It’s always at least a little breezy at Lapakahi State Historical Park, and the day I was there, it was so windy that my younger daughter almost got blown off her feet. This is on the dry, leeward side of Hawaii’s Big Island, up north past all the luxury hotels that line South Kohala Coast. The strong wind was clearly a deterrent for many travelers to this part of the Big Island; besides my family, I saw only five other people while there (and two were scurrying back to their car, hands firmly holding their sun hats to their heads). I lost the rest of my family quickly. First one daughter, then the other, hustled back to our rental car to get out of the wind. My spouse lasted perhaps five minutes, then he, too, retired to the safety of the car. Left with only the sound of wind whipping past boulders and gnarled, weather-toughened trees, I felt excited and a bit intrepid — it’s not the first time my family left me alone to wander during a trip. Here, at Lapakahi State Historical Park, it felt appropriate to be alone. This is an isolated, lonely place to be.

Old Hawaii History and Culture on a Historical Park Hike (Jennifer Miner)

The state park protects an ancient fishing village, estimated to be 800 years old. Lapakahi was once thriving in its own hardscrabble way, with fishermen and farmers alike working hard to provide for their ohana. Now, south of this tip of The Big (Hawaii) Island is lovely, and seasonally packed to the gills with holiday travelers. Most of them, with leisure on their minds, never make the 30-45 minute drive up from South Kohala or Kona. But Hawaiian history and culture is evidenced all around this wide open space. It’s a wonderful experience to be able to walk slowly through these structures and be reminded that Hawaii was once home to many, much more intrepid people than I, before it became one of the most sought-after US tourist destinations.

There’s a one-mile footpath, a loop that requires a little dexterity and mild physical exertion on less windy days. Today, the wind whips tropical palm fronds (and my hair!) with impunity. I hold onto a boulder now and then to ensure I remain upright. First, a hale, or house site, next to a rock-filled platform that was once used for multiple burials. Next, a rock shelter, used by the earliest settlers here while constructing their traditional thatched roof hales. Painted stones act as markers, but it’s impossible to get lost on the rock-lined path. With no one else in sight, the open ocean in front of me and the small parking lot hidden behind, standing at this spot feels like I’ve reached the end of the Earth.

Taro Garden in Lapakahi State Historical Park, Hawaii (Jennifer Miner)

The sloping footpath leads me down to Koai’e Cove, and around several partially standing structures. One is a canoe halau; only the boulders remain of what was once a thatched structure to house a canoe. Fishing nets would be cast from canoes to catch opah, mahi mahi, and other local fish. There is a complex of hale ruins north of the cove here, and a small garden is still tended to today. Yes, that’s the taro plant, used for poi. Fish from the sea, and poi from the ground made up most of the diet of the villagers long ago.

It can take as little as half an hour for photo-opportunity oriented tourists to walk the footpath, take a few shots of the vista, and prepare to return to their hotels. Should you come here, there will be probably only a few other people present, if any, so consider slowing down to explore the site. Take an hour to experience the ancient village. Near the canoe halau, find the ko’a, a small fishing shrine. Down by Koai’e Cove, the ocean waves crash relentlessly against the untenable shoreline, just as they did 800 years ago.

Tree at Lapakahi State Historical Park Trail (Jennifer Miner)

A lot can happen in 800 years; the stone structures have to be maintained by the Department of Land & Natural Resources here, but their touch is light. The village ruins look lost in time, as does this stretch of shoreline and lava rock-strewn ground. A weathered, long-fallen tree silhouettes against the bright blue sky. Perhaps eight centuries ago, that old fallen tree was young, and grew facing the surf. Maybe children climbed it, or collected its leaves and branches for fire. You can almost see those children, and hear their laughter in the wind. Sitting on a rock along the path, feeling the sun on your face and looking out at the open water, it’s easy to feel the timelessness of this part of the Big Island.

