If you’re thinking about a Hawaii vacation this year, maybe the time the president-elect spent on Oahu has piqued your interest. Hawaii’s local media are hopeful that Barack Obama’s two visits to his home state this year will provide a boost for a visitor industry that’s rising out of a difficult 2008.
Obama is a kamaaina — one familiar with Hawaii and things Hawaiian. The things he chose to do while here weren’t exactly what the brochures and lure advertising encourage you to do on your vacation. But the things he and his family did — including spending quality time alone with each other — would fill your time here very well. Let’s consider:
Obama played golf. Apparently he isn’t a particularly good golfer, but he enjoys the game and takes his swings with relish. Hawaii has spectacular courses, famous courses and challenging courses. (The Makaha Course is breathtaking, the Sony Open is played at Waialae, and Koolau is considered to be the most challenging course in the world). Obama chose to play close-to-home courses that are somewhat challenging, certainly beautiful and friendly in all aspects. Here, they are considered to be neighborhood courses.
Hawaii has hundreds of beaches, including the famous and the hidden, the big-wave sites and calmer body-surfing areas, the ones that welcome picnicking and camping, and the ones in front of the oceanfront hotels. Obama chose Kailua Beach Park, where Windward Oahu families gather to picnic under the trees and on the grass and enjoy friendly surf in a lovely setting. He also did a little body surfing at Sandy Beach on East Oahu, as he had done as a kid and where teenagers hang today.
He took his kids to the Honolulu Zoo. Now, zoo visits are not unusual in one’s own home town, but Honolulu Zoo’s annual attendance has increased by more than 100,000 over the past five years, and about half of the zoo’s visitors now are tourists. The tourist attendance is not surprising. The zoo is within easy walking distance from all the Waikiki hotels, the weather is almost always perfect for ambling through the zoo’s splendors, and neighboring Kapiolani Park, at the foot of Diamond Head, is always a great place to be.
The Obama family stopped by the Nuuanu Pali Lookout, a kind of must-see stop for any visitor, but a fun place any time to take in the amazing view and literally lean against the strong gusts of the prevailing winds.
Among the few touristy things the Obamas did was spend most of a day at Sea Life Park. It’s a great (albeit expensive) attraction, offering visitors the opportunity to swim with dolphins, see fun shows featuring dolphins, penguins, killer whales and other creatures, feed the seals and manta rays, and even take an escorted private tour of the "back of the house."
Add a couple of dinners in fine restaurants for the sensational Hawaii Regional Cuisine, some sightseeing and a show or two and you can have a full, enjoyable and memorable vacation.
If that sounds pretty good to you, pick an agent from the Hawaii-Aloha Web site (hawaii-aloha.com) or call 1-800-843-8771. We’ll package a vacation for you even a president would enjoy.
Back in 2003, Bethany Hamilton made nationwide news when her left arm was chomped off and carried away by a tiger shark while she was surfing. A photogenic surfer kid, she popped up on many newscasts and talk shows – “Oprah,” “Larry King Live” and “Ellen DeGeneres” among them – demonstrating the aplomb one would expect from someone much older than her 13 years.
The Honolulu Advertiser a few months ago carried a feature story on Bethany. Its headline characterized her as a “woman,” and a woman she has become.
At age 18, she continues to compete internationally as a surfing pro. She’s turning out books, producing videos, accepting inspirational speaking engagements and launching cosmetic products. She is unquestionably an inspiration to teenage girls everywhere. The Advertiser article reports, “Two girls from the Mainland with life-threatening medical conditions recently came to Kaua’i to meet Bethany, thanks to the Make a Wish Foundation. Their wish was to meet Bethany. Bethany spent the day with them and their parents and gave them surf lessons. One of the parents said it was one of the most amazing things they’d ever seen, how their daughter’s whole countenance changed." The article quoted Bethany as saying, "Just by me surfing with one arm, it’s given a lot of people hope going through tough times in life … I’d never take my arm back for anything, so much good has come out of it."
This is the time of year surfers and surfing followers wait for. The Vans TripleCrown of Surfing Series is under way, beginning on Oahu’s north shore.
