We're typically low-key travelers who prefer affordable places to stay that are easy to get to and conveniently located near the activities we enjoy. However, the booking of our Hawaii trip was a bit last minute because we had to cancel our Puerto Rico plans. That meant that almost all the Big Island hotels in the Kailua-Kona area were near capacity and we had to book whatever was left. We decided ... Read more
An Unforgettable Hawaii Beach Day | False Ballistic Missile Threat
When you wake up one morning, grab breakfast and begin to get ready for a beach day, you don't expect to hear what sounds like an Amber Alert ringing on your phone. I looked at my screen and read aloud the words I was seeing: Extreme alert BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL." This is not a drill. How could this be? I immediately suspected a ... Read more
Family-Friendly Snorkeling at Kahaluu Beach Park
When we decided to visit the Big Island again, I wondered if the beaches would be suitable for a toddler. Many of the beaches we had visited during our Hawaii honeymoon in 2014 were rocky and the waves were sometimes rough. We were pleasantly surprised by how family-friendly Kahaluu Beach Park, a popular snorkeling beach in Hawaii, turned out to be. The park doesn't have a huge chunk of sand, ... Read more
Big Island Fun: Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii
Rainbow Falls in Hilo, Hawaii, seems be a popular attraction on the Big Island. It's easily accessible and free, so visitors of all ages can see its beauty. Even if you've been there before, Rainbow Falls is worth revisiting because you just might catch a glimpse of a rainbow in front of the waterfall, depending on the weather. We first went to Rainbow Falls during our honeymoon on the Big ... Read more
Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, Hawaii
I really wanted to visit Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park in Hawaii during our honeymoon to the Big Island in 2014, but sadly we weren't able to make it happen. The national park was on my list for our second visit to the island for its historical importance. I like to mix historical and entertainment activities when visiting a place to really learn about a place and its ... Read more