Any normal Saturday there would be a line in front of Boots and Kimos in Kailua, even after the popular breakfast spot’s recent move into much larger quarters. But on Tsunami Saturday, it was closed; residents and visitors alike had sought safety. Across the street, Safeway’s parking lot had been filled at 3 am with check-out lines reaching to the back of the store. People stocked up on batteries, bottled water, toilet paper and diapers, rice and spam. At 11 am it, too, was deserted although the store remained open.
Tsunami preparations turned the clock upside down, disrupting personal schedules and public events. In many ways it was like every disaster movie you’ve ever seen with two huge differences: the tsunami spared Hawaii any serious damage and people did not panic. Everywhere, I saw evidence of the equanimity and graciousness that is called "aloha." In congested traffic there were no angry horns blaring. People in check-out lines chatted with one another, allowing over-filled carts to squeeze past with a smile. The atmosphere where people gathered along mountain look-outs was described as a block party.
Like many others, I went for a couple of missing essentials (coffee and bread) at 4 am. I had learned of the warning from a UH alert when I awoke a few minutes earlier and was surprised to see the store already packed. That’s pretty fast work even for the coconut wireless (word of mouth). The woman next to me said the news that Hawaii was under a watch had been reported at 10 pm. They continued listening and when the watch was upgraded to a warning they loaded up the family, stopping at the grocery store stop en route to higher ground. With this new information, I asked the beleaguered check-out clerk "Has it been like this all night?" She smiled and nodded without missing a beat in scanning items at the register. I still got the customary personal greeting and smile as she handed me the receipt and moved on to the next in an endless line.
Unlike most others, I ventured out just before the tsunami was scheduled to hit the big island. I wanted to see if the roads were blocked and what else was going on (without getting into the evacuation zone.) A few people were still out and about but most stores had closed to allow employees to stay off the roads and care for their families. I stopped at a wonderful new store, Hibachi, to pick up some champagne and poke to celebrate our first tsunami in Hawaii. The store owner came by to suggest a good champagne choice and see if I needed anything else. As I pondered the poke possibilities, another customer approached the counter and gave his order. Then he saw me and said in genuine concern, "Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t see you there. I didn’t mean to get in front of you — go ahead." I told him I wasn’t ready yet, he was fine, but thanks.
In the final few minutes before what could have been a natural disaster, everyone was calm and concerned about one another. A national news headline said there was "panic" but I saw none. I saw the same aloha that I enjoy every day here in Hawaii.
Last night Yaling and I attended the Year of the Tiger celebration put on by the folks at Yelp! These Yelpers know how to throw a party! They had a Lion dance, photo booth and free food and drinks for everyone! Sponsored by a new restaurant which opened in December called KA! at Ward Warehouse.
A lot of questions I get asked a ton is, "Is the Sunrise on the summit of Haleakala popular?" Also, "Is it worth getting up early in the morning to see the sunrise up there?" I always answer yes to both questions. Haleakala (Ha Lei Ah Ka La) Sunrises are always a blessing to see. I have been up there many times to witness the beautiful sunrise. When I was back in high school, the Baldwin High School Hawaiian Club was asked by the Federal park rangers to perform the E’ala’e (Ehh Ah La Eh) Sunrise chant for the tourists. Much of us once we saw the sun start to rise stopped to take in the breath taking scene happening. Tourists all around us from what I witnessed were taking a lot of pictures and just in total shock on what they were seeing. Some of them even teared up because the sunrise was so beautiful. You have to pay $10 for a 3 day park pass at the Security/Ranger Station Booth before traveling to the summit. Very Important Tips are written below.
Basic Tips for Haleakala Sunrise Trips:
Weather:
-Always check with the Ranger Station or log on to a local Maui Weather Website to check for current conditions.
Sleep/Wake Up Times
Kihei/Wailea/Makena/Central Maui Vacationers
Basically you need to get to sleep around 7-8 PM (1900-2000) wake up at like 2:30-3:00 AM (0230-0300 for the military folk). Total Driving time from South Maui/Central Maui to Summit about 3.5 hours.
