Honolulu Condos

Ala Moana Beach Park, Magic Island - Honolulu City By Night

Ala Moana Beach Park is one of my favorite places as it is a very quick and easy escape, llocated just a couple of blocks from where I livein West Waikiki.

I had the most wonderful night with a friend. When I finsihed work, I had a great idea and called a good friend. I suggested that we bring a bottle of wine, pick up some food at Ala Moana Shopping Center and cross the street to watch the sunset go down from Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park. My timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

I rushed home, took a quick shower and changed my clothes. My friend had already gotten off of work and was ready to go. Unfortunately by the time we got out the front door it was 6:20 p.m. We knew we would miss the sunset entirely. The sun sets around 7:00 p.m. and we still needed to pick up food from Shirokiya. We continued with our plan anyways. We could still catch the dying light. Even after the sun has set the sky is still beautiful and alive with shades of red, orange and yellows.

We pick up food at Shirokiya from Ala Moana Shopping Center because they have Japanese bento style foods that we both like. We took the bentos to go. We were both hungry and excited to start eating. We bought stir fried lotus root, tako balls with benito shavings, seaweed and kabocha squash. We were trying to find a small tray of simple mochi for dessert but we couldn’t find any. We did find sweet potato dumplings instead. They were so delicious. We had a really good light but flavorful pinot noir that I had brought back with me to go with it all.

We parked our car and walked into Magic Island, a section of Ala Moana Beach Park. We wanted to sit on one of the benches that face out to the ocean towards the sunset but we ended up sitting at the first bench that we saw. It was angled mainly facing the city instead of out into the ocean. It was fine with us. The other benches looked occupied already. We opened up our bentos, placed them between us, uncorked the wine and filled our glasses.

Magic Island is such a great place to be at this time. It’s not completely isolated where we were the only ones there. A few families were still sitting at their picnic areas enjoying each other’s company. We saw couples and friends sitting at the tables. Fishermen were on the rock wall with their lines and lanterns. We saw one person on the shore with a light. I assumed he was trying to catch bait fish.

Though we missed the sunset we still enjoyed a great view of the city and the night lights coming on. It was a most beautiful evening. We sat on the bench eating the most delicious foods and drinking a great glass of red wine. Watching the day light fade away and seeing the city lights brighten was a nice experience. Ala Moana Shopping Center shining below and above the tree line of Ala Moana Park was a most interesting site.

As we ate I explained the group of lights that we saw in the distance crawling up the side of the mountain slope as being Pearl City. Then looking at the city buildings I told him what I knew about them.  At least I knew which building was which when we looked at them before it got too dark to distinguish them at night. We discussed which building we liked better. When we finished with our dinner, we lingered on to enjoy the city skyline.

While we sat there we had a nice surprise. I was looking at the city enjoying my wine when I noticed that everything got a little brighter. I looked around thinking that it was a car. Then I noticed our faint shadow on the ground. It turned out to be the moon. It was a little more than half full and it was so bright that it cast our shadows in front of us. It was a beautiful evening with great company, good food, good wine and a terrific view. We walked back to the car feeling extremely satisfied.

Honolulu Zoo in Hawaii- One of Oahu's Hidden Treasures

Too often overlooked by visitors to Honolulu and Waikiki, the Honolulu Zoo is one of the island of Oahu's hidden treasures.

Located in Kapi'oplani Park between the hotels and resorts of Waikiki and Diamond Head, the Honolulu Zoo is an easy walk from most Waikiki hotels.

The only zoo within 2300 miles, the Honolulu Zoo features many species of animals that you won't see in any mainland zoo, including a family of Komodo Dragons, Sumatran Tigers and several species unique to Hawaii such as the Hawaii State Bird, the Nene.

Find our more about the Honolulu Zoo at About.com, Hawaii and South Pacific Travel.

Or, view a gallery of 84 photos taken at the Honolulu Zoo.

And, if you're interested in owning a home or a vacation property walking distance to the zoo, the neighborhoods of Diamond Head and Waikiki offer many excellent opportunities.

