Welcome to our Hawai`i Blog!

This will be a place where we can share our Hawaiian adventures - whether they be on the Islands or here in the Pacific Northwest. Lucky for us, the Seattle area Hawaiian scene is thriving with a number of restaurants, music venues, stores, festivals and a monthly newspaper dedicated to all things Hawaiian in relation to those of us living here in the PNW.

In March 2005, we took our first trip to Hawai`i together. Dan G had been twice before: once to Oahu when he was just three years old, and once in 2003 to the Eastern side of the Big Island with a friend.

After doing some research, we decided on Kaua`i. It being Dan D's first trip to the islands, he wanted to see a less-traveled spot. We stayed for six nights in the Radisson Kaua`i hotel/resort (now the Hilton) in the own of Lihue, which conveniently is where the main airport is located. It was a very short drive to the resort, which was laid out beautifully against the Pacific Ocean with its own private (but not swimmable) beach.

After checking in, we wandered down to the pool area for the Manager's happy hour (free mai tais, beer, wine from 5-6pm!). Sitting there sipping the tropical libations, hearing the faint sound of the ukulele against the waves crashing and looking just feet away from the deep blue sea...it was a turning point. The beginning of our now 3-plus year love affair with the archipelago that is the most isolated land on earth. We'll talk about our 6 nights on the Garden Isle more in further posts, and share pictures.

It wasn't until late November 2006 that we returned to once-named Sandwich Islands. This time we decided to check out the Friendly Isle, Moloka`i. Tourism isn't as rampant on Moloka`i, often referred to as the most "Hawaiian" island. With only three hotels to choose from, we decided to rent a house instead. We loved it! It is now our preferred means of lodging, though we still enjoy a few nights in a hotel here and there.

In future posts, we'll share pictures of the marvelous house (right on the beach!) and all the treasures Moloka`i has to offer.

In the Spring of 2007 we became engaged and it wasn't long after that Hawai`i was decided on as our destination. That October we traveled to the Big Island (a favorite of Dan G's) for 10 nights. We first hit Kona for 3 nights in a hotel and then drove to the Puna region and rented a house for 7 nights. It was on this trip that we found the site of our wedding! More on this trip to come...

And then, of course, we come to June 2008. We flew back to the Big Island, this time in reverse of our previous trip. We spent the first 5 nights in Hilo and the next 5 nights in Kona. We were married June 15, 2008 at the Falls at Reeds Island, the location we fell in love with last October. It was a spectacular trip, a beautiful ceremony and solidified our lasting aloha for these islands (and the Big Island in particular). We'll be back soon, probably next Spring or Summer and hope to increase our stay to three weeks.

This blog is dedicated to sharing our love of all things Hawaiian - the food, the culture, the music, the ecology, the history, the people, the language, and the way of life known simply as aloha that continues to inspire us.

Mahalo nui loa na ho'olaule'a me la kaua a Kipa hou mai!