Archives: Destinations

The Island of Maui is very popular for traditional Hawaiian cuisine, as well as modern fusion recipes. It is not uncommon to find restaurants that serve food that is a blend of Chinese, American, Polynesian, Korean, and Filipino cuisine.

Open air restaurants by the seaside are a common sighting here and are known for their exquisite sea food specialties. Popular dishes include the tequila shrimp and crab lumpia. If that’s not enough, you can always find several other seafood options.

Some of the most popular dishes include the Kalua Roast Pork, which is basically roasted pork meat. The meat, which is usually an entire pig, is prepared in a traditional imu pit. This is a Hawaiian delicacy that cannot be missed, especially by those who love their pork. Other popular Maui delicacies include Poi, Ahi Poke, Mahi-Mahi.

Maui is also popular for its desserts, that are known for their rich ingredients. Ingredients in these desserts usually include chocolate, tropical fruits, macadamia nuts and coconut.

There are tons of places to explore in Maui for both adults and children. The island is home to wonderful flora and fauna, housed within its pristine rain forests. There are also mountain ranges, where adventurous families can take off for a day of trekking and exploration. There are quite a few attractions that are specifically suited for children as well, such as The Hawaii Nature Center, which is known for its educational and entertaining nature programs that teach children to preserve the environment.

There is also the Maui Ocean Center, which is a high-end aquarium that provides visitors with a glimpse of marine life. Adults and children are taught ocean ecology through informative displays here and have the unique opportunity of observing the Hawaiian Tako or Octopus. The Maui Ocean Center is also America’s largest tropical aquarium.

Other popular points of interest include Haleakala National Park, Wainapanapa State Park, Iao Valley State Monument and Oheo Gulch Kipahulu.

The island is full of shopping malls, so you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to shopping. You can buy international brands as well as local garments like aloha shirts and skirts, as well as a number of locally made accessories and trinkets. There are waterfront marketplaces and flea markets if you wish to go shopping without going away from the beaches. There are also some themed contemporary retail malls and galleries that you should check out while in Oahu.

Gambling is illegal and the laws against it are pretty strict, so refrain from engaging in any such activities to avoid problems.

If you do not feel like doing much while in Oahu, you can simply head to the beach, lounge around next to the sparkling ocean, enjoy local food or a nice drink, and watch the sunset on the island. All the shopping and tourist areas are well connected by public transport.

Hawaiian cuisine is a mix of the local, Chinese and Japanese style of cuisines and cooking methods. Most of the snacks and food items are unique to Hawaii, so make sure you try as many as you can on your visit.

You can buy shrimp from the many highway trucks for an inexpensive yet tasty meal. A plate lunch is the most common local meal which includes either fish or meat, two scoops of rice and a pasta salad. A Luau is a traditional Hawaiian feast, which is an elaborate buffet with entertainment like hula dancers and local music.

A few local specialties that you should not miss trying are, Lomi salmon, an island salsa, Haupia, a coconut milk based dessert, Ahi, season and cut raw fish, shaved ice in your choice of flavor is great to beat the heat and Saimin, the local noodle soup. Snacks include dried salted plums, dried seafood, dried and picked fruits and macadamia nuts. Beer is the most common drink, with locally brewed varieties available.

Oahu, being the heart of Hawaii, has a lot of things to see and do when you visit. Here are some of its attractions that you absolutely cannot miss.

The Honolulu Museum of Art has an old local style building with an enviable collection of Asian art along with local artists’ collections. The Bishop Museum has the world’s largest collection cultural and natural artifacts from all over the Pacific.

At the Polynesian Cultural Center, you can experience the culture and art of the various islands of Polynesia along with local Hawaiian culture.

Lolani Palace is the sole royal palace in all of United States and is the place where the Hawaiian Parliament now sits. A cemetery built in the volcanic caldera of a dormant volcano, The Punchbowl is a beautiful yet solemn place. Over the years, it serves as a cemetery for martyrs of the United States armed forces.

