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Take A Moment for History During Your Hawaii Vacation

It isn’t exactly the nation’s capital or Philadelphia that you’ll be touring here. In the first place, most of Hawaii’s history is oral – passed along from generation to generation and only recently committed to book and electronic recording.

Hawaii has been a state for just 50 years. Almost half the country was alive when Hawaii became a state.

Our monuments are natural ones. In contrast to the Washington Monument, the Seattle Space Needle, the St. Louis Arch and Independence Hall, we offer Diamond Head, Haleakala, the Na Pali Coast and Kilauea Volcano.

But there is a Historic Honolulu to see. It’s more than worthwhile, and it doesn’t take very long to cover – half a day should do it.

The area is on the Waikiki side of Downtown Honolulu. A good place to start is at the statue of Kamehameha, on King Street across from Iolani Palace. It’s a favorite photographic attraction, commemorating King Kamehameha I, who was the warrior who united (some would say conquered) all the islands. The statue is draped with dozens of 30-foot lei in June to celebrate his birthday, which is a state holiday.

Across the street, Iolani Palace is the only royal residence in the United States. It was built in 1822 by King David Kalakaua and was last occupied in 1893 by Queen Lilioukalani, who was deposed. The grounds are pleasant and welcoming, and inside tours can be arranged during which you can witness the furnishings and amenities that prevailed at the time.

In the same area, the Hawaii State Capitol is worth a look, if only for its non-traditional architectural approach. The Hawaii State Art Museum is a beautiful and rewarding stop, and, on the other side of the palace, Honolulu Hale (City Hall) and Kawaiahao Church are eye-catching landmarks.

The Mission Houses, next to the church, were the original headquarters of the Sandwich Islands Mission, are the oldest structures in Honolulu and provide a link to an era of significant cultural change in the islands. Built between 1821 and 1841, the three mission houses that make up the MissionHawaii Vacation Blog - Hawaii Travel Guide, Hawaii News › Edit — WordPress Houses Museum served as homes and workplaces for the first Christian missionaries to travel to the Hawaiian Islands. The Frame House was shipped around Cape Horn from Boston in 1820 and is the oldest wood house in Hawaii. The Chamberlain House, built of coral blocks, was both a family home and storehouse for mission supplies. The third building today functions as the Printing Office. A working replica of the first printing press to be brought to Hawaii is demonstrated there on a regular basis.

You might consider beginning or finishing your tour of the area at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Aloha Tower once was the tallest structure in the islands and served as a welcoming beacon to the visitors who first reached island shores on luxurious passenger liners. The marketplace features lots of unique shops with international labels, Hawaii-made fashions and crafts, some great restaurants and free attractions – right on the water.

It’s not the most exciting history you’ll ever re-live, but it is unique and enjoyable. If you’d like us to help you work a tour into your vacation plans, pick an agent at Hawaii-Aloha.Com, or call 1-800-843-8771.

Posted by Jim Winpenny

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1 comment March 24th, 2009

Was This a Classic Hawaii Vacation Paradise?

There still are local people who see Waikiki’s high rises, the glittering shopping venues and the luxury hotels and long for the days before the world discovered Hawaii as a vacation destination.

A lot of those folks, of course, weren’t born then or were children. So what was it like in the 1920s? If we could rip back the calendar pages, what would we find?

Starting from downtown and heading toward Waikiki, probably by taxi, you’d go along King Street. Only swampland filled the areas now occupied by Ala Moana Boulevard and Kapiolani Boulevard, the main arteries now. You’d pass the Civic Center, which consisted of Iolani Palace, the Judiciary Building and the new Public Library. In front of the Judiciary Building stood the imposing statue of Kamehameha, already a 40-year-old treasured landmark.

Magnificence and fragrance would strike you as you passed the trees and flowers of the Catholic cemetery. Plumeria was known as the “cemetery flower” and it was abundant in cemeteries. It’s different now, but back then plumeria wasn’t planted in private gardens or used in lei.

