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Posts Tagged ‘Hawaii’

Places To Visit in Oahu

March 18th, 2009 No comments

Many millions of visitors each year land at Honolulu International Airport expecting a holiday of a lifetime on these islands. Immediately after landing, visitors hop in to buses or taxis sent by the hotel and zoom past downtown Honolulu to reach their pre-reserved accommodation at a Waikiki hotel. The attraction of Waikiki is nearly magnetic – the bustle of the busy streets, the long and extended beaches and the rich history of the land soon make the visitors hit the streets. Waikiki is known for its excitement, so much so in fact that many people never leave this area to explore other beautiful parts of the island. With six million visitors annually, you would expect them to want to see the island but most remain within Waikiki’s two square miles.

If you are a visitor who would like to get a taste of Oahu through the eyes of a resident, this article may be of special interest to you.

Magic Island Beach Park – This popular park is located just west of Waikiki, across the street from the Ala Moana Shopping Center. What are the points of attraction in this park? It has two beaches, a jogging path stretching up to 3 miles, tennis courts and much more. A walk around the park will expose the center of Hawaiian culture – people with large extended families gather around hibachis, spending the day together with a good food and plenty of sun. This is a great place for a barbecue and considering the beaches are never overcrowded, it makes for a fantastic sun-filled day.

The Contemporary Museum – This beautiful museum is not very large by museum standards and is situated high up on a ridge that offers spectacular vistas – it can be found on Makiki Heights drive. The exquisite exhibits in this somewhat small museum keep changing in the 5 galleries and when you have finished viewing these, you could go outdoors for a walk in to the sculpture gardens. 5 acres, includes sculptures as well as places for meditation, and can offer an unforgettable view of Honolulu.

Leong’s Cafe – A lu’au is a must-do on any trip here and along with the fantastic entertainment they can also offer great native Hawaiian food. But if you are true connoisseur of authentic Hawaiian food, then the place you ought to visit is Leong’s Cafe located at 2343 North King Street. Here they have been serving the Hawaiian population for in excess of five decades with traditional dishes enjoyed by many.

Champion Malasadas – there is a local treat that originated in portugal called Malasadas which has become so popular that they even renamed Fat Tuesday to Malasadas day. The location details, where this venerated and most popular bakery is Champion Malasadas, 1926 South Beretania Street. Anyone that enjoys donuts will like these (even though they do not have a hole) and they come with a variety of fillings or if you prefer, you can eat them without any type of filling.

Honolulu Chinatown ” Walk through the lanes of Chinatown and you start thinking where am I, and what era am I in? Everything from dim sum to fresh produce can be found here but it also has more modern treats to like the new Hip Lounge. The shops and streets are unforgettable, offering goods, which you would never find in an average American store. While you could always take a guided walking tour of the place the wisest thing to do is to go for a walk by yourself, walking leisurely and only stopping to see something, which tickles your areas of interest.

If you are interested in seeing Oahu through a locals eyes, be sure to spend some time outside of Waikiki. Stop by some or all of the spots listed above and see some of what truly makes Hawaii special.

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Discover Romance on Hawaii Honeymoon Cruises

February 24th, 2009 No comments

One of the preferred destinations to spend your honeymoon is aboard a Hawaii cruise. This place on Earth offers incredible scenery, charm and that special magic you can only find in these islands. Read on to learn more about Hawaii honeymoon cruises.

To start planning for your Hawaii honeymoon, you’ll need to opt for a cruise line. You can find many cruise line available covering this route, like for example Princess Cruises, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian cruises, Holland America, among other options.

You will also need to choose a departure point, and this will also depend greatly on the cruise line you choose. If you are looking to save money, choose a place that is close to where you are, departure points include Ensenada (in Mexico), California, Vancouver and Hawaii itself.

Hawaii cruises give you the possibility to explore romance while traveling to the different islands. Besides the big island – Hawaii – you’ll get a chance of enjoying the beauty of Maui beaches and of course the breathtaking waterfalls and cliffs you can only find in Honolulu.

Starting your married life on a Hawaii honeymoon cruise is a unique and unforgettable experience. Since the moment you dock on the islands, you’ll enjoy the warmth of this land and will be treated as a special guest.

Each cruise line will have its own honeymoon specials and packages. While some lines prefer to bring to the couple special gifts and souvenirs, other lines prefer to give a special detailed service with special touches of romance.

If you are from the USA, spending your honeymoon on a Hawaii cruise is very simple. You don’t need to have any special paper to travel to Hawaii, as your ID will be enough proof of your US citizenship.

A Hawaii honeymoon cruise will give you the perfect setting for passion and romance during this special time. Be sure to take advantage of it!

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Riding the Waves of Hawaii

January 31st, 2009 1 comment

There would be nothing more that you can think of when someone mentions Hawaii other than paradise. With the sun, sand and beach will definitely bring you to a different place, despite the fact that you are still in one of the states. It won’t be long before you find yourself sitting in a luau eating a feast, and having a blast.

Due to the great beaches, Hawaii has become one of the most favored vacation spots. Along with the great beaches Hawaii has incredible waves to ride. There are more than a dozen surf spots that you can choose from in Hawaii. Surfing traces its roots back Polynesian and Hawaiian ancestry. It’s no wonder that both children and adults alike share the same passion for surfing in Hawaii.