Besides these attractions, you can also lounge about on the many beaches on the island, surf, snorkel and even dive in the Pacific waters.

There is not much on the island in terms of nightlife. It is an island with a small population and simple way of life. But there is so much more Chuuk has to offer its visitors. Chuuk is a great place for kids to come and experience a unique way of life. Visitors can shop for handicrafts that are made by the locals. Bags made from the palm tree or banana fibers, wooden tools and accessories made from sea shells are a delight to take back home. Devil masks popular in the region are a part of the island folklore. The story has it that it was first used to scare a ghost that stole food from the people! Children can watch and may even partake in building huts, weaving mats, making ropes, carving canoes and climbing palm trees. Chuuk is a great place to witness a slower pace of island life.

Visitors to Chuuk can feast on local delicacies as well as Japanese and American cuisines. Most restaurants here serve multiple cuisines, catering to visitors from all across the world. Try Truk Stop restaurant or the Blue Lagoon resort for American and Pacific cuisines. Go to an Oriental restaurant for some Korean food or try Sunrise restaurant for some local flavors.

Chuuk is the ideal place for those who love to sample local produce. The staples here are fish from the reef, shellfish, octopus, crabs, chicken, pigs and plant sources like yam, banana, coconut, and breadfruit. When in Chuuk, get your fill of tropical fruits such as star fruit, soursop, mango, pineapple, wild apples, papaya and many other fruits native to the region. Families can also enjoy a beach day with a basket full of local fruits and quench their thirst with the fresh coconut available in plenty on the island.

Chuuk is a small island but there is plenty to see and do here. Children will especially enjoy hiking trails atop Mt. Tonaachaw. The locals revere the mountain as holy and consider it the home of their local deity. Visitors can scale the peak Iras (229 m) or enjoy the falls and the pool at the base of the mountain. Another place of interest on Chuuk is the lighthouse built by the Japanese. It offers the panoramic view of the Weno Island – the state capital and the main commercial center of Chuuk.

Children can explore more of history in the Nefo Cave, where one can see preserved remains of Japanese guns. The unique activity Chuuk is most famous for is wreck diving. The lagoon site with shipwrecks is a monument and divers need a permit to use the area. The best time to dive in the Chuuk waters is from December to May when the water temperature at about 30 degree Celsius, ideal for sea diving.

Kosrae is every diving lover’s dream come true. There are more than 50 incredible dive sites on the island. Experience the marine life in the region such as eagle rays, sharks, and barracuda. Go to Hiroshi Point to see coral reefs, parrotfish, squids and reef sharks. Shark Island is a great spot for night diving. Go see the remnants of a sunken pirate ship at the Leonora, Utwe Harbor. For different varieties of fish, turtles and some incredible marine life unique to the region, head over Walung Drop-Off. The current at these places can be rough, so pay attention to children and always dive with a trained instructor.

Try kayaking through the mangrove forest, indulge in some sports fishing or go for a bird-watching tour to see the Kosrae Dusky White Eye, which is the state bird of Kosrae. You can also spot cardinals, reef heron, honey eaters, ferry turns, pintails and others.

At Kosrae, you can have a vacation of a lifetime.

Kosrae has many hotels and restaurants offering great food of different varieties. Try Bully’s restaurant for some excellent seafood. Inum is the place to taste great international and local flavors where there is a different menu every night. Other places to eat are the Awane and the Nautilus restaurants.

When in Kosrae, sample the incredible variety of tuna dishes – grilled fish, sandwiches, saipok, burgers, and sashimi to much more. Those who love to try new flavors must eat lumpia rolls, mangrove crabs, and sour pork. Definitely try the famed soups served on the island such as the Sunday soup, which is made with tuna and coconut cream. Other soup to try is the egg-vegetable soup with salmon noodles. These local delicacies are available from local food stands and stores at very affordable prices. Dining in Kosrae is truly amazing and with so many varieties of dishes, it can satisfy all taste buds.