Pretty neat place but also a little sketchy…read more There is a no loitering sign above the tunnel - I did hear there was people who used to hang out in the tunnel and smoke in there (so luckily i was the only one there!) Its very easy to find with google maps/directions. You just park in the residential area and just walk right up. We didnt stay no more than 15 minutes here. Its not that big of a tunnel and there isnt much to see. Alot of the rainbow has been repainted white (probably from the graffiti)

"Try to be a rainbow in someone's cloud." --Maya Angelou…read more I saw this Mililani Rainbow Tunnel on Instagram and HAD TO see it for myself and get a few photos! The location is kind of vague. I drove around the perimeter of Mililani High School, but didn't see anything that resembled an entrance. Luckily, there were a couple of early morning joggers coming my way. I rolled down the window of my car and asked a woman if she knew where The Rainbow Tunnel was... Nope. She turned around and asked the guy behind her if he knew... Yes! He pointed behind me and said that I had to cross Kam Highway. Hmmm... I'm a townie. I have no idea about the layout of Mililani. It's confusing as heck! Luckily, there was an address attached to the Instagram page! It was quite accurate, so, I added it to this Yelp page. I parked on Hakupokano Loop when I could see the entrance to the Rainbow Tunnel. The other end of the tunnel is close to the Mililani High School football field on Kipapa Drive. However, there's no parking there and the entrance isn't visible from the street. Go to the Hakupokano side! This is a really cool landmark! No wonder it's an Instagram sensation! I didn't count how many photos there are of The Mililani Rainbow Tunnel... there are over 300 photos for sure. Note: There is also a Rainbow Tunnel in Canada, so make sure that you specify "Mililani Rainbow Tunnel" if you're searching online. Good luck, be happy, and enjoy!

Public art in Kalihi, Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. While driving my friends from New Jersey around my Island State of Hawaii, I pointed out Honolulu Community College, which my nephew attended. Marlina and I decided to get out of the car when I parked in the school's parking lot on Kokea Street. Diane played a Hawaiian song on her phone: "Kaulana Nā Pua" (Famous Are The Flowers). She didn't know the meaning, but liked the tune. It's an appropriate song as we gazed upon the mural with Queen Liliuokalani (the last reigning Monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom) in the middle. We also saw the words, "Mauka to Makai" which loosely means: from mountain to ocean. In the upper left corner, there is a Hawaiian Proverb: "A'ohe hana nui ke ahu 'ia" (No task is too big when done together by all). This is an awesome creation. It has deeper meaning when closely inspected...

Art is something that comes is so many forms…read more.. Here the Water Writes Honolulu Mural is one to behold and depending on the direction you're coming from to get the glimpse of this stunning mural is worth the quick stop I made to get a better look at this glory. On the top righthand corner explains much of much of it as it's presented by Estria Foundation & 808 Urban and I can go on but just can't describe each detail as this precious art tells the story of our precious water and we all need to be mindful how everything on thrives with water. This is one of many Water Writes Mural around the world (California, Arizona, Columbia, El Salvador, Philippines, and Palestine) so let's all appreciate and enjoy this stunning piece which helps remind us how blessed we truly are. Thank you!

A whale of an art…read more.. Titled "Earth Day Hawaii" this is a a sight that I can never resist to glance at every time I pass it which really isn't as frequent since you need to head into Waikiki on Kalakaua Ave driving past the Hawaii Convention Center and you'll see it on your left which is painted on the side of a condominium. Wyland Whaling Wall #67 apparently is what it is I just recently learned this and whenever I grab something from the 7-Eleven which is right beside it I do take a quick glance before I carry on my way to start my day and like how we appreciate seeing nature's beautiful rainbow which oddly I thought this mural had as well this artist rendition of nature is certainly greatly appreciated for all of us to enjoy. Thank you!

There back! Pow!…read moreWow! is now World Wide Walls and the Hawaii festival is on! A new mission, to bring brightness through art to communities usually overlooked. Free and open to anyone. Watch the artist from around the world work and even talk with them. All are incredibly friendly. "I painted this whole wall with this little brush" says one standing on a lift at the end of a 250x20 foot mural. The deets: 1. Hawaii Walls runs from 05.08.2023 - 05.14.2023. 2. Follow World Wide Walls on IG and see pinned post for the mural map. 3. The greatest concentration of murals are at Palama Settlement. Other major locations include the Bishop Museum , Kalihi Kai Elementary, and Dillingham Plaza. Anyone interested in art or just want to see how it's created on a grand scale, this is a must.

