Kulia i ka Nu'u...Kapi'olani Community College

Campus map

"Kulia i ka Nu'u" in Hawaiian language means "Strive for the Highest", and it is the strong message of the Queen Kapi'olani Community College, especially for me, personally,  as it reminds me to be a better person everyday, to learn new things everyday and to go for a personal success.
Today, I would like to introduce you to the beautiful campus of Kapi'olani Community College, which is situated across the Diamond Head Volcano Crater. I ended up to start my education here for the purpose of learning the Polynesian Hospitality…the best one in the world, in my opinion. Through my two and a half years of studying here, I learned many good lessons in the class and outside the class. What it makes a special place here in Hawai'i  are beautiful gardens and  amazing views of the ocean and Diamond Head .

If you decide to visit this scenic campus, please come and dine in one of the two restaurants that are run by culinary and hospitality students, such as Ka'Ikena restaurant.  They prepare delicious sustainable food, bake amazing desserts and provide the highest service that you can encounter in the restaurant. I know that is true, as I was working in these restaurants during my class last semester. This is truly the place to be….

Great Lawn

KCC's Garden

KCC's Garden

KCC's Garden

KCC's Garden

KCC's Garden

Ocen view

Diamond Head Volcano Crater

On the top of the Diamond Head Volcano Crater

One of the most popular and famous hike on the O'ahu Island is the one called Diamond Head.It is the name of a volcanic tuff cone known to Hawaiian as Le'ahi, most likely from lae 'browridge', promontory plus 'ahi' 'tuna', because the shape of the ridge line resembles the shape of a tuna's dorsal fin. Its English name was given by British sailors in the 19th century, who mistook calcite crystals on the adjacent beach for diamonds.
Diamond Head is a pretty simple hike situated 15 minutes away from the center of Waikiki. I would definitely recommend to hike even for the sunrise in the early morning,or for the sunset in the evening. It is opened daily between 6 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. There is the entrance fee of $ 1.00. It will take you probably 20-30 minutes to climb to the top of the Volcano Crater. There is a small track of the tunnel, not a narrow one, but, if you may be claustrophobic, it can make you freak out, if there are too many tourists inside at the same time. When you at the top, you can admire the beautiful view of the ocean and Waikiki…I would recommend everyone to hike this one!

While getting to the top...

Almost there....

The view of Waikiki

And the Rainbowww ;)

Coffee time...

Island Vintage Coffee

What I really miss about being in Hawai'i is to be able to drink the coffee that is served in Europe, especially in France, Spain, Portugal or Italy. I am really fussy when it comes to drinking a coffee…it needs to be the best quality that can satisfy my caffeine taste. Fortunately, Hawai'i has its own, delicious  coffee called Kona coffee. The best place that serves this coffee, in my opinion, is the Island Vintage Coffee place, based in Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center in Waikiki. They offer a long  list  of different type of coffee, hot or ice ones, from black espresso through milky lattes and macchiatos. They use 100 % Kona coffee and you can get your customized coffee too….also if you feel hungry, I would recommend to try their super delicious acai or pitaya bowls, full of healthy and nutritious products, perfect as a midday snack.

For more information, please visit www.islandvintagecoffee.com…and enjoy the delicious taste of it :)

The view from the coffee shop

Delicious Latte

Acai Bowl

Aloha is in the air...

Aloha here, Aloha there...you can find Aloha everywhere...literally, everywhere in  Hawai'i. Aloha is the Hawaiian value that has several meanings...It is the expression for a greeting and for saying goodbye, but not only. The word ALOHA means love, affection, peace, compassion and mercy. When you come to Hawaiian Islands, you quickly learn that this word has been used in any possible way, I would say that it has been even overused. You can find Aloha water, security alarm, beer,basically everything that you can sell has an Aloha name in it. That really discourage travelers for trying to learn the real meaning of the Aloha , as it became really commercialized.
Tourists quickly forgets what the real Aloha spirit in Hawai'i is....and it is this amazing feeling of welcoming that you can't experience anywhere else...well, at least I haven't experienced it in any other forty countries that I have visited so far. Hawaiian habitats carry the spirit of Aloha in their hearts, and if I have to describe this "spirit", that would be somehow a feeling of love, calmness, relaxation, great hospitality. It is one lifetime must experience to feel that amazing Aloha from others.
The reason why I moved so far away was to learn this unique hospitality that only people from Hawai'i can offer...I advise anyone to come and experience it!

