Hawaii Vacation Connection

Yaling Fisher is along with Aloha Bruce for this latest episode of the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast and they are talking about Hawaii’s real estate market, Malama Hawaii volunteer opportunities for visitors, and run down some recently booked deals for a Hawaii vacation. Bruce notes several famous celebrity Hawaii Vacation sightings of late in Hawaii […]

On this special Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast, Aloha Bruce welcomes acclaimed photographer Joe Phillipson into the studio to talk share some Hawaii Vacation photo tips. Bruce and Joe recall how they connected over social media more than a decade ago, and marvel at the growth of the online community. Joe first came to Hawaii as a teacher at Ewa Beach Elementary School and recalls becoming obsessed with his new camera and taking unique photographs of Hawaii’s landscape and people. He went on to study photography on the East Coast and is now a sought-after professional. Joe offers tips for aspiring amateur photographers and discusses the many options for taking pictures, even your smartphone. “You want to fill that frame with all of your happy moments,” he says. “Those are the ones you’ll want to remember. Get your camera ready and capture that moment.” Bruce and Joe agree that great photographs don’t require expensive equipment. “Sometimes the best camera is the one you have with you, even if it’s your phone,” Joe says. He goes on to give tips for being prepared to capture special moments as they happen. If your Hawaii vacation is planned well, you’ll know well in advance when the best opportunities for great photos will be. “Anticipate those moments and have your camera ready.” Joe offers unique insight about taking group/family photos and discusses some common mistakes visitors make when trying to get the “perfect shot”. Instead of fighting the sun for a good photo, let it work for you. You’ll need a flash, for example, if you want a picture with your back to the sunset. “Don’t fight the sun,” Joe says. “Just use it.” The conversation moves to different types of photo filters like Neutral Density Filter, and Joe explains how different the quality of light is in different locations around the world. Joe recommends a “polarizing filter” and explains why they are advantageous for photography in Hawaii. Bruce and Joe move on to talk about using flashes and the challenges they present. Joe recommends hiring a professional photographer during a Hawaii vacation. A professional will have all of the necessary flashes and filters, freeing you to simply be in the photo with your family and friends. Find Joe at www.joephilipson.com and on Instagram and Twitter to see his portfolio (it is vast and impressive), and consider hiring him to capture the “special moments” during your Hawaii vacation. Bruce also notes that bookings are full or filling quickly for just about any and all Hawaii vacation activities. The time to book a Hawaii vacation is now!

Aloha Bruce dives right into talking about where to stay and what to do on the beautiful Kauai the Garden Island. Bruce also offers the latest in Hawaii vacation news and shares some of the deals he’s been able to track down for Hawaii’s visitors. Beginning Tuesday, June 15, 2021, travelers will no longer be required to show proof of a negative COVID test to fly interisland, and Bruce talks about how busy Hawaii’s tourism is now that many restrictions have lifted, with more easing expected soon. Bruce reminds listeners that the people working in the industry are under a lot of pressure due to the massive influx of visitors and that vacationers are best to be patient. “Here in Hawaii,” Bruce says, “people are not going to respond well if you get impatient,” Bruce recalls stories about TSA and health screeners encountering a lot of disrespectful visitors at the airport. He also mentions the Road to Hana being overwhelmed with the visitor traffic. “It’s not going to bode well if we keep having situations like this.” Malama Hawaii! Bruce moves on to discussing the island of Kauai and notes some of the things that make it unique among the Hawaiian Island, noting that Hawaii Aloha Travel can help you plan all of your day trip excursions. He notes some of the visitor towns, and he mentions the Sheraton Coconut Beach Resort, which has a great location and is walkable to popular areas. Poipu is on the south side of Kauai and is a beloved resort area. Bruce also mentions the rustic Waimea Plantation Cottages on the West Side. Bruce moves on to Princeville and Hanalei on the Kauai’s North Shore, noting that you can expect heavy rains during the winter months. Bruce recommends the Sheraton in Kapaa, particularly the beach view suites. He mentions the Lodge at Kukui Ula on Kauai, which provides activities that educate and enrich visitors with a destination management approach. Bruce also mentions the Royal Sunesta in Lihue and notes that HAT has condos for rent in beautiful Hanalei. Recent packages booked include the Santos family of four from Sacramento staying at the Shraton Coconut Beach Resort July 16-August 2 for a total of just over $6000 which includes a rental car. Another group will be staying at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel for a little over $6500 and have opted for one of HAT’s all-inclusive Oahu packages and a stay at the Royal Lahaina on Maui for $6571. A family from Minneapolis will be flying Sun Country Air and staying at Princess Kaiulani in Waikiki.