Visit Ala Moana Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii, one of the prettiest and largest outdoor malls in Hawaii.  Located in the Ala Moana neighborhood and across from the huge Ala Moana waterfront park, thousands of islanders and tourists visit this mall every day.

Frequently we love to go to the Ala Moana Mall near Honolulu. This is the largest outdoor mall in the United States, and although we go there almost every day, we still probably haven't seen it all. There are literally hundreds of shops and vendors to choose from, in addition to dozens of eateries, from fast food to gourmet dining. Also, it's a visually appealing mall, with numerous fountains, koi ponds and landscaping throughout.

Head straight up to the fourth floor where the restaurants are to go to Bubba Gump Shrimp. Yes, it's a national chain, but the view from the top of Ala Moana is pretty nice, and the open air seating arrangement allows for nice trade winds to blow through. After some tasty garlic shrimp, you can head across the way to the awesome Mai Tai Bar for a couple of drinks. This place really has a great atmosphere with its laid back couches, big screen TV's playing surfing videos, and the reggae/island music pumping in the background. Sometimes they have live music. They also have these cool mist blowing fans that really cool the place down. After spending time there, you might be ready to do some shopping. 
 

So, you can head down to Long's Drugs for some everyday items. But they do have some unusual things in there that you won't see everyday in the mainland stores, such as canned abalone, known as "King Topshell." Pretty expensive stuff. We headed over to the dry cleaner's to pick something up. Then, to Sears to pick up an inflator pump for our kayak, and a cordless drill set. You can get pretty much anything at Ala Moana. Other shops which we didn't go to this time but have other times, include the Gamestop (for video games), the Radio Shack, the Barnes & Noble, the Starbucks, Hilo Hattie, the SBarro Pizza in the Food Court, the Food Pantry, the ukulele store up on the third floor, and the W Hair Salon. Also, it should be noted that although it's not part of the mall, there is a Wal Mart store within walking distance of the mall, so it is possible to combine your true discount shopping with the mall shopping in one trip.
 

So, the next time you need to buy anything, consider combining your shopping with a little food and drink-all in one place-the Ala Moana Mall!

Getting there from Waikiki:

-Take TheBus routes 8, 19, 20, 23, or 42, (or the F# that says TheBoat)
-Trolley service
-Taxi service: about $10-12
-If driving your own vehicle: mall parking is free

We just had some friends fly over from the mainland to visit Oahu, Honolulu for the very first time.  Although close friends, they felt much more comfortable staying in a hotel in Waikiki, just walking distance from where we live, but having the freedom to explore on their own.

Thier visit made me realize what some proper guidelines might be for exploring and seeing all that Oahu has to offer.

Most folk's first trip to Hawaii consist of staying in a high-rise hotel in Waikiki, visiting the beach, enjoying the nightlife, and seeing all the sites in group tours and shuttle buses. This can be quite fun, but without a car you miss a lot.

Most people avoid car rental because traffic is a problem and there is little parking. The island is small, but really crowded. Except for the three freeways that crisscross the island, you can't call them interstates since there are no bridges to the mainland, there are only two lane roads with low speed limits and lots of other folks trying to get places as well. It is also a common belief that there are actually only two available parking places left on the whole island.

OK, so what's the problem? You are on vacation. What's the hurry? And, the goal is to see stuff outside of the tourist bustle of Waikiki. There is always a place to park along the North shore beaches. Hotels usually have underground parking which you often have to pay a little extra for and are tiny and a real adventure trying to squeeze your car into. But, again, it's your vacation. What's a little extra cost and adventure is what you are looking for.

Waikiki is much like an amusement park. It's like Disney World without the rides, but with miles of beach. It is full of sun-screened tourist and half naked young people with sand in their hair dragging surfboards twice their size. There is food and entertainment and lots of shopping. It is so much fun, but also weirdly unreal. Every once in a while you are tempted to rap on one of the walls of one of those finely architectured buildings to make sure there is no fiberglass involved. It's a surreal world.

