Honolulu, HI

Yes. Hawaii loves spam. Some call it “Hawaiian steak” but to mostly everyone spam means breakfast, lunch, dinner or spam musubi… (more…)

May 24, 2008 – May 26, 2008

Memorial Day Weekend means it’s a three day weekend and I can only think of one thing - barbecue! Well… At least for me anyway…. But if you’re looking for something to do, check out these places on Oahu this weekend! (more…)

I’ve decided that I’m going to do everything I can to make this summer great for me and my kids. Since they are going to be home with me, I wanted to do something different and make it interesting and fun – a summer they’ll never forget. Since it’s been one of my personal goals as a parent to expose my children to the various cultures that exist in Hawaii, I came up with a list of things I’d like to do with my children. A few years ago, when one of my children was studying Hawaiian culture, I wanted to take him to the Big Island. Well, maybe this is the summer that we’ll finally get to go there. (more…)

I read in the paper that Hawaiian Air just increased their airfare and American Airlines is now going to start charging for any checked in luggage. Yes… including the first bag.

I thought things got bad when we started to not have meals during the red-eye flights to the mainland. Things got worse when they brought back the food and made it an option to purchase charging about $10 for it. (more…)

Summer vacations are not out of the question! Yes, you can consider traveling to Hawaii or even traveling within Hawaii for your next get-away. Hawaii hotel chains are offering many freebies, kids eat free, and even free activities for kids. I’ve even seen some sites where the children’s airfare has been reduced as part of an incentive for a travel package.

As you plan for your next trip to Hawaii, here are some great links to help start off your vacation cost research. Keep in mind that the deals are subject to change. Check the website links for more info. (more…)

With the way Hawaii’s economy is going, we’ll have to start getting creative about cutting costs and finding more opportunities to increase our income. Let’s put it this way. There’s madness in doing the same thing the same way and expecting different results especially when we know that economic times are changing. So we make adjustments in how we live, plain and simple.

The first thing we’ll need is information. Where can the deals be found and what can we get?

Here are a few sites that can help us with that.

1) The first is a freebies / coupon site called “Free Meals and More” found at Keiki Gifts blog. When I saw the partial listing of the types of items that were being offered, let me tell you, that the coupons are well worth the one year fee. Thanks to Keiki Gifts for finding that deal and letting us know about it!

2) The second blog, Hawaii Money Saving Mama, finds the freebies and deals in Hawaii both on and off the internet. Her most recent post was about places that offer “Kids Eat Free” nights in Hawaii.

3) Frugal Mania, part of the 451 Press Network, offers tips and resources for frugal living. In this one post, Michael talks about the bento box which we are all familiar with – those Tupperware containers. You know, it’s been several years since I’ve worked a corporate job that I forgot what happened to my containers. I had some pretty nice sectioned ones that held just enough food for me. Anyway…

Anyway, I plan to make this topic a regular part of the posts I do. If you have any other sites you’d like to share that can help us cut the cost of living in Hawaii, please share them here!

Keiki Gifts, Hawaii Money Saving Mama, Frugal Mania

Happy Mother’s Day to all you fabulous Mom’s! May your day be blessed beyond measure and filled with the love that you have generously sown into the lives of those around you!

Now for the Dad’s and kids – if you haven’t bought a present or decided what to do, here’s a quick listing of a few of my favorite restaurants that I know your precious Mom would love to attend. (more…)

Make Mom’s gift extra personal this year. I know finding something she likes might be a little difficult since we no longer come home with those cute, school made mugs, photo frames or drawings that she always loved, but hey, we need to step up anyway. Here are some of unique things you can get for Mom and perhaps, you can even share in the experience with her. (more…)

Last month it was the fabulous Thunderbirds. This month we’re in for another treat! The Blue Angels received a warm Hawaiian welcome earlier this week at Kaneohe Marine Corps Base. The last time the Blue Angels performed in Hawaii was back in 2004 and in 1995. Four F/A-18 Hornets of the eight member team of the Navy Blue Angels will perform two air shows this weekend at the base. The event is free and open to the public. (more…)

Phenomenal on video and equally striking on stage, the Lion King musical has made it’s way to Hawaii! Originally selling out within a matter of hours, the show was extended for another 4 weeks. Opening earlier this week at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall, the show received great reviews which was expected. (more…)

This was only practice, but the Thunderbirds are AMAZING! This video clip on YouTube highlights over 9 minutes worth of air maneuvers. (more…)

My kids come to me every morning to get them to sign their “communication” tablet. It’s a tablet that lists all their homework assignments and any reminders that needs to be communicated to the parents. I sign off every morning regardless if I read it or not – not because I don’t want to be involved in their school work or anything like that, but because it’s a busy time. Maybe that’s their plan…. Hmmm…

When I was growing up, I never had to get my parents to sign my homework assignments. I also never asked my parents for help with my homework – except once, and I didn’t really ask for help, I just needed some encouragement. I was overwhelmed with all the homework I was given and just felt defeated. My Dad came in and told me just what I needed to hear to get back on track… Parents somehow can do that.

In the Honolulu Advertiser today, there was a Hawaii’s Public Schools report that talked about every resource and everything a parent could possibly need to know about my kids’ public school education. It was a really comprehensive resource offering help in understanding the standards-based report card and the Hawaii State Assessment report.

The reports and the communication tablet are great and all, but I just want my kids to learn on “how to learn” and they won’t get that with the reports and communication tablet. The communication tablet does build accountability for the student, but other than that, it’s a real pain to deal with each morning. I want them to learn to be responsible for their own things and not rely on someone else to do it. I want them to be accountable for their own education.

Don’t get me wrong. I do want to be involved in my kids’ education, but I went to a public school while growing up and I know that it’s not only the school that’s going to help the child become a success. My kids need to learn how to learn and regularly apply that. They need to learn how to operate as a success in the school before they can be expected to operate as a success in the real world. Is there a test or a report for that?

Hawaii’s public schools, Honolulu advertiser, Hawaii state assessment

Good food, cultural shows and lots of people was in the mix for this year’s 25th Annual Okinawan Festival. Held at Kapiolani Park in gorgeous Waikiki, the festival was a great place for families and visitors. All I can say is “great food”!

Check out this video highlighting some of this weekend’s events on YouTube.

25th annual okinawan festival, kapiolani park, Waikiki, YouTube

‘Ohana - In Hawaii, the term “‘ohana” extends beyond just the people we live with. Encompassing close friends and relatives, ‘ohana describes those who are close to our heart. The love and aloha that graces our island state is displayed in the families of Hawaii – or at least it should be. Why then, can’t we just get along?

Of all the people that should support us, shouldn’t it be our family? Our family should be the very ones rallying behind us because they know what gets us excited; what our passions are. But far too often, our family is the very ones who don’t take the time to understand us. They display the least amount of compassion and of course, dissention occurs. What should offer a covering of love and protection gives way to gossiping, wrong attitudes and negative perceptions. How can Hawaii or anywhere else, be a place of love and aloha if the condition of the family lies in a state of division?

It’s time to bring the families together – to make peace with each other and to start making amends for whatever has been done in the past. Don’t get me wrong. Not all families or family members are unsupportive, but if this situation applies to you, no longer should it be acceptable for us to harbor unresolved feelings or hold on to past hurts. Plain and simple, it’s just not acceptable. Life is just too short.

ohana, families of Hawaii