A Short History of Waimea Valley Park

Waima Valley Park is located in the Waimea Valley, on the north shore of Oahu, between the town of Haleiwa and Sunset Beach. The park has had a rather turbulant past, with several different owners, operators, and names over the years.

A Short History of Waimea Valley Park: 1970's - 2008

Waimea Park Temporarily Closed by Huge Boulders

Go Airlines Might Start Flying Under Aloha Airlines Name

From the Honolulu Advertiser: "Aloha Airlines may grace Hawaii's skies again, although this time the name would be used by Mesa, the bankrupt carrier's nemesis and the owner of Go Airline..." [Read More]

World AIDS Day Events in Hawaii

December 1, 2008 is the 20th anniversary of World AIDS Day and there will be several events in Hawaii marking the occasion. In Honolulu and Hilo there will be concerts, memorial services, art displays, and award presentations and on Maui there will be a candlelight vigil in Kalama Park.

A Cruise in Hawaii for Runners

This inter-island Hawaii cruise begins and ends in Honolulu on the island of Oahu and it features running events and activities on three islands: Maui, Hawaii Island, and Kauai.

2009 Run Hawaii Cruise - Official Web Site

Photos of the 2008 Cruise (it looks fun!)

Running Marathons in Hawaii

Multi-Sport Triathlons in Hawaii

Waikiki Holiday Parade - Day After Thanksgiving

The 10th Annual Waikiki Holiday Parade will take place on Kalakaua Avenue the Friday evening after Thanksgiving, on November 28, 2008 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The parade is a showcase for school marching bands and military bands from Hawaii and across the United States. This year about 40 bands, 40 vehicles, and 4000 marchers are expected to participate. The parade also honors the survivors of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and several survivors will appear, and be honored, at the 2008 Waikiki Holiday Parade.

Celebrating Thanksgiving in Hawaii

Recipes for cooking a Hawaiian style Thanksgiving dinner, articles about celebrating Thanksgiving in Hawaii, restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner in Hawaii, and shops and restaurants where Hawaii visitors and residents can pick up fully prepared Thanksgiving dinners to go.

How to Make Lomilomi Salmon

Lomilomi salmon is an appetizer that appears on the menu of nearly every Hawaiian luau. It is a mixture of salted salmon, fresh tomatoes, and fresh onions and it's often served on a bed of crushed ice to keep it fresh tasting and chilled. The fish salting procedure used to make lomilomi salmon was introduced to Hawaii by early western sailors, who usually included salted fish in their on-board food provisions. Lomilomi salmon also has origins in a traditional Polynesian dish known in Tahiti today as "Poisson Cru" that mixes fresh raw fish with lime juice, coconut milk, tomatoes and onions.

Recipe for Lomilomi Salmon

More Hawaiian Food Recipes

Congratulations to Miss Chinatown Hawaii 2009

Jenna-Lynn Kam was crowned 2009 Miss Chinatown Hawaii at a Hawaii Theatre pageant held earlier this month. Miss Kam will appear with her court at the Honolulu Chinese New Year Parade on January 24, 2009 and she will represent Hawaii at the Miss Chinatown USA pageant in San Francisco on January 31, 2009. Jenna's royal court includes princesses Kimberly Leong, Jasmine Nip and Anna Ngo. Congratulations Jenna, Kimberly, Jasmine, and Anna!

Plan Your 2009 Hawaii Trip Around a Ukulele Festival

One great way to decide when to schedule a trip to Hawaii is to plan your vacation around a special event in Hawaii such as a street festival, running marathon, or holiday parade. An event I always highly recommend is the annual Ukulele Festival in Kapiolani Park that has been produced for more then 35 years by Honolulu ukulele school owner Roy Sakuma. The event is free and it always features an impressive lineup of world class ukulele musicians and a 700+ member ukulele band.

2009 Ukulele Festival Announcement & Photos from 2008

Other Special Events in Hawaii

How to Plan a Trip to Hawaii

Hawaii's Wood Products on Display This Weekend

The 16th annual furniture and woodworking show of the Hawaii Forest Industry Association is taking place this weekend, November 21-23, 2008, at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. The 2008 Hawaii WoodShow features furniture and other items made from the many different woods grown in Hawaii such koa, ironwood, tamarind, ohia, macadamia, primavera, mango, Norfolk pine, eucalyptus, pheasantwood, and coconut. The show is open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. today and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

One Hawaii Event Dropped from LPGA Tour in 2009

This week the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) announced their schedule for the 2009 LPGA Tour. The tour will include two events in Hawaii but one Hawaii ladies golf tournament was dropped from the LPGA Tour in 2009.

Disney Breaks Ground on New Hawaii Hotel

The groundbreaking ceremony for Disney's new resort hotel in Hawaii took place on November 19 2008. The hotel is being built on the grounds of the Ko Olina Resort in West Oahu. When it is completed in 2011 it will have 350 hotel rooms and 480 timeshare units for Disney's Vacation Club. Disney's Hawaii resort will feature attractions and activities targeted at families with children but it will not include a theme park.

Photo of Mickey and Minnie at the Ground Breaking Ceremony

Photo of Disney Sharing Plans With Mayor Mufi Hannemann

Restaurant Week in Hawaii: November 16-22, 2008

Dine at one of the restaurants participating in Hawaii's first annual "Restaurant Week in Hawaii" event and a portion of the proceeds will support the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head. Many of Hawaii's top restaurants are offering special dishes and prices this week. What a delicious way to support such a worthwhile project!

Restaurant Week in Hawaii - Official Web Site

Culinary Institute of the Pacific

New Introduction to Me and My Hawaii Web Sites

FROM KATHIE FRY: I frequently (understandably) get asked the same questions over and over about my Hawaii Web sites: why did I create them, who am I, and what makes me such an expert on Hawaii (Just FYI, I would never claim to be any kind of an expert. I guess you could say I am just a big fan!). Here are a few resources to help you get to know me better and learn what I've been up to in the last few years. And just a reminder... I will be sending the first email version of my new Hawaii Travel Newsletter by the end of November, in case you want to subscribe.

Introduction to Me And My Hawaii Web Sites

$60-$100 Apartment Hotels in Waikiki

I have several favorite hotels in Waikiki, and while some of them would never be considered budget options, a few of my favorites are among the least expensive hotels in Hawaii. Here are some of the best places to stay in Waikiki if you'd rather spend your Hawaii vacation dollars on activities and attractions instead of your hotel room. Most of the units at these hotels have either full kitchens or kitchenettes so if you wish, you can cook for yourself and save money on food too. The pink hotel pictured above is the Royal Grove Hotel, which even has a courtyard swimming pool. For more information and specific recommendations see our forum discussion:

Low Cost Apartment Hotels in Waikiki

Meet Me and the Roller Derby Girls in Hawaii Kai

All-girl roller derby is sweeping the nation and Hawaii now has its very own female flat track roller derby league with two teams: the Pacific Roller Derby Girls on Oahu and the Maui Roller Girls on the island of Maui. Their very first tournament, will be called the Inter-Island Down and Derby and it will take place on Sunday, November 9, 2008 at Kamiloiki Community Park in Hawaii Kai, a few miles east of Waikiki. I wouldn't miss it for the world! For more information about the teams, their November 9 tournament, the old days of roller derby in Hawaii, and a roller derby legend who retired in Hawaii see our forum discussion:

Roller Derby is Alive and Well in Hawaii.