Review #1,800 "Some…read morepeople unpack when they first arrive in a city. Me, I look for Chinatown." ― Bonnie Tsui, from American Chinatown I wasn't originally going to review Chinatown but I saw my review count and I couldn't resist. I want the milestone 1,800th to be about Chinatown, Honolulu edition. Did you know that Honolulu's Chinatown is one of the oldest in the United States, having been established in the 1840s to accommodate whaling ships docking at Honolulu Harbor? Today, it spans 25 acres and is renowned as a vibrant, multicultural hub featuring fresh markets, eclectic Pan-Asian eateries, and a thriving arts district. From hidden gems to delicious eateries, stopping by Chinatown is an adventure. Clothing boutiques, lei shops, and bakeries with freshly baked goods, you can find a little bit of everything here. Come with your paycheck and leave with a lighter wallet. "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." ― Walsh, from the 1974 film Chinatown

We took the trolley to Chinatown and then Uber back to our hotel. If you know how Chinatown was 10…read moreyears ago, this is not the same place. Not the hustle and bustle it used to be. We thought we might eat lunch on this visit but after shopping a bit and stopping so the kiddos could get Boba, we decided to head back to the hotel. While in Chinatown we visited several shops and bought a Lucky cat, sunglasses, 2 wallets, a tote bag, and a few other little things. The prices are right!

We really enjoyed this small water fall. Easy parking, easy hike, quickly let you enter the natural…read moresurroundings.

Being a big fan of waterfalls and having seen many in upstate New York, Vermont, New Hampshire,…read moreWashington State, and Oregon, I wanted to check out some of Hawaii's famous cascades during my stay there. I set out first to Kapena Falls, a little known waterfall located only a 15-minute drive from where I was staying in Honolulu. The most difficult thing about the short hike to Kapena Falls was finding the trailhead. The directions given to me by Apple Maps brought me to Pali Highway, and after just a short distance from where I entered the roadway, I passed it, not catching any signs or markers noting the trail. I made a u-turn to go back to where the map said it was, and luckily, on the other side of the road, there was a turnoff on the highway that I exited onto. I got out of my car, walked over to the guardrail to see if I could see anything below, but nothing. Finally, and I can't recall exactly how I figured this out, but I came upon a website that pointed me to Nuuanu Cemetery, down the hill from Pali Highway. I found the cemetery, but I still had some figuring out to do once I got there in order to find the trailhead for the falls. Eventually, I ended up driving through to the back of the cemetery, where there was a small parking lot with a garage at the end of it. Some hikers in another car pointed me to an unmarked trail towards the left of the garage where I finally reached the beginning of my hike. The hike to the falls was short, only about a half of a mile, and very easy. The trail was beautiful, with lush tropical plants everywhere, and the calming sound of running water from the creek beyond. The atmosphere was much more comfortable in the shade of the trees than my previous hike, and I was the only one around. The falls were unimpressive, but still the experience was worth it. Moments of zen, for sure! In all, I spent about 20 minutes exploring this one, and it was a nice preview for the other waterfall hikes on my list.

My second time here and it always gets better. The views are breathtaking, the crew is amazing, and…read morethe experience unforgettable. You experience "aloha" and "ohana" while working the "Aina". Definitely coming back.

It's awesome what they are doing here. They upkeep the land and teach future generations about how…read morethe land was taken cared of in traditional Hawaiian ways. I was lucky to have the opportunity to come here with my school and with my nephew's school. From kalo plants to other Hawaiian plants, there are wonderful things to see here. I especially liked how there were fish swimming in the taro patches. Not sure if you can park inside, but there are places to park right outside. Be careful of falling coconuts from the tree in front.

A giant wave... It…read moregot me at "hello" whenever I drive up and down Waiakamilo Road and you just can't miss it though it's behind a chained fenced surrounded by parked cars you can never really get a clear view of it but this stunning work of art is something so worth seeing or at least drive by it for a closer look. I'm clueless of the details like my friend Nadine C but know that it's always so stunning to get a quick glance at regardless and I did have that chance as I was dropping off some cans for recycling and to see that it was located right next to the wall which was really cool. Whatever reasons you may find yourself here, as a crafter I appreciate the joy it brings to everyone and hope that it stays there forever and ever. Thank you!

