Photo: Tiki’s Grill and Bar

Tiki’s Grill & Bar, a hip, open-air restaurant with a retro South Pacific design and experience, features a menu highlighting the flavors of the islands prepared in an open exhibition kitchen. The restaurant is located at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel on Oahu, Hawaii.

On the second floor of the hotel and overlooking Waikiki Beach, this casual eatery is decorated in palm wood flooring with fish nets hanging from the ceiling and lava-rock walls.

The 272-seat Tiki’s Grill & Bar, located on the second floor of the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel appeals to local residents and visitors alike and consistently draws the late-night crowd with live, contemporary and authentic Hawaiian entertainment.

The staff at Tiki’s knows how to really treat their guests. Always busy with action, this casual, kitschy restaurant is known for a familial vibe and its awesome Waikiki views.

Reasonably priced seafood and steaks are always on the menu. Be sure to check out the specials before committing, for some welcome dining surprises. Be sure to call ahead for a lanai table to gaze at the unforgettable sunset, or you can just walk in and hope the restaurant gods are finally smiling on you.

Tiki’s Grill and Bar specialties include: salmon glazed with togarashi-spiced cane sugar with lemon grass beurre blanc, mashed sweet potatoes and Asian slaw; braised beef short ribs slow-roasted with corn mashed potatoes and hoisin brown sauce; panseared ahi with Cajun spices and roasted pig mashed potatoes.

Before you after your meal, try a cocktail in the restaurant’s bar, where you’ll gaze at the bar’s showcase, a 30-foot volcano.

Because of the great views, Tiki’s is a must try for every visitor to Oahu. Enjoy your meal and have a memorable Hawaiian dining experience.
Tiki’s Grill and Bar
2570 Kalakaua Ave.
(Paoakalani and Kapahulu Aves.)
Honolulu, HI
808-923-8454
Open 10:30 a.m. to midnight, daily

Dedicated beach-lovers head to Kauai for some of the most beautiful and scenic beaches in Hawaii. Kauai beaches comprise more than 140 miles of sandy shores, more than any island in Hawaii. Along the coastline visitors will find more than forty Kauai beaches to choose from creating unrivaled options in the chain of islands.

Incredible sunsets are synonymous with Ke‘e Beach Park. Located literally at the end of the road on Kauai’s North Shore between the dramatic Na Pali Coast and Limahuli Stream, the reef lagoon at Ke‘e Beach is a favorite snorkeling site.

The water is clear and there are tons of colorful reef fish and turtles. Ke‘e Beach has a very tropical look with a backshore lushly vegetated by ironwood trees, coconut palms, ti, and guava.

Ke’e Beach is another rival for the best beach on Kauai and is one of the most frequented. It’s found where the road literally ends on the North Shore. The Kalalau Trail and the Napali Coast both begin here where sweeping cliff views fill the western landscape. Azure blue water, amazing black lava cliffs and powdery sand flanked by swaying palms create an idyllic setting.

Large rocks and reefs keep the water currents gentle in the summer but in the winter the water becomes more rough and dangerous. Though not as stunning or wide as Tunnels Beach or Hanalei Bay Beach, Ke’e Beach remains near the top of the list of the best beach on Kauai.

The beach offers pinic areas, restrooms, and several historic sites. If you’re looking for Kauai beach villas, your best bet is to look between Ke’e Beach and Hanalei for a good variety of properties.

To book a travel reservation to Kauai, Hawaii or any of the tropical Hawaiian islands, please contact The Life of Luxury by using the below contact form:

Hotel Wailea on tropical Hawaii, is Maui’s only boutique hotel. This luxurious resort offers a wide range of activities, from private kiteboarding and paddleboard lessons to yoga classes and spa treatments. Hotel guests can enjoy a Hawaiian getaway and choose a taste of everything this tropical island and Asian-inspired resort has to offer.

By offering a mountainside setting on the Hawaiian island of Maui, Hotel Wailea is a perfect retreat for recharging both the body and soul. The amazing Hotel Wailea on Maui plays an active role in the island’s robust yoga community by hosting regular classes as well as a monthly event sponsored by Lululemon in its glass-walled studio.

