we went to mcdonald's drive through and bought pancakes and they didn't give us any butter knife or…read morefork of syrup either absolutely nothing, how dare they do that to us when we go go there almost everyday to buy food from them and they leave out the essentials like that, omg!!! i want to report them to the better business bureau too now for doing this to us this isn't the first time they've done this to us before either too, omg!!!

When i was asked to go I thought nah because they're not very scary. When I saw the Facebook page…read moreand saw how well the costumes were I thought maybe it can still be a good adventure. I have to say this was a good scare. The costumes, props and effects were spot on. Many places are super dark like you can't see your hand 5 inches from your face. I had to take creepy small steps just to feel my way and get through this. Actors were professionally made up. it was difficult to tell if it was a dummy or not. I'm not one to scare easy but this place got me to jump twice. They have learned well how to guide people to the positions where they want them to be to get a good scare. And then when you think it's over, it's just like the in the movies. It ain't. hahahahha Some food trucks are set up in the parking lot so you can grab a bite to eat. Parking is across the street at West Marines. They have security there too for the safety of your vehicle. $15 will get you in but we decided to get the $20 Fast Pass to bypass the line. Special thanks to Kevin for setting this up again this year. Highly, highly recommend everyone going to check this out. Well worth it and better than most of the haunts out there.

I was lucky enough to attend a Lei Day event at Waikiki Shell featuring live music and hula, and…read morethe setting could not have felt more perfect for it. The venue immediately reminded me a little of the Hollywood Bowl, but on a much smaller and somehow even more charming scale. With Diamond Head rising in the background, the views are absolutely spectacular and give the whole experience a distinctly Hawaiian sense of place. I was also impressed by how good the acoustics were, especially in an outdoor venue. It's very easy to access from the main Waikiki hotel area, which makes getting there surprisingly convenient. Between the music, the atmosphere, and the scenery, it ended up being one of those memorable Honolulu evenings that really sticks with you.

Shelling out for an event…read more.. Honestly the last time that I've been back to the Waikiki Shell is my graduation o_O woah....though I could be wrong but sadly I don't get out very much but thanks to Nadine who asked if I was interested in a concert which I really was made me so happy to return and experience it all under the stars. Parking is always an issue but luckily we got there early...early enough to find one right away as it fills up quickly which you'll have to park at the next lot which can be a distance that we didn't want. What I wasn't prepared for was the wait as the time to enter was delayed by 30 minutes I did wished that I knew you could bring your own water just as long it's in a plastic bottle though there was lots of food options there it was spread out so far I wished there was just a single place to order but I was already exhausted from waiting that all I wanted to do was find our seats. Nadine selected great seats right in the center and close enough that we're able to see the concert well, bathrooms are at the front gate and I noticed there was another one on the opposite side as well, it's nice to have an open air atmosphere gave it a nice relaxing vibe. Thank you!

The memory of being parked at Magic Island, the perfect spot at 7:20pm with unobstructed views from…read morea distance. At times, I rode the city bus into Waikīkī to be on the beach or better yet, on resort property to watch the pre-show at the Hilton Super Pool. That was me, years ago when I used to live on O'ahu. To watch fireworks at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, on a Friday night at 7:45pm. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It's 2026, many years later and now residing on the Big Island of Hawai'i where I was born and raised. Traveling to O'ahu recently, I decided to select overnight accommodations specifically on a Friday night at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. To enjoy the fireworks show. Staying on-site gave me zero logistical hassles, walking right from my hotel room avoiding pre 'n post show traffic on the roads and sidewalks. By watching the fireworks from the comfort of a private balcony/lanai, it allowed me to avoid crowds and skip the time of securing a spot on the beach or within the resort property. Dining reservations were made months in advance. It's 7:24pm and there's a massive crowd already on the beach fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village for the 7:45pm fireworks show. If you're not a registered resort guest, take the time to secure a spot here. Then, venture on-property to enjoy the resort offerings for a cocktail or snack, enjoy live entertainment or shop at one of the many boutiques. The open shoreline in-front of the resort provides perfect, unobstructed views. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It's 7:45pm. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ As the controlled explosions, those brilliant colors fill the sky above the Hilton Hawaiian Village, a sense of emotion comes over me. Filled with nostalgia, I began to remember watching fireworks while growing up in my hometown with my family. Along with those special summer trips to Disneyland. A tear began to roll down my cheek as the visual spectacle continued. Once I passed the emotional stage, my adrenaline started to kick-in with the booming sounds. As I began to anticipate what colors, what flashes of light and shapes will appear before me. A thrilling high, a deep euphoria from fireworks in the Waikīkī sky. My eyes, frozen in-position as the sensation of wonder begins to pull me out of my worries. Brilliant chrysanthemums, electric blues and pinks, ruby reds and golden yellows bursts in the horizon, as flares rain down sparks and create a dazzling light show. The deep, echoing booms resonate across the sand and water, followed by a "crackle" and "hiss". Amplifying this visual, multi sensory experience. It captures my attention, sparks wonder and amazement. A smile appears, I can't believe I'm actually here. Watching it live with such an amazing viewpoint, I've waited years for this. As each firework shell is mounted on the white sand beach in-front of the balcony I'm perched on, a feeling of gratitude comes over me as the dazzling display comes to an end. What a spectacular finale. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Watch the show from a distance, time your arrival accordingly to obtain that perfect viewing spot. Or venture into Waikīkī and join the crowd on the beach hours before as you take a dip in the ocean, then venture on resort property to explore. Become a registered guest at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and enjoy the fireworks show from your balcony, from exclusive viewing areas for resort/dining guests. The sensory combination of light and sound, allow it to capture your emotions and trigger childhood memories. Like it did for me. As the sky transitions from darkness to brilliant bursts of color, let it symbolize a new chapter of hope, unity and fresh beginnings. Right here at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, every Friday night at 7:45pm. (photos and videos of the fireworks were taken from my iPhone)

