NFL Pro Bowl on Oahu Feb 10th

So are you a die hard football fan? And who isn't?
Going to be on Oahu, Feb 10th?
There are still tickets available for the NFL Pro Bowl in Honolulu!

Be a part of the Hawaiian Islands tradition and support your conference players
at this season ending blowout party.
Who will win this year the NFC or the AFC?
Can you think of a better place to have a tailgate party?

Tickets are still available, just contact Aloha Stadium on Oahu at 808-486-9555,
or visit the Ticketmaster.com site.

Traveling in Hawaii With a Person With Disabilities

Right now on Kauai, it is 72 wonderful degrees, we should hit a high of 79 today, which is my kind of weather.

Weather aside, one question people ask all the time is "since the Hawaiian Islands are so rugged and are known for hiking, beaches and physical activities, can a person with disabilities still enjoy their stay?"

The answer is a resounding YES! Hawaii has embraced the Person's with Disibilities act and from national landmarks to airports, hotels and shopping malls, you will find that you will have no problems getting into and around the Hawaiian Islands.

One great resource is Hawaii's Health Department. Here you will find information for each Island along with traveling tips, and airport information.

The Hawaiian Islands are for everyone to enjoy!

Traveling To Kauai With Kids?

Kauai has so much to offer families with children. Between scenic adventures, Hawaiian legends, dancing and lets not forget the beach, that kids often get over stimulated, become cranky and get out of control.

One way to help this situation is to let your children know what to expect in their trip to Kauai. Let them familiarize themselves with a few of the landmarks and sights of Kauai. But how can you do that before your trip?

You can rent DVD's about Kauai, but most will not entertain children, books also will put them to sleep.

There is however a new DVD series out that is geared towards children. It's called "Travel With Kids Hawaii: The Island of Kauai". Since this DVD is a new title in the award winning series you know that your children are going to love it.

Young globe-trotters won't realize how much education they will absorb from the "Travel With Kids." Narrated by the Roberts family, they take viewers along on a real family vacation exploring each country's stunning landscape, accompanied by festive, upbeat music in the flavor of the local culture.

Through colorful, simple narration, the series introduces the geographical, geological and governmental histories of the featured region and provides dozens of facts and tips - including statistics, ticket/admission prices, Web sites, etc. - that pop right up on screen in amusing, easy-to-read graphics. Destinations are covered in depth, including lodging, museums, attractions, restaurants, suggested ages, best times to visit, etc.

The "Travel With Kids" series makes planning any travel adventure fun, educational and a treasured family affair.

In "Travel With Kids Hawaii: The Island of Kauai," approximately 35 minutes, join the Roberts as they learn tales of Polynesian history along the Waimea River; explore Kauai's dramatic terrain along the Napali Coast and Waimea Canyon; discover the road less traveled beyond Hanalei on Kauai's North Shore; visit the Fern Grotto; cruise the Wailua River; and explore the many facets of Hanalei, Kapaa, Poipu Beach, Kee Beach, Hanapepe; and more.

Each DVD comes with a slew of special features including chapter selection; a "Plan Your Trip" featurette, which guides families in planning the best, most educational excursions; "Expanded Information" which includes everything from local activities, facts about the destination, highlighted, not-to-miss activities for kids and teens, packing tips, travel products and list of available resources to help with additional planning.

Extending the educational insights to each location, "Travel With Kids" DVDs also include simple craft projects and vocabulary sections that introduce key phrases for each country. Kids will also enjoy helping parents make authentic meals from easy-to-follow recipes featuring local cuisines.

Travel With Kids" is produced by Equator Creative Media, a travel multimedia production company promoting independent adventure travel for the family. To learn more about the DVD's, visit www.travelwithkidsdvds.com.

Golfing in Hawaii

Now golf is a game that I really never could master. In fact I never played the game until some friends came to visit who played. And I never played until I moved to Hawaii. I would make it a point to have at least a dozen balls when I started the game because by the time it was over I was usually out of balls.

