We had to wait a while before our drag queen show in the middle of a Sunday morning had to open at…read morePEWA Pono Potions so we ended up in the Old Queen Street Stadium store AKA Hawaii Sports Museum, wow, how random is that? Vintage sports clothing, memorabilia, accessories, gear, garb, publications and even Astro turf in the store which set the mood! One of the owners came to talk to us about the history of the place and you can tell he was super passionate about the history of the sports in the Hawaiian islands. Super super cool. The prices for the vintage Hawaiian shirts and the dresses (yes, dresses) were actually very reasonable. Come check out this place if you're a fan of all sports in Hawaii 'back in the days'. Parking: we parked in a paid lot and walked over.

Go. If you want to experience Hawai'i sports history, go! These guys are amazing, so 'akamai in the…read morefield and share events that people are welcome to attend. I've purchased a jacket, a jersey, and a shirt with Hawaiian history attached to each article of clothing. It's been worth the money, listening to the history, and trying to not buy more!

An amazing place…read more.. McDonald's was one of earlier jobs that I worked while I was still in school and as it was corporate back then it was tough though always a great experience and as I learned about some of the things they do for the Ronald Mcdonald House I was much younger back then had no idea what it does for the community. Fast forward to the 2025 and hearing that they had a 5K charity of a day that I'm usually off I was so excited to register and participate in this even only to fully miss out on it unfortunately and was off island shortly after than and received an email of my tote that was unclaimed and asked if I was still interested in it which of course I was and was delighted to have a chance to claim it and pick it up right here on Judd Hillside Rd and since I was there I just had to pick up a few items to donate along with a bunch of brand new plushies that I loved but knew that it had more love to share as well. Nothing brings me greater joy than to share and give joy to others and though it was a small gesture it really made me feel happy and hopes that all the items will give comfort and love at their time of need. Thank you!

Give back to your local community partners!…read more This is a great nonprofit to participate and support as they are easy to contact and schedule time with a team and come by to help or donate. They are always posting material items on Instagram or social media showcasing what they are needing. Upon arrival, they let you know what you may need to do to help out. They offer convenient times around busy work schedules, which is great. You may paint, assemble bags, prepare something in the kitchen, whatever fairly simple projects are needed for the home... Knowing you are able to put a smile on the face of a child is amazing. What these kids and families go through, most may never have to and the majority are unable to imagine. Taking a moment to give time to help as a volunteer goes a long way! This location does not have parking but please do not let that deter you from helping as they do provide a shuttle to and from the facility.

Amazing store and the nicest couple! I can't wait to come back! I get so many compliments on what…read moreI bought here and folks have written down the name so they can visit too Don't miss out and take a look at all the treasures!

First of all absolutely love her. She is the sweetest person and literally the best. My first…read morejacket from her was a camouflage with the vintage fabric. My mom loved it so much that I ended up gifting her a jacket and a clutch. The sales when you catch them are great. I was also able to find beautiful Niihau shell earrings from here that I adore!

Supporting a local non profit in Kaneohe side was on the agenda. Dragged my friend and son along on…read morethis excursion. We learned about a few invasive and native plants. Our mission was to eradicate invasive plants in a certain area. You can register online for the opportunities. I believe it was the third Saturday of every month but I'm sure they can use the help whenever. Also, it's a great team bonding and cultural learning experience for a company outing. Bring bug spray, water and a change of clothes just in case. We went to the fishing area after and the water was knee high, it can be lower or higher depending on the tide. On another occasion they teamed up with Kailua Kayak adventures and we paddled out to Mokulua island to eradicate more invasive species and plant native plants, was a fun adventure, pregnant and all. (Approves by my doctor of course.)

We have partnered with this amazing Non-Profit many times under their old and new management and…read morehave nothing but amazing feedback! If you have any free days to volunteer, and you care about our amazing home, reach out to this Hui. Their volunteer days are the 3rd Saturday of the month.

I've been asking my college professor all semester when would we be visiting Hooulu Aina after…read morehearing how the class last year got to learn about planting awa. So when the chance came I was definitely excited and ended up learning a lot. To teachers especially if you have handicap students: Do it!! There was a hike (which my professor forgot to tell me about) to the site we worked at, but depending on the severity of the students disability it's doable (though they may complain a lot especially if you don't prepare them ahead of time). Plus there is a road where the guys were able to take me back down in a truck (which if my professor had let them know ahead of time they probably could have brought me up, though I won't tell him, but the minor discomfort I felt was well worth the satisfaction of what we accomplished that day).

This place is amaze. My family friend told me about it, since she's the psychologist at Kokua…read moreKalihi Valley clinics and has been here a few times herself. I came for the first time last month and was treated to an amazingly therapeutic day of clearing invasives in order to allow koa to naturally come up. Learned about a few plants and how to identify them and was treated to an amazing lunch after, cooked by volunteers, and took some edible hibiscus home for cooking. Although I spent three hours clearing, I definitely feel like I came away with so much more than I put in and regretted putting off coming for wanting to sleep in, or do other errands, in the few months prior. I have been missing out on a lot. I came for the second time this past weekend and we spent some time clearing weeds from several different sites on the farm, which we then fed to the pigs. Other activities include kapa pounding, hale building, garden maintenance, and cooking, so lots of opportunity to do what suits you and your abilities. The staff is great. I worked with Aulani this weekend, who is a total gem and a staffer there for the last six years. She introduced me to maile hohono, which puts a stop to mosquito bites and OMFG it's a miracle plant. Lots of people here fulfilling volunteer requirements, but I'm just doing it cuz I love it. Make sure to dress appropriately with things you can get dirty in. Bring your own water, even better bring your own plates/silverware for lunch, and be prepared for a day of well-being and rejuvenation. Make sure to also check out Roots Cafe to support local farms/food. I haven't been myself, but can't wait to go.