I just arrived for the Jazz Festival and was extremely excited about the experience. Unfortunately,…read morethat excitement quickly turned into frustration after having to stand in line for over an hour just to check in. We have now been waiting for more than an hour, while there is a separate line for loyalty guests. As a longtime Marriott supporter, I chose to step outside my usual Marriott experience specifically because of the Jazzy Festival, hoping to try something different. Unfortunately, this has been one of the worst check-in experiences I've encountered. I sincerely hope this is not an indication of how the rest of the Jazzy Festival experience will be. Guests should not have to begin what is supposed to be an exciting event by spending over an hour waiting to check in. I expect better organization and communication, and I hope this situation is addressed immediately. I need to update this review as soon as we got to the desk Mia turn around this experience. She took total control and things were great afterwards. Second night of Jazz festival and I m more than satisfied!!

Date: October 3, 2015 Where: Kaka'ako Agora…read moreReason to go: Attend my first comedy sketch show Yelp had two events for October 3, 2015. I was bummed out that I didn't have the opportunity of attending the Yelp Day at the Movies: Pan which started at 10am. My luck turned around when I received confirmation that I was chosen to attend The Scratch Paper Sketch Comedy Show at Kaka'ako Agora which started at 8pm. I traveled from Waianae to Kapiolani Boulevard/South Street via the Country Express Bus. From there I walked it to Kaka'ko Agora. I must have been so excited to attend that I arrived at 6:30pm and the establishment was still close. To kill time I ended up walking to Highway Inn on Ala Moana Boulevard to have a light dinner. Fast forward to 7:30pm...the establishment is finally open to welcome guests. I walked into the partial warehouse area and noticed two tables with chairs facing the ocean. There was two rows of chairs facing the mountain. Individuals who showed up at the comedy show were able to sit in either of the two rows or on the wooden benches against the wall. The lucky Yelp attendees and walk in tourists were greeted by Kimee who is the founder of the Improv Hi. She explained to the audience what the event is all about. Think of it as Saturday Night Live only with live actors from Improv HI reading from the manuscripts in the rough draft stage. I liked few of the manuscripts that the actors did: a) The Starbucks versus Dunkin Donuts coffee with the radio news. b) The boyfriend and girlfriend in a meeting with a relationship counselor c) The owner of a dog asking his neighbor on the whereabouts of his dog...the neighbor says that the dog is playing with his children and the dog tells the neighbor that he enjoys watching college football instead of the NFL. The event also consisted of several short comedy sketches and films that the audience were able to watch on the wall from the projector. One of my favorite comedy sketch was a video that starred comedian actor Kevin Yee in which he sang about Gay Love. A catchy tune "You can't get pregnant from gay love". Jason Lind was the guest musician during the event with help from John LeBlanc. They performed several times after the live short sketches. Overall it was an awesome event even though the live performances was in the rough draft stages. I'm curious on how the final short comedy sketch films will turn out....better yet I would love to see the actors perform the scenes by memory. Mahalo Yelp Hawaii and Improv Hi for a night of music and laughter. Awesome work by the actors reading the sketches for tonight's The Scratch Paper Sketch Comedy Show. Awesome seeing Jay T., Terry H., and Darin O. at the event. It was great meeting Sophia D for the first time in real life. Made a new friend in Ku'uipo D as well.

