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Reflect on a Disaster on Your Hawaii Vacation

AlohaBruce — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:47:09 +0000

Back in 1946, a tsunami struck the Hawaiian Islands.

There had been no warning to Hawaii as the Tsunami Warning System had not yet been established, and the tsunami was extremely damaging throughout the islands. It was especially devastating to the Island of Hawaii.

The town of Hilo on the island of Hawaii was struck by a series of six to seven large tsunami waves in 15-20 minute intervals. The highest of those waves had a run-up height of 30 feet above sea level. The waves completely destroyed Hilo’s waterfront, killing 159 people. Every house on the main street facing Hilo Bay was ripped off its foundation and carried across the street crashing against buildings on the other side.

Today, the Pacific Tsunami Museum, in downtown Hilo, offers stark evidence of the power of tsunamis that have hit Hilo and the rest of the Pacific Basin. The Museum is located just across the street from Hilo Bay. A live webcam keeps its electronic eye on the bay to watch for Tsunamis, and there’s an evacuation plan conspicuously posted as you come in since the Museum is within the tsunami zone in Hilo. Hey, there’s actually nothing to worry about. With all the monitoring going on within the Pacific now, you would have sufficient warning. If a tsunami were to be headed toward the islands, there would be plenty of time to move to higher ground. Tsunamis are generated by earthquakes elsewhere in the Pacific. (An earthquake in Hawaii might generate a tsunami headed outwards.)

The museum has a series of in-house permanent exhibits that interpret the tsunami phenomena, the Pacific Tsunami Warning system, the history of tsunamis in the Pacific Basin, tsunamis of the future, myths and legends about tsunamis, and public safety measures for tsunami disasters.

The Museum is certainly worth your time if your vacation plans include the Big Island. (Hilo is on the east coast.) It’s open every day between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. There’s an admission fee of $7.00; seniors pay $6.00 and kids are just $2.00.

Most of the exhibits are a mix of photographs, text and some video. Some of the videos are kind of long, but really interesting for anyone with any interest in earthquakes and tsunamis. As you watch the videos detailing the tsunami destruction in Hilo, you can look out the windows of the museum and imagine the damage and destruction around you.

If the museum sounds interesting to you, pick an agent from the Hawaii-Aloha Web site (hawaii-aloha.com), or call 1-800-843-8771. We’ll help you work it into your schedule.

If you enjoyed this post you may be interested in these links:
About the Tradewinds in Hawaii
What To Wear on You Hawaii Vacation

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Published by Bruce Fisher

Since 2006 Bruce Fisher has been publishing the Hawaii Vacation Blog and the Hawaii Vacation Connection Podcast which, create daily content about Hawaii Travel and Tourism. This Blog is the only online resource providing Hawaii-based information aimed at travelers seven days per week. Postings reflect the Hawaiian Islands, their culture and their lifestyle as accurately and thoroughly as possible.

Vacation in Hawaii… Then Take A Hike

AlohaBruce — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 19:06:36 +0000

Most of the states have great places for hiking, but it’s hard to beat Hawaii’s variety. All the islands have great hiking territory. Here are a few to consider if you’re a hiker or if you just enjoy beautiful walks:

On Kauai, the Kalalau Trail hosts some of the most spectacular views in the Hawaiian Islands, and the Hanakapiai Falls Trail begins two miles up the Kalalau Trail on the Na Pali Coast at Hanakapiai Beach.
On Maui, the Halemauu Trail to Holua Cabin descends the sheer cliffs of Haleakala on the west crater wall.
Waipio Valley and Mauna Kea are near the northernmost point of the Big Island. Once the home President John F. Kennedy’s first Peace Corps training camp, the area today is a remote and little-visited place modern man has all but forgotten.

For the full spectrum of all that is Hawaii, consider the 1,875 acres of Waimea Valley on Oahu’s North Shore. It’s been a sacred place for more than 700 years of Native Hawaiian history. 78 sites of interest have been identified in the valley, including religious sites and shrines, house sites, agricultural terraces and fishponds.

The valley’s150-acre botanical collection contains more than 5,000 kinds of tropical and subtropical plants, including native and endangered Hawaiian plants. Four out of five species of native freshwater fish can be found in Kamananui Stream.

Once you’re in the valley, for which there’s an admission fee of $5.00 to $10.00, you can participate in several free activities including lei making, kapa demonstrations, hula lessons, Hawaiian games, crafts, music and story telling.

Several free (with your paid admission) walking tours are offered at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.

