Favorite Off the Beaten Path Oahu Attractions

- Hawaii's Plantation Village Tour | Waipahu | Northeast side of Pearl Harbor |

- Kumu Kahua Theater Productions | Local Style Plays | Downtown Honolulu |

- Kamaka Ukulele Factory Tour | Founded in 1916 | Downtown Honolulu |

- Hole in the Wall Food Tour | Honolulu |

- AIA Honolulu Architeture Walking Tours | Downtown Honolulu |

- Honolulu Police Museum | HPD Headquarters | Downtown Honolulu |

- Doris Duke's Shangri La Beach House | Tour Departs from Honolulu Museum of Art |

- Equestrian Polo Sundays | Spring-Summer | Waialua | Northshore Oahu | 

November 2017 Events on Oahu Island

Nov 11: Wahiawa Veterans Day Parade | Wahiawa | Central Oahu |
Nov 12-Dec 20: Vans Triple Crown of Surfing | North Shore Beaches |

Nov 18: Sunset Music Festival | Ewa Beach | 

Nov 22: Royal Hawaiian Center Holiday Kick-Off | 5:00-8:00 p.m. | Waikiki |

Nov 23: 42nd Annual Turkey Trot | 6:00 a.m. | Kapiolani Park | Waikiki |

Nov 25: Waikiki Holiday Parade | 7:00 p.m. | Waikiki |

Hawaii's "Island Air" Shut Down After 37 Years

Hawaii's second largest airline - Island Air - shut down permanently on Friday November 10 2017, after providing inter-island air service for 37 years.  The airline filed for bankruptcy in October of 2017 and they made the decision discontinue all operations when they determined their financial issues could not be resolved.  Island Air was founded in 1980 as Princeville Airways, it was purchased by Aloha Air in 1987 and renamed Aloha Island Air, and it was sold again in 2003 and renamed Island Air. At the time it shut down, Island Air was serving the Honolulu Airport on Oahu Island, the Kona Airport on Hawaii Island, the Kahului Airport on Maui Island, and the Lihue Airport on Kauai Island.

Hawaii Renamed the Honolulu and Kona Airports in 2017

Hawaii renamed two of its largest international airports after local heros in 2017:

The Kona International Airport at Keahole on the west side of Hawaii Island was renamed the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport on January 1, 2017.  The airport was renamed to honor astronaut Ellison Onizuka who was born on Hawaii Island on June 24, 1946 and died in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion on January 28, 1986.

The Honolulu International Airport on Oahu Island was renamed the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport on May 30, 2017.  The airport was renamed to honor military hero and United States senator Daniel K. Inouye who was born in Honolulu on September 7, 1924 and died on December 17, 2012.

Kauai Restaurants Guide Book

TITLE: Tasting Kauai Restaurants
SUB-TITLE: Insider's Guide to Eating Well on the Garden island
AUTHOR: Marta Lane

Three Food Tours on Kauai Island

"Tasting Kauai" offers three different food tours on the island of Kauai.  Tours are guided, but tour participants drive in their own cars to meet the tour guide at each stop on the tour's itinerary.  Tours include a variety of destinations such as restaurants, farms, and markets.

- North Shore Kauai Food Tour

- South Shore Kauai Food Tour

- East Side Kauai Food Tour

Remembering Jimmy Borges (1935-2016)

Photo Gallery: Jimmy Borges Through the Years
Article: Hawaii's Gentleman of Jazz Dies at Age 80

The All-New Incarnation of the International Marketplace in Waikiki

This is definitely NOT the Waikiki International Marketplace we have been visiting for so many years. The marketplace's new incarnation is expected to open on August 25, 2016.

Hawaii's Go Airlines Shut Down in 2014

Go Airlines, operator of inter-island flights in Hawaii, shut down all of its operations  in the Hawaiian Islands on April 1, 2014.  Go, an affiliate of Arizona-based Mesa Airlines began operating inter-island flights in Hawaii in 2005, inciting fare wars between Go, Hawaiian Airlines and the now defunct Aloha Airlines (1946-2008).

