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Kohala Coast Family Vacation
Hawaii Travel Deals – Kohala Coast, Hawaii Fairmont Orchid Resort Promo Code:GGWS Call 1.800.330.8820 or click here to have a Hawaii Travel Specialist contact you. TravelWizard.com: Specialists in the Art of Travel: Call 1-800-330-8820
Continue reading...Abercrombie’s security pricey, India sends $158M for Thirty Meter Telescope, Kaneohe Bay to get busy, statewide apartment smoking ban sought, Lanai…
16. November 2011
Gov. Neil Abercrombie security (c) 2011 All Hawaii News Hawaii taxpayers paid at least $1.2 million for security personnel for the governor last year, Civil Beat has found. Civil Beat . Five years after a workplace smoking ban took effect in Hawaii, the next battleground in smoking regulation is being fought in the boardrooms of condominiums and apartments, a debate over whether to ban smoking inside apartment units. KITV4. The number of people who used homeless shelters or were helped by outreach services leveled off and may have even dropped slightly last year, after five years of increases, according to a report released Tuesday that looks at homeless services in Hawaii. Star-Advertiser. The number of homeless people in Hawaii receiving shelter and help from outreach programs declined by 3 percent — or 453 people — from fiscal year 2010 to FY 2011. Civil Beat. A proposed bill would allow the city to confiscate all personal belongings left or kept on public property for more than 24 hours. Civil Beat. A new Marine Corps study says airfield use at Kaneohe Bay is expected to increase 49 percent by 2018 compared with a 2009 “base-line” level of activity, as the Corps and Navy update aging aircraft and add new capability in a reflection of Hawaii’s growing importance in the Pacific. Star-Advertiser. A Water Resource Sustainability Conference is being hosted by the University of Hawai’i at Manoa this week. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaii Medical Service Association, poised to raise rates again at the start of the year, posted earnings of $12.9 million in the third quarter, which continued its return to profitability but raised some eyebrows over the magnitude of its financial turnaround. Star-Advertiser. Two Hawaii resorts have made it on to the five-star list in the new issue of the Forbes Travel Guide, while six other hotels made the guide’s listing of four-star establishments. Pacific Business News. Hawaiian Airlines passengers will soon be able to travel from Honolulu to the Big Apple in one flight. Hawaii News Now. Torch bearer does his job, distracts Clinton, ends up in viral video. Hawaii News Now. Oahu Honolulu is the third most expensive college town in America when it comes to real estate. KHON2. City officials say they are pleased with the curbside recycling program that began in 2007 and went islandwide in May 2010, but are working to get more Oahu residents to put newspaper, bottles and other “mixed recyclables” into their blue bins. Star-Advertiser. The president of the Hawaii State Federal Credit Union has abruptly resigned, the latest sign that the governance of the state’s second-largest credit union continues to be beset by controversy and turmoil. Star-Advertiser. Honolulu Police Department Major Carlton Nishimura, already under indictment on federal extortion charges, now faces drug distribution charges following an FBI raid of his Waianae home last night. Hawaii Reporter. Richard Heinberg presented ideas at the Moana Nui summit based on more resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities. Hawaii Independent. Hawaii The Indian government is contributing around $158 million in high-tech components for the Thirty Meter Telescope. Tribune-Herald. A charter amendment to devote 0.25 percent of property taxes to maintain the land the county is purchasing with open space funds got a tentative nod Tuesday from a County Council committee. West Hawaii Today. Plans to transform North Kohala’s rural Akoni Pule Highway into a National Scenic Byway have been halted following an outpouring of community opposition to the designation. West Hawaii Today. Hilo Municipal Golf Course is a pretty good deal, with or without a proposed increase to its greens fees, said golfers there on Tuesday morning. Tribune-Herald. Maui Fresh out of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference on Oahu, Taiwan government officials spent Monday on Maui to honor Dr. Sun Yat-sen, a Chinese revolutionary leader who lived in Kula more than 100 years ago. Maui News. Members of the Maui County Charter Commission on Monday looked at some possible alternatives to the current system of County Council districts, but postponed a decision on the issue. Maui News. Kauai With Thanksgiving just around the corner, the Kaua‘i Community Alliance will host the Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week this week. Garden Island. The Department of Land and Natural Resources announced Tuesday that the Kaua‘i District Office of the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation has completed its relocation to Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor. Garden Island. Lanai More than 25 years ago, billionaire real estate tycoon David Murdock bought this bucolic Hawaiian island and promised to keep it as unchanged as a few high-end resorts and golf courses might allow. Civil Beat.
