For sure there's lots to see in Waikiki on the beach but here's a landmark that gets overlooked a…read morelot for other things around here. It has a lot of history for the locals. The Stones Of Life have some kind of mystical powers. A lot of this may just be stories, but have become a part of the culture. These represent Hawaii's longtime history of a place for healing and inclusion, among other things. Cool pieces of local history and worth going for a look on the way to something else. It's got a pretty interesting story. There's four stones, each representing a spirit who brought healing powers to Hawaii in ancient times. Fun to discover something pretty simple with so much history. The Hawaiian name for these is Nā Pōhaku Ola Kapaemāhū A Kapuni. A pretty significant aspect of local culture. These spirits were named Kahalo, Kapaemahu, Kapuni, and Kinohi. It was only in 1997 that these stones were placed here. They were taken from other places where they had been placed close to their favorite bathing areas according to the information on the plaque. Local officials thought it would be a good idea to put all these together in one area. This would also help preservation efforts and increase interest. Good place to find some history on the beach and learn about local history. It's located on Kalakaua close to the Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Statue. This is one of the more culturally significant things about Waikiki.

These might literally just be a bunch of stones that you end up disregarding because it's by…read moreWaikiki Beach and the restrooms. However, they have historical significance. The four stones are said to hold the power (mana) of four Tahitian healers from Raiatea. These healers traveled throughout the islands administering their miraculous cures. When it was time to go back to their homeland, they gave their names and spiritual power to these four stones. You might think they're just stones, but they are meant to represent the spirit and heritage of the Hawaiian people.

This is a review of the Manoa Christmas Parade 2015…read more It has been many moons since we took da kid to the Manoa parade when he was a squirt. In those days, the parade was relatively short, less than 30 minutes as I recall. My how things have changed. This year we took our little fur ball princess to da parade, and boy was she in awe of the festivities. The parade now seems to run close to an hour and there appears to be a more diverse group of marchers. From school bands to financial institutions, and all groups in between, the Manoa Christmas Parade, because it is on less busy streets, has a more neighborhood and personal feel as compared to say, the Kaimuki Christmas parade. A highlight of the parade has to be Mrs. Claus, rocking away on her chair as she passes the crowd in the back of her vintage truck. This is a clever take on the Claus tradition, something the crowds seem to look forward to. Another highlight was this year's Grand Marshall and Lion Stanley Takamine. Way to go Lion Stan! Many thanks to all who participated in this great parade institution in beautiful Manoa Valley to the delight of the many families who lined the streets watch. Happy holidays to everyone!

So why 5 stars? Well duh this is where I live (so yeah I am probably biased). We are a small…read morecommunity with a rich unique history (i said HISTORY so all you burglars go Kahala or something). While we can no longer can leave our doors unlocked, neighbors know each other and still talk to one another and look out for each other. Parks: 5/5. Manoa District Park. Huge park with tables and places to dispose of your coal if you decide to grill (Longs and Safeway is just down the road if you forget something). A baseball field, a gym, swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball courts are just a few things available here. Library. 3/5. Manoa Library. Currently in a small temporary location. There is a totally brand new library currently under construction sure to be a 5 star location when it does open. Shopping & Dining. 4/5. Manoa Shopping Center & surrounding shops. With so many restaurants ranging from healthy (Andy's) to not so healthy (McDonald's) they is sure to be something for everyone. Schools. 5/5. Manoa Elementary & Noelani Elementary. Great schools with great parent involvement. Their seasonal craft fairs are super awesome. I know I have missed some stuff, but I am sure you can see why we have a great community worthy of 5 stars. #Yelp 365 007/365 Date Visited: Everyday

Public art in Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. We came upon this tall structure and were amazed by its grandeur. "Wayfinding" by Linda Fleming is an art installation at Victoria Ward Park. It was unveiled in July 2024. We were walking along the Ala Moana Boulevard Pedestrian Bridge when this structure came into view. It depicts movement of the ocean and the sky. It's the first of four planned art pieces in the park.

Park with art…read more.. Victoria Ward Park to be precise and as a great suggestion to go outside and explore it started at Choy's Monster then worked our way to Ala Moana Boulevard Bridge which took us over Ala Moana Boulevard to Victoria Ward Park one that most of us driven past as it got shifted across the street due to a condominium built at its former location though the size is much smaller I do feel like they tried to make it friendly and aesthetically pleasing by adding features like this art that we see from many angles as it towers impressively high to see is Wayfinding. Another definition of wayfinding is like navigating and as this work of art looks like either the wind and waves or a combination of it visually it certainly is stunning though as I looked at it closely I see many birds using it as a landing spot navigating itself to rest which in results of poop on it already which isn't very pleasing considering it's fairly new. Probably quite costly and to make and to maintain and keeping it clean will cost much more though absolutely beautiful just wished it was planned better.

