Crowded but a popular place to purchase food as well as crafts/jewelry from local artisans. There…read moreis not a lot of parking so be prepared to walk.

They need to have all this at the Okinawan Festival…read more.. What a show of love at this craft fair as there are so many vendors majority are all handmade items uniquely their own you know is made with pride, many are the same located at the same spot there are a few different ones at times but I do love it as they do try their best to welcome everyone. Parking is insanely limited so it can be difficult but they do try their very best to accommodate as the staff are so graciously on top of anyone that leaves to make room for anyone searching for parking. On this visit was a challenge and was so sad to see both lots was full and with that overhead that the staff had moved their own car to another location to make room for the shoppers and that there was shuttle service provided by two taxis to take us to the Okinawa Center so we didn't need to walk...how amazing is that! Because they didn't use the lot like in the past it was really crammed inside filled to a point that it was difficult to pass one someone stopped to shop but everyone did shop and I was thrilled to find a few items making it so worth the effort to support and shop small and local. Thank you! side note...I was so thrilled to find parking I left my phone in the car...no pics!

My wife and I look forward to the Haleiwa Arts Festival every year that they have it so I believe…read moreit's been a couple of years due to the pandemic. Usually we melt under the summer heat and humidity, this year it was actually cooler than most years and it actually rained lightly to provide even more relief from the heat. The event was actually a little smaller with less vendors from past years but it was just as entertaining as ever. We recognized many of the artists and their works from previous visits. It was fun to shop at this locally produced arts fair and see the talent we have in Hawaii, very Impressive. Finally ,I really enjoyed purchasing food from the food trucks and not have to purchase scripts first. We definitely spent more because of this.

Absolutely the art festival to check out in mid-July. There are a dozen food stalls selling Thai,…read moreTexas BBQ, Mexican, homemade ice cream, popsicles, shave ice, cookies, as well as local Hawaiian. There are at least 50 or 60 art booths that offer oil paintings, customized surf boards, photos, earrings, necklaces, gems, porcelain, and various home decor knickknacks. Most impressive is the talent performances by various artists and school teams. We discovered this fair by chance as we passed through Haleiwa on our way to North Shore. We're looking forward to return next summer.

This review is in regards to the Zumba class I recently took at Studio 808…read more Studio 808 is located in the heart of Waipahu next to the iconic Leeward Drive-Inn. I've heard of Studio 808's dance programs but have never taken a class until I heard about the Zumba class being offered there. You can take the stairs or elevator to the 2nd floor and reach the studio on the Leeward Drive-Inn side. Once arriving, there is a front desk area set up in front of the studio where people were manning. You can pay in cash or Venmo (I did the mobile pay option because I didn't have cash). Fortunately, Studio 808 has also catered the Zumba class as a remote class so you can actually sign up for the class and dance from home by watching the instructor. Upon arriving to the class, the room was overall clean and spacious. Because the class is also done virtually, there wasn't many people in the room. The Zumba instructor was Erin and I have nothing but great things to say about him. As someone who isn't a dancer, Erin was kind enough to teach the lessons via virtual cam and in-person. The overall class was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the music better at Studio 808 compared to the Zumba classes I take at 24 Hour Fitness. I would definitely recommend to go with Erin because he's exudes positive energy, always smiles while breaking a sweat and definitely knows what he's doing. I was even watching the participants online (who were older folks) and they seemed to thoroughly enjoy the class at home as they would in studio. If you're up for doing a Zumba class in Waipahu (or simply at your own home), I would definitely recommend this class to take. Admission is about $7 per class but the first class is free! Classes are every Tuesday from 6-7pm.

