Hale Koa Eligibility: Most Veterans Can Book It
Since 2020 any veteran with a VA service-connected rating can book the Hale Koa on Waikiki. Who qualifies, what it costs by rank, and the $120 luau.
Jeremy Smith
The Camino on Points: Flights, Lodging and Transfers
Points paid for our flights to the Camino Portugués and one hotel night. Cash paid for 26 of 27 beds. Here is what went where, and why that was right.
Flying Blue: Why It’s Becoming Our Transfer Partner for Europe
Why Flying Blue is the transfer partner we use for Europe: every major points currency gets there, and the two catches we price in before we transfer.
How to Calculate Cents Per Point, and When We Ignore It
How to calculate cents per point the way we do: the published price, less any cash the award charges, over the points. Our targets, and when we break them.
Grand Islander Waikiki on HGV Club Points- What 8,400 Buys
8,400 HGV club points and an $81 fee put us in a two-bedroom ocean-view suite on Waikiki for four nights, and emptied the account. The real numbers.
Amex The Hotel Collection at Outrigger Reef: Worth It?
Amex The Hotel Collection at Outrigger Reef Waikiki: two Platinum cards, two rooms, a double upgrade, and $432.90 a night all in. What it actually gets you.
Hawaii Inter-Island Flights With Points: Three Ways We Paid
Hawaii inter-island flights with points: four seats on one 55-minute Southwest hop to Honolulu, paid three ways- 8,000 points, a flight credit, and cash.
Turo vs a Rental Car in Hawaii- What Each One Cost Us
Budget on the Big Island, Turo on Oahu, same trip. What each one cost, and why the card that covered one covered nothing on the other.
Two Step Snorkel and the Captain Cook Market (2026)
Two Step snorkel on the Big Island, plus the Captain Cook market on the way home. What the $5 parking really is, and whether the two hour drive is worth it.
Captain Cook Snorkel and Kona Manta Night Dive (2026)
Captain Cook snorkel and the Kona manta ray night dive, two days apart with SeaQuest. What we paid, why we skipped the night one, and which is worth repeating.