Mahalo to Margaret Whip from Scotland for sharing this lovely Aloha Friday Photo with us. She took this photo in September of 2019. This was her second visit to Maui and a special one to celebrate a silver wedding anniversary. Margaret photo shows us an amazing scene of sunset from the summit of Haleakala. From roughly 10,000 feet (3048 meters) above sea level, sunsets from Haleakala are often observed above the clouds. It’s a spectacular experience. Happy Aloha Friday! — Related articles: Everything you need to know about visiting Haleakala for sunrise Haleakala sunrise versus sunset How to ..read more

Mahalo to JW Green for this gorgeous Aloha Friday photo. He took this photo from Kailua on Oahu’s east side. I believe the Pali (cliffs) in the background are part of the popular  “Pali Lookout” at Nu’uanu Pali State Wayside Park. This photo demonstrates several interesting aspects of capturing a beautiful sunset in Hawaii. First, you don’t actually have to see the sun for a great sunset shot. Next, we all tend to think of the perfect Hawaii sunset photo being over the ocean, but this view over the Pali is stunning. Finally, notice how this sunset scene includes lots of tree and mountain ..read more

Mahalo to Jeanette Kooman for this gorgeous Na Pali Coast photo for Aloha Friday Photos. Here’s what Jeanette shared about her photo: “[T]his was our first trip in May 2018 and fell in love. Came back in September 2022…all the way from The Netherlands.” With a stunning view like this, there is no question as to why Jeanette would want to travel such a long distance. Happy Aloha Friday! The post Aloha Friday Photo: A scene from Kauai’s Na Pali Coast appeared first on Go Visit Hawaii ..read more

Mahalo to Shanna Carpentier for sharing this neat shot from Pahumoa Beach on Oahu for Aloha Friday Photos. Shanna’s photo gives us a lot to appreciate about this particular scene. The rugged mountains make a beautiful back drop. Closer in, we see so many pretty shades of green atop the lava-lined shore. Even closer, we marvel at the powerful waves crashing onto the sandy beach and against the lava rock. Take a look at the jutting cliff on the far left of Shanna’s photo. It tells a story of the force of the ocean pounding against and eroding the hardened lava rocks. You can see how this beach ..read more

When you vacation on Hawaii’s Big Island, allow your tastebuds to enjoy the visit by sampling the local fare. Let’s take a look at some of the island’s local and cultural foods to try. Breakfast Foods & Bakery Items Pancakes – We love big, fluffy pancakes in Hawaii with tropical flavors and coconut syrup. Big Island Sweet Bread – Punalu’u is a famous bakery in the remote, southern town of Punalu’u. They’re known for their sweet breads. Some restaurants make french toast with Hawaiian sweet bread and it is very tasty. If you have kitchen facilities in your accommodation, you can often find ..read more

Mahalo to Linda Shipp for this neat Aloha Friday Photo. She took this photo from Maui several years ago while on a whale watch. What a thrilling sight that must have been! A humpback’s tail is called a fluke. What’s fascinating is that no two flukes are alike. Flukes have often been described as the equivalent of human fingerprints in that they can be used to identify individual whales. Humpback whale season is still in action in Hawaii. March is the last “peak” month, but if you’re visiting Hawaii in April, you might get to see some whales. We’ve actually seen humpbacks as late as early ..read more

Graceful hula dancers at Old Lahaina Luau – We are pleased that two Lahaina restaurant businesses have recently re-opened after suffering through the aftermath of the August wildfires. These two businesses are: Mala Ocean Tavern Old Lahaina Luau – Several singers and musicians across Hawaii created a lovely video in support Lahaina. It’s over 13-minutes-long and includes music, scenery and hula. – Lahaina’s beloved banyan tree continues to show signs of recovery. Island News published a good update on the tree and the latest efforts to preserve the tree. – CheapAir.com, an airfare search and ..read more

A great way to get to know Maui is to experience the island’s foods. Consider it a delightful way to learn about the local culture. Let’s take a look at some of the best food items that Maui has to offer. Breakfast Foods Pancakes – Hawaii-style pancakes are usually big, fluffy and incorporate tropical fruits and macadamia nuts. But, that’s not all, one of the best parts is adding coconut syrup. It’s so yummy! I consider myself a pancake aficionado. Of all the pancakes I’ve had in Hawaii, the ones I’ve had on Maui are some of the most memorable. Here are our recommended places to try pancakes ..read more

Mahalo to Darlene Czarcinski for this nice photo of “Sherwood Beach” on Oahu. “Sherwood Beach” (also known as “Sherwoods”) is at Hunananiho Beach Park which is in the Waimanalo area. (See this link to Google Maps to get directions.) This beach forest gets its nickname from the abundance of trees that are reminiscent of Robin Hood’s Sherwood Forest. We think the beaches is this area are tremendously beautiful. It’s definitely worth a stop to see them and snap some photos. We believe the trees you see in Darlene’s photo are ironwood or casuarina trees. You’ll see them on other Hawaiian Islands ..read more

Mahalo to Catherine Pope for sharing this Aloha Friday Photo. Catherine took this pretty photo in October 2019 when she and her husband were celebrating their wedding anniversary in Kauai’s paradise. Catherine’s photo was taken from one of the spectacular overlooks of Waimea Canyon. As you can tell, the views are truly marvelous. The colors and textures of this unexpected landscape make it difficult for us to leave the overlooks. We highly recommend visiting Waimea Canyon and Kokee Park as part of your Kauai sightseeing plans. Even though we’ve seen Waimea Canyon many times, we never miss an ..read more