Hawaii Getaway Guide

05/18/2026

The Hawaii McDonalds that has gone viral for the prettiest backdrop has a long line with tourists taking photos today. Reportedly, some tourists have even dressed up in wedding dresses, cause there’s a lovely church in the background.

Local tip: This beautiful backdrop is Valley of the Temples, an omni? devotional cemetery. The pretty church is where they hold bereavement services and local graves dot the lovely green lawn, but there’s gravesites for different denominations from Sinto to Buddhist. It’s a testament to Hawaii’s cultural mixture . Inside the cemetery is also where you’ll find one of our top landmarks.

Helps to know the back story of what you’re photographing before jumping into a wedding dress. 😜

So as a local I’m skipping my rootbear frozen.

05/18/2026

“Lani is not just a seal to us, she is a resident of our ocean Ohana in Lahaina. … This is not the kind of visitor we welcome to Maui. Our connection to the ocean, land and creatures that call our island home is part of our culture  ” - Mayor of Maui

Additionally, Hawaiian culture views its wildlife, marine life and nature as Aumakua, ancestoral (personal and family) gods and vessels of the divine that watch over us.

Ain’t gonna lie- that video of a local boy pummeling him for shoving his girlfriend too was very satisfying in the case he didn’t get fined and jail time.

05/18/2026

It’s a federal law, but to Hawaii islanders it is much more…

Native Hawaiian culture views its wildlife, marine life and nature as Aumakua, ancestoral (personal and family) gods and vessels of the divine that watch over us.

Monk seals, turtles, owls, sharks, dolphins, even certain rocks and plants are sacred to us as ancestoral spirits guiding us.

Locals feel a deep respect and reverence towards their land, culture and wildlife. When one of this is attacked by an outsider, a deep ripple of outrage is felt through the islands.

These days tourists have been making the headlines by attempting to touch, ride, capture, harass and harm Hawaii's endangered species.

04/23/2026

I’ve been slowing down lately.
I haven’t stopped traveling. Instead, I’m shifting and hunting an overlooked definition of travel.

The collective energy of this planet right now? Intense, upsetting, kinda bonkers, a lot to hold.

If you caught my recent post on my personal account, you know I’ve been sitting with trees as medicine, practicing the art of noticing. Im resetting my nervous system the old fashioned way.
That’s the travel I’m doing offline.

The kind that doesn’t need a passport, doesn’t feed overtourism, corporate greed or high fuel prices. …Doesn’t ask my ego to use it as proof I’m worthy of living.

It’s my quiet act of rebellion.

I’m hunting “portals” - places and moments that shift my energetic frequency just by showing up to them fully. Being present and open. .

This is a tidepool an hour from home. Me, my dog, saltwater and ocean music and a strange, surreal ecosystem that slowed my nervous system down and exploded my childlike wonder and joy.

With portals, you enter one way and leave another.

…I breathe slower, see clearer, my senses awaken and …

I feel the quiet miracle of being alive and sharing this strange, beautiful planet with other forms of mysterious life.

04/09/2026

🏃‍♀️We race through life. We race through travel too.

Was needing to reset my nervous system from the craziness of the US regime, so these days I’ve been switching gears.

There’s a version of hiking I once did where I spent most of the trail staring at my feet.

Eyes down, tracking the next step, rushing to get to a waterfall or whatever the lookout view was that day.

I was efficient, goal-oriented.😎

…And I was missing *everything*. 😶‍🌫️

There’s a saying I know you’ve heard often -

“it’s about the journey, not the destination. “

Yet look at how we actually travel.

We collect countries like notches. We sprint through museums…

the checked box, the bragging rights, skimmed, “conquered”, and on to the next.

We want fast food, drive-thru convenience .

It wasn’t until I forced myself to slow down- to look around and relax into enjoying nature- that I understood what I’d been missing.

I watched an ordinary trail reveal an alien, magical and extraordinary journey.

It was like taking a trip into Middle Earth 🌍

More than a waterfall or a one-off view it was pure awakening…to curiosity, revelation, celebration of this planet.

The art of noticing, requires you to slow down and zoom in, instead of out

The journey IS the destination.

📍Middle Earth, Aiea loop trail, Hawaii, Oahu

04/01/2026

Flying from Hawaii, most all of my flights HAVE LAYOVERS. I spend a lot of time in airports... and part of the time, I sleep in them too!

Here's tips from nabbing a good sleep spot, to resources you might have available in your layover airport.

