Running 6.2 miles to just earn a banana at the finish line just doesn't cut it anymore. LOL. That's…read morewhy we sign up to do the Pineapple Run 10k in Wahiawa! To earn a pineapple at the finish line!! ;-) The main sponsor of this run is the Central Oahu Chief Petty Officers Association, so the event is on a much smaller scale than the other runs that bring international sponsors and participants. So, no Expo during bib pick up and not all participants are gauranteed a Finishers medal at the end. But, there's usually at least 1,000 registrants who all receive a shirt with a bib....and you guessed it....a pineapple! ;-) The Start and Finish line is at Ka'Ala Elementary, which is located in a residential area and mainly a flat course. But once you're out on Kamehameha Hwy and Kamananui Rd, there's nothing but hills. You think Diamond Head is tough. Running on the road along side the pineapple fields can be quite the challenge! The only downside about this run is that it starts at 7:00am, when the sun is already out to play. So, runners and walkers must be ready for the heat! Parking is available in the surrounding area, so if you'd rather park close instead of shuttling in....arrive early. Like 5:30am early. You snooze? You lose! Navy Federal Credit Union might have been the only vendor at the finish line. They gave away reusable bags, pens, hand fans, and koozies. Plenty of porta potties at the start line, but nothing on the course. Water stations were available at Mile 2 & 4. Plan ahead and mark your calendars for next year's event!

41st Annual Wahiawa Pineapple Run on May 14, 2016. This was my first organized race and I must say,…read moreit was great! I purchased the ticket online through active.com about 2 months before the race. It was $45, (plus $4.72 processing fee) however; the event supports the community of Wahiawa and Ka'ala Elementary School so it is for a good cause. I did not receive any reminders about the event so I made sure to "like" the Pineapple Run 10K page on Facebook. All the information was posted there including packet pick up information and other really good information. The person responding on behalf of the event page is very responsive. There were 3 days of packet pickups that were conveniently located at UFC Gym in Waikele, Runners HI in Aiea and The Running Room in Kapahulu- which is where I picked up my packet. The packet includes your T-shirt, bib with time chip on the back, and instructions for race day. There was also a coupon for Running Room which I thought was nice! I carpooled with a friend and we parked in the lot approximately 2 miles from the school. There was a "shuttle service" which were actual school buses which took us to the start line. I could see a bunch of portables set up for any last minute restroom breaks. Everyone was really friendly and supportive. I think there may have been about 1,000 runners of all ages. The weather was overcast so it was comfortable although a bit muggy. There were a couple of hills but they were not so bad. Most of the run is flat. I would consider myself an "intermediate" level runner but I trained for this race just with a focus of finishing strong and not fast! 10K is the farthest distance I had run and trained for so it was not so difficult. I really enjoyed the scene and did not feel overwhelmed. There were mile markers and the first water/aid station was at the 3rd mile marker. There was additional water/aid stations at the 4th mile marker and at the 5th mile marker. There was a scattering of people shouting their support upon approach to the finish line. After crossing the finish line we got our medals. The staff was handing out more water, bananas and of course, pineapples! We socialized for a bit and started heading to the pick up area for the shuttle bus. Over an hour after the race started and there was already a huge line of people waiting to be picked up. I thought it was strange that the bus was not already shuttling people back to the lot. After waiting for a while, it seemed the bus was not coming any time soon, so we were going to try to "uber" it back to the lot but ultimately decided to walk. That was the worst part about this event for me, because I was tired after running 6.2 miles and the idea of walking another 2 with a heavy pineapple was not a great thought for me! We made it though and all was well! I found out later from a comment on Facebook, that the bus was late because it was chartering another event. If this is true, I hope the event considers keeping the buses at the event so that early finishers can start getting back to their cars sooner, which would also alleviate the wait time for everyone else in general. Other than that, I'd still give the event 5 stars because it was a great first time run for me! If you are looking for a good first race, I would highly recommend the Pineapple Run 10K!

