Tag Archive | "tour"
Fun Ocean Adventures with Kona Boys
When it comes to ocean fun in the Kailua-Kona or Kealakakua areas, Kona Boys has you covered. They’re truly ocean sport experts with a passion for caring for the environment. On our recent trip to the Big Island, we got to experience ocean kayaking, snorkeling, and stand up paddle boarding with the Kona Boys from their station at Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona. Kona Boy, Eric, got us gliding out on the water of Kailua Bay in a double kayak. We marveled at the gorgeous shades of blue water and coral gardens below. When we could pull our eyes away from the water, Eric shared history about Kailua-Kona and the historic landmarks we could see from the bay. Though Kailua-Kona is often bustling with tourist activity, seeing the town from Kailua Bay was very peaceful. Eric recommends early morning kayaking in Kailua Bay for smooth water and a great chance of seeing dolphins. After enjoying a relaxed lunch on the sandy beach at the Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, we picked up some snorkel gear from the Kona Boys. We were both extremely impressed with the quality of snorkeling here. We barely had to swim 20 feet from the shore before seeing lots of tropical fish. The snorkeling was so good that Andy was able to capture some of the best ocean snorkeling photos we’ve captured over our many snorkeling adventures. To complete our ocean adventures with Kona Boys, I gave stand up paddle boarding another try. The protected cove within a bay at the Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel provided really smooth water for learning stand up paddle boarding. It was so smooth, I didn’t even fall off. That’s me on a stand up paddle board in the photo on the right. Whether you’re looking to rent snorkel gear, paddle boards, beach chairs and/or kayaks in the Kona area, the Kona Boys can definitely help you out. They also offer informative private kayak and outrigger tours. See this photo of their services for pricing information. Also check out their website . See all our photos from our ocean play with the Kona Boys. Mahalo to the Kona Boys for sponsoring the ocean rentals for our day of fun. © 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...Obama golfs, dines, endures criticism, substitute teachers need college degrees, Hawaiian Monk seals die as residents fight NOAA limits, DLNR to merge…
Thursday, December 29, 2011
President Obama and entourage in Hawaii As Republicans who want to be president slog through chilly Iowa in the run-up to next week’s caucuses, the man who is president moves from one enviable sun-splashed outing to the next. Tribune . President Barack Obama spent Day 6 of his Windward Oahu holiday at a different golf course, but with familiar playing partners. Star-Advertiser. President Barack Obama and wife Michelle headed to one of their favorite Oahu restaurants for a date Wednesday night. Hawaii News Now. The cost of the First Family's holiday vacation in Hawaii continues to cause controversy. Hawaii News Now. Starting early next year, substitute teachers who do not have college degrees will no longer be allowed to work in Hawaii's public schools, a move that education officials said is aimed at complying with federal requirements. KITV4. Waikiki residents Gary Bradley and Paul Perry are among the scores of same-sex couples who are preparing to say "I do" under the state’s new civil unions law. KITV4. A third monk seal was found dead on Molokai Wednesday and officials at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration are working to determine the cause of death. Civil Beat. A merger of the two divisions that manage state water and land resources is on the horizon, a Department of Land and Natural Resources official says. West Hawaii Today. The graying of the so-called baby boomer generation will soon trigger a tsunami-like demand for long-term care services that the state and its residents are not prepared for. Tribune-Herald. Hawai‘i is ranked No. 1 in the United States for investment in energy savings performance contracting (ESPC) for public buildings per capita, according to a ranking published by the Energy Services Coalition, a national nonprofit network working at the state and local level to increase energy efficiency through building upgrades. Hawaii Reporter. Last week, the