Sleep-Friendly Airports: Where to Crash for Free (or Almost Free) .Best 24/7 airports for layovers. Overnight layover guide: Best airports to sleep in

03/27/2026

Hawaii floods update - HOW UOU CAN HELP 🌧️

Hawaii is dealing with the aftermath of the Kona Low storm floods and cleanup is actively underway across multiple islands. The storm is not over. Due to flash flooding, rains come quick, hard, without notice.

See ways to help - donation drives, beach cleanups, animal rescues (fosters needed) and volunteering are all happening.

🧡FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE & RELIEF RECOVERY






🐶🐱ANIMAL RESCUES & FOSTERING



📍DONATION DRIVE & VOLUNTEER UPDATES

Waialua Sugar Mil
67-106 Kealohanui St.
Waialua, HI 96791 Opens: 10 AM

Follow
for volunteer, contractor support, donation drive requests updates.

Check for social media for volunteers requests on beach cleanups. Sorry, I’m looking for this too and it pops up randomly

More opportunities to help


✨DIRECT DONATIONS TO FAMILIES
(Community vetted list)

http://bit.ly/stormkokua

🚙TRAVEL UPDATE

If traveling Oahu's North Shore's impacted areas - Haleiwa, Waialua and Mokuleia the impacted areas are not tourist attractions. Roads are needed for relief operations.

Just recently, parts of Manoa was heavily flooded and relief is being sent there too

If you cannot donate or volunteer please send prayers for the Hawaiian Islands and families impacted. 🙏

if you are planning a trip to Oahu, check weather forecasts.

📸 Screenshot the slides to save the links. On most phones, hold your finger on the URL to open it.

03/24/2026

3/23/26 Hawaii Floods Watch Update- NEXT ROUND
I heard thunder in the distance around 2p (light sprinkles and sun here) but

Folks are reporting flooding areas in other parts of Oahu right now:

Kaimuki/16th Ave,
Palolo stream,
Kaneohe,
Manoa Valley is getting HAMMERED Rn
Waiahole
Laie
Makapuu Road is collapsed. Kalananaole Hwy is affected.

Flood rains swoop in quick without warning. Some videos show street cars underwater. Don’t know if flooding is entire neighborhoods yet- but these are new flood zones that are not only extremities of the island; some are central.

I’m seeing these updates thru:

who are local content aggregators collaborating to get the word out.

SHOULD YOU TRAVEL TO HAWAII NOW?

Most tourists come for sun, beaches and to enjoy nature. Of all the island weather in Waikiki has been the most blessed. Honolulu is decent too.

BUT the weather is still moving- these flash floods are strong.

My two cents- Do a wait and see til the weather and ocean waters clear. Postpone if you can.

Always check weather forecasts before booking a trip.

Always carry trip insurance.

NorthShore is looking off limits.

More districts may be added to the list in the coming days to weeks.

Oahu beaches are taking a hit with erosion, flood debris and brown waters.

- Do not swim where the waters are brown- the runoff carries dangerous debris, downed trees to ecoli bacteria from sanitation overflooding.

The Hawaii Dept of Health has already issued advice the NorthShore boil their drinking water to kill bacteria.

- Stay away from streams

- Many hiking trails will be closed due to safety hazards & falling trees

- Watch out for landslides and large potholes

- Road traffic may be congested as locals reroute

- Expect power cuts, even at traffic lights

- AVOID PASSING THROUGH HALEIWA AND WAIALUA - Emotions are on high & locals are seeing tourists disrespect places, harass endangered marine life, act like their vacation takes priority. They are protective that our devastated communities don’t become a “tourist attraction”.

(This is a global theme -Japan, Spain, Italy etc- there are too many tourists being disrespectful )

Share in Comments if there are other distressed locations.

Please send prayers for a quick recovery for these families that lost everything

TAG links to Hawaii local reputable organizations where ppl can click to volunteer and donate. We want the money to stay in islands.

I’ll moderate safe recommendations

03/24/2026

A note about Hawaii floods (& NEW UPDATES)Originally post 14 hrs ago.

Hawaii has had a rain storms & flash flood warnings these past two weeks and some areas of the island are devastated.

Firstly, all of Oahu is not entirely or even partially under water …yet.

I’ll try my best to share updates.

Though Oahu is a small island- weather affects each valley or region differently. Rain frequency and amount varies. Many districts experienced the rain storms& power cuts but dry the next day, only for rains to come again.