Thank you, Jules Y., for inviting me to this Bruno Mars concert... it was way better than I…read moreexpected! At first, I didn't want to go because I'm spoiled by all of the concerts in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Aloha Stadium (35,000 open-air seats), in comparison, seems less organized and more crowded than mainland venues. Jules was always positive about getting tickets - she was so patient and lucky - and had a great plan about parking for free in the residential area. She was smart about eating before the concert because the lines are long and the prices are on the higher side. Jules knew the layout of the stadium and where to sit to avoid the setting sun. The one thing we couldn't avoid was the line for merchandise. Yeah. Unbelievable. After waiting in a single line, people merged into a mass and pushed forward to a limited supply of souvenirs (because this was his final concert of a 200 concert tour). I pointed to the display which was a XXL black t-shirt and got it quickly! Turns out that it's not available online...wow! We inched our way from the merchandise tables to our seats. Ahhh...it was nice to finally sit down after walking a mile to the stadium, standing in line for an hour to get in, waiting in line for the restroom, and standing in the merchandise line for 1.5 hours. Haha! We were in the Orange Level in the L section on Sunday, 11-11-18 - we had a good view of the stage and jumbotrons. The sound wasn't too loud and we could see all of the fireworks! There were two Opening Acts: Common Kings (from Orange County) - popular songs include "One Day", " Lost In Paradise", and "Today's A New Day" - and The Green, a local band most known for the song, "All I Need". Both reggae bands were really good!!! The crowd sang and danced with anticipation! Finally, it was time for The 24K Magic World Tour! Bruno's clear, strong voice held out even though this was his third and final night in Honolulu. Bruno's dancing, guitar playing, and drumming were amazing. What a talented young individual! Seeing him in person made me appreciate him even more! Note: my eyes welled up with tears during the Opening video. He paid tribute to his mom and dad and his high school friends! I enjoyed seeing his childhood pictures - especially of his days of being an Elvis impersonator - and his high school portrait!

This is my second Bruno Mars concert and I'm loving that he's back for another visit!…read more Nadine C. and I stood in line for tee-shirts. We came in from the North End Zone side and the two concert merchandise areas were all the way on the South End Zone side. We stood in line from 5-615 and once we got to the front there was not much left I wanted to choose from except for huge sizes or sweatshirts so Nadine got a 2XL shirt and I sadly put back a couple items I really wasn't interested in keeping. We went to the other line to see if there was a chance at getting something but the line was even longer. We got to our seats and waited just a bit for the concert to start. The opening performance began right at 7pm with Common Kings, a Reggae genre group. The sound is kinda loud (they're playing now as I type) but they sounded great. The stage is placed just before the North End Zone of Aloha Stadium and there are seats covering the entire football field. I'm excited to hear the Bruno Mars concert! Been waiting half a year and now it's time! [My photos are uploaded in mixed up order. I'll fix it later :) ]

Majestic! This statue represents WWII combat swimmers and commemorates the birthplace of the U.S…read more Navy's Underwater Demolition Teams. If you like history, the Navy or Navy SEALS, this is worth a moment of appreciation.

Our Sweet Hostess Terry K. coordinated with the very generous owner of Domo Cafe and our Yelp…read morefamily had a wonderful time this evening! In a very organized fashion, I received the invitation and quickly RSVPed to lock this into my calendar. For a reasonable set price, we enjoyed a fresh sashimi salad, udon, and a choice of poke bowl or Nigiri. I really appreciated the gently event reminders from Terry K. because it gave me time to assemble goodie bags for 20 guests. Thank you Li Y. for picking me up and so glad we were able to find parking. The food was delicious and the service was stellar. I really enjoyed the crisp salad with fresh sashimi on top! The yuzu salmon poke bowl was incredibly delicious over seasoned rice. The udon was perfect finish our pre fixed meal. This was an excellent opportunity to catch up with friends, including our former CM Emi :) Thank you to everyone who brought goodies to share too. Mahalo again Terry! This was a great summer solstice gathering :)

