Category Archives: Travel

Culture, hawaii, Holidays, Travel

Independence Day Fireworks in Hawaii

If you’re wondering where to see fireworks in Hawaii on the 4th of July, here is a run down by island.

Fireworks Displays on O’ahu

The 4th of July fireworks show presented by Ala Moana Center is the largest fireworks show in Hawaii. The fireworks are launched from three separate platforms and they can best be viewed on the Makai-Ewa Parking Deck of Ala Moana Center. The center usually features live entertainment beginning about 5:00 p.m. and the fireworks show usually begins about 8:30.

The fireworks display at the Aloha Tower Marketplace usually happens on July 3, the day before Independence Day. The fireworks show typically begins about 8:30 or 9:00 p.m. and it is usually preceded by live music and other festivities beginning about 5:00 p.m. Call the Aloha Tower Marketplace to confirm dates and times.

  • Maunalua Bay 4th of July Celebration

The “Independence Day at Maunalua Bay” 4th of July celebration takes place at Maunalua Bay Beach Park, usually from about 2:00 in the afternoon to 9 p.m. Fireworks are released from a barge shore beginning about 8:00 p.m. The 2009 was the 2nd Annual Independence Day at Maunalua Bay Celebration and that year Maunalua headlined the live entertainment.

The Kailua Chamber of Commerce was not able to fund an aerial fireworks display in 2009 but the local citizens were hoping to raise enough money to keep it going. The Kailua 4th of July parade usually begins at about 10:00 a.m. at the Kainalu Elementary School and it ends at Kailua District Park. If the fireworks show can be resurrected, it will begin about 8:00 p.m.

  • Turtle Bay Fireworks and July 4th Celebration

There are usually fireworks and a 4th of July celebration at the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu. The event usually takes place on a field across from the resort’s stables. Features live entertainment, food booths, arts and crafts, and a sunset fireworks display.

Fireworks Display on Maui

Lahaina Town hosts an old fashioned Independence Day celebration including music, food, kids activities and a grand fireworks show. The fireworks show is set to start at 8pm. This display will be visible from Lahaina’s Front Street waterfront and from waterfront restaurants. Synchronized music can be heard from Hard Rock Cafe Maui at 900 Front Street.

Kahului’s fireworks show is set to start at 10pm.

Fireworks Displays on Kaua’i

There will be local entertainments which performs throughout the day along with contests, Talent Show and more. There will be lots of Ono Food booths and plenty of cold Water and Soda booth. Then to end the day with a Spectacular “OMG” Fireworks Display which will be accompaniment by live music. Fireworks being 1 hour after dark.

Fireworks Displays on Hawai’i Island

Waikoloa Fireworks at Waikoloa Bowl are set to light up the sky at 8pm. This event is free and open to the public. Entrances open at 4:30pm with a performance from Beyond Paradise at 5pm and Johnny Shots at 6:30pm. Guests are welcome to bring beach chairs and blankets. Coolers are not allowed. This event is alcohol-free, drug-free and smoke-free.

  • Kailua-Kona Fireworks, Parade & Events
    Coconut Grove Marketplace is hosting a free July 4th Concert at 4pm. Kailua-Kona’s Independence Day Parade is set to begin at 6pm with this year’s grand marshalls being Korean War Veterans. See this link for the parade route.The Kona fireworks show is set to begin at 8pm. This fireworks display will be visible from along Kailua Bay in Kona.
Travel

How to pack like an elite frequent flier

  • Tired of overpacking for trips and paying high fees to check luggage? I will show you how to pack for any flight like an ultra elite frequent flier.

Tips from Million-Mile Flyers
People who fly a million miles or more know how to pack. Moreover, they know what not to pack because they know which items are available at their destinations and which are not. This knowledge is key because elite flyers tend to pack only what they cannot buy locally.

Tip #1 – Toiletries

A trip to Europe for two weeks requires some toiletries. Should you pack that beloved bottle of lotion, shampoo or perfume? Forget it.

Each adds heft, forces a checked bag (adding fees to a trip, especially between non-US countries) and could explode en route, requiring expensive cleaning later.

Instead, pack like a pro. Bring only 100 mL of each essential toiletry in a quart-sized zip top bag and put in it your carry on bag. To save more space and weight, try picking single-use amounts in Saran Wrap. These stack very well in quart bags. (For more details on how to pack a toiletry bag to carry on, see my very popular post located at: https://mauimaui.org/2010/07/09/how-to-pack-a-travel-toiletry-bag-to-carry-on-an-airplane/ ).

Pack single use amounts of toiletries in Saran Wrap.
Minimize toiletry weight and size by packing single-use amounts in Saran Wrap.

Then buy what you need at a local drugstore or department store. Prices are usually comparable, and body products are higher quality in Europe and Canada because they screen chemicals more carefully. Plus, it’s fun to shop in a new place.

Tip #2 – Luggage

If you have the space, you will fill it. So bigger luggage always means more expense and more hassle. Million milers never carry big bags. Instead they only use suitcases that meet the requirements for carry on luggage. Aim for the largest bag that will fit in an overhead bin, such as the Eagle Creek 22-inch or Tumi wheel-aboard. No bigger.

