Hawai'i

Back in May/April we spent 7 nights on the big island of Hawaii. By far the best vacation I’ve taken for many reasons. First of all, we spent half the time at the Sheraton resort near Kona (great) and the other half at the Four Seasons (spectacular).... After a day or so on the island I wondered into the Music Exchange in Kona and got a great education on ukulele construction, woods, and general sound comparisons. I picked up a Hawaiian handmade koa wood concert ukulele. Strumming it and even smelling it makes me feel like I’m on vacation….. I picked it up instantly. After a few evenings of sitting on the hotel room balcony I felt like I had the thing mastered….

Then I went to the Four Seasons awesome Hawaiian Cultural Center and got a lesson…and humbled. The instructor turned me on to some strumming patterns and various chords that are a bit off the radar for guitar….She recommended some great music like Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (what a voice!), Hapa, and the reining Carlos Santana/Steve Vai of the ukulele, Jake Shimabukuro.

I ended up playing a bit of an impromptu concert for my work colleagues…and got a warm reception by all of the locals (I need to make an extra $1M to buy my dream vacation home!).

We ended up seeing most of the Big Island except for the Volcano (we were told it was a bit too far to travel to “maybe” see the lava flow)....but the Northern end of the island was heaven on earth looking at Maui and sipping Kona coffee in Hawi. We also caught part of the Merrie Monarch Hula festival in Hilo (I almost got divorced on the spot)...saw various waterfalls…drank coconut from the shell…stared at the ocean a lot….

I don’t think I’ve ever comeback from anywhere so relaxed and peaceful (including Australia!....no offense, mates). I long to go back and spend a long time there…

We spent 7 days in Kaua’i after we got married. Loved it!

Huge crashing waves, smoking volcanoes and lots of friendly people :)

It’s home…

I want to experience the perfect weather that Kyle described.

I was only six little years old, but I still remember loving it!

i’m hoping to go here for a weekend sometime by the end of the year. we’ll see if that happens, though. tickets look a bit $$, but i should have a better job soon, so i’m hoping i can go! i just want to swim and eat the whole time. get a nice tan, maybe. god, i’m so lazy.

I’v been to Oahu a few years ago now.The most memorable things i visited was the Valley of Temples,Wakiki beach, the ride to the North shore,flea mareket at the hola bowl. When you go make sure you go to China town get a flower lae and a nice reasonable meal.The thing we probably like doing most was driving along the coast taking pictures and just enjoying the scenery.

I’ve been to all of the islands and my fav place was in Kihei, Maui!
:)

amazing place, happy peaceful and beautful