Tag Archive | "general hawaii"
Maui Wowies These First-Time Hawaii Visitors
Matt & Cari prepare for a Maui helicopter tour. First-time Hawaii visitors Matt and Cari from Tri-Cities, Washington thoroughly researched their May trip through their Hawaii vacation planning resources . While they were well prepared for their Maui vacation, they were still surprised by several aspects of Hawaii. I always like to read and hear what first time Hawaii visitors think of their trip to the Aloha State. So when Matt and Cari offered to write this guest post to describe what they found surprising about Hawaii, I was all for it! I think you will enjoy reading Matt and Cari’s Hawaii surprises. Matt’s Surprises 1. The Weather I knew it would be hot, but for some reason I never thought about how humid it would be. It hits you like a brick wall when you get off the airplane. Of course, it’s a tropical island so, in hindsight it makes perfect sense. I just never thought about it in advance. And not just humidity, but it also rained a lot during our visit — much more than I expected. I think I had this Chamber of Commerce vision of perfectly clear, blue skies that stretch on and on. This isn’t a complaint; the weather didn’t stop us from a wonderful visit. It just wasn’t what I expected. 2. Prices We read plenty of articles that mentioned things are more expensive in Hawaii, but there’s still a sense of sticker-shock when you pull into the gas station and fill up at $5.15 per gallon. Or when you go to Kmart for some snacks and basics, put about 10-12 items in your cart and the cashier says, “That’ll be $99.90.” It may have been something I tried to not believe, but there was no avoiding it on the island. 3. Snorkeling/Snuba I had no idea how much I would LOVE snorkeling and snuba. We took the Four Winds II boat out to Molokini on our first day there and I didn’t want to get out of the water! I even told Cari that I’d be happy to cancel all of our other plans for the rest of the week and come back and do the same boat ride each day. After a couple minutes of struggling with the snuba gear, it was a thrill to go down 10-15 feet below the surface and get up close to all kinds of fish, plus to see the amazing coral on the ocean floor. Man, I’m ready to go back now and do it again! 4. The Beauty No matter how many pictures you look at, you won’t be prepared for the Maui’s stunning beauty. The ocean? I had no idea there were so many shades of blue! The land? You’ll see every shade of green possible along the road to Hana. And when the two come together, like at the Ke’anea peninsula or the end of Nahiku Road – there are no words. Black sand beaches? Red sand beaches? Sigh. It’s more beautiful than I could’ve expected. Cari’s Surprises 1. The Language I’m a reader. I have a bachelor’s degree in English Literature. I have read through countless books, articles, essays and cereal box backs. I thought I knew how to use language to share my feelings, and how others use words to express themselves. But that was before I visited Hawaii! In Hawaii, one simple word connotes welcome and consideration and hospitality – and that word is ‘aloha’. Yes, I know it’s not an English word, so I suppose I couldn’t be expected to truly understand the many layers of meaning another language infuses into its words. However, it was still a surprise to me since I thought I knew what it meant – “hello”, or “goodbye”. However, it was the way the word was spoken on Maui that helped me see that there was a difference…subtle, yet distinct. The Hawaiians I met conveyed empathy and kindness and understated joy in those five letters, and I felt like shafts of sunlight were slanting from their mouth when they said it. 2. The Food When my husband and I went on our honeymoon, we went to San Diego, CA, and loved everything we ate there. Everything from Sea World’s hot dogs to McDonald’s milkshakes were elevated to sublime! In retrospect, it wasn’t because the food was so spectacular, it was because we were on our honeymoon! However, even though I was in Hawaii, again with my husband, nearly twenty years have passed (as has his capacity to turn fish and chips into lobster in my mind!). So I can say with certainty, the food really was excellent. Truly, anyone would agree – especially when it came to the pineapple and the shave ice . Oh my gosh – this ain’t your mother’s snowcone! 3. The Beauty Yes, I know, Matt already talked about it, but I have something to add. In Madeleine L’Engle’s The Moon by Night, the main character, Vicky, takes a camping trip across the U.S. with her family. When they arrive at the Grand Canyon, she reflects this way - “The only trouble with Grand Canyon was that we were already so saturated with beauty that we looked at it and said, “Oh. Pretty.” Which is hardly the word for the Grand Canyon. But it just didn’t mean to us what it would have meant if we’d come straight to it…without all the other things in between.” And that’s exactly how I felt about Hawaii. We saw so many gorgeous vistas all over Maui, that by our third day there, it was, “Oh. Pretty.” over and over again, because I’d become surfeit with gorgeous things! That being said, it was stunningly beautiful, and pictures help, but there is no substitute for seeing it in person. It is truly awe-inspiring. —- A big mahalo to Matt and Cari for sharing their Hawaii surprises!