Thank you Terry K. for this delectable and fun event. Delicious food, wonderful friendships made,…read moreand a one of a kind event! Thank you Mr. Wu and family for inviting us to your Kahala Domo Cafe and allowing all of us to experience and enjoy fresh nigiri sushi, sashimi salad, poke bowls, refreshing Yuzu udon and so much more. Your outstanding service and top quality of food is greatly appreciated. Thank you all for the goodies and treats shared amongst us all! I'm grateful for your generosity and talent! This Summer Solstice event is one to remember! Thank you everyone! Truly a thankful Thursday!

Took a morning tour of this beautiful historic oasis tucked away in a hidden neighborhood of…read moreKaneohe. Katheryn was an absolute delight who shared with us her passion and knowledge for the beauty, heart and soul of this piece of paradise. Talk about a "off the road" treasure. This was truly an unique experience. More adults and photographers need to come and capture the historic significance of this hidden gem. At one time there were 400 fishponds. Now less than 30. Im always looking for places to take guests for discovery. I was amazed it took me 30 years to visit this..yet it took a Kaneohe resident 60 years! Better late than never. Want a covid free experience in the open air, with an easy light stroll around a fishpond? Try this place. Ask for Katheryn, you wont be disappointed! Support and always respect..Native Hawaii culture and history.

FTR! Chee! Anyways, I came over to the Waikalua Loko for a service learning project that I did with…read moremy work group. Waikalua Loko is a fishpond, a much smaller one compared to the more popular Heeia fishpond further up in Kaneohe. It is located on road past Puohala Elementary School until you reach the fork in the road -go left and follow dirt road to the end. Anyways, there are many fishponds that still need some aloha and preservation in the Kaneohe area and I am glad that there are efforts being done for Waikalua Loko. If you are a school group, volunteer group, or any kind of group in general that is looking for volunteer opportunities, Waikalua Loko is definitely one that is in dire need! Before exploring the fishpond, we started with an 'oli followed by a great educational and informational session about the fishpond and even Kaneohe in general. After gaining more knowledge about the fishpond, we spend an hour or so doing some beach clean up work. You will get wet and dirt that is for sure. Make sure your bring the essential sunscreen, water, food, change of clothes, and proper footwear! If you want to just get away and serve the 'aina, the land, please consider Waikalua Loko fishpond! It is an asset to Hawaii and the island the 'Oahu in efforts to preserve Native Hawaiian cultural preservation!

Awesome Yelp Elite event! Thank you, StaceiLei, Yelp Hawaii, and Sky Waikiki :)…read more Tacos, margaritas, and a gorgeous view- I'm there! At check-in, we were given a Yelp Tamagotchi and tokens to redeem drinks plus food. We were given a tour of the hidden bar, which offers Omasake for $130 a person. It's by reservation only. During the event, the manager Manny shared several deals that they had going on. The Happy Hour deals were pretty good, especially for Waikiki. Pupu's and drinks priced under $15. What really caught my attention was the steak deal. It was too good to miss, so we walked over to the other side and ordered the Porterhouse steak. It was one of the best impromptu date nights we had in Waikiki! Live music, my teenage sweetheart, beautiful views, and a perfect steak. What more could I ask for? I was so happy to hang out with Yelp friends and meet new ones. The staff at the event were friendly. Thank you, Sky Waikiki, Sara, Manny, Yelp Honolulu, and CM StacieLi for such a great event.

Big mahalo to Staci and her team for this fun Yelp elite event! I've been to SKY Waikiki several…read moretimes for happy hour on their balcony which I've always enjoyed but it was nice to get a different experience in a different part of their venue in the back bar/club area. The space is very spacious and gave us plenty of room to mingle and roam around. Started off the evening by getting checked in and picking out an adorable yelp tamagotchi pet - such a cute idea and kind gesture from Yelp! Through the evening we enjoyed refreshing margaritas from the bar and delicious birria tacos from La Birria. SKY partners with La Birria for late night tacos which is such a cool way to support local businesses together. The Management team also shared details about their seafood (p.s. if you haven't tried their oysters it's a must!) which is imported from Japan and their steaks that have the best value on island. Additionally, I learned they just started an omakase that also had a really great value - $120 for 15 courses - Wow! The omakase is held in their back speakeasy area which we got to view, the space is intimate and well designed. Overall had a fun night socializing, enjoying the venue, and swooning over the amazing views during sunset.

