Going2Oahu Hawaii Travel Blog

Honolulu’s Chinatown is an Absolute Must See

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Sat, 30 May 2009 03:02:41 GMT

I just got back from lunch in Chinatown so I thought I’d blog about it!

I think that Chinatown is one of Oahu's most exciting and mysterious neighborhoods. It’s a popular gathering place for kama’aina and for visitors located in downtown Honolulu. As a gateway to our Island of Oahu for many immigrants, Chinatown is a very colorful and eclectic blend of Southeast Asian cultures.

In 1852, Chinese immigrant laborers arrived in Hawaii to work on the emerging sugar cane plantations. After completing their labor contracts, many of the immigrants relocated to the Chinatown area of Honolulu and entered the business world. With its exotic mix of Asian culture and people, Chinatown at first gained a prety disreputable image as it was known for its saloons, debauchery, drugs and dens of ill repute.

Today, Chinatown’s former reputation has been toned down considerably. It’s now a lively and colorful community to explore – you should check it out!

Aloha ~

Ali

Going2Oahu Travel Blog Is Approaching it's Third Birthday!

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Tue, 05 May 2009 22:22:00 GMT

The going2oahu Travel Blog is nearly 3 years old so I guess I'm now what you would call a veteran blogger.

When I first started blogging, I used a generic blogging platform to publish my writings and I didn't get very many readers. Things kinda' took off when I decided to purchase a domain from a webhosting provider. That decision became the start of something BIG - the Going2Oahu Travel Blog that you are enjoying right now!

I relied mostly on individual websites for reviews since the Internet was the best resource in finding a provider that would meet my expectations. I went with a godaddy back then, but the provider I'm starting to follow now is called webhostinggeeks.com.

Their website allows me to check the top 10 webhosting providers and read customer reviews for each site - useful for making an informed decision for whatever product I want - very cool.

If you are planning to buy your own domain or start on an entirely new blog or website, I would suggest you start your search by visiting webhostinggeeks.com.

Aloha ~

Ali

No, There are No Snakes in Hawaii

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:42:00 GMT

So the song goes...

I don't like spiders and snakes
And that ain't what it takes to love me
You fool, you fool
I don't like spiders and snakes
And that ain't what it takes to love me
Like I wanna be loved by you

No, there are no snakes in Hawaii - none, nada, zip, zilch, period!

Well wait... technically, there are snakes in Hawaii but it's not really out of line to claim there are none. Hawaii does have one native snake species, the island blind snake, (or as I like to say ramphotyphlops braminus). They're usually mistaken for a worm though and are definitely not any kind of a major threat.

See, Hawaii has invested millions of dollars into fighting invasive species, including snakes which could cause havoc in the islands. Still, some snakes make it through the state's snake defense systems (SDS) - speople smuggling snakes into Hawaii as exotic pets for example. Not good at all.

Fortunately, no snake species has been able to gain a presence here. If you spot a snake in Hawaii, call 911 or 586-PEST (7378) right away. And if you brought one in, it may be surrendered without consequence under the state's amnesty program.

Aloha ~

Ali

Malena's Graduation Invitations

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:37:00 GMT

My best friend Malena is finishing up her student teaching block and will soon be graduating from Ohio State!

Now Mal-mal (Malena) and I have been best buds since 5th grade and have done absolutely EVERYTHING together. I have tons of favorite memories... like the time we went paintballing at Hawaii All-Stars, the night she got her first kiss at Kapiolani, our weird and scary sleepover at Ala Moana Beach Park, and the time she bailed from the Oahu Ghost Tour because she had to pee! Haha – we have had some really good times.

Malena has always wanted to be an art teacher and I'm so proud of her accomplishing her dream. I love you little Mal-mal and I can’t wait to see you again!

My makuahine and I taking on the task of creating Malena's graduation invitations and we want them to be super special. We’ve used VistaPrint for this type of project before because we like how you can customize everything (art work, photographs, fonts, paper stock, etc.). We also like how you can proof everything online before placing your order with them.

Pretty slick, but we’re having some difficulty on the creative side so I’m hoping my readers can help out with some suggestions. Here’s what we’re looking at:

Since we’re having Malena’s graduation party at the family home in Waipahu, we’ll need to include specific directions to the residence. The directions are rather long, but we don’t want to take up a great deal of announcement space to include them. Is it appropriate to add an insert with directions?

Since Malena is an artist, we would LOVE to include one of her original creations on the front panel; however the announcement text will need to be over her artwork. Is this in bad taste to put text over her artwork?

And finally, since Malena is a native Hawaiian and a Rainbow Warrior at heart, do you have any suggestions on how we might lay out an Ohio State Buckeye logo that is complimented by a Hawaii Rainbow Warriors logo? I’d really like to do both!

