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Dwellable’s Anti-Selfie Contest

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Dwellable is giving away a pair of Google Glass for its summer contest featuring the anti-selfie. Instead of taking and sharing a picture of yourself, Dwellable wants you to #GetYourGlassOutside and share your experiences.

Read the Dwellable blog post for more details and how to win. I guess you can enter more than once, but to win, your #GetYourGlassOutside entry needs the most retweets on Twitter. Good luck!

Here’s my (first) entry of the Mokulua Islands seen while hiking the Lanikai Pillbox trail.

This reminds me, I should update my Dwellable links in Hawaii.

Vote Dwellable for Geekwire’s App of the Year

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Vote for Dwellable

Dwellable’s mobile app that helps find vacation rentals throughout America has been nominated for Geekwire’s App of the Year. If you’re not familiar with Dwellable or its revamped app, take a minute to read my app review. 🙂

Okay, so I did win an iPad Mini for my winning review but hey, I still endorse Dwellable as App of the Year amongst its competition of Glympse, Haiku Deck, Walk Score, and Zillow Digs. Voting goes on through April, and the winners will be announced on May 9 at GeekWire’s Awards Bash.

As a company, you gotta love Dwellable’s engagement with its fans and users. They’ve sponsored contests, featured their fans, and published interesting perspectives on DwellableTrends.

Good luck to Dwellable and please vote for them!

Sorry, I wish I could embed the voting poll here. You’ll have to head on over to GeekWire to vote.

Yay! I Won!

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I’m still ecstatic that I actually won Dwellable’s contest of providing the most interesting review of their updated mobile app. While winning an iPad Mini is uber cool, the real winning story is Dwellable itself. It’s okay to be honest and say you’ve never heard of Dwellable before. Dwellable is a recent startup focusing on the rental market and strives to be the “world’s foremost online vacation rental search engine.” Seems like they’re a growing team fueled by fun, passion, and travel addiction – my kind of team. 😉

How’d it all begin? In June of 2012, I received a message from Jane from Dwellable asking permission to share some of my blog posts about Hawaii. Sure, as a blogger, having your content featured elsewhere is a great compliment, but what really intrigued me is Dwellable’s personal contact. Every interaction with the Dwellable team felt unique, not mass mailings or name-changed form letters. That rarity endeared me to their cause so I willing keep an eye out for content helpful to Dwellable. Along the way, Dwellable started its leaderboard to drive up the competitive spirit then Dwellable had its Travel Blogger Contest won by the well-traveled Ed Paff, Jr. All of this adds up to fun for you and me and also enriches Dwellable’s offerings. That makes Dwellable a special company in my book (and I’m not just saying this because I won an iPad Mini).

Thanks again Dwellable and hope you guys continued success (and fun)!

Dwellable’s Road to the Final Four

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Where are you going?

Did you know Dwellable’s new mobile app can help you on your road to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four? No, the Dwellable app can’t divine the winners for your March Madness bracket, but it can help you find lodging at the 13 different sites where games are played.

Simply put, Dwellable is “the world’s foremost online vacation rental search engine” and aims to answer the question, “Where are you going?” Their new app is an awesome extension of their service. So if you’re fortunate enough to attend any of the Big Dance games, use Dwellable to find a place to stay. While I’m not in this lucky bunch, I can still take my fantasy trip to the 2013 Final Four thanks to Dwellable. While on this fantasy tour, let’s ignore costs and availability shall we? It’s more fun that way!

First Four (March 19 and 20)

University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio.

the-barn

Where does the road begin? In Dayton, Ohio, and what catches my eye on Dwellable is this authentic gem! A barn?! Yes, a barn.

I can see it now – Coach Norman Dale barking out plays, Jimmy Chitwood swishing jumpers, and recovering Scooter stammering, “Run the picket fence!” This is not the Hoosiers of Indiana, but this barn speaks the history of basketball.

Second and Third Rounds

The Palace of Auburn Hills, Auburn Hills, Michigan

Michigan is a far ways away from Hawaii and while on this fairy tale tour, I would definitely stay at the Hansel and Gretel cottage. Look at the gorgeous pictures!