You want to be sure to take in the Valley’s 45-foot waterfall, Waihï. It’s about 3/4 of a mile from the park entrance booth.

Waimea Valley hosts larger tours – from easy and moderate family walks every Saturday to strenuous five-hour scrambles on the last Saturday of every month. Guides will help you identify the native and exotic plants, and will point out the indigenous birds and fish. The family hikes cost $5.00 per person, and the five-hour hikes cost $10.00 in addition to the valley entry fee. You’ll need reservations.

As you finish your visit, there is a retail store that showcases the work of local artists and Hawaii crafters of locally made products. The store also hosts weekly demonstrations by featured vendors. The valley’s on-site concession services uses locally grown, made-in-Hawaii ingredients for tasty local dining.

If you want to include hiking in your vacation on any of the islands, pick an agent from our Web site home page (hawaii-aloha.com), or call 1-800-843-8771. We’ll set you up.

Posted by Jim Winpenny

Published by Bruce Fisher

Take an Island Wine Country Tour on Your Hawaii Vacation

AlohaBruce — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 19:07:05 +0000

So when you were planning this year’s vacation, you had your heart set on Hawaii, but your spouse was hoping to tour Wine Country — the Napa and Sonoma Valleys in California. Hooray! You prevailed.

Okay, now that you’ve decided on Hawaii, how can you appease your spouse somewhat? These islands in no way resemble Wine Country. Most of the world’s grape growing is done in moderate climates; Hawaii’s climate is tropical. But Hawaii does have higher elevations of volcanic mountains and ridges, which do support the growing of grapes. Accordingly, Hawaii has two wineries – on the islands of Hawaii and Maui. Both grow Symphony, the only grape raised here for winemaking. Symphony is a cross between Muscat of Alexandria and Grenache Gris, and it yields wines that are very fruity, off dry to sweet, and great for quaffing on the beach. You won’t find them in the cellars of wine connoisseurs around the world.

The 20,000-acre tract that is ‘Ulupalakua Ranch on the leeward slopes of Haleakala at an elevation of slightly under 2,000 feet is made up of tiny rural communities, rolling green pastureland, great distinguished trees and majestic mountain vistas, with sublime seascapes below. And, yes, you can enjoy the vistas on your way to a tour of the winery. You will see it all on the road to Tedeschi Vineyards, which were established in 1974. The first grapes were harvested in 1980, and in 1984 Tedeschi’s first grape product, Maui Brut, was released.

Today the winery sells an assortment of wines made from grapes as well as several other specialty wines made from pineapple, passion fruit and even raspberries.

Your first stop when you arrive at the winery will be the tasting room, where you can sample the various varieties of wines. The winery also offers two free guided tours every day at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The guides are well versed in the history of the area and the ranch, and you’ll enjoy walking through the grounds where Hawaiian royalty once relaxed. After the tour you’ll head back to the tasting room to buy a bottle of wine for lunch and maybe a few more to take with you. For lunch all you need to do is walk across the street to the ‘Ulupalakua Ranch Store.

On the Big Island, Volcano Winery produces local wines inspired by volcanic fire and the bounty of the island. Tropical fruits like yellow guava and the exotic jaboticaba berry are blended with traditional wine grapes and transformed into creations that capture the area’s relaxed, laid-back atmosphere.

For the more traditional palate, the winery offers wines made with the Symphony grape. And there’s a Macadamia Nut Honey Wine, made from blossoms of the Macadamia Nut tree, which yields a sweet after-dinner treat that is uniquely Hawaiian.

The winery’s staff does free tasting every day of the year from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and no appointment is necessary.

Volcano Winery is at the 30-mile marker in Volcano, near the golf course. It makes for a great side trip when you visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

So even if it ain’t the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, winery tours in Hawaii still are fun and tasty. If you’d like to work in a tour of either winery or both, pick an agent from the Hawaii-Aloha Web site home page, or call 1-800-843-8771. We’ll work it into your vacation schedule for you.

Posted by Jim Winpenny

Published by Bruce Fisher

Chocolate Mementos of Your Hawaii Vacation

AlohaBruce — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 18:50:31 +0000

Of all the gift items that are carried or sent back home by Hawaii vacationers, boxes of Hawaiian chocolates are by far the most popular. The price is reasonable, they’re easy to pack or ship, they taste great and the recipients love them. Take them to work, hand them to relatives and neighbors, keep some for spontaneous gift-giving, keep some for yourself. You can’t go wrong.