Continue reading...Review: Aulani, Disney Resort & Spa
31. October 2011
Though we’ve covered quite a bit about Aulani after visiting last month for their Grand Opening Celebration , I felt like there were several aspects that I still needed to share with you. Hawaiian Culture Is Embraced and Honored When I first heard that Disney was coming to Hawaii several years ago, I wondered how Disney would blend in Hawaii. Actually, I think Disney has gone to great lengths to incorporate Hawaiian culture into Aulani and emphasizing that above iconic Disney characters. Hawaiian culture seems to drive the car, so to speak, while stereotypical Disney aspects ride along in the backseat. For example, when we first arrived, we noticed the kalo (taro) plants in front of the resort, we were greeted with alohas and when we went into the lobby we noticed then the beautiful murals of Hawaiian scenes. It wasn’t until we got into our room that we finally noticed the first Disney-influence, which was a vintage-looking lamp with a wooden Mickey Mouse carved in the lamp stand ( see photo ). Aulani Lobby I had a chance to meet with some of the Aulani artists who were all born and raised in Hawaii – most were local from the Waianae Coast. When they were commissioned for their art, they said that Disney provided very little input. Each artist expressed how much they enjoyed being a part of Aulani, telling their story and perpetuating their native Hawaiian culture. If you’re interested in learning more about the art at Aulani, I found this article . Just about every place that has a name at Aulani has a Hawaiian name. Hawaiian is usually spoken first. In fact, a helpful Concierge, Sharilyn, told me that though she had grown up in Hawaii, she’s never spoken as much Hawaiian as she has since she started working at Aulani. Kid & Family Friendly Donald Duck rocks an Aloha Shirt at Aulani In my opinion, Aulani is the most kid-friendly resort in Hawaii. Here are some of the great things designed for kids to enjoy: Aunty’s Beach House is a dream play house for any kid. Just touring it made me want to be a kid again. There’s Hawaiian crafts, dress up, story time, outdoor play, hula, musical instruments, movies, games and more. I’ve not seen anything else in Hawaii that matches it. Not only is it outstanding – it’s a complimentary amenity for guests. Other Hawaii resorts charge $35 or more for a half day. You do need to pay for meals. Aunty’s Beach House is open from 8am to 9pm or 9am to 11pm depending on the day. Aunty’s Beach House is available for potty trained guests ages 3 to 12. Aulani offers complimentary activities designed especially for tweens and teens like pool parties, obstacle courses and stargazing. Disney Characters make regular visits and appearances much to the delight kids of all ages. Character Breakfasts are scheduled three days per week at the moment. Aulani has embraced the legend of the Menehune – so much so that they’ve placed hundreds of Menehune statues and carvings throughout the resort. It’s fun for both kids and grownups to find Menehune hiding throughout the resort. Rainbow Reef , two waterslides and the Menehune Bridge ( photo ) are ideal water fun parks for kids and adults, too. You’d have to try really, really hard not to have fun in the Aulani Waikolohe Valley collection of water park fun. Rooms include Pack ‘n Play playard for the little ones. The lagoon beach adjacent to Aulani offers relatively safe protection from big waves. Couple Friendly? I added the question mark because, I’m not too sure about how couple-friendly Aulani is. It’s not couple unfriendly , that’s for sure, but I wouldn’t say that Aulani is exceptionally romantic either. Andy and I certainly enjoyed our visit, though we spent most of our time working. When we could, we enjoyed the waterslides and lazy river like a couple of kids . Mickey & Minnie Mouse enjoy a romantic Aulani sunset. Some of the romantic things you can do at Aulani are have a Fairytale Disney Wedding , enjoy private ocean view dining, get some spa pampering with a couples massage, go on a catamaran sunset cruise, relax by the