On nights that there is not too much going on down in Kaka'ako except for big fitness buffs that…read moreare going to the gyms at all hours of the night- there are still some things for us to see at Kaka'ako Agora. Kaka'ako Agora is a really unique location that looks like a warehouse turned into an open theater. They seem to support many 'ARTS' events- and HI Improve is able too to take advantage of this great location. It is really near Fisher for those that use that as a location reference, and street parking is almost always a must. Check in was wonderful getting a chance to say hi to Kimee who puts on the the events like 'The Scratch Paper Sketch Comedy Show' and other Improve events here in HI. Basically the show was organized as a cross between Saturday Night Live and the tv show based off it called 'Studio 65' where actors read the scripts instead of totally acting out the full dress performance. There were more than the 2 musical numbers included on SNL at the event here- which added depth to the event that people may not feel when watching SNL on a small screen tv. Live guitar in this setting pleased too the crowd. So well done. There were performances of the live 1st years HI Sketch Comedy Event filmed at the Dorris Duke theater. Those shorts were my favorite comedy bits. The event was a teaser and to draw interest from others in HI that love comedy and hopefully will garner more interest. Mahalo Nui Loa Yelp Hawaii - you da bes'! Mahalo Nui Loa Kimee + Improv Hi for a night of music and laughter. Awesome work by dedicated lovers of performance arts made for tonight's "The Scratch Paper Sketch Comedy Show" not just possible but a huge success.

The Joy of Sake Honolulu is tonight at the Hawaii Convention center rooftop…read more Over a thousand people in attendance with 492 Sakes to taste. The restaurants that are in attendance ate the following: Beachhouse at the Moana; Cake Works; Feast by Jon Matsubara; the Fixx Haleiwa; Halekulani; Hokus at the Kahala; Kaiten Sushi; Kapa Hale; Komo; Mugen; Nami Kaze; Ohana Pickles; Pili Group; Restaurant Suntory; Robata Jinya; Superb Sushi; Toro Honolulu; Umi by Vikram Garg & Zigu.

Awesome Sake Event with Super Star Chefs making their favorite delicacies…read more 384 Sakes and 3 hours to drink them all. Actually we probably only tried 60 of them. Thats a lot of 1oz pours...

My husband and I went to the Mayjah Rayjah 2013 Concert last night. We had a great time. Even…read morethough we are on the 'mature side' and didnt know any of the artists. I wanted to do something totally different for our 28th Wedding Anniversary. We sat on the over 21 side (the alcoholics side) as they were affectionately known throughout the night . We chose this side only because it had a better angle to the stage. We got there really early but didnt need to really. We were first in line at the express entrance because we bought a Groupon for the concert.. There is really no need to arrive early and line up for hours we discovered unless you really really want to sit right down the front on the cement step near the stage. There is more than ample room to put your blanket down and relax and watch the show and the stage can be seen from anywhere. We sat on the first path half way up the hill just near the sound desk and it was perfect. By the end of the night though we had a lot of people standing on the path behind us but that didnt happen until about 11.30pm. I am a watcher and I watched the ample ample amount of security guards, no one seemed to be misbehaving even on the 'alcoholics side' and everyone was having a great time dancing and singing. You cannot repeat CANNOT take in anything other than a blanket. I bought 2 stadium seat thingys with the padded seat and back attached from Walmart for $18, they were well worth it as we sat on the grass for 7 hours and hardly got a 'numb bum'...... Each bag is checked thoroughly, every zipper was open and searched. Large backpacks are not allowed in and what was allowed in were completely searched as well. The drinks were overpriced, water, sodas were $3 each but the food was reasonable. 2 Hawaiian plates, rice with salad and chicken or chili franks were $8 each so not too bad. We didnt have any alcohol so not sure of the price, but previous yelpers say it was expensive. They were selling the large cans of Bud Light and looks like mixed drinks as well. Overall it was a fantastic night. If you dont want the noisy revelers sit on the under 21 family side but if you want an alcoholic drink you cant go back over till its all gone!

Tonight is Na Wai! Yay! Awesome hula to start the evening! So happy to be here and to enjoy the…read moreHawaiian Cultures with malihini and kanaka! Love Kona Nui nights during this hot summer! The aloha here is definitely felt! I just love the sharing of mo'olelo and hula followed by beautiful music of Hawai'i top artists. Come on out to Kona Nui Nights!