I’m looking forward to reading your suggestions!

Aloha ~

Ali

Pipeline Cafe Dance Club in Downtown Honolulu

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:24:00 GMT

With the tourist season heating back up, I thought I'd blog about my favorite dance club on Oahu, the Pipeline Cafe.

Pipeline Cafe is a super popular 18 and over dance club in downtown Honolulu that also hosts several concerts each month. If you are looking for a large, attractive, younger type crowd (a crowd that includes ME), then Pipeline is definitely the right dance club for you. Pipeline Cafe is open Monday through Saturday but it is closed on Sundays for private parties only.

BTW, Pipeline Cafe is also the largest 18 and older night club on Oahu. Friday nights are my favorites (Foreplay Fridaze) and are hosted by 102.7.

Aloha ~

Ali

Nyce Billy and the Nightclub Scene in Honolulu

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:18:00 GMT

The nightclub scene in Waikiki and Honolulu is every bit as hot as the sun-drenched beaches during the day. Dance clubs are much more laid-back than those in big cities like New York; dress is casual (though sandals, tank tops, and athletic clothing are a no-no) and the best time to show up is after midnight.

Getting lots of play right now is a new singer named Nyce Billy. He's a hip hop artist that was discovered by Felippe “Yo!” Santos and immediately signed to the Everything to Gain Entertainment record label. Nyce Billy took 1st place at the Faces in the Crowds Music Showcase in 2008 and his career has really taken off.

My favorite tune is called “Pour on the Floor” and it can really pack a dance floor! His songs have terific grooves that you can’t help but dance to.

If you want to check out his songs then go to his MySpace page.

Where Do I Go to See a Concert in Honolulu?

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:09:00 GMT

Where do I go to see a concert in Hawaii?

With Diamond Head as it's backdrop and Waikiki Beach directly across the street, the Waikiki Shell is a super location for outdoor concerts and it's within walking distance of the Waikiki hotels!

The ampitheatre seats more than 2,400 people and the surrounding lawn area can handle another 6,000. The tropical climate of Hawaii makes the Waikiki Shell a perfect setting for a memorable afternoon or evening concert.

One of my favorite singers, Sheryl Crow, will be there on April 24th!!

Aloha ~

Ali

Would You Like to Win a Trip to Hawaii?

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 00:01:00 GMT

Would you like to win an all expense paid trip to Hawaii?

Do you have a cell phone?

You can win free trips, iPhones, message bundles, and all kinds of other free cool prizes by sending text messages from your cell phone to the smsnia.com website. Using the exact same method that radio stations use on their "lucky caller" contests, SMSnia.com rewards "lucky texters" with some amazing prizes and lots of fun!

You can join smsnia.com very quickly by setting up an account on their website.

Once you have completed the registration process, you'll be able to enter any of their sweepstakes offerings by sending a text message to and then replying to their confirmation text message that you agree with their terms of service.

Before you start playing, you'll need to browse the various categories and then select the sweepstakes that you want to go for (i.e. cars, home electronics, travel, computers, game consoles, household items, and many more). By clicking on the sweepstakes detail link for the sweepstakes that you choose, you'll be briefed on the three steps describing how to proceed. From there, you can start playing by writing a text message and pressing SEND.

Be the lucky person that you are, and you just might win a trip to Hawaii!

Good luck!

Aloha ~

Ali

Switching to Sprint Mobile Hawaii

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:54:00 GMT

My cell phone contract with AT&T Wireless is up and I'm seriously considering a switch to Sprint.

Sprint phones have come a long long way and that Blackberry 8830 is looking super sweet at $199.99 right now. They also have a nice selection of free phones to choose from so I'm a little torn on whether to go for a sweet freebie like the Sanyo Katana LX or to go ahead and take the deal on the Blackberry. All I know is that I have to choose quickly because the "1 Day Free Bonus Sale" ends at midnight today.

What would you do?

Aloha ~

Ali

Cute Dress for Mai-Tai Cocktail Party

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 20:18:00 GMT

Wow!

As you can tell by today's multiple posts, I'm now getting caught up on things and have some extra time for blogging, chatting, surfing, and SHOPPING!!

I just made a purchase online that was so amazingly good that I had to share it. Sears is having a clearance sale online and they're taking 75% - 80% of their original prices on lots of fall and winter clothing. It's usually not that big of a deal, but today I found the cutest Satin Avalon dress in fuchsia that I'm going to wear to a spring cocktail party next week. It was originally $78 and I bought it for $17.99!

The catalog description says, "this sweet dress mixes sultry satin with a deep, shiny jewel finish. The pin tucked waistline finishes the gown in a pleated style with barely-there spaghetti straps." It looks super sexy to me and my boyfriend is going to love it.