Kakaako Murals- these two beautiful depictions of the Hawaiian culture are located next to each…read moreother on the wall of the Hibiscus Club on 350 Ward Ave, Honolulu. Go early because they're located in a parking lot

If you do only ONE thing while visiting Oahu then this should be the thing…read more Besides the beautiful views on the Ranch they have such a great history. You can do the standard movie tour and see the literally hundreds of movies and TV shows filmed there or explore a bit more on your own with their ATV tour or horseback tour. Everything is reasonably priced and our guide was fantastic. So much knowledge of history, filming, wildlife and lore. All done without a script in sight. There is a bunker built for WW2 that was never really used but now houses movie memorabilia from the many productions on the ranch. Staff everywhere was super friendly and be sure to check out ALL of the buildings as they offer food souvenirs and even a shop with meat and products from the ranch itself.

If you're visiting Oahu, Kualoa Ranch is an absolute must-do. Every time we find ourselves on the…read moreisland, we make it a point to come back and try a different excursion and it never disappoints. Whether it's the farm tour, ATVs, e-bikes, or even visiting the secret beach, every experience has been fun, unique, and incredibly well run. The setting alone is worth it you're surrounded by some of the most breathtaking natural beauty on the island, with views that are easily among the best in Oahu. The staff is always friendly and welcoming, and there's even a chance you'll stumble upon a movie being filmed, which adds a little extra excitement to the day. This time around, we did the e-bike tour (novice level). Even though it's labeled beginner-friendly, I'd say it can still be a bit of a workout. I consider myself pretty athletic, and there were definitely moments where I had to push myself. That said, it just made the experience more rewarding. They do have you complete a practice run beforehand to make sure you're comfortable handling the bikes, which is reassuring. Our tour guide was fantastic and really made the experience enjoyable. As a bonus, we even got to catch a glimpse of the next Jumanji movie being filmed, which was such a cool surprise. We can't say enough good things about Kualoa Ranch. It's one of those places that keeps you coming back, and it absolutely deserves a spot on your Oahu itinerary.

What an experience!! Highly recommend! Lopaka is a great guide and story teller…read more The tour is engaging and mysterious. We started off sitting on the steps of the bandstand in Waikiki. Walked over to Kapiolani park, then the tennis courts. Lopaka told us stories throughout the entire tour. You do get to participate, I don't want to give too much away. You'll walk away with memories and stories to share. There is walking involved on this tour. Bring a jacket. Park at Waikiki Shell or the metered parking between the bandstand and the tennis courts (Kalākaua Ave). I can't wait to go on the next tour!

What a fun thing to do, whether your visiting or a local. A great guide and even if you don't…read morebelieve in Night Marcher's of spirits, there is a lot of history related in the tour. Allow about 90 minutes, come a little early for parking if needed. Can't say much more as I don't want to ruin the tour. Great guide with 30 years experience.

Best small goods store that provides amazing customer service along with well made products. I'm…read morealways happy shopping here and enjoy browsing his well curated products. Thank you for everything Dean!

Great help and fantastic goods! I got all my travelers notebook supplies there. Cool stuffread more

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.