Lapakahi State Historical Park Hike in Hawaii (Jennifer Miner)

Finally picking my way back to the small visitors’ parking lot, I soon found myself enclosed in our little rental car. The girls were laughing and boisterous in the back seat, the radio was tuned to pop music, and my spouse greeted me loudly while crinkling a map open. Reentering my raucous family space meant reentering my own time and space. A piece of me, however, is left forever at the Lapakahi State Historical Park, quietly wandering the windy grounds. If you want to take a break from drinking poolside mai tais on the Big Island, consider taking an hour or two to explore this special place. And if you have long hair, don’t forget to take a hair band.

A good day, but not a good hair day (D. Miner)

I wasn’t exactly sure what my family and I were getting into when we secured tickets to experience THE RIDE. I tried explaining what little I knew to my mom, who’d planned to accompany me on the tour: “We get on a bus, with stadium-style seating, so we’re sitting sideways and looking out at Manhattan through huge windows. There will be people who will entertain us on the streets. — sort of like an improv show.”

Indeed, THE RIDE is a little hard to understand and explain before you set foot on the huge, $1.3 million, retro-fitted motorcoach. Even after I experienced it with my mom, kids and husband during our Thanksgiving vacation last year, I’m hesitant to share all the details about our 75-minute midtown tour, since the element of surprise — “What’s coming up next?” “What wacky person will we meet now?” — is so fun!

THE RIDE begins at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square.

Upon entering the bus, we made our way to the top of three rows of theatre-style seats. Not only could we see the cityscape in front of us, but also the early evening sky via windows above. We were greeted by two upbeat hosts, who started cracking jokes and interacting with the riders immediately.

That's one of our hosts in the corner, dressed in holiday finery.

As we passed various landmarks, such as Grand Central Terminal, we learned city history and trivia.

We certainly attracted a lot of attention as we made our way from Times Square toward Rockefeller Center and up toward Columbus Circle. The bus is the tallest mode of transportation allowed in New York City, and the exterior is brightly colored and illuminated. Of course, the moving theatre is hard to ignore when THE RIDE hosts turn on the speaker so that people outside on the streets can hear them. Couple that with a a few dozen strangers waving  from the bus, and innocent bystanders must be thinking, “What the heck is this?”

Along the way, hosts introduced us to key landmarks in midtown Manhattan — sharing historic facts in an entertaining way, namely by talking to the bus (aka the personified “THE RIDE,” which spoke in a booming voice) and detailing trivia via interior screens.

THE RIDE shares info about places seen on the tour and tells jokes in a booming voice.

The highlight of the entertainment, though, was definitely when we encountered professional performers planted on the streets. Again, I don’t want to spoil all the fun by sharing too many details, but chances are when you go on THE RIDE, you’ll meet singers and dancers who let it rip on city sidewalks. The most entertaining part? Watching nonplussed New Yorkers stride right by the break dancers and tap dancers, as if nothing out of the ordinary is going on!

We met this New York City newcomer, who was looking for a Broadway theatre, late for an audition!

I’d say the only drawback of THE RIDE is that at times it felt like we were going in circles, passing some of the same buildings and Times Square billboards. It would be cool if THE RIDE could have taken us a bit further afield. I recognize, though, what an endeavor it is to put together such an intricate itinerary, with performers on the streets waiting for the big ol’ motorcoach to appear to do their thing. The logistics of what might happen if a traffic accident occurred in the midst of a tour could also get messy if we were many blocks away from our startend point of Times Square. Plus, if the tour ventured into other neighborhoods, it would be longer, and the cost would escalate.

Indeed, THE RIDE is a pricey experience for NYC visitors — $69 per person for the 75-minute event (no discounts for children; with no toilets on board, the tour is recommended for children ages 9 and up). That said, what isn’t pricey in New York City? If you’ve already been-there-done-that on typical Manhattan sightseeing attractions — like the double-decker bus tours — I would indeed recommend THE RIDE.

