In a radical departure to their traditional policies, there’s no minimum stay requirements at the resort this fall, and there’s the  offer of a 4th night free and reduced room rates. For more information call 800-321-HANA, or see the Hotel Hana Maui Web site.

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In other economic news, retail sales on the islands continue to slide, which may mean there’s never been a better time to buy goods, services, and real estate.

Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by Jenn_Jenn

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Arguably none of them stayed and savored the islands like Mark Twain, however,  who has been touted as penning some of the best travel writing about Hawaii that’s ever been written. Not to ignore the greats, however, Jack London wrote a glorious piece on his island experiences in the late 1800s.  And then James Michener wrote the novel Hawaii in the late ’50s.  Wow.

Not as in, “Wow, that’s a great book,” but as in, “Wow, James Michener’s blue pencil must be broken.”  Just as a hint, he covers about 4 bazillion years of Hawaii’s history, starting with the first volcanic eruption that mothered the islands themselves, and ending with a discussion of what Tom Selleck’s favorite hair care products were while filming Magnum P.I. episodes. I joke.

And now you can sleep where they slept and hang out where they hung out. (The famous authors, not Tom Selleck.)

Volcano House hotel  Back when Twain stayed here, it was a primitive hostel, not the grand structure it is today. Crater-view rooms start at about $200/night. Call ahead, however, and ask about the vog before you go. The volcanoes area on the Big Island has been evacuated this year due to active lava flow reducing air quality to dangerous levels.

The Namakani Paio campground is three miles away in a grove of towering koa, ohia and eucalyptus trees. The Volcano House runs cabins there that you can get for about $50 a night. (Bathrooms and hot showers are separate there.)

See the monkeypod tree in Waiohinu (look for the sign), planted by Twain himself.  You’ll find the Shirakawa Motel (808-929-7462) just down Highway 11.

He’s not a best-selling author, but he was the king. (Long before Elvis came.) And he slept on the grounds of the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel (800-367-6060)  It was, after all, his capital.

Elvis really did sleep at The Cocoa Palms Hotel on Kaua’i, along with lots of other celebs from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s.  (And I’ve slept there too. Tell your friends!)  Unfortunately, you can’t sleep there anymore.  Hurricane Iniki wiped the place out in the ’90s, and it was never restored to its previous splendor.  Ask your resort concierge or ask around about taking a walking tour through the property.

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If you’ve heard anything about Maui, you’ve heard of “the road to Hana.” While I wouldn’t say it’s treacherous, it is wind-y, it’s twist-y, and it’s long; at the end of it is, in my opinion, the greatest place in the world. Here’s why: There’s nothing to do there.I realize that, to some, this is the description of Hell.  But I think it’s sometimes good to unplug, decompress, and smell the rainforest. This is what Hana is for.  And Hamoa Beach is one of the best beaches in the state.  But here’s the deal with Hana: You may not want to spend your whole visit there, but you might not want to spend a whole day in the car taking a day trip.

If you want to stay for one night or two, however, you’ll have trouble finding accommodations. Most of the homes and hotel rooms are available for reservations of three nights or more. That’s why we were delighted to discover Tom and his little cluster of plantation homes called Hana Accommodations.

Hana Accommodations are located just across the street from Venus Pool (aka Waioka), Coastal Trail and other spectacular scenery.  The homes are not far from town, the Seven Sacred Pools (aka O’heo Gulch) and hikes to more waterfalls than you can shake a stick at.

Tom’s got a few different properties to choose from, with lots of space between homes to kick around and grill up some of the fish you buy from roadside stands. (The fish there was usually caught a few hours earlier. Fresh enough for you?) Hana Accommodations are private, quiet, fully furnished, beautifully landscaped, and feature amenities such as outdoor showers and a hot tub on the grounds. Yes.

Call Tom at 800-228-4262 or email him at info@hana-maui.com. He’s totally friendly, and is a longtime Hana business owner and resident.

Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by D’ArcyNorman

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Here’s a question for you: What’s one of Waikiki Beach’s biggest problems? It’s not topless sunbathing. It’s not sharks. It’s not even the void left behind with the passing of Don Ho.Erosion of Waikiki Beach is one of the biggest problems facing the No. 1 tourist destination in the islands, such a problem that there’s no beach at the Sheraton except during times of extremely low tide. But the Sheraton Waikiki has a plan.

The Sheraton Waikiki will proceed with plans to restore a stretch of beach fronting its property and install groins in the water to inhibit erosion. The plan calls for installing three T-shaped, 160-foot-long groins in the water and pumping in sand to Gray’s Beach, which fronts the Sheraton Waikiki. Other beachfront properties, tourism experts, and environmental and land use planners are no doubt eager to see what happens, as the plan may be put to use by other areas facing the same problem.

There is also some opposition from surfers and locals who worry that the rock groins will pose environmental threats and and damage what has been a popular surf break.

Work could begin as soon as 2010, but before then, a number of state and federal permits are necessary.

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Hotels & Resorts

From September 2 to December 18, Halekulani will begin an extensive renovation of its public area.

The 81-room Aqua Coconut Waikiki opened on June 1 after completing a $2.6 million renovation.

The Wyland Waikiki Hotel recently welcomed a new restaurant and spa to its 403-room property. Spada Bar and Restaurant features Northern Italian-inspired cuisine by Executive Chef Tony Domingue and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Outrigger Waikiki’s new Hawaiian Memories Package lets guests choose what they’d like to include in their Hawaiian vacation.

Activities & Entertainment

Waikīkī Nei, an innovative theatrical production, opened at the Royal Hawaiian Center on July 22.