OVERALL SATISTFACTION: 10 of 10. 5 of 5 stars, Na ka…read moreoi...simply da bes! Keeping in mind that 1. I love live music, theater and big screen films. And 2. I haven't resided in the islands since the mid-90s. With that said, I have been here for several shows and I purposely flown in for some and other were just the lowest of consolation prizes for having to fly away from loved ones due to my job taking me to another "twist my arm" experience = Stay on Oahu. I joke of course, but in earnest, growing up with the lights of Broadway and hundreds of concert venues nearby, I take my theater experiences very seriously and the Hawaii Theater meets any and every want/need one could dream of. For me it exceeds most. Please allow me to define... MY EXPERIENCES: I have been to a Christmas show, on my birthday, featuring Amy Hanaiali'i and, the much beloved and missed, Willie K (R.I.P.), which included a wonderful meet and greet. On another visit to HNL I just happened to be around for a Beach Boys show and was fortunate enough to get a ticket for it. And most recently, I flew in for a showing of The Princess Bride which featured a meet and greet of Cary Elwes. AT THE TOP: The President of the Hawaii Theater, Gregory Dunn is super humble, very polite and amazingly professional in every aspect. Best of all, he gets involved in the pre-show activities be it guiding folks to where they need to be or ensuring we understand the process of a meet and greet. Ya gotta love when there is no job below those in charge. He sets an example that many could benefit from if their eyes are truly open. SECURITY: If you have been to downtown Honolulu, you know it hasn't been a place that gets touted around the globe for it's cleanliness or safety. HPD has had their hands full over the years. Stores may have closed and some issues still exist, but overall I feel that the area has been improving greatly and adding to the return of a safer feeling neighborhood is the Hawaii Theater's security team. Yes, they are the most amazing group of people that one could want to see at an event. These guys are the, literally, the muscle that keeps things in order and flowing, from bag checks to ensuring reentry folks have wristbands. They operate like a finely tuned engine. As a concert goer that has been to well over 500 shows globally, I recognize these folks as the best. I will even go as far as to say that actually recognize some of them since my last visit a couole years back, which means that the team is sticking together. With that stated, not once have I had any safety concerns with these guys on duty... and still downtown can be questionable at times. STAFF OF THE THEATER: From the box office staff to those assigned to scan your tickets and give out VIP wristbands, these folks know how to keep the lines moving. Once inside there are strategically placed individuals, as one would expect. Folks there to give you direction to restrooms or concessions and then you have the ushers, those folks who are much more than a uniformed someone with a flashlight who is unfamiliar with the venue layout. These folks are amazing, they will get you to your seat in a timely, professional manner. Last but not least, are the bartenders... the fashionable, handlebar mustachioed bartender I met a few shows back was here again... and I always find him to be a terrific conversationalist (when time allots), incredibly professional and truly represents the venue as best as any one could. Put all these compliments together under one roof and you get one of the best theater experiences you could hope to ever find. You should come to downtown and find out for yourself... and you'll be a repeat offender, like me, (END NOTE: I fly in from the mainland for touring shows I could easily opt to catch on the mainland, and for a cheaper overall hit to the wallet. The Hawaii Theater, as defined above, is truly the deciding factor).

Walking into the Hawai'i Theatre, you're instantly transported into another era. An era of soft…read moreelegance and timeless artistry. From the moment you pass through the doors, you're surrounded by a blend of old-world elegance and Hawaiian warmth. Built in 1922, the theatre has hosted everything from silent films and Broadway plays to concerts and Hula performances. Today it seats about 1,400 guests, offering an intimate experience where every seat feels close to the stage. The acoustics are excellent, the seats are comfortable, and the staff and volunteers are friendly, welcoming, and genuinely helpful. There's also a small bar and lounge with high-tops, perfect for enjoying a drink and conversation before the show. Inside the theater, you see tall, fluted Corinthian-style columns that are richly detailed. The curved arch overhead is decorated with mosaic-style tiles in warm tones,and I absolutely LOVE the lush deep red velvet curtains that frame the stage. They add so much warmth and elegance. Having attended many shows throughout the years, I've always been mesmerized by the mural above the stage and decided to do some Googling while waiting for the show to begin. I learned it's Lionel Walden's Glorification of the Drama. The painting depicts a grand procession of mythic figures -- a golden-robed muse in her chariot, attendants, musicians, a lion handler -- all celebrating the power of theater. The central figure, often interpreted as the Personification of Drama, leads the way. Knowing that part of the mural was once lost to water damage and later painstakingly restored makes it even more meaningful. Parking is easy at the municipal garage on Bethel Street, just a block away. The short walk is now well-lit, a welcome improvement from years past when it was dark and sketchy. Entertaining audiences for over 100 years, the Hawaii Theater is a recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Attending a show here, you're not just watching a performance, you're also living and breathing a beautiful piece of Hawaii's historic culture.