The Billabong Pro Maui women’s surfing competition — the third and final event of the women’s crown — is the only outer-island event of the world-championship Series. It’s held at Honolua Bay on Maui’s rugged north shore and will crown the women’s world champion. Competition will be held on the two biggest and best days of surf within the designated holding period: December seventh through twentieth.
Honolua Bay Beach is a seldom-visited area of Maui, but it’s worth the trip if you enjoy snorkeling, scuba diving or surfing. The beach is located in a marine life preserve, so the fish are plentiful and the coral formations are spectacular. The right side of the bay has the best snorkeling and diving scenery. Remember that you can’t fish or spear fish here because of its protected designation. Water conditions can vary dramatically in this area depending on ocean currents and rainfall. If you’d like to watch the competition and you are not a local, find a hotel or condo in Maui near the event.
It’s pretty much a given that you’ll be hitting the beach on your Hawaii vacation, even if it’s just to have your picture taken. Some of our visitors are not fond of sun and sand, but wouldn’t dream of going back home without some semblance of a natural tan.
Our beaches rim all our islands, and all of them are accessible to you. (Even at the posh resorts and private estates, where the beaches appear to be private, the beaches are public.) Keep in mind that few of them are patrolled and you swim at your own risk. Never swim alone, and heed any warnings that may be posted. Not all beaches are suitable for swimming, but there’s plenty of other stuff that makes them appealing.
Among the islands, the Big Island usually gets a bad rap when it comes to “great beaches.” You’ll hear that the best beaches are on Maui and Oahu, but that’s like saying the best sunsets are seen from Kauai.
The Big Island actually has more than 80 beaches, and more than a few of those are spectacular and unique. Most are on the Kona (west) side, which is sunnier and where the weather is more consistently mild. (That’s where most of the impressive new resorts have been developed.)
The beaches listed here can be found around the island counterclockwise on the map, starting at the northernmost point. Remember, this is a BIG island! You won’t find it easy to hop from beach to beach on a given day.
Keokea Beach Park. This black-boulder beach is suited for fishing in the calm summer months, but heavy surf makes it a hazardous swimming beach. It has picnic tables, rest rooms, showers, drinking water, electricity and a campsite. (Off Highway. 270, near Pololu overlook. 808-961-8311.)
Mahukona Beach Park. Here in the Kohala District, where sugar was once shipped by rail to be loaded on boats, Mahukona Beach’s old docks and buildings are a happy find for photographers. Divers and snorkelers can view both marine life and remnants of shipping machinery in the clear water. Surf is heavy, often prohibiting swimming. The picnic area has rest rooms, showers, and a place for camping, but no sandy beach. Off Hwy. 270, Mahukona. 808-961-8311.
Spencer Beach Park. This spot is popular with local families because of its reef-protected, gently sloping white-sand beach. It’s safe for swimming year-round. You can snorkel with the sea turtles here (No touching!), and large shade trees hover over cooking and camping facilities. It has showers, empty tennis courts and a large covered pavilion with electrical outlets. The entry road is off Hwy. 270, uphill from Kawaihae Harbor. 808-961-8311.
Kauna’oa Beach at Westin Mauna Ke’a Beach Hotel. It’s a toss-up whether this or neighboring Hapuna is the most beautiful beach on the island. Kauna’oa unfolds like a white crescent, and it slopes very gradually. It’s a great place for snorkeling, but in winter the powerful waves can be dangerous. The beach amenities are hotel-owned and public parking places are limited. Enter through the gate to Mauna Ke’a Beach Resort, off Hwy. 19.
Hapuna Beach State Park. This beach, part of a 61-acre park, forms a 1⁄2-mile crescent of white sand guarded by rocky points at either end. The surf can be hazardous in winter, but in summer the gradual slope of the beach can stretch as wide as 200 feet to the ocean. This is a terrific beach for swimming, snorkeling, and body surfing. Find it between Mauna Ke’a Beach and Mauna Lani resorts, off Hwy. 19. 808-974-6200.