The Hotel Wailea Yoga Package provides guests the opportunity to breathe and stretch while taking in stunning ocean views and soothing breezes during private daily yoga sessions led by highly experienced local instructors on one of Maui’s most pristine beaches. The complete Hotel Wailea Yoga Package starts at $795.00 per person (based on double-occupancy) and includes:
. 5 days of private 1-hour yoga sessions on the beach
. A personal yoga mat that guests can take home as a memento of their stay Water, towels, and yoga equipment during sessions
. 5 nights accommodation in an Ocean View Suite
. Attendant Service at Wailea Beach – water, umbrellas, towels and beach chairs are available for guests’ use
. Signing privileges at the Grand Wailea Resort for food & beverage, retail purchases and spa treatments
. WiFi Internet/ iPads / Wireless printer access in the lobby area
. Access to Hotel Wailea swimming pool, sun deck, pool bar and fitness center
. Complimentary shuttle service to beach, shops, golf & restaurants in Wailea
. Preferred tee times for guests at nearby Wailea golf courses (green fees not included)

The Maui Ocean Divas Package is designed for those who are adventurous but also appreciate a pause for pampering and relaxation. An exhilarating learning experience awaits with a 3-day private kiteboarding camp, led by Maui’s
premier kiteboarding school, along with a paddleboarding lesson, while the stunning lush scenery sets a relaxed tone for daily outdoor yoga lessons and spa treatments. The complete Maui Ocean Divas Package starts at $1999 per person based on double occupancy and includes:
. 3-days of private 3-hour kiteboarding lesson with a professional instructor
. 3 morning private outdoor yoga classes
. 1 1-hour Stand Up Paddleboarding
. 1 Facial and 1 Pedicure at the Hotel Wailea
. 4-nights’ accommodations at Hotel Wailea in a Partial Oceanview Suite
. Attendant Service at Wailea Beach – water, umbrellas, towels and beach chairs are available for guests’ use
. Signing privileges at the Grand Wailea Resort – food & beverage, retail purchases and spa treatments
. WiFi Internet/ iPads / Wireless printer access in the lobby area
. Access to Hotel Wailea swimming pool, sun deck, pool bar and fitness center
. Shuttle service to beach, shops, golf & restaurants in Wailea
. Preferred tee times for guests at nearby Wailea golf courses (green fees not included)

Both Hotel Wailea zen packages are available through December 31, 2013 and subject to blackout dates.

To learn more or book a reservation, please contact us using the below form.

JW Marriott Ihilani Resort and Spa

The drive to Ko’ Olina is worth the wait! As you drive up the driveway to the JW Marriott Ihilani, leave your cares behind, as this luxury resort is lush and located on 640 acres of tropical opulence. The Spa is located in a separate building near the entrance to the resort.

Once you make your way to the locker room and put on your robe and slippers, it’s easy to slip into the nearby hot Roman tub, set at about 103 degrees. Nearby, also is a steam, sauna, and Vichy shower.

My first spa experience was the Thallaso tub, 125 jets rotating on your bottom-side, starting up by my neck and pulsating on my upper back, then moving down to the undersides and sides of my thighs, calves, and then feet.

There are bars in the Jacuzzi-like tub, to hold your feet in place and hand bars to hold onto. It is one of the only two Thallaso tubs in the USA. It is fed by filtered sea water. There are options colors to chose, to enhance your bathing experience. Each color has a different significance. Red for energy, orange for joy, yellow for wisdom, green for harmony and love, blue for calm and peace, indigo for awakening intuition and violet for awareness and creativity.

They are meant to enhance and realign the spirit. It was such a soothing, relaxing experience! My attendant, Lee, was so serene and caring. She left me to the music and the jets. What a wonderful feeling and experience!

Lee came back and led me to the wet treatment room for my Pua Kai (Flower by the Sea) signature scent scrub and wrap. It is meant to express the romantic nature of the naupaka, one of Hawaii’s most common beach plants. One of Hawaii’s most famous legends is built around naupaka, in which early Hawaiians believed it was based on a love story of a couple, one from royalty and another a commoner.

As it was strictly forbidden for members of royalty to marry people from the common ranks, the two lovers were separated. There are different versions of the naupaka legend, but all carry the same theme: lovers that are separated forever, one banished to the mountains, the other to the beach and that when the beach flower and the mountain flower are once again brought together, the couple would be together again.

Lee scrubbed my body gently with this lovely scent – reminding me of bits of jasmine, roses, orange blossoms, coconut and ginger. After thoroughly rubbing my body with this mixture, she then showered me down with the overhead vichy-shower arm. I was then led to a large vichy shower to rinse off completely, and then into another room to make a choice of a masque lotion or oil mixture for the wrap portion of the treatment.

After my relaxing treatments, I made my way out to the lanai and ordered a refreshing lunch, relaxed for a while afterwards and then made it back into the amenities area and got freshened up before my walk around the grounds.

