Hawaii Vacation Connection

On today’s Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast, AlohaBruce and Lanai Tabura will discuss the impacts of the current government shutdown in Hawaii. We’ll provide our unique local insights into the various ways in which Hawaii and its visitors are being affected. Of course, we’ll talk about the shutdown’s effect on TSA, and how Daniel K. Inouye […]

On today’s Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast, Aloha Bruce and Lanai Tabura will be talking about two spectacular scenic drives on Maui that are hugely popular with visitors: Haleakala Crater and the Road to Hana. We’ll offer tips on the places along those drives that are ideal for photos, stopping for a bite to eat, or […]

On today’s podcast, we’ll be talking about whale-watching season in Hawaii. We’re entering the peak season for whale watching. While capturing a glimpse of the gentle giants on their annual migration to Hawaii waters is no guarantee during a Hawaii vacation, there are many ways to increase your chances. We’ll offer up some Hawaii whale […]

This week’s podcast is about hiking one of the most popular landmarks in Hawaii: Diamond Head. We tell you about where the name came from and the history of this amazing crater, also known as “Leahi”. Lanai and Bruce offer tips and things to remember including do’s and don’ts for hiking the crater. We discuss what to expect and what time to visit. Diamond Head is certainly Hawaii’s most iconic landmark, and its ideal location at the eastern end of makes it one of Hawaii’s most well-traveled hikes. The Diamond Head State Monument comprises 475 acres in the crater. Scientists have determined that the crater was formed about 300,000 years ago following a volcanic eruption. The first hiking trail to Diamond Head’s summit was opened in 1908. Although the Diamond Head Summit Trail is slightly less than one mile, but it is quite steep and challenging even for fitness and hiking enthusiasts. We’ll talk about what visitors need to know to keep safe. We’ll talk about the incredible views of Waikiki west to the Waianae Mountain Range and East Honolulu out to Koko Crater and Koko Head, and sprawling Kapiolani Park at the foot of the crater. We’ll also discuss park entrance fees (entry to the park is not free, but it’s very inexpensive). It’s also cash-only. Diamond Head State Monument has an important cultural history and is the source of several ancient Hawaiian legends. It’s easy to sort of forget about Diamond Head during a Waikiki vacation with all of the ocean, dining and shopping activities, and that’s why we’re talking about how great it is to make the short trek to the summit of Hawaii’s most recognizable landmark.

On today's podcast we talk Cooking Hawaiian Style. And what does that have to do with traveling to Hawaii? It’s a great way to prepare for your vacation by learning the recipes, origins of our food and what to be sure to eat then you’re here. When you're on vacation here you’ll be sampling our foods and may want to learn how to make them on your own. Lanai Tabura is synonymous with Cooking Hawaiian Style, as his hit TV show of the same name airs in 250 cities all over the globe! He shares the importance of connecting with the culture in Hawaii through food. He hits on some of the most popular foods and recipes, including loco moco, Poke, Shave Ice, Malasadas and Manapua. There are all kinds of techniques and ingredients to choose from when you’re Cooking Hawaii Style. In addition to traditional Hawaiian foods like poi or kalua pig, to cook Hawaiian style is to use flavors and ingredients from all over the world, especially Asian cuisine like Japanese, Chinese, Filipino and Korean. Lanai has traveled all over the world to learn about food culture. As the author of beloved cookbooks, no one knows more about what makes Cooking Hawaiian Style so special. Join us as we talk about all of the things that go into Cooking Hawaiian Style. We’ll help you learn about the various local preparations you may want to try during your vacation, or to prepare a local favorite when you get home from a Hawaii vacation. We’ll give you tips, and maybe an old family recipe or two.

On today’s podcast, we’ll be talking about and answering some of the most frequently asked questions visitors about Hawaii Vacations. Certainly, it’s not as simple as booking flight and a room. And when it comes to planning a Hawaii vacation, there are no dumb questions! The best way to ensure a wonderful Hawaii vacation is […]

This week’s podcast is about island hopping and multi-island Hawaiian vacations. Back in the day when flights were cheap, that could be done easily. Back then, you could even come to Oahu (The Gathering Place) and decide on a whim to go to another island. Those days are long gone, and interisland airfare is much […]

We’ll be talking about important details for planning a Hawaii vacation on this edition of the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast. There is so much to do in the Aloha State that it can be challenging for first-time visitors to get the most out of a trip to paradise. It’s easy to wind up in a […]