Holoholokai Beach Park. A rocky beach of black-lava formations and white-coral clinkers is fine for surfers and snorkelers, and a small grassy area is available to sunbathers. Bathrooms, picnic tables, and barbecue grills are nicely maintained. Just before the beach park, you can explore historic Puako Petroglyph Park: Malama Trail meanders [7//10] miles through brush and kiawe trees to an area of lava covered with the ancient etchings of Hawaiian figures and animals. Off Hwy. 19 at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows.
‘Anaeho’omalu Beach, at Outrigger Waikoloa Resort. This is an expansive beach is perfectly suited for swimming, windsurfing, snorkeling, and diving. Some equipment is for rent at the north end. Follow Waikoloa Beach Drive to the Royal Waikoloan Resort, then follow signs to the beach.
Ki’holo Bay. Be aware that your access via an unmarked road across a vast lava field requires a 20-minute hike, so take plenty of water. Private homes are built along the oceanfront. The huge, spring-fed Luahinewai Pond anchors the south end of the bay, and the three black-pebble beaches are fine for swimming in calm weather. At the northern end, Wainanali’i Pond (a 5-acre lagoon) is a feeding site for green sea turtles, off-limits to swimmers. You’ll find good swimming here, but no facilities. Hwy. 19, Mile Marker 81.
Kona Coast Beach Park (Kekaha Kai). This sandy white beach nestles in a bay whose surf is gentle. It has a few picnic tables shaded by coconut trees, but no drinking water. Portable toilets are the only additional facilities. You’ll see the sign about a mile north of Keahole-Kona International Airport, off Hwy. 19, then there’s a rough 1- 1⁄2-mile road to beach. 808-974-6200.
Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park. Just down the road from Honokohau Harbor, this is Part of a new 1,160-acre park. You’ll find two beaches, rich in archeology and good for swimming. Honokohau Beach, a 3⁄4-mile stretch with ruins of ancient fishponds, is north of the harbor. The park is being developed as a cultural and historical site. (For information about the park, visit its headquarters, a 5- to 10-minute drive away. The park is off Highway 19, at Honokohau Harbor; or use the park access between Mile Markers 96 and 97. Park Headquarters: Kaloko New Industrial Park, 73-4786 Kanalani St., #14. 808-329-6881.
Old Kona Airport Park. The unused runway — great for jogging or running — is still visible above this beach at Kailua Park, which has picnic tables, showers, bathroom facilities, tennis courts, and palm trees strung out along the shore. The beach has a sheltered, sandy inlet with tidal pools for children, but for adults it’s better for snorkeling than swimming. An offshore surfing break known as Old Airport is popular with Kona surfers. It’s at the north end of Kuakini Hwy. 808-327-4958 or 974-6200.
Kamakahonu Beach. The "King Kam" beach is a popular spot for visitors and locals alike. This beach is conveniently tucked away between the Kailua pier and the King Kamehameha hotel, right on Alii Drive. The surf is calm, so this is a great beach for children. The sand is white, the trees are shady, and the snorkeling is good - especially outside on the cove. This is also a popular spot for SNUBA, dive instruction, and swimming.
Kona Magic Sands Beach. Also known as La’aloa Beach, White Sands, or Disappearing Sands Beach Park. Now you see it, now you don’t. Overnight, winter waves wash away this small white-sand beach on Ali’i Drive just south of Kailua-Kona. In summer you’ll know you’ve found it when you see the bodyboarders and surfers. A volleyball net, restrooms, showers, a lifeguard tower, and a coconut grove create a favorite and convenient summer hangout. This beach is officially called La’aloa Bay Beach Pak. 4-1⁄2 miles south of Kailua-Kona on Ali’i Dr. 808-961-8311.
Kahalu’u Beach Park. This is one of the best snorkeling spots on the Big Island, with a huge variety of fishes in clear shallow waters. The north end of the beach is where the waves break and is best for body boarding and surfing. Check the water conditions; with ocean swells, the water can be murky. Facilities include a pavilion, rest rooms, showers, a lifeguard tower, and limited parking. A narrow path takes you directly to the resort’s Beach Bar & Grill, which serves sandwiches and plate lunches. 5-1⁄2 miles south of Kailua-Kona on Ali’i Dr. 808-961-8311.