People no longer lived in grass houses, but you would pass one that housed an antique and curio shop. Next you’d go by Old Plantation, a mid-Victorian building where the three unmarried Ward sisters lived. That’s now the location of the sprawling Ward Centers.

Now that you were approaching Waikiki, you’d turn onto Kalakaua Avenue. You’d encounter a truck farm at the corner of King and Kalakaua, and beyond it were acres of duck ponds and rice fields.

Waikiki consisted of only the area on the ocean side of Kalakaua. An open-air trolley ran over a trestle through the swamps. You could see the impressive Moana Hotel on the horizon from all directions. Fort DeRussy was a bustling Army post that housed a shoreline artillery detachment whose cannons pointed out to sea to protect the island from enemy warships.

You couldn’t see the beach from the street. It was reachable only via occasional rights of way. The Elks Club still stands on Kalakaua where it was then, renovated of course. It formerly had been the residence of James B. Castle and was perhaps the finest home in the entire Pacific.

That’s about it. Not much to look back fondly on. But we can dream, can’t we?

Posted by Jim Winpenny

Add comment February 17th, 2009

The Royal Hawaiian Re-Opens Again

The fact that Waikiki’s Royal Hawaiian Hotel is reopening is big news this month. After $85 million in renovations, the iconic "Pink Palace" is a shade pinker on the outside and a lot more modern on the inside. There are new and more modern amenities that demanding high-end travelers now expect: granite-and-glass bathrooms, flat-screen TVs and iPod docking stations, for example.

The makeover closed the hotel for seven months. The Royal has welcomed about 50 guests since Decemcer 31 to ease it through its "soft opening" period while finishing touches were added. The next official opening date is January 20, for a ball to celebrate the presidential inauguration of Hawaii-born Barack Obama. The actual grand opening will be on March 7, when the hotel opens all its rooms.

The history of the venerable hotel is generally considered to begin in February of 1927, after it had been built in its present location. Actually, the hotel dates back to February 29, 1872, when it opened in Downtown Honolulu — as the "Hawaiian Hotel" (the "Royal" was added some years later) with a grand ball. It was located diagonally across from the Iolani Palace grounds. At the time it was considered to be " …sufficient to accommodate all travelers that we may expect this way for some time." Apparently it was, at least for about 30 years. In 1901, the Moana hotel was opened on Kalakaua Avenue to accommodate the increasing number of vacationers who preferred Waikiki to Downtown Honolulu.

The Royal Hawaiian saw its heyday during the reign of King Kalakaua, who maintained a suite there and entertained distinguished guests.

In 1917, the land and building were purchased to become the first home of the Honolulu Army and Navy YMCA. Eventually, age, termites and heavy use led to its being razed in 1926. When plans were made in the 1920s for for a magnificent new hotel in Waikiki, it was decided to use the name of the old one. The "new" Royal Hawaiian was acclaimed to be one of the finest hotels in the world, a reputation it has maintained.

The Royal had surrendered its role only once before the recent renovations. It was taken over by the government as a rest and recreation center during WWII for submarine crews and marine fliers. It was refurbished and reopened in January, 1947 with a week of glamor, gaiety and nostalgia.

Once again, we’re glad to see it back.

Posted by Jim Winpenny

1 comment January 15th, 2009

Things To Do In Hawaii When It Rains

Well, it’s wintertime. For most of the country, that means severe — and sometimes terrible — weather. Here in Hawaii it means a little more rain than usual.

Unless we get flooding conditions, which occur sometimes, we don’t care much about the rain. It comes and goes. It’s warm. We rarely carry umbrellas and few of us own raincoats.

But if you’re here for a vacation, rain can keep you off the beaches and discourage you from sightseeing jaunts. Don’t worry. There’s plenty else to do.

On Maui and Oahu, there are really good aquariums. The Waikiki Aquarium is located at the Diamond Head end of Kalakaua Avenue. It exhibits more then 450 species of aquatic animals and plants and it welcomes more then 350,000 visitors a year.