On this week’s Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast we’ll talk important tips for stuff to buy on your Hawaii Vacation. We offer suggestions for what essential Hawaii products to purchase and where to find them at the best prices. We’ll discuss must-have Hawaii-grown foods like macadamia nuts, chocolate, and coffee. And the perennial favorite chocolate-covered macadamia nuts. And we’ll note that Hawaii is the only US state that grows coffee and cacao beans, making those Hawaii products truly unique. Aloha shirts are hugely popular. We note, however, that the ones you’ll find at chain box-stores are not the truly authentic styles and brands made here for generations in Hawaii. We’ll even talk about Bailey’s in Kapahulu (just outside of Waikiki), which is famous for its vintage aloha wear. We discuss the uniqueness of Hawaiian jewelry, like familiar gold and silver bracelets and their engraved floral designs and black enamel calligraphy. Ukuleles are another popular item for visitors. But we’re not talking about the kind you’ll find with a “Made in China” sticker on it. Many Hawaii artisans produce beautiful, authentic instruments. We’ll also talk about the importance of buying local. There are countless new businesses in Hawaii, creating amazing products, from beer, wine, and spirits to soaps, honey, baby clothes, and barbeque sauces. Gift ideas for Hawaii visitors are practically endless. Of course, we’ll tell you where to find the perfect gift. Everyone knows that Oahu is home to mega malls and outlet stores, so we discuss local Oahu stores and boutiques that visitors might otherwise miss. We’ll get into flea markets and craft fairs on all islands, and the major shopping centers on the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai. Shopping is something you'll surely do so here's some advice especially for visitors without local knowledge. We'd love to hear from you contact reach out to AlohaBruceelated]AlohaBruce or Lanai

Hawaii is an ocean Lover's Dream. Whether it's just putting your toes in the sand at the beach or taking 100 foot dives deep into the Pacific Ocean, water activities in Hawaii are a "Must Do". A lot of visitors think of Surfing as one of the number one water activities in Hawaii but there's so more to enjoy! Each island has its own unique Water activities to experience. For example, on Kauai and the Big Island you can traverse old sugar cane ditches in canoes or inner tubes. This little known activity allows you to cruise through Hawaii's rich history as they were built in the early plantation days of the 40s by Japanese and Chinese immigrants. On Maui you can snorkel or dive to underwater lava tubes at the spectacular Molokini crater. You'll experience underwater beauty that's second to none in the world. On Oahu you can walk right out from the ocean at Hanauma Bay and snorkel or take a cruise out to swim with turtles at Turtle canyon or frolic in the wild with spinner dolphins. On today's podcast we focus on some of the most popular and unique Water activities in Hawaii while you're visiting. We'll tell you about Diving with Manta rays and sailing excursions for the day to Lanai. We'll offer you some tips and ideas about which Water activities in Hawaii are available on each of the islands. Reach out to us, we'd love to hear from you ! Contact AlohaBruce or Lanai

Anyone with a screen knows that the hit series Hawaii 5-0 and Magnum P.I. are set and filmed in Hawaii. But Hawaii is also the backdrop for dozens of Hollywood blockbuster movies and independent films, too. We’ll talk about some of those films, and about the places they’re filmed. We’ll tell you what famous locations are accessible to the public and which aren’t. Kualoa Ranch has been featured in some of the most successful Hollywood movies ever. Jurassic Park, Jumanji, and the Hunger Games were all filmed at Kualoa Ranch. The list of such movies is long. We’ll talk about which movies you may have not known were filmed there. The massive ranch is perfect for movies that need exotic locations and spectacular views. And you can book tours to explore the locations of some of the most memorable scenes in recent cinema history. We’ll also talk about movies where Hawaii becomes a character, like in Honeymoon in Vegas, when legendary Hawaii actor Pat Morita portrayed an easygoing and hilarious cab driver all Hawaii residents could relate to. In movies like 50 First Dates and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, being in Hawaii is practically the whole point. The somber indie hit The Descendants focused on the struggles of a wealthy missionary family on Kauai coming to grips with tragedy and its role as a steward of the land. We podcast about Hawaii because we love Hawaii. Get Help Planning Your Trip Lanai is a veteran of Hawaii’s film industry and has appeared in Mike & Dave Need Dates and Go for Broke. Lanai discusses his experience with the film industry in Hawaii and offers insight into how movies filmed in Hawaii can help incoming visitors make the most of their experience in the Aloha State. Join us!

