Ali'i Agriculture Farms | Wahiawa, O'ahu

Looking for a family-friendly day of fun? Try fishing at Ali'i Agriculture Farms located in Central O'ahu. They have three ponds in rotation with tilapia, catfish, and carp (although no carp on the day we went), and they provide everything you'll need - a bamboo pole, bait, and a bucket should you want to keep your catch. It's $15/person or $3/non-fishing bystander.

Everyone fishes in the same pond, whichever one is in use that day. The large perimeter provides lots of space, but it can get busy! Within the first hour they opened, the entire perimeter was full of people!

one of three ponds in rotation.

the dough-like bait provided. 

It didn't seem like a lot, but we fished for a couple of hours and still had some left to share with others when we left.

this guy fought tough. i thought he was at least a 5 pounder for sure!

nope! just over a pound.

our cooked fish came with li hing pineapple, salad, and rice for about $14.

You can choose between fried or grilled (I asked for grilled, but oh well!) as well as a variety of sauces. I couldn't quite figure out the charges, but I believe there's a base price per fish (around $7) + additional per pound, and grilled costs more.

If you want to trade up for a bigger fish, they'll scoop some out for you to choose from. They also welcome you to just come and eat, no fishing necessary!

*          *          *

must see: no, but fun nonetheless if you enjoy fishing.

parking: yes, free on site.

bathrooms: yikes, i don't remember!

good for kids: yes

approximate time needed: 2 hours, more if you plan to cook and eat your catch.

suggested items to bring: sunscreen, hat, chair, wet wipes, water.

tip 1: you will need to fill out a liability form. save time by downloading it and filling it out beforehand.

tip 2: they are open most holidays; make sure to check website.

what to do after: cool off with some dole whip at dole plantation. 

680 Whitmore Road | Wahiawa, HI | 96786

The Regency on Beachwalk by Outrigger | Waikiki, O'ahu

We decided to staycation in Waikiki as one last hurrah before the end of summer. I love the idea of having separate living and kitchen areas, so I was excited to find the Regency on Beachwalk by Outrigger, a boutique condo-hotel offering one and two bedroom suites.

The hotel was very modest, but it totally exceeded my expectations in many ways. The lobby was simple, with just a small counter, but served coffee and juice throughout the day. The staff was very friendly, and the young guy who checked us in (wish I got his name) was so helpful and provided exceptional service (and smiles) throughout our stay. It had a small self-park lot in the back which was very convenient if you needed to get to your car and three restaurants on the property.

Here's the awesome part. This condo-hotel doesn't have a pool, BUT since it is part of the Outrigger family, we were able to use the pool at Outrigger Reef Hotel, Outrigger's beachfront resort. It's literally 2 minutes down the street. It was like having all the benefits of a beachfront resort, but the quiet and less crowded comfort of a smaller hotel.

The 500+ square feet one-bedroom suite had a decent sized living area and dining area complete with full kitchen and a spacious lanai.

Second awesome thing: Free wifi. And not free junk wifi. Awesome wifi.

Although I only used the coffee maker, the kitchen came with a microwave, dishwasher, full-sized refrigerator, stove top, toaster, and all the glassware, utensils, and cookware needed.

The living area had a full sofa bed in addition to the queen in the bedroom. It also had a fun sliding partition that closed for privacy and opened to stay connected to fellow guests if needed. 

The bathroom had standard amenities including a hair dryer, lots of towels, and plenty of counter space. The large shower had a hand held shower head.

coffee + our own snack assortment.

This 'partial ocean view suite' did have a partial ocean view to the left. From here we had an awesome view of the Friday night fireworks.

City view to the right.

The bedroom had a dresser and TV plus lots of closet space on the right. Iron and ironing board were also provided along with extra pillows.

Pool at the Outrigger Reef Hotel.

OVERALL: I enjoyed my stay here and would definitely return. Other than a pool and wifi, I usually do not need other amenities. If you want beach views, room service, maid service, gym and pool amenities, this is not the hotel for you. 

PROS:

- Nearby self parking in the back of the hotel

- Excellent free wifi connection

- No pool of its own, but being an outrigger resort, you can use the pool at Outrigger Reef Hotel a few minutes down the street.

- Three restaurants on the property

- 5 minute walking distance to the beach

CONS:

-No amenities (pool, room service, etc.)

-Limited parking

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The Regency on Beachwalk by Outrigger

255 Beachwalk

Honolulu, HI 96855

808.922.3871

'Iolani Palace | Honolulu, O'ahu

Up for a bit of Hawaiian history? Tour the palace that once housed Hawaiian royalty for a glimpse of what life was like in the late 1800s. You'll get a feel for how King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani entertained guests and dignitaries, what they wore, which rooms they relaxed in, and where they dined prior to the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893. 

I recently had the opportunity to tour 'Iolani Palace as well as perform some community service work polishing and dusting some of the furniture (with white gloves on!). Below are a few snaps from my day, but it's worth seeing in person.

the dining room.

the toilet and tub (below)!

parties would take place here. guests would dance here, then move over 

to the dining room for dinner.

replica of one of the queen's dresses.

the gold room. they would play music here.

music player.

cute book stand with original books.

telephone.

king's office/den.

beautiful details on the ceilings.

telephone!

the office...official documents on the desk!

hidden parlor towards the back of the room. see it in the corner?

the king played cards with friends back in that room.

a book pulled out of the archives for cleaning. 

*          *          *

must see: yes, for hawaiian history

entrance fee: $20-27 for adults, $6 kids (under 4 free)

parking: yes, on grounds, also street parking

bathrooms: yes

good for kids: most areas have fragile items, no running or playing, etc, no personal strollers (you may use theirs)

concession: no as food or drink not allowed,

but there is a small gift shop

approximate time needed: 1-2 hours

suggested items to bring: camera. photography is allowed, but no video.

tip 1: take the guided tour. the docents are very knowledgeable and give you some fun facts you may not hear in the audio/self-guided tour.

what to do after: take a quick look around the state capitol. if you are here during the christmas season, check out the decorated trees at honolulu hale.

364 S. King Street

Honolulu, HI | 96813