- Shut Down Anouncement on the Go Airlines Web Site

- All Inter-Island Airlines in Hawaii

- Other Transportation in Hawaii

New Honolulu Airport Lounge for Lanai Visitors

In February of 2014 the two Four Seasons Resorts on Lanai Island announced the debut of a new luxury lounge at the Honolulu exclusively for hotel guests en route to the Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay Hotel and the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele Hotel, both on Lanai Island in Hawaii.  The 1000 square foot lounge offers a retreat-like setting for hotel guests waiting for their flights from the Honolulu Airport to the Lanai Airport.  The lounge offers complimentary amenties such as food, beverages, changing stations, luggage holding areas, reading material, high definition television, and wi-fi access.  For more information about visiting Lanai and the two Four Seasons Resorts on Lanai see:

- Lanai Island Travel Guide 

- Four Season Lanai at Manele Bay (Beach Resort)

- Four Seasons Lodge at Koele (Highlands Resort)

Hawaiian Music All Day on Beautiful Waimanalo Beach!

The 2010 Gabby Pahinui Waimanalo Beach Kanikapila will take place on Saturday, August 7, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Waimanalo Beach Park on the southeast side of Oahu Island. The event will feature an unbelievable lineup of performers including the Pahinui Brothers, Alan Akaka, Dennis Kamakahi, George Kuo, Jeff Peterson, Jerry Santos, Makana, Palani Vaughan, Sonny Lim, and many many more of the finest Hawaiian music artists. For more information see GabbyPahinui.com and CyrilPahinui.com. If you cannot attend, you can still support the event and help it continue in future years by purchasing an event t-shirt on the Gabby Pahinui Kanikapila Web site. $1 from each t-shirt sold will be contributed to help fund and build a new "Hawaii Museum of Music and Dance".

September 2010 Aloha Festivals Events on Oahu

The theme of the 2010 Oahu Aloha Festival will be "Mele Ailana: Celebrate Island Music". The 2010 Waikiki Hoolaulea (a street festival) will take place in Waikiki on Saturday, September 18, 2010. The 2010 Aloha Festivals Floral Parade will take place on Waikiki's Kalakaua Avenue on Saturday, September 25, 2010. For more information about these and other 2010 Aloha Festivals events see the official Aloha Festivals of Hawaii Web site.

June 2010 Hawaii Event Calendar

June events in Hawaii include King Kamehameha Day, the Pan Pacific Festival and Parade, the Kona Marathon, the Hawaii Dragon Boat Festival, the Maui Slack Key Guitar Festival, the Maui Film Festival, the Puuhonua o Honaunau Hawaiian Cultural Festival, and many other events. For a complete listing of June events in Hawaii see the "Do It In Hawaii" June 2010 Hawaii Event Calendar.

A Romantic Valentine's Day Concert in Waikiki

Tickets went on sale today for a romantic Valentine's Day concert in the Monarch Room of the historic Royal Hawaiian Hotel featuring the popular and award winning female trio, Na Leo. The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m. on February 14, 2010 and admission is limitted to the first 175 couples. Tickets can be ordered by phone at 310-262-6300 or online on Na Leo's official Web site.

2009 New Year's Eve Fireworks in Waikiki

I am very happy to announce that their *will* be a 2009 New Year's Eve fireworks display in Waikiki, thanks to the efforts and generous donations of the members of the Waikiki Improvement Association. The show will begin at 11:55 p.m. on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2009. Fireworks by Grucci will fire one announcement salute every minute until one minute before midnight. From the one minute mark, they will fire one salute at 60 seconds, 45 seconds, 30 seconds, 20 seconds, and then one each as we count down 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. At midnight, a rousing rapid-fire New Year's fireworks crescendo will unfold utilizing two computer systems. Grucci will fire specialty shells such as Magenta Comets, Double Popping Brocade Chrysanthemums, Gold Glitter Palm Trees, accompanied by both traditional New Year's Eve and Hawaiian music simulcast on local radio station KCCN FM 100, and end with a rousing Grucci Grand Finale.