Hansel and Gretel Cottage
Hansel and Gretel Cottage

Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky

Defending champions Kentucky Wildcats didn’t receive a bid this year, so the welcoming canine of this Charming Town Home must definitely be a sign. Hope you didn’t pick any cat teams in your bracket.

To help plan your stay, be sure to check out the app’s availability calendar.

Calendar
Charming Town Home Availability

EnergySolutions Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah

While March Madness is all about basketball, Utah is known for its skiing. If I were to enjoy the snow, the Canyon Racquet Club would be my home court. I marked the Canyon Racquet Club as a favorite in the app, but unfortunately, these favorites don’t sync with your favorites marked on Dwellable.com. 🙁

HP Pavilion, San Jose, California

First one to arrive
First one to arrive

San Jose is one of those rental markets that Dwellable doesn’t have many listings (four at this time), but I’d be happy at the Executive Victorian Home in Downtown Willow Glen. While Dwellable’s listings will grow over time, you can accelerate the process by contacting them.

University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio

I’m still at the Barn! 😉

Frank Erwin Center, Austin, Texas

I’ve heard that there’s a certain artistry in Austin and The Zen Den surely portrays that. For the Austin games, I’m hoping the Florida teams emerge victorious.

Sprint Center, Kansas City, Missouri

According to Dwellable’s map of the Missouri area, there are 138 locations, but I like the getaway appeal of the Circle O Lodge and Tree Farm. Besides doesn’t that “O” in Circle O remind you of a basketball hoop?

Missouri
Missouri

Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I’m thinking there won’t be any major upsets in Philadelphia with the Hoyas and Blue Devils defending their second seedings. Might as well enjoy the view from this Downtown Philly Luxury Penthouse.

Living on an island, geography isn’t my strong suit, but to maximize Dwellable, it helps if you’re familiar with some state geography. Luckily, Pennsylvania only has a few regions to look through.

Pennsylvania regions
Pennsylvania regions

Regional Sites

East Regional, Verizon Center, Washington, D.C.

Now the road continues on to the regional sites, and I predict the 2013 champion will come from the East bracket. While in DC, I’d have to take in the sights, perfect for the One Block From the Convention Center! Walk to Monuments! apartment.

One Block From the Convention Center
One Block From the Convention Center

West Regional, Staples Center, Los Angeles, California

West coast basketball played on the beaches of LA? You know what that means. Yep, Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson in White Men Can’t Jump. The Ultra Modern Beach House is the perfect venue!

White Men Can't Jump
White Men Can’t Jump

Midwest Regional, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, Indiana

The Midwest region games are held in Indiana, and this Log Cabin in Brown County feels the “most Midwest” to this Pacific Islander (what do I know of the Midwest??). Out of the Midwest region, I believe Louisville will show why it’s the tournament’s overall top seed.

Log Cabin in Brown County
Log Cabin in Brown County

South Regional, Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas

From Austin to Arlington to Granbury, Texas, I’m loving this Lake House in Granbury. In the South Regional, will Shaka Smart and the VCU Rams pull off more upsets?

Lake House in Granbury
Lake House in Granbury

Final Four, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

And finally, our road ends in Atlanta, Georgia, specifically the Wilderness Lodge in Georgia. Georgia is where the Indiana Hoosiers will be named the 2013 national champs.

Wilderness Lodge
Wilderness Lodge

Bonus: It’s somewhat of a surprise that the University of Hawaii is hosting a CollegeInsider.com post season game (or two). So if you’re going to be on Oahu, you may as well live like a President. Stay at the “Obama Winter Whitehouse” in Kailua where the First Family usually spends their Holiday vacations.

Obama Winter Whitehouse
Obama Winter Whitehouse

While I’ve blogged about President Obama’s winter vacations in Hawaii and shared posts with Dwellable, I don’t see shared posts available on the Dwellable app. I’m thinking fans of Dwellable would love this addition. 😉

There it is, my virtual road to the Final Four thanks to Dwellable. Where are you going?