The Oceanarium at the Pacific Beach Hotel is three stories tall with 280,000 gallons full of swimming creatures, and it can be viewed from three different restaurants in the hotel. It houses more then 400 varieties of sealife.

The Maui Ocean Center, Hawaii’s top-rated family attraction, provides an up-close view of Hawaiian marine life. This is a great activity during any vacation to Maui, regardless of the weather. Aptly named “The Hawaiian Aquarium,” this state-of-the-art marine park is the only facility in the world dedicated to fostering understanding, wonder and respect for Hawaii’s marine life. You’ll see spectacular live coral displays (the largest collection in the country), enjoy playful swimming displays by Hawaii’s beloved green sea turtles, have close encounters with sharks, rays and more – while learning about Hawaii‘’s natural history and cultural heritage.

And there are good museums, too.

Bishop Museum on Oahu is a great rainy-day diversion. Plan to spend at least half a day there. The museum was founded by Princess Bernice Pauahi, who collected priceless artifacts and in her will instructed her husband, Charles Reed Bishop, to establish a Hawaiian museum "to enrich and delight" the people of Hawaii. Not only does this multibuilding museum have the world’s greatest collection of natural and cultural artifacts from Hawaii and the Pacific, but recently it also has added a terrific new 16,500-square-foot Science Adventure Center, specializing in volcanology, oceanography, and biodiversity.

Also on Oahu, The US Army Museum of Hawaii has exhibits and educational programs emphasizing the roll Hawaii played in military actions from WWI through the Vietnam Conflict. The museum is located in Battery Randolph at Waikiki’s Fort DeRussy.

The Honolulu Academy of Arts in Honolulu is Hawaii’s premier art museum, with a collection of more than 50,000 works. An encyclopedic museum where original works of art can be experienced in state-of-the-art galleries, it has major strengths in the arts of Asia, European and American painting, and graphic and decorative arts.

Iolani Palace is a Hawaiian national treasure and the only official state residence of royalty in the United States. It was the residence of the Hawaiian Kingdom’s last two monarchs — King Kalakaua, who built the Palace in 1882, and his sister and successor, Queen Liliuokalani. During the monarchy period, the Palace was the center of social and political activity in the Kingdom of Hawaii. The Palace is open for tours from Tuesday through Saturday, with hours varying depending upon the type of tour you take during your visit. It’s closed on Sundays and Mondays.

The Haleiwa Surf Museum is a vintage surfboard museum that was founded in the 1990’s by surfing memorabilia collectors Mark Fragale and John Moore. It’s located in the Marketplace Shopping Center on Oahu’s North Shore.

Each of the major islands has an abundance of museums. Regardless of where you are, you’ll find some worth visiting. Pick an agent from the Hawaii-Aloha Web site, or call 1-800-843-8771. We’ll advise you — or even help you fit some into your vacation planning.

Posted by Jim Winpenny

3 comments January 9th, 2009

Hawaii’s 50th Anniversary of Statehood

Now that it’s 2009, we can watch to see all the promotional and celebratory events that will take place in Hawaii during this year that marks the 50th anniversary of Hawaii’s statehood.

Most of the celebrations will be happy ones, certainly worthy of your notice if you’re thinking of vacationing here during the year. (The third Friday in August is when Statehood Day is recognized.)

But Hawaii’s statehood did not come easily, nor was it universally welcomed in the islands. Here is a brief history of the process:

Back in 1887, a group of the Hawaiian kingdom subjects, members of the Hawaiian government, and American and European businessmen got together and forced King Kalākaua to sign the 1887 Constitution of the Kingdom of Hawaii. That document stripped the king of administrative authority, eliminated voting rights for Asians and set minimum income and property requirements for American, European and native Hawaiian voters. That essentially limited the electorate to wealthy elite Americans, Europeans and native Hawaiians. Queen Liliuokalani succeeded Kamehameha and ruled until she was overthrown in 1893. That year, she had announced plans to establish a new constitution that would have replaced the 1887 Constitution. A group of business leaders and citizens formed a Committee of Safety in opposition to the Queen. United States Government Minister John L. Stevens, responding to a request from the Committee of Safety that expressed concern about possible violence directed against American citizens, summoned a company of uniformed U.S. Marines to come ashore. The presence of those troops made it impossible for the monarchy to enforce its new constitution.

