Category Archive: travel

WINDWARD OAHU IS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT

For the one of the dreamiest tropical views in Hawaii, head south from Waikiki, past the snorkeling Mecca of Hanauma Bay, to the southern tip of the island at Makapu’u Point. From here, looking north, is Windward Oahu, where the jagged green spine of the Ko’olau Range drops steeply to sandy beaches and coves, with small islands floating offshore: pure eye candy.

So you’re going to Kauai? Read this first.

The new 21st anniversary edition of Kauai Trailblazer is now available on Amazon.  Check it out here. Trailblazer Guides are geared toward independent travelers who have a sense of adventure. The books cover all the well-known… Continue reading

Hawaii’s Hottest Ticket is to where the Action Isn’t

Anyone who has been to the Islands recently will tell you traffic and crowds at popular destinations are a hassle. Seriously. For real. But the hassle is avoidable. The trick is to get to the many destinations that are out of the Yelp-o-Sphere, without having to sacrifice scenic values to do so.

Big Island: C’mon over, the Air is Fine!

For the first time in more than 30 years, Kilauea Volcano is not spewing vog—volcanic smog—and the air is pure and clean everywhere. The nastiness of vog has not been widely publicized, even though the air quality has been worse at times, in places,  than L.A. in the early 1960s. People were not only gasping in Kona, but also on Maui and Oahu, and even as far as the north shore of Kauai. 

Trailblazer’s Hawaii Guides: Adventure in your Pocket. Memories in the Bank.

Hawaii means different things for different people, offering a mind-boggling array of choices. With Trailblazer guides, no matter where you are, you can answer the question, “I wonder what’s down that road?” Some… Continue reading

The worst way to screw up on your Hawaiian vacation

For sure, lost luggage and sunburn can be a bummer, but we can all agree that the best (worst) way to ruin a vacation is dying. Sadly, about one person a month is lost to a fatal accident in Hawaii while recreating. Happily, virtually all of these deaths can be avoided.

Yay! Hawaii the Big Island Trailblazer turns 20

Independent and adventurous travelers can now celebrate the publication of the 20th anniversary edition of Hawaii the Big Island Trailblazer (ISBN: 978-198039129690), which is good to go on Amazon. Volcano goddess Pele has… Continue reading

How Five Million Years of Hawaiian History Took Place This Year

Five million years ago, Hawaii’s northern-most island, Kauai, was located several hundred miles to the south, where the Big Island is located today. Five million years from now, the Big Island will take… Continue reading