Well, happy Aloha Friday, dear readers! It’s been a while since I’ve written a roundup. I have a confession to make. I’ve been away on a vacation to…wait for it…you’re not going to believe this…but. I’ve been on vacation to Alaska. Okay, now that’s out of the way, let’s look at the latest Hawaii vacation news. - Thanks for voting ... Read More »

Kauai’s Mount Waialeale is such a rain magnet, averaging 451 inches of rain per year. That’s an average of 1.2 inches of rain per day. The rainiest year recorded was in 1982 with 681 inches. This volcanic mountain and weathered crater stands at 5,148 feet which puts it in a prime position to catch the moisture produced by the combination ... Read More »

As tourism is a key component to Hawaii’s economy, the state government keeps detailed statistics on visitor arrivals, how long they stay and how much they spend. The most complete published report is from 2007. It’s 167 pages of more detail than you could ever want to know about Hawaii visitors. So, let’s glean some interesting statistics from this monster ... Read More »

Did you know that until New Year’s Day on 1903, it took a week for news to travel between Hawaii and the US mainland? Today we can instantly read and hear news with mobile phone,  the Internet, and television. At the turn of the 20th century, news traveled by steamship. Can you imagine that? The idea of a quicker communication ... Read More »

Hawaii’s state flower is the yellow hibiscus, specifically the Hibiscus brackenridgei. Here are some quick facts this beauty: The Hibiscus brackenridgei is native to Hawaii. Sadly, this Hawaiian endemic plant is endangered. So, do take tread lightly near them when you visit Hawaii. This hibiscus can grow up to 30 feet tall, though it’s most often a 3 to 15 ... Read More »

The Iolani Palace on Oahu has one very big claim to fame – it’s the only official state residence of royalty in the United States. This royal residence was built in 1882 when Hawaii was under monarch rule. Visitors can tour the Palace in historic downtown Honolulu. For more information on Iolani Palace see: Iolani Palace Official Web Site Iolani ... Read More »

Whether you’re a fan of ABC’s romance-seeking show “The Bachelorette” or not, you’ll surely enjoy the backdrop on tonight’s two-hour finale. The contestants head to Hawaii’s Big Island.  At a minimum, we can all agree that the show’s producers have great taste in destinations. On the last episode, Jillian Harris and her then three suitors – Ed Swiderski, Reid Rosenthal, ... Read More »

It’s hard not to be happy when you’re in Hawaii. Even Hawaii’s own spider exhibits that theory. The Hawaiian Happy Face Spider is constantly flashing an extremely content smile. Here are some facts about this unique spider: The Happy Face Spider is endemic to Hawaii, which means it’s not naturally found anywhere else in the world. This spider is found ... Read More »

Hawaii’s average water temperature is 74º F. (23.3 C), with a summer high of 80º F. (26.7º C), per GoHawaii. The significance of this fact is that the water is warm enough to swim and snorkel year round in Hawaii without having to wear a wetsuit. Read More »

Travelocity’s Roaming Gnome is in search of his next adventure. He’s trying to decide between Hawaii, Cancun, and Jamaica. You can help him choose with quick, one-click voting here. Let’s help this quirky little gnome find his way to Hawaii. He looks like he could use a suntan and some Aloha spirit! Wouldn’t you agree? Read More »