Honolulu, HI

Then, promptly at 8:00: boom! The first fireworks lit up the night sky with blazing reds and whites. There were some really impressive explosives—firecrackers, rockets, pinwheels and what have you—which can be heard throughout Waikiki. A few boats also lead fireworks cruises and could be seen bobbing not far from shore to witness the spectacle.

On May 10, 2008, my wife and I went to the 16th annual Filipino Festival in Waikiki. There was also a parade which ran along Kalakaua Avenue, but we only attended the festival part of it, which was in Kapiolani Park, across the street from Queen’s Beach. We arrived at the park at around 11 AM and the festival was already in full swing. The park was filled with people celebrating Filipino culture: a musical group performed on a stage with dancers, vendors of all sorts sold food and drinks, arts and crafts, while families and people of all ages walked around experiencing it all.

After checking out the indoor exhibits, we headed outside where the aquarium’s larger exhibits are. We saw the intertidal tank, which is a long, waist-high tank right against the edge of the aquarium property, with an awesome view of the real ocean right behind it. Mangrove trees line this tank, and swimming in its waters are colorful reef fish such as needlenose butterfly fish, yellow tangs, raccoon butterflys, various corals, crabs, shrimp, sponges, and many more creatures! Also out here was one of the aquarium’s star attractions: the monk seals. These seals are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, meaning that they are from here and found nowhere else on Earth.

We spent one of Waikiki’s famous sunny afternoons at Honolulu Zoo. My boss had given me two passes to the zoo. His friend donated to the zoo on his behalf as a Christmas present. He didn’t care to go to the zoo and I like the zoo. I went with my boyfriend who’s lived on the island for two years but hasn’t seen the zoo. Since the day was still hot we decided to refresh ourselves with ice cream from one of the many ice cream shops along Kalakaua Avenue. We were passing it by on the way to the zoo.

Once down the hill, it was a pleasant ride through wide, tree-lined streets until we reached Waialae Beach, about twenty minutes after we had left Waikiki. There is a beach park here with green grass, and a parking lot with a small foot bridge spanning a canal that leads to the beach. We parked our scooter-cars in the lot and crossed the bridge to the beach.

We decided to start the day with breakfast at his friend’s restaurant and walk down to the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach Hotel to watch my canoe club race in the OHCRA or Oahu Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association McFarlene 4th of July regatta at Waikiki Beach.

We decided to go out on the blue-and-white painted one which reads, “Outrigger Catamaran” on its side. In case you were wondering, a catamaran is the type of sailboat that has pontoons with canvas stretched over them. The one we went on has an actual hard deck, too, and is a pretty large boat that can carry thirty passengers or so.

So you’re looking for something to do in Hawaii? Let’s say you have been to the beaches, you’ve tried out the food and you’ve had your share of pidgin (local style language). You’re bored driving around with your girlfriend/boyfriend and you’ve done shopping all over…

How about try getting married in Hawaii? =) I’ve put together a sweet a simple wedding for a friend and it was unforgettable.

I’ve been taking The Bus for two months now and it’s really pretty convenient especially when you’re just to and from your workplace. With the gas prices hiking up cost of living spars with your efforts, it’s time to rethink again about buying that second hand vehicle. I say, take The Bus.

Accidentally my friends and I created a nice thematic evening with having dinner at Shokudo restaurant and watching “Flower Drum Song” at Diamond Head Theater. Shokudo is great for experiencing and tasting Asian fusion style dishes. The “Flower Drum Song” is about Japanese immigrants trying to assimilate to San Francisco. It was a fun evening with food, friends and good entertainment.