A FREE concert on the Third Wednesday of every month?…read more I must check it out! It seems too good to be true! I had seen Lyla D. check in at this Honolulu event in the past. Fortunately, this time, she invited me to go with her and her husband, Ed, on July 20, 2016. The featured guest performer was Hoku Zuttermeister who is known for his contemporary Hawaiian music, including awesome falsetto vocals! We got to the reception table in the lobby of the IBM Building at about 5:30pm for the 6pm show. We were welcomed by the pleasant staff with a warm greeting and a yellow paper band for our wrist! At first, we sat in the last row of canvas beach chairs and enjoyed some overflow of air conditioning from the open door of the IBM Building. Later, when family members of the hula halau left, we were able to move up and sit in the second row! The balmy tropical breeze kept us cool in the open air courtyard. A large white tent kept up protected from the last rays of the setting sun. Aja Gample started off the evening with her smooth vocals and slack key guitar accompaniment. Also of note, was Kumu Hina (I had seen a movie about her) and her hula halau (hula troupe)! There were other hula dancers (children, men, aunties, seniors, etc.) who jumped in and danced to songs sung by Hoku Zuttermeister, including Hoku's mother, Susan! It was such a wonderful event, full of surprises and fun! This time, Lyla got a free ticket for me via wardvillageshops.com - mahalo, Lyla!! Next month, I will be able to acquire my own ticket, now that I know the routine and the location. Free parking is nearby at the Ward Village shops, the Ward Warehouse and Ward Center. The restroom in the IBM Building is convenient and clean. Beverages were available at the bar in the back ($2 soft drink and $6 beer). A shave ice cart provided cool treats for $3 a serving. Besides watching hula and listening to Hawaiian music, we enjoyed each others' company and were allowed to bring in our own dinner! This casual 2-hour event reminded me of the Grand Performances in Downtown Los Angeles, but on a more personal and meaningful level. Our community is able to come together and celebrate Hawaiian culture, language, dance, and music in an inviting and intimate manner! A hui hou!

Tattoo artist's galore everywhere you look! Is this a tattooer's dream?…read more The Pacific Ink and Art Expo is filled with a few Motorcycles,Hotrods,Art Pictures and whole lot of Tattoo Businesses promoting and actually inking at this wonderful Expo. There are tattoo machines,supplies,ink,shirts and tattoo care products be sold at the show which I thought was really cool.I even found some SPF45 made for my ink when going out in sun or water. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Ge0iMhWU9njq9Ls1CJ33cQ?select=knY2gS_ICPGH3jykOc7s5w#ZSve_UJ_XQtT3rNl53_Eqg Its was really good to see the Yelp Booth there spreading the gospel of Yelp! http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Ge0iMhWU9njq9Ls1CJ33cQ?select=knY2gS_ICPGH3jykOc7s5w#rhCzxOx7VCqGE2eyZ0uj9A They even had cute little Yelp temporary Tattoos, that's right kids get your Yelp tattoos now and someday you will grow up to be a Elite Yelper! (I had to get one! Couldn't help myself) http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/Ge0iMhWU9njq9Ls1CJ33cQ?select=knY2gS_ICPGH3jykOc7s5w#UICzVwIPNusZIf5XT9vfFw I enjoyed the experience to meet different Artist and browse through their picture books being displayed at their individual booths. Had a great time and made me want to get more ink! I think that was the whole theme about the show is Artist showing off their talents, tattoo awareness and care. Be back next year for sure!

I've NEVER been to a tattoo convention/expo before and wasn't sure what to expect. Having said…read morethat, my family and I absolutely LOVED it. What I enjoyed best was that it was a great family event - crazy, but true, even my 4 yr old girls loved it. There was something for everyone: food, bounce houses, skate ramp, drawing/art stations, motorcycles, cars, hair/makeup vendors, clothing, accessories, and live entertainment - even a sandwich eating contest - IN ADDITION to the tons of talented tattoo artists there. I'm a tattooed man, and I love that people are free to express themselves in this medium. There were countless forms of tattooing represented here including tribal, portraiture, black and gray, color, fantasy, realistic, traditional Japanese, traditional Hawaiian, traditional Samoan, traditional Filipino, etc. As a tattoo fan, the history and artistry on display was AWESOME. I'm sure that we will come back next year (wish it were sooner), and make it a great family day out.