Napo’opo’o Beach Park. The best way to enjoy this marine preserve is to take a snorkel, scuba, or glass-bottom boat tour from Keauhou Bay. A 27-ft white obelisk indicates where Captain James Cook was killed in 1779. While this six-acre beach park has a picnic pavilion, the beach consists of rocks, making access into the water difficult. It’s Located at the edge of Kealakekua Bay.
Ho’okena Beach Park. When Mark Twain visited, 2,500 people populated the busy seaport village at the northern end of Kauhako Bay. You can still find gas lampposts dating from the early 1900s. This dark-gray coral-and-lava-sand beach offers good swimming, snorkeling, and bodysurfing. Rest rooms, showers, and picnic tables are available at the park. The access road is narrow and a bumpy two-mile drive by the remains of a stone wall off Hwy. 11, 23 miles south of Kailua-Kona. 808-961-8311.
South Point
Here’s a beach area where jumping into the surf isn’t the first priority. South Point on the Big Island of Hawaii is the southernmost point in the United States – reason enough for a visit. The drive through rural – and volcanic – Hawaii is unusual in itself, but the South Point area, where the first Polynesians are thought to have landed, is amazing. The cliff near South Point Park drops forty feet to the ocean‘s surface. The concept looks inviting, but don’t jump, even though there are ladders to return and you may see daring young people doing it. A swift current runs along the shore that could carry you straight out to sea.
Green Sand (Mahana) Beach. You need good hiking shoes — or a permit and a four-wheel-drive vehicle — to get to this truly green crescent, one of the most unusual and prettiest beaches on the island. The beach lies at the base of Pu’u o Mahana, a cinder cone formed during an early eruption of Mauna Loa; the greenish tint is caused by an accumulation of olivine that forms in volcanic eruptions. Swimming is dangerous in this windy, remote area, and there are no facilities, but in calm water close to the shore, the aquamarine surf feels great and you find yourself in a surreal grass plain landscape. You can get a four-wheel-drive permit from Hawaiian Homelands (160 Baker Ave., Hilo 96720, 808- 974-4250). They’ll give you a key to the gate for a $25 deposit. Follow the trail 2 to 3 miles along the shoreline. It’s 2-1⁄2 miles northeast of South Point, off Hwy. 11. 808/974-4250.
Punalu’u Beach Park. Endangered Hawaiian green sea turtles nest in the black sand of this beautiful and easily accessible beach. Fishponds are just inland. At the northern end of the beach near the boat ramp lie the ruins of a heiau and a flat sacrificial stone. This used to be a sugar and army port until the tidal wave of 1946 destroyed the buildings. Offshore rip currents are extremely dangerous, though you’ll see a few local surfers riding the waves. There are rest rooms across the road. Hwy. 11, 27 miles south of Volcanoes National Park,
Ahalanui Park. This three-acre beach park with a 1⁄2-acre pond heated by a volcanic steam opened in 1993 to replace earlier beach parks that were lost to lava flows. The pond here is good for swimming, but the nearby ocean is rough. Drinking water and a few tables are available for picnicking, and there are portable rest rooms. The park is on the Kapoho coast, southeast of Pahoa, 2-1⁄2 miles south of the junction of Highways 132 and 137. 808-961-8311.
MacKenzie State Recreation Area. This 13-acre park shaded by ironwood trees is good for picnicking. You can’t swim here, but there are rest rooms. The recreation area is off Highway 137, 2 miles south of junction with Highway 132. 808/961-8311.
Isaac Hale Beach Park. The oceanfront park facilities here include rest rooms and picnic areas. It’s a good place for an afternoon nap, but it’s dangerous for swimming. The park is off Highway 137, north of the junction with Highway 132. 808-961-8311.
Leleiwi Beach Park and Richardson Ocean Park. Near Hilo, along the Keaukaha shoreline laced with bays, inlets, lagoons, and pretty parks, these two beaches are adjacent to each other. The grassy area is ideal for picnics. The beaches are rocky and dangerous for swimming, though you can dip your feet in the shallow areas. Follow Kalaniana’ole Avenue east along the water about 4 miles south of Hilo. 2349 Kalaniana’ole Ave. 808-961-8311.
