Tag Archive | "kona"
All eyes on APEC, federal agent charged in Waikiki murder, Hawaiians take over Iolani Palace, Maui seeks booze ban at parks, Hawaii hunters want more…
Hawaii seen from International Space Station NASA courtesy photo The International Space Station will sail over Honolulu just after sunset Monday. Star-Advertiser. When dignitaries presented Gov. John Burns in 1970 with their report on what Hawaii might look like in the future, the concept of the islands as the "Geneva of the Pacific" was already cliché, "a theme that appears again and again in the rhetoric of modern Hawaii." Star-Advertiser. The roughly 20,000 people visiting Hawaii for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum this week bring with them some pain, in the form of restricted access to roads, parks, beaches, the ocean and airspace. But the event also will be a source of financial gain for many local residents and businesses. Star-Advertiser. As “APEC Week” opens today in Honolulu, here are several perspectives on what you might look for as the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation convention unfolds. Civil Beat. Hawaii taxpayers foot the bill: Is APEC business our business? Hawaii Independent. The leaders of the 21 APEC economies will gather in Honolulu. Hawaii Public Radio. Honolulu beat other cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco to host the APEC leaders meeting. Hawaii News Now. People claiming to be fighting for the sovereignty of Hawaii locked themselves inside the Iolani Palace grounds on Sunday. Hawaii News Now. Former U.S. Rep. Ed Case played up his role as an outsider and said he wants to be "the candidate for change" in what's shaping up to be a competitive race to fill outgoing Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka's seat in Washington. Maui News. University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization: Hawaii's Economy in Pause Mode. Hawaii Reporter. Some 4,000 elevators in Hawaii are overdue for safety inspections and to clear the backlog, the state must double the number of inspectors now on staff, lawmakers heard last week. Hawaii Reporter. Oahu Before he was killed, Kollin K. Elderts was at a nightclub where he got into an altercation with the federal agent who later followed Elderts to a Waikiki McDonald's and allegedly shot him, the attorney for the victim's family said Sunday. Star-Advertiser. The family of a man shot to death in a Waikiki McDonald's early Saturday morning has hired an attorney. Civil Beat. A federal special agent was charged Sunday night with second degree murder for Saturday's deadly shooting in at McDonald's. KHON2. Eight Occupy Honolulu protesters were released from police custody Sunday after being arrested Saturday night while trying to establish an encampment at Thomas Square. Star-Advertiser. A steady stream of vehicles filed out of Ala Moana Beach Park Sunday evening. KITV4. After years of hosting landfills and power plants and not receiving a fair share of infrastructure expenditures, it's time for a drastic step in Leeward Oahu. Civil Beat. It looks like Waikiki’s International Market Place will be going upscale with a three-level open air retail center. Pacific Business News. The Nimitz Highway beautification project is complete and the busy corridor is ready for thousands of APEC visitors who are scheduled to arrive this week. KITV4. Waikiki tourists unaware of Hawaii hosting APEC this week. KHON2. Hawaii Regardless of voters' preference, the County Council's makeup will change when a new term starts next December. Tribune-Herald. As Oahu prepares to host a meeting of business and government leaders from across the Asia-Pacific region, Hawaii Island hopes to snag some of the world spotlight for itself. Tribune-Herald. Designed to protect against flooding that has been threatening the Big Island, Hawaii County's dry wells and drainage culverts haven't been cleaned since June. Tribune-Herald. At the picturesque Ueshima Coffee Co. estate in Holualoa, numerous coffee trees had delicate ripening cherries, perfect for the annual UCC Hawaii Kona Coffee Picking Contest Sunday morning. West Hawaii Today. North Hawaii's hunters had a message for the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Saturday: Open up more land for hunting and stop fencing off areas for feral animal eradication. West Hawaii Today. West Hawaii residents on Saturday turned out in full force to let the state Department of Land and Natural Resources know where it has faltered over the years and how it can improve. West Hawaii Today. Maui Maui County Council Member Don Couch is proposing legislation that would ban drinking in several popular South Maui parks. Maui News. The county could save more than half a million dollars a year if it eliminated, combined or refocused some of its 37 boards and commissions, according to the Cost of Government Commission. Maui News. By spring, Fido and Spot will have a county park of their own to romp in, a long-desired goal of Fido's and Spot's owners. Maui News. Kauai Members of the Reinstated Hawaiian Government re-elected Henry Noa to another term as prime minister Saturday. Garden Island. The county Department of Water initiated repairs on a water tank serving Wainiha and Ha‘ena Sunday, but officials said the pump is still not working at full capacity. Garden Island . Free medical care is coming to Kaua‘i from late February through early March, said Col. Jerry Arends, director of the Innovative Readiness Training Medical Deployments. Garden Island.