After the overthrow, Queen Liliuokalani was replaced by a Provisional Government composed of members of the Committee of Safety. In the following years, the queen tried to re-establish her throne. The administration of President Grover Cleveland commissioned the Blount Report, which concluded that the removal of Liliʻuokalani had been illegal. The U.S. Government demanded that Queen Liliʻuokalani be reinstated, but the Provisional Government simply refused. Congress then responded to Cleveland’s referral with another investigation, and submitted the Morgan Report by the U.S. Senate in 1894, which found all parties (including Minister Stevens and with the exception of the queen) "not guilty" of any responsibility for the overthrow. The accuracy and impartiality of both the Blount and Morgan reports has been questioned by partisans on both sides of the historical debate over the events of 1893.

A century later, in 1993, a joint Apology Resolution regarding the overthrow was passed by Congress and signed by President Clinton, apologizing for the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom. It is the only time in American history that the United States government has apologized for overthrowing the legitimate government of a sovereign nation.

The Republic of Hawaii was the formal name of Hawaii from 1894 to 1898, when it was run as a republic. Iolani Palace in Honolulu was the republic’s capitol.

When William McKinley became president in 1896, the issue of annexation was revisited. His predecessor, Grover Cleveland, was a friend of Queen Liliuokalani and had remained opposed to annexation until the end of his term, but McKinley was open to persuasion by U.S. expansionists and by annexationists from Hawaii. He agreed to meet with a committee of annexationists from Hawaii in 1897, when he agreed to a treaty of annexation of the Republic of Hawaii. The president then submitted the treaty to the U.S. Senate for approval. Despite some opposition in the islands, the Newlands Resolution was passed by the House and the Senate in 1898, annexing Hawaii as a U.S. territory. Its legality continues to be questioned because it was a United States Government resolution, not a treaty of cession or conquest as is required by international law. Both houses of the American Congress carried the measure with two-thirds majorities.

In 1900, Hawaii was granted self-governance and retained Iolani Palace as the territorial capitol building. Though several attempts were made to achieve statehood, Hawaii remained a territory for almost sixty years. Plantation owners and key capitalists, who maintained control through financial institutions known as the "Big Five," found territorial status convenient because it enabled them to continue importing cheap foreign labor, which was prohibited in many states. Their power was finally broken by activist descendants of the original immigrant laborers. Because they were born in a U.S. territory, they were legal U.S. citizens. Expecting to gain full voting rights, they actively campaigned for statehood for the Hawaiian Islands.

In March 1959, both houses of Congress passed the Hawaii Admission Act and U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law. On June 27 of that year, a referendum was held asking residents of Hawaii to vote on accepting the statehood bill. Hawaii voted at a ratio of 17 to 1 to accept. There has been criticism, however, of the Statehood plebiscite, because the only choices were to accept the Act or to remain a territory, without addressing the issues of legality surrounding the overthrow.

Today, the so-called Akaka Bill is designed "to provide a process for the reorganization of the single Native Hawaiian governing entity and the reaffirmation of the special political and legal relationship between the United States and that Native Hawaiian governing entity for purposes of continuing a government-to-government relationship." The government the bill intends to reorganize is identified as the Kingdom of Hawaii in the first paragraphs of Indian Affairs Committee Report 108-85. The bill remains alive in Congress.

That’s a pretty complicated history to follow and remember, but if you plan to vacation in Hawaii this year, a lot of it will be flurrying in the media and you might want to be at least a little bit tuned in.