adults-only pool, watch sunset in the infinity whirlpools, have a sunset beach picnic, etc. Outstanding Spa Facilities I think it’s just a matter of time for Aulani’s Laniwai Spa to be listed among Hawaii’s best spas. Access to their outdoor hydrotherapy garden, Kula Wai, is included in most treatments. Kula Wai offers whirlpools, cold plunge, mineral baths and my favorite – six different rain shower experiences. If you’re not staying at Aulani, but you want to get a spa treatment in Oahu, I highly recommend Aulani’s spa. (Psst! Here’s a tip, when there’s availability, guests can purchase a day pass to the hydrotherapy garden for $45.) Rooms Aulani offers both hotel and vacation ownership accommodations. The hotel portion was sold out, so we were lucky to be assigned one of the Disney Vacation Club rooms . We had a sitting area, dining area, full kitchen, washer and dryer, separate bedroom and a bath and a half. We could have lived there. The rooms are nicely decorated with dark woods, Hawaiian prints and kapa designs. Even if you are not a Disney Vacation Club owner, the DVC rooms are available for booking within 60 days of your visit when they’re available. Dining Aulani offers several dining venues across the resort from take out to fine dining. Our favorite restaurant was ‘ AMA’AMA where we enjoyed their kulua pork on steamed rice buns and the ocean views. For casual evening dining, we liked The ‘Olelo Room where Hawaiian is spoken first. It’s a great place for sliders and learning to speak Hawaiian words – a great combo. For a cool treat, we really liked the shave ice hut near the pools. Aulani has their very own Shave Ice hut that looks like it was transported straight from the North Shore. As I’ve already mentioned, Aulani offers a great chance to meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and other Disney characters at the Character Breakfast that’s served buffet-style for $32 in Makahiki. We enjoyed it. (Psst! They also offer an a la carte menu at Makahiki if you don’t want the buffet.) If there’s one area Aulani could improve upon, I’d say it’s with dining. We didn’t have a bad meal, but we didn’t have many impressive ones either. We chalked it up to the standard learning curve that all new restaurants endure. Pricing With rooms starting at $399, Aulani’s rates are definitely well above average for Hawaii of about $185 per night. That being said, the service and the amenities are well above average for Hawaii, too. I could be wrong, but I predict that Aulani will begin offering more deals. At the moment, they have a limited 5th night free offer. We felt like food and beverage costs were in line with what most Hawaii resorts charge. Nothing shocked us in comparison to other Hawaii resorts we’ve visited. A few tips for getting the most out of your stay: Check the all the resort happenings with the weekly, and daily ‘IWA for crafts, character meet and greet, movies on the lawn, Starlit Hui show, etc. Most of these activities are complimentary for guests. If you think you might be interested in taking part in the Character Breakfast, I recommend you book a month or more in advance to make sure you secure your spot. Also, aim to get there for an early arrival, like 7am, where you’ll have the characters almost all to yourself. If you are getting a spa treatment, do plan to check in an hour before to enjoy the spa amenities. Check out is at 11am, but don’t worry if you have a late flight. Aulani provides a fantastic lounge for guest after check out, the Luana Lounge. You’ll find lockers, showers, swimsuit dryers, hair dryers in case you need to freshen up before your flight. There’s two separate lounges with sofas and televisions. They even provide a monitor with Honolulu flights and a station to print your boarding passes. Wifi is free, yippee! See all the photos we took during our Aulani stay. Don’t forget to check out our video tour of Aulani . We’d like to thank Aulani for hosting and inviting us to their Grand Opening Celebration. © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...Aloha Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa!