Continue reading...Aloha Friday Photo: Haleakala Sunset Edition
Friday, June 10, 2011
Ah, isn’t it a nice way to say a parting aloha to the week with a sunset photo? This sunset photo is from the summit of Maui’s Haleakala. The sun appears to be sinking in to a fluffy bed of clouds for a good night’s rest. Watching sunrise or sunset on Haleakala is a spectacular event to include in your Maui vacation plans. Many have described watching sunrise or sunset as magical and spiritual . I’ll add another descriptor — unforgettable! Mahalo to Greg Slawson of GC Creative Studio in Cleveland, Ohio for sharing his photo! We’re on facebook! Please click here to join us. © 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 Friday Photo: Haleakala Sunset Edition
Friday, June 10, 2011
Ah, isn’t it a nice way to say a parting aloha to the week with a sunset photo? This sunset photo is from the summit of Maui’s Haleakala. The sun appears to be sinking in to a fluffy bed of clouds for a good night’s rest. Watching sunrise or sunset on Haleakala is a spectacular event to include in your Maui vacation plans. Many have described watching sunrise or sunset as magical and spiritual . I’ll add another descriptor — unforgettable! Mahalo to Greg Slawson of GC Creative Studio in Cleveland, Ohio for sharing his photo! We’re on facebook! Please click here to join us. © 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...World’s Best Fireknife Dancers Compete in Oahu
Friday, May 13, 2011
A fiery competition is on this weekend at the Polynesian Cultural Center ! Check out this video compilation of the Fireknife Championship semi-finalists from last night’s competition. These guys are incredible! (Email subscribers: use this link to access the video .) © 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...Hurricane Season In Hawaii
Monday, May 9, 2011
On my article about the best time to visit Hawaii , Daniel asked if hurricane season should be avoided in Hawaii. I thought it was such a good question that deserved its own research and post. Hawaii’s hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. According to this chart , there have been no hurricanes recorded in the entire Central Pacific region in the month of June and very few in the months of October and November. August and September are
Continue reading...A Hui Hou Lana’i
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
We must leave Lana’i today. We don’t want to leave! I look forward to sharing the new Lana’i travel insights I’ve gained on this trip. I may have one other Lana’i post this week. Then I’ll start our normal rotation, covering all the islands. In the meantime, I wanted to share this 10-second video that Andy shot from his i-phone yesterday. It’s the view of the ocean and Hulopoe Beach that has mesmerized us for the last three days during our stay at Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay . I hope you’ll enjoy this short slice of paradise.
Continue reading...Earth Day 2011 — Care for Hawaii’s Sea Life
Friday, April 22, 2011
In the spirit of Earth Day, I thought I’d recycle an Earth Day post from the past . Caring for Hawaii’s sea life is still very important. Let’s consider the very important topic of protecting Hawaii’s reefs, fish, and marine mammals when you visit. This entertaining video with excellent underwater footage is narrated by a fish. Listen to the story they would tell if they could only talk.
Continue reading...Directions to Haleakala Summit for Watching Sunrise
Thursday, April 14, 2011
From my advice for watching Haleakala sunrise , I recommend that you map out your directions at least a day before you plan to go. Otherwise, you’ll be fumbling around for directions in the dark while you’re only half awake. That’s a recipe for getting lost in a hurry. In theory, getting to the summit of Haleakala sounds easy peasy. In my opinion, it’s not as easy as it seems. Though, we’ve been to Haleakala for sunrise multiple times, we still sometimes wonder if we’re headed in the right direction. Driving in the deep dark of the night just adds to the challenge. The last time we drove to Haleakala for sunrise, we temporarily parked at the Visitors Center. We had a brief argument discussion whether we were in the correct spot or not. I’m not going to say who was right or wrong but I asked Andy to humor me and continue drive a bit further, because I could faintly see that we hadn’t reached the summit. Well, he did and then we reached the summit. To help clear confusion. Andy created this brilliant custom Google map identifying the summit parking lot. From this map you can enter your starting point to generate your personalized directions to the summit. (Disclaimer: Please note that the summit parking lot is accurately identified, however, sometimes Google directions may not be 100% accurate.) View Haleakala Summit Parking Lot in a larger map More hints and tips to help you get to the sunrise view: - Once get onto the winding road to the summit, you need to drive as high as the road takes you. The prime sunrise viewing point is at the summit. - After you’ve found the correct parking area, you’ll need to find a short trail that leads you to the a hexagonal-shaped shelter. You can see that shelter in the satalite-view in the custom Google Map. - Use a GPS Navigation System if you have one. The audible directions are very helpful in the dark. - Review more tips on my Haleakala sunrise post, including what to bring and wear. © 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: April 13, 2011
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Let’s take a peek at today’s news and deals roundup. * Kauai’s newly renovated Grand Hyatt Resort & Spa is on sale for $249 per night for stays through June 15, 2011. You must book by April 19. * This Aston Maui Kaanapali Villas deal caught my eye — $149 per night. This sale is valid for stays through June 20, 2011. * Snag a JW Marriott Ihilani room for $179 for stays through July. This luxury resort has been recently renovated. See my review . * Mark your calendar or set your DVR to watch the Travel Channel’s Bert the Conqueror visit Oahu. This Hawaii episode is set to air Sunday, April 17, 2011. Check your local listings. * I’m pleased to hear that Puuhonau O Honaunau National Historical Park has recovered from the tsunami damage . Big Island Video News has a nice video segment reporting this good news. * Polynesian Adventure Tours has added double-decker buses to hop on and off to see the sights of Honolulu.
Continue reading...Most of Hawaii’s Rain Falls at Night
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Well, here’s one for your did-you-know-file. I’ve been told a few times that most of Hawaii’s rain falls at night. I had been somewhat skeptical when I heard that, though I had noticed this to be true on our very first visit to Kauai . During our first stay in the Princeville area, rain poured almost every night, but when morning came, we enjoyed beautiful clear skies. We had one brief afternoon shower which produced the rainbow in the following photo. Out of curiosity, I decided to do a bit of research. As I was looking for credible sources, I came across this exceptionally descriptive detail of Hawaii’s climate from the Western Regional Climate Center which delivers climate services to national weather agencies like NOAA. To support the theory that most of Hawaii’s rain falls at night, I found this excellent excerpt: “In the lowlands at all times of the year, rainfall is most likely to occur during the nighttime or in the morning hours and least likely to occur during mid-afternoon. Correspondingly, not only is rainfall more frequent at night, but also the total nighttime fall averages more than the total daytime fall when the two 12-hour periods are compared.” So, it’s true that most rain does indeed fall at night in Hawaii. Isn’t that interesting? What has been your experience with rain when you’ve visited Hawaii? © 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...
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Thursday, July 21, 2011
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