Suggested improvements:
The lanai where I had lunch was right off of the hotel, meaning that if it’s a high-traffic time, one has to deal with the hotel traffic.

With that said, they say at the Ihilani Spa that they will do everything they can to make sure your visit is not only relaxing, but uplifting. This 35,000 square-foot oasis offers state-of-the-art facilities, helpful conveniences, and service intended to cater to your wellness. There is a fitness center, tennis courts, Pilates room and Yoga is offered on the ocean-front lawn.

This beautiful resort by the sea is set away from the hustle and bustle of Honolulu. Golf (Ted Robinson 18-hole course), snorkeling, whale and dolphin excursions are offered from the property. There is a 43-acre marina with 270 full-service slips imbedded into the Ko ‘Olina community. While on my stroll, I crossed bridges with small hammerhead sharks, rays and assorted fish below. The property offers unique interactive and interpretive guest activity programs here, utilizing this ocean water pond — Reef Shark Feeding, Hawaiian Fish Feed, Seafari Hunt, Hawaiian Ray Experience and the Keiki (children’s) program. There are kids and teens programs, also tennis lessons and clinics for young adults and adults.

The JW can accommodate your small group or a several-course dinner for 1100.

Get away, relax, and enjoy at this oasis as their motto is: Every Step Reveals Paradise…

Here the ocean does not care where you’ve been, the cascading sun does not care where you are going. All that matters is that you are right here.

Review by: Sherrie Strausfogel “Hawaii’s Spa Experience”

Fisherman come from all over the world to fish in the beautiful Hawaiian waters every year. Kauai is well know for its class-A sports fishing and Ohana Fishing Charters should be your choice.

Whether you are a die-hard fisherman, first-timer looking for adventure, or a family wanting to bond on the open-ocean, Ohana Fishing Charters has the trip of a lifetime waiting for you.

Kauai fishing is truly some of the best in the world. The Pacific Ocean waters around the lush island of Kauai are still pristine. With relatively few people living, boating and fishing here, the abundance of big game fish is sometimes hard to believe.

Ohana Fishing Charters provides the best deep sea fishing on Kauai. This top notch charter fishing business is outfitted for the serious fishing enthusiast.

Ohana Fishing Charters operates out of Nawiliwili Harbor in Lihue Kauai. Ohana Fishing Charters has been introducing beginners and advanced anglers to the thrills of Hawaiian Big Game Fishing since 1987.

You can cast away in style aboard the Ohana Fishing Charters’ – Ho’o Maika’i which is a 30×10 foot Wilson built fishing boat. This boat is one of the best-known charter vessels on the island of Kauai.

Ohana Fishing Charters
P.O. box 1171
Kapaa, HI 96746
800-713-4682

Located on Hawaii’s Big Island, there is a scenic place of refuge called the Pu`uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park.

Puuhonua o Honaunau is a 182-acre park full of archaeological sites and reconstructions of an ancient Hawaiian “Place of Refuge”. The park offers visitors a self-guided tour of archaeological finds and recreated Polynesian canoes, houses, statuary and much more.

This sacred site was at one time a home to Hawaiian royalty and a place of refuge for those persons who broke a kapu (ancient Hawaiian law) or defeated military.

This Hawaii historical park offers a self-guided tour and learning opportunities. You start your visit at the park office, then can continue your way down to the beach, to the actual Place of Refuge, walled-in sacred ground where those who broke ancient law could go.

History states that if you could make it to the Place of Refuge before you were killed by the king’s soldiers, your death sentence was lifted.

Instead of king’s warriors chasing after you, you can take a leisure walk down to the actual Place of Refuge, but now it’s just a bunch of rocks and other Polynesian artifacts.

While at the Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, take the time do some green sea-turtle watching, although you are not allowed to bother them. Be advised that is against the law, so running to the Place of Refuge won’t help you there.

Nakalele Blowhole

The Nakalele Blowhole at Nakalele Point is a popular destination on Maui for tourist who want to see this unique performance by Mother Nature.

The Nakalele Blowhole is actually a lava tube that shoots water greater than forty feet into the Hawaiian sky when the conditions of the Pacific Ocean waves are ideal.

After many years of constant surf pounding, the waves created an undercut and eventually wore away a lava shelf. A several foot wide hole developed. This process creates an amazing spectacle as the waves crash in and shoot straight up through the opening, called the Nakalele Blowhole.

Every wave that rolls in pushes water and air through the hole, creating the blowhole eruption that is similar to a geyser, like Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park.