U.S. Department of Education warned that Hawaii’s $75 million in Race to the Top educational funding was in jeopardy. Hawaii Independent. State roundup for Dec. 29. Associated Press. Oahu Veteran journalist and journalism educator John Heckathorn died Wednesday morning at Straub Clinic & Hospital after suffering a heart attack Christmas morning at his home in Kalama Valley. He was 65. Star-Advertiser. Former Honolulu Magazine editor, John Heckathorn, died on Wednesday morning after suffering a heart attack on Christmas. Hawaii News Now. Respected journalist and teacher John Heckathorn died this morning after suffering a heart attack on Christmas Day. KHON2. Hawaii Medical Center's Ewa hospital closed on Wednesday after transferring the last of its patients to its Liliha facility. Star-Advertiser. The massive sea-based X-Band Radar left Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Wednesday morning, but Navy officials would not disclose where it was headed. Pacific Business News. Hawaii Hilo marijuana minister Roger Christie has been held for 17 months without bail in the Honolulu Federal Detention Center. Civil Beat. Pahoa's Sacred Heart Church is teaming up with an internationally trained sculptor to create a one-of-a-kind statue of St. Damien DeVeuster to commemorate his Puna missionary work. Tribune-Herald . The Kailua-Kona Public Library will soon see its electric bill drop. West Hawaii Today. Maui Hale Makua Health Services is finalizing an application to the state Department of Health to turn a wing of its Wailuku facility into an adult residential care home. Maui News. Upwards of 30 protesters held signs along Dairy Road in Kahului today over a three hour period, in a demonstration against a nearby tenant for the sale of reef fish. Maui Now. Kauai The Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative board has yet to discuss how it will address the impending vacancy to be created in January by the departure of director Ben Sullivan. Garden Island. A new Professional Readiness Employment Program (PREP) Academy aims to help job seekers, particularly Native Hawaiians, with creative tools to improve their ability to find and keep good jobs. Garden Island.
Continue reading...Molokai tour boat truce reached, Hawaii teachers take second jobs, Big Island rents drop, $10.7M for homeless, Honolulu scrambles after hospital…
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Molokai blockade courtesy photo Molokai protesters and the operator of American Safari Cruises have agreed to a truce that will allow the tour boat company to resume its weekly visits to Molokai next month. Star-Advertiser. American Safari Cruises announced Tuesday that an agreement has been reached between the company, state and federal authorities and local groups so that the Safari Explorer will return to Molokai in January. Star-Advertiser. American Safari Cruises plans to resume regularly scheduled visits to Molokai on January 21, 2011. Maui Now. U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan Tuesday awarded $10.7 million to renew funding to Hawaii homeless programs. KHON2. Two-thirds of Hawaii public school teachers who responded to a recent union poll said they hold one or more outside jobs, and 41 percent of those earning supplemental incomes said they started working another job in the last one to three years. Star-Advertiser. Hawaii legislators are planning a complete overhaul of the state’s charter school system in the wake of “glaring concerns” about lack of accountability and even possible fraud at some schools. Hawaii Reporter. Inouye Still Brings Home The Bacon. Half a billion dollars going to military, APEC costs, East-West Center. Civil Beat. Norm Chow is poised to become the next University of Hawaii head football coach -- 16 years, two Heisman Trophy winners and two national titles after losing his first bid for the position. Star-Advertiser. Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s version of the Supplemental Budget for Fiscal Year 2013, submitted yesterday, requires an additional $35 million in general funds—overall changes included an increase of $119.9 million in spending in some areas and $85.9 million in savings in others. Hawaii Independent. The Keck Observatory was involved in what its director called a historic moment recently, helping confirm the discovery of two Earth-sized planets.