Only in Honolulu…read more.. On a little Hawaiian island named O'ahu, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, is the World's Largest Wave Mural! Standing 5 stories high, this 14,000 square foot masterpiece was created by Hilton Alves from Brazil. It took him just 8 days to complete on October 26, 2013. However, 6 months of planning,150 gallons of paint, and $10,000 (for supplies) went into it! This Landmark in Kalihi, on the corner of Waiakamilo and Kalani Streets, reminds me of the Angel Wings project by Colette Miller. Colette has artwork all over the world, and so does Hilton Alves. While Ms. Miller reminds us that "We are the angels of the earth", Mr. Alves has more of an environmental theme and has educational projects which call upon children in our communities to get involved. There are about 11 wave murals in 5 different cities and 3 countries! For more information, visit the website: TheArtOfHilton.com Aloha!

READ ALL THE REVIEWS!!!! We walked around the whole building…read moretrying to find it and finally asked the hotel front desk. We passed it x2! It's in the alley at the back of the building if you are coming out of the church parking lot go LEFT! It's behind a tall cement white wall. It's huge! And I read the other reviews and went up to the 5th floor didn't need a key and took a picture on the fire escape because the camera was not working I have been collecting these pics and so happy to add another one Super sad that the camera was not working. I wonder if it will ever be fixed?

I've visited multiple "Greetings" murals across the United States and this is definitely the most…read moreunique one. Instead of a wall, this painting was on the floor of the Alohilani Resort. You can view it from the Swell Bar on the 5th floor of the hotel or from the guest rooms if you're staying here. It's located on the Kealohilani Avenue side of the resort in a small lot that you can most definitely miss if you're not paying attention. It's a beautiful mural already but the cherry on top (no pun intended) is that there's a camera on the top of the building pointing down. There's a computer setup on the wall where you can set the timer to snap a photo of your pose on the mural. Then you can see the photo and even email it to yourself. It's such an unknown gem of Hawaii that provides one amazing postcard.

I've been asking my college professor all semester when would we be visiting Hooulu Aina after…read morehearing how the class last year got to learn about planting awa. So when the chance came I was definitely excited and ended up learning a lot. To teachers especially if you have handicap students: Do it!! There was a hike (which my professor forgot to tell me about) to the site we worked at, but depending on the severity of the students disability it's doable (though they may complain a lot especially if you don't prepare them ahead of time). Plus there is a road where the guys were able to take me back down in a truck (which if my professor had let them know ahead of time they probably could have brought me up, though I won't tell him, but the minor discomfort I felt was well worth the satisfaction of what we accomplished that day).

This place is amaze. My family friend told me about it, since she's the psychologist at Kokua…read moreKalihi Valley clinics and has been here a few times herself. I came for the first time last month and was treated to an amazingly therapeutic day of clearing invasives in order to allow koa to naturally come up. Learned about a few plants and how to identify them and was treated to an amazing lunch after, cooked by volunteers, and took some edible hibiscus home for cooking. Although I spent three hours clearing, I definitely feel like I came away with so much more than I put in and regretted putting off coming for wanting to sleep in, or do other errands, in the few months prior. I have been missing out on a lot. I came for the second time this past weekend and we spent some time clearing weeds from several different sites on the farm, which we then fed to the pigs. Other activities include kapa pounding, hale building, garden maintenance, and cooking, so lots of opportunity to do what suits you and your abilities. The staff is great. I worked with Aulani this weekend, who is a total gem and a staffer there for the last six years. She introduced me to maile hohono, which puts a stop to mosquito bites and OMFG it's a miracle plant. Lots of people here fulfilling volunteer requirements, but I'm just doing it cuz I love it. Make sure to dress appropriately with things you can get dirty in. Bring your own water, even better bring your own plates/silverware for lunch, and be prepared for a day of well-being and rejuvenation. Make sure to also check out Roots Cafe to support local farms/food. I haven't been myself, but can't wait to go.

This is a review of the Manoa Christmas Parade 2015…read more It has been many moons since we took da kid to the Manoa parade when he was a squirt. In those days, the parade was relatively short, less than 30 minutes as I recall. My how things have changed. This year we took our little fur ball princess to da parade, and boy was she in awe of the festivities. The parade now seems to run close to an hour and there appears to be a more diverse group of marchers. From school bands to financial institutions, and all groups in between, the Manoa Christmas Parade, because it is on less busy streets, has a more neighborhood and personal feel as compared to say, the Kaimuki Christmas parade. A highlight of the parade has to be Mrs. Claus, rocking away on her chair as she passes the crowd in the back of her vintage truck. This is a clever take on the Claus tradition, something the crowds seem to look forward to. Another highlight was this year's Grand Marshall and Lion Stanley Takamine. Way to go Lion Stan! Many thanks to all who participated in this great parade institution in beautiful Manoa Valley to the delight of the many families who lined the streets watch. Happy holidays to everyone!

