Honolulu, HI

On a recent trip to the North Shore with a few friends of mine, we decided that we would trek through Haleiwa town, something any of us done since transitioning into the career world of a twenty-something. We traversed through the little town that has much preserved its uniqueness and I was reminded of its innate beauty that both tourists and locals alike have fallen in love with.

My friends and I decided, shortly after the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall came out on DVD, that we wanted to go to Turtle Bay and goof off for a day. So, we made the trek all the way to Kahuku and we spent the day at the Turtle Bay Resort.

Last weekend my wife and I went to the Ala Moana Mall near Honolulu. This is the largest outdoor mall in the United States, and although we have been here many times, we still probably haven’t seen it all. There are literally hundreds of shops and vendors to choose from, in addition to dozens of eateries, from fast food to gourmet dining. Also, it’s a visually appealing mall, with numerous fountains, koi ponds and landscaping throughout.

This last Tuesday afternoon my wife and I headed over to Ward Warehouse, a mall near Honolulu. Although smaller and less well known than the world famous Ala Moana shopping mall, which is not far from Ward, Ward Warehouse still has much to offer. Also, be careful not to confuse Ward Warehouse with its cousin, Ward Center, which is actually down the street a ways from Ward Center (although it is not that far).

Last Sunday my wife and I went to Kelly O’Neil’s pub on Lewers Street (across the street from Moose McGillicuddy’s) in Waikiki to watch a local Irish band. Kelly O’Neil’s features live Irish music every Sunday, from about 4pm to 7pm (no cover charge). We arrived shortly after 4:00 and took seats at a small table off to the side, facing the band.

A quiet evening on a bench at Magic Island - Ala Moana Beach Park with bottle of wine and food to good watching the fading sky and the city lights.

I lived in Las Vegas the past two years and there is one thing I’ve realized that is better than the gambling there – and that is their amazing concert line-up. Bands brush through Vegas nightly like wildfire and while I’ve seen big names such as The Police, Celine Dion and Sir Elton John, nothing compares to the good times I’ve spent sitting on the lawn at the Waikiki Shell, celebrating life and good music with thousands of other people who feel the same way.

My wife and I live in Waikiki, and one of our favorite beaches is Sans Souci, which translates to “without a care” in French. This beach is next to Diamond Head fronting the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel. The beach is protected by a coral reef out front, which makes for gentle waters suitable for family swimming, although there is a lifeguard tower here. There are showers as well as a nice restaurant (The Hau Tree Lanai) right on the beach in the hotel. The beach is also a bit wider here than on the main Waikiki beaches.

My boyfriend and I had a wonderful 4th of July spent in Waikiki. We were both tired from having walked from one end to the other of Waikiki with the sun upon us. We drove back to his place in Kaimuki, took a shower and a refreshing nap. When we woke up we were both very hungry.

For first-time visitors to Hawaii, the luau is almost considered a rite of passage. My wife and I have been to several luaus since we have been living on Oahu. Each has its own unique blend of food, entertainment and setting. There are many different luaus on the island of Oahu, but I will writer here about three of the more popular ones. My wife and I recently attended each of these luaus with friends and family.