Continue reading...Hawaii Vacation Deals & News: November 7, 2011
Monday, November 7, 2011
Pololu Lookout on Hawaii's Big Island Here’s the latest Hawaii news that we’ve found “out standing in our field”. * While most folks on the US mainland turned their clock back an hour over the weekend, Hawaii time remains the same year-round . I like to think that Hawaii just became an hour closer to the mainland. * Waikiki’s 53-year old International Market Place has plans to spiff up into a three-level open air shopping center per Pacific Business News . * Don’t forget to enter to win our Aulani prize pack giveaway by the end of the day, Tuesday, November 8th. * Mauna Kea Beach Hotel is giving away a two-night stay to a facebook fan. Enter here . * This coming weekend is another fee-free weekend across all U.S. National Parks. * I’ve updated our list of the best things to see and do on the Big Island of Hawaii . The good news is that everything on the list is either free or very low cost! * I’m super excited absolutely giddy to be headed back to the Big Island of Hawaii this week, sponsored in part by the Big Island Visitors Bureau. I’ll be covering some of the Kona Coffee Festival events plus getting loads of fresh ideas to share with you for your Hawaii Island vacation planning. I’ll be posting live updates on our Go Visit Hawaii facebook page if you’d like to follow along and join in the fun. 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...Hawaii Vacation News & Deals: November 3, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Here’s the Hawaii vacation news that’s falling into our inbox. - King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel on Hawaii’s Big Island is now a new member of the Marriott family. As of November 1, the hotel’s name is officially Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel . - Enter to win the Ohana Hawaii Getaway from L&L Hawaiian Barbecue and Ohana Hotels and Resorts. — The photo is of Rainbow Falls in Hilo on Hawaii’s Big Island. © 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...Evolta robots finish Ironman, Akaka OK with new Hawaiian rights bill, candidate Hannemann allowed radio show, school buses costly, Big Island seeks…
Monday, October 31, 2011
Panasonic Evolta Robot courtesy photo Three Evolta Robots, created by Japanese robot designer Tomotaka Takahashi, finished the 230 km Kona Ironman course Sunday with a combined finish time of 166 hours and 56 minutes, according to organizers. KITV4 . U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, who patiently sought a vote on a Native Hawaiian federal recognition bill in the Senate for a decade, has signed off on a more aggressive strategy to advance the idea before he retires in January 2013. Star-Advertiser. Hannemann Radio Show Doesn't Cross Legal Line. Civil Beat. Two dozen Japanese-American veterans were given a soldiers sendoff Sunday with flower lei, handshakes and hugs. KHON2. Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald has guided the state Judiciary through furloughs and budget cuts, and while the Hawaii Supreme Court has made significant rulings under his watch, there have been no sweeping opinions signaling any new directions. Star-Advertiser. In 2009, Hawaii taxpayers paid Roberts Hawaii $200 a day to operate a bus route serving Kohala Elementary and High schools on the Big Island. Civil Beat. Hawaii was one of 47 states that lost retail jobs during the recession, but the state fared better than most, according to an analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pacific Business News. Oahu Amid criticism that it targets the homeless, a measure that would ban personal property such as furniture, clothing or household goods from being stored in public spaces, including sidewalks and parks, is up for consideration again at the City Council. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii Four years after the Hawaii County Council asked for a crackdown on illegal signs, the Public Works Department is offering an update on the county's sign code. West Hawaii Today. After six months of work, the Hawaii County Redistricting Commission is facing a self-imposed Nov. 10 deadline to create nine council districts with resident populations that vary by no more than 1,021 people. Tribune-Herald. Maui Motorists should be aware that several streets in Lahaina town will be closed today beginning at 3:30 p.m. for Halloween festivities. Maui News. Workers have doubled their efforts to maintain greens at the Waiehu Municipal Golf Course, significantly reducing weeds and improving the quality of grass at the course, county parks officials said. Maui News. Kauai County officials have been working for five months on developing a Multimodal Land Transportation Plan for Kaua‘i, which will ultimately be incorporated into the county’s General Plan. Garden Island.
