One second I was in the plane, the next I was toppling face first into open air; free-falling at a speed so fast my ears felt like they were going to explode, yet I couldn’t strip the smile off my face. With my fingers bent into the Hawaiian sign for “hang loose”, I took a … Read more
Hawaii is expensive, but that doesn’t mean you can’t visit on a budget. Whether you’re backpacking Hawaii, trying to honeymoon without taking out a mortgage or you’re a family on a budget, you may be surprised to know that you can sleep for as little as $30 a night in Hawaii. The answer: hostels. Whilst … Read more
History was never my favourite subject at school. My teenage thoughts were more focused on finding the next acid rave (hey, it was the 90s). But I did remember Pearl Harbor. How could I not? The surprise Japanese attack on the pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor Hawaii naval base on 7 December 1941 that dragged … Read more
Due to its historical significance, visiting Pearl Harbor was very high on my list of things to do in Oahu. I knew it wouldn’t be the cheeriest day out but I, like the millions of others who visit Pearl Harbor each year, felt a compelling need to go. Frustratingly, Pearl Harbor isn’t the easiest place … Read more
I don’t know which was more painful – the shot in the ass or the $500 bill. Either way getting sick within 24 hours of landing in Oahu was not my anticipated introduction to Hawaii. I’m sharing this somewhat personal and painful detail because I tackled the hike up Diamond Head just 48 after being … Read more
If you asked me which is the best Hawaiian Island to visit, I’d say Big Island. Why? Hawaii’s Big Islands offers everything – nature operates at its most dramatic – where else can you witness new land being spewed forth from the earth’s core; the beaches are not just pretty but also rare (Big Island has … Read more
In this guide, I’ll give you my 10 top things to do in Oahu for first-time visitors. I was a bit overwhelmed researching things to do in Hawaii because almost every article I read told me to swim with sharks, surf the Triple Crown (pro surf championship) or take pre-sunrise hikes up steep inclines. (In … Read more
Fly just 6 hours from the west coast of the USA and you can find yourself in the tropical paradise of the North Pacific Hawaiian Islands. Beaches, jungles, snow-cloaked mountains, active volcanoes, desert, and 11 out of 13 of the world’s climates, Hawaii has a staggering amount of diversity packed into a small area. It’s one … Read more
Why Kauai? In short, adrenaline…and peace in equal proportions. Whilst it may be known as the Garden Island, Kauai is like no garden I’ve ever visited in my native England. The island may be a 5 million year old dormant volcano (what?) but its unique and diverse topography will find you scrabbling for your hiking … Read more
With psychedelic rainbow eucalyptus trees, fresh-baked banana bread, moonscape volcanic craters and the opportunity to listen to the eerie sound of humpback whales singing, it is safe to say that Maui is one of the most surreal of all the Hawaiian islands. That’s why I’m so keen to encourage people off their beach loungers and … Read more