Hawaii Islands Vacation Guide

Kauai’s Top 10 Things to Do

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 14:14:49 +0000

Of all of the islands in Hawaii, Kauai (the Garden Isle) may stand out as the most beautiful. With so much to see and do having a plan will minimize the stress of your vacation. The following are just a few of the exciting adventures that await you on Kauai.

Visit Waimea Canyon

Labeled as “the Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, Waimea Canyon is indeed the largest canyon in the entire Pacific. The canyon measures 10 miles long, 1 mile wide and is more than 3,500 ft deep. There are numerous hikes and lookouts that offer gorgeous views at all angles of the canyon. The canyon is located in Koke’e State Park and is also protected inside the state park. This truly is one of the most amazing natural wonders on earth.

Kauai Helicopter Tour of Na Pali Coast

Taking a helicopter ride on any island is a stunning way to see the local landscape, none however compare to taking a helicopter tour of the Na Pali Coast on Kauai. The Na Pali Coast is a 22-mile stretch of volcanic cliffs. You can also take the tour on a boat and see the cliffs from a distance, but getting up close in a helicopter is an experience you will never forget.

Visit the South Shore of Kauai

This is the Poipu area in south Kauai. A great place to stay is at the Poipu Kai Resort. From here you have excellent access to all the south shore has to offer. South Kauai is known for its world famous beaches and sunsets but that is not all that the south shore has to offer. “Spouting Horn”, one of Hawaii’s most famous blowholes is definitely something you will want to see while on the south shore. In Poipu make sure you take advantage of the 18 hole Poipu Bay championship golf course. It was designed by Robert Trent Jones and is located on 210 acres of oceanfront property. Finally, head south to Port Allen and go whale watching. Kauai has some of the best whale watching of any of the islands. It is not uncommon for a whale to surface and play and splash around for up to 15 minutes at a time.

Visit the North Shore of Kauai

Like the south shore, the north shore of Kauai offers many wonderful attractions of its own. For easy access to all the north shore sights of Kauai stay at the Puu Poa condo vacation rentals located in Princeville. From here you will have an easy time visiting sights such as the aforementioned majestic Na Pali coast (a can’t miss), as well as taking the family to Hanalei Beach Park. Hanalei Beach Park is a 2 mile crescent shaped beach that surrounds a beautiful spacious bay. During the summer months the bay is calm and clear, during the winter months it is home to some of the biggest onshore surf breaks in the state. Finally, make sure to visit the Waikapalae and Waikanaloa Wet Caves. The local legend claims that the fire goddess Pele dug these caves herself. These watering holes used to be clean, clear and great for swimming. Now stagnant they are still a great example of one of Kauai’s legendary landmarks.

Wailua River Valley

Located on the east coast of Kauai, Wailua River is Hawaii’s longest navigable river. Apart from the historical sites, which include several heiaus along the scenic route, the Wailua River also boasts some excellent scenic attractions. Forefront to all the others is probably the twin waterfalls of Opaekaa, which was the filming location for the hit TV show “Fantasy Island.” On the opposite side of the falls sits the reconstructed Hawaiian village at Kamokila, which was once an ancient Hawaiian settlement. Don’t forget to rent a kayak at the village to explore more of the Wailua River and gain access to “Secret Falls”, which has an excellent swimming pool.

Limahuli Garden and Preserve

Set in a tropical valley on the north shore of Kauai, the Limahuli Garden and Preserve is backdropped by Makana Mountain and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The garden cultivates a lot of kalo (taro), which is an important cultural food crop. Behind the garden sits the preserve where conservationists and biologists are working to preserve the species native to this habitat. Limahuli Garden was selected by the American Horticultural Society as the best natural botanical garden in the United States.

Kauai Movie Tours

A fun and unique way to enjoy a few hours of your vacation is to take a Kauai movie tour. Some of the most popular movies and TV shows in history have been filmed either in part or all on Kauai. Book one of these tours and see shooting locations for movies like Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, South Pacific, Blue Hawaii, Six Days Seven Nights, Gilligan’s Island, Fantasy Island and more!

Kauai Plantation Railway

This attractions lets the rider experience the recreation of days when steam powered trains moved and harvested sugar cane from the field mill to the wharf for shipment. The Plantation Railway runs through the grounds of the Kilohana Estate and adjoining 70 acre plantation. The rail is 2.5 miles long and riders are given an informative narration of Kauai’s agricultural history. Lastly, once the ride is over, riders are able to purchase products grown on the plantation or taste some of Kauai’s unique food items from the 16,000 square foot courtyard/galleria/restaurant.

