Hawaii Travel Blog

Kauai is believed by many to be the most beautiful of the chain of islands that comprise Hawaii. On the south side of Kauai it is possible to stay in a condo that sits on a lava flow at the southern most tip of the island. At this point water from the vast Pacific is on three sides of the unit. You will definitely see wide open spaces while gazing at waves pounding the headlands. The south of Kauai is known mostly for the brilliant sunshine and Poipu. Get away from the crowds that line the beaches here to look for secret beaches with no crowds. The north side of Kauai could be a million miles away as opposed to less than an hours drive that it really is. Hanalei is both a surfer’s paradise and the gateway to the rugged side of the north, the Na Pali coast. The only way to really see the beauty of the coast is by a boat of some kind whether it be acruise ship, catamaran or kayak. In a kayak, as we have experienced the coast you will be rewarded by sightings of dolphins coming out of the water, giant green sea turtles coming up for a breath and sea cave after sea cave. Both shores deserve a visit, the best way to do so is to split your stay on the island in half, half spent in Poipu to see the south and half spent in Princeville or Hanalei to experience the Na Pali coast in depth.

If you are stunned by prices whilesearching for a summer vacation in Hawaii, consider visiting the end of August, or September through mid November. Prices go down, crowds decline and the weather is perfect. We are barraged by callers at this time of year trying to put together a last minute summer vacation to Maui, Oahu, Kauai or the Big Island. Airfare and 7 nights hotel from the east coast of the United States to Honolulu for two on July 1stcan cause sticker shock at over 4,000.00 for a package with anice hotel. Change your dates to September 9th for 7 nights and the price can drop 1200.00 or more. Prices toMaui on July 1st are dramatically higher thanHonolulu at 5600.00 for the same airfare and 7 nights. That 5600.00 drops to 3434.00 September 9th for 7 nights. If you are working around your child’s summer vacation it may not be possible to travel in the fall, however. if you are travelling with pre schoolers, taking your parents or travelling as a couple it is well worth waiting for savings this big.

With the end of April approaching we have all heard our fare share of eco-friendly, green and environmentally friendly this month. Much of this came about with Earth Day in April and increasing concerns about global warming in general. Is it possible to take a green vacation to Hawaii? Absolutely! While most resorts and condominiums were built prior to the days of eco friendly materials in construction, there are other ways to help our fragile planet. The easiest way is to turn off the air conditioning, tv and all lights when leaving your room or unit. Don’t have your towels and sheets laundered everyday. Most hotels ask you to leave dirty towels in the tub and hang towels that can be used again. You can also forego daily laundering of your sheets to avoid water and energy waste. Choose to eat at restaurants that feature locally grown produce, local wines and fish caught in the waters off of Hawaii. There is no better place to experience the freshness of fish that we all crave than when you are in Hawaii. Ask your waiter when the fish was caught and most likely he will say that morning. Take along a digital camera instead of a disposable one, and be sure the batteries are rechargeable instead of disposable. Pack light, less weight means less fuel used during transportation. Ask us about the hotels that are know for their attempts to be environmentally friendly. Fairmont Hotels and Resorts with the Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui and the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island are leaders in energy management and green policies in the hospitality industry. They literally wrote the book on it in 1990 with the publishing of the Green Partnership Guide used in all hospitality schools today. The Hyatt and Four Seasons chains have followed Fairmont in establishing policies at their resorts that benefit Hawaii’a ecosystem.

The Big Isalnd is a melting pot of diverse food, people, traditions, religion, architecture and music. Whether you come to play your favorite sport, explore the island or just rest and relax on the beach, you will remember this island always. The Big Island is known for many great golf courses, including our favorite the Mauna Kea Course. The views are spectacular and include the snowcapped Mauna Kea, lava fields and the Pacific. No wonder it is considered one of the top courses in the world. The top attraction on the island is Volcanoes National Park. Whether you choose to fly above it in a helicopter or hike within the park, the experience is not to be missed. The real character of the park is best felt by hiking one of the numerous trails. and learning about the ecosystem. What makes the Big Island so special to us is the diversity of its landscape. From the beautiful Kohala Coast to the lushness near Hilo and Keahou, no other island has what the Big Island has to offer. Don’t miss out on an opportunity to drive around the entire island to experience the vast differences.

Surfing is to Hawaii as skiing is to Colorado. If you are a water lover there is no better time to learn to surf than on a vacation to Hawaii. From the world famous North Shore of Oahu with the Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach, to the calmer waters of Hanalei Bay in Kauai, or Ho’okipa Beach Park on Maui, the choices are endless. Surfing was originally the sport of royalty in Hawaii. Surfing really became popular in the early 1900’s when boards of balsa wood or redwood were the rage. Surfers took their life in their hands when taking on huge waves with these boards, but the popularity of the sport continued to explode. Kauai’s Hanalei Bay is a good place for beginners in the summer as swells are gentle, perfect for the beginning surfer. The best instructors will teach the rules of the water before paddling out. Watching other surfers is one of the best ways to learn basic skills, even expert surfers are continually looking for improvement by watching others. Don’t expect to be a good surfer in a day or even during length of your stay, it takes years and practice, practice. The Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach has introduced a new “Room and Board” package for those who want to learn from a pro. The package includes four hours of surf lessons, eight hours of board rental and a cd of digital images taken during one of the sessions. Give us a call for this great opportunity!

