Hula Planet:What To Do In Hawaii

Visiting Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site on Hawaii’s Big Island

Pu'ukohola Heiau On the sunny, leeward Kohala Coast, you’ll find Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, where you can learn about Hawaii’s ancient culture and history. Pu’ukohola Heiau was built under the direction of Kamehameha I in 1790 – 91  before he united the Hawaii Islands under his rule in 1810. Building this heiau was a crucial step towards the eventual king’s ascendancy as he was told by a prophet that he must build this heiau dedicated to the  war god of his family. The construction of this massive heiau is astounding – starting with moving the smooth lava rocks from Pololu Valley — nearly 20 miles away. Historians estimate that approximately 37,000 people stood in a human chain, moving the rocks from Polulu to the heiau site in Kawaihae. They estimate this rock relocation process lasted a year! Pu’ukohola Heiau can be translated to mean the temple on the hill of the whale. During humpback whale season (mid-December – March), this national historic site is a great place to watch for whales. Within this national historic site, there are two other heiaus – Mailekini and Hale o Kapuni . Mailekini the oldest of the heiaus at this site. It was converted into a fort, so it no longer truly resembles its original shape. Hale o Kapuni is an underwater heiau dedicated to the shark gods. In ancient Hawaiian culture, sharks were believed to be ancestral deities. Black tip sharks still frequent the waters here. Hale o Kapuni - an underwater heiau dedicated to the shark gods. I’ve only scratched the surface of the history at Pu’ukohola National Historic Site. I highly recommend you go see it and learn for yourself. I’ve been there twice already and plan to go again someday to discovery even more. What to know when you go: Visiting is free! Opening hours are 7:45am – 5pm. You must arrive no later than 4:30pm and remove your car from the parking lot by 5pm. The park is located at 62-3601 Kawaihae Road (Highway 270) in  Kawaihae along the Kohala Coast. Wear or bring sun protection as there’s very little shade here. Bring water. Wear comfortable walking shoes for walking the dirt and gravel paths. You can visit this site year round, but if you can, aim to time your visit for mid August when the Ho’oku’ikahi Establishment Day Hawaiian Cultural Festival is held. © 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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It’s Our Fifth Blogaversary

Can you believe Go Visit Hawaii is five years old? I can’t! Though we’re thrilled and honored to win awards and be the leading independent Hawaii travel blog, it’s the comments from readers like these that we cherish: Your website is awesome!

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It’s Our Fifth Blogaversary

Can you believe Go Visit Hawaii is five years old? I can’t! Though we’re thrilled and honored to win awards and be the leading independent Hawaii travel blog, it’s the comments from readers like these that we cherish: Your website is awesome!

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2nd Annual Ukulele Festival Coming to Lanai in April

With the announcement that the Four Season’s Resorts Lanai plans to host its Second Annual Lanai Ukulele Festival , is it any wonder that I’m writing about this event, and not Sheila? I am a self-proclaimed ukulele nut, so you can imagine my joy when we arranged to cover the music event this April 13-15. It will be three awesome days of ukulele maestros playing great music, Hawaiian language workshops, and even the chance to jam with Kaliko Beamer Trapp! Andy playing the ukulele at the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele My bags have been packed for a week already and there’s still another 3 weeks til the ukulele festival starts!* That means there’s plenty of time for you to take part in this FREE event! Not booked yet, why not make your booking and get great rates as low as $299 a night! Already plan to be on another island during that time? Grab an inter-island flight (Lanai is just 20 minutes from Oahu, and you can connect from all the islands) or grab a ferry from Maui’s Lahaina and make a day trip out of it! The ukulele festival events include: Manele Bay – Friday, April 13, 2012; 6:00 – 9:00 pm. Ukulele music under the stars with special performances by Richard Ho`opi`i, Kawaika Kahiapo, Byron Yasui, CJ “Boom” Helekahi, Hula Honeys, and Benny Uyetake. Coffee Works – Saturday, April 14, 2012; 9:00 – 11:00 am. A morning of harmonious music with Benny Uyetake. Café 565 – Saturday, April 14, 2012; 11:00 am – 1:00 pm. Live music in Lanai City during lunch with CJ “Boom” Helekahi. The Lodge at Koele – Saturday, April 14, 2012; 4:00 – 8:00 pm. The  Great Hall  will come alive with an afternoon of award winning ukulele music. The line-up includes ukulele falsetto legend Richard Ho`opi`i, Kawika Kahiapo, Byron Yasui, CJ “Boom” Helekahi, Benny Uyetake, Hula Honeys, Lāna‘i Kapuna Ukulele Group, and Kalama School Ukulele Band. In addition to the music, there will be Hawaiian language and ukulele workshops with Kaliko Beamer Trapp. Blue Ginger Cafe – Sunday, April 15, 2012; 9:00 – 11:30 am. The day begins with a morning jam session featuring Benny Uyetake. The Lodge at Koele – Sunday, April 15, 2012; 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Enjoy a relaxing Sunday morning with brunch at  The Terrace  and listen to music by Kawika Kahiapo. The Lodge at Koele – Sunday, April 15, 2012; 7:00 – 9:00 pm. The festival concludes with an evening jam session in Great Hall with Byron Yasui. So, pack your bags–and your ukulele if you have one–and make plans to be at the 2nd Annual Lanai Ukulele Festival. And, even if you’re not a ukulele fanatic like me, you’ll probably still agree that nothing is finer than sitting under a palm tree, sipping a cocktail, and listening to the wonderful sounds of Hawaii. See you there! * ok, so maybe my bags are not quite packed yet, but I am very excited! © 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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Hawaii Vacation Deals & News: March 22, 2012