Lahaina/Napili Vacationers
For the people staying in Lahaina or as far as Napili figure on an earlier sleep and wake up time to accommodate travel from the West Side to the Summit. Basic sleep schedule 5/6 PM (1700-1800) Wake Up Midnight-12:30 AM (2400-0030 Military time) Total driving time from West Maui to Summit 4.5 to 5 hours.
Vehicle Tips (Important):
-Make sure to have a full tank of fuel in your rental vehicle before heading up to Haleakala
-Test Your head lights, tail lights, and break lights before departing your hotel/condo
-Once you hit Crater Road drive very slowly going up and coming down.
-Test your breaks (You will need to break a lot due to the windy/narrow roads up/down)
-Leave anything you don’t need at your hotel/condo (Utilize the safety deposit box in your hotel/condo)
Typical Dress Tips:
Wear a long sleeve shirt or sweatshirt, pants (heavy jeans/sweat pants), covered shoes, and bring along a jacket or parka due to cold temperatures.
Word from the Ranger Station, "Please do not take any lava rocks, pet the Nene Geese, or vandalize the silver sword plants. Always stay in the mark visitor areas. Walk slowly and do not run due to the high altitudes. If you experience a Medical Emergency contact the Ranger Station Supervise your children at all times.
Your Safety. Please remember that you are entering a natural area where you are responsible for your safety. If you have doubts or concerns about any activity or situation, please seek the advice of park rangers at one of the visitor centers.
Summit Area - Mountain
The high altitude at the summit area may complicate health conditions and cause breathing difficulties. Pregnant women, young children, and those with respiratory or heart conditions should consult their doctors prior to traveling to high elevations. To help avoid major safety concerns, be sure to walk slowly at high elevation, drink lots of water to avoid dehydration, and check in often with elderly friends or relatives to make sure they’re doing okay. Turn back and seek medical aid if you have health concerns.
Report accidents, violations, and unusual incidents to park staff. Prohibited activities include: hunting, use of firearms, rollerblading, skateboarding, or disturbing any natural or cultural features. Bicycles are restricted to paved roads and parking areas.
Most Important: Have Fun!
That Covers the Maui Haleakala Sunrise! Enjoy your vacation on Maui and Hawaii! A Hui Hou!
One of the greatest things about being in Hawaii is that you always have access to a beach. It is guaranteed by law "The public has a right of access to and along all beaches and shorelines in the State …" In Lanikai and Kailua, people have built houses along the beach but there are alleys that lead from the street to the water to provide access. Even the beautiful estate of Doris Duke "Shangri-La" has a strip of beach between it and the ocean that is open the public. While attending talks there, I’ve watched people swim and fish from the rocks and sand below.
This legal access means more because the beaches are so close on these islands. It’s easy to catch a bus or even walk to the beach from most places (although I’m sure that’s less true on the Big Island). It is not uncommon to see vacationers at Kailua bus stops going to the beach on the windward side of the island from their hotels in Honolulu. Of course, Waikiki hotels are right on the beach, an easy stroll from most rooms.
I think convenient beach access is one reason Hawaii ranks as one of the happiest states. Recently, a fellow student and I were preparing for a difficult exam. The week before the exam, we each independently decided that part of preparing would involve a day to relax on the beach. The sound of the waves is like a massage from the inside out - deeply soothing. Beaches are also social, like a park or central commons. It’s fun to watch babies squeal and run from the waves, or dogs chase toys down the beach. A visit to the beach is an escape from daily chores, whatever they may be.
I’ve come to rely on an occasional visit to the beach. When I’ve been working and/or studying too much, I get grumpy and I know it’s time to head for the water. It relaxes me in a way that a nap or even a massage do not. No matter how many attractions you may think you need to see, when you visit Hawaii leave time to really enjoy a morning or afternoon on the beach. It’s free! (But be sure to take precautions for the wonderful tropical sun.)
The Akaka Bill is back in the news, having once again passed the U.S. House of Representatives. ( It failed in two previous attempts to get Senate approval but prospects look better for passage this time.) Rather than describe the provisions of the bill, I’d like to give you a way to look at the efforts to establish self-governance for Native Hawaiians and what that process means to casual visitors to the islands.
