Hawaii Dream Vacations

June and Wayne Farmer came to Hawaii in July to cruise on the NCL Pride of America.  Instead of lounging on the beach sipping Mai Tais, the Farmers opted for more adventure on their Hawaii trip and went fishing while in Kona.   The Blue Marlin they caught was 9 ft, 2 inches and weighed in at a whopping 210 pounds! 

"I caught him off the coast of Kona, Hawaii. Catching the Blue Marlin was the most exciting experience, yet the most physical thing I have ever done. When he grabbed the hook, he ran and came flying out of the water and it was awesome, I knew that he was going to be big, and it took me over an hour to bring him in, there were several times when I wanted to give up, but the crew on the fishing boat would not let me. My husband and I want to go back to Kona just to go deep sea fishing, he said he must redeem himself." - June Farmer - Temple, Texas

"We had an absolutely fabulous trip.  It could not have been better.  It did rain off and on but it didn’t matter.  Our room #1087 was incredible along with the view.  The maid service rated excellent. The car we received was even bigger than ordered which worked out better for all our luggage.  The hotel was wonderful and we will always go back there I think as long as kids are with us.  All of the goodies, breakfast, chocolate cookies in room from you were wonderful.  Our boys surfed, did snuba and we ate at various places…the breakfast buffet is scrumptious, pools for all ages and the pool service and employees all friendly.  Best location and really nice beach.  All was great…  Everything you did for us was perfect, all worked out fabulously and we would use you the next time…and next time!" - Vicci Wilkins

Thanks Vicci!

If you’re coming to Hawaii for the first time, you’re probably asking yourself "Where can I go for the most ‘authentic’ Hawaiian luau?" 

The best lu’aus on the island of Oahu are Germaine’s, Paradise Cove, and the Ali’i Lu’au at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Germaine’s.  Personally, this is my favorite lu’au on the island because of the small, "backyard" style feel.  The atmosphere is quaint, the food is typical Hawaiian style, and the entertainment is great.  Located about 45 minutes from Waikiki on beautiful oceanfront grounds, Germaine’s operates every night except Monday.  The rate is $65 for adults, $55 for juniors 14-20, $45 for children 6-13, and kids 5 and under are free.  This includes roundtrip transportation from Waikiki, the buffet, three cocktails (limited selection though and you have to pay more for certain beers and wine), unlimited soft drinks, and the show.
 
Paradise Cove.   Paradise Cove is much more elaborate and larger than Germaine’s.  Kids love it, with games, arts & crafts, and Polynesian demonstrations, in addition to the typical show.  Rates start at $73/person with roundtrip transfers and higher priced packages are available.  The difference in price among packages is basically based on where your seats are and how many drink coupons you get.

Polynesian Cultural Center.   The Polynesian Cultural Center’s lu’au is huge - with an indoor/outdoor amphitheatre.  This is a great addition to your day if you’re planning on spending the afternoon at the Polynesian Cultural Center.  Be aware that there’s no alcohol allowed on the premises, although the selection of tropical fruit juices concoctions is nice.  There are several different packages available, starting at around $99/person with transfers from Waikiki.

For specific package rates, or to book your lu’au, call us today.

1-800-843-8771 ext. 23 - ABBY

Cruising is an excellent and economical way to experience several of the Hawaiian Islands without having to hassle with arranging accommodations, inter-island transportation, meals, and so on. 

When searching for cruise fares, the original price you see on a promotion, such as $899/person, usually doesn’t include government taxes.  Government taxes are around 6%, so if your cruise fare is $899, you can expect to pay an additional $54 in taxes.  Due to the insane price of oil now, the majority of cruise lines now also charge a fuel supplement, which ranges from around $5 to $7 per person per day.  Therefore, the total price for a 7-day cruise with an $899 cruise fare will be about $1002.  This will be the initial amount that you pay to confirm your cruise.  When negotiating a price with your travel agent, be sure to ask if there are any special promotions available for a specific sail date.  Also, if you are over 55 years old, a member of a union, or active or retired military, be sure to mention these things because you may be eligible for additional discounts as well.

Once your cruise is confirmed, the price that you pay upfront at the time of booking includes your stateroom, all-you-can-eat meals, daily entertainment, and a wide variety of onboard amenities, such as the use of a fitness center, pools, hot tubs, volleyball courts, arcades, the list goes on…  If flights were included in your cruise package, then roundtrip transfers from the airport will be included as well.  If you purchased flights separately, then you will need to arrange transportation separately.  Transfers can be booked through NCL for $50/person roundtrip, or you can decide to take a cab or limo.  The airport is only about 20 minutes from the pier.