Unless you are dedicated to shipping all souvenirs, you also want a bag that will expand just in case you must bring home a precious bottle of wine and some Swiss chocolate. Most soft-sided suitcases have this feature. By comparison, hard-sides suitcases rarely do.

Tip #3 – Choose Clothing Wisely

Limit the size of your suitcase, and you will have to leave behind many of the clothes and shoes that you think you need. It’s okay to do that. Million milers know and accept this trade off  between a smaller wardrobe and less hassle/expense on the road.

If you’re a fashionista, you have to make some hard choices. If you’re a minimalist, make sure you have some dressy for evening occasions.

Generally, elite flyers pack three to five days worth of clothes and then plan to do laundry. So that means choosing clothes that are durable enough to launder while also flexible enough to wear twice if you have to.

My clothes list for a 2-to-4 week summer trip in Europe includes the following:

3-5 cotton t-shirts

3-5 pairs of socks, panties and bras

1 pair of jeans that work for day and night

1 pair of travel trousers or a travel skirt (for situations when jeans are not appropriate)

1 lightweight cashmere sweater

1 fleece jacket

1 rain jacket

1 pair of good walking/hiking shoes

1 pair of slip on shoes

1 bathing suit

1 beautiful scarf that goes with everything (I am madly in love with Maui artist Stephanie Sachs’ colorful, soft and durable scarves available through PreciousandPrimitive.com .)

If you are traveling on business, you will need a suit and/or work shirts, depending on your industry.

Tip #4 – Use Packing Organizers

There are many types of packing organizers that reduce the amount of space that clothes occupy. The go-to military method is rolling all clothing. If you don’t want the wrinkles, then Eagle Creek’s liming cubes or compression systems are great choices. Most suitcase makers now sell organizing systems. Just pick one that you like.

Health, Travel

How to beat jet lag

I have just flown from Maui to London Heathrow, and I am NOT jet lagged. How did I do it?

I’ve been refining my strategy over many years, trying tips and tricks from other elite travelers, bloggers, and sleep researchers.

What you can expect from this article

If you follow all of the steps to the letter, you can expect to arrive fresh and fully adjusted. If you follow about half of the steps, including fasting, you can expect to arrive tired but functional. If you do one or two steps but don’t fast, expect to feel wrecked.

A little more about me and the strategies

I developed my “easting” strategies from a combination of data from the Harvard Sleep Center and many years of flying eastward. Specifically, I am a half-million-miler on two different airlines with over one million miles of “non-rev” frequent flier flights. My strategies for beating jet lag are hard-won.

Fast for 12 Hours

1. Fast for 12 hours before breakfast in the new time zone. Fasting resets the body’s circadian clock, according to a growing body of research at the Salk Institute. Fasting is the best weapon to beat jet lag. If you take only one strategy, fasting is the most effective. Fasting means no eating, alcohol, or caffeine. Sip only hydrating liquids.

How to plan your 12-hour fast

My flight was scheduled to land at 8 am at Heathrow. This means that breakfast on the plane is served around 7 AM UT. A quick check on Google shows 7 AM UT occurs at 12 AM PST. Subtract 12 hours for the beginning of the fast. So I ate my meal, a big lunch at 12 PM PST (12 AM – 12 hours = 12 PM, which was actually 2 PM CST because I was already en route in Dallas).

Hydrate Properly

2. Hydrate with oral rehydration solution (WHO recipe). Mix into a 16-ounce bottle: 12 oz water, 4 oz high potassium juice (like coconut water, OJ, or apple juice), and 1/8 tsp salt (approximately one small to-go-sized salt packet). Proper hydration helps the body fight fatigue.

Alternatively, you can buy pre-mixed packets of oral rehydration salts to mix into a liter of water. Any oral rehydration salt, which follows the WHO guidelines, will work just fine. I use Tri Oral, Normal Lyte, and Recover ORS.

AVOID ALL caffeine and alcohol because these dehydrate and fatigue the body. If you need to calm jitter pre-flight nerves, try a low- dose of a muscle relaxer or anti-anxiety medication (talk to your doctor about these).

Sleep/Rest As Much As Possible

3. At wheels up, close the shades, turn off screens, take 2 melatonin (tells the body its evening), and take a muscle relaxer.

Avoid screens–including movies, smartphones, and backlit readers–because they emit blue light, which tells the body it is morning. The whole point of these strategies is to convince the body that it is nighttime, no matter where you happen to be. So avoid all screens until breakfast. This is often the hardest step for people. It helps to bring a slightly boring paperback. Goodreads has a book list called “Books I never finished because I fell asleep.” Perfect. Consider the Ink Spell Series.

4. If possible, pony up for a lay-flat seat (this time, I scored comfy pajamas!) and sleep as much as possible on the flight. This means ignoring the meal service and movies, which is very hard after you’ve ponied up for a better seat. I max out frequent flyer miles for upgrading.

Eat a Big Breakfast in Your New Time Zone

5. Eat a big breakfast before landing. I ask the flight attendant to save my dinner and combine it with breakfast.

Congratulations! You’ve practiced self-discipline to improve your travel experience and gain an extra day (or more) of enjoyment. Enjoy feeling fresh in your new time zone.