It was a very good sear...

As a haole in Hawai'i I am on a constant quest to maintain that coveted golden glow. One may think that only vacationers from the mainland are truly interested in bringing home the Maui Brown, but look at it from my perspect: I am home, which means I gotta bring the brown every day. Tanning is a chore, but it doesn't have to feel that way. I like to combine the task, making otherwise fruitless daily activities more rewarding.  For example,

(Pretending to) garden...
I like to water my plants (sometimes) shirtless (always).

Walking the dog...
I took care of a dog for 4 months and walked her everyday, shamelessly shirtless. Two birds, one tan.

Exercising...
What's the difference between running outside and working out at the gym? Outdoor runs are for accomplishing your task during peak tanning hours, gymming is for admiring your tan at night. That's why there's mirrors at 24. 

Driving...
Sorry, you're looking at a trucker's tan if you don't do it shirtless.  But please be respectful and put your shirt back on before you enter Foodland. Just because "No Shoes, No Shirt" isn't strictly enforced here, doesn't make it a best practice.

Days of rays at Kaimana Beach, just east of Waikiki.

The hue of your target tan depends, of course, on your natural hue. I generally aim for somewhere within the spectrum between tangerine dream and weathered leather.  Whatever your goal, always use protection. My go to screen is Banana Boat Green Tea SPF 8.  If you are of milkier descent, you may want to start with 70.  Once protected I'll add a coat of Maui Browning lotion. It contains coffee extract and potassium iodide, leaving just a hint of that purpley hue every deep tan deserves.

So where's the best place to get it done in town? I like to check-in at Kaimana Beach, on the diamond head side of Waikiki. There's plenty parking (metered and not) at the adjacent Kapionlani Park, and it's a lot wider from shorebreak to tree line than most of the other parts of Waikiki. Plus, if you hit the beach at the right time in the late afternoon, skip the shade of the palms and claim your spot beneath the large windows of the New Otani Hotel, which act as a magnifying glass providing bonus rays for only the most discerning tanners.

Twas a very good sear.