Archive for March, 2008
Tunnels Beach
Kauai’s North Shore,
Approximately 5-10 minute drive from Hanalei
The post-card perfect scenery of Tunnels Beach on the North Shore of Kauai offers visitors a wide, golden sand beach, shady palms and ironwood trees and views of the fabled Bali Ha’i (made famous by the musical South Pacific). Tunnels Beach is also a premier swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing spot. The scenic beach, located just North of Hanalei, is a 2-mile stretch of beach perfection. The center portion of beach has a huge, half moon shaped reef about 1/8 mile off shore. This reef not only provides excellent snorkeling and diving, it also creates a barrier from the rough surf conditions and strong currents characteristic of Kauai’s North Shore. The shallow, sandy bottom in front of the reef remains calm even in the rough winter months and the waves breaking beyond the reef makes for an an excellent surfing spot.
Date: March 15th, 2008 |
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Kealakekua Bay
Surfing in Hawaii may not be something you want to try, especially if you’re not already an expert surfer when you go, but snorkeling in Hawaii is something nearly everyone can do easily and quickly. Every island has great snorkeling spots, but one of the best (and most popular) in the entire island chain is Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island.
Kealakekua Bay is on the Kona coast of the Big Island and it’s now a marine conservation area, making it ideal for checking out the varied marine life that congregates there. In addition to the copious amounts of fish and relatively stationary sea life in the bay, it’s also a place where dolphins tend to gather, which is a real treat for visitors.
Date: March 13th, 2008 |
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The Plantation Inn in Maui
Maybe the beach isn’t your main focus in Hawaii. Maybe you’d like to experience life like a local might, not living right on a white sandy beach, but in town. Of course, you’d want access to the great beaches, or why bother visiting Hawaii, right? But perhaps you’d like to get away from the sun and sand after a day spent playing in the water - perhaps you’d like to have a cozy retreat where you can relax in a room that feels like home. If this sounds good to you, then be sure to check out the Plantation Inn in Maui.
The Plantation Inn is a sister property to the Ka’anapali Beach Hotel, but it’s of an entirely different character. This is no beachfront resort - this is a boutique B&B in Maui’s Lahaina Town with only 19 rooms available for rent. With a stay at the Plantation Inn you’ll get the best of both worlds, in that you’re a mere two blocks from the water but you’re also right in town and can easily walk to the local shops and restaurants. Plus, because of the relationship with the Ka’anapali Beach Hotel, you’ll also get to take advantage of all the activities offered by the larger beachfront resort.
Date: March 11th, 2008 |
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Hawaiian Beach Rentals
Interested in bringing the comforts of home with you to Hawaii? If you dream of a Hawaiian vacation without staying in a high rise hotel or big resort, a great option is staying in a vacation rental house. On every island, there are copious numbers of houses that tourists can rent from anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Especially if you are traveling with a family, renting a house for your vacation can give you not only added space, but a full-sized kitchen and the comforts of home. You can take advantage of the local fish and farmers markets (and save some dough!) by cooking some of your meals right at your little Hawaiian home away from home. In addition to being more spacious and comfortable, renting a home in Hawaii can also save you some serious money. You’ll spend less renting a 4 bedroom beach-front house than on a small hotel room for the same amount of time.
Every rental house has its own unique personality and charm. I will never forget the outdoor shower at the house my family stayed at on the Big Island. I showered with palm tress swaying above my head and gecko lizards climbing on the walls. Right out the front door was the most amazing view of the sun setting over the volcanic rocks. On Kauai, we stayed at a house lofted in the palms and only steps from Tunnels Beach. I loved rolling out of bed in the morning and strolling down the little path to the beach.
Date: March 8th, 2008 |
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Na Pali Catamaran Tours
The sailing catamaran tour of the Na Pali coast will forever be one of my most treasured travel memories. There are few better ways to spend a day than on a breathtaking and exciting boat trip, taking in the majestic beauty of the green velvet cliffs of the Na Pali Coast, snorkeling with sea turtles, tropical fish and dolphins, and being out on the open sea. If you aren’t up to hike the 18 mile Kalalau Trail to see Na Pali on foot, a boat trip is great option, and there are several choices for tourists leaving from both shores of Kauai. Different tour companies offer everything from high intensity zodiac tours that jump waves and venture into sea caves to more relaxing sailing tours. While both types of boat tours will allow you to see the rugged beauty of the coast from the sea, I prefer the sailing tour, mostly because you feel a little more at peace and like a true sea explorer when you have sails powering your journey.