So far my two girls in love with this studio. My oldest is extremely extrovert and shy but I can…read moresee her slowly, very very, slowly coming out of her shell. My youngest in

People don't believe me when I say that I was once a HI Kai Orchid Society member. Yes, I was in…read morethe 1980's and 1990's when I had different goals in life and had more time to raise orchids. These non-profit orchid societies are made up of hard-working people who appreciate the beauty of orchids and wish to learn to grow the pretty flowering orchids. They hold annual shows that highlight the orchids that they are growing. The 67th Annual Kunia Orchid Show & Plant Sale was held March 22-23, 2025 in the Leilehua High School Gym. As with other orchid shows, the Kunia show features various orchids clubs showcasing their very best blooming splendor, with judging done the night before the show. Orchid clubs use a small "island" to create a wonderland of orchids, displaying them in a manner that appeal to the eye. In addition to the orchid displays, there is an ikebana display. Ikebana is an ancient form of floral decorating with a philosophy of "less is more" and following basic geometric shapes. There are educational sessions for beginner orchid enthusiasts and the more experienced orchid growers. Sessions are at 11a and 1p each day and may include how to grow orchids with factors of water, light, and fertilizer; best type of orchid media for growing; and transplanting orchids. Local plant vendors bring their seedlings and blooming plants to attendees. The Kunia Kountry Store has a variety of plants available for sale for home garden, gardening supplies, and homemade baked goods. The orchid show is the main fundraiser for the non-profit Kunia Orchid Society. Proceeds support its monthly meetings by having guest speakers giving tips and lectures in sharing their expertise in orchid culture. The proceeds from the food and drink vendors specifically located at the entrance of the show benefit school athletics, Tech Education Program, Tech Images, and the Class of 2026. I don't normally attend the Kunia Show as I don't live nearby; however, I was in Wahiawa for an errand, and just so happened that the orchid show was going on. The Kunia Orchid Show is similar to other orchid shows put on by the various orchid societies geographically located on Oahu. The Kunia Show, as well as other orchid shows, is a sight to see, with so many colorful and beautiful stunning orchids, arranged beautifully on an island, with different varieties of orchids complementing each other with Spanish moss adding to the decor. So much to see with a wonderland of pretty blooming orchids everywhere! Kudos to the many orchid societies for presenting such stunning displays! And I saw a good friend whom I haven't seen for a number of years, Dave F, who is a member of Aiea Orchid Society and was assisting his orchid plant seller friend. Yes, he reminded that the 41st Aiea Orchid Club Show & Plant Sales is at Aiea Elem School Cafeteria on June 6-7, 2025 from 9a to 4p. It was good to catch up with him! Attending an orchid show as this allows me to interact with other growers to share info that we may not have. And what better way to learn if you're a beginner! Plus, connecting with professional orchid growers allows you to know the different orchid varieties and determine the ones that you enjoy and knowing how to grow them. Or just appreciating the beauty of orchids! Free admission and parking. Many people have not attended these shows because they are unaware that they exist, as most are held in school cafeteria and gyms during school breaks. I've always wished these orchid shows were situated at busy shopping malls where there is a lot of foot traffic, but understand that there may be cost expenses to the societies. In the meantime, we encourage the public to attend these shows to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of orchids! Support local!

We had a wonderful time this year at the orchid show. I'm not much of a gardener, but I do…read moreappreciate people who contain the outdoors and make it lovely. I had not realized how many orchids are air plants, needing very little daily care. I'm still not brave enough to bring one home, but I did end up with a few other treasures.

All Vendors are hand picked and "invited" to participate in this craft fair. Shop in air…read moreconditioned comfort. Take a detour from the west bound traffic shop and have dinner. Lots of Tsum Tsum items, gifts baskets, t-shirts, blankets, HECO Cookbook and so much more!