Then the question is how to plan the budget for your trip based on what you’ll likely spend once you get to Hawaii.  Obviously, you’re not going to spend the entire time on the ship, especially since most Hawaii cruises really focus on spending the days on the various islands and cruising is done mainly at night.  The following is a list of some of the additional expense you should  budget for after your initial cruise package is paid for:

• Shore Excursions - start as low as $29/person, all the way up to hundreds of dollars per person depending on what’s included in the tour and the length
• Meals at Specialty Restaurants - cover charges range from about $15 - $25/person
• Certain Fitness Classes - some specialty classes in the fitness center will require an additional fee to participate, usually $5 - $10 per class
• Spa Treatments
• Alcohol
• Daily Service Charge - $10/person per day will be automatically charged to your onboard account while on the ship to cover the cost of gratuities

To book your Hawaii cruise and to get the best value out there, call or email today for a quote.
 
Abby Lapointe, Hawaii Aloha Travel
Direct line: 808-237-5263
Toll-free: 1-800-843-8771 ext. 23. 
Email: abby@hawaii-aloha.com

As a travel agent and Hawaii resident, I’m frequently asked for recommendations on great places to see and "must-dos" on Oahu.  Since the majority of hotels on the island are condensed in the small metropolitan beachfront resort area known as Waikiki, a bustling city with endless activities and constant entertainment, many travelers come to the island and never leave the city.   And although Waikiki is a gorgeous, vibrant, and unique metropolis, if you really want to experience Oahu, you need to get out of Waikiki!  Rent a car for a day or two and explore, and you’ll find that the island is so incredibly diverse and has so much to offer, from peaceful white-sand beaches to breathtaking mountain ranges and miles of pineapples fields.

I live on the windward side of the island, in a quaint beach community called Kailua, which sits on what I argue to be one of the most beautiful stretches of paradise in Hawaii.  The trip from Kailua to "Town" (Honolulu and Waikiki), is a short 30-minute drive over the mountains on the Pali Highway, however, many of us rarely leave the comforts of the windward side.  With that said, I love making the trip over the mountains to the big city, and I’ve come up with a list of some of my personal favorite places in Waikiki.

Duke’s Bar & Grill on the beach at the Outrigger Waikiki is a classic place to start an evening.  Kamaaina (Hawaii residents) and tourists both love the fun atmosphere and nightly entertainment.

The New Waikiki Beachwalk.   This brand new section of Waikiki has several great shops, restaurants, lounges, and galleries.  My absolute favorite is the Yard House - this quaint restaurant/lounge has a huge assortment of beers and great food, especially the "pupus" (appetizers).

Waikiki Beach.  One of my favorite things to do is bring a book and snacks and lounge for a day and watch all the people passing by.  Hawaii is known for the unique blend of all sorts of people, and Waikiki Beach is probably one of the best places to people-watch in the world.

Sunset on the Beach.  On the weekends, FREE movies are shown on a 30-foot wide screen on the end of Waikiki Beach across from the Honolulu Zoo.  Before the movies, there’s live music presented by local musicians and tons of food.  Seats are already set up, or you can bring your own (or a towel) and plop there right on the sand.

Indigo.  If you’re looking for a good martini and a great atmosphere to enjoy nightly entertainment and dancing, make a visit to Indigo, located near the Hawaii Theater.  This funky, hip restaurant also boasts an excellent menu and an extensive wine and drink list as well.

Hau Tree Lanai.  This gourmet beachfront restaurant at the New Otani Hotel, on the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, was my first taste of fine dining on the island when I first moved here, and it’s been my favorite ever since.  The restaurant is romantic and classy, nestled under an enormous Hau Tree.  The view of the sunset past Waikiki is breathtaking and the food will melt in your mouth.  I get hungry just thinking about the Avocado Crab Crusted MahiMahi!!!

I hope this helps get you started on your adventures in Waikiki and urges you to come up with a list of your own special and unique places in the city.  I’d love to hear them!

Abby

Hawaii Aloha Travel
abby@hawaii-aloha.com

The endless buffets, pizza stands open all hours of the night, hours of lounging on white sand beaches sipping Mai Tais - the idea of a cruise vacation normally doesn’t seem to compliment a healthy lifestyle based around smart eating and staying in shape. 

This isn’t so with Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), who has partnered with the healthy food magazine (and where I must admit I get many of my "secret" recipes), Cooking Light, to provide healthy meal option onboard the NCL ships.  Since 1999, NCL incorporates appetizer, entree, and dessert recipes provided by Cooking Light into the menus on their ships.  I was so excited when I heard this, considering that NCL is the main cruise line sailing throughout Hawaii and for me, the most familiar and the closest to home.

NCL also offers fitness rooms, tracks, and rock climbing walls, among many other amenities, on their ships so a cruise with NCL doesn’t have to completely sabatoge all of your efforts at staying healthy.

I can’t wait to try the sauteed tilapia with lemon-peppercorn sauce on my next cruise!