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About Matt Long
06 July 2011 8:08 PM | No CommentsWho am I? I am a typical Gen-X professional who has a passion for all things travel. My site brings a unique perspective that is hard to find online. I am not a backpacker, nor am I living off of a trust fund. I am...
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As Seen In:
Hawaii Archive
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Looking For Paradise and Pining For The Southern Cross
Posted on March 26, 2012 | 1 CommentIt probably won’t come as a complete shock that I have always, for as long as I can remember, had a fierce sense of wanderlust. As a young child and well into adulthood, I absorbed anything and everything about foreign cultures and far-flung locales. Instead... -
Four Reasons to Visit Lanai in 2012
Posted on January 9, 2012 | 2 Comments1. Luxury – With two of the three hotels on the island belonging to Four Seasons, luxury is no doubt part of the agenda on Lanai. But it’s a different kind of luxury, a more homey, enjoyable Lanai luxury that’s really hard to find. Yes,... -
The Last Post of 2011 Travel Bests and Worsts I Will Ever Write
Posted on January 2, 2012 | 8 CommentsI know what you’re thinking, yet another “Best of 2011″ post? I realize that I did a whole series on the topic as did every mainstream paper, magazine, TV show and of course blogger. That being said, I was tagged by a fellow travel blogger... -
2011 Favorite Travel Person of the Year
Posted on December 26, 2011 | 10 CommentsLast year I did a series of posts highlighting my favorite travel experiences, destinations, foods and people for the previous year and I decided to once again perform this bit of forced reflection. Rather than just serve as a gratuitous way to recognize people and... -
Reflecting on Family and History at Pearl Harbor
Posted on December 6, 2011 | 4 CommentsNot all business trips are great, but the year I had a conference in Honolulu was like winning the lottery of work travel. Not surprisingly, I managed to add some time to the trip after my work was done in order to truly enjoy my... -
Luxury Within Reach on the Tropical Island of Lanai
Posted on November 2, 2011 | 1 CommentHawaii is a place of dreams and expectations. Most people have a mental image of Hawaii whenever the destination comes up in conversation, and for the most part these conceptions are proven true. There is one place though that lives up to the notions of... -
How to Experience the Best of Lanai in a Day
Posted on August 31, 2011 | No CommentsMost people who visit the Hawaiian island of Lanai stay for a few days or even a week or more, taking time to relax and enjoy the unique features that make this tiny island a popular vacation destination. Many more though travel to Lanai from... -
Five Things I Wish I Knew Before Visiting Hawaii
Posted on August 17, 2011 | 7 CommentsI had wanted to visit Hawaii since I was ten years old when I ravenously digested the novel Hawaii by James Michener. There was just some intangible quality about the way in which he brought to life the history and traditions of the islands that... -
Trouble in Paradise – The Great Lanai Windmill Debate
Posted on August 10, 2011 | 3 CommentsI first noticed it on the drive from the airport into town. It was a homemade banner attached to the fence in front of a house and while simple, the message was clear. It was a photo of a windmill with a red line through... -
Shooting My Way Out of Lanai
Posted on August 1, 2011 | No CommentsI’m not a big gun person. I don’t have a problem with people owning them, well in concept, but I just don’t have a lot of experience around them. When I was younger my grandfather and I used to shoot down empty Maxwell coffee cans... -
Travel Spotlight – Koele Ranch Life, Lanai Hawaii
Posted on July 11, 2011 | No CommentsThe paniolo, or cowboy, has a long history in the Hawaiian highlands. Lanai is no stranger to this history, which is still honored today. Unlike many other Hawaiian islands, Lanai did not attract Westerners until relatively late in its modern history. The lack of a... -
Five Strange Things About Honolulu
Posted on April 25, 2011 | 4 CommentsMy first visit to Hawaii last year began as it does for millions, with a stay in Waikiki. This area of tropical perfection has, over the years, grown at an incredible rate and today is an interesting mix of the laid back, Hawaiian spirit of... -
Otherworldly Landscape of the Garden of the Gods in Lanai
Posted on April 24, 2011 | No CommentsWe picked up the Jeep rental early in the morning, stopped by the Blue Ginger Café for breakfast and a picnic lunch, and set out with map in hand to explore the island of Lana’i. Lana’i has a great shuttle system, but it can be... -
