The Polite Traveler

A Must Stop When in Waikiki:  One Stop Shop, Dine and Drink Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, When my hubby and I heard that a “super” ABC Store will open soon in Waikiki , we were ecstatic.   Learning that it would be open upon our return, we knew what our first mission would be: get there as soon as our bags are unpacked.   And, we did.   What we found was exactly what was needed—a full market, a grab-and-go market, wine and spirit shop, a bakery with beverages, a full restaurant, with full bar, and simpler fare, such as pizza and sandwiches .   Note: All these stores and restaurants are within steps of one another.   In fact, Chill, Island Gourmet Coffee, and the Bakery share the same counters—built in an “L” shape.   Thus, one can grab a pastry from the Bakery, order a cup of Kona coffee from Island Gourmet Coffee and choose a cup of gelato from Chill all at once. Note : Follow CDC guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face ma...

Lots of Love and Unity Shared in Honolulu Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, After witnessing the Pearl Harbor 75th Commemoration Parade last year in Honolulu, my expectations about the MLK parade were limited.   I figured the parade would arrive late and disorganized, but still memorable.   Was I surprised?   Oh yeah.   And, how about the People’s Rally/Women’s March?   Well, that was worth the price of admission. Note : Follow CDC guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.   MLK Parade Honors a Remarkable Man with a Remarkable Parade Marching bands...check.   Unknown persons riding in cars ...check.   Typical, right?   Some aspects of this parade simulated most.   Nevertheless, most of the multiple marching bands were animated, each member displaying emotion not typically found in the “typical” parade.   After all, we’re in Hawaii.   I never flashed so many “Shaka” signs in my ...

Memorable.     Learning Opportunities.    Simply Amazing! Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, I must admit; my hubby and I are two lucky people.   We stumble across a docent who is an expert of amphibians and reptiles at the Honolulu Zoo .   And, then the very next day, we stumble across a retired Professor at the Waikīkī Aquarium .   How lucky is that?!       Having someone at our side explaining habitats and the ocean life we were witnessing enabled us to enjoy our visit more.   We came to see, and we found knowledge. Note : Follow CDC and county guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.       To fully appreciate this gem, please watch my video. Please Read Hotel Review: Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Hotel Room Review: Hilton Garden Inn in Waikiki Room #1435 Activity Review: Fun Activities in Honolulu 2020 

Lions, Tigers, No Bears...But They Do Have Gharials Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, With so many activities to choose from while visiting Honolulu, deciding on a trip to the zoo might not make a lot of sense.   After all, most home cities have zoos, so why waste precious vacation time on visiting one in Honolulu?   Because it’s this one. Note : Follow CDC guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.    What makes it so darn special? This may not be the largest zoo in the U.S. with its 42 acres, but it is home to 995 different animals from the tropics.   Making this zoo quite cool.   Also cool, is that this is our only royal zoo.   Okay, not quite royal, but the land once was.   King David Kalakaua, Monarch of Hawaii granted the people these lands in 1876.   Point of fact, he actually granted an entire 300 acres that became the zoo and Kapiolani Regional Park.   For those of you who have vi...

Relaxing and Exploring is Easy.  Stay, Go, Eat, Swim, Workout...Do it all Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, Ah, Waikiki with its white beaches, iconic hotels, high-end shops and the aloha spirit.   I simply cannot get enough.   So, even though we recently visited via a cruise , I found we didn’t have enough land time, necessitating a Waikiki stay in one of our favorite hotels: Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel.   As full disclosure is everyone’s friend, I must admit my rabid fandom for Hilton Honors and their various properties.    It’s for good reason though, as this post and many others will affirm.   Membership is free; most room upgrades—based on availability—are free; Free Internet access, and for many properties, a hot breakfast is included.   For this property, as Gold Honors Members, we were offered a free hot breakfast and an excellent evening appetizer buffet, which was more of a meal.   Coffee, tea, juice, and soft drinks were a...

Three Different Meals, Three Different Experiences Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, During our stay at the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel (review), we decided to try the food at M.A.C. 24/7 , as it typically receives excellent reviews. It is a casual restaurant with a full bar, inside the hotel, but also accessible from the street by a separate entrance.  It is well-known in Hawaii as one where you can find a stack of pancakes about the size of a hubcap and their competitions to eat multiple stacks.  Not sure I could eat more than one myself, though.  They are also known for reasonably priced, enormous meals.  Although not typically appealing to me, as I’m a light eater, I do enjoy sharing a good meal with hubby.  So...to M.A.C we went.  The meals were, well, inconsistent.  Note : Follow CDC and county guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.    The Good Our first meal was pretty good....

Beautiful Ocean View in Comfortable Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel, Room 3112 Revised 4/2021 Dear Polite Traveler, I thought I knew the Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel inside out, up, down and front to back, but I learned a few new facts on our second visit.  (Please read my first review) The things I adore are still the same.  One of those “things” was our room, which was upgraded due to our Hilton Honors membership.  The room was spacious, beds comfortable and the view is to drool over.  However, there is much, much more though. Please read my recent “ review ” post on this hotel. Note : Follow CDC and county guidelines when visiting.  Always wear your face mask when in public.   Comfy Room Details I found the room squeaky clean, décor bright and welcoming, and the furniture comfortable.  In fact, the bed was so comfortable, I slept with our slider open all night, even with city racket, which included a good deal of construction noise....