20. September 2011
I love my job as your trusted Hawaii vacation advisor. Here’s one of the newest reasons I adore my work – the folks at Disney have invited us out to the Grand Opening of their first Hawaii resort and spa, the Aulani ! This new 21-acre Aulani resort is located in Ko Olina on the western (leeward) side of Oahu. We don’t plan on keeping this experience to ourselves. We want to try to bring you along as much as we can with photos, videos and posts on facebook and the blog. Please let me know if you have any questions about Aulani . I’ll do my best to answer them while I’m there. Photo courtesy of Disney © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...Hawaii Vacation Deals & News: Sept 7, 2011
7. September 2011
Hamoa Beach near Hana in Maui You may have thought we were napping in the Hawaii news and deals department , but we were actually spending 11 days in Maui. Well, truth be known, we did catch a catnap at beautiful Hamoa Beach one afternoon. Other than that, we were on-the-go, exploring Maui most of the time. So, we’ve got some news and deals catching up to do with today’s post. * From TravelZoo, check out this Hawaii deal — $795 for a three-night stay at the gorgeous Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay. That works out to only $265 per night to stay at a luxury Hawaii resort and you can extend the deal for a six-night stay at the same rate. On top of that outstanding rate, you also get to choose between one round of golf or a 50-minute massage per stay. Bonus! This resort is definitely one of our favorites. See my review of Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay . Andy and I will probably snag this deal for ourselves. * Another excellent TravelZoo, the Kauai Marriott Resort is offering $199 rate for stays between September 17, 2011 and January 17, 2012 with Christmas and New Years blackout dates. We love staying at this Kauai Marriott . See this link for the deal details. * Dinner and a show for $25 ? That’s a deal and you’ll find it at Oahu’s Polynesian Cultural Center. You get free dinner at the newly renovated Gateway Restaurant when you purchase a $25 ticket to see Ha: Breath of Life night show. (See my review of Ha: Breath of Life .) Along with the physical renovation of the Gateway Restaurant structure, the menu has also been improved with a brand new “Island Feast” menu including dishes such as sushi, sweet potato salad, mahimahi with teriyaki sauce, Fijian chicken curry, roast beef, Maori potato top, Samoan fa’alifu (with coconut cream) staples, and supoesi — papaya-tapioca dessert, to name just a few of the items. * While we were on Maui, we popped into the Makena Beach & Golf Resort to check it out. We even got a peek at their newly “beautified” rooms , which look great! They’re offering some fantastic deals at the moment, including a “Room & Ride” package that starts at $199 per night including a partial ocean view room and compact rental car. * Honua Kai Resort in the Kaanapali area of Maui is offering a fall special for stays between now and December 22, 2011, with blackout dates of November 18-27. The deal knocks off 50% plus you get a 5th night free on all studio, one bedroom and two bedroom suites. See this link for more information. * Outrigger is offering Hawaii vacation sweepstakes, ‘ Be Here Hawaii’ . Two grand-prize winners will receive roundtrip flights for two on Hawaiian Airlines plus a six-night stay at an Outrigger-managed hotel or condo of their preference on Kauai orHawaii Island. This online contest runs from September 6 to October 4, 2011. * Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel is giving away a two-night stay to a lucky facebook fan. To enter to win, follow this link and the instructions. * The Mouse family, Mickey and Minnie, have just opened their new home in Hawaii at Oahu’s Aulani Disney Resort & Spa . See KHON’s video and article on opening day . We’ve been invited to the official grand opening and are in the process of making plans to attend this big event. We can’t want to check it out and tell you all about it! © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...Retreating to Four Seasons Lanai Lodge at Koele
14. June 2011