Scuba Dive

Offering an abundance of sites to dive, divers ranging in experience from beginner to advanced will definitely find a dive that best suites them. There are boat dives, night dives and other such dive tours that offer plenty of sea life to discover. Visitors can rent all the dive gear and equipment on sight and even get certification (certification is not required to dive). Beginners will enjoy north and south shore sites such as Hanalei, Kee Beach and Poipu Beach while more advanced divers can venture out to areas like cave exploration and lava tube exploration.

Enjoy the Beaches

Some of the more beautiful beaches in all of Hawaii are located on Kauai. From Poipu Beach to Salt Pond Beach Park, there is something for everyone. Feeling like taking a long walk? Polihale State Beach Park is located on Kauai’s westernmost point and is Hawaii’s longest beach with over 17 miles of sparkling white sand.

These, along with dozens of other hidden treasures are available options on your visit to Kauai. Whether you are coming alone, with a spouse, or with the family, make sure you plan out the most interesting, fun activities for you. Having a plan will enable you to see and do more with the time a budget you have.

Travel to the Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 13:55:37 +0000

The Waikoloa Beach Resort is one of the top destinations on the Big Island of Hawaii. It is located on the sunny Kohala Coast, home of crystal clear waters and renowned golf. Along with some top rates hotels, the Waikoloa Beach Resort features some amazing vacation rentals.

From budget to luxury vacation rentals, there is a vacation rental that suites anyone’s desires. Complexes such as Vista Waikoloa, Fairway Villas, Colony Villas, Shores, Hali’i Kai and the Waikoloa Beach Villas have been known to rent for as little as $75/night. While the price may be minimal, the quality is plentiful. Kolea is the most luxurious complex and rents from $300-$600/night. Kolea is one of the only beachfront vacation rental complexes on the Big Island of Hawaii. Each villa is very spacious and offers ultimate luxury living, You will find a grill, mahogany wood accents, granite counters, stainless steel appliances and much more in each Kolea villa.

Waikoloa Vacation Rentals offers an array of Waikoloa Rentals and offers excellent service for your vacation to the Big Island of Hawaii.

How to Pack For Your Next Hawaiian Cruise

admin — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:26:12 +0000

I know personally the worst part of going on a cruise is the packing. You never know how much you should bring. Most time I end up over packing and never wearing half of the clothing I brought. I have learned “the hard way” by forgetting some essential items and then having to purchase it at double (or more) the price on the cruise ship or in a port of call.

Cruise Customs are changing

Many passengers look forward to dressing up in the evening; others truly dread it. But these days you don’t have to be high fashion to enjoy your cruise. Dress codes have loosened up along with dining options. I would check your specific cruise line for the amount of formal nights, semi formal nights and the dress code for the common areas on the boat.

Day wear

Bring quality swimwear, as you’re likely to spend a lot of time in or around the pool, especially on warm weather cruises. For women, sarongs, cover-ups and sundresses are necessary, since most cruise lines require that you wear more than a swimsuit in the dining rooms.

Evening wear

Most cruises will have one or two formal evenings a week. Men are expected to wear a dark suit or sports jacket. Women should wear an evening dress or a dressy pantsuit. For evenings that are less dressy, women can get away with silky tops and trousers. Be sure to pack a dressy sweater or jacket, especially for the newer cruise ships, whose air conditioning can be quite powerful.

Versatility counts

Remember you can always wear clothing more than once. Bring outfits that will easily mixed and matched this way you’re not over packing or paying high feeds to have your clothing cleaned. If you’re concerned about running out of clean clothes, don’t worry.

The easiest way to plan your packing is to make a list of all the items you need to bring. I found through experience that makes life so much simpler when you have guide of what to bring for every occasion. Remember to pack based on your cruise and what activities you plan on taking part in while on your cruise.

Princess Cruises to Hawaii Vacations and Travel Packages

admin — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:54:13 +0000

Hawaii is a beautiful island paradise that attracts people worldwide to come and enjoy its beautiful landscape, attractions, and people. And what is more beautiful and fantastic about that wondrous paradise is seeing it from the ocean on a luxurious and royal Princess Cruise.

Princess Cruises is a company founded in California in 1966 for cruise lines around the west coast. One of the most popular cruises of the Cruise Line Company is, of course, the Cruise line to Hawaii where tourists are able to see the beautiful Island State of Hawaii from the ocean. The cruise line also often docks and allows tourists to experience the wonderful tropical landscape.

There are many Hawaii Vacation packages to choose from when deciding on what Cruise to take.

These packages are normally divided into which port that potential travelers desire to get off at. These Docks include Diamond Head, Kaneohe Bay, Kona Hawaii, and Maui Hawaii.