Aloha Bruce shares the latest developments on the lifting of Hawaii travel restrictions on our newest Hawaii Vacations Connections Podcast, Sunday, June 6, 2021. The podcast breaks down the numbers of visitor arrivals during the past year, noting the incredible spike that happened in April and May 2021. It has resulted in massive demand for […]

On this special May 31, 2021 Memorial Day Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast, Aloha Bruce is talking about the Hawaii Car Rental shortage and exorbitant pricing throughout the Hawaiian Islands, and possible alternatives for transportation during your Hawaii vacation. Bruce notes the lifting of Hawaii’s outdoor mask mandate, and he expects other restrictions to be lifted soon. He mentions problems people have had regarding COVID-19 testing and reminds visitors to get travel insurance in the event that plans have to be changed or canceled and rescheduled. “It is driving me nuts what is going on here with this Hawaii car rental shortage!” Bruce exclaims. He mentions a client who asked about public transportation. There is public transportation on all islands, and Bruce gets into details about how to take advantage of it. Oahu’s public transportation system, “TheBus”, is ranked among the best in the United States. Bruce says you can get “just about anywhere” on Oahu, noting that many routes go through the Ala Moana Shopping Center hub. Bruce mentions several route numbers that take passengers to major attractions around Oahu, and the information is readily available online. Bruce moves on to discuss Maui’s public bus system that serves Lahaina, the Lahaina Villager, and the Lahaina Islander and offers details about the routes. He also mentions routes that have been closed and that he hopes will reopen soon. The Queen Kaahumanu Center is a hub for many Maui routes, including one for Upcountry Maui. The Big Island routes are more complicated, but Bruce mentions a Kohala Coast route and Kona Coast route. “You gotta be patient,” Bruce says. Kauai’s bus routes are noted, and Bruce says that there are only six on the island. Bruce says that more bus routes should be added in the future. Car rental prices will remain very high through the summer, and Bruce encourages listeners to reach out to Hawaii Aloha Travel to work out your transportation needs and the Hawaii car rental shortage, solutions, and costs. “That’s what we’re here for!”

In our newest Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast Aloha Bruce shares the latest changes to Hawaii’s statewide outdoor masking rules, as well as the challenges people trying to book rental cars and luaus are experiencing. Bruce says that on May 25, 2021, Governor David Ige has lifted Hawaii’s outdoor masking requirement, while encouraging residents and visitors […]

Aloha Bruce looks into some recent news about Hawaii tourism, and the soaring demand for travel to Hawaii. Bruce notes that the huge demand caused the data system at Hawaiian Airlines to crash a couple of days ago, rendering the airline unable to book any travelers and forcing the airline to issue a public apology for the failure. Bruce also discusses the fact that Hawaii’s masking mandates remain in place despite the CDC recently saying that vaccinated individuals can remove their masks in most circumstances. Bruce says that Hawaii is quite conservative in matters of public safety and that masking will remain the norm in Hawaii. “Masks were no big deal, to begin with here,” says Bruce. Bruce talks briefly about a recent trip to Kakaako in Honolulu and a Korean-style market called H-Mart with an excellent food court and specialty spots, including the now-famous Giovanni's Shrimp. Bruce moves on to address the high demand and low supply of rental vehicles. Bruce mentions a recent booking for a couple for New York City who weren’t bothered by the lack of rental cars because they live in the city and don’t even have a driver’s license! Bruce explains the difference between Hawaii Aloha Travel and so-called “influencers” seeking publicity as Hawaii experts. “I’m really just trying to help people book a Hawaii vacation.” The topic moves to the entrance of Southwest Airlines into the Hawaii market in 2018, during a time when interisland travel saw some major changes and the loss of Aloha Air and other charter carriers. Bruce says that Southwest entering the market has made for more competitive pricing. The launch was met with equipment failures and pandemic issues, Bruce says, and has done a good job of adapting and will launch a series of new Hawaii routes from a variety of mainland cities in June and September. With his typical real talk, Bruce says, “You’ve got to give them their props!” Bruce shares some recent booking deals through Southwest and Hilton Hawaiian Village that includes a rental car. Another package for three at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotels through Southwest is noted, as well as a high-end 5-star honeymoon package Bruce worked out for a couple from Boston at the Maunalani Resort on the building. While spendy, the package includes a rental car and travel insurance.