When's the best time to visit Hawaii? There are various factors to consider when planning and timing your Hawaii vacation. For some visitors, it’s the weather, For others it’s about price and for some it’s simply the vacation days they have because they can’t be flexible because of school or work. We talk about all of these factors, as well as seasonal activities that happen only during certain times of the year, like humpback whale watching on Maui and the North shore winter season of big waves and professional surfing competitions on Oahu. We also talk about the best deals to be had, usually during the “shoulder season”. Typically, we see the best deals in May and Oct. We also see good deals is the beginning of December. Booking IN ADVANCE is the key to great deals for Hawaii, it’s different than other destinations, where you may find last minute deals. Flights to Hawaii can often be cheaper in January or February than during the typical high seasons between June and August and during the months of winter. Hotel rooms in Hawaii are typically the cheapest from September through mid-December. We podcast about Hawaii because we love Hawaii. Get Help Planning Your Trip For those looking for the best weather, rainfall is at its lowest in Hawaii from April through September. Hurricane season lasts from June 1 to November 3. In terms of visitor arrivals, July is typically the busiest. December is the second-busiest month, as visitors from cold weather locations around the world flock to Hawaii’s shores to flee Old Man Winter and enjoy nearly year-round sunshine. Tune in to our podcast, as we share our extensive local knowledge about the best time of year to visit Hawaii. Whether you’re concerned about the weather, seasonal activities, or the best time of year to find the best air and hotel deals, we’ll share our unsurpassed expertise.

You need to fuel up to make the most of your day during a Hawaii vacation, and on this podcast we’ll talk about the best places to get an island-style breakfast to start your day. A healthy serving of bacon, SPAM and eggs or a slice of papaya and cup of stout coffee make for a perfect way to start your day. It’s easy enough to fast food it, to swing through a drive-through or grab a premade sandwich from a gas station or convenience store. We’ll talk favorite about homegrown breakfast alternatives that support local businesses and farms. Places like Boots & Kimo’s, Ethel’s Grill, Goofy, Koko Head Café, and Jack’s on Oahu are favorite breakfast joints that most visitors never find. On Maui, it’s Da Kitchen, Slappy Cakes, and Leona’s Bakery that serve up day-starting fare that every area resident knows but many tourists miss. In Kona on the Big Island, places like 808 Grindz and Frenchman’s Café feed hungry workers sturdy repasts every morning. We’ll talk about how a good breakfast really is “the most important part of your day.” And we discuss how a good local breakfast is the best way to start your day on a Hawaii vacation. We podcast about Hawaii because we love Hawaii. Get Help Planning Your Trip We take breakfast seriously in Hawaii. The sound of spoons tinkling on coffee cups and forks scraping up the last bit of hash browns and Portuguese sausage are a morning song, and we here in Hawaii don’t take it lightly. You have to be properly nourished to make the most of your days in paradise. We’re here to offer genuine local perspectives and favorites about Hawaii’s best places for a hearty meal to start your day, and to support local and family-owned businesses that most visitors to the Aloha State never find.

Hawaii is home to many world-famous destinations and attractions. Waikiki. Pearl Harbor. Volcanoes National Park and the Kona Coast on the Big Island. Haleakala and whale-watching on Maui. Waimea Canyon and Poipu on Kauai. All are spectacular in their unique way. A quintessential part of a Hawaii vacation, however, is to experience the small Hawaii […]

If you’re going to be in Hawaii for Halloween, then you’re in for a lot more than just “trick or treats.” The islands are full of major events that will spook and entertain keiki and grown-ups alike. On today’s podcast we’ll talk about some of our favorite Halloween happenings. Famously, Lahaina Hawaii for Halloween on Maui is home to a Halloween street festival that attracts thousands every year. We’ll discuss our unique insights about getting into and out of Lahaina town without hassle. Of course, Waikiki offers a carnival of costumes and special Halloween events. We’ll talk about what makes a Waikiki Halloween so special. There are many other Hawaii for Halloween events to choose from for Hawaii visitors looking to enjoy the Halloween spirit. Hallowballoo in Honolulu’s Chinatown is Hawaii’s largest Halloween celebration. It is a unique extravaganza of arts, music, and cuisine involving multiple restaurants and music venues. The annual street festival features multiple outdoor stages. This year, hip-hop legend Ja Rule is the headliner. We also discuss other Halloween favorites for kids of all ages: The Nightmare at Dole Plantation, the Haunted House at Plantation Village, and Aloun Farms’ beloved annual Halloween celebration and activities. Oahu Ghost Tours sparks thoughts on actual spooky Hawaii stuff that remains in Hawaii’s collective memory. Join us for lively locals’ perspectives, insights and inside info on Halloween in Hawaii.