We were out exploring downtown Honolulu and desperately trying to find a restroom after discovering…read morethat very few places offer public bathroom access. We stopped at CPR Bank hoping the bank might be able to help, but we were told the restroom was for employees only. This experience highlights a much larger issue throughout downtown Honolulu. The lack of accessible public restrooms makes it incredibly difficult for both residents and visitors to enjoy the area. It also raises an important question: where are people supposed to go when nature calls? It's hard not to notice that this ongoing problem contributes to the sanitation issues many people comment on downtown. For individuals living with medical conditions such as diabetes, those who are incontinent, pregnant, elderly, or simply caught in an emergency, finding a restroom isn't just about convenience, it's a necessity. Situations like this can discourage people from spending time or supporting businesses in the area because they're constantly worried about where they'll be able to find relief. I completely understand that businesses have legitimate concerns about safety, security, and misuse of their facilities. However, I hope more businesses will consider controlled public restroom access, whether through a keypad, a key issued by staff, or another monitored system. Solutions like these could help balance security while also serving a basic human need. I know this isn't an issue unique to this bank, but I hope it's something businesses and the city continue to discuss because downtown Honolulu would be a much more welcoming place if restroom access were easier to find.

Downtown Honolulu may not be as large or tall as some mainland downtown areas, but they do have the…read moregood and the bad that most business areas have. Bustling people dressed in their snazzy business outfits walking next to disheveled homeless persons with smatterings of cars and busses characterize the general appearance of downtown. Lots of businesses. Not so much parking. It's downtown.

The statue is in horror of the Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, which is a cultural landmark…read morelocated at Kuhio Beach Park. I think it's a cool stop to learn some history and culture background here, while exploring the beautiful Hawaii.

This is the first time that I noticed the statue of Kuhio and learned of his impact. Prince Johan…read moreKuhio Kalanianaole was an important Hawaiian Prince and U.S. delegate in local history. As a young man, he fought the U.S. to maintain Hawaii's royalty and was imprisoned for his actions. After his release, he was elected to served as a delegate to Congress. He was instrumental in establishing the Hawaii Homes Commission Act, which secured land for homes of native Hawaiians. He became known as the Prince of the People. The bronze statue depicts a distinguished Kuhio wearing a business suit of the early 1900's and a feathered cape to honor his royal lineage. Visitors have placed leis on the statue to honor his memory. Sculpture, Sean K. L. Browne completed the statue of the Prince in 2001. Browne taught sculpting at University of Hawaii-Moana and KCC and his works are prominent in Hawaii and on the mainland. The statue stands near Kuhio Beach, land that the Prince donated to the city on his death. The statue is one of several in the vicinity that honors Hawaiian royalty. Worth a visit and time to reflect about the sacrifices made by native Hawaiians and the leaders they hold dear.

Unusual piece of architecture in Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. The Waikiki Wall extends from the beach into the ocean. Tourists stroll along the wall while residents use it to go out further into the ocean to catch waves for surfing or boogie boarding. It's a great vantage point for photographs - especially on Friday nights when the Hilton Hotel has fireworks!

This is Walls as us locals like to call it. It's a piece of pavement that extends out from Waikiki…read moreBeach into the ocean. People love to jump off of it into the water. I'm a chicken, so I never tried it. A lot of my friends did back in the day. I just like to walk the length of it out into the water, look down to see if I can see anything down there and walk back onto the sand.

Happy Birthday... To…read moreour 44th President of the United States and who haven't passed this mural located on busy Ward Ave just a block away from Kapiolani Blvd. Though sadly not quite sure the situation of the building it's painted on as it looks closed it would be a shame to lose another beautiful work of art to development that's been going around the Kaka'ako area. Born and raised right here in Honolulu is something that I'm still in awe and though how fitting it was as I drove past it today August 4th to our 44th President just after 4pm. Thank you!

Aloha is everywhere…read more.. Though the sign in Waikiki is no longer there you can find a beautiful ALOHA sign at Ala Moana Center so much so that it's listed in their directory along with a brief description which I thought was pretty cool as this piece of art isn't just a decor but does represents a lot of our local artist and tells a beautiful story. It does change though not sure how often currently at June 2026 it's a floral lei filled with various blooms found around the islands and is by Kate Wadsworth. A very popular photo op stop for many which you can find on Mall Level 3 above the Centerstage next to Sweet As Ice Cream. This isn't the only spot to find the Aloha there are many that express them in different ways and that's what I do love about it. Aloha!