Experience Hawaii - Enjoy Honolulu Festival -

Happy Chinese New Year!

2012-01-18T22:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Year! In just a few days we will be celebrating the lunar new year that the Chinese community throughout the world follow. This is the year of the dragon, the only mythological animal among the twelve animals that represent the zodiac signs of the Chinese lunar calendar. The dragon represents power, wealth and wisdom. The Chinese believe that being born in the year of the

Bonding Together, Hand in Hand

2011-09-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

The 18th Honolulu Festival - Sub Theme is now set. Bonding together, hand in hand This is the Sub Theme for the 18th Honolulu Festival determined by the Honolulu Festival Foundation officer. The Sub Theme uses the word "kizuna" or "bonding". It is most appropriate theme for the next Honolulu Festival as a number of Pacific Rim regions faced recent disasters and were able to overcome and

Nagaoka Fireworks

2011-07-07T12:54:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest fireworks displays in the world is coming to Waikiki Beach March 4, 2012. Are you ready for it?Are you ready for a fireworks display that will literally vibrate your very core?Are you ready for something more from your fireworks than just a common celebration? Well we've got you covered!The Honolulu Festival is proud to be teaming up with the city of Nagaoka to bring this

Hiking Hanauma Bay

2011-06-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Hanauma Bay~!Our day started with the alarms announcement that dark-thirty had arrived.TIME TO HAVE AN ADVENTURE!!!!Plan of attack ---- Haiku Stairs, Up and Over. The Haiku Stairs, often referred to as Stairway to Heaven, are more of a spiritual journey than a hike. As you cling to a shaky wet metal ladder, clouds roll up the hillsides along side you, looking down the vertical drop

A Rainy Day's Drive to Yokohama Bay

2011-03-29T09:48:00.000-07:00

A Rainy Day’s Drive to Yokohama Bay Hawaii is best known for its sunny skies and warm balmy breezes, but today it’s raining. And you know what? It’s not so bad. The rain is warm. The breeze is still warm. And when you step in the sand, that’s warm too. Visitors from the mainland, where the snow is falling in areas that haven’t had it for years, are thrilled to be here. Those of us who live here

The 17th Honolulu Festival

2011-03-21T11:00:00.000-07:00

The Experience Underlying the celebrations of this year’s Honolulu Festival was the sorrow and uncertainty generated by the earthquake and tsunami off Japan on March 11th. (Why do these major events seem to happen on the 11th?) But in spite of that, organizers decided to carry on with festival events, and I’m glad. This year’s theme, “We are all neighbors, around the world,” has never been more

Escape to Kaua'i

2011-03-04T11:13:00.000-08:00

Escape to Kaua`iThere’s no other place on earth like the beautiful Garden Isle, Kaua`i. About 20 minutes by air from Honolulu, it’s Hawaii’s fourth largest island, and the oldest. Time has created tropical rainforests, lush green valleys, spiky mountain cliffs, tumbling waterfalls and a large number of rivers. The northernmost of the Hawaii chain of islands boasts seven distinct microclimates—all

Makapu'u Trail

2011-02-24T08:45:00.000-08:00

Makapu`u TrailOn a weekend in winter or early spring, be sure to climb up the Makapuʻu trail on Oahu’s east side. While this easy paved trail is scenic at all times of the year, it’s especially popular with hikers of all abilities from November through April, whale-watching season! The islands of Moloka`i and Lana`i may be seen across the Kaiwi Channel, and on a particularly clear day, Maui is

Magical Butterflies

2011-02-17T16:18:00.000-08:00

Magical ButterfliesLooking out over my sunny Honolulu yard and seeing several beautiful Monarch butterflies flitting from flower to flower makes my heart take flight with them. Trying to catch up to photograph them with my digital camera is a losing proposition, however, although I did manage to get a couple of shots. These magical creatures, pulelehua in Hawaiian, are declining in our islands.

Kayaking

2011-02-07T10:45:00.000-08:00

KayakingSuper popular in Hawaii, kayaking is a great way to get out and explore the ocean. There are several wonderful locations for paddling on Oahu, but Kailua and Lanikai are the most popular. With the Mokulua Islands nearby to explore, Kailua Bay welcomes you to an adventure that’s not to be missed. An offshore reef keeps the larger waves ‘at bay,’ so even the novice can feel comfortable

Queen Emma

2011-01-31T10:58:00.000-08:00

Queen Emma was a fascinating character in Hawaii history. We previously learned that she was a co-founder of the Queen's Hospital, which is today a large and well-respected medical facility in Honolulu. Let's find out a little more about this former first lady.There was opposition to Emma's marriage to King Kamehameha IV because she was not a full blooded Hawaiian. She was one-quarter Caucasian

Tropical Flower Arrangements

2011-01-25T18:30:00.000-08:00

Tropical Flower ArrangementsWarm tropical breezes, sunshine, turquoise blue water and the scent of sweet flowers—the romance and beauty of Hawaii is treasured all over the world. What better way to bring aloha indoors than by creating eye-catching flower arrangements? Welcome your guests with a striking display of heliconia, anthurium, ginger or dendrobium orchids along with plenty of greenery.