Continue reading...Turtle rider spurs outrage, millions in social services cut, judge won’t stop Maui Halloween, House poor launching pad for governors, Superferry…
Friday, October 28, 2011
Hawaii turtle rider courtesy photo An underwater photo taken of a professional surfer from Hawaii is making waves on the internet and has the full attention of federal authorities. KHON2. A picture posted late Wednesday night on Hawaii News Now's Facebook page of a surfer riding a turtle has sparked a controversy. Hawaii News Now. U.S. House Often a Poor Launching Pad for Governor. Governing. The Hawaii Superferry was a major embarrassment for former Gov. Linda Lingle. Civil Beat. Family support services, emergency shelter care, recruitment of foster families and training for social workers are among the services being reduced by the Department of Human Services in cutting $5.8 million from its budget. Star-Advertiser. State law requires that cases of suspected physical abuse of the elderly must be reported to law enforcement, but there is no such requirement in cases of suspected financial abuse, legislators were told today. Hawaii Reporter. Hawaii Sen. Daniel Akaka is proposing federal legislation that would increase the nation’s — and Hawaii’s — defenses against invasive species that threaten ecosystems and cause millions of dollars in damage to the agricultural industry. Civil Beat. The Hawaiian Humane Society and state lawmakers are rethinking how to regulate large-scale dog breeders after a state audit concluded that bills before the Legislature are flawed and that there is no hard evidence that such dog-breeding operations continue to be a problem in the islands. Star-Advertiser. Oahu The Honolulu rail transit project has reached a milestone of sorts with the approval of the first change order that will add $3.9 million to the cost of a rail contract. Star-Advertiser. The issue of unruly fans at Aloha Stadium is back in the spotlight after a fight during last Saturday's University of Hawaii football game was witnessed by thousands of spectators.
Continue reading...Hawaii’s Cookin’ on the Cooking Channel
Sunday, October 9, 2011
If you have the Cooking Channel, check out this week’s episode of Food(ography) as the show takes a trip to Hawaii’s Big Island and Oahu. Here’s the description of the show from the Food(ography) webpage: Hawaii is truly paradise… from picture postcard rainbows to the best surf and beaches and astounding volcanoes! And be prepared to be amazed by the food . We’ve discovered the best the Big Island and Oahu have to offer, as well as the stories and passion behind the dishes. Kick it off with a Mai Thai from star bar chef Christian Self at Honolulu’s Waikiki EDITION [now known as Modern Honolulu] hotel. Then head over to legendary 4 star chef Alan Wong’s restaurant and then the small gem Town, with up and coming chef Ed Kenney. Follow that up with the best farm-raised Wagyu beef at Merriman’s Waimea, and a seafood odyssey at the Manta & Pavilion Wine Bar, and we’ve got the main courses covered! And of course there’s plate lunch at Helena’s and some sweet Hawaiian treats, mochi and Kona coffee. Plus, a Kanack Attack and a major Luau… Aloha! This Hawaii-focus episode will air at these Eastern times: October 11, 2011 9:00 PM October 11, 2011 1:00 AM October 16, 2011 11:00 PM October 16, 2011 3:00 AM October 23, 2011 8:00 AM Check your local listings for the schedule in your area. © 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 IT needs work, PUC nixes HECO biofuel deal, Kauai council doesn’t require solar water heaters, Big Island redistricting road show begins, more…
Friday, September 30, 2011
Waikiki natatorium (c) 2011 All Hawaii News A comprehensive assessment of Hawaii state government's information technology infrastructure reveals a system suffering from lack of investment and multiple inefficiencies. But it also suggests ways to improve it. Civil Beat. A consultant hired to assess the state's information technology systems found that many state services are not being performed or were less timely because of excessive backlogs, a lack of staff and an absence of technical support. Star-Advertiser. The latest disaster declaration signed by Gov. Neil Abercrombie was a long time in the making, state records and interviews show. Hawaii Reporter. The Institute for Human Services saw a nearly 13 percent increase in people using Hawaii's largest emergency shelter last year, but donations are down and badly needed federal and state money will dry up after December. Star-Advertiser. The state Public Utilities Commission denied Thursday Hawaiian Electric Co.’s biodiesel supply contract with Aina Koa Pono LLC, according to a PUC docket. Pacific Business News. State regulators rejected Thursday a controversial plan by Hawaiian Electric Co. to buy 16 million gallons of locally produced biofuel a year for electricity generation, saying the high cost of the alternative fuel was too much for ratepayers to bear. Star-Advertiser. The state Reapportionment Commission has scheduled a special meeting next week to correct an error in the way the state's 25 Senate districts were split into two- and four-year terms, affecting two