People long for the Hawaii Of Yesteryear, yet incongruously they want it to be located just a stone’s throw from their luxury resort. That can’t be. You’ll need to travel to the decidedly untouristed isle of Molokai to experience Olde Hawaii, and all the lack of convenience that characterized that bygone era, but man, is it ever worth it.

Spectacular Murphy Beach looks and acts every bit like paradise, with its swaying coconut tees, pristine sands, kid-safe reef-protected aqua waters, wonderful snorkeling, and world-class wind and kiteboard surfing. Despite all these wonders, usually nobody else is there except you, gazing dreamily at beautiful Maui across the channel. Located at the 20 mile marker, we find more to love about Murphy than any other Hawaii beach. And we’ve seen them all. Many times over.

Our friend Joy zips right along at Honopueo Falls at the World Botanical Garden on the Big Island, at mile marker 16 north of Hilo. Built to the highest specs by Experience Based

Learning, a company that has installed Zip Lines worldwide, you can experience exhilaration thru the Honomu treetops with confidence.

UPCOUNTRY MAUI WINERY

In wonderful, cool, spectacularly green Ulupalakua, you’ll find sweeping panoramic views of West Maui, a lovely climate, a beautiful winery, and a great general store with lots of cool Maui Paniolo (cowboy) duds and great made-to-order sandwiches to enjoy on the front porch, as the uncountry breezes rustle the fragrant eucalyptus. Some of the most enormous Norfolk Pines we’ve ever seen shade the winery grounds. Cool off: go upcountry!

DIAMOND HEAD LIGHTHOUSE

One of our favorite places to watch the sun set is from the wall on Diamond Head Rd. adjacent to the lighthouse. We pick up something to eat and drink, kick back, have some sips and good conversation as the sunset back-lights this venerable Oahu landmark,

SeaWatch

Diamond Head

Lighthouse

CHINATOWN

The only way you can really enjoy HONOLULU’S authentic thriving Chinatown is on foot. The area is compact and filled with surprises and oddities. Street parking is limited, restricting you from doing a whole lot due to the limited time that meters allow, so drive around and scope out public parking. Small self-service lots are dotted around Chinatown and most take credit cards as well as cash. Eat at Indigo for glamour and cool, and at Maunakea Marketplace for bargain Asian fare and the freshest produce for your condo-meal prep and picnic outings.

LAUPAHOEHOE

This film was shot just months before the infamous April Fool’s Day Tsunami wiped out Laupahoehoe in 1946.

SOUTH MAUI’S KAUPO STORE is as much artifact museum as a dispensary of refreshments for the thirsty traveler. Shelves display everyday articles from days gone by, including underwear packaging from the 1920s, kitchen suppiies, and tools. It’s the only place you’ll be able to grab something to eat for many many desolate miles, so be sure to stop in after visiting Hui Aloha Church.

OAHU MOVIE DRIVE MAP

Click that map you see further up the page to download a printable pdf file of our Famous Movie Locations Drive Map. Visit the sites of some of your favorite films and TV Shows, like LOST, MAGNUM PI, 50 FIRST DATES, JURRASSIC PARK and scores of others.

SURF’S UP!

OAHU’S NORTH SHORE is a mecca each winter for surfers from all over the world as swells up to 50 feet high bulldoze through gridlocked wave warriors competing for top honors, or just bragging rights. Contests are held from Haleiwa on the west to Sunset Beach on the east and multiple venues betwixt and between. Keep your eye on the surf reports and an ear to the media for upcoming events all season long.

Surf the web for the latest @ surfnewsnetwork.com  or surfcontestinfo.com

LET IT SNOW

BIG ISLAND STYLE

MAUNA LOA & MAUNA KEA BOTH TOP OUT AT JUST SHY OF 14,000 FEET / 4205 METERS AND ARE OFTEN COVERED IN DEEP SNOW FROM OCTOBER THROUGH MAY. VIEWS ABOUND FROM JUST ABOUT ANY VANTAGE POINT ON THE ISLAND / HILO BAY CATAMARAN ROWERS ENJOY THE BACKDROP, TOP LEFT, AND AN OLD FARM BUILDING ALONG PECK ROAD JUST SOUTH OF VOLCANO VILLAGE PROVIDES AN AWESOME VIEW. THE MAN AND HIS DOGS RUN FOR THE SUMMIT, BUT WITH THE AIR SO THIN, IT’S A LOT MORE OF A CHALLENGE THAN IT LOOKS. YOU’LL NEED A 4WD TO GET UP HERE, AVAILABLE FROM HARPER’S CAR RENTAL IN HILO.