Have you ever wondered where Hawaii residents go on staycation or to celebrate a special occasion? We’ve discovered that many residents are attracted to the Four Seasons Lanai Lodge at Koele . On our recent visit to Lanai, we shared the shuttle with a couple from Kauai. They were coming to the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele to celebrate their anniversary. Part of the attraction to the Lodge at Koele is the perfectly cool temperature in the Lana’i highlands, with the average daytime highs in the 70s. It’s a refreshing retreat from the warmer, coastal temperatures. Another draw to Lanai is the slower pace. Lanai is such a relaxing island to visit. I’m pretty sure there’s some sort of magic in the Lanai air that whispers, “You can relax now. You’re in Lana’i.” Of course the Koele resort is appointed with all the luxuries you expect from a Four Seasons property, such as spacious rooms, luxury linens and L’Occitane toiletries. We were impressed from the moment we arrived as we were greeted with kukui nut leis, chilled towels and a glass of pineapple lemonade. As I reflect back on our stay at the Lodge at Koele, I picture us walking the grounds, sitting on the lanai in the morning (See a short video of one of our peaceful morning views from the lanai .) and then relaxing in the Great Hall by the fireplace at night. Those are not your typical things-you-do in a Hawaii resorts. They’re not exciting and splashy, but surprisingly, they’re wonderful memories. The award-winning restaurants at the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele are really outstanding. We’ve dined there many times and have always had an excellent meal. So, yeah, I can see why Hawaii residents are drawn to the Lodge at Koele — relaxation, great food, luxury pampering and perfect temperatures. It’s a perfect retreat! Andy created a short video tour of Four Seasons Lodge at Koele. (Email subscribers: click here to access the Lodge at Koele video tour .) You might be wondering if this is a paid advertisement. It’s not! We never post paid advertisements. We truly enjoyed this one-of-a-kind Hawaii resort. Apparently, we’re not alone as both Travel + Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler readers rate the Four Seasons Lanai Lodge at Koele among the top 10 Hawaii resorts. For other opinions, see TripAdvisor reviews of the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele . Have you been to the Four Seasons Lanai Lodge at Koele? How was your experience? © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...Saving Money on Hawaii Vacation Dining & Meals
5. January 2011
With just a little planning and a few strategies, you can save a pile of money on your vacation meals. Check out these seven practical ideas that will have your wallet saying thank you: 1. Limit/avoid the hotel breakfast buffets. I’d estimate that the average resort breakfast buffet costs $25 per person. For a couple on a week’s vacation, you could easily rack up a $350 bill (plus gratuity) on breakfast alone. Eeek! It’s a treat to enjoy the resort’s breakfast buffet on a limited basis to keep save some cash and calories, too! We fell in love with Safeway's cinnamon muffins with cream cheese icing on our first trip to Kauai. Now I’m not suggesting that you skip breakfast, however I recommend that you opt for for more cost effective breakfasts. Consider these alternatives: Ask if the hotel restaurant serves an à la carte breakfast menu. You’ll probably save $10 or more per person just by ordering off the menu. For example, instead of paying $25 for the macadamia nut pancakes and bacon that you want off the buffet, order that breakfast option from the menu for less than $15. In many cases, you’d also save money over the buffet option just by getting room service and enjoying breakfast from your lanai. It sounds decadent, but it’s true. Many Hawaii resorts have a coffee shop with fruit and pastries. Scope out your resort to see if they have a coffee shop or if there’s a shop nearby. Pick up some breakfast items at a local shop or bring them with you from home. We have brought packets of instant oatmeal with us several times. (Note: don’t bring any fresh fruit or vegetables from home, they’re forbidden by agricultural laws. See Be Prepared to Complete the Hawaii Agricultural Declaration Form .) 2. Eating la vida local. There’s two really simple ways to try Hawaii’s flavors while truly enjoying a slice of local culture. Go to a farmers market where you’ll find all kinds of ono grindz (good local food). No matter where you travel, the locals know where to find the best food at reasonable prices. So, find the locals’ favorite restaurants and bakeries. See this list of local favorite restaurants across Hawaii . Our sunset Waikiki Beach weinie roast was our favorite dinner on one of our Oahu visits. 