Hawaii for Visitors - Hawaii Travel Web Site - by Kathie Fry

Father's Day Hawaiian Music Festival at Sea Life Park

2009-06-19T11:52:00.000-07:00

The first annual Father's Day Hawaiian Music Festival will take place on Sunday, June 21, 2009 at Sea Life Park on the southeast coast of Oahu. The event will take place from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. and it will feature live entertainment by some of Hawaii's top musicians and singers including Kalapana, Kapena, and Beach 5. There will also be a hula performance by Tamatoa, Hawaiian food plates prepared by Fresh Catch, and Budweiser beer for sale. Sea Life Park is located at 41-202 Kalanianaole Highway in the Windward Oahu town of Waimanalo. Festival ticket holders can show their tickets and get a discounted $10 entry into Sea Life Park if they want to spend father's day visiting the park with their families.

Event Poster on the VJ Events Web Site

Other 2009 Father's Day Events in Hawaii

June 2009 Events in Hawaii

2009-06-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

Hawaii events in June of 2009 include King Kamehameha Day, Father's Day, the Kapalua Maui Wine and Food Festival, the Blaisdell Center Home and Garden Show, the Maui Upcountry Agricultural Fair, the Maui Film Festival, the Kona Gay Pride Festival, the Puuhonua O Honaunau Festival, the Kona Class Fishing Tournament, the Hawaii Dragon Boat Festival in Ala Moana Park, the King Kamehameha Hula Festival, the Kona Marathon, and and George Kahumoku, Jr. Slack Key Guitar Workshop. For more information see:

June 2009 Hawaii Calendar

June Hawaii Events By Island

June Hawaii Events By Type

Maui Writer's Conference Moves to Waikiki

2009-06-01T23:25:00.000-07:00

The Maui Writer's Conference has been held on on the island of Maui every year since 1993 but in 2009 the event is being renamed the Hawaii Writer's Conference and it is being moved to Waikiki on the island of Oahu. The organizers expect the event to grow significantly after it moves to Oahu. Events and activities at the 2009 Writer's Retreat and Conference will take place at the Hawaii Convention Center, the Ala Moana Hotel, the Outrigger Reef Hotel, the Embassy Suites Waikiki Beach Walk, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, and Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.

Hawaii Writer's Retreat (August 28 - September 3, 2009)

Hawaii Writer's Conference Gala (September 4, 2009)

Hawaii Writer's Conference (September 4-7, 2009)

Featured Speakers at the 2009 Conference

Military Memorials in Hawaii

2009-05-23T08:32:00.000-07:00

An introduction to military memorials and monuments in Hawaii including the Hawaii State Veterans Memorial, the Memorial to Fallen Hawaiian Warriors, the Hawaii Vietnam and Korean War Memorial, the Brothers in Valor Memorial, the National Cemetery of the Pacific, the Haleiwa Beach War Memorial, the USS Arizona, USS Bowfin, USS Missouri, and USS Oklahoma Memorials, and others. I like to plan a day around visiting Hawaii military monuments and military museums on Memorial Day, Flag Day, Veteran's Day, and Pearl Harbor Day.

Military Monuments in Hawaii

Military Museums in Hawaii

Military Bases in Hawaii

Manoa Valley Theatre Announces 2009-2010 Season

2009-05-22T23:34:00.000-07:00

The Manoa Valley Theatre is a theater company with its own 150-seat theater in the beautiful Manoa Valley of Honolulu. The theater's productions are primarily Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, musicals, and other contemporary, mainstream stage productions. The Manoa Valley Theatre recently announced the six plays and musicals they will be performing during their 2009-2010 season.

Manoa Valley Theatre Photo and Schedule

Small Community Theaters on Oahu

Large Performing Arts Centers on Oahu

Other Manoa Valley Attractions

2009 Hawaiian Electric Company Cookbook Now Available

2009-05-20T13:11:00.000-07:00

The 2009 cookbook published by the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO) is now available and it is called "A Taste of HECO: Pupu & Desserts". The recipes are presented on a pop-up stand that makes them easy to see while cooking. Proceeds from cookbook sales benefit the Aloha United Way. HECO cookbooks can be purchased at Hawaiian Electric Company customer service offices in Honolulu or mail ordered.

2008 and 2009 HECO Cookbooks

Other Cookbooks From Hawaii

Recipes From Hawaii

2009 Memorial Day Events in Hawaii

2009-05-18T16:10:00.000-07:00

How Memorial Day is observed in Hawaii. Most of these Memorial Day events take place on the Island of Oahu but a few of them are on the outer islands. More events will be added as they are announced over the next few days.

How to Celebrate Mother's Day in Hawaii

2009-05-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

Special Mother's Day events in Hawaii include a "Brunch with the Stars" in West Oahu featuring Henry Kapono, John Cruz, and Yvonne Elliman, Na Leo's 25th anniversary concert at the Hale Koa Hotel, an outdoor concert in Waikiki featuring the talented young Abrigo Ohana trio, and a Kona Orchid Society Show on Hawaii Island. Other Mother's Day events in Hawaii include special brunches, cruises, and fashion shows on several different islands. This article also includes ideas for Hawaii-theme Mother's Day gifts.

