food, hawaii, Travel

Best Burgers in Hawaii

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Wondering where to get a really great burger or cheeseburger in Hawaii? Here are the results of the various  readers’ polls and reviews for tops, island by island.

Oahu

Kua ‘Aina wins best burger almost every year for at least 10 years running. There are two locations: in Honolulu at Ward Center and on the North Shore in Haleiwa town. They also serve a crazy good fish sandwich.

Teddy’s Bigger Burger won the 2009 StarBulletin reader’s poll. The burgers are so big and juicy that you’re going to need to wash your arms afterward.

Maui

Cool Cat Cafe located on Front Street in Lahaina wins top burger in Maui for at least five years running, according to the readers of Maui Time Weekly. The buns are baked locally and the veggies are super fresh.

Kauai

There are no one burger that wins tops (partly because there is no weekly magazine polling readers), but there are three good options. Duane’s Ono Char Burger rates tops, according to the LA Times.

Bubba’s Burgers is an island institution and serves up a consistenly juicy and tasty burger.

Don’t forget about Barefoot Burgers, which does not disappoint, again according to the LA Times.

With no clear local reader’s poll winner, I’ll volunteer my direct experience that Duane’s is definitely worth the trip.

Big Island

Again a lack of local reader’s polls and outside reviews makes this tough. The Hawaii Tribune votes Burger King in Hilo as the best burger on the East Side. West Hawaii today votes Burger King in Kona as the best burger on the West Side. Hard times when a national chain wins. Makes you wonder what else is available.

So I’ll report my own direct experience. In Hilo, the Hilo Bay Cafe serves a flavorful almost guilt-free gourmet burger, and if you go during happy hour it’s cheaper.

Closer to Waimea, Tex Drive-In in Honokaa near Waimea serves a juicy and flavorful burger. They also serve a killer fish sandwich and some of the best malasadas (local donuts) on the islands.

The Waimea area of the Big Island receives accolades for Hawaii Regional Cuisine. Merriman’s serves a grass-fed local beef burger that will leave you teary-eyed because you’re sad you ate it all and there’s none left. Worth the splurge.

In Kona, it’s slim pickings, chains and tourist traps. They’ll scrath the itch, but nothing really local or noteworthy.

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.