3. Have a picnic. There’s plenty of great restaurants around Hawaii that tout sunset ocean views, but you can’t get any better sunset view than having a picnic on one of Hawaii’s golden sand beaches . You’ll pay around $30 per entree at the restaurants, but a picnic will cost much less. You can buy a lot of yummy picnic supplies for $30, can’t you? 4. The early tourist catches the restaurant deals. We almost always try to enjoy a sunset while having dinner in Hawaii. Being from the East Coast, we’re also fairly jet lagged, especially early into our Hawaii vacations. So, we’re normally ready for dinner at 5:30 or 6pm – just as the top restaurants are opening for dinner and right before sunset. We’ve found a number of very good restaurants across Hawaii that offer a special “sunset dinner menu” (e.g. “early bird menu”) or well-priced prix fixe menus. The catch is that you need to be seated by 6pm in most cases, but for us that’s not been an issue. To find these special restaurant deals and/or coupons, look in local newspapers, Hawaiian Airlines magazine, and those free coupon magazines in the baggage claim area of the airports. Here are some examples: Roy’s restaurants all across Hawaii offer a great three-course prix fixe menu for $36. We found a great three-course sunset menu from Pineapple Grill on Maui for $32. Sansei is one of our favorite restaurants on the Big Island, Maui and Oahu. They usually offer some sort special pricing for early or late dining. On Kauai, the Hukilau Lanai offers a special five-course dinner for $28 for food only or $40 with wine pairings. Planning your Hawaii vacation dinner around sunset is a rewarding experience. 5. Take advantage of the grocery stores, coupons and cheap eats. Occasionally, you can find good dining coupons at Bank of Hawaii’s Online Marketplace Have a Costco membership? Bring your card for access to Costco on all the four major islands. See a few more ideas from this Maui coupons and discounts post. For Kauai, see this list of the best Kauai cheap eats . 6. Bring a few snack from home. It’s helpful to have a stash of your favorite snacks to keep you from paying resort sundries shop prices. I asked our savvy Go Visit Hawaii facebook community for their input on snacks and food that they bring to Hawaii to help save money. See all their suggestions here . 7. Stay where you have kitchen access. Yesterday, I shared advice on how to save money on Hawaii vacation accommodations , mentioning that staying in a condo or vacation villa is a great way to save money. I’ll add a studio with a kitchenette is a great choice, too. If you have the ability to make a few meals in your accommodation, you can really save compared to continually eating out. Making breakfast is a breeze in a Hawaii vacation condo kitchen. —- So, those are the seven major strategies we’ve used to save money on our Hawaii vacation dining. What other ideas would you suggest? © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...Saving Money on Hawaii Vacation Dining & Meals
5. January 2011
With just a little planning and a few strategies, you can save a pile of money on your vacation meals. Check out these seven practical ideas that will have your wallet saying thank you: 1. Limit/avoid the hotel breakfast buffets. I’d estimate that the average resort breakfast buffet costs $25 per person. For a couple on a week’s vacation, you could easily rack up a $350 bill (plus gratuity) on breakfast alone. Eeek! It’s a treat to enjoy the resort’s breakfast buffet on a limited basis to keep save some cash and calories, too! We fell in love with Safeway's cinnamon muffins with cream cheese icing on our first trip to Kauai. Now I’m not suggesting that you skip breakfast, however I recommend that you opt for for more cost effective breakfasts. Consider these alternatives: Ask if the hotel restaurant serves an à la carte breakfast menu. You’ll probably save $10 or more per person just by ordering off the menu. For example, instead of paying $25 for the macadamia nut pancakes and bacon that you want off the buffet, order that breakfast option from the menu for less than $15. In many cases, you’d also save money over the buffet option just by getting room service and enjoying breakfast from your lanai. It sounds decadent, but it’s true. Many Hawaii resorts have a coffee shop with fruit and pastries. Scope out your resort to see if they have a coffee shop or if there’s a shop nearby. Pick up some breakfast items at a local shop or bring them with you from home. We have brought packets of instant oatmeal with us several times. (Note: don’t bring any fresh fruit or vegetables from home, they’re forbidden by agricultural laws. See Be Prepared to Complete the Hawaii Agricultural Declaration Form .) 