districts. Star-Advertiser. Oahu Hawaiian Electric Co. announced Thursday it has signed a deal to buy up to 150,000 gallons of locally made algae-based biofuel to burn in its Kahe Generating Station as part of the utility's shift away from its reliance on fossil fuels. Star-Advertiser. Inouye's Committee Recommends Reinstating East-West Center Funds. Civil Beat. Honolulu has decided to the crumbling seawall around the historic Waikiki war memorial is enough of a threat to require immediate action. KITV4. It’s time for the City and County of Honolulu to decide what it wants to do with the aging and crumbling Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial. Pacific Business News. The first-ever National Diabetes Symposium is being conducted in Honolulu. Hawaii Public Radio. A long anticipated project to slow erosion at Kailua Beach has stalled. Hawaii News Now. Discussion underway to fix flooding issues on the Waianae coast. KHON2. Hawaii The Hawaii County redistricting roadshow begins Saturday with six sample maps depicting how new County Council district lines could be drawn. West Hawaii Today. With a Hawaiian blessing and the untying of a maile lei, the Keaukaha Military Reservation's Armed Forces Reserve Center was opened for business Thursday in Hilo. Tribune-Herald. Damage to Kona Village Resort from the March tsunami reached into the tens of millions of dollars, CEO Patrick Fitzgerald said Thursday, but he is certain the iconic hotel will open again. West Hawaii Today. Anyone caught importing live axis deer to Hawaii Island could end up spending a year in jail, according to a bill pending before the County Council. Tribune-Herald. Maui The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given final approval to Maui County's consent order that requires it to improve the treatment of sewage at the Lahaina Wastewater Treatment Plant before it is disposed of in injection wells. Maui News. While Hawaii's visitor industry was breathing a sigh of relief that March's earthquake and tsunami in Japan did not seem to have affected tourism for long, it seems that another aftereffect of the disaster is still beating on island shores. Maui News. Kauai The County Council’s Intergovernmental Relations Committee on Wednesday unanimously rejected a proposal to address a variance in a 2004 state law that mandates new homes be equipped with solar-powered water heaters. Garden Island. Naval Facilities Engineering Command Hawai‘i completed its final inspection on Sept. 20 for a photovoltaic (PV) system at Pacific Missile Range Facility, which is expected to generate 760 kilowatts of continuous power during the day when it is fully online. Garden Island. Molokai DHS Molokai Office Increases Staff. Molokai Dispatch.
Continue reading...Hawaii GOP in disarray, lawsuit protests Native Hawaiian tax exemptions, political firestorm over Senate districts, graduation requirements change,…
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
F-22 Raptor, military courtesy photo The F-22 Raptors belonging to the Hawaii Air National Guard are scheduled to take flight Wednesday for the first time since the entire fleet was grounded back in May. Hawaii News Now. Top Republicans in Hawaii are calling for the resignation of party chair Jonah Kaauwai. Civil Beat. Saying the Hawaii Republican Party is broke heading into an election year, some state GOP leaders here are calling for the Republican State Chairman Jonah Kaauwai to be replaced. KITV4. State legislative boundaries look increasingly likely to be decided by the Hawaii Supreme Court, two Big Island residents said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today. Monday's meeting of the Reapportionment Commission got a little strange. Two Big Island political rivals put on a bit of a show when one accused the other of trying to fix district boundaries to benefit himself. Civil Beat. H. William Burgess, long known for his involvement in lawsuits challenging native Hawaiian entitlements, is now involved in a lawsuit challenging property tax exemptions for native Hawaiians. The lawsuit was filed on September 15. Hawaii Independent. Republican John Carroll is expected to make an announcement regarding his possible candidacy for U.S. Senate. on Wednesday. Hawaii News Now. A growing number of workers who took jobs during the economic slowdown to ensure they had a paycheck are now looking to trade up for better positions as employers increase hiring, organizers of the state's largest job fair said. Star-Advertiser. Starting with next year's freshmen, high school students will have to meet tougher graduation requirements aimed at better preparing them for college or careers, under changes unanimously approved Tuesday by the Board of Education. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii public school students will graduate better prepared for college and the world beyond -- at least that's the goal behind new diploma requirements approved Tuesday. West Hawaii Today. Board Unfazed by Ed Department's Reversal on Grad Requirements. Civil Beat. Two children died while in Hawaii's foster care system in 2006, and another in 2008, but the grandparents of a 9-month-old Hauula boy who died last month under unexplained circumstances after he was taken by state officials say Hawaii's fatality statistics are too high. Star-Advertiser. CONGRESS.ORG: How Hawaii's Elected Officials Voted - September 19, 2011. Hawaii Reporter. The 8th International Women’s Leadership Conference was conducted with a sold-out audience in attendance today in Waikiki. Hawaii Public Radio . Oahu A free weekly newspaper in Honolulu nearly shut down last month. Thanks to some of its loyal readers, the Honolulu Weekly is still on news stands. KITV4. Three Hawaiian Airlines flights were delayed Tuesday, and federal security workers had to rely on dogs and other methods to screen checked baggage after a Transportation Security Administration X-ray machine broke down — the fourth such device to malfunction in that section of the airport. Star-Advertiser. The union that represented most of the Honolulu Airport baggage screeners disciplined for improper screening said it plans to appeal almost all the cases. Star-Advertiser. Foodland Super Market Ltd. and Times Supermarkets have agreed to stop purchasing pork products from pigs that are transported live to Hawaii for slaughter. Pacific Business News. Hawaii Despite police concerns, a bill allowing them to impound vehicles driven by intoxicated, unlicensed or fraudulent drivers was advanced out of a County Council committee Tuesday. Tribune-Herald. Stretching the dollar as far as possible should be at the forefront of the state Judiciary's mind when it selects a site next year for the long-promised Kona Judiciary Complex, a state official said Tuesday. West Hawaii Today. Laupahoehoe High and Elementary will once again face the possibility of closure if efforts by community members to block its conversion to a charter school are successful, a Department of Education official said Tuesday. Tribune-Herald. Three unexploded ordnance have been discovered in the Hapuna Beach area since a cleanup began two weeks ago. KHON2. Maui Maui Memorial Medical Center's long-awaited $3 million helipad will be blessed Thursday, followed by a helicopter trial run next week. Maui News. With separate interview rooms designed for children and teenagers and a lounge where families can wait, the Maui County prosecutor's office is offering crime victims a "friendly atmosphere" to meet with deputy prosecutors in its new Victim Witness Services office. Maui News . Kauai Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank is in danger of losing nearly a third of the food it distributes to local agencies that feed the hungry. Garden Island. The development of a county Human Resources Department seems like a hot potato everyone wants to eat but no one wants to hold. Garden Island.
Continue reading...Why I Am Getting Addicted To Scuba Diving In Hawaii
Monday, August 29, 2011
Today, we start a three-day series of Hawaii diving and snorkeling posts written by my friend Elisabeth Ostrander. Before I dive into telling you all about some of my recent diving adventures in Hawai’i, I need to make a a few confessions. First, I am not an expert diver by any means, as I have only 20 dives under my weight belt, but I do enjoy the activity itself and all the things there are to see when scuba diving. However, there’s a twist – I’m terrified of being underwater – unlike my husband, who I swear has hidden gills somewhere. Needless to say, I’m not your typical scuba fanatic, yet… but I am getting there slowly. If you are reading this and wondering why I scuba dive at all, wait for it … I particularly LOVE seeing sharks while scuba diving. I am dead serious when I say, they calm me down underwater, because they are so mesmerizing to watch; I forget about all my fears. I must also add, having gotten SSI certified back in 2007 (no small task, considering how uncomfortable I was with water) just prior to our honeymoon in Fiji , we’re admittedly spoiled having had that as our first dive trip. After an amazing week scuba diving in Fiji, the pesky thing called ‘life’ got in the way, and it was soon over two years until our next diving adventure in Hawaii. In the last two years, the story has changed dramatically – I’ve since visited Oahu twice (but have only snorkeled there), the Big Island, Kauai, and most recently – Maui. At this point, it’s fair to say a love affair with Hawaii is blossoming, and the amazing experiences I’ve had so far scuba diving in Hawaii is just one of the many reasons why. Hawaii is best known for its abundance of dive spots inhabited with sea turtles, manta rays and dolphins, as well as smaller endemic marine life species, living among the volcanic formations under its clear blue water. Now, let’s talk story about scuba diving across the islands of Hawai’i, Kauai, Maui and Lanai. Scuba Diving on the Big Island of Hawai’i Back in January 2010, we made our first ever voyage ever to Hawaii. From Salt Lake City, we first flew to Honolulu on Delta, spent 3 days on Oahu, checking out Wakikki, the north shore and Pearl Harbor. Next, it was off to the Big Island for a six night stay at Kona Village Resort* / Four Seasons Hualalai, where we’d planned to do several days of diving. In the excitement of planning our first trip to the islands and escaping winter on the