Posted by Jim Winpenny

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2 comments January 6th, 2009

Don’t Overlook the Honolulu Mission Houses

In Downtown Honolulu, a small cluster of houses holds some of Hawaii’s most significant history. Unfortunately, it often is overlooked by visitors whose attention in the area tends to focus on Iolani Palace, Kawaiahao Church, the Kamehameha statue, the state capitol and Chinatown.

The Mission Houses, which were the original headquarters of the Sandwich Islands Mission, are the oldest structures in Honolulu and provide a link to an era of enormous cultural change in the islands. Missionaries from New England began to arrive in Hawaii in 1820 determined to convert the Hawaiians to Christianity.

King Kamehameha II viewed the missionaries with mistrust. He imposed a one-year limit to their stay and confined them this then- barren place between Waikiki and Downtown in which to live. They managed to construct only a few grass huts there, which afforded them little shelter and the dry earth made farming on a large scale impossible.

The Frame House on the grounds was shipped around Cape Horn from Boston in 1820 and is the oldest wood house in Hawaii. The Chamberlain House, built of coral blocks in 1831, was both a family home and storehouse for mission supplies. The third building, also of coral blocks, was completed in 1841. Today, it functions as the Printing Office. A working replica of the first printing press to be brought to Hawaii is demonstrated there on a regular basis.

The missionaries are remembered in two lights. They are respected for having created an alphabet that preserved the Hawaiian language, which had hitherto been spoken and sung only. But it also can be said that their spreading of Christianity contributed to the deterioration of the Hawaiian culture.

Few of the original furnishings have survived, although two large desks from the 1830s (sent to Honolulu from Boston) and a rocking chair still exist. Two hurricane lamps from New England, almost 250 years old, can also be seen.

Tours are available at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Groups of more than six should call (808) 531-0481 for reservations.

If you like, we’ll arrange to include a tour in your Hawaii vacation plans. Pick an agent from our Web site home page (Hawaii-aloha.com), or call 1-800-843-8771.

2 comments November 6th, 2008

Enjoying Architecture During Your Hawaii Vacation

Are you an “architecturist,” someone who loves to visit special buildings and maybe have your picture taken in front of as many as possible?

Hawaii is not your ideal destination for that. Our history goes back maybe two hundred years; our architecture little more than one century. This is not Europe or Asia. When you come to visit, you’ll have other things on your mind such as sunshine, beaches, waves, perfect weather, natural wonders …

But there is a small number of buildings worth checking out while you’re here. They have a little history, a little uniqueness and certain qualities of design. You might make a note of them, and take the time to check them out.

Moana Hotel
Now it’s the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel. If you stay in Waikiki, you’ll see it on Kalakaua Avenue, Diamond Head side. This place opened in 1901 and has come to be called “The First Lady of Waikiki.” Renovations began in the 1920’s, but the building’s architectural integrity and elegant ambience have been retained. The huge banyan tree on the beachfront remains, and you should make it a point to swing by, have a cocktail or some tea, and reflect on what Waikiki must have been before tourism became fashionable in the 1940’s.

Iolani Palace
This is the only official residence of royalty in all of the United States. It was re-opened in 1978 as a museum, its rooms restored to reflect their appearance during the monarchy days. There are daily tours, and they’re worth your time, even if you aren’t an architecturist.

Aloha Tower
When it was built in 1926, this was Hawaii’s tallest structure. It welcomed passengers during the so-called “boat days,” when people were discovering Hawaii as a vacation paradise, and it provided a directional guide for sailors. Today, it still welcomes cruise ships. You can go to the observation deck and get a terrific view of Honolulu Harbor and beyond. Its complex is a busy shopping and dining venue.

Hawaii Theatre Center
This neoclassical theater in Downtown Honolulu provided a venue for the arts – film, vaudeville and theater – between 1922 and the 1970’s, after which it showed a hodgepodge of art films, foreign sex films and “B” movies. It was restored and re-opened in 1996. It still reflects the opulence and splendor of its day, stages big-time performances and offers tours of its awesome confines.