In the beginning it was fine. I'd wack the ball and it would go straight but towards the end I'd hook and slice and never see my ball again. And I'll never use yellow balls again due to the dandelions that sometimes grow on the fairways. What a nightmare.

Whether a person knows how to play golf well or just likes to have fun the golf courses in Hawaii are quite unlike anywhere else. Depending on which level of play you like you can choose from an ocean course, one that's got lots of coconut trees, rivers and/or lakes, and or course ravines. The smell of the flowers is all around and the warm breeze makes the game even more of an enjoyable adventure.

Carts are chosen by most but with the appalling mountain and ocean views and the fragrant air it makes a person want to be out there longer so walking and feeling the breeze and enjoying the sun was my way to go.
Kukuiolono was one of my favorites on Kauai because it's a 9 hole course nestled in the hills of Kalaheo. This is a semi-private course. Wailua golf course is an 18 hole course and is also open to the public. And needless to mention all of the major hotels offer their very own golf course.

If Golf is your game you definitely won't be disappointed on your visit to Hawaii. Grab your clubs, put on a visor and tread the links in the Hawaiian sunshine!

Hawaiian Luau

My memories of a Hawaiian Luau are pleasant. Although I lived on Kauai, each time a friend or relative would visit from the mainland we would have to attend a Luau. Smiths Tropical Paradise in Waipoli was my choice.

Arriving early gives you the treat of watching the men dig the hole, put in the hot rocks, a whole pig, cover it with banana leaves, cover it up with sand and let it cook. They called it an "emu", or what they laughed and called their Hawaiian microwave. Actually "emu" means "in ground". The pig would be buried for hours and come out fully, fall off the bone, cooked.


Of course pig wasn't the only choice. There would be various types of chicken like Shoyu Chicken, Huli Huli Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken and even Teriyaki Beef. Fish? I would sample some Mahi Mahi, Lomi Lomi Salmon and even different types of Shrimp.
Rice was an absolute must at a Luau, along with potato and macaroni salad. Poi was always available and there was lots of green salads and fruit plates to pick at.


Other Hawaiian treats at a Luau included Hawaiian Sweet Potato Pie, local favorites like Pineapple Macadamia Nut Loaf, different kinds of punch to drink and Mai Tai's were ever so popular.


After all the eating was done we'd all be in for a real treat. Men would come out beating on drums, toss flaming torches in the air, the girls would be dancing in grass skirts, Hawaiian music would fill the air and there would be lots of singing.


A visit to the Islands wouldn't be complete without attending a Hawaiian Luau.

Pizza in Hawaii

Do you think of Pizza while on your stay in Hawaii? Among all the local favorites like chicken, pork, noodles and rice, Pizza is right up there with them. The local residents enjoy eating this food and it's readibly available for them and visitors alike.

Unlike years ago when a Pizza establishment was a rare find, today these restaurants are not only located in most shopping centers but also along highways and in smaller malls as well. You can't beat the taste and quality of a true Hawaiian Pizza.

Ma's Pizza on Front Street in Lahiana was my favorite while on my honeymoon back in 1982 and while I lived on Kauai the Coconut Plantation Marketplace in Kapaa (now Aloha Kauai Pizza) received frequent visits by me.

Some other Pizza locations, and these are just a few, would be:
Pizza Hut in Honolulu on Oahu
Pizetta located in Koloa on Kauai
Dominos Pizza can be found in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island

You probably won't find Pizza at a Luau but if it's a food of your choice you'll be pleased to know that you won't have to do without while on your stay in the land of Aloha!

Motorcycle Rental

If you're like me and enjoy riding around on a motorcycle, especially a Harley Davidson, renting one of these while on your Hawaiian vacation will surely make it more memorable. While there are a lot of places on the various islands that will rent you a bike here are just a few to mention for 4 major islands in the land of Aloha.

