A look at a lovely hotel and a fantastic attraction on the Hawaiian island of O’ahu, a look at new Hyatt hotels across Canada, and a taste of Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region in Toronto. Oh, and an Explora Journey’s Black Friday cruise sale! All in today’s blog post.
O’AHU NORTH SHORE: A COOL HOTEL AND THE FAB POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER
Tourism representatives from the north shore of O’ahu were in town recently, giving me a chance to hear more about a terrific part of Hawai’i.
I’ve been to the north shore many times, including a visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center way back in 1968. I’ve sampled shave ice (snow cones) in the fun town of Haleiwa, watched surfers at Waimea Bay, and eaten shrimp at some of the shrimp trucks on the northeast shore of the island. But, somehow, I’ve never managed to stay the night.
One of the people I met over coffee was from the Courtyard Marriott North Shore, which has lovely, bright Hawaiian/tropical designs and looks terrific.
There’s an enormous swimming pool with a small waterfall, and they also have a hot tub/whirlpool. They also have pickleball, corn hole, volleyball and other games, and there’s tons of green space for kids to play.
The Marriott Courtyard North Shore, O’ahu, Hawaii.
They have a good number of activities, including ukulele lessons, lei-making and more. There’s a microwave and refrigerator in all rooms, and they have no resort or destination fees.
The hotel has a variety of rooms, including some with two queen beds and others with a king bed and a sofa bed. They also have a family suite with a king bed and a room with two sets of bunk beds (with twin beds).
The hotel isn’t on the water, but the white sands of Laniloa Beach are right across the street and down a very short path.
I also got to chat with Terry Pane’e, a Hawaiian cultural representative at the Polynesian Cultural Center, which has villages that show the way of life in five Pacific island groups: Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga and Aotearoa (New Zealand). Visitors can watch wonderful dancers, play ancient games, sample Pacific island food, and more.
They also have a luau, a “Breath of Life” show with dancing and “fire knives,” and a cool marketplace with shops and dining options. You also can check out the Iosepa, a 57-foot double hull canoe that’s celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Last month they broke ground on the next chapter of their Hawaiian Village, a living kauhale (family compound) where traditional agriculture, native plants, and mālama ʻāina (caring for the land) come together to honour the past and inspire generations to come.
The Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu, Hawaii.
Prior to our chat at a midtown Toronto coffee shop, Pane’e said a welcome prayer. When we were finished, he got out his ukulele and sang and played a beautiful tune called “Hawai’i Aloha.”
When the last notes were played, several people at the coffee shop applauded loudly. Talk about a great way to start your day.
NEARBY
The hotel is only a few minutes drive from Kualoa Ranch, a verdant, deep green valley surrounded by towering mountains. Parts of Jurassic Park were filmed here. Also close by is Climbworks, which offers everything from ziplines to ATV Rides and Kahuku Farms, which does fun, educational tours.
Haleiwa, one of my fave smaller towns in Hawai’i, is only a half-hour away.
HOW TO GET THERE
The Courtyard is less than an hour from Honolulu Airport.
EMILIA-ROMAGNA FOOD AND WINE IN TORONTO
The Emilia-Romagna region of Italy put on a fantastic food event at the Eataly store/restaurant at the Toronto Eaton Centre this past week. They served up gorgeous wines from the region, as well as Negroni’s and other Italian-style cocktails.
They wheeled out a giant, round block of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, which was utterly magnificent. They also served up fresh coppa and prosciutto, which were bursting with flavour and in no way resembled the stuff that’s served up in plastic at Canadian grocery stores.
“We love this country” an Emilia-Romagna spokesman said. “We want to build great relationships between Canada and Europe.”
Hmm. Maybe they should have invited Prime Minister Mark Carney.
On perhaps a more relevant note, my wife and I had the pleasure of visiting Emilia-Romagna maybe 10 years ago. It’s a lovely region of Italy north of Florence and south of Milan, and is the home to such delicacies as bolognese sauce, Parmesan cheese, Parma ham, and balsamic vinegar from Modena.