The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
Originally designed to house the royal family’s heirlooms and artifacts, it now contains those and other Hawaiian royalty memorabilia; literally millions of plant, mammal and Bird specimens; and an impressive planetarium. It’s worth a visit, not only because of its architecture, but also because it holds a comprehensive collection of just about everything that is Hawaii.

No, you’re not coming to Hawaii for its architecture. But a visit to any of the foregoing buildings will be worth your while. We can help you with directions, or with tours if you’d like go to our website at HAWAII-ALOHA.COM or call 1-800-843-8771.

Posted by Jim Winpenny

3 comments August 1st, 2008

Hawaii’s Visitors and Us Local Residents

Someone on the mainland calls his Hawaii-resident casual friend and says, “A guy who works with me is taking his family to Hawaii for a couple of weeks next month. He doesn’t know what to expect, or even where to stay. Can you help him out?”

This is big trouble for the local guy. A whole family is coming to his island with no place to stay. His casual friend knows he has some extra space and lives near the beach. (In Hawaii, we ALL live “near the beach.”)

The recommended action is for the Hawaii resident to refer his friend’s friend to Hawaii Aloha Travel (hawaii-aloha.com or 1-800-843-8771).

But if he is stupid enough to say, “Sure. Have your friend give me a call,” he is doomed.

To begin with, he will have to put those people up. At his place. Regardless of how many of them there are. (Hopefully it will be four or fewer.) He can swing that, of course, by borrowing a cot and a futon and relinquishing his spare room, and destroying his routine for the necessary week or two. That’s pretty easy.

But now he will have to pick his guests up at the airport. His car probably isn’t big enough, so he will have to either recruit a friend to provide and drive another vehicle, or rent a van.

Now he feels he has to entertain them! Bad thought. That could cost big bucks. Does he want to take them to Sea Life Park? Good idea/bad idea. The admission into that marvelous facility is reasonable enough, but they’ll want to do the neat stuff. They’ll want to swim with the dolphins, of course. That costs between $100 and $200 a swimmer. Hanging out with the stingrays costs $15 a hanger-out. Encountering the sea lions costs $70 - $100 per person. Plunging into the Hawaiian Reef Tank to mingle with eels and turtles costs $60 per mingler. Doing a gamut – playing with dolphins, stingrays, penguins, sea lions and wolphins – runs from $300 to $340 per person. Sea Life Park is a good suggestion … but for heaven’s sake we can’t afford to host the tour!

Whatever we do, we local residents must avoid the temptation to show off our exquisite Hawaiian Regional Cuisine. Sensational as they are, we must resist Roy’s, avoid Alan Wong’s and eschew Chef Mavro. If we have to take our guests somewhere, we take them to Zippy’s, a popular family chain with local comfort food. It’s okay to send guests to the special places where the menu prices hover at about $40 per entrée with the rest of the menu a la carte, but we can’t consider taking them there!

If we want to show off our island (and of course we do), a personal “circle-island” tour will occupy an entire day and use up a tank full of the most expensive fuel in the country. The Iolani Palace Grand Tour? Polynesian Cultural Center? A Haleakala Sunrise tour? A tour of Kauai’s Na Pali coast? A Kilauea Volcano Tour? We’re talking serious time and/or money here. And we can’t even consider having parties at our homes, where friends can help entertain these people whom we barely know. The guests’ kids will terrorize everyone who comes, and at least six people will be offended by one faction or another … with us being burdened with the blame for all of it.

So if you’re considering a trip to Hawaii and have been referred by a friend to someone who lives here, call Hawaii-Aloha Travel first. We’ll do all the heavy lifting. Then you can call that friend in Hawaii and arrange to buy him a cocktail – and spare him the burden of hosting your vacation. He’ll appreciate your aloha.