Sadly, a California man recently drowned as he got too close to the Nakalele Blowhole. 44 year old David Potts of San Anselmo, California was killed Saturday when a large wave pushed the tourist into the hole opening.

Witnesses state that the man briefly surfaced from the hole when the next wave rolled in, but then disappeared and was not seen again. After an extensive search that lasted for several days that included divers and helicopters, the body of David Potts was not recovered.

Blowholes are very popular to watch and several can be found across the Hawaiian islands. On Oahu, the Halona Blowhole is another popular tourist attraction.

Back in 2002, a teenager from California – Daniel Dick, also drowned when he fell into Halona Blowhole near Sandy Beach on Oahu’s East side.

The jagged lava rocks off Nakalele Point are amazing to see but can be very dangerous. Be sure to keep a safe distance from the Nakalele Blowhole and the strong waves that pound this scenic area.

The easiest way to reach Nakalele Point and see the Nakalele Blowhole is to drive along the Honoapi’ilani Highway (Highway 30) until you reach a parking lot about a half mile past mile marker 38.
From the parking lot, proceed to walk toward the ocean. You’ll arrive at a magnificent lookout, offering a fantastic view of the Nakalele Blowhole.

To actually reach the Nakalele Blowhole, follow a path approximately 200 feet down the hill.

Cattleya Orchid – Akatsuka Orchid Gardens

Akatsuka Orchid Gardens on the Big Island of Hawaii, features the largest collection of orchids and exotic tropical flowers in all of Hawaii.

If you are planning a trip to visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, be sure to stop at Akatsuka Orchid Gardens. You will find over a 1000 species of beautiful orchids grown here.

Akatsuka Orchid Gardens was established in 1974 and is managed by Moriyasu Akatsuka. Mr. Akatsuka worked in a family orchid nursery in Japan and has worked in the orchid business for decades.

The east side of the Big Island receives frequent rain showers and experiences a warm, humid climate, so the Puna district is the perfect location for growing orchids.

The Akatsuka Orchid Gardens can be found in the island town of Volcano on Highway 11, near the edge of the rainforest.

Akatsuka Orchid Gardens is open 7 days a week, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Be sure to visit the display room and see many of Mr. Akatsuka’s beautiful orchids up close. They also offer a free self guided tour of the flower gardens.

If you would like to purchase flowers for yourself or friends and family but don’t want the worry of keeping your flowers fresh during your Hawaii stay, don’t worry. You can have your orchids shipped anywhere in the world. All of the Akatsuka Orchid Gardens products are both agriculturally inspected and certified.

Akatsuka Orchids
11-3051 Volcano Road
Volcano, HI 96785
(808) 967-8234

On the Big Island of Hawaii, Hapuna Beach is consistently called America’s most beautiful beach. Hapuna Beach is located in Hapuna Bay, at the north end of the beautiful Kohala Coast.

Hapuna Beach is the largest white sand beach on the island and is unbelievably beautiful. Hapuna Beach on the Big Isalnd of Hawaii is about a half a mile long and 200 feet wide.

The sandy beach faces almost directly towards the west, so you will almost always be treated to amazing sunsets.

There is excellent snorkeling to be found at the south end of Hapuna beach along the rocks. There are also some pretty cool lava tubes or cave to explore in the cliff side.

The body surfing’s pretty decent, especially when the wind picks up). Going on a weekday means less crowds and more room to explore on your own.

There’s a snack bar at the park entrance offering basic food choices,  plus chair and umbrella rentals, which help protects you from the tropical sun.

Shade is minimal at the beach, so pay the $10 for two chairs and an umbrella, and enjoy your day. If it’s too windy, find yourself a shady area near the trees in the back.

Duke’s Waikiki restaurant

Duke’s Waikiki on Oahu was named after legendary surfer Duke Kahanamoku. Duke’s is a fun restaurant and lively bar, ideally located on Waikiki Beach.

The views from Duke’s Waikiki are amazing. Enjoy seeing surfers and the rolling waves of the Pacific Ocean, plus possibly the best views of world-famous Diamond Head.

Duke Paoa Kahanamoku was born in 1890 and died in 1968. To this day, the legendary surfer and swimmer, Duke Kahanamoku, is still considered as the greatest athlete in the history of the Hawaiian islands.

Duke is often called the “Father of Modern Surfing” and we reported in a recent article that Duke Kahanamoku Beach was rated the #3 Best Beach in the United States.

Duke’s Waikiki is truly a Hawaiian icon. The beachfront location offers ones of the most popular meeting places in all of Waikiki.

