Tourism in Hawaii is a sensitive topic with Hawaiian natives and some locals. Mostly because of the sheer number of people visiting Hawaii these days.  While most Hawaiians welcome visitors with the warmest aloha, how YOU behave goes a long way towards a better dynamic.  Cultural Guide to Visiting Hawaii (AKA Things You Need to Know) I’ve put together a little cultural guide for visiting Hawaii that covers things like some historical context to Hawaii (so important! And it really explains most of the tension around tourism in Hawaii), plus what to do and what not to do in Hawaii to ..read more

There’s been a lot of chatter about Airbnb in Hawaii over the last few years. Is Airbnb illegal? Not technically, but sometimes. Confused? Keep reading! Is Airbnb Illegal in Hawaii? Illegal vacation rentals have started to become a major problem in Hawaii (in a lot of places) in the last few years, but it’s starting to reach a boiling point.  The rise in popularity of sites like Airbnb has resulted in a lot of property being bought by wealthy folks from the mainland (or internationally) and being rented out as short term vacation rentals to visitors.  In addition to creating a hous ..read more

I know a lot of people are averse to renting a car on vacation (it’s so nice to go places where you don’t need to hassle with one!), but alas, Hawaii is a destination where you really need to rent a car.  Hawaii is not an all-inclusive destination where you’ll arrive by shuttle and never leave your resort (I mean you could do that…but it’s pretty expensive just to get to Hawaii so most people want to actually see Hawaii. If you want a cheaper resort only vacation, just go to Mexico). Do You Need a Rental Car in Hawaii? The islands are pretty large so unless you’re just going a few miles ..read more

This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll make a little money on anything you choose to purchase. But of course, I only recommend my absolute favorites to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make HulaLand possible. I’ve seen and done a lot of things in Hawaii and seeing the manta rays after dark on the Big Island is hands down one of the most special.  While manta rays can be found throughout the Hawaiian Islands, they are particularly prolific off the coast of Kona on the Big Island. It’s actually one of the top places in the WORLD to see manta rays. Manta ra ..read more

This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll make a little money on anything you choose to purchase. But of course, I only recommend my absolute favorites to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make HulaLand possible. If there’s one question I get asked all. the. time. (especially by people who know me in real life) it’s how I’m able to afford to travel as much as I do and stay in really nice places. Especially in Hawaii.  Well, this being my job, I spend a fair amount of time tracking price patterns and researching deals, but honestly…a LOT of my travel is cover ..read more

This post may contain some affiliate links, which means I’ll make a little money on anything you choose to purchase. But of course, I only recommend my absolute favorites to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make HulaLand possible. Ahhhh controversy, hello old friend ; ) I’ve written a LOT about things I love to do on Maui (seriously, there is no end). But controversy always brings the eyeballs, and a lot of the things on this list are things you need to know about!  Some of these things are things you just flat out shouldn’t do, and some are things that probably aren’t worth ..read more

Most of my life I’ve pretty much been known for loving two things 1) Disney and 2) Hawaii.  So when Disney built its Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawaii, it’s like they were building it just for ME. And it’s since become my home away from home. I mean really…Disney AND Hawaii. What could be better??? I’ve written quite a few posts about Aulani (read through my archives here), but this particular post is all about…IS AULANI WORTH IT??! Disney’s Aulani Resort is by far the most recommended place to stay in Hawaii if you have kids. I mean really…you see Disney and you don’t need much convincing ..read more

Most of my life I’ve pretty much been known for loving two things 1) Disney and 2) Hawaii.  So when Disney built its Aulani Resort and Spa in Hawaii, it’s like they were building it just for ME. And it’s since become my home away from home. I mean really…Disney AND Hawaii. What could be better??? I’ve written quite a few posts about Aulani (read through my archives here), but this particular post is all about…FOOD. The food situation at Aulani and options in the surrounding area.  “Disney” and “food” go hand in hand nowadays so if you’re the type who plans your park visits around a ..read more

To start off, I’m going to state the obvious. There are a lot of great places in Hawaii. Exotic beaches, jagged green mountains, charming local towns, VOLCANOES. That’s undeniable the best part of Hawaii…the real Hawaii. But there’s another part of Hawaii that I love too. Resort Hawaii. Yesssssss. Planned resort communities designed and laid out with tourist conveniences in mind. Filled with luxury resorts, sparkling pools, golf courses, tennis courts, restaurants with ocean views, shopping, and the whole thing landscaped and manicured to perfection. It may not be the “real Hawaii” but it’s pr ..read more

After my mask was secured and my fins were strapped to my feet, I waded down the final few steps of the catamaran’s ladder and eased into the water. Sun rays cut through the deep blue water and made it practically sparkle…the tropical fish were dancing all around me. I received two complimentary tour spots on the Sunrise Deluxe Snorkel after reaching out to Kai Kanani regarding media coverage. I had previously sailed with Kai Kanani (in my pre-blog days) and have recommended them to my readers since the beginning of my blog so as always, I only share my absolute favorite companies to you. Tha ..read more