While I lived on Kauai there was no helmet law but I wore one anyway. Last time I looked the asphalt was a lot harder than my head so wearing some protective head gear is a very good idea. The state of Hawaii requires a special class for motorcycle license also so be aware of that when you walk into to rent one of those bikes.

Like I mentioned there are lots of Harley rental agencies on the islands but here are just a few.

On the Big Island there's Kona Harley-Davidson. You'll find it at 74-5615 East Luhia St., Kailua-Kona HI.

Over to Oahu is Cycle City Ltd. Their address is 600 Pu'uloa Rd, Honolulu HI.

Moving to Maui you can choose from Maui Harley-Davidson / Buell 150 Dairy Rd, Kahului HI or...
Kanaka Metal Horse at 357 Huku Lii Place, Suite 105, Kihei HI or...
Aloha Toy Store located at 640 Front St, Lahaina HI.

The island of Kauai offers Kauai Harley-Davidson / Buell. They are at 3-1866 Kaumualli Hy, Lihue HI.

Where you go on whichever island you're on I'm sure renting one of these motorcycles will make your Hawaiian vacation even more memorable. Keep in mind that you will be on a motorcycle so the same care and caution must be exercised wherever you go.

On the Beach

All of the islands that make up Hawaii are surrounded by beaches. Actually, that being true, each island is it's own beach. Although a beach consists of sand and water each is unique.

There are some beaches where the water is calm due to a natural or man made reef. These are great for snorkeling because a person doesn't get tossed around in the surf. If surf is your thing then Oahu is nice on the North Shore because the surf is almost always up.

Polihale Beach on the west side of Kauai is vast. The sand is fine and it's usually windy there so the sand blows around. Walking out into the water that's at your knees can quickly change to the water being over your head. Most of the beaches are tranquil though.

Some homes on the various islands occupy a beach, however, every beach has a public access so the use of every beach is open to all. Many of them are State Parks. Laying on a towel and absorbing the sun is a great way to spend an afternoon and going into the water is a must. Anini Beach is a nice place to gather those hard to find little shells that make up the Niihau shell necklaces. Hint: although the Niihau shell lei is made up of shells found on the island of Niihau they are also gathered on neighboring islands, especially on Anini Beach.

No matter which beach you choose you won't be disappointed. You may even stumble your way onto a secluded beach where clothing is optional. And in the evening it's an awesome sight to see the sun set into the ocean on the western most beaches. Every hotel has it's own beach and anyone can go. Therefore it's an easy trek from the beachfront back to your room to freshen up afterwards.

Kalalau Hiking Trail

At the end of the road on the North side of Kauai is this little general store. It's located in a small town called Haena. I went into that store once to buy a cold soda and a candy bar. It's actually the western most store in the United States. On the other side of the road from the store is the beach. The Haena general store, however, isn't the end of the road.

Another couple of miles of switchbacks, caves and beaches and I came to the very end of the road. Haena State Park. This is where the road ends but where the excitement begins.

Going into the forest is what's known as the Kalalau Trail. I decided to take the hike with a friend of mine and go all the way to Kalalau Valley. This valley can only be accessable by this trail, helicopter or boat. So with a couple days food, water and a few things like matches, extra clothes and other small items I went on.

Six miles in there's an old abandoned rangers station where we decided to spend the night. I worked plumbing so I brought a huge plastic bag from a hot water heater to sleep in. The mosquitos in the rainforest at night are very hungry and it sort of protected me. Being in a plasic bag I created my own little eco system but I didn't get eaten by the skeets. The cats that inhabited the area worked their way into my backpack and ate much of my food supply so my time was going to be limited. I took a one mile detour to the spectacular Hanakapiai waterfall and it was sure worth it. I regret not taking a camera.

In the rain I hiked for a few hours until it cleared up and by a little past noon I was at Kalalau Valley on the beach. I only stayed until my friend showed up and then decided to not spend the night on the beach because I had no more food so I spent the rest of the day hiking back to Haena State Park. I got there just after dark and drove back to Lihue where I lived.