A little bit of Heaven in the Paradise...yummy :)

Egg Benedicts with salamon and spinach ;P

Today, I would like to write about my favorite place on Earth....called Heavenly. This place is situated in the heart of Waikiki, O'ahu on the Seaside Ave., right next to the Shoreline Hotel. What can I say about their food...it is simply a heaven in your mouth. Heavenly is proud of serving organic food from "farm to table". They have delicious variety  " all day breakfast" egg benedicts with salmon, avocado, or Hawaiian style with Kailua pork. If you like have  a sweet-type breakfast, you can enjoy either Acai or Pitaya bowl mixed with Hawaiian fruits, or Big Island honey french toasts. You can also have  a Hawaiian Loco Moco plate or Kahuku Shrimps. For desert Heavenly offers Hawaiian Ginger Creme Brulee or House Made Kona Coffee tiramisu.
What I love about this place is a "surf shack" decor, a fabulous staff.  It is a definitely the place to visit while you are coming to O'ahu.

Bon Apetit everyone :)

Heavenly Decor

The painting of Californian artist from San Diego

Pearl Harbor is not just another Hollywood movie.

Pear Harbour

We all have most likely seen it…Pearl Harbor movie with Ben Affleck…and it is a good movie too.  What is interesting about the Pearl Harbor though, is the history of this place and its memorable battle of 1941. This place is special and the memory of the Japan attack is still vivid there, cause due this attack , the United States got involved into the World War II.
What I like about this place is not only the actual museum dedicated to this memorable event of the 7th December 1941. You can also read many interesting information regarding the diverse Hawaiian population, how the migration from different countries has started and how many different nations live on the Islands nowadays.
It is a great history lesson, that should be definitely included into the Hawaiian visitor's schedule.

Useful information:

Direct buses from Waikiki: 20,42
Book tickets in advance at : www.recreation.gov
Search for "Pearl Harbor Historic Sites (USS Arizona)"
                                                         
 ** You must arrive at the Visitor's Center one hour prior to your ticketed time **

                                                                   OR

Arrive at Pearl Harbor Visitor's Center by 7:30 AM to get walk-in tickets daily and they are given on a first come, first served basis.
 
                                                           Other Sites at Pearl Harbor:

USS Missouri:  site of Japanese surrender in 1945

USS Bowfin: Submarine museum with 4,000 submarine-related artifacts

Pacific Aviation Museum: Museum dedicated to the history of aviation

* Each of these sites has a separate admission price, but there is a bundle deal. Please see
          www.pearlharborhistoricsites.org for more information.

ENJOY :)

Peral harbour ( inside the museum)

Find your Beach...

Waikiki Beach

               
                               
The State of Hawai'i was statehood on 21st 1959, and during this event, it was granted that all beaches in Hawai'i stayed public for everyone.

If you are a "beach bum", and you will find your place here, on the island of O'ahu. The whole island has impressive beaches, and one of them, Waimanalo was voted the best beach in the United States of America in 2015. You can do some fun water sports including surfing, stand up paddle boarding, windsurfing, kayaking, and many more.

Here is the list of some few beaches which are worth visiting:

1. Waikiki Beach...one of the most famous
beaches in the world with a lookout on Diamond Head Crater. It is a great place for those who want to try surfing. There is plenty of surfboards rentals and surf lessons are also possible to be booked.I would recommend you to go to Moku store, located a block away from Waikiki Beach on Koa Ave., just behind the Hyatt Regency hotel.They are super nice people there and they have a very competitive prices comparing to these you can find directly at the beach.

2. Fort DeRussay Beach is only fifteen minutes away from the Waikiki beach, and it is my favorite beach in the Waikiki area. Why? The water is much calmer here than at the Waikiki beach, and you can do some paddle stand up boarding, aqua cycles, you can also have a barbecue there, play squash and join some locals to play beach volleyball.

3. Kailua and Lanika'i Beaches are situated on the east coat of the island. It is a great place for windsurfing and kayaking. Lanika'i Beach is the most beautiful beach, in my opinion.

4. Waimanalo has been voted the most beautiful beach in the USA in 2015, it is popular with newlyweds for photo shooting wedding pictures.

5. Sandy Beach  on the southern part of the Island is famous from very rough waves.It is not recommended to go into the water, as it can literally break your back.It is very popular beach with locals who love playing boogie boarding.

5. North Shore Beaches: Haleiwa, Lanikaea (great for snorkeling and watching turtles), Waimea Bay and Banzai Pipeline (famous from big waves and the most important surf competitions such as Triple Crown),Sunset Beach and Turtle Bay.

6. West O'ahu: Kahe Point (Electric Beach -nickname from the electric power plant located nearby) is popular scuba diving place, because of the water clarity. The warm water attracts there score of sea life. You may take Hawaii Nautical's Snorkel Dolphin Sail to see the Electric Beach.


Thank you for reading and have a great week :)

Kasia

Fort DeRussey Beach

Fort DeRussey Beach

Fort DeRussey Beach

Somewhere over the rainbow…..

