Hawaii

Volcano House Hotel Review: Hawaii National Park Lodge

Volcano House is the National Park Lodge located inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with views of Halema’uma’u Crater at the rim of Kilauea caldera that costs ~$300 to 500 per night. This review features room photos, my experience with the accommodations & amenities, and thoughts from my stay. Volcano House is “Exhibit A” in the […]

Things To Do In Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Looking for tips and the best activities in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park? Here are our top 10 picks for things to do in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, photos highlighting the Big Island’s top attraction, and lava flow & eruption info. (Updated March 16, 2021.) Let’s start with the latest developments. First, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park […]

Merriman’s: Top 10 Restaurant in United States?

On our last visit to Hawaii, we dined at Merriman’s for one of the best meals we’ve ever had. So, when TripAdvisor released their Travelers’ Choice Awards, I was not too surprised to see it rank #10. (Along with another favorite of ours, Victoria & Albert’s in Walt Disney World, which ranked #2.) In this […]

Big Island Bees Hawaii Tour

Big Island Bees offers tours to the general public of their beekeeping and honey production operation. As the name suggests, they are located on the Big Island of Hawaii, where you can find a small museum and gift shop (with free samples!) in addition to the beehive tour. The family-owned Big Island Bees allows visitors […]

Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park Review & Tips

Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is a coastal park on the big island of Hawaii. In this post, I’ll review the park, share some photos I took when we went here, and offer some tips for visiting. First, a bit of filler. Uh, I mean background… Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park contains 420 acres […]

Oahu, Hawaii: Where to Stay

The island of Oahu is a popular destination in Hawaii, and with several distinct “regions” including Waikiki Beach, the North Shore, Ko Olina, and more, you might be wondering where you should stay in Oahu if you’re planning a trip. In this post, we’ll provide some insight into our favorite places, and also compare hotels […]

Tips for Visiting Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor is one of the most popular spots in Hawaii, and the USS Arizona Memorial is a particularly moving experience. This post offers our tips and ticket recommendations for seeing the memorial, and also some info for visiting. If you’re visiting Oahu, it’s pretty much a must-do. Operated by the National Park Service, Pearl […]

Lava Viewing at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Recently, we hiked out to see the “firehose flow” at Kīlauea Volcano’s Kamokuna ocean lava entry in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. This post is about our experience hiking out to the viewing area, along with some photos of the lava entering the ocean. I’ll also provide some lava viewing & photography tips, and recommendations for […]

Paradise Cove Review & Luau Tips

In this post, we will review Paradise Cove Luau, and compare it to other luau options in Oahu, Hawaii. We’ll share photos from our experience, discuss whether we think the luau offered good value for money, and provide some other tips and thoughts about attending a ‘traditional’ Hawaiian luau in Oahu. If you’re like us, […]

The Real Highlight of Wailuku River State Park (Hint: It’s Not a Waterfall)

Wailuku River State Park on the Big Island of Hawaii is well-known for Waianuenue (Rainbow Falls), a neat waterfall just outside of Hilo. From the parking area at Wailuku State Park, there is an easily-accessible viewing area that gives guests a view of the 80-foot Rainbow Falls, which derives its name from the frequent rainbows […]