When choosing a Hawaii Vacation from the Princess Cruiseline Package list, tourists have the option to choose how long they want to be on the cruise. After this, tourists are able to chose where they wish to embark from or disembark from. For Princess Cruise lines, the options for disembarking from the continental US going to Hawaii is restricted to San Francisco whereas Hawaii ports are all the four aforementioned.

When choosing a Travel Package for Hawaii vacations, it is important to weigh all options to get the best deal and the best fit for the desired trip.

For Romantic Honeymoons, Hawaii Has It All

admin — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:00:22 +0000

If you’re looking for a romantic honeymoon vacation in Hawaii, beautiful memories await your arrival! Your ideal honeymoon might be in a resort on the main island of Oahu. On famed Waikiki Beach you can spend romance-filled days and nights in the privacy of a room with gorgeous ocean or mountain views.

The more adventuresome might prefer to drive over Pali Pass with its breathtaking vistas of the windward shore. On the north shore, Waimea Beach’s spectacular surf is only for experts. For honeymooners for whom only the most awesome of views approach the wow standard of their private moments, few spots on the main island of Oahu can match Waimea.

Many honeymooners in Hawaii seek romance on the neighboring isle of Kauai where isolated beaches offer the privacy they crave. For a storybook setting, how about orchids that dangle from trees in the inland forests? The island’s Waimea Canyon rivals the mainland’s Grand Canyon, in a gentler climate.

For more ideas check out each island’s online sites. Most popular are Oahu, the big island of Hawaii where you can drive up to an active volcano; Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai. Some offer unique black sand beaches, others craggy shorelines where the sea geysers through crevices and blowholes; dancing, dining, everything to make a honeymoon memorable is somewhere in the Hawaiian Islands. When you step off the plane, you just might be handed a flower lei by a smiling woman clad in the flowing, flowered mumu of island tradition. How romantic is that?

Hilton Grand Waikikian and Disney Resort come to Oahu

admin — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 19:47:06 +0000

While some are feeling the pinch of an economic downturn, Hawaii’s tourism industry remains strong. Two well known ‘families’ have made the most recent contribution to Oahu’s ever-growing hotel population: The Hilton Family and a very large family that includes one very popular Mickey Mouse!

Opening in December, 2008, The Hilton Grand Waikikian became the newest addition to the sprawling 22 acre Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa on Waikiki Beach. This 38 story, 331-suite luxury time share is a vacation home to the elite members of The Hilton Grand Vacation Club. Club members will spend between $40,000 and $80,000 for an annual week-long stay at this upscale property. Suites range from one to three bedrooms and the five top floors house the three-bedroom Penthouse suites, which average $100,000 for an annual week-long vacation. The Hilton Hawaiian Village property includes a number of hotel towers and three time share towers, including the 236 unit Lagoon Tower and the 72 unit Kalia Tower.

The Grand Waikikian includes many upscale amenities as well as a 5,000 square foot pool which features a water slide, waterfalls and a swim-through grotto lagoon.

On the Western side of the island, another large scale project is in the works. The Disney Company has ventured to the Aloha state to begin work on their first non-theme park related resort on 21 acres of beach front property in Ko Olina. The $800 million resort will include 350 hotel rooms and 480 time share villas for their more than 350,000 Disney Vacation Club members. With Hawaii’s Governor’s blessing, this Disney resort anticipates creating more than 1,000 new jobs. While most hotels typically offer job opportunities for hospitality and housekeeping personnel, one can only expect that this new resort will open up more diverse employment prospects, living up to the the Disney way of the provision of entertainment and activities.

Completion of the Disney Resort in Hawaii is anticipated in 2011.

What To Do In Hawaii; Best Hawaiian Vacation Destinations

admin — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 04:51:18 +0000

Paradise awaits you in the islands of Hawaii. From its white sandy beaches to it crystal clear waters, the former childhood home of President Barack Obama has a lot to offer its visitors.

Whether it is a family vacation that you planned or a romantic getaway for two, nothing will have you saying, “Aloha!” more than a night or two at Kualoa Ranch located in beautiful Oahu. Set in between the steep mountainside of Hawaii and located near the shores of the sea, visitors have their pick of activities to choose from including: horseback riding, a jungle expedition, and ATV rides.

Go snorkeling on your vacation in Maui. Catch glimpses of marine life as you dive into the ocean for the first time.

If snorkeling isn’t your speed, take a guided sailboat tour instead and travel to the Island of Lana’i. Watch whales from the safety of the deck. Don’t forget to take pictures! Your friends and family will want to see what they’re missing!

Afraid to get your feet wet? Why not attend an authentic Kauai Luau instead! Learn how to do the hula after feasting on authentic Hawaiian cuisine. Roasted pig and fresh pineapple make it a vacation to remember.