Hawai'i…Hawai'i…Hawai'i…some people dream about it, some people think it is just a fairytale, a paradise that doesn't exist, some people have never heard about it…the 50th State of the USA may be the state that joined the country as the last one, but it is definitely not the least…
Hawaiian Islands consist of six inhabited Islands, such as Kaua'i, O'ahu, Maui, Moloka'i, Lana'i, and Hawai'i ( Big Island). Each of these Island is very unique, has a special features, beauty, wildlife that you can encounter just there. How cool is to snowboard and surf in just one day? Have you ever thought that it can be possible???? Well, if you are in Big Island, it certainly is :)
I live on the Island called O'ahu, where the state capitol Honolulu is. Although, it is a very commercial Island, with the biggest tourist area called Waikiki, it is very often underestimated by tourist where it comes to a comparison with another Islands.
Oa'hu means beautiful whether with the temperature that doesn't go below 18 Celsius at night during the winter time and beautiful rainbows throughout the whole year…this is why it is called the Rainbow State..
O'ahu Island means…beautiful beaches: Waikiki, Lanika'i, Waimanalo, Kailua, Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay…and many more…the  most famous Banzai Pipeline where the most important surf competitions are happening.
O'ahu Island means the historical Pearl Harbour, the site of a deadly attack by Japan that brought the US to World War II.
O'ahu Island means amazing hikes, starting from Diamond Head, Koko Head, Manoa Falls, Pillboxes, Makapuu Light House Trail, Haiku Stairs (Stairways to Heaven), Kaena Point, and many more…
O'ahu Island means amazing snorkeling, where you can admire dolphins, turtles, and even sharks sometimes, on the beaches including Kapi'olani Beach in Waikiki, or Laniakea Beach on the North Shore.
O'ahu Island means Polynesian culture with a free Hula shows and classes, Lei's making lessons, Ukulele's playing lessons and many more…
O'ahu Island means amazing Hawaiian food including poke, Kailua pork, Shave Ice and many more…
But for most the O'ahu Island means Aloha, the value of love that represents the Hawaiian hospitality.


Mahalo for reading :)

                                                                 Lanika'i Beach

Palm Trees at Fort DeRussey Beach

Aloha State of Mind

I have never really wanted to come to the United States of America….as a child,  I loved watching " Full House", and the only place I was attracted to visit due to this TV show,  was the city of San Francisco. My connection to Hawaii  was almost non-existing,  probably my Hawaiian Barbie doll,  the love of Hawaiian pizza, and pretty much that was it. I have never had a big desire of coming to the Islands either…little did I know that one day Hawaii become my second home, that I would be blessed to meet my second Ohana (family) here. Now, I remember that I had an American flag on my vision board (the board that consisted of my dreams in pictures collage). I got this flag from my friend who visited the USA one summer, and I really didn't know what to do with it , so I placed it on the top of that board…and they say that you should be careful what you wish for. Well, it wasn't my conscious wish, but it ended up quite well.

I have this idea of celebrating my birthday each year in another country…I started celebrating my 22nd in London, 23rd in Barcelona, I have spent my birthdays in Portugal, Canada, Norway, Italy, etc. For my 29th birthdays, I chose the beautiful Island of O'ahu. As I was travelling on my own, I booked a bed in a hostel…which over a year after my first visit became my home here. My first thought of Hawaii- beautiful, amazing, full of positive energy place. I was so amazed that people can be so lucky to be able to live here…in a paradise, surrounded by  amazing nature, with an endless summer. I could have just wished to move to the place like this…I met some wonderful people through my stay in Honolulu, and this is why I decided to visit this place again. The welcoming feeling of the "Aloha" spirit that I have received from all people around me, has motivated me to come back. It took me 11 months to return to this Island, and the second visit has awaken my desire to live here, as well as unexpectedly, opened my eyes for moving possibilities. 

When I arrived to Honolulu the second time, I was on my four months travels. I quit my flight attending job few months before and I went to make my dream come true, to travel anywhere I have always wanted to. I was scared when i left my job and England, which was my home for over seven years. I didn't really know what to do with my life at that point. I just had a faith, that when the one door is closing, the other doors are opening…this is a circle of life. My doors for moving to Hawaii were not fully opened, but I was determined to find a way, so I found a window and went through it. I wouldn't be able to live here if it was not for people who opened their hearts and offered me a big support to start my education at Kapi'olani Community College. These people are the biggest blessing in my life, they are my second family,  and no matter what is happening in my life, they are always standby me.

I have decided to start the hospitality management degree at KCC, because hospitality in Hawaii is very unique. This feeling of  "Aloha" (a little bit commercialised in Waikiki) is still the best feature of the Islands. I wanted to be a part of it, I wanted to learn Hawaiian values and the  way of  Hawaiian life. So far, I had the ultimately time of my life here.