Posted by: Jim Winpenny 3/21/08

2 comments July 21st, 2008

Free or almost free stuff to do in Hawaii

THiking, performances and some attractions and services are free or almost free. These activities are available all year around that can make an otherwise budget-busting vacation affordable without feeling destitute. Hawaii Vacations

Fresh Flower leis! They are quite inexpensive - ranging from $3.00 upward - and can come in a range of colors and fragrances that will amaze you. You can buy them in Chinatown on Oahu or at any florist in the islands. Buy one for your new bride or simply to make your wife’s Hawaii vacation more special. Take one home for that special someone or show a client your appreciation. Most people will opt for the airport lei greeting. This is a long-standing Hawaii tradition that provides for an official lei greeter to meet you as you step off your flight in Hawaii. The lei greeter drapes you with a fresh floral lei and then you are escorted to the baggage claim area and left to claim your bags. This is a great way to get through the airport and have an opportunity to have someone to assist you with your questions as you arrive. Costing about $10 per person, it’s a perfectly unique and inexpensive way in which to be welcomed to the islands. Hawaii Vacations

Hiking trails are available on all islands and most are free. There are many types of trails, from flat coastal area trails to inland waterfall and strenuous mountain ridge trails. By far the most popular and widely used trail on Oahu is the Diamond Head Crater Summit trail. This hike begins on the crater floor and continues up along the inside of the crater rim toward the summit. Once at the top you are rewarded with a sweeping view of the entire south shore of Oahu from the remnants of an old World War II bunker. Near Hilo on the Big Island is Akaka Falls. What used to be a muddy hike is now a short, safe paved loop from the parking lot through a canopy of tropical trees and flowers which culminates in spectacular views of one of Hawaii’s largest waterfalls. Hawaii Vacations

The Honolulu Zoo is a very popular spot that is enjoyed by many. Situated across Kuhio Beach in Waikiki, it is Hawaii’s largest and most comprehensive zoo. During the summer, concerts are held on the zoo’s grounds in the late afternoons. Zoo admission is $6.00 for those 13 years and older, $1.00 for ages six to 12 and free for those five and under. Admission for the 1999 concert series is only $1.00. Hawaii Vacations

The Waikiki Aquarium is located in Kapiolani Park - just steps from Waikiki Beach. It showcases over 240 species of Hawaiian Islands and South Pacific marine life. You can also get a closer look at Hawaii’s state fish (the Humuhumunukunukua’pua’a). Admission for adults is $7.00 and free for those six-12 years of age. Hawaii Vacations

The Arizona Memorial also is a free attraction; however, tickets are not given in advance so it is recommended that you arrive early and secure a ticket before browsing through the visitor’s center. Ticket distribution begins daily at 7:30 a.m. The most efficient method of getting to or from the Memorial is via the Arizona Memorial shuttle. Round-trip transportation is available for under $10 per person. Hawaii Vacations

The Royal Hawaiian Band has weekly scheduled performances at the Kapiolani Park Bandstand in Waikiki every Sunday between 2 and 3:15 p.m., and on the grounds of the Iolani Palace in Downtown Honolulu every Friday between 12:15 and 1:15 p.m. Also on Fridays in Downtown Honolulu is the Mayor’s Aloha Friday Lunch Time Music Break at Tamarind Park on the corner of Bishop and South King Streets between noon and 1 p.m. Bring a sandwich along and make it a picnic! Hawaii Vacations

On Friday nights, take the time to enjoy the “Strolling Hula Dancers” on Kaläkaua Avenue. This is a unique strolling hula show held between 8 and 10 p.m. Join Clyde Lono, Auntie Pudgie Young and their hula dancers as they stroll along Kalakaua Avenue performing at various points along the way in Waikiki (including the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and King Kalakaua Plaza). Hawaii Vacations

Molehu I Waikiki (Twilight in Waikïkï), where you’ll find a torch lighting pageant, Hawaiian music and hula dancing, is held every Saturday and Sunday night at 6:30 p.m. at Kuhio Beach Banyan near the Duke Kahanamoku statue. Hawaii Vacations

Most of all, remember that the best of Hawaii’s sunsets, sunrises, rainbows, beaches, sand, marine life, scenic vistas, ocean views and waterfalls are ALL free Hawaii Vacations

1 comment July 26th, 2006