Ideas for Celebrating Mother's Day in Hawaii

Mother's Day Events in Hawaii

Lanai City is a National Endangered Place

2009-05-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

In April of 2009 the National Trust for Historic Preservation included Lanai City on its list of the eleven most endangered historic places in the United States. The National Trust considers Lanai City to be "the last remaining intact plantation town in Hawaii". The Trust considers Lanai City to be endangered because the town owner has applied for a permit to tear down several historic buidings to make way for commercial development.

Why Lanai City is Considered Endangered

Photos of Lanai Attractions

Visitor's Guide to Lanai Island

Lei Day is Every May 1st in Hawaii

2009-05-01T07:54:00.000-07:00

May 1st is Lei Day in Hawaii and on that day, almost everybody in Hawaii wears a flower lei, from little kids in school to executives at Hawaii's top corporations. 2009 Lei Day events and Lei Day Weekend events in Hawaii include a Waikiki Lei Day Festival in Kapiolani Park, a John Cruz concert at the Hawaii State Art Museum, The annual Brothers Cazimero Lei Day Concert at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, the Kauai Museum Lei Day Festival, the Lanai School Lei Day Concert, and many more. For more information see:

How Lei Day is Celebrated in Hawaii

2009 Lei Day Events in Hawaii

Earth Day Events in Hawaii

2009-04-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

Where to find Earth Day events in Hawaii on the islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, Kauai, and Molokai. 2009 Earth day events in Hawaii include a John Cruz Concert at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Where to Celebrate Easter in Hawaii

2009-04-11T15:01:00.000-07:00

Easter events in Hawaii including outdoor Easter sunrise services, indoor Easter church services, Easter egg hunts, Easter Bunny appearances, Easter brunches and dinners, and many other Easter events and activities, on several different islands.

Easter Events in Hawaii

Take an Audio CD Guided Tour of Oahu

2009-02-24T07:24:00.000-08:00

If you are planning to rent a car and drive around Oahu Island yourself, and this is the first time you've done it, you might be interested in purchasing the circle island audio tour of Oahu offered by Tour Talk of Honolulu. The audio tour is available on either CD or cassette tape and it comes with two 78 minute audio programs, a booklet, and directions to each of the sites on the tour. For more information see:

Tour Talk Hawaii - Official Web Site

Live Video of the Hawaiian Grammy Awards

2009-02-08T09:34:00.001-08:00

The winner of the Hawaiian Music Grammy Award will be announced today and you can view the award ceremony live on the Internet. Connect to the broadcast site early because you might need to download their video viewing software in advance. Here is the live streaming video broadcast schedule for time zones from Tokyo to New York City: JST 6:00 a.m. / HST 11:00 a.m. / AST 12:00 noon / PST 1:00 p.m. / MST 2:00 p.m. / CST 3:00 p.m. / EST 4:00 p.m. / Other Zones / View Live Video Feed Now

My Favorite North Shore Restaurant - The Grass Skirt Grill

2009-02-03T21:48:00.001-08:00

My favorite restaurant on the North Shore of Oahu is located in Haleiwa Town, not far from the Matsumoto General Store, where all the North Shore visitors buy shave ice. It's a small unassuming place, and not expensive, but the food is great. The Grass Skirt Grill has the most delicious fish plates served with a tasty lemon or garlic sauce, brown rice, and the freshest salad you could ever imagine. The owner told me once they grow their own salad vegetables on table tops at an above-ground farm in Pupukea. I drive to the North Shore often just to eat at this wonderful little cafe. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it!

Photos of the Grass Skirt Grill

Coming Soon - USS Missouri 65th Anniversary Photos

2009-02-01T12:28:00.001-08:00

In the next few of days I will be posting all of my pictures of the USS Missouri's 65th Anniversary Celebration, the "Hawaii's Mightiest Chef" celebrity cookoff, the 2009 Ala Wai Challenge in Waikiki, new photos of Michael Nakasone and the Royal Hawaiian Band, pictures of some of my favorite Hawaii musicians, photos of the new USS Oklahoma Memorial on Ford Island, and pictures of actor Gary Sinise visiting Pearl Harbor troups and taking a tour of the USS Missouri Battleship.

Astronaut Ellison Onizuka Remembrance Day 2009

2009-01-28T08:02:00.001-08:00

Hawaii-born NASA astronaut Ellison Shoji Onizuka died 23 years ago today, on January 28, 1986, when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded a few minutes after taking off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Let's take a few minutes to remember Ellison Onizuka, along with the crew members who died with him that day: Judy Resnik, Greg Jarvis, Ron McNair, Commander Dick Scobee, pilot Mike Smith and schoolteacher Sharon Christa McAuliffe. Ellison Onizuka is resting in peace at the National Cemetery of the Pacific inside Punchbowl Crater in Honolulu.