It was a real fun hike and I'm really glad I didn't smoke cigarettes. If anyone likes the outdoors and into hiking this is definately where you want to go. Make sure you have sunblock and also an ample supply of mosquito repellent and it'll be very enjoyable. Some food and water is a good idea but remember you must pack out what you pack in. And bring a camera because only being there can give justice to the beauty of this tropical rainforest.

By the way, Haena hosted the filming of the Thornbirds. The rainforest that I hiked through also was the setting for Raiders of the Lost Arc. Actually Kauai was used to film many movies such as Jurassic Park, The Time Machine, 6 Days/7 Nights, Mighty Joe Young, Manhunt, Fantasy Island and too many more to mention. Such an ideal tropical location...no wonder.

Island Cruiser

It wasn't my idea for some lady to cross through two lanes of traffic and cause me to crash into the back of her car sending her onto the sidewalk and totaling my Plymouth. Shortly thereafter my wife and I picked up this white 1972 Ford Maverick.

The car was in pretty good shape but soon the salty air took it's toll on it. Being a 1972 much of the car was metal, unlike newer cars. It ran well. I couldn't believe the size of the V8 in that car for the compactness of it. Stomp the gas and that thing would really go. I changed 7 spark plugs in it once... couldn't get to one of them. Would have to pull the engine.

Rust holes began to appear on the roof which I sealed up with old license plates and rivits and silicone. Same material was used to patch the gaping holes in the floorboards. Had to fix those because things would fall through to the road below. With the help of some duct tape and baling wire I managed to secure the rear fender. It had all the glass so passing inspection was easy.

It was costly to have a complete new braking system installed. Kinda rough having to pull up the emergency brake to stop all the time. Nothing like new brakes.

We sold that old thing when we moved. Best part of it was the stereo but it still ran halfway decent and was definately an Island Cruiser.

Wailua River raft adventure

I remember this one day my wife, Patricia, came home with this inflatable rubber 2-man raft. It had oars. We decided to take a run up the Wailua river. I'm not sure if this was a big mistake or not but it sure was fun.

The sun was hot and burning down, as it usually does, so it made for a typically nice day on Kauai. The difficult part of this journey was paddling up the Wailua because since the river runs from the island to the ocean we were paddling against the current. It made for an easy ride back, though. We went for what seemed like hours paddling our way up past all the trees that overhung the banks and the few houses that had the privelege of being on the bank of the river.

It was fun and we were getting burnt. As the day went on it became late so we decided to, sort of, coast our way back. The journey back was easy, having only to steer, or navigate the raft from hitting the shore. I'll always remember that journey, especially snice the next two days I watched Pat's nose fall off. Well, her nose didn't actually fall off, the skin that shrouds her nose, due to the sunburn, just came off in one piece. Her nose turned white and then just came right off. I always kid her about the day her nose fell off.. ha ha ha.


We took that raft on one more outing, this time we floated on the Menehune Fish Pond. It wasn't as labor intensive as the Wailua and we didn't get as burnt so that was fun too. I honestly don't remember what ever happened to that raft. I think I gave it away to someone, along with the story of Pat's nose.

My First Blog Post

Hi. This is my first blog and although things are a bit fuzzy I'm grasping this as I go. I'm a seasoned pipefitter who lived on the beautiful little island of Kauai a while back. Actually from 1984 until 1992. Living here in Utah for some 15 years now, with the snow and the cold... the grey mountains... oh, did I mention cold?

Yep. Not cold on Kauai though. Someday I'd like to go back and retire on that little island. I was fortunate to be able to ride a motorcycle around for some 4 years. I tell ya, no finer way to see the place then behind a set of handlebars.
I thought that here I could from time to time share some of my experiences of living in the land of Aloha and maybe even answer a question or so that any of you reading this may have. I don't claim to know it all but do have so insight.

Drop a line. Sure hope it warms up outside.