The Hawaiian Islands offer many fantastic adventures, amazing views, beautiful beaches, the best weather through the whole year, delicious food and meeting amazing people who live here. I have been living on the O'ahu Island for almost three years, and visited also Maui. I am planning to visit Kauai and  Big Island soon.

In my next weeks' posts, I will share some information on what it is worth doing and visiting on the  O'ahu Island, I will write about  my Hawaiian adventures here.

So far, thank you, mahalo and  dziekuje for reading , Aloha,  and have an amazing week everyone :) 

"A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving".

Since I was a little girl, I was always watching Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks on Polish television…The New Year arrives to this part of Australia, exactly twelve hours ahead comparing to Poland. This image of Sydney's Opera House, and this amazing fire works' show was strongly implicated in my mind. I could just dream to travel to Australia and feel the real emotions of being there that day...

There was this one day in June 2009 when I decided to make my dream to come true…I just bought a ticket, pack my backpack and read chapter from the Lonely Planet regarding dangerous spiders…so I was completely ready to travel among this beautiful country for the next three months… not !!!! :)
Honestly, that was my first solo trip outside Europe…it was scary, but when I returned, I was already a newborn person…happy, confident and unstoppable when it comes to achieving my goals.

"A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving"-Lao Tzu. I had definitely no plans what to do in Australia, apart from watching the fireworks on the 31st December in Sydney, checking out kangaroos and koalas. That's it…no plans, just lots of time and open mind for some adventures.
When I landed in Sydney's International Airport, I was so excited that it took me around two hours to finally get to my hostel. Yes, I booked a hostel, first time in my life I decided to share a room with completely strangers…now I know that was the best place to start my journey, as during my first evening I met some Germans that became my travel buddies for the next two months.
I made it for the fireworks, I did not only just see kangaroos, but I managed to see hundreds of the wild ones and come close to them. I spend a day in Kangaroos rescue hospital, visited Frazer and Whitsunday Islands. The best what I get from my three months' travel, was to meet people from all over the world, listen to their inspirational stories and  make friends for life.

Travel tips:
For those who has never heard, or been in a hostel, it is the best place to meet new people and get valuable information about your travel destination. Always check the hostel ratings and guests' reviews to book a nice place to stay. You can easily book all activities, tickets for the bus/plane in one of the tour agencies, as they are specialised in helping backpackers (the most famous is Peterpans).

While in Australia, you should definitely visit:

Opera House, Bondi Beach, Sydney Harbour and Manley in Sydney
Blue Mountains ( around an hour from Sydney up North)
Koala Hospital in Port Macquarie in New South Wales
Byron Bay (recommended to stay in Arts Factory Backpackers, and go out to Cheeky Monkey's on Monday night)
Surfer's Paradise in Queensland
Frazer Island ( you drive a highway on the beach- super cool, and you can see Dingoes)
Whitsunday Island on the Great Barrier Reef (best for diving, you can see the whitest sand in the world!)
Australian Zoo of Steve Irwin  in Queensland, around two hours north from Brisbane, with the famous crocodiles shows.
For those crazy about Australian Open ( I am :)), you should visits the courts in Melbourne…generally it is a great city with a great vibe!

Australia can be expensive comparing to Europe, but the experience from traveling there you can get, and the memories are worth any money!

Mahalo for reading :)

"If you can dream it, you can do it".

Aloha everyone :) My name is Kasia and I would like to share my travel and living in Hawaii experience on this blog...each week I will post about different destinations that I have had a pleasure to visit, as well as I would love to give you some tips on traveling to these destinations, and Hawaii itself...now let me start with sharing a story on how I ended up traveling around the world by myself, against my fears ....


"Wanderlust is a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel and explore the world."  (source: Wikipedia). I am not sure when exactly the idea of visiting the world was created in my mind...but I remember watching a movie once, tilted " Around a World in 80 Days". Right after the movie had ended, I got up, grabbed a small suitcase that my Godmother brought me from Berlin, and started packing. That moment made me realize what I want to do in my life...and what it was, was to travel around the world. I was just ten years old when I made this decision, and even though I had to wait another twelve years to start fulfilling my promise about traveling, every travel was so special, taught me new things about the destinations, and got me some great friends for life. So far, I have traveled to 41 countries, including Spain, Portugal, Italy, Australia, Canada, the United States, Indonesia, South Korea and many more. And I lived in two foreign countries by myself too, including the United Kingdom and the United States.

Walt Disney announced once this powerful statement : " If you can dream it, you can do it". I want to share my dreams that came true with you. Cause we dream with a purpose to make these dreams happen.

I hope that you are going to enjoy my posts.... big Mahalo for reading :)