For Travel Writers: Seven Successes from the Road

Given the overwhelming nature of the task – find out everything about traveling in Hawaii in three and a half weeks – some things were bound to go wrong. But things went right, too, from time to time. At reader L’s request, here’s the list of things that went as they should have. 1. Took …


…read more.

For Travel Writers: Seven Lessons from the Road

I’d do it differently if I had the chance to do it again. I’m sure you’ve said that before, and certainly, it’s not the last time I’ll say it. But frequency makes it no less true. I made more than a handful of rookie mistakes, though the trip, planned with a mere four weeks notice, …


…read more.

Aloha Oe: Seattle, Again

Five islands, three ferry trips, a handful of inter-island flights and two trans-Pacific flights later, we are back to a shockingly cold and dark Seattle. On three separate occasions, I did not buy an 800 dollar ukulele. I also did not buy a number of bone fishhooks, a shell lei, a timeshare, or a dozen …


…read more.

Aloha, Oy: Beautiful Kauai

Yes, it’s green and yes, there are chickens everywhere and yes, Hanalei is heaven by the sea, though the surf was crazy high when we were there and we could not get near the ocean, which was too bad. There were a lot of disappointed looking humans on the beach but it’s better to be …


…read more.

Aloha Ah: Molokai Mellow

I am enchanted. I did not mean to be but there is nothing for it. Molokai, with the funky central town, with the nearly empty beaches, with the friendly locals, Molokai is the Hawaii I dream about. I could disappear here – in fact, if you ever find I have gone AWOL, let me tell …


…read more.

Aloha Ick: I love the sea, the sea hates me

They call it the washing machine, and with good reason. You are hurled about, coated in sea water, hurled about some more and then, ejected, stumbling into the bright Lahaina sunshine to dry. It’s only 45 minutes, but if you are prone to green and hurly, you will not enjoy it one bit. You might …


…read more.