THE RIDE operates mainly on the weekends for the next couple months, with more weekday times added in March and April. Check out the schedule to see if there’s a tour that might fit in with your next visit to the Big Apple.

Thanks to THE RIDE for providing tickets for me and my family to experience this unusual attraction in New York City!

I know it’s cliche, but at this time of year — as 2011 comes to a close — I can’t help but reflect on what a good year it’s been for The Vacation Gals. As always, we’ve enjoyed sharing our firsthand travel tips and vacation destinations with our loyal readers (thanks for sticking with us over the last two years!). We were interviewed by media outlets, such as More.com — I even appeared live from Oahu’s Aulani resort on a local Denver news program. We presented talks and served on panels at industry conferences, such as Travel Blog Exchange, North American Travel Journalists Association and BlogWorld & New Media Expo. And it’s always nice to pick up some awards for our work: in February, NATJA named us the top independent travel blog.

It’s certainly been a time of change for my colleague TwinCitiesGal Beth Blair, who went back to work as a flight attendant after a 7-year hiatus! It’s been a busy year for all of us — juggling our work, our other websites and our families. In fact, this is the first year since 2007 that the three of us have not been in one place together in person! Sure, we email almost every day, and talk on the phone occasionally, but I think back to the three of us having a ball together over the years in places like Kansas City and Park City…. well, we definitely have to rectify that in 2012. Here’s hoping the three of us can gather at TBEX in Keystone, Colorado, this June — if not figure out a way to meet before then!

Although the three of us didn’t meet up in person somewhere in 2011, we did enjoy some pretty amazing trips with our families and our husbands. Here are my favorite The Vacation Gals travel posts from this year:

Averill’s Flathead Lake Lodge, by Twin Cities Gal Beth Blair: Taking the long scenic route to get there from their Minnesota home, Beth and her family drove to this dude ranch in Montana. I remember reading Beth’s Tweets as they left the flat Midwest and first spotted the snow-capped Rockies — pure delight! The Blairs spent an entire week at Flathead Lake Lodge feasting on gourmet meals, horseback riding, canoeing, swimming, roasting marshmallows and generally relaxing together in the great outdoors.

Bike Tour of Lucca, Italy, by SoCalGal Jennifer Miner: The way that Jen described her family’s bike excursion in the small town of Lucca, Italy… well, it made me want to hop on a plane with my own active family to explore the medieval town on two wheels! It sounded like such a nice change of pace from the big crowds at the Coliseum; I like that you can eat a big midday meal of pizza and pasta, and then work off some of those calories on a bike!

Making Family Connections at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, by ColoradoGal Kara Williams: My trip to Oahu with my husband in May was a bit of a last-minute getaway (courtesy of the Oahu Visitors Bureau). What an absolute treat it was to snorkel, stand-up paddle, kayak and eat my way through Honolulu with him — no kids! But our most poignant excursion took place at Pearl Harbor, where my husband’s grandfather was stationed on December 7, 1941. Not only was I incredibly impressed with the site’s recent expansion and renovation — the museum exhibits are excellent — but after digging into family history a bit, I uncovered some fascinating personal connections to this important historic place.

We hope your 2012 travels bring you similar exciting, rewarding and fun-filled experiences. Best wishes for a marvelous New Year.

Bright blue sky and cottonball clouds en route to Norfolk.

From New York’s JFK to our initial descent into the sky above Hampton Roads, Virginia, an incredible cloud bank outside my window preoccupied my thoughts, so that the only thing on my mind was beauty. Not, the highly destructive relationship I had with my father growing up… which was the only tie binding me in any way to Norfolk, Virginia, prior to this trip. He was born on the Naval base in Norfolk, largest in the United States. All my knowledge of the city stemmed from my knowledge of him. Not much to recommend a place! However, the cloud formation parted to reveal a silvery, shimmering sea and the beginning of a port city with clues like an over-water bridge and white sails tossing sunlight back from boats making their way out to sea.