Chocolates are available as gifts just about anywhere in the world you vacation, but Hawaiian chocolate is special. There are two reasons for that.

Hawaii’s Big Island is the only place where cocoa is grown in the United States. (As a matter of fact, the Big Island is the only place in the world where the raw ingredients for all three major infusion beverages are grown — coffee, tea and cacao. Hawaii’s warm, tropical climate makes it an ideal location for growing them.)

"Cacao" is the name of a tree that produces large pods that contain the seeds commonly referred to as "cacao beans." The beans are fermented, dried in the sun and then roasted. The roasted beans are then "winnowed." This process removes the meat (also referred to as the "nib") of the cocoa bean from its shell. The meat or "nibs" are then ground. Cocoa beans are almost 50-percent fat and the grinding process actually creates a liquid referred to as "chocolate liquor." This liquor is a bitter tasting, pure, unsweetened chocolate.

If the liquor is allowed to cool and solidify, the result is the chocolate found in stores as "baking chocolate." The liquor can also be pressed and the fat removed. The resulting two products are a dry cake of cocoa which when ground is called "cocoa powder." The fat that has been removed is called "cocoa butter." Cocoa butter is an edible vegetable fat which has only a very mild chocolate flavor and aroma. It is used not only to make chocolate, but also in cosmetics, soap and in tanning.

Additional ingredients are added to portions of the cocoa powder and cocoa butter. These ingredients include such things as sugar, vanilla and often milk. The types of added ingredients and the proportions used of each are what make one type of chocolate candy taste different from another. Once the recipe is completed, the mixture is placed in a machine that massages and smoothes the chocolate as it blends the ingredients together. This process is called "conching." The mixture is slowly heated and then slowly cooled in a process called "tempering." Tempering allows the cocoa butter to be distributed evenly throughout the chocolate.

Only the Big Island of Hawaii has makers of fine chocolate products who use locally-grown cocoa. Almost all of them also use another product grown locally in Hawaii: macadamia nuts.

Macadamias aren’t just delicious; they’re also highly nutritious nuts. They have the highest amount of beneficial monounsaturated fats of any known nut, and they contain 9% protein, 9% carbohydrate, 2% dietary fiber, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, selenium, iron, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin.

If you’re going to take or send chocolates home, go heavy on the chocolate-covered macnuts. (Keep in mind and let your giftees know: macadamia nuts make dogs sick.)

There are a lot of different Hawaiian fruits used in making Hawaiian chocolate, too, all worth trying: mango, kiwi, papaya and pineapple, for example.

Hawaiian chocolates are available at virtually every retail store in Hawaii that sells food of any kind. (We locals like ‘em, too!)

Posted by Jim Winpenny

Published by Bruce Fisher

A Very Interesting Historical Attraction For Your Hawaii Vacation

AlohaBruce — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:56:14 +0000

It sounds like a kids’ game today, but in Ancient Hawaii, when kapu (taboos) were the law of the land, it was a desperate race for survival. It was easy then to commit a capital crime. You might have wandered onto land reserved for only chiefs. You might have eaten forbidden fruit or meat. The penalty: Death. Your only hope was to elude your pursuers and make your way to the nearest pu`uhonua, or place of refuge. Once you got there, you would be absolved by a priest and freed to leave. Defeated warriors and non-combatants could also find refuge here during times of battle. The grounds just outside the Great Wall that encloses the puʻuhonua were home to several generations of powerful chiefs.

One such place today is among the ten top visitor attractions (#7) in Hawaii.

Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park – known formerly as City of Refuge National Historical Park — is a National Historical Park on the west coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. It preserves the site where vacationers visit and still feel the spirit of peace and forgiveness that continues to surround and bless this special place.

The 420-acre park includes the puʻuhonua itself and a complex of archeological sites including temple platforms, royal fishponds, sledding tracks, and some coastal village sites. The Hale o Keawe temple and several thatched structures have been reconstructed.

There are two major sections, the Palace Grounds and the Place of Refuge. The Great Wall separates the two.

There are walking tours of the park or you can go it alone. Either way, you’ll begin at the Palace Grounds, the home of the ruling chief, which is surrounded by a beautiful coconut palm grove overlooking Hōnaunau Bay. The nearby beach was reserved strictly for the royalty. You’ll see samples of canoes carved from koa wood with lashings of coconut fibers. All of their construction was done with the materials native to the land and tools used in the day. Along the path you’ll also see models of the different types of houses and storage sheds which sat on the palace grounds.

you will come upon an original gamestone (papamu) that was used in the game of Hawaiian checkers (konane). Game pieces were made out of white coral and black lava for the opposing players. The object of the game was not to take all of the other players’ pieces as in the common checkers game, but to be the player who would make the last move. Bowls, carved right into the huge stone, were used to extract salt from seawater. The royal canoe landing area was kapu to all commoners, a law that was announced by a kiʻi (small wooden statue) such as the one you’ll see in the water.