Aloha Bruce gets into the specifics of creating your day by day Hawaii vacation itinerary on our May 10, 2021 Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast, and he starts off by sharing some important information about COVID-19 vaccination status for Hawaii travelers, mainly that vaccination does not yet exempt trans-Pacific travelers from Hawaii’s COVID testing requirements. Bruce talks about a daily activity approach to planning your Hawaii vacation, noting that you can’t do everything. That’s why it is important to prioritize your activities with a “bucket list” of things you want to do. He mentions a trip to Haleakala or a trip to Hana on Maui as an activity you can do on your own with some simple planning. “It really depends on your particular style,” Bruce says. Bruce explains smart daily budgeting for a Hawaii vacation, noting that it is important to have a realistic, “all-in” budget and to be flexible with your choices. Ambitious activities like helicopter tours are more expensive than many people expect, Bruce says, so knowing what your priorities are when booking is key. You don’t want to “blow your budget” for just one activity. The average vacation is a six-night stay, Bruce says, and offers tips for planning around your arrival and departure times. He mentions a variety of activities that are best with an early morning start, how to plan out your days to relax, to make time for a traditional luau, to have an “adventure tour”, and other essential elements of a Hawaii vacation. Bruce says that because of the pandemic “everything is new again” as visitors return and hotels, restaurants, and businesses welcome people back and public health protocols change. Now is the time to plan and book a Hawaii vacation.

On our latest Hawaii Vacation Podcast, Aloha Bruce discusses the question: “When is the best time to plan a Hawaii vacation?” Bruce talks about some of Hawaii Aloha Travel’s recent bookings to give listeners an idea of what pricing is like right now. Bruce says that now is an excellent time to vacation in Hawaii, as international travel remains difficult or impossible and Hawaii is relatively close to home on the mainland. “It’s just really the best place to visit right now,” Bruce says. The busiest time of year for Hawaii tourism is in the late/spring-summer and in the winter, Bruce says, and he discusses the “high season” that begins in December. Bruce gets into some detail about specific times of the year and what visitors can expect for weather and pricing, and the kinds of annual events and attractions that are happening.Bruce says May and September are also good for weather and pricing. October and November, Bruce says, are usually the months with the best deals, as it is Hawaii shoulder season. Bruce follows up with a month-by-month breakdown of weather and visitor patterns, as well as pricing trends for specific dates and holidays. He notes that tourism generally dips slightly in May before demand begins to peak and prices (and temperatures) rise. Bruce says this is the best reason to book a Hawaii vacation early. “Don’t wait, at all,” Bruce says about booking July and August Hawaii vacations. “October is absolutely the slowest month,” Bruce says, noting that it is the month to find the best deals. Late November into December is when Hawaii sees demand spike again. Peak season runs through Christmas into the second week of January, after which deals and airfare wars begin. Bruce shares a 6-person group (the Tolbert family) booking for Oahu at the Aston Waikiki Beach that was a fantastic deal. He also notes a September honeymoon booking also at the Aston Waikiki as well as the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore that got a terrific rate

Aloha Bruce urges visitors book their Hawaii vacations now on the newest Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast. Bruce talks briefly about an interisland travel “vaccine passport” for people who have been fully vaccinated in Hawaii set to launch in May. Bruce notes that he is now fully vaccinated and that “I feel free, in a way.” Bruce moves on to discuss the high cost of vehicle rentals in Hawaii right now, and notes that by booking with Hawaii Aloha Travel, you can avoid the high prices by bundling with us. He also mentions the flexibility that booking through HAT affords Hawaii vacationers. He also mentions Touro.com. Bruce says when thinking about booking “It’s time to stop shopping! When you get a good price, take it.” He mentions a podcast listener who missed out on a great deal because she waited too long to take advantage of an exclusive offer. Hawaii is very unique among vacation destinations, Bruce says, and HAT is able to offer upgrades, rebates, and exclusive offers. Pricing for a Hawaii vacation changes from day to day, and Bruce says HAT is in the business of finding the best deals for Hawaii visitors. The same offer available one day may be gone the next, with the difference in pricing sometimes being in the hundreds of dollars. With his typical expert insight into Hawaii’s travel and visitor industry, Bruce offers a look into the inner workings of pricing trends in Hawaii. He also mentions the personal, customized and themed secrethawaiitours.com that HAT offers. Bruce talks about a couple of bookings made in the past 48 hours, including a vacation for a multi-night stay for a couple (Eileen and Christian) from San Francisco at the historic Moana Surfrider in the heart of Waikiki. He says the price he was able to secure for them was exceptionally reasonable. Bruce then talks about a package for a family of four from Chicago staying at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort that came in around $8000. Bruce also mentions a party of two staying at the Westin on Maui in August for just over $4500 for six nights. Hawaii Aloha Travel, Bruce says is always here to connect you with the best deals possible for all aspects of an unforgettable Hawaii vacation. “Stop shopping!” Bruce says. “Just book it!”