I steeled myself for a city full of memories. Memories that weren’t even mine. Could I like Norfolk given my weak, but no less poignantly negative, connection to it?

Landing and finding my driver, appropriately named Elvis because he had the King’s easy grin and smooth voice, began to thaw my negative emotions. I watched inlets and bridges speed past the windows of our SUV on the short ride into town, which was perhaps the quickest commute I’ve ever experienced from an airport to a city center. Arriving at The Tazewell Hotel immediately convinced me I might have been wrong all along about Norfolk. No sad memories lay waiting in dark corners, no haunting pasts were creeping around columns. Norfolk bears a simple, happy cheerfulness that is hard to attribute. From the accessible size of the city to the friendliness of its inhabitants and even the newness of its buildings that retain a sense of history even made with new materials — it was hard to find fault in any immediate impression.

My first day in Norfolk continued to ease my now irrational fears as I experienced the best meatloaf sandwich I have ever had at quirky-but-cozy Ten Top, took in a glass-blowing demonstration at the Glass  Studio at the Chrysler Museum of Art, stood awestruck in the largest collection of Tiffany Glass in America inside the main Chrysler Museum and even as I rode The Tide light rail, so clean it could have been days old.

Tastiest meatloaf sandwich ever at Norfolk's Ten Top restaurant.

Norfolk is not a flashy metropolis full of LCD billboards, street performers and a Starbucks on every corner. This Hampton Roads port makes a point of artisan coffee houses, Southern hospitality and an appreciation of beauty as well as social and environmental responsibility. The headquarters of PETA are in Norfolk. Women are addressed as, “Ma’am.” Dinner is an occasion to ditch jeans and try a dress.

As I drifted to sleep in my comfortable suite at The Tazewell, local Virginian wine filled my happy belly and I rode a wave of tipsiness into a dreamland filled with men in dress whites saluting me from the bow of a ship. The second day of my getaway to Virginia would provide more than enough chances to glimpse bows of ships. Alas, no sailors. Yet my first turn on a Segway proved fruitful and I mastered the tricky device far quicker than my companions. Past ships, a tea house gifted by Taiwan to the city of Norfolk and ancient brownstones on bumpy cobblestone, tree-lined streets we rode.

The farther I drove my Segway, the more I came to adore the places passing my vision. A turn in a kayak down the waterways which helm the city in, while also cutting it into pieces, reminded me of a more temperate Boston. Yet it was the local wine festival that followed our morning and completed our day that truly did away with any lingering negativity I still harbored. I learned that Virginia’s climate lends itself well to wine production and that Travel + Leisure proclaimed Virginia one of five up-and-coming wine regions that are a must-visit for those travelers who go where the wine is best.

Norfolk is known as an up-and-coming wine region; sample varietals at an annual autumn wine festival.

Board the American Rover sailing ship for a cruise around Hampton Roads Harbor.

The next morning, my last in Norfolk — I turned my face to the wind on the bow of the American Rover sailing ship and realized that the only way one might leave and still not have fallen in love with Norfolk is if one has a predisposition to a place that has almost all of the cosmopolitan offerings of a city such as Chicago, yet with the pace of life in rural Louisiana. Hampton Roads is an area of the South nearly overflowing with cultural and historical significance to the story of who and what America is. Cannon balls are still embedded in the stone walls of homes in the oldest neighborhoods. However, there is no 24-hour Chinese delivery in Norfolk, as there is in New York. Even while looking forward to my home and cheap dumplings in Chinatown, I realized my heart has more room than I knew. And my mind is open enough to know that the past, even when alive and present in a place, holds no sway that we do not give it over our present. When I think of Norfolk now, I smile.