You can find Duke’s in the lobby of the Outrigger Waikiki Hotel, between the Royal Hawaiian and Royal Hawaiian hotels on Waikiki Beach. Duke’s provides an atmosphere that is fun and lively, serving up a whole lot of Hawaiian culture.

Fresh fish, and juicy steaks have made Duke’s one of the most popular restaurants anywhere in Hawaii.

Duke’s restaurant guests can enjoy numerous, delicious dishes of original Hawaiian-influenced cuisine. Duke’s Waikiki is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Duke’s Waikiki restaurant

Just a few popular appetizers include Crab and Mac Nut Wontons, Maui Onion Soup, or Crispy Coconut Shrimp with a Spicy Lilikoi Sauce.

Entrees choices are endless, including fish, steak, huli huli grilled chicken and BBQ ribs.
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So experience the true Aloha spirit ay Duke’s Waikiki restaurant and don’t forget to have at least one dinner there, and take in one of the unforgettable sunsets you will ever see.

Duke’s Waikiki
2335 Kalakaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815
808.922.2268

Please use the Contact Form below to submit your Hawaii travel request. We will promptly get back to you.

Na Pali coast

There is no better way to experience the sheer beauty of Kauai, than by a helicopter tour. To uncover the secrets that Kauai has to offer, you need to go deep into the rain forest behind the mountains.

So much of the Garden Isle – Kauai is unavailable by car, so seeing Kauai by air allows you to discover the Garden Isle’s most spectacular sights.

You have several choices of helicopter tour companies on Kauai, but there’s only name that is synonymous with excellence and safety – Blue Hawaiian Helicopters.

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters is the largest and most successful helicopter tour company in Hawaii. They are the only tour company that provides tours of all the major Hawaiian islands including Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island.

Kauai is the wettest island in Hawaii and is home to Mount Wai’ale’ale, an ancient volcanic crater that is also one of the wettest spots on earth. Mount Wai’ale’ale averages over 400 inches a year.

All that rain on the Garden Isle has to go somewhere. The rainfall generates the most incredible waterfalls that cascade into amazing sheer valleys and down jagged cliffs that seem to fall straight into the Pacific Ocean.

After a safety video and review of the do’s and don’ts, we headed off to the heliport at Lihue airport to begin our tour. Blue Hawaiian Helicopters has an amazing safety record and is the recipient of numerous awards including the Certificate of Excellence “Diamond Award” from the Federal Aviation Administration.

American Eurocopter ECO-Star helicopter

The new American Eurocopter ECO-Star helicopter was top notch and is regarded as the first touring helicopter of the 21st Century. The ECO-Star is roomy and reduces flight noise by approximately 50%.

As we take off and see the expansive blue waters of the Pacific Ocean to our east, you quickly realize this is going to be an incredible journey. We saw a diverse landscape during our nearly one hour helicopter tour.

Waimea Canyon

We saw spectacular Hanapepe Valley, then on to Mana Waiapuna, which is better known as “Jurassic Park Falls.” We passed over Olokele Canyon, before flying over incredible Waimea Canyon, named by Mark Twain as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific.”

Our pilot was professional and offered a detailed narrative via the headphones which allowed for two-way communication with him.

As we continue over the northwest corner of the island, the sheer cliffs and caves of the Na Pali Coast await – stretching 11 miles on Kauai’s northern shore. What a sight as we hug the coast and seem miniscule in comparison to the jagged vertical cliffs of Na Pali. Lush vegetation, white sand beaches and pounding surf are everywhere.

Na Pali coast beach

We pass by the Bali Hai Cliffs, and hover over the blue waters of stunning Hanalei Bay, then continue to the nearby Princeville resort area.

Mt. Waialeale is often covered in thick clouds, producing all that rain. Luck was with us that day as clouds opened up and we flew directly into the center of the crater! Mt. Waialeale was majestic with 5,000 foot walls towering above and 3,000 foot waterfalls cascading down its sides. Truly an amazing site!

Mount Waialeale crater

As we returned to the heliport, the six passengers all realized what an incredible experience we just had. The ECO-Star’s large glass windows provided excellent sweeping views of Kauai’s natural beauty.

Overall, our experience was terrific and memorable. The office personnel, ground crew, and the pilot were superb.

If you do get the chance to visit Kauai, make sure you plan a helicopter trip. Discover the true beauty of Kauai. It’s an adventure you’ll never forget.

To learn more or make a helicopter tour reservation, please contact – Hawaii Fun Planner