Fantastic Island and Beach Attractions in Hawaii

admin — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 06:28:39 +0000

In spring 2009, Hawaii will host several events, some ongoing, some one-time. The ongoing events include lava viewing at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The park itself has 323,431 acres, trails totalling 150 miles, and seven distinct types of ecology, from sea level – where lava flows into the ocean – up to 13,667 feet.

The Polynesian Cultural Center has seven villages of the native peoples of Hawaii and other Polynesian cultures, where visitors can participate in daily activities. The Center also hosts festivals, an extravagant luau, a canoe pageant, and a terrific night show. Festivals include the 17th Annual World Fireknife Competition and Samoa Festival, and the Tenth Annual Maori Song and Dance Competition.

Hurricane season is from June to November, but true hurricanes are rare; winds usually don’t exceed 74 mph. Thus, your stay at the beaches will be more pleasant compared to the Caribbean, which regularly has dangerous hurricanes.

Tourism at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel has picked up. After major renovation, it held the Aloha Inaugural Ball January 20th, and will celebrate its Grand Opening Gala on March 7th. Senator John McCain met his wife in its legendary Mai Tai Bar, and celebrities including Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake are seen in Kailua (Oahu), the hotel’s location. The town itself has a beautiful beach, and incredible views of the mountains.

Any place you travel to in the Hawaiian Islands will be fantastic. Especially now that the President will be spending his vacations there, Hawaii promises to be more exciting than ever.

Hawaii Hotel Occupancy drops 12.6%; Book Your Vacation Now

admin — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:52:57 +0000

Some recent figures released this week bode very well for anyone interested in booking a vacation or honeymoon in Hawaii this winter or spring. Visitor industry inside sources in Hawaii are reporting that hotels are experiencing, on average, a 12.6 per cent drop in occupancy. You know what that means – Hotel prices are dropping and vacation booking values are here!

From Pacific Business News:

Hawaii’s visitor industry ended the year on a sour note, with statewide hotel occupancy down 12.6 percentage points to 66.4 percent.

Hotel room rates fell as well, compared to the same week in 2007 — down 13.8 percent to $265 a night.

The holiday season is usually Hawaii’s strongest, with many properties posting their highest room rates and occupancy figures.

Occupancy and room rates for the four main Hawaiian islands were as follows:

Oahu occupancy fell 7.4 percentage points to 68.4 percent, while room rates fell 17.3 percent to $196;
Maui occupancy dropped 16.4 percentage points to 67.2 percent, while room rates were off 2.1 percent to $415 a night;
Mauai occupancy plunged 16.6 percentage points to 65.5 percent, while room rates declined 16.3 percent; and
Big Island occupancy plummeted 21.9 percentage points to 58.5 percent, while room rates decreased 26.2 percent to $248.

Nationwide, hotel occupancy fell 7 percentage points to 35.8 percent, while room rates dropped 9.5 percent to $92.

The weekly Hawaii hotel industry snapshot is surveyed by Smith Travel Research and Hospitality Advisors.

Hawaiian Headlines: 2009 NFL Pro Bowl, Obama Visit Hawaii

admin — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:07:08 +0000

There’s quite a bit going on in Hawaii this winter, and in case you weren’t lucky enough to book your vacation there yet, don’t worry. All these goings-on are only helping to increase Hawaii as a hot vacation destination for 2009. Luckily, though, the economic downturn has still kept Hawaii vacations and resorts affordable.

Perhaps the biggest news to increase Hawaiian Tourism in 2009 is President-Elect Barack Obama’s vacation in Hawaii this week. A veritable cottage industry surrounding all things Obama has sprung us this week. CBS News reports that narrated tours of Obama’s childhood, costing more than $40, are now big business in Honolulu. They stop at the apartment building he grew up in, a favorite lunch hangout and the local ice cream store. The fact that he’s been golfing there all week can only help the local links attract more vacation golfers.

The National Football League has already announced its commitment to hold future Pro Bowls in Hawaii. The next one is slated for the week after the 2009 Super Bowl, when the best players from the AFC face the best from the NFC. Fans, players and coaches vote to determine rosters. The game has been held at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu since 1980, and 2009′s Pro Bowl will be held there again.

OK, maybe this isn’t going to attract that many tourists, but 13th Annual Hanohano Ocean Challenge will be held Jan 31, 2009. It’s a contest of ocean paddling craft, such as outrigger canoes. According to them, if you can paddle it, you are welcome to participate in the race.

And it at least deserves a mention that Woody Harrelson just tied the knot in Hawaii yesterday. After all, weddings and honeymoons are big budget items for vacation travel to Hawaii; who wouldn’t want to have their honeymoon on the beach in Waikiki?

Hawaii Islands Vacation Guide

Kauai’s Top 10 Things to Do

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