PhotoGal Kirsten Alana has been a professional photographer for nearly a decade and uses that now to fuel her second love: travel. Her iPhone photographs (a new medium from her previous 35mm) have been featured in galleries, won awards and are in the homes of private collectors. Alas, her iPhone was stolen in London before she was able to backup her photos from her trip to Norfolk, Virginia (every photographer’s nightmare); the above images are those Kirsten salvaged from Instagram. Follow the travel photographer, writer and social media consultant on Twitter @kirstenalana.

Thanks to the Norfolk Convention & Visitors Bureau for hosting Kirsten’s visit to Virgina.

Travelers familiar with the Hawaiian islands like to say that each island is special in its own way, and there’s no doubt that this is true. Waikiki in Oahu, with its cosmopolitan glitz, upscale restaurants, and multiple shopping areas both high end and cheap, appeals to a different kind of vacation than one in which the traveler seeks a sense of history, spirituality, and culture. Or so I thought. A recent trip to Waikiki showed me that there is indeed that respect for Hawaii’s history and culture; you just need to know where to look. I found it at the annual celebration of the birthday of Hawaii’s last crown princess, Victoria Ka’iulani.

Hawaii's Princess Ka'iulani in London, 1895

She was born October 16, 1875 in Honolulu, she was named (in part) after Queen Victoria, she spoke several languages fluently, and her name means “the royal sacred one” in Hawaiian. Princess Victoria Ka’iulani was the last crown princess of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Born in 1875, she was abroad, studying in England as a teenager when the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown in 1893 — she returned home, and died in 1899 at age 23. It’s a sad story; while medically she died of pneumonia, Hawaiians say she actually died of a broken heart.

Today, the OHANA Waikiki East Hotel by Outrigger Hotels & Resorts stands where her home once was. Her birthday is celebrated every October 16th, and the hotel management assists in respecting and honoring the memory of this young woman who worked so hard for her disenfranchised people.

A statue commemorating Princess Ka’iulani stands in a square outside of the OHANA Waikiki East Hotel. I was in Oahu during the days that her birthday is celebrated; it’s a remarkable thing to stand a few feet a way from the rush and commerce of Waikiki (buses discharging passengers, chain restaurant employees taking cigarette breaks) and witness this tradition. Several Royal Societies of Hawaii, in garb both old and new, pay their respects. Young men blow conch shells for a call to attention, and the Sons and Daughters of Hawaiian Warriors, Chiefly Tribes, and descendants of the royal family and their guards all attend to honor and protect the family.

A lei-draping ceremony is open to any who want to take part. The bustle of the city fades to background noise as a slow procession of adults and children honor the memory of their last princess. Her full name is sung: Victoria Ka’iulani Kalaninuiahilapalapa Kawekiu i Lunalilo Cleghorn. Her statue is draped and covered, ceremonially, with hala and maile leis, as well leis made of other native Hawaiian flowers. Senses of spirituality and stillness touch each of us present, even if just for a moment.

After the ceremony is complete, visitors look around; we’re still in Waikiki and there are the buses and taxis, there are all the stores. There are the high-rise hotels. This part of Hawaii changed more than any other since the 19th century, but look carefully. You’ll see the culture of Oahu still evidenced.

Coline Aiu is the current president of the Ahahui Ha’iulani society, created to preserve the culture and traditions of Hawaiian royalty. She consults with hotel developers like Outrigger in Hawaii, to ensure that respect for Hawaiian history and culture is balanced with the needs for lodging on the popular vacation islands. She told me that the fern draped at the feet of the statue is used specifically because it is  “so fragrant, it’s sometimes compared to a sweetheart. We use the laua’e because it is one of the leis mentioned in the song that we sing on her day, ‘Lei No Ka’iulani.’” The warmth and appreciation expressed by Coline Aiu perfectly matches the warmth and appreciation of the lei-draping ceremony.

Hawaii is obviously now part of the United States, we all know that. But it’s a state like no other in our country, and is the land of the only royal family our country has really had. Princess Ka’iulani is interred at the Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii, in Honolulu. Her memory lives on in the hearts and minds of her descendants, all Hawaiians, and now, this visitor as well.