2. Eating la vida local. There’s two really simple ways to try Hawaii’s flavors while truly enjoying a slice of local culture. Go to a farmers market where you’ll find all kinds of ono grindz (good local food). No matter where you travel, the locals know where to find the best food at reasonable prices. So, find the locals’ favorite restaurants and bakeries. See this list of local favorite restaurants across Hawaii . Our sunset Waikiki Beach weinie roast was our favorite dinner on one of our Oahu visits. 3. Have a picnic. There’s plenty of great restaurants around Hawaii that tout sunset ocean views, but you can’t get any better sunset view than having a picnic on one of Hawaii’s golden sand beaches . You’ll pay around $30 per entree at the restaurants, but a picnic will cost much less. You can buy a lot of yummy picnic supplies for $30, can’t you? 4. The early tourist catches the restaurant deals. We almost always try to enjoy a sunset while having dinner in Hawaii. Being from the East Coast, we’re also fairly jet lagged, especially early into our Hawaii vacations. So, we’re normally ready for dinner at 5:30 or 6pm – just as the top restaurants are opening for dinner and right before sunset. We’ve found a number of very good restaurants across Hawaii that offer a special “sunset dinner menu” (e.g. “early bird menu”) or well-priced prix fixe menus. The catch is that you need to be seated by 6pm in most cases, but for us that’s not been an issue. To find these special restaurant deals and/or coupons, look in local newspapers, Hawaiian Airlines magazine, and those free coupon magazines in the baggage claim area of the airports. Here are some examples: Roy’s restaurants all across Hawaii offer a great three-course prix fixe menu for $36. We found a great three-course sunset menu from Pineapple Grill on Maui for $32. Sansei is one of our favorite restaurants on the Big Island, Maui and Oahu. They usually offer some sort special pricing for early or late dining. On Kauai, the Hukilau Lanai offers a special five-course dinner for $28 for food only or $40 with wine pairings. Planning your Hawaii vacation dinner around sunset is a rewarding experience. 5. Take advantage of the grocery stores, coupons and cheap eats. Occasionally, you can find good dining coupons at Bank of Hawaii’s Online Marketplace Have a Costco membership? Bring your card for access to Costco on all the four major islands. See a few more ideas from this Maui coupons and discounts post. For Kauai, see this list of the best Kauai cheap eats . 6. Bring a few snack from home. It’s helpful to have a stash of your favorite snacks to keep you from paying resort sundries shop prices. I asked our savvy Go Visit Hawaii facebook community for their input on snacks and food that they bring to Hawaii to help save money. See all their suggestions here . 7. Stay where you have kitchen access. Yesterday, I shared advice on how to save money on Hawaii vacation accommodations , mentioning that staying in a condo or vacation villa is a great way to save money. I’ll add a studio with a kitchenette is a great choice, too. If you have the ability to make a few meals in your accommodation, you can really save compared to continually eating out. Making breakfast is a breeze in a Hawaii vacation condo kitchen. —- So, those are the seven major strategies we’ve used to save money on our Hawaii vacation dining. What other ideas would you suggest? © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
Continue reading...Review Update: Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay
12. April 2010
I wanted to provide an new review on the Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay . We first stayed at this resort back in 2007 and though there were some hiccups, we really looked forward to returning again someday. (You can read my first review here .) We very much enjoyed our more recent stay over the New Year’s Holiday. Since we’ve been home, we’ve lost count of the number of times that we’ve daydreamed about being back at the Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay. In fact, we’re still aiming to get back there again this year. So, why did we look forward to returning? This resort is absolutely gorgeous and we’re in love with Lanai ! We’ve been all over Hawaii, and we’d have to rank this resort in the