Aloha Bruce and Lanai dive into a discussion about Hawaii’s food options for vacationers on the latest Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast. Lanai knows Hawaii’s food culture as well as anyone, and he offers his insight about how best to enjoy dining in the Aloha State. Later, our hosts offer important tips on getting around during your visit. As far as finding the best places to eat, Lanai says simply, “Ask a local!” Bruce asks Lanai about his success in highlighting Hawaii’s food culture, with Lanai saying he’s been successful because he supports local businesses in his work. The conversation moves on to the variety of restaurants in Hawaii, from 5-Star fine dining to simple plate lunches. Our hosts share a few of their favorites hole-in-the-wall restaurants that have been operating for generations. Lanai offers a brief history of the evolution of food in Hawaii and mentions James Beard Award winner Helena’s Hawaiian Food. Lanai goes on to tell the story of the invention of the “Loco Moco” by ravenous surfers in Hilo on the Big Island. Bruce and Lanai discuss a variety of Facebook comments that prompt mini-history lessons about a variety of local favorites, and the marvelous story of how “shave ice” became a Hawaii food institution, and rattles off a list of mom and pop shave ice joints around Hawaii. After announcing the Deal of the Day, Bruce and Lanai move on to offering tips about transportation during a Hawaii vacation and interisland air travel. Lanai says that on the Neighbor Islands, visitors should plan to rent a vehicle, but public transportation and rideshare services on Oahu can be enough for some visitors. Bruce thinks renting a vehicle for at least part of a Hawaii vacation is best. Our hosts note high parking costs in some areas and resorts.

Aloha Bruce and Lanai Tabura start off our latest Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast with a conversation about staying safe in Hawaii when vacationing in the islands. Lanai says, “Get the travel insurance.” Our hosts discuss the “never turn your back on the ocean” advice that sometimes goes unheeded by careless and hapless visitors who end […]

Aloha Bruce discusses the concept of “Malama Hawaii” on the new Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast, taking a look at what it really means. Bruce explores the difference between Malama Hawaii and the “Aloha Spirit”, and he offers seasoned advice for visitors who are interested in finding true aloha. Bruce explains that the “Aloha Spirit” is […]

Aloha Bruce shares his personal best Oahu hotel picks, from budget to luxury for the latest Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast. He starts off with some of the latest news affecting Hawaii travel, including potential plans for a “vaccine passport” possibly letting travelers with proof of a full COVID-19 vaccination avoid a mandatory quarantine without testing required by the Hawaii Safe Travels program. Bruce asks visitors to please “be patient with us” here in Hawaii, as workers in the tourism industry have been nearly overwhelmed with soaring demand for flights, rooms, cars, and dining and entertainment options. Bruce begins his list of favorite best Oahu hotel picks with properties in the “budget” category, between $120-$200 per night. He mentions the White Sands, which had deteriorated before a recent remodel and rebranding project. He also mentions the Hilton Garden Inn, which has also undergone a recent renovation in a great location on Kuhio Avenue in Waikiki. Aloha Bruce moves on to “boutique hotels” ($200-$250), starting with the Queen Kapiolani Hotel, and talks about the rich history of the unique property next to Kapiolani Point and close to Diamond Head. He also mentions the LayLow, another older property near International Marketplace modernized and taken over by Marriott. The nearby SurfJack is also mentioned, and Bruce says that it is a well-marketed property. The “Upscale” range includes the Alohilani ($250-$350), which Hawaii Aloha Travel books regularly. It has great restaurants, and Bruce says, “It’s skewed a little younger.” The Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel also gets a mention of the best Oahu Hotel Picks. Moving on to “high end” properties, Bruce starts with the Halepuna ($350-$500), which hasn’t officially opened due to the COVID pandemic. It is a sister property to the famous Halekulani Hotel, which has also undergone recent renovations. Bruce says July is a good month to book at the Halepuna. Bruce says the high-end Ritz Carlton Residences, a 5-Star property, is an amazing property and talks about the location of the posh accommodations. He also notes The Kahala, a luxury property that also offers beachfront cottages and a long history of welcoming world-famous luminaries for decades. Bruce gives Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore an “Honorable Mention”, and notes its remote and exotic location. Bruce also reminds listeners about Hawaii Aloha Travel’s private tour company Secret Hawaii Tours!

On our latest Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast, Aloha Bruce is talking about Hawaii weddings and the fact that Honolulu Mayor Blangiardi announced an easing of restrictions to begin soon, to allow up to 100 guests for outdoor weddings. He shares some encouraging news about Hawaii’s recovery and the increase in COVID-19 vaccinations here. Bruce notes […]