Continue reading...Big Island Lava Viewing Update By Land, Air & Sea
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Lava entering the ocean, December 2011. Photo courtesy of the USGS. The ever changing lava activity on Hawaii’s Big Island creates news options for lava viewing. As reported last week , lava is flowing down the pali (hill) to the ocean. I want to provide an update of the various ways you can view this exciting lava activity. USGS lava flow map issued December 2011. Click on the image for a larger view. By Land You have two separate areas for lava viewing by land: - With lava flowing into the ocean just within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the park has created a beacon trail from the end of the Chain of Craters Road. This 9.7 mile round-trip hike is described as extreme due to the exceptionally uneven terrain over old lava flows. Visit this page to learn more about this hike. Note that you must pay a Hawaii Volcanoes National Park entrance fee of $10 per car. - Perhaps an easier way to view the lava activity is from the Hawaii County lava viewing area in Kalapana. This viewing area is free and open daily from 2pm to 10pm, with the last car entry at 8pm. You can access this area by driving to the end of Highway 130. Currently, from this viewing point, you can see lava flowing down the hill to the plain. Lava is visible within a short (less than one mile) hike. You can also see the plume produced from lava flowing into the ocean, though I don’t believe you can actually see lava entering the ocean. For more information call the lava viewing hotline number is 808-961-8093. For these land, please also see my tips for viewing the Big Island lava flow . By Air With the lava flow being so widespread at the moment, a helicopter tour provides a spectacular view. Most helicopter tours of the volcano depart from Hilo. If you’re staying on the Kona side of the Big Island, you can find helicopter tours of the volcano that depart from the west side – Blue Hawaiian is one that I know offers this service. Taking a helicopter tour is the quickest way to see the lava flow, though quite expensive at cost of nearly $400 or more per person. Lava pouring into the ocean. By Sea When lava is flowing into the ocean, the folks at Lava Ocean Adventures offer boat tours to get an up close view of the ocean entry without an exhausting hike. If you are prone to seasickness, you might want to skip this option as this tour can be quite a rocky ride. — With any option you choose for viewing the current Big Island lava activity, you’ll definitely have a thrilling experience.
Continue reading...Maui Christmas Dining & Events 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Christmas in Maui will be filled with lots of aloha this year – with hula, Hawaiian music and delicious dining. Even Santa is scheduled to spend a good bit of time on Maui after he arrives by outrigger canoe. Here’s what’s on slate for 2011: MAUI CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICES, SANTA ARRIVAL & DINING SANTA ARRIVES AT MALUAKA BEACH, MAKENA Saturday, December 24, 2011 Every year Santa comes to Makena, right before his biggest night of year. Join us on Maluaka Beach to welcome Santa to Makena. 10 a.m. Free Phone: (808) 874-1111 or visit www.makenaresortmaui.com SANTA ARRIVES AT THE FAIRMONT KEA LANI MAUI Saturday, December 24, 2011 Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elves arrive Polo Beach via outrigger canoe to spread holiday cheer in South Maui. Bring your cameras for photos with Santa. 12 p.m. Free and open to Maui residents and hotel guests. Phone: (808) 875-2290, or email concierge.kealani@fairmont.com SANTA’S WORKSHOP AT HYATT REGENCY MAUI Saturday, December 24, 2011 Join Santa and his Elves for a special holiday event. Participate in holiday arts and crafts, games, prize giveaways and take pictures with Santa, while feasting on holiday cookies and punch. Personal cameras are welcome. 1 – 3 p.m. at Hyatt Regency Maui’s Umalu tent. Reservations not required. Phone: (808) 661-1234 SANTA WATCH AT HYATT REGENCY MAUI Saturday, December 24, 2011 The famed Tour of the Stars program will be featuring a “Santa Watch.” Astronomers will search the skies for jolly old Saint Nick. Shows at 8 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Phone: (808) 661-1234 CHRISTMAS EVE BUFFET AT MAKENA BEACH & GOLF RESORT Saturday, December 24, 2011 Everyone knows that the Holidays mean lots of great food. The Christmas Evening Buffet starts with a spread that features traditional holiday favorites like sage and thyme basted roasted whole tom turkey served with traditional giblet gravy, cranberry relish and cornbread stuffing or try the spit roasted rosemary pommery leg of lamb. Enjoy breathtaking sunsets while feasting on this hearty holiday meal. 5:30 – 9 p.m. in Molokini Bar & Grille $60.00 per person, $45.00 per child (age 9-12), $30.00 per child (age 5-8) Rates exclusive of tax and gratuity For reservations or for more information call (808) 875-5888, email reservations@makenaresortmaui.com , or visit www.makenaresortmaui.com CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER BUFFET AT SHERATON MAUI RESORT & SPA Saturday, December 24, 2011 Share a view of Black Rock, reconnect with family and friends, and sink your teeth into an assortment of delicious options including bamboo shoot salad, Black