The North Shore Surf Girls Surf School, located on the North and South Shores of O’ahu, offers surf lessons to men, women and children with surf experience ranging from beginner-level to experienced surfer.

The Honolulu Symphony announced its concert line-up for the Halekulani MasterWorks 2008-2009 season, led by principal conductor Andreas Delfs and featuring an array of concerts starring gifted artists from Hawai’i and around the world.

Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is enhancing its nightly entertainment lineup of live, authentic Hawaiian music with the addition of The Keawe Ohana & Friends.

Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park has opened two new attractions: the Tornado and Dive’n'Movies. Resembling a giant household funnel, the Tornado is the park’s largest ride to date.

In collaboration with the Wild Dolphin Foundation, Wild Side Specialty Tours’ Ocean Trekker Expeditions will offer an enriching weeklong journey of discovery through the ocean world of O’ahu beginning in October 2008.

Dole Plantation is attempting to set a new record for the world’s largest maze from the Guinness Book of World Records.

Restaurants & Cuisine

Tanaka of Tokyo West Japanese Seafood and Steak House recently opened at Ala Moana Center’s Ho’okipa Terrace.

Uncle’s Fish Market & Grill, an establishment run by fish wholesaler, Fresh Island Fish, recently began serving dinner in addition to lunch. Featuring live entertainment by Ernie Cruz, Jr., the restaurant is also a frequent haunt for many local musicians who come to play kanakapila style.

Recently appointed chef Francois Bougard offers his Five-Course Tasting Menu at Bali by the Sea, the award-winning restaurant at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa.

Shopping

Royal Hawaiian Center is celebrating the completion of its $115 million revitalization, the first major renovation to the center since it opened in 1979.

Following the grand opening of its major retail expansion, Ala Moana Center welcomes new retail and dining tenants in locations throughout the mall.

O’ahu residents and master shapers Jeff Bushman and Kyle Bernhardt recently created Country Feeling Surfboards, a line of surfboards made with environmentally friendly materials.

Festivals and Events

From September 24-27, Honolulu hosts the Textile Society of America’s 11th Biennial Symposium, a gathering of textile collectors, experts and enthusiasts from around the world.

The Honolulu Culture & Arts District Association will present the second annual Taste of the Arts Street Fair on September 19 from 5-10 p.m. The fair will feature food, wine and jazz from The Arts District in downtown Honolulu.

The Kahala Hotel & Resort is hosting the Kahala Food & Wine Classic, which takes place four times per year.

From September 11 to November 16, an array of paintings, calligraphy and ceramics from the Japanese art collection of noted Seattle-based garden designer and collector, Terry Welch, will be on display at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

The University of Hawai’i Art Gallery presents Writing with Thread: Traditional Textiles of Southwest Chinese Minorities from September 21-November 30, 2008. Shown in the United States for the first time,

On September 27, Bishop Museum and Hawai’i Maritime Center will host Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day, celebrating the country’s cultural offerings. Admission is free and open to the public.

Women of Our World, Inc., a Hawai’i-based corporation honoring women through art, music and dance, is holding its first annual event, “The Women’s World Festival,” on October 10 and 11. The event will take place at the Hawai’i Convention Center.

Interisland Flights

Island Air has welcomed back nonstop service between Honolulu and Lihue, Kaua’i. Nonstop frequency between Honolulu and Kahului, Maui; Kahului, Maui and Kona, Hawai’i; and Kahului, Maui and Lihue, Kaua’i has increased.
Hawaiian Airlines began daily nonstop service from Oakland to Honolulu on May 1.

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If you’ve ever had the pleasure of visiting Maui anytime from December to May, you know that the Au’au channel between Maui and Lana’i is a prime spot for whale watching. It’s the North Pacific herd of humpbacks that migrate there to breed and enjoy the warmer waters after spending the summer and fall eating and living in Alaskan waters.Whale watching is a hit with visitors on every level. It’s an extraordinary scene to watch the whales roll and breech, their babies close by. It’s by far Maui’s best-loved offshore activity, and now Wailea Beach Villas has partnered with the Pacific Whale Foundation to give guests a unique opportunity to adopt one of these graceful giants.

Whale adoption includes:

• A personal adoption certificate
• Whale’s life history
• Full-color whale watching guide
• “I Love Whales” bumper sticker
• An Adopt-a-Whale ID card
• Newsletters subscription and action alerts from the Foundation
• Three-night stay in a two-bedroom garden-view penthouse and
• Welcome gift.

Similar adopt-a-dolphin packages exist. The Adopt-a-Whale package is available Jan. 6 through April 19, 2009. The Adopt-a-Dolphin Program is currently offered through December 19.

Wailea Beach Villas is an exclusive residential resort with an enviable location along Maui’s famed Wailea Beach. For more information or to book an Adopt-a-Dolphin or Adopt-a-Whale lodging package, call 866-901-5201, or visit www.waileabeachvillas.com.

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Destination Clubs provide members with access to extremely luxurious homes and resorts in Hawaii and all over the world, at prices ranging from moderate to unreachable by most mere mortals’ standards.

Some of the more well-known, higher-end destination clubs include Quintess and Solstice.

Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by Neurofibromatosis – Reggie Bibbs

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Sherry describes the Electro-Magnetic Cockroach Expeller, but hasn’t had the use for one lately, thank goodness, and neither have I. It sounds easier than traveling with a gecko or chameleon (right). How about you? Have you visited accommodations that drove you buggy? Was there a lot of buzz about your hotel or resort, but not in a good way? Write in or comment and tell all!

Photo by Jody Reale

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