If you are curious to find out about the rest of the island, hop in your car, take your time, and enjoy what many others never see. Here are few of the possibilities:

- Drive around the rugged east side of the island. It is a bit of a roller coaster ride along the towering cliffs and rocky shoreline. Stop often and enjoy the natural beauty of wild ocean waves crashing against stony walls producing great geysers of foamy spray.

- Lay for hours on end on a North shore beach, watching surfers battle the endless waves crashing on the sandy shore. Sure you can see surfers at Waikiki, but the waves are wilder and the surfers seem more daring on the North shore.

- Grab a shrimp platter lunch from one of the shrimp trucks just outside of Kahuku. It's a tasty meal in a rustic setting. It takes a car to get there. I don't think you can get the tour bus to stop. There is nothing like it in the big city.

- Enjoy some leisurely hours rambling around Hale'iwa, shopping, eating chocolate, shaved ice, or great hand dipped ice creams from one of the funky little shops in this quaint little village. Don't miss the surfboard painter who plays some cool jazz and blues music with his family in his studio workshop when he is not producing artwork.

- Spend a half-day wandering in the Waimea Valley Audubon Center. There is lush tropical plants and some wildlife and you can even take a dip in the pool at the base of Waimea Falls. It's kind of like that being stranded in a tropical paradise dream you have every now and again. But it's only the North shore.

- Hit one of the weekly Aloha Stadium Swap Meets. It's a giant flea market/sidewalk sales where you can get all those Hawaiian shirts, and other souvenirs for about half what you pay for them downtown. Stuff your trunk and ship them home. You can't do that if you are riding the bus.

- If you get homesick you can even drive through a fast food place or spend the day at Wal-Mart or the mall. There is always someplace to park at the mall.

Oahu is a pretty small island and the public transportation is really quite good. You can see a lot on the bus and there is lots to see. But with a car you are in total control. This little list tells of only a small sampling of the possible things to do if you are in control of your mobility. The key is to be an explorer. Find your own adventures. Get behind the wheel. It's vacation.

Hilton Hawaiian Aloha Friday King's Jubilee and Fireworks Show

Every Friday the Hilton Hawaiian Village puts on an "Aloha-Style" show, sort of like a luau show without the dinner. We recently checked it out, and I must say it was quite entertaining. The show started at 6:30 pm.The evening began with the King's Procession and then continued with the music, attire, performances and dance from Hawaii and other Polynesian Islands. The night ended with music to a spectacular fireworks display.

The performance was a reenactment of King David Kalakaua's royal court performances. The King entered wearing a navy blue suit adorned with medals on a red and yellow sash. Surrounded by the Village Guards who marched to the steady, slow beat of the drummers, the King took his place on the main stage and spoke to the crowd in Hawaiian. After he spoke, he claimed his throne and the Village Guards, with their golden horsehair plumed helmets and 1903 rifles, exited the stage and the show began.

The band played behind the King while the performance happened in front of him. The band used percussion instruments that included various gourds, rattlers, and pahus (drums). The stringed instruments included the slack key guitar, electric bass guitar, acoustic 6-string guitar, and a ukulele. They sang to some songs and others were completely instrumental. The band performed the vocals for the hulas with most songs sung in both Hawaiian and English. When they sang, it was in a low tone, not in falsetto. The songs were all medium to fast tempo for the hulas. I could recognized the twang sound of the slack key guitar when it played the melody of "He Aloha No O Honolulu." The songs played for the hulas all sounded like the traditional Hawaiian style music.

The dancers, both men and women, wore traditional attire according to the dance they performed. For some dances they used instruments or props. The men performed hula both by themselves and with the women. They wore sarongs or lavalavas with pants underneath. Like the women's costumes, their costumes were different colors and designs for each song. One energetic dance performed was called the "fa'ataupati" or "Samoan Slap Dance."

There was one part of the show when the men came into the audience from behind and scared some people but otherwise the audience just watched. An excellent show that demonstrated the types of music and dance practiced throughout the Polynesian islands. I would describe the experience as similar to what happens at a luau but without the food. You cannot tell from the pictures, but all of the seating arranged around the pool had good views. It was open seating and the cost was twenty dollars, which included one drink. If one drink is not enough, there is a poolside bar close by.