Rock oysters and salt crusted baron of beef. 4 – 9 p.m. $63.00 per adult, $31.00 per child (age 6-12) Phone: (808) 921-4600 CHRISTMAS EVE AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, KAPALUA Saturday, December 24, 2011 A picture is worth a thousand words – so children of all ages are invited to stop by the Lobby to be photographed with Santa Claus! Guests will also enjoy festive entertainment including Hawaiian music, traditional hula dancing and a melodic trio. Photos from 4 – 8 p.m. Images available for purchase on-site or online. Entertainment from 4 – 11 p.m. Phone: (808) 669-6200 CHRISTMAS EVE DINNERS AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, KAPALUA Saturday, December 24, 2011 Savor the season with culinary delights at The Banyan Tree offering an a la carte menu, and The Terrace offering a pre-fixed menu of Mauka Makai (Surf & Turf). 5:30 – 9:30 p.m., with ambient entertainment $60.00 per person. Keiki menu free for children12 years and younger at the Terrace Restaurant, with each paying adult. Reservations recommended Phone: (808) 669-6200 CHRISTMAS EVE CHURCH SERVICES - Hope Chapel in Kihei – three separate services with 8pm candlelight service. See this link for details. - Calvary Chapel South Maui in Kihei – Christmas Eve service at 7pm. See this link for details. - Contact your concierge for more information on church services near your resort.
Continue reading...Lava Is Entering the Ocean in the Kalapana Area Once Again!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Per YouTuber VolcanoDiscoveryHI , lava began entering the ocean on Friday, December 9 at 6:15pm and he was there to capture it with this video. (Email subscribers: click here to access the video . ) With lava flowing down the pali (hill) in rivers and lava entering the ocean, it’s an exciting time to be on Hawaii’s Big Island! If you’re going, make sure you check out my advice for viewing the Big Island lava flow . I also recommend you arrange a helicopter tour to the full perspective of how widespread the lava activity is. Lava rolling in to the ocean in the Kalapana area in March 2008.
Continue reading...Hawaii work incentives cut, feeding the homeless, 25th Infantry coming home, Maui water woes continue, cops thwart motorcyclists’ Toys for Tots…
Monday, November 21, 2011
Hawaii holiday food line (c) All Hawaii News Just a few blocks from where oblivious tourists step off cruise ships to pick through souvenirs, there's an entirely different world. West Hawaii Today. Hawaii ex-welfare recipient work incentives cut. Associated Press. Democratic Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa can't remember the last time she cried. Civil Beat. After hovering around $4 a gallon last week, the average price of regular gasoline dropped below the $4 a gallon mark in Honolulu this weekend. But the neighbor islands are not seeing the same price drop. Associated Press. Louie: Gov. still doesn’t have to release names of judicial nominees. Pacific Business News. After five years under federal oversight due to prisoner abuses, the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility has become a safe place with an improved corporate culture, state officials maintain. Star-Advertiser. While the Occupy movement has been smaller and quieter in Hawaii than elsewhere, the music of one Hawaiian musician is gaining attention as a protest song for the campaign. Hawaii Public Radio. Waikiki Torch Runner Surprised By International Attention. KITV4. Oahu The Army plans to welcome home the 25th Infantry Division's headquarters unit from Iraq this week. KITV4. Higher room rates and higher occupancy led to a 30 percent increase in revenue over the six-day period in which the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering brought together 21 world leaders along with top government and business officials in Honolulu. Star-Advertiser. City Pays Landfill Operator $2.6M for Spill Cleanup. Civil Beat. Small waves make for slow business on Oahu's North Shore. Hawaii News Now. Hawaii Motorcyclists accustomed to rumbling through Hilo before distributing Christmas presents to needy children claim police have rained on their parade. Tribune-Herald. The troubled Hoku Ke'a telescope atop Mauna Kea could be operational by next summer, its director said. Tribune-Herald. A group that won the right to turn Laupahoehoe School into a charter school is refusing to hold elections for a board to govern the school as promised in its application and as ordered by the Charter School Review Panel. Star-Advertiser. Kona once again has a University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Cooperative Extension Service agent to call its own. West Hawaii Today. Maui Council Member Mike Victorino said he believes that the time may be past for the county to tell developers, "show me the water." Maui News. A Maui businessman said last week that he had abandoned plans to develop a bottled-water plant in Waihee, after some of his investors walked away from the project. Maui News. Behind the scenes of Maui's agriculture inspection facility. KHON2. Kauai The tree trimmers working at Bank of Hawai‘i’s Kapa‘a Branch battled not only the brisk trades but the clock on Sunday. Garden Island. The Kaua‘i Robotics Alliance is offering imu service for Thanksgiving as a fundraiser for its season which starts in January. Garden Island.
