Hawaii Travel News 07/27/2011

Rising fuel costs lead to higher baggage fees, even interisland.

"Sugar Cane Trains" may be a relic of Hawaii's past, but once a month this train in Kauai brings history to life with free rides open to the public.

In a written update detailing recent observations made by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory,  scientists foretell continued activity will “overflow the western rim” sending lava out of the crater for the first time since the Kamoamoa fissure eruption halted lava flows towards the ocean.

This is a touching look at the meaning of the words ohana and hanai, which have a beautifully complex place in Hawaiian culture, even today.

Historians say a skull found in Pearl Harbor could belong to one of three Japanese airmen who flew a torpedo plane that was shot down in the Dec. 7, 1941 attack.

It's commonly stated that there are no snakes in Hawaii. It's true, however people sometimes keep them (illegally) as pets. The state's amnesty program allows owners to turn them in without penalty, and an alarming number have been turned in in the past few weeks!

An ancient Japanese tea ceremony took place at the USS Arizona Memorial Tuesday to honor the 1,177 deceased Americans at the memorial, 65 years after the end of World War II.

Have you made the jump at Waimea Bay? Summer is the perfect time to experience this, since the waves are smaller than in the winter.

It's a testament to the multitude of choices for foodies in Honolulu that Wanda Adams can put together such a comprehensive list of "bests" and that I'd still have things to add in almost every category! Honolulu is full of great choices for dining out.

Bon dances are a popular summer tradition in Hawaii, and not just for those of Japanese ancestry – they're open to the public so anyone can attend! Love all the photos from the Jikoen Hongwanji Mission's bon dance this weekend.