The hour-long show concluded with a short but energetic fireworks display which can be seen (and heard) throughout Waikiki Beach. Overall, it was an entertaining evening on the beach worth the price of admission.

Tips and info:

Official web site: http://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/activities/entertainment.asp
Registered hotel guests can pre-purchase tickets for poolside seating at the Ali'i Tower desk near Tropics Bar & Beach Café. The desk is open 8:00 am - 9:00 pm daily except Fridays, and 8:00 am - 2:00 pm on Fridays. Tickets can also be purchased by hotel guests and the general public at the entrance to the Super Pool from 5:30 pm until show time on Fridays. Poolside seating includes one standard cocktail beverage.*

Show Schedule
Village Guards Precision Rifle Drill Team
6:15 p.m. (October to March)
6:45 p.m. (April to September)
Main Show at the Super Pool
6:30 p.m. (October to March)
7 p.m. (April to September
Fireworks Display
7:30 p.m. (October to March)8 p.m. (April to September)

Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii -Catamaran Sail and Snorkel Trip:  Recently some friends and I went for a catamaran sail and snorkeling trip from Waikiki Beach. We left right from the beach in front of the Outrigger Hotel where the Shorebird restaurant is. After boarding the boat right on the beach, we headed for a short ride to the snorkel spot-a place called "Turtle Canyon" because of all the green sea turtles that are known to hang out there.

There were about twenty people on the boat, plus the captain and one crew. After anchoring at the snorkel site, those of us who had brought our own snorkel gear were ready to hit the water. Everyone else who need to was able to use the boat's gear, which is included in the price. Fins are not provided, however.

In the water, we were treated to crystal clear waters and coral formations teeming with colorful reef fishes. Best of all, however, were the spot's namesake: the turtles! About a dozen turtles cruised around the reef as we swam among them. The crew warned the passengers against touching or chasing the turtles, however, because we are visiting their home. We were able to get close enough for some nice pictures, though.

After snorkeling for about an hour, we got back on the boat and then started sailing toward Diamond Head. There was a strong, steady wind that day, and the sailboat clipped along at a good twenty knots. The people who chose to sit in the bow nets were soaked! After reaching Diamond Head, we tacked and headed back toward the other side of Mamala Bay. For those interested, tropical drinks in plastic tumblers were available for $3.00. After reaching Magic Island, we again turned around and this time headed back for our beach landing spot.

Two-and-a-half hours after we set out, we were back. All in all, it was an excellent day sail!

Tips and info:

-Book in advance with the Outrigger Catamaran (blue-and-white sailboat) with the people under the beach umbrellas
-Bring sunscreen, underwater camera, fins if you want them
-Beverages are cash only
-A light windbreaker might come in handy

The Waikiki Beach neighborhood has tons to offer visitors and resieents alike.  Everyone has either visited or known someone who has taken a vacation in Waikiki.  What some people may not realize, is that there are many full time Honolulu residents who call Waikiki their home.  There are hundreds of both low-rise and high-rise condominium buildings located in Waikiki.  Small studios start for as little as $149,000, with one and two bedroom condos starting in the 200's and upwards.  Building amenities can be numerous.  All active and up-to-date listings of Waikiki condos can be found at our website, www.HNLCondos.com.

Mahalo for reading.

Living, working and playing in Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, it never ceases to amaze me to see that there's lot's of activities close to Waikiki Condos.  Condo living in Waikiki offers so much.

The other Saturday (one day that I try to take entirely off), I was thinking I wanted to try some snorkeling nearby.  I had previewed a beach front condo in the Diamond Head (Gold Coast) area a few days earlier and noticed a gentleman right out in front of the building, slowly snorkeling in water not more than 20 yards from shore.

In Hawaii, as well as in Waikiki, Honolulu, there are no private beaches.  The public has access to all beaches, and there are many access paths everywhere.