Onekahakaha Beach Park. A protected, white-sand beach makes this a favorite for Hilo families with small children. Lifeguards are on duty year-round. The park has picnic pavilions, rest rooms, and showers. Follow Kalaniana’ole Ave. east. It’s 3 miles south of Hilo. 808-961-8311.
Reeds Bay Beach Park. With rest rooms, showers, drinking water, calm and safe swimming, and proximity to downtown Hilo, this cove is a great attraction on the east side of the island. Cold freshwater springs seep from the bottom of a nearby pond and rise in the saltwater. Banyan Dr. and Kalaniana’ole Ave., Hilo. 808-961-8311.For more information contact Hawaii Aloha Travel.
Winter’s approaching. That’s significant in Hawaii, when the season brings the big waves and attracts the big surfers from all over the world. They arrive in early November in anticipation of competing for one of the most coveted awards in international surfing – the Vans Triple Crown. The event started its six-week run on November 12th and run through December 20. This year’s prize purse will be the largest in the Series’ history: $815,000.
More than 260 of the world’s best competitive surfers — men and women — will seek six titles as well as the series crown. The events all will take place at three venues on Oahu’s North Shore: Haleiwa, Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline.
Each event will have a 12-day window in which it must be completed.
You may have considered surfing to be a very personal activity, surfer against nature, but the Vans Triple Crown is an enormously popular spectator sport and crowds will gather to see the best in the world compete on huge, awesome waves in a gorgeous setting. You might consider being there yourself. Find a hotel near Oahu’s North Shore to watch the surfers compete!
When Hawaii became a state in 1959, our residents were relieved, excited, optimistic … and a little sheepish. We still were out here in the middle of the Pacific. Sure enough, we had been recognized as a tourist destination, but so had Tahiti and Bali. Most of our visitors referred to the mainland as “the states” as if we were pretenders. We were, it seemed, just “sort of” a state, not a full-fledged one.
Half a century later, presidential candidate Barack Obama’s citizenship was questioned during the campaign. After all, his father was Kenyan; Barack had been born way out in Hawaii and had attended schools in Jakarta until sixth grade when he returned to the islands.
In spite of ourselves, we Hawaii residents (Can’t call ourselves “Hawaiians” unless Hawaiian blood is pumped by our hearts) have felt a little like second-class Americans – proud of our islands and all they offer, but not quite fitting in with the contiguous states.
It would take something special for us to get over that hump.
The West Coast went through the same process. The “West” was part of history – the “Wild” West of pioneers, settlers, ranchers and gunfighters – but beyond the mountains lay an area the rest of the country cared little about although big cities had been established and Easterners were moving west.
In 1957, Walter O’Malley took the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles and Horace Stoneham took the Giants from Upper Manhattan to San Francisco.
Virtually overnight, the West Coast was in the Big Leagues. The Bay Area and Southern California were recognized nationally as key players.
Half a century later, our islands began to creep into the hierarchy of national prominence.
No, we can’t be called “Big League.” Our professional sports remain restricted to surfing, a few pro golf tournaments and competitions such as the Iron Man Triathlon and the International Billfish Tournament.
But there have been strides.
Hawaii’s music now is being recognized and honored. Not so long ago, a laid-back Don Ho was our voice. Today, Israel Kamakawiwo`ole, posthumously, is leading the way, and our music is being heard and respected around the world.
Big-ticket international performers know they can fill our venues, including Aloha Stadium, with ardent and passionate fans.
Hawaii has become an international film center, hosting The Hawaii International Film Festival (HIFF) and gaining worldwide respect as an ideal location for myriad projects. Long-running TV series find ways to locate here for episodes – often several episodes.
The Sony Open, the UH football team’s undefeated 2007 season, the NFL Pro Bowl and the Honolulu Marathon all have attracted top-of-the-mind attention from sports fans around the world.
Our islands are among the more appealing travel destinations globally. Our better hotels are authentically world-class. Our beaches and natural wonders are many and splendid.
Our cuisine has become as distinctive as New Orleans’s. Hawaii Regional Cuisine uses our islands’ fresh produce, meat and seafood to concoct wonderfully creative and toothsome dishes, imaginatively presented. Not only has Hawaii Regional Cuisine taken Island dining to a lofty international level, it’s also established Hawaii-grown products as being among the finest in the world.