The perspective to keep in mind is this: nearly everyone agrees that something needs to be done to both address past maltreatment of the indigenous peoples of Hawaii and to provide a means of moving forward for all residents of the state. However, it is much harder to agree on what, exactly, that "something" is. As one example: the bill includes a way to identify who is Native Hawaiian and, no matter where the line is drawn, some who consider themselves to have deep and abiding roots in the land and culture of Hawaii will fall outside the definition. As you might imagine, this is a deeply personal issue and it ignites passionate responses. Governance issues like these will be debated by Hawaii residents and government leaders in the years to come. However, if you have no interest in the discussion, it is unlikely to touch your daily activities.
The second thing to keep in mind is that many of the specific concerns of Native Hawaiians - not political governance, but how they are treated - are already being dealt with in one way or another. A state can’t just put important decisions on pause while Congress waits to act. There is an Office of Hawaiian Affairs that now serves as the focal point for Native Hawaiian concerns. ( It is a state agency but is not under the control of the governor.) The planned light rail project is a issue of this type because it is certain to displace many traditional burial areas. These issues often generate news stories, debates and protests as part of the way that conflicting concerns of citizens are worked out in an open society. Again, if you have no interest, you probably won’t even notice.
It helps to realize that Hawaii’s civil government contains both historical developments and future concerns that are contentious. But it is also true that much of what makes Hawaii such a special place is that it has a tradition of welcoming visitors and a spirit of aloha that transcends politics.
Two years ago NCL, Norwegian Cruise Line, pulled three of its four ships out of Hawaii citing problems with their competition and lack of profitability. At that time it was a big blow to the tourism industry here and came as a big surprise because the Pride of Hawaii, a brand-new ship wasn’t even in service for an entire year before it got the 86. Part of the problem was management. Weekly cruises around the Hawaiian Islands was something that hadn’t been tried here for many years. As a result, it got off to a very rocky start with lots of consumer complaints. Many of the complaints centered around issues about the ships work force, which by law, must be American only. Many felt that Americans could not do as good a job at customer service as the foreign flagged ships. Competition from other cruise lines started to get squeezed out by NCL and so a lot of the rhetoric and negativity towards NCL escalated because they were getting too much share of the Hawaii cruise markeplace. While NCL learned a lot in its first year or so of doing cruises in Hawaii and made drastic improvements month over month, however, first impressions are everything and unfortunately the stigma and bad press associated with those first cruises stuck with consumers for a long time. Combine that with all of the other factors and it’s easy to see why NCL had a rough go trying to manage four ships in Hawaiian waters.
As a Hawaii-based travel company, having the ships here was very profitable. During the time that three ships were sailing in Hawaiian waters our company did very well. Having the ships here was great for the consumer too because they were more choices. At one point there were even two and three days sail itineraries available and also departures from Maui.
Fast-forward to today; NCL just announced that their Hawaii 7 day Cruise around the islands netted $67 million dollars in profit in 2009 compared to a $212 million loss the previous year. The cruise was so successful that it turned a healthy profit in one of the worst economies in decades. The company attributes its success to better management practices in higher price points.
When NCL pulled out the Pride of America and the Pride of Aloha in 2008, they made a commitment to keep the pride of America in Hawaiian waters at least through 2011. They also announced that they would consider bringing back the pride of Hawaii at a lateter date, holding open the possibility of a return to more cruise ships here in Hawaii.
Could we see a return of one of the NCL’s ships in the near future? It certainly may be a possibility. The economy is turning around people are traveling again and the cruise is really very popular. We are seeing sold-out situations for many of the dates through May which means that demand is high. On the other hand, with all of the negative experience NCL had in Hawaii they may just be content to keep things as they are and try to control inventories and max out the price.
Obviously I would love to see the return of one of the NCL ships to Hawaiian waters, especially the Pride of Hawaii which was built for Hawaii and had more balconies on it than any of the other ships sailing here. While it’s probably not likely to happen this year I think that NCL will probably be looking at their bottom-line to see if feasible to bring another ship to Hawaii for 2011.
