B on Hawaii

This weekend, May 9 – 11, the Ritz Carlton Kapalua presents an astonishing array of cultural offerings over the course of a storybook weekend entitled "Celebration of the Arts." Perched on a pine tree lined hilltop overlooking the Pacific Ocean (and neighboring isles of Lanai and Molokai), Celebration of the Arts is an incredible opportunity to delve into multiple aspects of Hawaiian culture. These include visual arts, performance, demonstrations, culinary offerings and of course, all the grandeur the Ritz Carlton has to offer. 

If you weren’t aware: It’s autumn. And that means activity and adventure leaders around Hawaii are dreaming up new ways to wow you with the geological wonders that span from South Point, Hawaii (Big) Island, to Kalalau, Kauai. And while some of the time a “wild” adventure is best executed on one's own, two such providers on Hawaii’s Big Island are approaching the same majestic site from two very different vantage points —  each one a seemingly must-do.

This Saturday, October 2, from 10: 00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Kualoa Ranch is hosting the first annual Country Fair and Hawaii Women’s Rodeo Association rodeo. Sure, there will be kick ass cowgirls and adorable keiki getting dirty and dusty with barrel racing, steer un-decorating, roping and an all-around cowgirl champion contest. But there will also be a classic car show, farmer’s market, crafts booths, chili cook-off  and games for the whole family (papaya rolling, anyone?).

If you’ve never hiked the ahupua`a at Waimea (on O`ahu’s North Shore), then the optimal chance to do so will be August 14, 2010.

There’s plenty of buzz going around about which ocean excursion companies do and don’t practice environmental responsibility. It comes with the turf: Hoards of visitors are good for tour businesses, yet not particularly for the fragile ecosystems they count on for income. Sail Hawaii’s Wildside Tours are an operation one step ahead of the curve in this regard.

What is spirituality? As with most things in life, it all depends on whom you ask. For some, it's a steady regimen of religious practice; for another, it may be a yoga class and a quiet meditation. For plenty of others, "spirituality" is a hippy-dippy concept they try to avoid in fear of attaching themselves to any movement or affiliation—understandably so.

Two small business owners are making the best of the temporarily slowed economy on O'ahu. Simply Grape wine shop in downtown Honolulu and No Ka Oi Crepes (in Kailua) each offer quality product at reasonable costs; the creature comforts of both should ease your corporate woes.

The 31-acre site in which the Kilauea Lighthouse resides is one of the most exciting places to be for wildlife enthusiasts—especially now. Perched on a volcanic outcropping that juts further north than any point on Kaua’i’s North Shore, the land and sea surrounding the Lighthouse is home to dozens of rare and endemic birds.