Bougainvillea

2011-01-18T08:50:00.000-08:00

BougainvilleaA riot of brilliant color almost year-round describes the beautiful bougainvillea plant or bush. Bougainvilleas love full sun, so thrive in Hawaii, as is evident by the many multicolored displays almost everywhere in the islands.Bougainvillea is actually native to the coast of Brazil, discovered by the French botanist Philibert Commerson in the 1760s. He named it for his friend,

The Practice of Qigong

2011-01-10T10:21:00.000-08:00

The Practice of QigongHave you ever thought about trying Chinese medicine? Like the more commonly-known practice of T'ai Chi, Qigong (pronounced chee gung) is a powerful system of breathing techniques, gentle movement, and meditation used to cleanse, strengthen, and circulate life energy (qi). Qigong practice leads to better health and vitality and a tranquil state of mind. And it can be very

Aloha Wear

2011-01-02T14:48:00.000-08:00

Aloha WearIs there anything cuter than a visiting older couple walking hand in hand down Kalakaua Avenue, he in a bright aloha shirt and she in a matching mu`u mu`u? Something about our warm breezes and tropical sunshine brings out the romantic in those who only have a short time to experience it.Aloha attire is Hawaii’s own style of dress, and it can go anywhere from casual boardshorts at the

Kualoa Ranch

2010-12-26T11:20:00.000-08:00

Kualoa RanchLocated about 45 minutes north of Honolulu, Kualoa Ranch is a working cattle ranch that has seen some varied transitions since it was established in 1850. Today Kualoa’s owners have diversified the ranch’s activities to keep its 4,000 acres unspoiled and its landscape intact—protected from development. Kualoa means ‘long back,’ referring to the spectacular ridge that towers above the

Dolphin Watching

2010-12-13T15:13:00.000-08:00

Dolphin WatchingHawaii is one of the few places in the world where visitors can get close to dolphins in the wild. Imagine the thrill of seeing dolphins playing just offshore—or one of the dolphin-watching tour companies will be glad to take you aboard for a chance to see some amazing acrobatic displays just off the side of the boat. Some operators also offer excursions for snorkeling or swimming

Orchids

2010-12-05T22:47:00.000-08:00

OrchidsHawaii boasts many beautiful flowers, trees and shrubs, but none more beautiful or exotic than the orchid. According to experts, the first orchids existed with the dinosaurs over 100 million years ago. There are at least 35,000 known species, and they live in many different environments, including Hawaii’s diverse mini climates, on all continents except for Antarctica.For centuries,

Funny Hawaiian Fruits

2010-11-25T11:28:00.000-08:00

Coconuts and bananas are the most well-known of Hawaii’s traditional staple fruits. But there are many other fruits grown here as well, and some of them are really funny-looking!Pineapple Pineapple is well-known the world over, but if you think about it, it’s a strange-looking fruit. One wonders who discovered that it could be eaten? Who was the first to learn that there was a sweet delicious

Let's Bon Dance!

2010-11-08T17:17:00.000-08:00

Let’s Bon Dance!Traditionally held in Japan to honor the spirits of those who have passed on, Obon Dance Festivals in Hawaii have become a highly popular cultural celebration of Japanese and Okinawan ethnic roots. In Japan, the Obon lasts a long weekend, but in Hawaii, Bon Dance Season stretches the entire summer, with dances held every weekend from June through September at various Buddhist

Queen Emma of Hawai'i

2010-10-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

Hawaii's history is full of interesting stoires and personalities. One of the more beloved and influential characters is Queen Emma, who co-founded The Queen's Medical Center.Emma, who was one-quater Caucasian, was born in January 1836 to High Chief George Na'ea and High Chiefess Fanny Kekelaokalani Young. Before her birth, though, baby Emma had been promised to her aunt through adoption, or the

Ukulele: Hawaii’s Special Musical Tradition

2010-09-30T13:23:00.001-07:00

You hear the first few strums and you know exactly what it is. It's the joyful sound of the Hawaiian ukulele! Your spirits lift and you are immediately delighted. Popular in the 1920s, the uke's sound had faded until recently, but it's enjoying a resurgence in Hawaiian culture and around the world.The Hawaiian word for‘jumping flea,’ukulele lives up to its description. This humble but lively

Aloha Beach Services, perpetuating the legacy of Waikiki’s beach boys for over 50 years, the place to learn how to surf and feel “aloha”

2010-06-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

My blog assignment for this month was a very general one, to write about something that may interest young people during their stay in Hawaii. We have been getting more and more high school students and college students coming to Hawaii each year to participate in the Honolulu Festival. And these students come from both the east and the west, mainly from Japan and the U.S. mainland. (

Nostalgic memories at Hawaii's Plantation Village

2010-06-10T17:05:00.000-07:00

I would like to introduce Hawaii’s Plantation Village in my blog today. Many of us in Hawaii have roots that go back to the sugar plantations. My dad grew up in a plantation home in what was once referred to as Lower Village in Ewa. As a child growing up in Japan, I looked forward to summer and our trips back to Hawaii to visit my Baban (Grandmother) in Ewa. She lived in a plantation home, I

The Contemporary Museum on top of Makiki Heights

2010-06-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

The Contemporary Museum in Honolulu is Hawaii’s only museum that is devoted exclusively to contemporary art. This venue gives the public the opportunity to enjoy and experience art through exhibition, interaction with the artists and educational programs. Since its opening in 1988, TCM's collection has grown to more than 3,000 works by contemporary artists. The collection includes paintings,

Great places to eat at the Royal Hawaiian Center

2010-04-21T14:11:00.000-07:00

Beautiful gardens and tropical landscape.Today I’d like to talk about the Royal Hawaiian Center located right in the center of Waikiki. The location known by the Hawaiian people as Helumoa has a very rich history. Hawaiian royalty used this place as their favorite retreat. Of course Waikiki Beach played a huge part in making this area the best vacation spot ever, but also, this particular area

Green Tea Culture

2010-04-14T17:38:00.000-07:00