Waikiki is bustling, no doubt about it. As urban as Hawaii gets, Waikiki is the state’s epicenter for commerce. Oahu itself isn’t ALL skyscrapers and office buildings, but it’s easy to lose sight of that while in Waikiki. Tourists here want the luxury goods, I assume, and are less eager to seek out cultural experiences while on this Hawaii vacation. But the history and culture of a deposed, circumscribed people (a familiar tale seen in many tropical idylls throughout the world) is honored and respected in several corners, quietly, without overly much pomp or fanfare. Thank you, Outrigger Hotels & Resorts, for opening your properties to the memory and culture of those who lived on this land before you.

It’d been years since I’d hiked the popular Hanging Lake trail outside of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, so when a sunny, warm autumn day presented itself a couple weekends ago, I rallied the entire family for a 2.4-mile (roundtrip) scenic trek not too far from our mountain home. The trailhead for this moderately steep path to a gorgeous emerald green lake fed by a gushing waterfall is right off of busy Interstate 70. Easily accessible, the Hanging Lake trail is an incredibly popular place to be on Saturday mornings through the summer months. We knew to get started on our adventure relatively early, and were thrilled to score one of the last available parking places at exit 125 (eastbound only) at 10 a.m.

At the start of the paved path that leads to the actual trail, a sign warns out-of-towners that this is a “difficult” route. Indeed, if you’re coming from sea level, the vertical incline combined with thin mountain air can be challenging, for sure. But I spotted kids as young as four years old at the top of the trail who made it on their own two feet, so if your kiddos are active and avid hikers, they shouldn’t have a problem ascending to Hanging Lake. (My kids ages 9 and 11 made it without too much complaint; the elder is a gazelle on the trail, the younger a bit of a plodder and needs more encouragement.)

Along the way, we passed passed a babbling brook, crossed seven bridges, and admired all sorts of funky cliffs and rock formations. Many parts of the trail are shaded by evergreen and deciduous trees.

The toughest part is the tippy top, where metal railings are built into the side of a cliff, where it helps if you have long legs to climb up steps built into the rock. We posed for a quick family photo before reaching the summit.

Our reward was an absolutely stunning green pool of water at the bottom of a couple of waterfalls. Smartly built around the lake is a boardwalk and many benches for resting.

Walk another couple of minutes to where the waterfall begins for another cool sight: spouting rock. It’s as if the water that feeds the pool that feeds the waterfalls that feed Hanging Lake originates from the side of the cliff. You can also walk behind spouting rock to cool of in the refreshing (read: cold) pouring water.

In all, a delightful way to spend a Saturday morning in autumn. Again, if you go, your best bet is to arrive at the parking lot well before 10 a.m. On our trek down we passed a lot more people coming up than we did earlier in the day (i.e. we enjoyed the peace and quiet earlier in the day). And on our walk back to our parked car, we found it overflowing! People we driving around like vultures just waiting for other cars to leave so they could swoop in.

Another tip: Please oh please dress appropriately. That is in comfortable clothing, and in this autumn weather, that means long shorts or yoga pants, a tank top or t-shirt and a light jacket. Layers are key! What’s not key: the turtleneck sweater, dark jeans and black leather dress boots I saw one touron out-of-town visitor wearing as she attempted to ascend the trail comfortably. This is an “off road” adventure — dress the part! And don’t forget your bottles of water, at least one per person. After all, you want to stay hydrated to reach the top to enjoy incredible views like this. Have fun!

Waikiki Beach Walk is an unavoidable neighborhood for anyone staying in Waikiki during a Hawaii vacation. High-end shops full of luxury goods line the streets, restaurants both chain and classy can be found, and hotels that strive to impart a sense of ohana dot the eight acres of this shopper’s paradise.