Featured on Dwellable

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It started with a simple email from Jane from Dwellable.com. What’s Dwellable? That’s what I wondered too, but quickly I learned that Dwellable is a vacation rental service helping you find choice spots in a variety of locales.

To help customers understand their vacation areas better, Dwellable draws upon local bloggers to tell their stories, and that’s where Pulpconnection fits in. Over the years, I’ve documented stuff from around Oahu, exactly what Dwellable is looking for. At least for now, me and Pulpconnection lead Dwellable’s blog leaderboard. Yay!

Here’s the announcement on Twitter.

So if you’re hunting for great places for a vacation, be sure to check out what Dwellable has to offer. You can also follow them on Twitter and Facebook and use their iPad app.

malasada-li-hing

Signs of Hawaii: Leonard’s Bakery

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If you’ve been in the Kapahulu area, you’re very familiar with this sign and the pink boxes that frequently leave this establishment. Of course, we’re talking Leonard’s Bakery and their cannot-resist malasadas.

You don’t have to wait long for your malasada fix since they aren’t made to order – they’re made continuously! And it’s only a rumor that they have Def Leppard’s Pour Some Sugar on Me blaring in the kitchen as the malasadas are being “sugared up.”

Filled, flavored, but must be enjoyed while warm, the malasadas from Leonards are the greatest! Are you drooling? I am. Eating just one is a crime, especially if you’re at the bakery. Custom courtesy is to eat at least two, maybe even three. 🙂

The Green Sandy Beaches of Hawaii

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Picture by Mark Quezada

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole sang about the white beaches of Hawaii, but did you ever hear of the green beach of Hawaii? Yes, green. This natural rarity can be seen on the Big Island at Papakolea where Olivine semi-precious stones have been eroded by the ocean making green sand.

Fortunately (or unfortunately), this phenomenon is shielded by a long and moderately difficult hike, limiting its access.

Check out pictures of the Papakolea Green Beach from To-Hawaii.com.

Thanks to @mirthlab for the information and picture.

Box Car Racing at Race World Hawaii

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Fun for the family! Surprisingly empty (which was good). Cheap ($7 per and stay as long as you want). A workout for parents (those box cars are heavy). Lane 1 is a dud. It’s fun around the turns until you approach the finish line. Lean into those turns. A non-profit operation so donate if you can.

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A few more pictures.

Head out to Kunia to Race World Hawaii to experience the fun of box car racing.

What a Week, Part 6: The Lanai Wedding

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The reason we were living the life in Lanai was for a wedding on Saturday, July 25, 2009. Set at The Lodge at Koele in the afternoon, the backdrop of the garden and the temple were gorgeous.

Temple at The Lodge

Temple Flower Path

I loved the Hawaiian wedding chant since I’ve never heard one before. Try listen…

[audio:https://www.pulpconnection.net/audio/hawaiian-wedding-chant.mp3]

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Just Married

Bonus: Get your own soundtrack for the Lovely Lanai wedding!

My Top 5 Reasons the Roaming Gnome Needs to Visit Four Seasons Lanai

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Here are my top five six reasons the Travelocity Roaming Gnome should visit the resorts of Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay and Koele.

5. Poolside tweeting. Yes, the beach is right there, but the Gnome can lay out poolside and update his Twitter status and drop hints of his next #gnomeroams stops.

tweeting-poolside

4. The fish in the tidepools are big fans!

Lanai Tidepools

3. You can learn to blow a conch shell and light the torches on the resort’s grounds.

2. The Lodge has an awesome spot for you in their garden! Click on the image for a panoramic view.

Entering the Garden

1. After checking in, you can find out your Hawaiian name. I want to know what “Roaming Gnome” is in Hawaiian.

Hawaiian Name

And a bonus reason why you need to visit Lanai! As a learned traveler, you can help these guys out with their A-B-Cs. 😉

If you’re island hopping, be sure to check out Dwellable.com for rental reviews.

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