Finding an Authentic Experience in Honolulu’s Chinatown
Posted on April 10, 2011 | 2 CommentsThe first-time visitor to Honolulu will almost assuredly be quickly overwhelmed by the constant traffic, high-end stores and island glam of the city within moments of arrival. Hawaii conjures thoughts of quiet beaches, swaying palms and the faint sounds of ukulele in the distance. Arriving... -
Hiking the Koloiki Ridge Trail in Lanai
Posted on April 7, 2011 | 4 CommentsI had several goals while visiting Lana’i as part of the Lana’i Visitor’s Bureau New Media Artist in Residence Program. One of those goals was to find corners of the island that not everyone explores and to see more of the natural beauty that defines... -
Organized Drowning – Hawaiian SNUBA Experience
Posted on March 31, 2011 | 2 CommentsA few weeks before leaving on my trip to Lana’i as a participant in the Lanaʻi Visitor’s Bureau New-Media-Artist-in-Residence Program, I was asked if I wanted to SCUBA dive while on the island. I love any water related activity, but I’m not SCUBA certified, although... -
Ultimate Lanai Restaurants and Dining Guide
Posted on March 27, 2011 | 3 CommentsI am a great fan of all things Lana’i. I have been there twice, once on a personal trip and the second time at the invitation of the Lana’i Visitor’s Bureau as part of their New Media Artist in Residence Program. It may not seem... -
Aloha Friday and How it Changed the World
Posted on March 17, 2011 | 3 CommentsMy first trip to Hawaii last year was the culmination of a lifetime of dreaming. I read Michener’s Hawaii when I was in middle school, and from that moment on the isolated island chain had permanent residence in my travel imagination. Last year, I finally... -
Channeling My Inner Indiana Jones – The Quest for the Lanai Petroglyphs
Posted on March 16, 2011 | 2 CommentsWe turned left at the sign pointing away from Kaunolu Village and towards Kaiolohia, otherwise known as Shipwreck Beach. It was the rainy season in Lana’i, and some of the roads were off limits, even though we had a Jeep. Disappointed that some of the... -
Island of Legends – Sweetheart Rock and the Tale of Pehe’s Hill
Posted on March 10, 2011 | No CommentsLocated within sight of Manele Bay on the island of Lanai, is a breathtaking sea tower known as Sweetheart Rock, or Puupehe, the Hill of Pehe. I had read about this small bit of lava that rests about 150 feet off of the highest cliff... -
Southern Exposure – Taking Things Slow on Lanai
Posted on March 8, 2011 | 4 CommentsI used to love watching the 1990′s TV show, Northern Exposure. There was just something so alluring about the small, quirky town on the edge of the known world that instantly drew me in. That’s why I was thrilled to find a real life... -
Trends in Voluntourism: The Kokua Project – Saving Animals in Hawaii
Posted on March 3, 2011 | 12 CommentsKokua While in Lana’i, as part of the Lana’i Visitor’s Bureau New Media Artist in Residence Program, I had the opportunity to meet a truly exceptional person, Kathy Carroll. I was at a small gathering of Lana’i residents when a woman approached and said... -
In Search of the Mouflon
Posted on February 28, 2011 | 11 CommentsFriday, February 18th at 8:42 AM, that’s when I first learned about the mouflon. We had just picked up our jeep for some off road adventures from the small store in Lanai City, and were heading towards the first trail of the day. As we... -
Stepping Back in Time at the Hotel Lanai
Posted on February 23, 2011 | 2 CommentsHotel Lanai If you a frequent, or even infrequent, reader of this site, then you are no doubt aware that I was recently on the island of Lana’i as part of the Lana’i Visitor’s Bureau New-Media-Artist-in-Residence Program. While there, we had the unique opportunity to... -
Choose Your Own Adventure – Lanai
Posted on February 8, 2011 | 3 CommentsSeveral months ago, I announced that LandLopers had been selected to participate in an innovative new program, the Lana’i Visitor’s Bureau New Media Artist-in-Residence Program. The program includes seven travel bloggers who will each visit the Hawaiian island of Lana’i at different times over a... -
Top Romantic Travel Moments – Valentine’s Day Travel Ideas
Posted on February 6, 2011 | 2 CommentsI have mixed feelings about Valentine’s Day. It has always seemed so contrived and artificial, why do we need a day to tell our significant others that we love them? On a personal level, throughout our nearly decade long relationship, my partner and I... -
Lopers Award for Favorite Person of 2010
Posted on December 27, 2010 | 8 CommentsEvery day this week I will be highlighting a favorite travel experience from 2010 with something I call the Lopers Awards. Today I want to share with you my favorite person I met while traveling. It will come as no great shock to anyone that... -
