Information About Medicaid in Hawaii

Every state has their own Medicaid program. Most of the states officially call it Medicaid, but some change it to a name that is more individuated. In Hawaii, the Medicaid program is called Med-Quest. Here is some basic information about the Med-Quest program. Medicaid is a public, or government run, health insurance program. It is designed to provide health insurance coverage for individuals and families who are low income and who cannot afford to purchase a health insurance plan from a private insurance company. Medicaid is funded, in part, by the federal government. It is also funded, in part, by … Continue reading

Dance with Dragons and Lions

Last year my family spent the Chinese New Year in Hawaii. My then 5-year-old shimmied in the streets at a local New Year’s festival while feeding dollar bills to colorful dancing lions and dragons. This year Chinese New Year falls on February 3rd and we’ll be roughly 5,000 miles away from the sunny streets of Hawaii where we enjoyed phenomenal parades, a fantastic fireworks show and some of the best homemade Chinese food outside of China. Sadly, we won’t be spending the kick-off to the Year of the Rabbit in my hometown. However, there are many cities across the country … Continue reading

Don’t Let MTV’s “Jersey Shore” Stop You From Visiting the Jersey Shore

I used to spend summers in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. No joke. Each year my family would leave the sunny shores of Hilo, Hawaii, and fly 5000 miles to Newark, New Jersey, to visit my parental grandparents, 44 aunts and uncles, 60 plus cousins, and the rest of my dad’s humongous family. During week two of our annual trips we’d load up the clan and head down to the shore. It’s where I visited my first water park (Rainbow Rapids) and witnessed my first ever seaweed-entangled hypodermic needle floating in the white wash near Point Pleasant Beach. Ah, the memories. … Continue reading

Homeschooling Groups and Resources in Hawaii

Getting involved with other homeschoolers is very important to a family’s success in homeschooling. It is important to join a homeschool network or support group in your area, There are also many homeschooling groups as well as many homeschooling classes, and programs that your students can enjoy. In this series, we are covering home schooling groups and resources across the country. This installment is for the State of Hawaii. Big Island Homeschoolers Is a support group for homeschooling families on the Big Island of Hawaii. Catholic Homeschooling in Hawaii/Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Homeschoolers of Hawaii is the website for … Continue reading

Go Asian Tonight

With the economy tanking my family (like many across the country) has been forced to cut back on the number of meals we eat out. In fact, these days, save for the occasional Happy Meal (which is purchased only in dire situations), we really don’t frequent restaurants at all. However, this doesn’t mean that we’ve completely eliminated restaurant-type foods; it just means that I’ve had to get more creative in the kitchen. Being from Hawaii (and of Japanese descent) it stands to reason that I crave Asian food more than any other type of cuisine. Consequently, I have a collected … Continue reading

Spring Break Menu—Aloha Hawaii

I’m continuing my Spring Break Menu theme today with selections from the string of pearls in the Pacific known as the Hawaiian Islands. Since I was born and raised in the Aloha State I toyed with the idea of sharing some of the authentic Hawaiian recipes I grew up eating, but then I realized how hard it was to get some of the local ingredients, so I opted to go with these quasi-Hawaiian recipes instead. These simple dishes still pack a Hawaiian punch (despite being generic in nature). In addition, they are wonderful party recipes, should you feel the desire … Continue reading

Can You Ever Go Home Again?

I just spent the entire month of January in Hawaii… visiting my parents. It was actually a wonderful visit and given how much we doled out for the plane tickets and how infrequently my daughter gets to see my family, I did everything humanly possible to make the most of every second we had together. That includes helping care for my 93-year-old dying grandma and hosting a bevy of extended family members, who came to catch up and spoil my daughter to no end. The visit (I don’t refer to it as a vacation because in more ways it was … Continue reading

Hot Hawaiian Travel Deals: Luaus and Love

It’s been a while, but it appears the traditional Hawaiian luau is headed back to Waikiki Beach. The Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa located near downtown Honolulu on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu recently announced that it is resurrecting the traditional local feast on the shores of the world’s most famous beach. The “Waikiki Lu’au on the Lagoon” is being offered twice weekly, on Sundays and Wednesdays. It includes a lei greeting, traditional luau meal and a Polynesian entertainment extravaganza. Beginning just before sunset guests will be greeted with live Hawaiian music and a flower lei on the … Continue reading

More Ways to Save in Hawaii

Now that you know how to save money on your flight to Hawaii, here are some deals that you can snag once you arrive in the Aloha State: If you have always dreamed of visiting the Hawaiian Island of Maui consider taking advantage of the Kapalua Villas’ “staycation.” The package deal is priced at $999 for two adults and includes the following: Roundtrip travel from Honolulu to Maui onboard Hawaii’s new Superferry (you’ll get passage for two adults and one vehicle), 2-nights accommodations at the Kapalua Villas, plus a complimentary choice of activity for each guest—-choose from a golf lesson … Continue reading

Hawaii—-A Whale of a Travel Deal

Regular readers of this blog know I am constantly on the look out for travel deals to Hawaii, especially now. That’s why this following bargain is so noteworthy. As the busy summer travel season winds down and the slower fall months creep up on us I can only hope that deals like these will become more prevalent. (One can hope.) If you have been holding out for a reasonable package deal to one of the Hawaiian Island’s most incredible spots this is the deal for you. For just $1,039 per person you will receive roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles (add … Continue reading