The huge rock Great Wall was built sometime in the 1500s. It’s constructed of dry masonry and fit together like a jigsaw puzzle.

Inside the puʻuhonua is where, once the fleeing petitioners arrived, the kahuna pule (priest) would be obligated to offer them sanctuary and absolution, under pain of his own death should he refuse to do so. Often the petitioner would be freed within hours to resume a normal life. This was not a place teeming with hardened criminals. This was a sacred place on which life began anew for many ancient Hawaiians.

Your walk will take you past a bunch of carved statues. Two of the ki’i stand together watching over Keoneʻele Cove. Only royalty were allowed to use the cove. Other carved images stand on the platform of Hale o Keawe. As you work your way back to the Visitor Center you’ll walk past the royal fishpond. Fish that were caught exclusively for the chiefs were placed in this pond.

It’s a really interesting place to visit. Plan to spend a couple of hours, bring your camera and wear comfortable walking shoes.

If you’d like us to help you work Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park into your vacation plans, pick an agent from the Hawaii-Aloha Web site, or call 1-800-843-8771.

Posted by Jim Winnpenny

Published by Bruce Fisher

See Petroglyphs On Your Hawaii Vacation

AlohaBruce — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 03:20:06 +0000

When they become aware of Hawaii’s petroglyphs during their vacations, visitors often ask us if petroglyphs are “like hieroglyphics.” Well, not exactly. The difference is really basic. Hieroglyphics comprised a means of communication, a language; petroglyphs are art, or if you prefer, graffiti. And while hieroglyphics were rendered in several media, petroglyphs were always carved or scratched in rocks.

Ancient Hawaiians called their stone art k’i’i pohaku, or images in stone. The k’i’i pohaku are petroglyphs (The word comes from the Greek words "petros," for rock, and "glyphein," to carve. This rock art provides a unique look into the past, but there is almost no historic evidence of the petroglyph’s origin in Hawaii.

Although the age of Hawaii’s images can’t be determined, a chronology of style can be discerned. The earliest were simple stick figures, while the figures with triangular torsos (which are found only in Hawaii) came later. After Westerners appeared in Hawaii, carvings of horses and cattle appeared and became more common.

Of all the islands, the Island of Hawaii has the greatest number of petroglyphs. The Big Island has more than 70 documented sites featuring petroglyphs. The total count of petroglyphs on the Big Island is around 22,000 images.

Areas of petroglyph concentration are normally found on the smooth pãhoehoe lava, cliff faces or smooth interior cliff walls, on the lava inundated areas of the island (Imagine fresh concrete and small boys), and along trails the ancient Hawaiians commonly traveled. There are areas of great concentration, as if they were studios that became fascinating, “natural” museums. One of the best and largest petroglyph fields on the Big Island is the Panau-nui Pu’u Loa petroglyph field in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (a site that should be on your list of places to visit). This particular field consists of more than 15,000 individual petroglyph images that have been scratched and pecked into the hard pahoehoe surface.

The trail to the petroglyph field is less than a mile long and easy to follow, but it goes over rough pahoehoe lava. Wear walking shoes and be careful. There are no bathrooms or other facilities on this trail. Take your own water, sun screen, a hat and your camera. You shouldn’t need food.

Once you reach the end of the trail (about a 20-minute walk) you will find a wooden boardwalk surrounding some representative petroglyphs, but the best petroglyphs can be found by leaving the boardwalk.

You’ll also see warning signs. Don’t deface, mark or scratch the petroglyphs. When walking on the petroglyph field, NEVER step on a petroglyph. That will cause it to crumble. Step carefully around the petroglyphs. Don’t take rubbings.

This trail is over natural lava rock. There are cracks, small rises and depressions and loose rocks along the trail. As with all trails in Hawai’i, if you wish to look at something, stop walking. Do not walk and look around at the same time. Never take a step backwards without first looking to see what is behind you (there might be a crack in the ground).

There is a huge variety of petroglyph images. The majority show human forms as well as simple dots (holes) or dots surrounded by other shapes (circles, spirals, etc.). You can also find other unusual petroglyphs, including ships, fish, starfish, hooks, insects and capes (or possibly squid).