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Kinder, gentler TSA? Van Jones rallies state Capitol, Abercrombie names ag appointees, civil unions law tweaked, rare dengue-carrying mosquito prompts…

TSA screening photo, courtesy conspiracyplanet.com After a series of abuses by TSA officials across the country, Hawaii senators on the Transportation and Public Safety/Military Affairs committees unanimously passed a "Travelers Bill of Rights" on Monday. Star-Advertiser. Van Jones, President Barack Obama’s former green jobs adviser who heads the “Rebuild the Dream” organization, keynoted a rally and a “mass action event” at the Hawaii State Capitol Tuesday night to promote “economic fairness” and “economic justice.” Hawaii Reporter. The Biker for Christ was among the last to testify, but what he had to tell two Senate committees Tuesday was among the most memorable testimony submitted on House Bill 2569 — a civil unions bill. Civil Beat. State senators are supporting a bill that would allow Hawaii high school graduates without legal immigration status to get resident tuition at the University of Hawaii and be eligible for state-funded financial aid. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii is considering the creation of a "clean economy bank." And it’s attracted the attention of Obama’s former green energy czar. Civil Beat . The state House Judiciary Committee approved a bill today that sets aside money to settle claims against the state with the addition of more than $5.6 million in recent settlements. Star-Advertiser. honeybee Two bills are advancing in the Legislature this session to protect honey bees in Hawai’i.

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Hawaiian Islands Cruise $1299

Hawaii

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GOP caucuses today across Hawaii, state House passes $11B budget, state to pay man disrupting Senate prayer, inmate bitten by pig, Honolulu pimps…

For the first time in history, Hawaii Republican voters will be voting on their choice of Republican Presidential nominees. Hawaii News Now.

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Top Kauai Festivals & Celebrations

If you’re going to Kauai for your vacation, you might want to plan in one of these top celebrations. Kauai festivals make great places to immerse in local culture. Waimea Town Celebration Late February Waimea Town is Kauai’s most ancient settlement and a capital from anckient Hawaiian days. In it’s 35th year, this celebration includes sporting events like canoe racing, craft making competitions and ukulele playing contest. Website Prince Kuhio Festival March 11-26 in 2012 The Prince Kuhio Festival is a celebration of Prince Kuhio, who was born in Kauai and one of Hawaii’s most beloved monarchs. Official website Kauai World Challenge Canoe Race April 19-21 in 2012 Canoe and paddle board races with the top challenging being a 34-mile canoe race. Official website Kauai Polynesian Festival May 24-27 in 2012 The Festival at Vidinha Stadium soccer field in Lihue features Tahitian, Maori, Samoan and Hawaiian entertainment, Polynesian arts and crafts, solo and group dance competitions, food booths, workshops, and much more. Official website Koloa Plantation Days July 20-29 in 2012 This celebration of Koloa’s plantation roots includes local foods and cultural activities. Some of the festivities include a rodeo and a luau. Official website Heiva I Kaua‘i Ia Orana Tahiti