Date: March 6th, 2008 |
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Dole Pineapple Plantation
Oahu’s North Shore,
Approximately a 40-minute drive from Waikiki
The pineapple has long been associated with the islands of Hawaii, but little do most people know the tropical fruit did not actually originate in the Hawaiian archipelago. In fact, the word for pineapple in Hawaiian—halakahiki—means “foreign fruit” and it is believed the first pineapples in Hawaii came from Mexico after a ship carrying the fruit as cargo crashed off the shores of the Big Island in 1527. Though the fruit grows well in the moist, tropical environment on the Hawaiian Islands, it is thought pineapples originated first in Paraguay or Brazil. However, through the last century the crops of Hawaiian grown pineapples caused the fruit to forever be tied as a symbol if the islands.
Date: March 14th, 2008 |
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Iolani Palace
The only official royal residence in the United States is not located in any of the continental states, but across the Pacific on the island of Oahu. Iolani Palace in Honolulu was the official residence of only the last two Hawaiian monarchs—King Kalakau (who built the palace in 1882) and his sister, successor and last ruling monarch of Hawaii, Queen Lili’uokalani. During the rule of these last two monarchs, Iolani Palace was at the center of social and political activity on the islands. After decades of neglect, however, the palace was in bad shape until restoration began in the 1970s and has continued until today.
As a National Historic Landmark, efforts have also been made to recollect many of the art pieces and furniture that originally decorated the palace. Most of these items were sold off and stolen after the fall of Queen Lili’uokalani at the turn of the twentieth century. Today the palace is a popular tourist destination and location for wedding receptions and other private events. The palace also provides a beautiful and dramatic backdrop for the free concerts by the National Hawaiian Band on palace grounds most Fridays. These concerts are held on Fridays from 12:00-1:00 p.m. and are a great (and free!) way to participate in the bands long tradition of sharing Hawaiian music with the world.
Date: March 12th, 2008 |
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Lots of Travel Deals to Hawaii in One Place
When you’re planning your Hawaii vacation, you’re going to want to consider all options that could save you money. One great way to save big is to keep track of the various travel deals to Hawaii that pop up all the time - from the package deals including hotel and airfare, or hotel and car rental, or some other combination of things that you’ll be using during your trip. But keeping track of all the various deals can be irritating, having to chase down what’s new on all the different websites.
That’s why BootsnAll has …
Date: March 10th, 2008 |
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Maui’s Sugar Cane Train
There’s something about riding on a train that makes people smile - and you don’t have to be a train fanatic to get excited about riding an historic train, either. On Maui you can get from Lahaina to Ka’anapali by train, and even saying the name is fun - all aboard the Sugar Cane Train!
Maui’s Sugar Cane Train, also known as the Lahaina, Kaanapali & Pacific Railroad (but that’s no fun to say!), is one of the few trains left in Hawaii and offers passengers panoramic views of Maui along the half-hour journey. The train gets its nickname from the fact that sugar was once transported from the fields to the mills via steam trains on these same tracks. The steam locomotive that pulls the Sugar Cane Train is a reconstructed 1890 engine.
Date: March 7th, 2008 |
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Molokai, the “Birthplace of Hula”
The island of Molokai is commonly known as “The Friendly Isle,” but another nickname could easily be “The Birthplace of Hula.” While not written down as incontrovertible historical fact, Molokai is believed by many to be where hula was born. Legend says that the goddess of hula, Laka, first danced the hula in Kaana on Molokai and from there she traveled to each island teaching the dance with anyone who wanted to learn. Laka is said to have “given birth” to the hula on the sacred hill of Pu’u Nana, and legend holds that Laka is actually buried somewhere in that hill.
Hula was traditionally performed only by men and accompanied primarily by chants, but later hula began to incorporate both genders in the performances and include musical instruments and songs.
Date: March 5th, 2008 |
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