Often you will see what appears to be a number of related images in a grouping. This probably indicates a family group with different members of the family contributing to the petroglyphs over time.

The best time to do this walk would be early morning, to catch the rising sun, or late afternoon, to catch the setting sun. Not only is it cooler, but also the angle of the sun should help enhance the etched surface of the lava.

Note that while the walks in and out are only about 20 minutes each, you will spend anywhere from an additional 20 minutes (if you only stay on the boardwalk) to an hour or more (if you stray off the boardwalk).

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the second-most visited attraction in the State (Arizona Memorial). It’s full of wonders. Browse the Hawaii-Aloha web site (hawaii-aloha.com), pick an agent from the home page or call 1-800-843-8771. We’ll fill you in and help you work a visit to the area into your vacation plans.

Posted by Jim Winpenny

More links:
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Published by Bruce Fisher

A Merrie Big Island Festival For Your Hawaii Vacation

AlohaBruce — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:42:48 +0000

Forty-six years ago the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce launched what has since become the world’s premier forum for people of all ages to display their skills and knowledge of the art of ancient and modern hula.

The annual Merrie Monarch Festival inthe town of Hilo on the Big Island has created a renaissance of the Hawaiian culture that is being passed on from generation to generation. The week-long festival includes art exhibits, craft fairs, demonstrations, performances, a parade that emphasizes the cultures of Hawaii, and a three-day hula competition that has received worldwide recognition for its historic and cultural significance. If you plan to be vacationing on the Big Island (or anywhere in Hawaii for that matter), and if you think you’d enjoy authentic hula performed beautifully by dedicated dancers, you should try to work the festival into your plans. The week dedicated to the festival is Sunday, April 12, 2009 through Saturday, April 18, 2009.

It’s a really big deal. In preparation for the Merrie Monarch Festival, hula studios and instructors in Hawaii and on the U.S. Mainland hold classes, workshops and seminars all year long to teach the art of hula, the meaning of Hawaiian chants and songs, the Hawaiian language, the making of Hawaiian clothing and crafts, and the history of the Hawaiian people.

Proceeds from the festival support educational scholarships, workshops, seminars, symposiums and the continuation of the festival.

The weeklong festivities begin with a Ho‘olaule‘a (music festival) on Coconut Island on Easter Sunday and continue all week with free noonday entertainment at the Hawaii Naniloa Resort and the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel on Banyan Drive. On Wednesday, there is a free exhibition night at the Edith Kanaka`ole Tennis Stadium that begins at 6:00 p.m. Thursday is the solo Miss Aloha Hula Competition, Friday and Saturday feature the group Kahiko (ancient) and ‘Auana (modern) hula competitions. There are arts and craft fairs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at several locations and the big Merrie Monarch parade winds through downtown Hilo beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. Except for the hula competition, the events are free.

Posted by Jim Winpenny

Published by Bruce Fisher

Hawaii Must Not Forget This Man

AlohaBruce — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:47:46 +0000

A true Hawaii tourism hero died earlier this month. His name was Richard Wassman Kimi. He did not do a specific heroic thing, but what he did lastingly affected Hawaii tourism.

Back in the mid-1950s, Kimi, who lived in Hilo on the Big Island, noticed that the tourists who came to the island arrived on large ships or airplanes. That meant they had money and could afford fine accommodations. But the then-29-year-old noticed that there were very few affordable places to stay for local residents and neighbor-island residents who wanted to visit Hilo for a day or two.

In 1956, even though friends and experts told him he was crazy, Kimi built the 30-room Hotel Hukilau in Hilo. It was a small hotel, one of the first along Banyan Drive, which now is lined with East Hawaii's largest hotels such as the Naniloa and Hilo Hawaiian.

The Hotel Hukilau was consistently packed, mostly with people who lived in the islands. Soon, budget-conscious visitors discovered that the rooms were nicely-furnished and clean, and that the service at the hotel was excellent. Realizing that his concept was working, Kimi went on to build the Hukilau and Seaside hotels in Kona (on the other side of the Big Island), on Maui, and on Kaua'i, and he would also purchase the old Waikiki Biltmore Hotel, now the site of the Hyatt Regency Waikiki.

Kimi never wanted to build large hotels. His objective was to serve local residents and budget-minded visitors. He was one of the first to put together air, room and car packages for residents, and he was a leader in taking reservations via fax machines and toll-free numbers.

