Hotels in Waikiki are similar to hotels in other resort and vacation areas. Lots of concrete. Plenty of people. Noisy. Traffic. Waikiki’s hotels are set along Pacific Ocean beaches. Remember Jack Lord and Hawaii 5-0? Which hotel shows up in the opening of Hawaii 5-0 (either the original Hawaii 5-O or the 21st century Hawaii … Read More »

People would like to think that the island of Lanai is a snapshot of old Hawaii. It’s not. Old Hawaii was not acres of pineapple fields. Fortunately, that’s not the new Lanai, either. The old Hawaii wasn’t crowded with hotels and resorts. Neither is the new Lanai. In fact, there’s not much here. Not even … Read More »

The right hotel makes a good vacation great. A crummy hotel makes a great vacation less than good. How do you make a hotel stand out among the crowds of hotels in Waikiki? Cookies. Hotels in vacation destinations such as Hawaii fall into three basic categories. Resort (Hilton Hawaiian Village), Quality Hotel (Sheraton Waikiki) and … Read More »

Did I mention how quiet it is on Molokai? Hey, by now, everyone knows. Life is mo-bettah on Molokai. Why? Wait. Where is Molokai? It’s one of the smaller islands in Hawaii. Real quiet out there. Sporting events are timed with a calendar. Once you’re there, where do you stay?  Molokai is thin on hotels … Read More »

Boutique hotels are all the rage these days. They offer a hideaway and respite from the monolithic resorts which dot Waikiki’s shores. Joy is what you’ll find at the better than boutique Waikiki Joy Hotel. What kind of Joy? Oh, don’t forget the joy of a personal spa. Assuming you know what you want, and … Read More »

Frankly, it’s fun reading. There are plenty of web sites around that describe a destination or a hotel, and allow readers to submit their own review. Waikiki has plenty of hotels and plenty of reviews. Some are great (as they should be). Most are just blubbery boring (most folks don’t write good). However, there’s gems … Read More »

I can’t picture Waylon Jennings staying at a Hyatt. The original Ramblin’ Man (may he rest in peace) would have been more comfortable at the Hilo Hukilau, although I’m sure he never stayed there. Fortunately, I’ve stayed many enjoyable nights at the Hyatts in Hawaii. Unfortunately, I spent a week one night at the Hilo … Read More »

Maui has two luxurious coasts; Kaanapali to the West, Wailea to the South. While Kaanapali (say that real fast, three times) is open and spacious, the resorts of Wailea are snug, comfortable. The number of “fat women” statues will surprise even skinny folks. The Grand Wailea Resort and Spa opened as the world’s most expensive … Read More »