Loco Moco time at Tropics on the Beach

Making my very own ukelele...keyring!

The very first uke that Paps made - it may be tiny but it's fully tuned!

Tracy from Poi Planet jams on the ukelele

Alan presents me with my personalised ukelele - now to learn to play!

Deston and Jade show me how it's done

I did it!

Errol Kane Jr. and the surf instructors

Friday night fireworks at Hilton Hawaiian Village

Awaking to a picture perfect sunny day at Hilton Hawaiian Village, my stomach rumbles in anticipation of my favourite local breakfast delight, the famed loco moco.

Tropics on the Beach plays host to this delectable breakfast where this wahine continues her journey of being well fed in Honolulu.

Onion gravy is drizzled over perfectly fried eggs, a hamburger patty and rice but you can’t knock it until you try it – just ask this convert!

We bump into the Elvis fans at Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon who are enjoying a meet and greet with Elvis’ “Girls, Girls, Girls” co-star Ginny Tiu and wander around the resort that will be our home for another night.

No matter where you head in Hawaii, the strains of a ukelele aren’t far away and today, I would revisit the most renowned maker of these beautiful instruments, possibly in the world, Koaloha Ukelele.

Located a short 15-minute drive out of Waikiki, Koaloha offers an insight into true Hawaiian culture and music.

Headed up by the ever-innovative Alvin “Paps” Okami, the ukelele factory is less of a factory and more of a family.

If you’re looking for the spirit of aloha, then you need look no further with complimentary tours run twice daily at 10am and 1pm.

More detailed scheduled tours are priced at only USD$15 for adults and USD$10 per child and should be booked a week in advance.

These tours allow guests to make their own mini uke keyring and to relish in a song by Paps himself who was only to willing to serenade me with his original hit “Nandemo Dekiru” (“You Can Do It, If You Try”), as well as give me a sneak peek into some of his new music that will be released very soon.

Using Hawaiian koa wood, Koaloha’s ukes are a work of art – pieces that can not only be played lovingly but should be displayed for their unique character and design elements.

I had admired their pieces since I was first introduced to the brand last year and, this year, president Alan Okami surprised our group with our very own, personalised soprano ukeleles on a promise that we will learn to play and serenade the family on our return to Hawaii!

Nothing had prepared me for the honour of receiving a specially made limited edition ukelele with my name on it!

So, my promise to Alan and the Koaloha family is this – I will learn to play Paps’ very own song “Nandemo Dekiru” and will return to the islands to play it for them.

I may not be able to play it as well as the legendary ukelele players in the family but, I’m willing to give it a try!

Our time at Koaloha ends with fond farewells and a ukelele performance by Mele Mei president and award winning musician Pali Ka’aihue before we return to Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Having ticked surfing in Hawaii off my bucket list last year, I thought I’d give stand up paddle boarding a go at the resort’s lagoon.

New friends Deston and Jade are old pros but this gal is more hula than water sports.

The instructors set us up with our boards and paddles and I watch children master the art of balancing on the board - surely I could do this, it looks so easy!

Jade shows me how it’s done but nerves still kick in as the board wobbles beneath me – the water may be shallow but I really don’t want to fall off!

She goes one step further and practices some yoga moves on the board as I attempt to just get off my knees. 

Deston guides me and encourages me on my quest to beat my nerves. One foot is moved into place...my other foot is moved into place and, I’m standing!

I’m not very stable but I’m standing, so, I attempt to glide effortlessly through the water like I’ve seen so many others do.

Unable to actually guide my paddleboard in any direction except a circle, I decide to take the requisite Rainbow Tower/Diamond Head photo and call it a day. I’ll leave the paddle boarding to the pros!

A walk along the beach takes an interesting turn as a violin-playing Santa serenades us and I decide to cool off in the pool before preparing for a succulent dinner at Bali Steak & Seafood.

Located in the Rainbow Tower, Bali Steak & Seafood is a fine dining restaurant that offers prime seats to the weekly Friday fireworks display.

Huge seared diver scallops, nori puree ahi poke and truffle fries are served as appetisers and we meet Steven the “Bali Wine Guy” who has worked at the property for 27 years.

Sharing stories of the guests he has served, Steven epitomises a “true blue” happy employee and gushes about how many of his colleagues have worked at Hilton Hawaiian Village for decades.

Everywhere I go, the spirit of aloha is alive and well – the joy that emanates from so many people on this island runs deep and I find myself wishing that Sydneysiders were able to capture even a piece of that.

Chef de Cuisine Matt Alleshouse puts on a show even before the fireworks explode into the night sky and I somehow manage to fit in a seafood medley main topped with melt-in-your-mouth lobster.

Guests gather on the areas surrounding Rainbow Tower to view the spectacle that is the Hilton Hawaiian Village fireworks.

Sparkling green, red, blue and yellow explosions light the night sky as booms resound across Waikiki. It may not be Sydney on new year’s eve but with a backdrop of palm trees and the ocean, you really can’t get any better than that.

From loud blasts to the soothing music of Olomana, we head to the Tapa Bar for a nightcap where a Waikiki Cosmo captures my heart and calls me to slumber.

Click here to view entire photo gallery

Day 1