So why 5 stars? Well duh this is where I live (so yeah I am probably biased). We are a small…read morecommunity with a rich unique history (i said HISTORY so all you burglars go Kahala or something). While we can no longer can leave our doors unlocked, neighbors know each other and still talk to one another and look out for each other. Parks: 5/5. Manoa District Park. Huge park with tables and places to dispose of your coal if you decide to grill (Longs and Safeway is just down the road if you forget something). A baseball field, a gym, swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts are just a few things available here. Library. 3/5. Manoa Library. Currently in a small temporary location. There is a totally brand new library currently under construction sure to be a 5 star location when it does open. Shopping & Dining. 4/5. Manoa Shopping Center & surrounding shops. With so many restaurants ranging from healthy (Andy's) to not so healthy (McDonald's) they is sure to be something for everyone. Schools. 5/5. Manoa Elementary & Noelani Elementary. Great schools with great parent involvement. Their seasonal craft fairs are super awesome. I know I have missed some stuff, but I am sure you can see why we have a great community worthy of 5 stars. #Yelp 365 007/365 Date Visited: Everyday

For sure there's lots to see in Waikiki on the beach but here's a landmark that gets overlooked a…read morelot for other things around here. It has a lot of history for the locals. The Stones Of Life have some kind of mystical powers. A lot of this may just be stories, but have become a part of the culture. These represent Hawaii's longtime history of a place for healing and inclusion, among other things. Cool pieces of local history and worth going for a look on the way to something else. It's got a pretty interesting story. There's four stones, each representing a spirit who brought healing powers to Hawaii in ancient times. Fun to discover something pretty simple with so much history. The Hawaiian name for these is Nā Pōhaku Ola Kapaemāhū A Kapuni. A pretty significant aspect of local culture. These spirits were named Kahalo, Kapaemahu, Kapuni, and Kinohi. It was only in 1997 that these stones were placed here. They were taken from other places where they had been placed close to their favorite bathing areas according to the information on the plaque. Local officials thought it would be a good idea to put all these together in one area. This would also help preservation efforts and increase interest. Good place to find some history on the beach and learn about local history. It's located on Kalakaua close to the Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Statue. This is one of the more culturally significant things about Waikiki.

These might literally just be a bunch of stones that you end up disregarding because it's by…read moreWaikiki Beach and the restrooms. However, they have historical significance. The four stones are said to hold the power (mana) of four Tahitian healers from Raiatea. These healers traveled throughout the islands administering their miraculous cures. When it was time to go back to their homeland, they gave their names and spiritual power to these four stones. You might think they're just stones, but they are meant to represent the spirit and heritage of the Hawaiian people.

Wat Thai of Hawaii…read more.. Every Sunday they have a market along with meditation session at this hidden oasis in the midst of the twisted roadways and rails of Pearl City. This tricky one way road coming from Waipahu is the only way into this village and yes it's basically that with an open market setting selling various produce and food vendors on Sunday this deserted place comes alive. I was lucky enough to find a parking right outside along the highway as I really didn't want to park inside with the assumption that is full it's an easy walk in. Love the foods they have there with spring rolls, friend chicken to braised pork noodles all at such reasonable prices it's like your transported to Thailand though mindfully it is very rustic but a great destination for something different...explore! Thank you!

Hidden Sunday gem! 10 am to 2 pm. Cash only…read more It's off Farrington highway, past the bus station, to your right. You can't miss it. There are a lot of flags along the highway. There's a lot of parking but it gets packed fast. Get there early so you can find a spot. It was hard to get out though cause the roads are so narrow and some cars would be blocking the exit. We had to wait for them to move their cars before we could get out. There's pho, with a condiments station. A lot of thai food. The best part, papaya salad that's made in front of you. Everything is good! I can't wait to go back to try the pho and fried chicken! Everyone seems to be lining up for that.

We had family visiting from the mainland and since their hotel wasn't ready and they never went to…read morePali decided to take them there which they really enjoyed also because they are watching the Hawaii series with Jason Mamoa. The Park is well kept and they have parking meters self pay for visitors, if you're kamaina or military no parking fee. No restrooms

Beautiful! A misty day is THE TIME to visit! It lets you see the swirling winds (using the mist)…read moreas they come up the ridge line. Its is really cool! (No really, you'll need a jacket.) The views are incredible! The park is quite beautiful! (Tip: Understand the historical significance of the warring Hawaiian tribes and thus park before you come to see it.)