I experienced heavy rains, scary winds and a power cut for half a day, but during the day it dries up. This is to add small perspective - Oahu is a functional island of many districts

BUT the storm rains are NOT over!
And Oahu hasn’t had flash floods this strong.

The forecast looks like on-off rain thru to the 28thish.

———-

Hawaii Floods Update 3/23/26 at 2p
I thought the worst already happened but WE HAVE A NEXT ROUND

I heard thunder in the distance around 2p (light sprinkles here)-

But folks are reporting flooding areas :

Kaimuki/16th Ave
Palolo stream
Kaneohe
Manoa & Manoa stream ( they are getting HAMMERED!)
Waiahole
Laie
Makapuu Road is collapsed.

Flash floods swoop in quick without warning. Don’t know if it’s streets or entire neighborhoods yet.

Sadly residents may not realize this til they get home from work. Hope pets weren’t left out or chained down.

UPDATE ‼️: MAUI and MOLOKAI are currently on flood watch as their water levels are getting high. Central Molokai has an EMERGENCY EVACUATION.

I’m seeing these updates thru: who are local content aggregators collaborating to get the word out.

——-

Hawaii Floods Update 3/22/26

HALEIWA and WAIALUA on the North Shore have been hit DEVASTATINGLY HARD- they are beach/ farming communities. They are making the news now, because they ARE UNDERWATER and if you’ve seen footage, it’s likely from them.

Haleiwa and Wailua rely on the natural and rural lands more than other areas, its old infrastructure and a tight knit sustainability- minded community. Their devastation is compared to Lahaina but no deaths.

Houses are flooded, families and animals are displaced, livelihoods are in ruin.

Respect that if you are a traveler- now is not the time to try to peek in. Locals are understandably devastated and are in shock, mourning.

Yesterday, the community and a lot of volunteers jumped in to help with the clean up. Lots of mud, mud mud and deep still water.

Animal rescue orgs are out searching for stranded animals. The cleaning will need to continue.

NO FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE has shown up, tho with this our current regime I wouldn’t hold my breath. Our states must shoulder the responsibility and the governor called in the National Guard.

COMMUNITY is the saving grace of Hawaii.

They need donations and volunteers. I’ve been resharing local Stories and ways to help on my personal IG .

Local and Hawaii state government social media accounts are Hawaii’s more trustworthy real time news gateways over privatized mainstream news with agendas.

SHOULD YOU TRAVEL HERE?

Of all the island weather in Waikiki has been the most blessed…it’s almost kissed by God. Honolulu is decent too.

BUT most tourists come for sun, beaches and to enjoy nature. That’s what’s being tested now. Postpone if you can. Do a wait and see til the weather and ocean waters clear.

NorthShore is looking off limits.

More districts may be added to the list in the coming days to weeks.

Oahu beaches are taking a hit with erosion, flood debris and brown waters.

- Do not swim where the waters are brown- the runoff carries dangerous debris, downed trees to ecoli bacteria from sanitation overflooding.

- Stay away from streams

- Do not go hiking.

- Watch out for landslides and large potholes

- Road traffic may be congested as locals reroute

- Expect power cuts, even at traffic lights

- AVOID PASSING THROUGH HALEIWA AND WAIALUA - if locals see tourists pass through they will get upset. Emotions are already on high & tourists have been known to disrespect places, harassing endangered marine life, act like their vacation takes priority. Local are protective that our vulnerable areas don’t become a “tourist attraction”.

(This is getting to be a global theme -Japan, Spain, Italy etc- there are too many tourists being disrespectful )

Please update me if there are other distressed locations.

Please send prayers for a quick recovery for these families that lost everything

TAG links to Hawaii local reputable organizations where ppl can click to volunteer and donate. We want the money to stay in islands. I’ll moderate safe recommendations

Ps Apologies if my post is a little chaotic. It’s been a super busy week but I know folks will wonder if I’m okay and I wanted to get this out. Thank you for your concerns. 🙏💖

03/13/2026

Here we are with another U.S. government shutdown but this time it may be impacted by flight rerouting from the Middle East due to the w a r.

If traveling soon, brace for airport delays, flight cancellations and last-minute schedule changes.

If you are in the process of booking an upcoming trip, preparation can minimize disruption and protecting your rights as a passenger.

This guide shares tips preparing you with solutions if obstacles are thrown at you.

There are affiliate links in this post. Traveling with trip insurance offers me peace of mind for my solo travels. This is a trip insurance finder to match