mainland, we failed to research our timing. If we had, we may have realized it wasn’t the best time of year to visit for scuba diving, due to the possibility of large ocean swells – great for surfers, not so much for diving. Visiting in January did have its perks however. Because the resort was only about 60% full, we also had the luck of being the only two divers on the boat that first day, along with a couple spare crew members diving for fun. It practically gave us a private refresher course with our very own, patient dive leader. (A very good thing after it had been so long since our last trip. ) From the Kailua-Kona coastline, we could see whales breaching often in the distance, and getting on the dive boat that first day, we were hoping for a 2-for-1 whale watching tour and a 2-tank dive. We were not disappointed during our surface interval, when we saw more whales breaching within a closer range. While underwater, the ‘singing’ of the whales resonating at times created such a powerful ‘thumping’ in our chests and the resulting vibrations were so powerful and close, I felt as though I could pivot and be face to face with a giant whale at any time. Of course, reason and logic (plus conversation with the other divers) tells me, the whales were probably still miles away. Big Island Scuba Diving near Kailua Kona Our first dive was at a site in Kua Bay, not too far off the Kona Coast. I was immediately grateful for Shawna, one of my favorite dive leaders to date, who seemingly understood all of my crazy fears and was able to help me work through them. We took our time descending to the clean, white sandy floor at a depth of about 40’, where she had us work on a couple of skills before continuing our dive. Just a few minutes into this process, our attention was captured by this sight: 10-12' Wide Manta Ray near Kua Bay, Big Island of Hawai'i Luckily, the other dive crew members had brought along a camera and underwater scooters, and managed to catch us in the picture with this 10-12’ wide Manta Ray gliding past us. (I am on the far left – I have since improved out my buoyancy skills:) All my other thoughts and irrational fear slipped aside, as I soaked up the fleeting moment – as quickly as it came, it was gone. We spent the remainder of the dive tooling around spotting just a few things – eels and a “crown of thorns” starfish moving along the ocean floor. Dive #2 brought the boat to Black Coral Arch, a dive site reaching 60’ depths, with a short swim-through lava tube and a more open arch formation, which plenty of light filtered through. Doing a pre-dive briefing on the boat, Shawna assured me I’d be OK and more comfortable swimming up through the larger arch. We plotted, however, to position me on one end of the lava tube, and she would lead my husband through it, in order to ‘flush out’ 4 smaller, white tip reef sharks (each no more than 4-6’ in size) resting there, so I could get a good look at them. A fifth shark swam by before my fellow divers were out of the tube. Dive heaven for me! A bonus was the surprised look on my husband’s face upon seeing the sharks, as he doesn’t share my love of sharks, and he had been chatting on the other side of the boat when we made this plan. Sadly, this was our first and only day of scuba diving off the Kona Coast. Due to growing swells, the resort grounded all water activities, so we beached ourselves by the pool (and the pool bar) the rest of the week. Seeing that amazing manta ray ‘flying’ gracefully towards us through the water made it worth the trip alone. I might have been happy if that was my last dive ever. About the Author: Elisabeth Ostrander is an experienced travel journalist, although a past life saw her writing mainly about snow based activities such as skiing and snowboarding, she has slowly started to succumb to the allure of surf, sand & scuba … in between ski seasons, that is. Watch for two more posts this week from Elisabeth about scuba diving In Poipu. Kauai and scuba diving in Maui & Lanai. * Note: In March 2011, both Kona Village Resort property & the Four Seasons Hualalai were heavily damaged from an earthquake-generated tsunami . The Four Seasons underwent several months of renovations and re-opened for guests; Kona Village Resort, which had been in operation since 1965, has yet to reopen, much to the dismay of its loyal guests. © 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 is Calling!!
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Hawaii Travel Deals - A Cruise Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort 9 Days From $1599 pp,do (Balcony) Promo Code: NCL-HTLPRE This Hawaiina Island Cruise Package includes 2 days at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and a 7 Day Hawaiian Islands cruise. This round trip cruise begins and ends in Honolulu with stops in Maui, Hilo and Kona on the island of Hawaii and Kauai.Pricing based upon November 19, thru December 10, 2011 Call 1.800.330.8820 or click here to have a Hawaii Cruise Specialist contact you. TravelWizard.com: Specialists in the Art of Travel: Call 1-800-330-8820
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Monday, November 7, 2011
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