He also enjoyed teaching and sharing his sales, marketing and business knowledge. One of his students was Robert Kiyosaki, author of the "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" books, who based his original "rich dad" on Kimi,.

Kimi, the visionary who pioneered the reasonably-priced “family” accommodations still available in Hawaii, died on December 19th in Honolulu. He was 83.

Posted by Jim Winpenny

More links:
Follow us on twitter
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Published by Bruce Fisher

Should Oahu Be Part of Your Hawaii Vacation?

AlohaBruce — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 04:34:04 +0000

It happens. The old standby gets accused of being trite, boring, no longer fashionable.

Compared to the other islands, Oahu is still holding its own, but now it seems to be cool to downgrade it. Waikiki is too “touristy.” Honolulu is a big city now, with the inevitable traffic, industrialization and loss of the Aloha Spirit.

Okay. Maui has been called “the world’s greatest island.” It has the amazing Haleakala, the charm of Hana, the history of Lahaina, the lure of the Iou Needle and the resorts of Kaanapali.

Kauai has an abundance of natural wonders and great resorts. The Big Island has its volcanic action, enormous variety and even greater resorts. Molokai and Lanai have their intimacy and peace.

They’re all terrific. But never shortchange Oahu. Oahu is a big island, too, stretching ‘way beyond Waikiki and Honolulu. And Waikiki and Honolulu embody most of the things you envision when you first consider Hawaii for a vacation.

Waikiki is where the action is. The entertainment is first-class. A lot of the acts have been at it for a quarter of a century; newer ones are laced with high tech and imagination. World-class performers appear in Waikiki or Honolulu regularly. The beaches in Waikiki are everything you’ve seen and read about. The shopping is top-drawer.

Honolulu is almost as historical as (and perhaps more interesting than) Boston or Philadelphia. Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial should not be missed if you’re going to come to Hawaii.

The outer areas — the North Shore, Windward Oahu, East Oahu and the emerging West Coast with its “Second City” of Kapolei are all worth your time.

Seasoned visitors to Hawaii would offer you a suggestion like this:

On your first visit, do Oahu. If you have time, then take in a neighbor island or two. On your next visit, do a day or two in Waikiki to see what’s new, then do the neighbor islands.

When you consider the entire picture, spending your entire vacation on a neighbor island can be restricting. Think of a smorgasbord and spending the entire evening at the salad bar. However much you might love salads, there’s a whole lot more for your table.

Posted by Jim Winpenny

Published by Bruce Fisher

Selecting A Hawaii Vacation Area Isn’t Easy

AlohaBruce — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 18:21:22 +0000

Narrowing down your Hawaii vacation destination is even more difficult than it may seem to be at first. Most people try to decide which island – or islands – they think would appeal to them most.

The problem is that, except for little Molokai and Lanai, each of the islands actually has three or more distinctly different areas within their beaches.

On Oahu, Waikiki – on the south shore – is where the action is, and it’s close to most of the island’s other attractions. On the north shore, Turtle Bay is a full-blown resort near “Old Hawaii,” those humongous winter waves and the quaint little town of Haleiwa. Ko Olina is a newer, sprawling, self-contained resort area well west of Honolulu in leeward Oahu.

On the north shore of Kauai, the beautiful Hanalei and Princeville area is quiet and scenic with nice resorts. The south shore has Poipu and a whole bunch of ritzy resorts with all kinds of things to do. On the east shore, the town of Lihue is the island’s business and population center, with good accommodations that are convenient to most of Kauai’s spectacular attractions.

Maui is said to be two islands. West Maui has Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kapalua and those spectacular resorts. The island’s larger portion contains the rustic Upcountry, the mammoth Haleakala crater and the Waimea resort area. Way to the east, the fantastic Hana area is an isolated destination unto itself.

The Big Island is generally divided into the Hilo side – the east – and the Kona side – the west. But it’s far more than that. On the Kona side, the coast is lined with one spectacular resort after another, and farther inland is ranch country in the rural areas of Waimea and Kamuela, the majestic Mauna Kea and the world’s most powerful telescopes. The Hilo side is far less touristy, but that’s where you’ll find Volcanoes National Park and the amazing lava flows.

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider beyond a choice of islands. The best thing to do is pick an agent from our website and begin a relationship (No obligation, of course). Our agents all are experts in Hawaii – have lived here and can guide you with passion and professionalism. Or, if you prefer, call 1-800-843-8771.

Posted by Jim Winpenny

Published by Bruce Fisher