My trip to Hawaii last fall was motivated by a desire for some rest and relaxation, some warm weather, and an overall escape from my gray Seattle life.  I was longing for time spent on a balcony, watching the sunset or sunrise, listening to the waves, and having a slow-paced week ahead of me.
In fact, that type of vacation is one of the reasons people love Hawaii – sun, sand, surf, and stepping on the treadmill of ordinary life.
But at some point, you’re going to want to do something else.  I had a handful of ideas of those “other …read more

If you watched the NFL Pro Bowl over this past weekend, you got a glimpse of Oahu, Honolulu, and the Waikiki area.  It’s very tempting to think of the island as one of sun, sand, surf, sunbathing, and adult beverages.  All that would be true, of course, but there is another side to Hawaii, a side full of history, culture, and reverence.
On my recent trip to Honolulu, I had the opportunity to enjoy both aspects of island life, and today’s post touches on a more serious side of island life.
Overlooking the city of Honolulu, is the extinct volcano Punchbowl …read more