Our physicians, scientists and teachers are amazing the world with discoveries, new techniques and, yes, cures. Honolulu has become an international business center and technology mecca.
New York would trade its skyline for our climate. Philadelphia would jettison its slogan if it had our aloha. San Francisco would give up its bridge for our neighbor islands. How many Chicagoans have ever seen a rainbow?
But until very recently it seemed that we still were reflecting a sense of being “way out here in the Pacific.” We hadn’t had confidence in who we are and where we stand. We continued to think we were insignificant members of the USA community.
Boy, has that ever changed!
One of our guys is going to be President of the United States. Another one, Sen. Daniel Inouye, will hold the nation’s purse strings as Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. One of our athletes, Shane Victorino, is a key member of the world-champion Philadelphia Phillies and acknowledged as the best center fielder in his league. Another, Bryan Clay, is the Olympic decathlon champion.
We’re making news – positive news. We sense the rest of the world has noticed us and has acknowledged our contributions to its progress.
Suddenly, we can consider ourselves players. We can feel proud of who we are beyond the beaches.
We’re prouder than ever to show ourselves off to you. Hurry on down.
It looks a little strange at first. You see a guy standing on a surfboard holding a canoe paddle and cruising along as if he were on a raft on a lake or calm river.
He’s SUPing. While Stand Up Paddle boarding is considered an “emerging” sport worldwide, it’s origin is strictly Hawaiian and it can be traced back to the days when surfing instructors used the technique to manage large groups of learner surfers. Standing on the board gave them a higher point of view that made it easier for them to see what was going on around them — such as an incoming swell.
Recently, it has become an alternative way to ride surf and as a means of staying in shape, and it’s gaining popularity as the demands for global-conscious green sports increase.
Pure surfers have converted because of the versatility of the new sport. Stand up paddle boarding offers a better view of incoming sets and gives surfers the ability to catch more waves in a set.
A custom SUP board costs from $900 to $1500 new. The boards are usually between nine and 12 feet in length. Some come with special features such as padded decks, concave hulls, and surfboard-style fins in the stern for stability.
Beach-service concessions on Waikiki Beach and in the busy beach areas on some neighbor islands now offer stand up paddle lessons and rent the equipment. If you’re a beginning surfer, by all means take lessons. You’ll begin with a land lesson where your instructor goes over safety tips, balance, positioning, turning, and the equipment and how to properly use it. After the land lesson, you’ll be escorted into the water and your instructor will help you with paddling techniques in the water.
It’s really a lot of fun, and it’ll give you something neat to talk about when you return home from your Hawaii vacation.
Winter’s approaching. That’s significant in Hawaii, when the season brings the big waves and attracts the big surfers from all over the world. They arrive in early November in anticipation of competing for one of the most coveted awards in international surfing – the Vans Triple Crown. The event will start its six-week run on November 12th and run through December 20. This year’s prize purse will be the largest in the Series’ history: $815,000.
More than 260 of the world’s best competitive surfers — men and women — will seek six titles as well as the series crown. The events all will take place at three venues on Oahu’s North Shore: Haleiwa, Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline.
Each event will have a 12-day window in which it must be completed.
You may have considered surfing to be a very personal activity, surfer against nature, but the Vans Triple Crown is an enormously popular spectator sport and crowds will gather to see the best in the world compete on huge, awesome waves in a gorgeous setting. You might consider being there yourself.
If you’ve decided to vacation on the beautiful island of Kauai, you can consider either the north or the south part of the island. Both are terrific for visitors, with wonderful stuff to see and do all in between. Up north, you have Princeville and Hanalei; at the south, there’s Poipu Beach. If you choose Poipu Beach, where you plant your towel in the morning probably will be determined by where your hotel stands on the beach; but actually, Poipu Beach has adjoining beaches with special characteristics of their own. Make a note if any of these sounds particularly interesting to you:
Lawai Beach If you like to — or want to — snorkel, here’s your spot. At the western end of the Poipu stretch, this narrow strip affords calm waters and great snorkeling, without a beach clutter of sunbathers and waders. Breaks from an offshore reef farther out attract local surfers.
