Blogs from Oahu, Hawaii, United States, North America - page 5

Days leading up to the trip: It’s a long story Oahu wasn’t my idea, you know. But hey, when the family from Japan called to meet them there, we were in. It was originally slated for March when Japan was in the thick of the Omicron surge and they made the decision to cancel at the last minute. We had the reschedulable flight so here we are, end of April, with the whole new itinerary. I had originally planned to do half-half between Waikiki and Kaneohe as I found an Airbnb in Kaneohe; to get away from Waikiki and to explore the unexplored. Beginning of April, I got a text saying that the Airbnb listing is now ceased and desist being outside of the allowed zone. Really?! I was told that it would’ve still been honored ... read more

For those of you heading to the islands, do not underestimate the food at the Ala Moana Shopping Center. From Lovefood's best food courts: Makai Marketplace at Ala Moana Center, Honolulu You'll find restaurants for dining in, some with terraces, and places to grab a quick but delicious bite such as Holy Cow (formerly Myungrang Hot Dog), whose specialty is Korean deep-fried hot dogs on a stick. Another favorite is Tanaka Ramen & Izakaya (pictured), serving flavor-packed bowls of noodles, meat and broth alongside a range of Japanese-style snacks. It's so good – and so popular – that you might want to reserve a table in advance. Poke, typically served in bowls topped with raw fish, originates from Hawaii so it makes sense Honolulu’s biggest shopping mall food court has excellent places serving it. At Poke ... read more

From ABC News: url=https://abcnews.go.com/Health/us-life-expectancy-declined-2020-due-covid-report/story?id=81862300 US life expectancy declined in 2020 mainly due to COVID, report finds For the U.S. overall, life expectancy was 78.8 years in 2019, an increase of 0.1 years from 2018. States with the highest life expectancy were mostly in the Northeast and West states while states with the lowest life expectancy were Southern states. "The fact that there can be such large differences in life expectancy within one country, that's what I find most interesting," Dr. Elizabeth Arias, director of U.S. Life Tables at NCHS and first author of the study, told ABC News. Hawaiians had the highest life expectancy at birth in 2019, living to nearly 81 years old. The Aloha State also led the U.S. in highest life expectancy for w... read more

Did you know Hawaii was the first state to ban billboards? Leave broken appliances on your driveway, it will be gone by morning! Don't take sand from the beach or lava rocks from the Big Island. Bad things will happen to you until you return it. Pele the fire goddess will curse you! Don't wear shoes in the house, it is bad luck. Posing for a picture with three people, avoid the middle. Filipinos believe the middle position will die first. A person’s humility is generally deemed a more valuable characteristic than a person’s connections or financial worth. Wearing flashy clothes or name-dropping in Hawaii can be perceived as arrogance rather than pride.The shaka hand grew in popularity across Hawai‘i in the mid-20th century thanks in part to used car salesman David “Lippy” ... read more

Breakfast has not been properly thought through; it consists of Everything Bagels, topped with a thick coating of garlic and onion, and blueberry cream cheese. This morning daughter no 1 wants to go on a whale watching trip. On an island with a reputation for big waves. With storms forecast and a wind advisory in place. I cannot be tempted to join her, so she sets off for the marina alone. I am, of course, right and pretty soon she texts to say all boat trips have been cancelled. So we agree to meet at the mall 2 miles away. She has the money belt containing all our cash, so walking is my only option. Instead of sending me a block up and along a street lined with shops, Google maps sends me a block down ... read more