Isn't it adorable??

Here's a screen shot from the website where I bought it. You can view the dress in detail from it's description page on the Sears website. You can even move your cursor over different parts of the dress to get a detailed closeup.

Very cool!

Aloha ~

Ali

Leaving Hawaii for Carefree Living

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 18:51:00 GMT

Where do Hawaiians go for a relaxing Summer vacation you ask...?

Central Florida, of course!

Summer vacation is right around the corner and my dad just booked the timeshare for our fifteenth annual summer excursion to Kissimmee, Florida. Yes, it's our fifteenth annual, yes it's with the WHOLE family, and yes... dad still makes me leave my laptop at home.

I don't mind it a bit though because there are so many things to do there.

One of my favorite things that to do in Kissimmee is to visit the Old Town Shopping, Dining, and Entertainment Complex. Admission is completely free and it's a super fun way to spend the day. My dad is a car buff and he loves Old Town on weekends. On Friday, they feature exotic and custom cars and the following evening there's a "Saturday Nite Cruise" with all kinds of real nice classic cars.

When I want to let go of my worries and be carefree, I like go hiking and sightseeing in Kissimmee's Nature Preserves. There are several in the area but my favorite is the Lake Lizzie Nature Preserve. I can spend hours walking around, and I'm always thrilled to see the nesting bale eagles and endangered whooping cranes.

I can't wait to get out of Hawaii!!

Aloha ~

Ali

Kauai Rain... The Perfume That Is

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:37:00 GMT

I just discovered a perfume called “Kauai Rain” from a company called Hawaiian Classic.

I don’t usually wear perfume and I almost never buy it, but this scent was so unusual – kind of a sweet smell like a butterscotch with a little bit of a floral scent mixed in. I don’t know, I’m probably not doing a very good job of describing it but I thought it was delightful and it came in a cute glass lined porcelain bottle that will look nice on my dresser.

I’m searching to see if anybody has mentioned it on Talk Perfume, and I’m checking to see if it can be purchased on the mainland so stand by…

Aloha ~

Ali

My Best Friend is Graduating!

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:24:00 GMT

USS Arizona Admission is Free

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 23:51:00 GMT

USS Arizona

The USS Arizona is the final resting place for over 1100 American crew members who were killed during the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. A stirring reminder of the historic battle which propelled the United States into World War II, this memorial is a must see while you are on the Island of Oahu.

Admission is Free

The memorial is free, but you'll need to get there early, preferably by 8am (opens at 7:30am). If you get there after 10am the lines can get quite long and you may spend a couple of hours in line. The Battleship USS Missouri and Submarine USS Bowfin are in the same area - interesting to see naturally, but it's okay to skip them if you're pressed for time.

Personal Reflections

There is a short, but very well written blog entry from Bergita Asuncion detailing her recent trip to the memorial. In her final reflection, she describes her visit as a very solemn experience. The Arizona staf encourage absolute quiet while visiting the memorial so that each visitor can ponder their own individual thoughts.

BTW, Pearl Harbor is next door to Aloha Stadium if you're in town for the Aloha Bowl!

Veterans Day in Oahu

I'll be addressing Oahu Veterans Day activities in a future blog entry as there is a parade in Wahiawa that I hope you are able to attend.

Please consider subscribing to my blog if you find it to be interesting and helpful.

Aloha ~

Related Links:
Find Dollar Rent A Car Coupons at FindSavings.com

The Hawaii Travel Blog Spreads it's Wings

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 01:19:00 GMT

I just added this blog to a new blog portal I created at FeedCluster called Hawaii Travel Resources.

FeedCluster is what they call a blog aggregators hosting website - a place where you can find thousands of categorized and searchable feeds from all over the world. Placing the Hawaii Travel Blog on the FeedCluster aggregator can be equated to submitting it to a blog directory, however there is one substantial difference. The aggregator will find and post updates from my feeds automatically, and it will mix in other related feeds that meet my aggregator's description.

If you have a Hawaii related blog and you would like to add it to my Hawaii Travel Resources aggregator, you can do it in just a few seconds from the FeedCluster signup page. It's very easy, and you don't even have to enter your feed address because FeedCluster will find the feed from your blog address all by itself. Only Hawaii blogs are allowed to be submitted to this aggregator, however you can still submit your blog feeds to related aggregators by searching for ones that are relevant to your blog niches. There are hundreds of aggregators you can choose from. Otherwise, you can also create your very own aggregator.

You can also choose a widget and embed it in your blog like the the "ticker widget" that I have embedded in this post. With the widget, you can view all of latest blog posts from the aggregator without visiting the site - kinda' cool!