Favorite 2010 Travel Photos: Day 2 – Pearl Harbor
Posted on December 27, 2010 | No CommentsI actually have two photos to highlight today on my list of 2010 favorites. These were taken in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii at the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. I knew that a visit to the site of the Japanese 1941 attack would be moving, but I... -
Conversations with a Hawaiian Waterman
Posted on December 17, 2010 | 1 CommentIn September I attended a conference in Waikiki during which I met one of the most unique people that I have ever come across. I was standing in the hotel ballroom, just like any hotel ballroom in the world, listening to the opening remarks... -
Oprah in Australia: Who Really Benefits
Posted on December 14, 2010 | 1 CommentIn October, I discussed the impending Oprah trip to Australia and what it would mean to Australian tourism. I wrote then, and still believe, that while it obviously will be great for generating buzz and is a PR person’s dream come true, I don’t think... -
Budget Travel Case Study: Lana’i
Posted on November 16, 2010 | 5 CommentsLana i At first glance Lana’i may not seem like the ideal budget travel destination, but looks are absolutely deceiving in this case. I’m not going to discuss airfare since it fluctuates wildly depending on where you live. Without a doubt though, our friends... -
Hawaii Helicopter Tour
Posted on November 16, 2010 | 4 CommentsI have always wanted to ride in a helicopter; you might even consider it a bucket list item. I knew that while visiting Hawaii I had to find a way to see Oahu from the air. You haven’t really experienced the beauty of Oahu until... -
LandLopers Selected for Lanaʻi Visitor’s Bureau New-Media-Artist-in-Residence Program
Posted on November 7, 2010 | 14 CommentsLast week I received a rather cryptic note on my Facebook page asking me to contact the sender about a new program she was developing. Little did I realize that this innocent note would lead to my involvement in an exciting and extremely innovative... -
Welcome to Waikiki – Here’s Your Gun
Posted on October 19, 2010 | 5 CommentsWaikiki is a strange place; I think even the Honolulu Visitor’s Bureau will admit to that. But it serves a purpose and isn’t bad, as long as you combine it with something that is NOT Waikiki. Spending a week there, I had many opportunities to... -
Hoof and a Prayer – Koele Stables Horseback Riding, Lanai
Posted on October 11, 2010 | 4 CommentsHis name was Ace and I wasn’t sure how much he liked me. We had just met, but already his attention was waning and it was a challenge to keep him from arguing with his friends. Once I got a feel for the reins... -
Travel Photo: Three Perspectives of the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
Posted on September 23, 2010 | 8 CommentsVisiting the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial in Hawaii was an incredibly moving and emotional experience; much more so than I had anticipated. Here are three entirely different views of the Memorial which I think capture the spirit of the site. All three photos are striking,... -
Hawaii Discovered
Posted on September 23, 2010 | 4 CommentsBefore my recent trip to Hawaii, I wrote a brief post about the importance of the trip to me personally. The trip was one that I had wanted to make for a very long time and, over the course of my lifetime, I had constructed... -
Island of Lana’i – First Impressions
Posted on September 19, 2010 | 5 CommentsWe had a very hard travel choice to make. At the conclusion of work obligations on the Island of Oahu in Hawaii, we wanted to take some time to see another part of the State and, more importantly, to relax. When one solicits travel advice... -
Natural Beauty of Hawaii – A Travel Photo Series
Posted on September 14, 2010 | 5 CommentsI have been privileged enough to visit many stunning locations around the world; from the Bay Islands of Honduras to small spits of land in the Gulf of Thailand. But few locations compare to the raw, natural beauty of Hawaii. I have spent the last... -
Relish the Hawaiian Puka Dog
Posted on September 13, 2010 | 4 CommentsBefore traveling to the beautiful State of Hawaii, I had several culinary treasures that were on my “Must Eat” list. High on this checklist was the legendary puka dog. I’m not sure how I first learned about the puka dog, probably a guide book,... -
Matt’s Tales of the South Pacific
Posted on September 7, 2010 | 3 CommentsWhen I was fourteen I read both Hawaii and Tales of the South Pacific by James Michener. His elegant and engaging prose immediately drew me in and from that moment onwards it has been a lifelong dream to visit these magical islands. Finally, after twenty...