DO WE REALLY HAVE TO RENT A CAR?

Spending thousands to travel to the middle of the Pacific to just lie by a pool doesn’t make a lot of sense, especially in a locale as stunning and awesome as Hawaii. Oahu has more beaches than any other island, as well as a million things to do outside of Waikiki. We get sad when we see people on a bus, allowing someone else to determine what they will see and experience. People who intended to just lie by the pool for a week always come down with the “3rd-day-itch” to start exploring, once they decompress, and a rental is the only way to scratch that bugger. Don’t end up regretting your untaken chance to fully experience Hawaii’s back roads and off-the-beaten-path wonders. Rent a vehicle! We favor Budget Rent A Car because they include lots of freebies. These freebies are really FREE, not just “2 for 1” or BOGOs. You get free admission to the Polynesian Cultural Center, free scuba lesson, free golf club rental at multiple courses, free orchid plant, free snorkel rentals, free Aloha Tower parking, free museum admissions, etc. Mastercard and Discover card users save:

FREE WiFi

Why pay for astronomical WiFi at hotels when you can surf for free?

See individual island pages for locations.

Reclaim Your Youth: Growing Younger After 40 174 pp. Now Available in Paperback for only $12.00. Click the Buy Now button above to purchase, or visit our Fitness page in the menu at the top of this page to read all about it.

BLUE ANGEL FALLS

MAUI’S BLUE ANGEL FALLS IN HANA is the epitome of Paradise and is easy to reach. It’s clear cold spring waters form a pool just yards from the crashing surf. Turn mauka on Ulaino Road, drive to the end, cross the stream on foot, and boulder-hop about 100 yards. You’re there!

ISLAND VIDEOS

DON’T GET OLDER

—GET YOUNGER

HAWAII’S SECRET BEACHES!

Molokai: KAPUKUWAHINE BEACH

Maui: RED SAND BEACH

Oahu: LANIKUNONUA BEACH

THERE ARE A SURPRISING NUMBER of “secret” beaches in Hawaii, where few visitors tread and usually, as evidenced by our photos, you will see nary a soul. On Molokai, Kapukuwahine Beach is located on the island’s isolated southwest shore. On Kauai’s east shore, Donkey Beach requires a hike, and is a nude beach. Red Sand Beach on Maui, in Hana Town, requires a bit of a scramble, and it too is a nude beach. read more about Red Sand Beach on the Maui page. Lanikunonua Beach lies adjacent to the Ko Olina resort, its perfect crescent hidden from view.

Few people realize that commercial color photography became available to the masses in 1907. Because of its expense, color photos pre-1950 are relatively unusual. Here are some very rare color views of Hawaii from the 1920s.

The Captain Cook Monument in the Big Island’s Kealakekua Bay fronts the eerily-vacant slopes in the background, which today are filled with homes.

The Rainbow Bridge in Haleiwa, on Oahu’s North Shore, is seen here soon after its construction. Notice the Model T automobile parked to the extreme right.

Old Volcano Road on the Big Island still exists in short stretches, but has been replaced by modern Hwy. 11. Here, a 1920-era automobile makes the trek up to Halemaumau.

The Moana Hotel in Waikiki was (almost) completely restored in recent years in celebration its 100th birthday, but the old pier, and the dining hall annex seen here on stilts, were not rebuilt.

Hilo’s Lighthouse on the Big Island still stands today, although the coastline has been dramatically remodeled from this 1920s version by the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis, and the redesign of the Hilo waterfront thereafter. Waianuenue Ave. can be seen angling in from center right, toward the lighthouse.

HILO

Kauai: DONKEY BEACH

JOY RIDE

COLOR IN THE BLACK & WHITE WORLD OF THE 1920s

IDYLLIC MURPHY BEACH, OUR PICK FOR AMERICA’S BEST