top 5 resorts in Hawaii. This resort offers a beautiful ocean side setting. As I mentioned in my first review, “The resort’s location on Lanai’s remote, south shore makes the resort very special. It feels secluded and swank. The resort is perched on a bit of a cliff over looking the marine preserve of Hulopoe Bay where pods of spinner dolphins frequently visit and one of Lanai’s more famous landmarks, Puupehe (sweetheart rock) . The scenery will not disappoint.” We were still impressed with the generous size of the rooms and all the special little amenities the resort offers. You don’t even need to bring sunscreen because they provide it for you. One of our favorite amenities is that when you go to the beach, the staff set up beach chairs, umbrella and table for you. After you’re settled in and enjoying the sounds of the ocean, they deliver fresh cut slices of pineapple, Evian spritzes, chilled towels, and ice water. How’s that for service? On our recent visit, we had a bit more time to explore the resort’s services. The spa was outstanding. Andy and I enjoyed an ocean side, sunset couples massage that still makes me swoon when I think about it. I still rank Grand Wailea’s spa (on Maui) number one in all of Hawaii, but this Four Seasons Spa at Manele Bay is easily number two. We loved using the fitness room. To give you an idea of how much we liked it – Andy and I don’t normally work out in resort fitness centers when we’re on vacation. From this fitness room, you have a fantastic view of the Hulopoe Bay that makes you want to add minutes to your elliptical or treadmill workout while you sip on the free energy drinks and dab your brow with a chilled towel. We noticed a big improvement in the friendliness of the staff and the service levels compared to our last visit. To be fair, during our first visit, Four Seasons had just taken over management of this property and I think the kinks were still being worked out. We have absolutely no complaints this time. Everyone was so friendly and where possible tried to remember our names. Tips, tricks, and what to know when you go: I’m going to let you in on a secret – you will not find a better luxury value in Hawaii. Period. There’s currently a promotion to stay in a Superior room for $295 per night. Even if you can’t take advantage of that deal, they often offer a fourth-night free deal. You don’t have to pay a resort fee here. Yippee! You really don’t need to bring much to this resort. Normally, Andy and I travel with enough sunscreen to get us through our first few days. We didn’t need to do that as the resort provides sunscreen. The resort even provides a nice beach tote to use during your stay. I should also mention that the toiletries are L’Occitane brand. Me likey! Resort guests have access to the spa’s steam room and sauna that are quite nice. So, take advantage of that. Kids and teens programs are free here. At other Hawaii resorts, you’d pay upwards of $75 a day per child for the resort kids’ club. See my article, Four Seasons Resorts Lanai Makes Family Escapes Easier . You don’t need to rent a car on Lanai. A shuttle service is provided to and from the airport and into Lanai City. When you go to Lanai City or over to Koele, bring a light sweater or jacket. The higher elevation there can be chilly in comparison to Manele. The resort regularly brings in local artists. We had the pleasure of meeting Mike Carroll and fell in love with his art. In fact, we bought this piece and had it shipped home. The short hike over to see Puupehe (Sweetheart Rock) is well worth doing. Consider catching sunset there with a picnic. Do you have an American Express Platinum Card? If so, book your stay with that card (through American Express travel services) and you’ll get free breakfast for two daily, plus one free lunch and a room upgrade based on availability. New Years Eve is a great time to visit. The resort puts on a wonderful fireworks show. One of the best restaurant views in all of Hawaii is the Clubhouse Restaurant at The Challenge Golf Course. Don’t miss it. As a matter of transparency and disclosure, we paid for our stay at this resort, however, the spa treatment was provided by the resort free of charge. © Go Visit Hawaii – Republication of this entire post is prohibited without prior permission. Using extracts of less than 100 words are permitted with full attribution and link back to GoVisitHawaii.com .
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16. December 2011
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