Unless you must plan a visit to Hawaii around your kids spring break, summer vacation or Christmas break, it is possible to save a lot by booking during less busy times. Try to be as flexible as possible and don’t set dates in stone before checking several options for the best value for your dollar. We always suggest to honeymooners that they try to travel on Monday or Tuesday after the Saturday wedding to save on the airfare. Not only are flights less on weekdays, fewer people are travelling on these dates, and more available seats equate to lower ticket prices. Don’t assume because Expedia has a lower package price advertisedthan a smaller company that specializes in Hawaii and knows the ins and outs of Hawaii, that that is the best way to go. It is very important to compare apples to apples, so pick up the phone or send an email and ask questions. They can give you suggestions on saving money all around and you will probably end up with more favorable flights and a nicer hotel or condo. Some of the best times to visit Hawaii for thevalues are mid-January to early February, mid-April to late May, September through mid-November and the first 2 weeks in December. Try to stay away from Christmas week, the last two weeks in March and mid-June to mid-August, these are the heaviest travel times to Hawaii and it is almost impossible to find decent airfares. The airlines really take advantage of higher prices at these times because they know there will be people willing to pay. We always want our clients to spend their money having fun in Hawaii and not on getting there, especially in this day and age of no meals and less service by the airlines. Always have a budget in mind and try to be realistic. It is hard to tell customers that their expectations are unrealistic for their budget. We are believers that there is a Hawaii for almost every budget and that is why that is always one of the first questions we ask potential customers. Give us a call and we will make your visit special and memorable!

In July of 2007 Hawaii will once again be connected via water. Residents, visitors and businesses will have another option besides inter-island flights. Although travel time will be longer than flights, this will probably turn out to be a fun way way to island hop if only to see what it is like to approach the islands from the water. The service startingin July will be Honolulu to Maui, Maui to Honolulu, Honolulu to Kauai, Kauai to Honolulu on a daily basis, with each leg taking approximately 3 hours. In 2009 service to the Big Island is scheduled to begin with the introduction of a second ferry. This is not the ferry you probably visualize. The Hawaii Superferry is a 340 foot catamaran that will carry 400 passengers and 100 vehicles. There will be several options for dining, a convenience store, video arcades and pets can be carried in cars or airline approved kennels. Most Hawaii residents are welcoming the ferry as a way for the islands to feel more connected in the future. For more information go to www.hawaiisuperferry.com. There you can view schedules, prices and other useful information. We will anxiously await the arrival of the ferryin Hawaii in May and the first service in July.

Long in the planning stages and almost two years since construction first began, the much anticipated Waikiki Beach Walk is starting to open. Already open for business is the new Embassy Suites and the Wyndham Vacation Ownership Resort-Waikiki Beach Walk. Next to open is the Outrigger Regency on Beach Walk. All three of these resorts could be described as “island chic” since they are designed with high end amenities. Vacationers are already flocking to the Embassy Suites because of their roomy suites and let’s face it everyone is interested in new, whether a cruise ship, hotel or condo. The future holds a Trump International Hotel & Tower, scheduled to be completed in 2009 that is sure to be over the top with luxury. A wide array of shops, restaurants and boutiques are open or scheduled to open in the upcoming months. Some of the better known include Roy’s Waikiki, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Yard House and Kaiwa Japanese restaurants. There are too many shops to mention here, lets suffice it to say it will be impossible to shop all the stores that will be in this area of Waikiki in one day when construction is complete. Waikiki is already the shoppers paradise of Hawaii, it is soon to be a mega shoppers paradise! You can visit www.waikikibeachwalk.com for a list of all of the stores and restaurants soon to be open.

Once home to Hawaiian royalty, the Coco-Palms opened as a resort in 1953. It was considered the resort to stay at on Kauaifor many years and is well know to lovers of Elvis Presley’s movie “Blue Hawaii”. Since Hurricane Iniki hit Kauai in 1992, the resort has been in dissaray, although weddings are still held there in the chapel seen in the movie. Coco Palms is being rebuilt to reflect its romanticpast and is scheduled to reopen in August 2008 with 200 condominium units and 104 hotel rooms. Before you sigh and mutter “more condos in Hawaii” know that this project is different. The developers have paid attention to every imaginable detail of the original Coco Palms, including not disturbing the 2000 palm trees on the property, lights that look like tiki torches, reconstruction of the chapel (the original was termite ridden) and outdoor showers in the bungalows. We are so looking forward to the opening next year and hope to spend many vacations there.

Paia, on the north shore of Maui once had the largest population on Maui during the days of the now defunct sugar mill. When the sugar mill closed Paia was like a ghost town until the 1960’s when it became a “hippie” town. With it’s laid back feel and plantation style storefronts housing surf shops, clothing boutiques and restaurants, the “hippie” feel still exists today. Most visitors experience Paia on the way to or fromthe Road to Hana drive, however, this town is worth spending a half day inon a vacation to Maui. There are good restaurants including our favorite Milagro’s with an eclectic menu including ono enchiladas and fantastic salads. Several galleries that are a world away from the art galleries in Lahaina and Wailea may provide you with a memorable Hawaiian souvenir. Try theMaui Crafts Guild for pottery and other local art. If you are lucky you might run into the artist while you are there. For dinner instead of heading back to the resort areas, venture about a mile or so east to Mama’s Fish House. Set in a beautiful cove, Mama’s does not have the least expensive fish on the island, but it is some of the freshest you will eat anywhere.