So Honolulu is the capital city of Hawaii on the island of Oahu…read more It's where the main government hub is located. It has a mix of modern, old-school, friendly and dangerous environments. As with any older city, it has its charms and it's frustrations. If one pauses, one can see glimpses of its beauty and convenience.

What defines paradise?…read more It could mean something different to each and everyone of us! Let me share with you what paradise means to me. The Good: As a surfer, living here in Honolulu county is a dream. Warm water allows me to surf/swim without a wetsuit if I so choose. Living on an island in the pacific has its benefits when it comes to getting amazing waves as well. We pretty much can get world class waves any time of year! The people here are genuinely huge hearted and the feeling of Ohana is present! The pace of living here is so laid back even compared to my old stomping grounds of Santa Barbara, CA which is very laid back for mainland standards. There really is no rush for anything really and I love it! This is also a foodies dream when it comes to variety and options from fine dining through your food trucks! Seafood freshness and quality in my humble opinion can't be matched! The diverse melting pot we have here in our community drives the food culture and pushes it to incredible levels! Our weather is always perfect! When it rains, it's a beautiful rain! Warm, cleansing, healing! Something that Southern California desperately needs with their drought! The Bad: Living in paradise isn't without its cons though. Gets to a frigid low 70's in the wee hours of the morning and gets to scorching hot 80's temps at peak sun. It's rough! ;) In all seriousness, there's not a lot to complain about! Yes, the traffic can be super gnarly(almost 405 bad) in town at rush hour! The speed limits here are really slow :/ (tough when you're used to hauling butt doing 80 on the 101 S) You see "uncles" and "aunties" driving 20mph under the speed limit on small two lane roads and you get stuck behind them...it's all good! We live on an island and I have to remind myself that there is no need to rush! :) The Ugly: Most people would say it's the cost of living! Yes, there's a premium on pretty much everything! Inventory of homes is almost non existent and is truly a sellers market! This is the case in any amazing community though. Bidding wars are commonplace when it comes buying property! Rent is high as well, but you pay to play! Living in paradise attracts everyone! Visitors abound with their selfie sticks, go pros, etc! Tour buses also slowing traffic in town and on the north shore alike! It's quite the site! The recap: The weather and waves here are amazing year round! The local people are some of the kindest open hearted folks you'll ever run into! Food options are glorious and diverse! Traffic can be rugged in town at times. There's tourists everywhere! I love living here! This is home and the quality of life that can be found here outweighs everything else! It must be all the living organisms, especially the lush plant life. The pure oxygen in the air makes colors brighter! It makes the air sweeter! Food tastes that much better! It's hard to explain unless you've been here to experience it for yourself. The aloha spirit lives in everything and everyone here! I've found paradise, and you may too! Aloha and mahalo for the read, Nicco

Local Ghibli art…read more.. One thing I love about SALT in Kaka'ako are the murals and you can't miss them that are large as the whole side of the buildings but there is one that draws a lot of attention and it's really not that big at all. Pineapple Totoro and Catbus Mural which is located right on Coral Street between Highway Inn and The Boiling Crab "Da CatBus is painted in the local transit colors while Totoro is full dressed as a Pineapple is so fun and creative that tourists are always found taking pictures of and with the mural as we all love how it combines the cultures in a fun and playful way that is only found right here in Kaka'ako. Along with Kako plants and the stunning blue skies in the background artist @7sketches is a fun and playful piece that makes everyone smile and shine the local love we have here with artists to share with us all. Thank you!