on Hotel Street in Downtown Honolulu. There are several skate parks for skateboarders and aggressive inline skaters, including two skateparks on Maui that are managed by world class aggressive skater Thumper Nagasako. There are also inline hockey leagues and outdoor rinks on several of the islands. Hawaii is not generally considered a great place for recreational inline skating, but some people do enjoy street skating in Hawaii. Here is a forum discussion with more information: Hawaii Inline Skating Forum Discussion. To a see all of the comments in that discussion, keep selecting "Next" in the lower right corner of each page.