Baby Beach This protected cove nestled between Lawai Beach and Poipu Beach is perfect for very young children.
Mahaulepu Beach This beach feels really remote. It’s two miles east of Poipu Beach and you’ll have to pass a security shack. (The beach usually closes by 6 p.m. in the winter and 7 p.m. in the summer). Mahaulepu is popular with visitors as well as locals, who come to wind surf, swim, snorkel, fish or just sunbathe.
Brennecke’s Beach Dr. Marvin Brennecke stowed away after the turn of the last century to reach Kauai, where he became a plantation doctor until he retired in 1972. He bought a lot on the beach east of Poipu Beach and built a house on it. The house was destroyed by hurricane `Iwa in 1982 and the lot was subsequently acquired by the county in order to expand Poipu Beach to the west. This is a very nice protected area for swimming, snorkeling, body surfing and boogie boarding; and offshore surf breaks attract the more experienced surfers.
Shipwreck’s Beach Shipwreck’s Beach is a long, lovely stretch of sand east of those five. Best suited for experienced surfers because of its short shore-break, is ideal to sunbathe and walk along … and you may want to extend your walk onto a spectacular shoreline trail that goes east for a couple miles.
As is the case with all the islands, we can help you focus on the areas and activities that will suit your preferences, and we’ll be able to suggest things that mainland-based agents have yet to discover. Pick one of our agents on our Website, or call 1-800-843-8771
Visitors to Hawaii seem to love Robert Wyland’s work. He’s the marine artist and entrepreneur whose paintings and prints are selling like crazy. Local residents – especially the "fine artists" who capture Hawaii’s essence and beauty – don’t seem to love him as much. In the past few years he has seemed a little manic with all the projects he has going. It’s the "entrepreneur" part of his work they resent. His self-themed Waikiki hotel opened recently. He keeps a penthouse office and apartment there. Then last week he called a news conference that was sort of all over the place. He barely touched on his one hundredth – and final – "Whaling Wall" mural, which will feature 45-by-12-foot canvasses painted by children, each representing aquatic life in their homelands. Out of almost nowhere he announced his plan to take over the historic Coco Palms property on Kauai and develop it. He said he wants to create a Hawaii license plate to help raise money to preserve the Turtle Bay area on Oahu at the same time he is quibbiling with the California Coastal Commission over the use of a fundraising plate he designed for them. On July 22nd, he will unveil in China the first of 100 life-size sculptures of sea life he will create.
Mahaulepu Beach
Dr. Marvin Brennecke stowed away after the turn of the last century to reach Kauai, where he became a plantation doctor until he retired in 1972. He bought a lot on the beach east of Poipu Beach and built a house on it. The house was destroyed by hurricane `Iwa in 1982 and the lot was subsequently acquired by the county in order to expand Poipu Beach to the west. This is a very nice protected area for swimming, snorkeling, body surfing and boogie boarding; and offshore surf breaks attract the more experienced surfers.
Shipwreck’s Beach
Visitors to Hawaii seem to love Robert Wyland’s work. He’s the marine artist and entrepreneur whose paintings and prints are selling like crazy. Local residents – especially the "fine artists" who capture Hawaii’s essence and beauty – don’t seem to love him as much. In the past few years he has seemed a little manic with all the projects he has going. It’s the "entrepreneur" part of his work they resent. His self-themed Waikiki hotel opened recently. He keeps a penthouse office and apartment there. 
Then last week he called a news conference that was sort of all over the place. He barely touched on his one hundredth – and final – "Whaling Wall" mural, which will feature 45-by-12-foot canvasses painted by children, each representing aquatic life in their homelands. Out of almost nowhere he announced his plan to take over the historic Coco Palms property on Kauai and develop it. He said he wants to create a Hawaii license plate to help raise money to preserve the Turtle Bay area on Oahu at the same time he is quibbiling with the California Coastal Commission over the use of a fundraising plate he designed for them. On July 22nd, he will unveil in China the first of 100 life-size sculptures of sea life he will create.
