January 30, 2026 In 2023 a massive fire destroyed the historic whaling town of Lahaina.  The fire killed 102 people destroyed more than 2000 buildings and left 5000 people homeless, giving Lahaina the distinction of having the largest homeless population, in proportion to the general population, in the United States. Temporary rental assistance for fire… Read more

January 28, 2026 “Don’t it always seem to go you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone. Pave Paradise put up a parking lot.” From Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell. Kauai is beautiful! There is a reason it is called “The Garden Isle.” It earned that nickname because it’s insanely lush -tons of… Read more

January 27, 2026 When I was a teenager living on Long Island in 1966 the Beach Boys song Surfin‘ USA was very popular. But it was not until a film played at our local movie theatre that made surfing feel like a global, sun-soaked way of life. That movie was The Endless Summer. Even if… Read more

January 22, 2026 Today was a transit day (passengers were arriving and disembarking) in Los Angelas. I lived in California and when I worked with Fran Tarkenton, he filmed a very popular show in Burbank called That’s Incredible! Chongae has never been to Hollywood, so against my better judgement we did the most touristy thing… Read more

January 19, 2026 Puerto Vallarta, in my opinion seems a little rough around the edges. It was director John Huston that made Puerto Vallarta famous when he filmed The Night of the Iguana in and around the area. Huston and star Richard Burton both moved here. That was in 1964. The reputation of Puerto Vallarta… Read more

January, 17, 2026 It was time to discover what many of the locals have known for years-Huatulco is a tranquil haven for those seeking relaxation in an uncrowded paradise. And just so you know, Huatulco is pronounced wah-TOOL-co. Nine bays bordered by 36 golden-sand beaches form the beautiful Las Bahias de Huatulco. Huatulco is a… Read more

January 15, 2026 If you wanted to know where your morning cup of coffee or those bunch of bananas sitting on your kitchen counter came from this area of Mexico would have been a good guess. Not so much anymore. In this part of the world Brazil, Colombia and Honduras dominate the coffee market. Globally… Read more

January 14, 2026 Discovered by Columbus in 1502 and named “Rich Coast” on his fourth and final voyage to the New World, Costa Rica never lived up to the promise of gold or other riches like its neighboring Spanish colonies. Puntarenas remained a sleepy village until coffee production in the late 18th century transformed the… Read more

January 11, 2026 I have been to Panama numerous times both for pleasure and business. Some years ago, I invested in an organic mango plantation, but it is always nice to return to visit with old friends. Joe Wilmoth is a serial entrepreneur from California, and he and his wife, Dr. Luz Pazmino, a Doctor… Read more

January 10, 2026 Today we went through the Miraflores Locks on the Pacific side of the Panama Canal enroute to Costa Rica, Mexico and Los Angeles, California before we sail to the Hawaiian Islands. This year’s passage through the canal was a little different than in past years. In 2023, we sailed through with no… Read more