Continue reading...Aloha Friday Photo: Somewhere Under the Rainbow Edition
Friday, November 4, 2011
Today’s stunning photo was captured by Michael Kinsley of Pahoa on Hawaii’s Big Island. He shot this vibrant rainbow on the Red Road near Kehena in the Puna District of Hawaii’s Big Island. Amazing! Isn’t it? Mahalo to Michael for allow us to share his photo! I first saw this magical photo on the No Ka Oi Adventures facebook page , where I’m a fan after touring the road to Hana with No Ka Oi . The owner, Wade Holmes, is friends with the photographer. So, I asked Wade if we might be able to get permission to share it on our Aloha Friday Photo Series. Wade kindly took the time to ask for permission. Thank you, Wade! I titled this photo ‘Somewhere Under the Rainbow’ with the famous IZ song in mind. What other titles/captions would you use for this unique photo? © 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...Hawaiian sovereignty activists occupy Iolani Palace grounds, Kauai grapples with landfill, Hawaii County struggles with building code, Molokai doesn’t…
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Iolani Palace (c) 2011 All Hawaii News A group of about 20 Hawaiian sovereignty activists belonging to the group Hawaiian Kingdom Government issued a 50-page statement Wednesday demanding that the Friends of ‘Iolani Palace vacate the grounds. Star-Advertiser. Federal prosecutors were dealt another major setback on Wednesday after a federal magistrate denied their request for a nine-month continuance in what government officials have called the largest human trafficking case in U.S. history. Civil Beat. Obama to Hold Fundraiser in Honolulu After APEC. Civil Beat. Patricia M. Loui has been confirmed for a place on the board of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Sen. Daniel Akaka’s office said Wednesday. Pacific Business News. Hawaii DOE Superintendent's Lesson — Keep Your Head in the Sand. Civil Beat. One of the fastest-growing visitor markets for Hawaii is South Korea. The Hawaii Tourism Authority says both arrivals and spending by South Koreans have been climbing steadily over the past several years. Hawaii Public Radio. Hawaiian Telcom IBEW union says it is waiting for a strike approval from the international office and it would be holding a meeting with the strike captains. Hawaii News Now. Oahu The pregnant Honolulu woman arrested with her husband for shoplifting two sandwiches at a downtown Safeway says she blames the store manager for allowing a mistake to escalate into an incident that sparked national attention. Civil Beat. The news about the arrest of Nicole Leszczynski, 28, and her husband Marcin, 33, in the Safeway store on Beretania Street in Honolulu continues to make national and international news ranging from the Washington Post to the London Daily Mail - and it has even caught the attention of Steven Colbert. Hawaii Reporter. Law enforcement sources told KITV 4 News they are concerned a former Honolulu police officer who failed to show up for sentencing in a sexual assault case last week may have fled to his native Morocco, while his lawyer fears his client may be dead. KITV4. Police announced new details Wednesday on park restrictions tied to next week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings as some Waikiki residents made plans to leave the island and others stocked up on provisions to hunker down during APEC. Star-Advertiser. The City Council quickly disposed of a proposal for another public vote on the rail transit project Wednesday. Star-Advertiser. Oahu residents whose building permits were held up because their homes were determined to be too far from the nearest fire hydrant are applauding a decision by the Board of Water Supply to relax the policy after consulting with the Honolulu Fire Department. Star-Advertiser. On a given day, roughly 30,000 vehicles travel along Kahekili Highway and for drivers on the Windward side of Oahu it's a common complaint that traffic on this stretch can cause quite a