Surfing has become closely linked and is practically a way of life for a lot of Hawaiian residents. Whether young or old, rich or poor this is something that has brought them all together. Almost everyone owns a surfboard and enjoys this form of leisure. Nothing will definitely beat the feeling of being stoked after a great ride. This natural high is a feeling that you can’t explain; no wonder so many have gotten hooked on surfing.

Playing such an important role in the lives of people in Hawaii, surfing has become something they celebrate. There are festivals where people who love to surf can come together to do what they like best and to party as well. Other than this there are other festivals, shows and fairs that you will find in Hawaii; craft fairs are just as popular to the people of Hawaii. There are a number of interesting things that you will find in events such as these.

Dropping in on a craft fair in Hawaii is always interesting; you never know what you will find. You don’t have to limit yourself to going to a craft fair. You may have some products of your own that you may want to market to others. A craft fair can be the perfect place to do just that and earn some cash.

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Have You Thought About Places To Visit In Hawaii?

December 18th, 2008 No comments
by Henry Silvia

Do you want to visit the oldest island in Hawaii? If so, Kauai is a good choice. This area is one of the most gorgeous you will see. The perfect retreat for the ‘just married’ couple or those who need a break would be the island of Kauai. No cause for concern – although it is peaceful, there are many activities just waiting for you.

When it comes to spending time in the outdoors Kauai has golfing to rival anywhere in the country. Because six courses here were designed by two major golfers, Robert Trent Jones, Jr. and Jack Nicklaus, the courses are very popular and the resorts such as Poipu Bay, Kauai Lagoons and Princeville are as well.

Legend has it that many years ago the menehunes lived on Kauai. They were supposed to have been there many centuries before the Polynesians. They were said to have built vast fish ponds and erected many of the structures still standing today. The old stories say these little people could build a structure in one night.

How awesome is it to walk in the footsteps of those who trod these grounds many years ago. The remnants of Hawaiian villages in 27 sites that have been preserved for the history of the island exists overlooking the Kiahuna Golf Club. In this lush, tropical setting are many flowering climbing plants, which are native to the area, making it exceptionally beautiful.

If you want to enjoy more of the natural habitat of Kauai, there are sea turtles that often weigh 400 lbs. The Green Turtle, the Hawksbill and the Leatherback are three. These turtles have a huge role in the history of Kauai. They eat vegetables and the Hawaiian seaweed which grows underwater. The shells of the Green Turtle are a dark green with flecks of gold.

When visiting Kauai, the choice of outdoor events will not be a problem. Because they have about the same weather all the time, the array of activities are available year round. The sea temperatures are responsible for keeping the weather pleasant and there is only a variance of a few degrees from one time of the year to the next one. The lows average about ten degrees from the highs.

If you want to check out the local area this is perfect for doing on horseback. Those who enjoy nature will love riding along the coast on the trails, while galloping along on your horse. The combination of nine stables from which to choose and the pleasant weather will be a perfect time for spending your early evening hours horseback riding. The trails and nooks that you will see when traveling to Haupu Valley, Mahaulepu Beach and Waimea Canyon, which is the “Pacific’s Grand Canyon” are worth the ride.

The fishing is another favorite pastime of many people. With the saltwater anglers and freshwater fish, this is an area that is a fisherman’s paradise. You will not be talking about the one that got away when you take on the waters here for fish. They are loaded with many different type and species.

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Guide to Hotels On The Big Island of Hawaii

October 13th, 2008 No comments
by S. Kim

There are a wide array of Big Island Hawaii hotels to select from when you are going to be vacationing on this island. However, you need to be aware that not all hotels offer the same sorts of amenities and the less they offer the cheaper they will be. Also where the hotel is situated will have an effect on just how much you pay for your accommodation as well.

There are certain things that one can do when you stay in Hawaii which can help you with cutting these costs back and below we offer a few tips which may help you to do just that.

1. Find out if the hotels you are considering offer special rates or discounts to certain people such as the elderly, students, military personnel or those who travel frequently as this could save quite a bit on the accommodation.

2. If you intend to book accommodation at one of the many chain hotels then rather than use their main booking service line contact the hotel directly. Doing it this way you may find that you can actually negotiate with them a better rate on your accommodation.

3. When you are booking online many of the hotels offer special discounts when the accommodation is sorted out this way. Also if you visit sites such as Priceline, Expedia or Hotwire you will find that many hotels provide them with a limited number of rooms which again they can offer you to a discount below what you would pay if you went to them direct.

4. If you only intend to spend a few days in a certain hotel then avoid booking your accommodation for the weekend, but instead stay in it during the week. Most hotels will increase the rates they charge on their rooms at weekends simply because they know that they are in demand more. However, as these hotels often find themselves empty during the week to help get people to stay at them they offer very good discounts and often you will get a bigger room for the same money you would pay for a smaller room at weekends.

5. If you intend to be eating out when on vacation rather than booking your accommodation with all meals included, instead go for the breakfast only option. This will end up saving you quite a considerable sum on the rate you pay for your room. Plus it offers you the opportunity to go out and try some of the local cuisine instead.

6. It is important that you make yourself aware of what is included in the cost of your accommodation and what isn’t. It isn’t just the drinks and snacks and making phone calls which can increase your accommodation costs but also the local taxes and service charges can as well. In some cases these charges can add as much as 15% on to your Big Island Hawaii hotel accommodation costs.

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