Wow, this is a must-visit place on Oahu. For years Manoa Valley has been a favorite place to walk…read moreand explore; the Manoa Heritage Center is right in the middle but surprisingly hidden unless you know where to go. The center is on the property of the prominent Cooke Family, with their house, gardens, and heiau as the main draws to exploring. The Heritage Center itself is a modern open-air building with offices and a classroom for lectures and workshops, including Hawaii art & crafts. On our visit, we took the garden tour. Our docent was gentle and super knowledgeable about the grounds, plants, and family history of the property. It was slow and intentional, this is not a place to rush so plan on spending time here. Our tour took a ring around the property including the heiau, stories of the native Hawaiians that lived here, the respect of the family in the building of the home and maintaining the land, the plants themselves. It's a nominal fee to book and well worth the price, see online. At the conclusion of the tour we had tea made from plants grown on the property. They have a little nursery for plants as well. While you cannot go inside the house at this time due to ongoing repairs, it's well worth a visit to enjoy the natural beauty of this island.

If you're curious about lovely Mānoa Valley, a docent led tour of the Mānoa Heritage Center is an…read moreedutaining (educational and entertaining) way to experience its geology and cultural history. Reservations were easily made online and paid, a month ahead. An email reminder with instructions popped up on my email the day before our party of five joined the tour. We couldn't have picked a more perfect day with the sun baked skies gleaming above the mountains flushed green from recent rains. Our tour around the sustainable gardens included a peek into the former home of the grounds' owners. It will one day be open to view but for now outside is where trees, shrubs and flowering plants sprawl in wild abandon. Our knowledgeable docent was to quick to name them and share tidbits of their meaning. As our docent also weaved stories of the past with Hawaiian archaeological footnotes and cultural references, we basked in the cool Mānoa breezes enchanted with the views and just relaxing in the soothing ambience. It's a 70-minute tour so dress appropriately for meandering across lawns and some rocky terrain, including a peek into the on property heiau. Check it out!

No two are alike…read more.. That's one thing that I do love about crafting is you can make it all your own and here at Hawaii Potters Guild I learned from an event they were participating in is that there are members who pay to use their facilities which is everything from throwing to the kiln which is amazing and you purchase the clay from them as well so really all you need is your imagination. The also have classes as well which is quite cool though not sure if I have steady hands to make something but knowing that there are places like this is nice and to meet some of the members who had their items on sale is breathtaking as each is very different from chimes, plates, vase and animal cups so cute and you know I couldn't resist getting a few. Thank you for a great place to allow creativity to express and share with everyone. Thank you!

So much love, appreciation, and gratitude for this space, people, and the creative energy. My very…read morefirst class is coming to an end and I am currently reflecting on my experience here. I was motivated to take a pottery class this summer after feeling a bit uninspired from a grueling school year on the mainland. Creating art is an awesome form of stress relief and such a great way to challenge yourself. As a first time student, it can be very challenging to get into a class at HPG. You submit an application and must be picked from a lottery. Look on their website for detailed instructions on how and when to submit your application. Submit your papers at the studio and on-time! There are no exceptions for late applications. I was lucky enough to get into a Monday evening class on the wheel. Classes are 3 hours long and our instructor was great. Every week we went over a new style, technique, or concept. Also, the classes are for all levels of potters. There were people who had never thrown clay before to people who have been doing this for years. Students have access to the guild during the week to come in and work on their projects as well! Clay is purchased from the guild and tools are also available for purchase. Everyone in the studio is extremely helpful and very willing to teach. Over this summer I've learned so much from not only my teacher, but also my peers. The community of artists at the Hawaii Potter's Guild is truly a unique group that cultivates a love and passion for creating. This is definitely not a goodbye HPG, but a see you soon.

A wonderful volunteer organization!…read more Check the website because each day of the week they typically are routine with the location and time frames for cleanups. It isn't only cleanups, they handle restoration and land management by preservation, teaching, and so much more. Kimeona and his team are well versed and well organized in what they are doing. They have equipment so when you arrive, after you fill out the documents online, you are ready to go. Of course prepare by getting a good meal in you, staying hydrated, bring water (they also supply water but bring your reusable water bottle), comfortable clothes and shoes, and be prepared to "give back"! I love learning history and culture and the oli and taking care of the Aina. I don't want to give away too much, but at the same time I want to share everything. I have been volunteering with this team, mostly at the same place, although I met up at Magic Island and it needed, for a couple of years. My takeaways, it's personal for me.

I was reminded that "people" were the last thing that came to the islands. That means everything…read moreneeds to be respected. When people come visit Hawaii, they think about the beaches, food, partying, etc... People don't think about the impact it has on the ecology. We decided to pay our respect to the land that we enjoyed by helping clean it. This organization was more about teaching what is around us versus just picking up garbage. We first removed evasive trees along the river. The cool thing was that we moved the branches to a different area that feeds certain Beatles. Then months after the tress/branches were stepped on and crushed to be part of the earth. After about an hour and half of work we took a little environmental tour to learn of the necessary ecological balance needed for the islands. We saw the last type of a certain succulent, we saw endangered shrubs, and Hawaiian bees that are also endangered. We go to Hawaii and take, this time we gave back