The city of Bologna is delightful, and there are several lovely hilltop villages to explore, including San Leo. A visit to the Museum Enzo Ferrari in Modena is also a cool thing to do if you’re a motorsports fan. There’s also the Museum Ferrari Maranello.
HYATT HOTELS IN CANADA
Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced record growth momentum in Canada, where Hyatt’s portfolio of open hotels has quadrupled in under a decade. With more than 40 deals in the pipeline, including 10 hotels expected to open in 2027, Hyatt is on track for its largest year of hotel openings in the country.
“Our growth reflects the strength of our relationships with owners and developers, the breadth of our brands and the flexibility of our development models,” said Julienne Smith, Head of Americas Growth, Hyatt. “Canada remains an important market with significant opportunity to expand our brand presence.”
“As we look toward a record year of openings in 2027, our focus remains on deepening relationships with owners and creating opportunities to grow together,” said Scott Richer, Head of Growth, Canada, Hyatt. “At Hyatt, business is personal. It’s about understanding our owners’ goals, earning their trust and creating lasting value for them and our guests.”
A room at the Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls .Jim Byers Photo
Recent Openings Strengthen Hyatt’s Canadian Portfolio
Hyatt’s recent openings demonstrate its ability to grow its brands across different market types and travel needs while providing owners with access to its portfolio of brands and global commercial platform.
Recent additions include:
- The Clayfield, The Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
- Hyatt Place Vancouver / Metrotown, Burnaby, BC
- Hyatt Regency Niagara Falls Fallsview, Niagara Falls, ON (a fine place to stay; here’s my review)
- Hyatt House Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay, ON
The Clayfield hotel in Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada.
Hyatt’s Canadian Pipeline Adds New Brands, Destinations and Ways to Stay
Park Hyatt Vancouver will mark a significant expansion of Hyatt’s Luxury portfolio in Canada. The anticipated opening will establish a Park Hyatt presence on the West Coast, complementing the iconic Park Hyatt Toronto in the east.
Hyatt is also preparing for the debut of the Unscripted by Hyatt collection in Canada through a collaboration with Haida Enterprise Corporation, the economic development arm of the Haida Nation. Offering independent hotels a flexible path into Hyatt’s global network while preserving their distinct identities, the Unscripted by Hyatt brand will welcome two Canadian properties: Haida House at Tllaal (Tlell) and Ocean House at Tlaga Gawtlaas (Old Massett), both located on Graham Island in Xaadáa Gwáay | Xaada Gwaay.yaay (Haida Gwaii), British Columbia.
Hyatt Select Kingston is expected to open later this year in Ontario, marking the brand’s Canadian debut. In 2027, Hyatt Select Prince Albert and Hyatt Studios Prince Albert are expected to open as a dual-branded development in Saskatchewan, introducing the Hyatt Studios brand to Canada.
EXPLORA JOURNEYS BLACK FRIDAY CRUISE SALE
With Black Friday approaching, Explora Journeys has launched “The Exclusive Invitation,” a limited-time Black Friday offer giving travellers the opportunity to save up to 40% on new Journey reservations across all suite categories.
Explora Journeys
The offer gives travellers two flexible ways to book:
· Full Payment Fare: Up to 40% savings for guests ready to confirm their Journey, with full payment required at reservation. Reservations are non-refundable and cannot be changed.
· Flexible Fare: Up to 30% savings with a 5% deposit at time of reservation and standard cancellation terms.
More than a traditional cruise promotion, the offer provides an opportunity to experience Explora Journeys’ distinctive approach to ocean travel from expansive oceanfront suites and exceptional dining to restorative wellness experiences and inspiring destinations, all designed around a more refined, spacious and unhurried way of travelling.
The Exclusive Invitation offer applies to any new Journey reservations made with Explora Journeys between October 28, 2026 and December 1, 2026. Select exclusions and terms apply. Visit HERE for full offer details.
