Oahu may be a small island, but there are a lot of hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. For example, Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu. Iolani Place is one of my favorite places to visit. I love to go there on Fridays at noon to enjoy the Royal Hawaiian Band and hula performance on lawn. Last month there were guest performers from Japan where over 250 hula dancers performed with the Royal Hawaiian Band under a big tree in front of the Palace.

Hula performers from Japan

Another place I love to visit is the Honolulu Academy of Arts. It’s one of my all-time favorite buildings, and they have something for everyone. On the third Sunday of each month Bank of Hawaii sponsors Family Sundays with free admission, and fun activities for the family.

In the photo below, kids were invited to catch koi with fishnets, and take home the fish they catch.

Catching koi with fishnets

In a recent article in Pacific Edge Magazine, “Who’s Idea Was Magic Island?” I was surprised to see a pre-1972 shoreline without Oahu’s most famous peninsula.  As someone who was not born and raised here, I had no idea that Magic Island was man-made.

I took this photo from Yacht Harbor Towers and it’s difficult to tell what is natural, and what is artificial.

View of Magic Island from Yacht Harbor Towers