Photos of Ellison Onizuka's First Space Flight

Ellison Onizuka Memorials

More About Ellison Onizuka

Aerial Photo of Punchbowl Crater

Things To Do on Valentine's Day in Hawaii

2009-01-26T14:17:00.000-08:00

Romantic ideas for celebrating Valentine's Day in Hawaii. A Valentine's Day cocktail party at the Honolulu Zoo, a Valentine's Day Ukulele Festival in a Honolulu waterfront park, how to order a singing Valentine in Honolulu, where to buy Valentine's Day balloons, and special events on Valentine's Day on several Hawaiian islands. Includes dinner-dances, dinner cruises, romantic inns, luxury spas, and gift ideas with a romantic Hawaii theme.

January 2009 Issue of Kathie's Hawaii Newsletter

2009-01-26T13:34:00.000-08:00

The first email edition of my Hawaii Newsletter was sent to subscribers on January 23, 2009. Features included in that issue:

How to Celebrate Valentine's Day in Hawaii

A tribute to Hawaii astronaut Ellison Onizuka

Some of my favorite Hawaiian music venues in Waikiki

Hawaiian Grammy nominee concert in Southern California

Meet My 101 Year Old Ukulele Teacher
- View Issue 2009-02 of My Hawaii Newsletter
- Subscribe to My Email Newsletter (it's free!)

Chef Chai Cookbook Signing at Ala Moana Center

2009-01-25T22:10:00.001-08:00

Chef Chai Chaowasaree will be signing his new cookbook at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore in Ala Moana Center on Friday, January 30, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. His new book is entitled "The Island Bistro Cookbook" and it features almost 100 recipes from his two award winning Honolulu restaurants: Chai's Island Bistro in the Aloha Tower Marketplace and Singa Thai Cuisine on Ala Moana Boulevard.

The Island Bistro Cookbook at Amazon.com

Chef Chai Restaurant: Chai's Island Bistro

Chef Chai Restaurant: Singa Thai Cuisine

Crab Festival at the New Sam Choy's Restaurant

2009-01-25T22:08:00.001-08:00

Hawaii celebrity chef Sam Choy opened his Diamond Head restaurant on Kapahulu Avenue in 1995 and two years later he opened a second restaurant called "Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch, and Crab" on Nimitz Highway, not far from Hilo Hattie. In June of 2008 he announced he was closing his Diamond Head location and consolidating that restaurant with his Nimitz location. Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch, and Crab has been renamed simply Sam Choy's, and while it still features the crab dishes it has always been famous for, items from the menu of the Diamond Head restaurant are gradually being added. Sam Choy's is holding its annual crab festival Sunday, January 25 through Sunday, February 1, 2009. During that week the menu will feature three types of crab, Maryland Blue Crab, Alaskan Snow Crab, and Dungeness Crab, prepared in a variety of different ways. For more information call Sam Choy's Restaurant at 808-545-7979.

Sam Choy's Restaurant in Honolulu

Fourteen Cookbooks By Sam Choy

My First Hawaii Newsletter - There's Still Time to Subscribe

2009-01-21T11:43:00.001-08:00

I'm sending the very first email edition of my Hawaii newsletter in the next few days. All of our newsletters will eventually be posted on the Hawaii Travel Newsletter Web site, but the Web version might not be available right away. If you subcribe to the newsletter you will be able to read each issue immediately when it is published. If you read a few newsletters, and decide you don't want to receive the email version, it's very easy to unsubscribe at anytime.

Hawaii's 2009 Obama Inaugural Balls

2009-01-21T10:49:00.000-08:00

Information about Hawaii's 2009 Obama Inaugural Balls in Honolulu and Washington DC, including (among others) the Hawaii Democratic Party's Inaugural Ball at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel in Waikiki and the official inaugural ball for invited residents of Hawaii and Illinois, the Home States Inaugural Ball.

2009 Hawaii Wall Calendars

2009-01-12T07:42:00.000-08:00

Hawaii wall calendars available in 2009 include calendars featuring the photographs of James Randklev, Kirk Lee Aeder, and National Geographic, calendars featuring the artwork of Mary Koski, Rosalie Prussing, and vintage Matson prints, and special interest Hawaii calendars featuring Hawaiian quilts and Hawaii golf courses. There is also a very special "vintage photos of Hawaii" 2009 calendar published by the Hawaii Historic Society. The 2009 Peggy Chun calendar listed on our 2009 Hawaii Wall Calendars page is no longer available at Amazon.com, and it is difficult to find elsewhere, probably because the popular watercolor artist passed away in November.

Martin Luther King Day Events in Hawaii

2009-01-10T21:26:00.000-08:00

Martin Luther King Day has been a state holiday in Hawaii since January of 1989 when it officially replaced Discoverers' Day as a Hawaii state holiday. This year Martin Luther King Day is on Monday, January 19, 2009 and events in Hawaii will include a parade on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki, a peace rally in Honolulu's Kapiolani Park, a Nagasaki Peace Bell ringing ceremony in downtown Honolulu, a parade in Kahului, Maui, and a special event at the Hilo Palace Theater on the Big Island of Hawaii.