In the past, Waikiki Beach Walk was a mess; tall buildings right up on the sidewalk, no designated loading zones for the stores and restaurants, and slow-moving tourists equaled congestion unlike anywhere else in the state. Fortunately, the completion of a long-term renovation leaves Waikiki Beach Walk much more traversable, with some green areas, and several high rises knocked down to create more air and light. Good thing, too. The previously unrestricted development of high rise buildings and ugly storefronts was practically an affront to what Hawaii stands for. This renovation was overdue, and worth it. Waikiki deserves this colorful, lively and fun cosmopolitan area after all those years of grim buildings and belching delivery trucks. I applaud the new Waikiki Beach Walk.

As with any popular, thriving city destination, Waikiki Beach Walk often gets new restaurants and shops. These are a few I enjoyed dining in or shopping in during a recent trip to Oahu.

Restaurant Picks in Waikiki Beach Walk

1. Kaiwa Waikiki: Based in Toyko, Kaiwa featured the best quality teppan fusion Japanese fare and a huge sake menu. The setting is very sophisticated and chic, with tables laid out to give a feeling of privacy despite the bustle of the popular restaurant.  I prefer the traditional shoes-off, sit at a low table type of deal when dining at authentic Japanese restaurants such as this. Some sushi rolls, sashimi, and sake are three “S” words that suit a vacation in the South Pacific well.
2. Taormina Sicilian Cuisine: What do you think of when you think of southern Italian fare? Messy red sauce spaghetti may come to mind. Forget all that — at Taormina, southern Italy is presented in the classic, classy style. Lobster and fish fresh from the sea, in traditional Italian spices, are presented in a truly elegant dining area. Antipasti, primi piatti, pesci, carne and other courses are delicious..and filling! Try to save room for the dolci course. After all, if you ever don’t want to pass on dessert, it’s while you’re on vacation.
3. Roy’s Waikiki: Chef and restauranteur Roy Yamaguchi is practically synonymous with high-end fare done right in Hawaii. Roy himself oversees all the Roy’s in Hawaii, while the few scattered throughout the southwestern and western US states are franchises. Come experience Roy’s as he fully intended it to be, on Waikiki Beach Walk. A strong emphasis of seafood indicates the importance of freshness and locality to his dishes, and many are delectable. I must say that the miso cod and short ribs at Roy’s Waikiki are just about worth the air fare to Hawaii in and of themselves.

Shopping Picks in Waikiki Beach Walk

There are a wide array of shops on Waikiki Beach Walk. Some shops are a little on el cheapo side of things (hello, Crazy Shirts) while others are absolutely stocked with luxury souvenir goods.

The ubiquitous ABC Stores outlet here is as good as any of the many, many other ABC Stores throughout the island chain; handy for one dollar puka necklaces and forgotten sundry items, it’s always worth a walk-through.

Drool over the sparkly jewelry at Maui Divers Jewelry, Na Pua Jewelers and Na Hoku. Get souvenirs of a more upscale ilk at Kuloko Arts Hawaii, Peter Lik Gallery, and Under the Koa Tree.

Cross the street to see Skye’s Koa & Ukelele shop. Skye’s Koa and Ukelele is right in the Outrigger Reef on the Beach; it’s a beautiful store, in a beautiful and friendly resort.

You can even get a spa treatment on Waikiki Beach Walk (Serenity Spa and The Shiatsu & Massage Center), though I didn’t try either of these for myself. All in all, a tourist is bound to find whatever he or she wants as a souvenir here.

Now, there are tons of chain stores, and chain restaurants in Waikiki Beach Walk. You know, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Cheesecake Factory and the like. These were all popular with tourists, and from what I could see, doing great business. However, Kaiwa, Taormina, and Roy’s are special. And isn’t a sense of speciality one of the reasons you planned a trip to Hawaii in the first place? Any of these restaurants will add to the great memories of a vacation in Oahu, Hawaii.

Honolulu