back-up. KHON2. Disgraceful and Dangerous, those two words are used a lot to describe our playgrounds and, it's easy to see why. Hawaii News Now. From the North Shore to East Oahu, many playgrounds have become a "black eye" for the city and concern for parents. Hawaii News Now. Hawaii In a climate so gentle that some residents have only screens on windows to catch the trade winds, many are wondering why the county wants to force them to install double-paned glass windows and double-walled construction when building or remodeling their homes. West Hawaii Today. Two proposals to boost Hawaii County's emergency cash reserves and another to design a Waimea transit hub received unanimous support from a County Council committee Tuesday. Tribune-Herald. A showdown is brewing between the state's Charter School Review Panel and the interim board for the Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School. Tribune-Herald. The head of the Department of Land and Natural Resources and three state senators want to hear the public's concerns at a series of upcoming meetings around the Big Island. Tribune-Herald. Maui The East Maui Animal Refuge is seeking help from the public, as it works toward regaining permits to take in wildlife. Maui News. Maui County will be in the mix of things during next week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leader's Week meetings in Honolulu, with a booth at the Hawaii Convention Center and Mayor Alan Arakawa invited to a variety of exclusive venues, said county Economic Development Coordinator Teena Rasmussen. Maui News. Kauai With the Kekaha Landfill set to close permanently by December 2020 and without a fully functional recycling network or processing plant, the county is still struggling to site a new landfill. Garden Island. More than 2,000 plants are scheduled to be given away at the Arbor Day Plant Give-away, Saturday from 9 a.m. behind the K-mart store at the Kukui Grove Center. Garden Island. Molokai As American Safari Cruises’ yacht docked on its first trip to Molokai last Sunday morning, protesters greeted it with requests to leave local waters. Molokai Dispatch.
Continue reading...Aulani Prize Pack Giveaway!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
While we were visiting Aulani for the Grand Opening events, we collected quite a few goodies for a giveaway. This goodie pack includes: Plush, oversized beach towel embroidered with the Aulani logo Attractive Aulani beach bag that’s nicely designed with pockets Embroidered Aulani hat A limited-edition Aulani pin with Mickey Mouse and the date of the Grand Opening, September 22, 2011 Fairytale wedding fan in the shape of mouse ears. Hawaii luggage tag with Hawaiian Airlines logo This Aulani giveaway prize pack will go to one randomly selected reader. Here’s how you enter: - Read our Aulani review and watch our Aulani video tour . - Tell us what you like best about Aulani by commenting on this Aulani giveaway blog post . - You must provide us a valid email address so that we can contact you if you win. Note that your email address will not be visible. - Enter your comment by the end of the day, Tuesday, November 8, 2011. I look forward to hearing your thoughts about Aulani. Good luck!
Continue reading...
- TERREMOTO IN CHILE MAGNETUDO 8.8 ! SI ASPETTA TSUNAMI ALLE HAWAII ORE 22:00 ITALIANE
- PRINCESS KAIULANI - Official US Theatrical Trailer in HD
- Ironman Triathlon
- Rebel Souljahz - The One[Shawner808]
- Jake Shimabukuro "Let's Dance"
- westboro pwnd by anonymous
- One Dolla
- Dating Service 2 by Ickest
- Colt Brennan Announces He Will Return For Senior Season
- Malosi Te'o 2005 Kahuku Highlights
- paytonh: WOW, You are AMAZING. I LOVE IT. Hawaii Roots?...
- Allinmyworld: girl you have the voice of an angel...
- MAUizFiNEST808: L0VE iT!!! CHHHEEE...
- angeeeeeh: Anuhea! i hope u look at your old vids, cos its me...
- iloveae86: i love you...
© 2010 Hula Planet:What To Do In Hawaii. Powered by Wordpress.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
0 Comments