It might be time for government officials to look at ways to provide incentives to NCL to bring another ship back to Hawaii. Hawaii has not had the best climate for new business ventures in recent years and NCL did not think they were getting the support they needed from Hawaii’s government officials when they removed all but one ship from Hawaii. Leaders should look at making our ports more friendly and provide tax credits and incentives for creating new jobs here in the islands to intice NCL (or others who want to sail here) to come back or bring new ships to the islands.
One thing is for sure Hawaii tourism is on the rebound and if you’re thinking about booking the one Hawaii ship we do have here you should do it well in advance. Our agents are standing by right now to help you give us a call at 1-800-843-8771.
Nothing is more widely recognized as Hawaiian than hula, and yet its true significance is often unseen. The roots of hula are deep in the history, culture and religion of Hawaii as it existed before sustained contact with other nations. Each movement of the hands or feet unites with the chant of the melody to tell an ancient story.
My first clue that it is more than an entertaining dance was to see people of all ages engaged in hula: very young children through grey-haired matrons, women and men alike. At that point, I thought it might be more like a folk dance, similar to square dancing on the mainland. You learn the moves as a child and can enjoy them for the rest of your life.
However, hula is celebrated as more than a custom. In pre-contact Hawaii, it was linked with worship. Specific movements not only tell a story, but are also linked with practitioners and schools as an oral transmission of culture. The way that hula was taught from master to student was interrupted in the 1800s when so many Hawaiians died of disease. Now preserving hula is a way of reaching back to its origins and carrying forward not only the practice but the understanding of its role in society.
Certainly, there are performances of hula that are more like a Las Vegas show than a worship service. I think now the comparison I would draw is with gospel music. Not every performance of a gospel song is a prayer, but its roots are firmly in faith whether sung in a church or on a concert stage. You needn’t be a Christian to understand that the song is a plea from petitioner to a very personal deity. If you look closely, hula also tells a story that unites individual, family and nature in aloha.
Hawaii tourism is on the rebound however, even with visitor arrivals up, the hotels here are offering significant promotions that you should be aware before you choose a hotel. All of our agents are aware of the specials but make sure you ask your agent which hotels would be better for you so that you can take advantage of these great deals. The specials you see here may note be available on the individual hotel websites but are available through our company.
On Oahu, the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa is continuing their awesome Suite Escape promotion. We are seeing special nightly Rate in Tower Premier oceanview with GUARANTEED Upgrade to Tower Ocean Suite! This is a great way to get more bang for your buck if you’re staying at this historical property. Valid for 2/22-3/31/10 for Travel 1/11-6/30/10. The Ohana hotels is offering the OHANA West 3rd Night Free promotion which works out great; if you’re planning a one-week Hawaii vacation you get two nights free! The property is in the heart of Waikiki where all the action is and is available now thru 3/31/10. The Pacific Beach Hotel overlooking the beach in Waikiki has a great promotion which gives you a 3rd Night Free & Daily Breakfast for Two in Partial Ocean, Ocean & Oceanfront!Valid now thru 3/31/10
Over on Maui the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa is extending thier Three for Free promo. You get Daily Breakfast for Two, Free Upgrade & Every 3rd Night Free Valid 1/18-4/30/10 with Minimum 3-night stay. The Kaanapali Beach Club (formally the Embassy suites ) is now offering a 4th Night Free! We have not seen and free night promotion from them so this is a great deal for bookings now thru 5/31/10 for Travel 6/11-12/19/10.
On Kauai, condos are a great way to save money. A great little condo called the Banyan Harbor is having a Fall & Winter Special, you can get a 2 Bedroom for only $109 per night. Valid 1/1/10-6/17/10. Up on the North Shore of the of the island, The Cliffs at Princeville is offering us reduced Rates With a minimum 4-night stay, with the special you receive 25% off the normal already discounted price that we receive. Valid 1/6-3/31/10. We also just got another great rate for the Plantation Hale Suites, a too are offering a Fall & Winter Special which will get you a great rate of $109 per night for a 1 bedroom including tax.
