It's been years since I last visited Waiahole Poi Factory. Though I love the place, its distance from me, coupled with the insane crowds that descend onto the small roadside eatery every day, have kept me away. That's why I'm so glad that Waiahole Poi Factory Windward Mall recently opened. … [Read more...] about Review: Waiahole Poi Factory Windward Mall
Trip Reports
Review: Avis Car Rental Hilo
For my Big Island Bird-Watching Adventure, I chose to rent with Avis Car Rental Hilo. Why? Price, of course. I would've much rather gone with Alamo, which, spoiler alert, was confirmed by this experience, but Avis was much cheaper for my dates. So, Avis, it was. … [Read more...] about Review: Avis Car Rental Hilo
Review: Tali’s Bagels and Schmear
Recently, I had a hankering for some bagels & lox. Since we were in the area, I decided to check out Tali's Bagels and Schmear and Ward Center. This is the second bagel shop that's popped up in recent years, the other being Montreal-style bagel spot Empty Elle's in Kailua. … [Read more...] about Review: Tali’s Bagels and Schmear
Review: Obake Honolulu
The loss of Kaimuki's HeiHo House was a gut-punch to me. There, they served up quirky, unique, yet insanely delicious food and drink, by some of the best people in the industry. So I was elated to hear that the team would be back together at a completely different concept: Obake Honolulu. … [Read more...] about Review: Obake Honolulu
Review: Hawaiian Airlines 212 HNL-ITO
As I mentioned in my introductory post, I chose not to fly Southwest Airlines to Hilo because of the poor timing. That's how we found ourselves on Hawaiian Airlines 212 - the first time I've purchased an inter-island flight on Hawaiian in nearly a decade. … [Read more...] about Review: Hawaiian Airlines 212 HNL-ITO
Alaska Air 837 SJC-HNL
Bringing my Living It Up In California series to a close is a final flight review. In this case, it's Alaska Air 837 SJC-HNL. I really wished Alaska would've had better options, or at least better timing for our return flight. Alas, this wasn't the case, which is why we ended up staying close to the airport on our last night. … [Read more...] about Alaska Air 837 SJC-HNL
Review: Luna Mexican Kitchen
On our final night in the Bay Area, I tried to get us another fantastic dining experience. This was more difficult than I thought it would be, as San Jose actually has some great options. Eventually, I settled on checking out Luna Mexican Kitchen, which has a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand designation. … [Read more...] about Review: Luna Mexican Kitchen
Review: Hyatt House San Jose Airport
For our final night in the Bay Area, I wanted to book a hotel close to our airport, especially since we weren't flying in and out of San Francisco. After much research, I settled on the Hyatt House San Jose Airport. … [Read more...] about Review: Hyatt House San Jose Airport
Review: Topogato
The very last thing we did in San Francisco was to hunt down Topogato - a boutique chocolate maker specializing in gourmet truffles, chocolate bars, and more. I had actually tried to order online from them and ship it home a while back, but shipping charges to Hawaii were so high that I decided to wait until we were in the area. … [Read more...] about Review: Topogato
SF Ferry Building Marketplace
The primary reason I chose to stay at the Hyatt Regency San Francisco is its location. Specifically, its proximity to the SF Ferry Building Marketplace, which is an icon of the city and a fantastic place to shop and dine at. … [Read more...] about SF Ferry Building Marketplace