Reason #8

Tantalus Road...  About 10 minutes from Waikiki will get you to the base of the Ko'olau mountain range, and if GPS doesn't take you astray you can find yourself on Tantalus Road (anyone visiting PLEASE put this on your list of places to go, you can drive up to the top and back down and the views alone will be worth it).  Through the heart of the rainforest this winding road manages to showcase Honolulu at its finest with some of the most breathtaking views and for a moment you forget that you were just in a city.  Lush and tropical and the beautiful sounds of birds and wildlife fill the air.  Off of the drive are numerous trailheads including one of my favorites, the Bamboo Forest.  Yesterday my friend Alessa and I had the fortune of a GORGEOUS day up at the mountain and conquered about 2.5 hours of hiking, simply enough to take my breath away as that place always does.  One of the coolest parts of the hike is that with the right amount of wind all the bamboo will begin swaying and knocking agains each other creating a fantastic wind chime effect.  But the best part of the day was on the drive down and what do we see on the side of the road... 2 piglets running along, each no bigger than a ferrel kitten!  For those who know me well can guess that it just about put me over the edge in the cute department haha.  It was amazing, and a first for me on the mountain, they were so precious! I just hope they make it safe and sound wherever they were going.  I'd say Tantalus Road made the day so special and I look forward to taking all my visitors up that winding abyss.

Reason #7

Diamond Head Community Garden... Just up Diamond Head Road there is a magnificent lookout area where locals, surfers, tourists and pretty much anyone else trying to escape the crowds of Waikiki go to watch endless hours of surfers battle the waves at "Cliffs."  Well in my years of visiting, this has been one of my favorite meditation and relaxation activities.  Sitting on the edge of the lava wall looking beyond an incredible garden of greenery (and when in bloom, multiple varieties of Hibiscus) and usually getting lost in the sea of blue ahead.  It wasn't until very recently I came to learn the story behind this garden of joy.  In 1999 three surfers started bringing jugs of water in their cars to wash their feet of all the mud and rock that would be stuck on them from the climb up the cliffside.  In a short period of time they realized that this water source brought the hillside to life, and little sprouts of grass started covering the ground.  They purposefully began bringing a lot more water specifically for the land and eventually each of the surfers also contributed plants.  Even papaya seeds that dropped from someone's breakfast have turned into trees lining the garden.   Today it has become a community activity, as surfers and locals can be found each morning weeding, pruning and maintaining this place of beauty for all to enjoy.  From one person who takes advantage of this garden of love, I say thank you surfing community for this wonderful gift.

Reason #6

Sunrise... I don't know what it is about being in Hawaii, but automatically your body adjusts to a new way of life.  Meaning at 6am when you should be fast asleep, not only do you wake up but it's as if its that once in a lifetime morning, and you have to get up so you don't miss any action.  Kinda like it's your birthday everyday!  Well that's my story and I know eventually once I begin working I will probably dread waking up at 6am again, for now I take so much joy in knowing that when I wake up I am able to witness the next greatest event to a sunset...a sunrise!  Something so peaceful about the morning and watching the sun creep up over the Ko'olau mountain range.  Today was one of those special occasions that I woke up just in time to see this magnificent view from my lanai (balcony).  I don't know if it is possible to have a bad day when this is the first sight you see.  Once again I am fortunate to know that each morning I have something so special waiting for me. From my lanai to yours hope this brightens your day...

Reason #5

Kaimuki... With all the times I had been to Honolulu I seem to always miss this little beauty of a neighborhood.  Not really for it's looks or location, it's all about the ethnic cuisine!  Located about 10 minutes outside of Waikiki, it offers the world of cooking proving once again how DIVERSE this island really is! So on my way to meet a friend for coffee today I passed by what I consider to be the ultimate food court spread all along one long street; call it the paradise of hole-in-the-wall amazingness that will satisfy any craving.  There is the more commonly found Hawaiian, American, Chinese, Japanese, Mexican and Thai, but for added cravings how about some Soul Food, Jamaican/Caribbean, Louisiana Crawfish, Greek, Latin, Vietnamese, Korean, Italian, not to mention a Nepalese restaurant that allows you to BYOB.  Now that is what I call a Dream come true.  So whatever your pallet craves I am sure I can find it for you in Kaimuki, so come visit!  I guess the last thing needed to complete the menu is that perfect little Persian restaurant.  I will work on opening that one myself :)

Reason #4

Rain... So for anyone who enjoy's rain, the smell, the feel, and the sound, then Hawaii is your Dreamland! At any given time it may rain, and sometimes it's a peaceful sprinkle which almost evaporates the instant it touches your skin, at other times, you can look out 100 feet in front of you and see a wall of wetness approaching you, and sorry to anyone that tries to hide from it, cuz that just won't happen, the wall will get you.  I have never been fond of the rain, besides the fact that it helps the flowers that I love bloom and make the grass grow a little greener and provides the element all living things need, I guess I just have a love hate relationship.  Well, for some reason in Hawaii that turns into a love LOVE relationship.  This morning I went out for a run and while it was overcast I wasn't prepared at all.  The wall I described earlier was in full force and it came down in an instant, I saw everyone around me look for trees and coverage or the spare umbrella that everyone is supposed to carry.  For some reason, the drenching sensation of the wall of water just made me smile, and without knowing it I was holding my arms out running and twirling.  LOL it was like a movie and I just smiled the whole way, people stared but I just thought, WOW this water that mother nature is sending me is the exact cool down I needed and it is so BEAUTIFUL.  To my right I saw the Ko'olau mountain range, so lush and green and the creator of the rains.  Fun Fact.... That mountain range has approximately 5 million gallons of rainfall each DAY!  So I guess if I get even one gallon, I feel fortunate.

Reason #3

Diamond Head... No I don't think it's that special of a hike.  It's not even really natural anymore with all the foot-traffic and paved roads inside the crater.  It may just as well be an extension of Waikiki.  Yet, today I decided to embark on a little exploration.  Walking out of the house with my keys, phone, and a snack.  It took me about an hour to walk from my house to Diamond Head, another hour to hike to the top and back, and I made my way back home all in time to have lunch.  While I have never had very high praise for this hike as I feel many people could see real beauty that Oahu has to offer in all it's lush mountain ranges, I really LOVE the fact that just a few miles outside of the heart of this bursting city lies this beast awaiting exploration by over 800,000 visitors a year!  The fascinating part is that on my walk to the top I passed every type of person imaginable.  From a 2 year old to a 92 year old, and probably heard about 10 different languages being spoken, each person making the trek to the top to get that eagle's eye view of Honolulu.  It reminded me of my first trip to the top with my mom, I was 3.  Oma (my grandma) keeps saying she wants me to take her to the top, she is 82, and to think that it is even possible for us to do this together makes me smile.  So I praise you Diamond Head for being in my neighborhood and getting those vacationing tourists to leave their beach towels (even if only for a few hours) and get some exercise together as a family.  That is beautiful.  

Reason #2

93.9 JAMZ...  Well, I have waited my whole life for the best radio station, and for some reason neither Sacramento or San Francisco could provide it.  Honolulu has it people.  NON STOP, ALL DAY, 90's Hip Hop and R&B on 93.9 FM.  Each song is "MY JAM" and my roommate Cate and I rock the station all day with Gongo's assistance of course.  For those of you who know me well, know that this concept of non-stop 90's music is pure BEAUTY and gets me going each day.  Yes, obviously I realize that all of this can be found on the internet and on my "Classic Hip-Hop" Pandora station.  But the fact that regular old radios have this option now brings a smile to my face.  Thank you Hawaii for keeping the Jams alive!