Aloha ~

Ali

Should I Buy Travel Insurance Before Flying to Hawaii

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:21:00 GMT

Q. Ali, Do you recommend that I purchase some type of travel insurance policy before flying to Hawaii?

A. Great question which I will first answer with a question of my own...

Have you ever heard of Murphy's Law?

Simply put, Murphy's Law states that "anything that can go wrong will go wrong." Another way to interpret Murphy's Law is that the most inconvenient turn of events is also the most likely to occur.

For this reason alone I like and recommend travel insurance.

Travel insurance is super cheap nowadays and it allows for the all-important traveler peace of mind. Medical treatment and hospital costs on the island can be very expensive, particularly if something serious happens. A medical evacuation back to the mainland for instance can easily cost over $50,000 and in many cases this is not covered by ordinary insurance. Yes, getting travel insurance is well worth the investment.

Obtaining a reliable and cheap travel insurance policy is easy these days by shopping around online. All you really have to do is type in, "cheap travel insurance", on your browser and dozens of travel insurance brokers will appear.

If you'd like a suggestion I like CheapTravelInsurance.com the best. They're an easy name to remember AND they go beyond the traditional travel medical expense coverages by offering trip cancellation insurance and insurance for specific activities like scuba diving and white water rafting.

Aloha ~

Ali

Getting to Hanauma Bay

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 02:11:00 GMT

Are you interested in snorkeling at one of the most pristine and coveted snorkeling locations in the world?

Let's talk about getting to Hanauma Bay.

Hanauma Bay is located within driving distance of the beaches of Waikiki - in your rental car or by taking one of the many guided tours on a shuttle bus. The downside to driving your own vehicle is that there is a limit on cars that are permitted in the parking lot. When that lot becomes full, then that's it - no more cars are admitted. Some people prefer to take a shuttle because of this policy, and some opt to take a regular bus to the crater and walk in. The walk is rather steep, but it only takes about ten minutes.

If you are planning on visiting Hanauma Bay, you should take measures to arrive early. The best times to arrive are either in the early morning or in the mid afternoon (after the early visitors leave).

Aloha ~

Ali

Related Links:
Mele Kalikimaka Aloha from Across the Pacific
Free Pictures

125 Member Punahou High School Marching Band Representing Hawaii in the 2009 Barack Obama Inauguration Parade

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:21:00 GMT

Performing the songs "Aloha Oe," "Men of Punahou" and "Brahms Symphony Number One, the 125 member Punahou High School Marching Band will be marching down Pennsylvania Avenue in the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Parade - immediately after the Barack Obama swearing-in ceremony. The band will be joined by 17 junior ROTC marching unit and six varsity cheerleaders.

The opportunity is a special one because Mr. Obama graduated from Punahou School in 1979.

"I'm just really thankful that we have the opportunity to represent our school, but more importantly, the state of Hawaii and we're going to do the best that we can with it," Brent Nagamine said. "I think for our students, it's an amazing opportunity for our students to think about what they could become in the future," Darin Au, Punahou Music Department Head, said.

Aloha ~

Ali

Related Links:
2008 Kailua 4th Of July Independence Day Parade
Compare Debt Consolidation

Mahalo to my Top Entrecard Droppers for December 2008

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 13:49:00 GMT

Are you an Entrecard Dropper?

I just wanted to show some link love and say mahalo to my top Entrecard
droppers for December, 2008.

Comedy Plus	26
DedeAndro™	23
Wishing On A Falling Star	23
Make Money Online	23
Start Your Own Blog	23
Cheapest Airfare	22
Mariuca's Perfume Gallery	22
Money Maker Times	22
Rental Car Bargains	21
Confessions of a Fitness Diva

Aloha ~

Ali

Related Links:
Alan Wong's in Honolulu
The Honolulu International Airport is the Hub to All Hawaii
Kanye West in Honolulu

Merry Christmas! Or as We Say it On the Island... Mele Kalikimaka!

aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:40:00 GMT

Thanks for being my friends for another year. Here's wishing you a Happy Christmas or as we say on the island Mele Kalikimaka!

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day
That's the island greeting that we send to you from the land where palm trees sway
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say Merry Christmas to you

The Andrew Sisters:
Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawian Christmas day
That's the island greeting that we send to you from the land where palm trees sway
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say Merry Christmas to you

The Andrew Sisters and Bing Crosby:
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say Merry Christmas to you

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day
Thats the island greeting that we send to you from the land where palm trees sway
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way to say Merry Christmas a
very merry christmas , a very, very, merry, Merry Christmas to you!

Aloha ~

Ali

Related Posts:
Mele Kalikimaka and Personalized Christmas Cards
Mele Kalikimaka Aloha from Across the Pacific
Wishing Your Hawaiian Friends Well on Holidays