I'm back from Oahu and I miss it already! I'm so fortunate I got to stay with family because this way I could see Hawaii more like a local. Below are some tidbits you might enjoy if you're blessed with the opportunity to visit this beautiful island.

1. Eat shrimp in the…

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View of Honolulu with Waikiki and Diamond Head in the background.



Drive to the top of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (also known as Punchbowl Crater), stroll uphill the Memorial Walk and you will be rewarded with not… Continue

Located inside the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, Kaneohe, the Byodo-In Temple is a scale replica of a 900 year-old Japanese temple and was established in 1968 to honor the first Japanese immigrants to Hawai'i. The temple is home to a unique golden Buddha sculpture, more than 18 feet tall. A three ton brass bell rings occasionally from the bell house… Continue

Halona Cove is where they filmed the 1953 film From Here to Eternity. It's a small cove right next to the Halona Blowhole, where water sprays up through an opening on the lava rock. The Halona beach area is on Kalanianole Highway (72) between Makapu'u Point and Koko Head and features a great lookout point toward the… Continue

Ho'oumaluhia Botanical Garden means "to make a place of peace and tranquility" and it surely lives up to its name. It's hard to believe the garden is located just shy of a residential and urban area.



The garden sprawls for 400-acres at the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains in Kaneohe, Oahu. With free admission, a scenic lake, picnic… Continue

The Kahuka area in Oahu, approaching the North Shore off the Kamehameha Highway, features food trucks and shacks that serve delicious locally farm-raised shrimp in variety of forms, from garlic and butter sauce to curried or with lemongrass. Don't be dissuaded by the rustic appearance of these eateries -- the freshness and quality is a steal at dishes all under $20 a plate. I promise you'll become instantly addicted to this rich but simple… Continue

Spotted today in Hawaii: two lovers relaxing in the afternoon sun in Kailua Beach, Oahu. Yes, it is idyllic ... perhaps they were inspired by the famous love scene From Here to Eternity. Can you guess where that was filmed?

Pierre's is quite possibly one of the most romantic places to dine in South Florida and a relatively short drive from Miami, well worth the "escape" from urban life. The restaurant and lounge is located on a private beach with gorgeous sunsets over tranquil Florida Bay.…

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