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Poll shows Cayetano on top for Honolulu mayor, Hawaii GOP now relevant, economy on upswing, electric rates rise, Legislature ponders official microbe…

former Hawaii Gov. and mayoral candidate Ben Cayetano, courtesy photo Former Gov. Ben Cayetano is riding strong anti-rail sentiment to a dominating lead in the Honolulu mayor's race, according to The Civil Beat Poll. Civil Beat. Voters in Hawaii's upcoming Republican presidential caucus have found themselves in an unusual position: They're relevant. Associated Press. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent $236,625 to run television ads last month supporting Linda Lingle's run for the U.S. Senate. Civil Beat. The Council on Revenues has upgraded its forecast for the current fiscal year, citing an improving economy led by Hawaii's rebounding visitor industry. Civil Beat. The Hawaii Council on Revenues has increased its revenue growth projection for the fiscal year ending June 30 by 0.5 percent to 12 percent. Pacific Business News. The Council on Revenues raised its State general fund projection today … increasing the total amount of tax revenues the state can expect this year. Hawaii Public Radio. Is Hawaii "in the money"? The Hawaii Council on Revenues, the 7-member politically appointed body officially charged with forecasting the state's economic future, today increased the state's revenue growth projection for the fiscal year ending June 30 from 11.5 percent to 12 percent. Hawaii Reporter. Rowdy objections at the state Capitol could land critics in jail if a proposal moving through the Legislature becomes law. Associated Press. A bill that would recognize an “official microbe” of the state of Hawaii was passed by the House of Representatives today. Hawaii Reporter. Two bills making their way through the Legislature aim to clear up confusion surrounding the state’s civil union law. Tribune-Herald. Nine of the 64 video surveillance cameras at the state Capitol don't work and the computers that run the system no longer allow sheriff's deputies to monitor all of the functioning cameras at once, state officials acknowledged Wednesday. Star-Advertiser. Rising fuel prices pushed residential electricity bills higher in March on all islands, utility officials said Wednesday. Star-Advertiser. The Hawaii Tourism Authority has been in serious talks with more airlines to jump into the Hawaii market as a way to help offset rising costs and bring more visitors in. KHON2. Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced Wednesday that $7.48 million is being released by the state for public schools capital improvement projects. Pacific Business News. The Hawaii Department of Education estimates that ramping up instructional time in public schools as required by a new law passed last year will cost $206 million over the next seven years. Civil Beat. Oahu A Honolulu District Court judge denied motions Wednesday by six Occupy Honolulu members to dismiss charges stemming from remaining in Thomas Square beyond park hours in November. Star-Advertiser. Pictures of tourists straddling and touching Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, which are a threatened species, have prompted a reminder that disturbing them in any way is a violation of both state and federal law. Hawaii News Now. Guests at a hotel near Honolulu's airport found a suckling pig in the lobby, but it wasn't on the menu of the luau. KITV4. Hawaii Commissioners who create County Council districts would be barred from running in those districts for at least one election cycle after the lines are drawn, under a charter amendment the council Governmental Relations Committee is scheduled to hear today. West Hawaii Today. Big Island hospitals and doctors are finally seeing the pieces of a $16 million federal stimulus award come together. West Hawaii Today. Banana bunchy virus found in Hilo. Tribune-Herald. Businesses are back in Kailua-Kona after last year's tsunami. KHON2. Maui Voters will get a chance to decide whether to make the county Department of Environmental Management responsible for "sustainability" in addition to its other duties. Maui News. Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on list of Lehman holdings for sale. Associated Press. Beaches in West Maui and Honolulu were ranked among the top in the US and World according to the annual awards issued by the international travel site, TripAdvisor. Maui Now. Kauai Tropic Care Kaua‘i ends Friday. Garden Island. A bill recently introduced at the Kaua‘i County Council by request of the administration intends to promote the “effective and efficient use of solar energy facilities.” But not at the expense of Kaua‘i’s “best agricultural lands,” according to an amendment unanimously approved by the council’s Planning Committee Wednesday. Garden Island. Now that the emergency shelters are closed, American Red Cross volunteers on Kaua‘i are helping assess damage from this week’s heavy rains on Kaua‘i, spokeswoman Maria Lutz said Wednesday. Garden Island. Molokai The close connection between land and sea is nothing new for Molokai locals. But researchers have taken that connection a step farther and made a groundbreaking discovery along the coast of Molokai: they found that in two submarine canyons off the north shore of the island, ocean animals are relying heavily on resources from the land. Molokai Dispatch.

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