So, on Saturday morning, snorkel gear in hand, I decide to do a little google search and find some good spots nearby.  The first website I stumbled across was "Best Places Hawaii",  with a blog about "The 10 Best Snorkeling Spots in Hawaii".  Here's what the had to say about snorkeling in Hawaii: 

"Hawaii snorkeling is an activity that should not be missed. Beneath the crystal clear, aqua water awaits a whole new world full of fish, turtles, rays, eels, urchins, dolphins and more. Some of the many underwater creatures can only be found here in the islands, and a Hawaii snorkeling adventure will lead you right to them. These are the perfect Hawaii snorkeling spots, based on accessibility and viewing. Most locations are good for beginners and all are teeming with underwater sea life.

Right on the list was a photo and short comment about "Queen's Beach" at Kapiolani Park.  It said:

The best spot for snorkeling here is the center of the beach park, in a section called Queen's Beach or Queen's Surf Beach, between the Natatorium and the Waikiki Aquarium. The reef in front of the aquarium has easy access to the beach and the waters are usually calm. Location: Waikiki, near Diamond Head.

Another website, "Hawaii for Visitors", offered comments about "Best Oahu Beaches".  On this list was mention of a beach, literally just a few blocks from where I lived: 

Fort DeRussy Beach
"This white sand beach on the west end of Waikiki, in front of the Hale Koa Hotel, is popular for snorkeling because of its offshore coral reef."

Finally, I ran across a website about the beach at Sans Souci.  This is the condo building on the beach in Diamond Head that I had previewed earlier in the week.  A website called "Tropical Snorkeling" wrote about the snorkeling there.

Here's what they had to say:

"Sans Souci Beach is really very nice. It is located next to Kapiolani Park, which is a wonderful natural relief from all the crowds and shops in Waikiki.  The entrance into the water is equally nice, with soft sand and a very gradual increase in depth. But the snorkeling is mediocre at best.

Straight out from the beach there are some shallow rock formations that you can swim over if there are no waves. The visibility is generally a bit poor, but you will be able to see some tropical fish and a bit of coral. Mostly the rocks are covered in algae.

We have found a little better luck on the left hand side of the beach, following the rocky wall out. We have seen more fish on that side, and the water clarity can be better."

Now, my mind was made up and I quickly ran out to Sans Souci beach and spent the next three hours floating and looking at coral, tropical fish and other marine life.  Although, there may be better snorkeling sites, some on the north shore and accessible by boat, I can't tell you what a mini vacation this was for me.  Just three hours and I felt like I had taken a whole week off.  I felt so relaxed when I got home, my family thought something was wrong with me.  And they say "no ka oi" (there's nothing better) is only for Maui!?

Condo living in Waikiki offers so much.  Whether it's recreational activities, gallery hopping, shopping, eating out or just tourist gazing, there's really something for everyone.  Please feel free to read more about Honolulu and Waikiki condo living.

Mahalo for reading.

Celebrating 14 years as Hawaii's largest emporium and most diverse marketplace of local products, the Made in Hawaii Festival returns to the Neal S. Blaisdell Center's Exhibition Hall and Arena on Friday, August 21 through Sunday, August 23.

As Hawaii turns 50, the "Keep Aloha Strong - Buy Hawaii for Hawaii" themed event will feature more than 420 booths of exhibitors offering a diverse assortment of the latest and greatest finds as well as old favorites.

Festival-goers will enjoy shopping for a selection of ono food, books, unique gifts, arts & crafts, music, plants, jewelry and more.

You can also enjoy entertainment from some of Hawaii's best entertainers including: Makana, Frank Delima, Jerry Santos, Jay Larrin, Kaukahi, Hoku Zuttermeister, Maunalua, Napua Greig, Genoa Keawe Ohana, Cyril Pahinui, Natalie Ai Kamauu, Eddie Kamae, Darren Benitez, Nohelani Cypriano, Kelii Kanealii, Mailani, Melveen Leed and Danny Couch.

I can't tell you how much free (or very inexpensive) live music there is to enjoy here.  I've become a huge fan of slack-key guitar as well as some of the excellent falsetto vocalists.  Where's my maitai??