from inquiring about how and what to book, to the day of the event, Gwenaelle was always and very…read moreresponsive which I really much appreciate. she made me feel comfortable bothering her with all kinds of questions and always had answers and never seemed annoyed. even among some of her other painting competitors out there, I felt the most confident with booking with PFYS because of how responsive she was, pricing, and what she does for the local community. I booked a kid private party (minimum 6 painters) for my child's birthday and would definitely recommend PFYS to have something fun for the guests to do! she offers bigger parties too! my kid is already thinking of the next painting to choose from Gwenaelle's gallery to paint for another future event! on the day of the event, PFYS was on time (actually early and I felt bad but she was really good about it). and the kids were so excited to paint! she provided everything and made it so stress-free for everyone - a big sheet to lay out for the kids (she will provide table if needed), all the different color paints, plates, brushes, easels, canvases, aprons, little towels to wipe the brushes, and her friendly personality and amazing art skills with guided step by step instructions so everyone could have a relaxing time painting right on the beach with an amazing view. it was such a wonderful experience and the kids were so happy with the outcome of their paintings and best of all got to sign it and take it home with them! check them out at https://paintforyoursoul.com ! you won't be disappointed.

Our church hired Paint for your Soul for a fun activity/fundraiser. Gwenaelle was kind, patient,…read moreeasy to follow and an absolute joy to learn from. Our group had a spectrum of ages and skill levels all of whom left happy. Administratively, I was the church representative coordinating with Gwenaelle. I am happy to report that scheduling, payment, and technical aspects of a paint party by Zoom were simple and seamless. Five Stars! Strongly recommend!

Ever got pissed about BS work stuff? (SMASH that monitor!)…read more That guy who cut you off (without blinkers) near University, have you foaming at the mouth? (THROW that glass tea cup!) That lying, stink breath, snake of a property manager who takes weeks to respond & overbilled you, make you see red? (SWING that metal pipe!) You ever feel so angry, you want to scream and break sh*t without someone calling the cops? (SLEDGEHAMMER that plate!). (All of this is being done legally & safely, of course, with safety suits and helmets/gloves, if you decide to drop some $$ and spend some time here.) There is a good selection of shattery breakables to choose. We were given 45 minutes but the two of us finished in about 20 (I guess we had a lot to unleash!). It gets hot in the helmet/suit, especially when you're expelling all that rage, so expect a good workout (cathartic even!) Call/check out their site for discounts/promos (including Kama'aina). Parking: lots of garage parking around the Ward/Kaka'ako area, if you don't mind a short warmup walk over.

Tried Out a Rage Room for the First Time - Totally Worth It!…read more I've been hearing about this rage room for a while and finally decided to check it out. I called ahead to ask about any discounts for locals or birthdays, and they told me they do offer a local discount with valid ID -- nice little bonus! They also said they had availability that day, so I figured, why not? The whole experience was super satisfying. Ever feel like breaking something at work but don't want to get fired? Break n Anger is the place to let that urge out safely and legally. Here's how it works: You get to choose 2 items from the top shelf and 5 items each from shelves 2, 3, and 4 -- so about 17 items total to smash. After signing the waivers, you suit up in a jumpsuit, gloves, and a helmet. They offer earplugs too, but I skipped those -- the sound of breaking stuff is half the fun. Honestly, the time flew by -- I went all in for 10 minutes and it felt like seconds. I probably should've paced myself, but I really wanted to let the rage out. No regrets though -- it was super fun, and I can totally see this being a great team-building activity. I'm definitely planning to go back and try the premium items next time!

If you're looking to plant things in your yard that are low maintenance and need little watering…read morethis is your place. I've got a dozen large pots across the front of our property on the "fence" that I don't want to have to fuss with. I'm not that person who likes to stand there hose in hand watering even once a week. I came here with that in mind and they showed me all my options....a plethora of plants that care for themselves. Other than adding more soil every couple of years I've done not an ounce of work in the ten years since I first came here for advice. Since the pandemic they're only open on Wednesdays for four hours but you won't need more time than that to figure out what you require. Fun just to wander through and the volunteers are very helpful.

Cyndy's Bottom Line: A beautiful serene garden tucked away in Halawa Valley…read more *The garden is open on Wed & Sat, 9:00am - 3pm for visits and self guided tours. *Parking available on site *Visitors must sign in at the office *Big beautiful trees surround the garden. *Friendly knowledgeable staff on site. *A place to see xeriscaping in practice with drought tolerant plants and also native plants.