2009 World AIDS Day Events in Hawaii

December 1 is World AIDS Day, and there are several World AIDS Day events in Hawaii this week. Some of the events are fundraisers for AIDS research and support services and some were founded to educate the general public about AIDS prevention measures, facts, and common myths. Hawaii's Life Foundation estimates there are approximately 3000 people living with AIDS in Hawaii.
AIDS DAY EVENTS:

World AIDS Day Events in Hawaii

World AIDS Day - Official Web Site
AIDS RESOURCES IN HAWAII

Life Foundation of Honolulu

Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation

Maui AIDS Foundation

Kauai AIDS Project (Malama Pono)

Honolulu AIDS Walk (2010 April 18)

Paradise Ride Kauai (2010 August 7-8)

Join Me at Ukulele Bill Tapia's 102nd Birthday Party in Southern California on Saturday December 5!

I have some extra seats at the table I reserved for the incredible Bill Tapia's 102nd birthday concert and afternoon dinner party at noon next Saturday (that's Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 12:00 noon at Stevens Steakhouse in the City of Commerce, Southern California). You want to hear 101 year old Bill Tapia play the ukulele, guitar, and banjo - and meet one of my 3 fun sisters - all on the same day? How fun would that be!!?? Maybe we can works something out. (And no I am not scalping the tix... if you really really love Bill Tapia, and you *promise* to come, I will even consider subsidizing your attendance). Send email to kathiefry@gmail.com or post a note on my Facebook page.

View Larger Image of Bill Tapia in His Studio

More About Bill's 102nd Birthday Party

Hawaii's Best Christmas Concerts in 2009

Hawaii's most popular Christmas concerts sell out fast, so it's not too early to decide which events you will attend. Tickets for these holiday concerts featuring big name performers are on sale now:

Nov 27-29: Jim Nabors Honolulu Christmas Concert

Nov 29: Amy Hanaialii's Maui Holiday Concert

Dec 04: Amy Hanaialii's Big Island Holiday Concert

Dec 05: Willie K Waikoloa Big Island Christmas Concert

Dec 11-13: Brothers Cazimero Honolulu Christmas Concert

Dec 20-23: Na Leo Holiday Music Spectacular Waikiki Concert

Other Popular Christmas Concerts in Hawaii:

Nov 28: Maui Choral Arts "Home for the Holidays" Concert

Dec 05: Honolulu City Lights Opening Night Christmas Concert

Dec 05: Kamehameha Schools Honolulu Christmas Concert

Dec 13: Maui Pops Orchestra Holiday Concert at Maui Arts

Dec 19: Honolulu Boys Choir Christmas Concert

Dec 20: Messiah Sing-Along at Hyatt Regency Maui

Dec 21: Kauai Christmas Hula Concert

If I left off your favorite holiday concert in Hawaii please send me a message using the email address on our contacts page. See also

Award Winning Hawaiian Music Christmas Albums

New Obama's Hawaii Children's Book Includes Amy Hanaialii CD

The July 2009 book, "A President From Hawaii" teaches young people about the history, cultural values, and language of Hawaii, using quotes from United States President Barack Obama and illustrations by Kauai artist Joanna Carolan. The included CD features songs by two of Hawaii's top award winning recording artists, Amy Hanaialii and former HAPA lead singer, Kelii Kaneali. The CD also includes a chant by Kelii's wife, former Miss Aloha Hula Healani Youn. "A President from Hawaii" was selected to represent the State of Hawaii at the Library of Congress September 2009 National Book Festival on the National Mall in Washington DC.

Buy "A President from Hawaii" at Amazon.com

2009 Veteran's Day Events in Hawaii

Most of Hawaii's 2009 Veteran's Day Events, including parades, family festivals, and ceremonies, will take place on Wednesday, November 11, 2009, which is Veteran's Day. There will also be a few early events this weekend, including the Kauai Veteran's Day Parade, and the Waianae Veteran's Day Parade in West Oahu, and the Hilo Veteran's Day Parade on the Big Island, all of which take place on Saturday, November 7. Veteran's day is an official state holiday in Hawaii so city and county offices will be closed and public bus lines may run on their weekend schedules. For more information see: Veteran's Day in Hawaii