Valid 1/1/10-6/17/10
On the Big isand. The Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel has extended their Winter Escape Special with discounted rates and $50 Daily Resort Credit, pricing varies depending on the date, but this is a promotion worth asking about. Valid now thru 3/31/10. The Mauna Kea Beach Hotel announced its Spring into Summer promotion which gives you a $100 Daily Resort Credit per day per room! Valid 4/11-9/30/10. The Keahou Beach Resort on the Big Island is now offering 3rd Night Free, this is a fantastic property on the Kona side which is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a way to save money and still have the luxury of a nice resort. Valid now thru 3/31/10
We will be posting specials every Monday so come back next week for more ideas. You can always reach an agent here in Hawaii by giving us a call at 1-800-843-8771
Paddling is a way to play on the water in Hawaii. This appears to be a family outing — mom on a stand-up paddle and dad in a kayak with the kids. I saw them from the sailboat as we toured Kaneohe Bay. We often see stand-up paddlers quite far out on the bay. The water is fairly calm most of the time inside the bay. Also, some head out to the sand bar — a spot in the bay where the sand is just below the surface of the water most of the time. People get out and walk around on it, playing football or throwing frisbees.
This outing caught my attention for several reasons. First, there are many more ways to enjoy the water than I would ever have imagined, not having lived near an ocean before. Second, the big ocean waves don’t hit directly on the shore in all places in Hawaii. Bays like this one are protected from the waves. In other areas, the water near the shore is still fairly calm - surfers go a ways out to meet the big waves. That allows even beginners to explore paddling or wind surfing or kite boarding in relatively safer waters. Third, there are lessons in every imaginable activity available on beaches popular with tourists, such as Waikiki and Kailua. You can rent all the equipment you’ll need to enjoy the water in a new way.
Finally, note that the kids are wearing life jackets, everyone is wearing rashies (tops with sleeves) and hats for sun protection, and they are watching out for one another. As accessible as the sea is, accidents can happen anywhere. Prudence is always in season.
When people think of Maui, they think it is a place of relaxation and site seeing. That is a fact from the number of tourists from the US and International Countries. One of the most popular places to see is the Iao (Ee Oww/Ee Au) Needle in Iao Valley past the Hawaii Nature Center in Wailuku Maui. Iao Valley is a great place to swim, have a picnic, sightsee, and take nature hikes. Locals and visitors have a great time up there.
Parking:
Parking is at your own risk.
Make sure no valuables are left in your rental. (Utilize your hotel’s safety depository before departing the hotel for your Iao Valley visit)
Lock your vehicles doors.
For the Disabled, there are Regulated ADA stalls available.
Enjoy your visit
Swimming at Iao:
Tips for swimming as follows,
If you see a Park Ranger, ask them what conditions are like and to find out if any Advisories are in order
Swim at your own risk for there are no life guards on post
Judge the water flow
During Flash Flood Advisories do NOT Swim in the canals
Do Not Jump off bridges or cliffs
Enjoy the water if you do enter the water
Picnics at Iao;
Pack everything in reusable containers to minimize trash
Use designated bungalows and pavilions
Be Akamai (Smart) and don’t litter the Aina (land/area)
Enjoy the views!
Hiking at Iao:
For the amateur hiker, it is probably wise to check in with the State Park Rangers or Police for weather conditions for it does rain there frequently. Make sure to pack sun screen, water/any kind of drinks (except liquor), some trail mix,, camera, cell phone, and bring a first aid kit in case you get a minor cut or injury. Please do not litter and throw your garbage away in the trash cans there for fines and citations are pretty stiff if you get caught for illegal littering by park officials. Wear something loose like t-shirt, shorts or pants, and shoes (sports or athletic shoes preferred) and bring a hiking stick with you for support. You can always find a sturdy wooden one on the ground there too. Always stay on the marked trails and don’t go off track. Use your best judgment whether or not to hike.
That covers Iao Valley in Wailuku Maui. Hope you enjoy your stay here on Maui when you do decide to come and visit. Always check back to our website for more blog posts about Maui and Hawaii vacations.
