The Hawaii Traveler

This is a guest post from Mary Jo Manzanares, Travel & Culture Channel Editor and blogger at Flyaway Cafe.
 
My trip to Hawaii last fall was motivated by a desire for some rest and relaxation, some warm weather, and an overall escape from my gray Seattle life.  I was longing for time spent on a balcony, watching the sunset or sunrise, listening to the waves, and having a slow-paced week ahead of me.
In fact, that type of vacation is one of the reasons people love Hawaii – sun, sand, surf, and stepping on the treadmill of ordinary life.
But at some point, …read more

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Today’s guest post is from Mary Jo Manzanares, Travel & Culture Channel Editor, and travel blogger at Flyaway Cafe. 
If you watched the NFL Pro Bowl over this past weekend, you got a glimpse of Oahu, Honolulu, and the Waikiki area. It’s very tempting to think of the island as one of sun, sand, surf, sunbathing, and adult beverages. All that would be true, of course, but there is another side to Hawaii, a side full of history, culture, and reverence.
On my recent trip to Honolulu, I had the opportunity to enjoy both aspects of island life, and today’s post touches …read more

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Although snorkeling is a subjective experience, pretty much everyone agrees that it’s one of the best ways to spend time in Hawai’i.  It’s fun, it’s interesting, it takes little preparation, and it’s cheap.  Whether you decide to boat to a snorkeling destination or just walk into the water, your chances of catching some of the most beautiful scenery ever are excellent.  To increase your chances of having a great experience, also check out Best Places Hawaii’s 10 best places to snorkel.
It doesn’t appear at the 10 best list, probably because it’s relatively inaccessible, but if you get a chance …read more

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Hawaiian Spotted Puffefish
Although Hawai’i is not a world destination for diving, as are other ocean destinations, such as Cozumel and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, there is still great diving to be had.  Although I’ve only personally experienced a few dive expeditions in Hawai’i, they’ve been  memorable ones.You might be able to spot all kinds of sea life at Mexico’s Palancar Reef, from giant parrot fish to lobsters, but you aren’t as likely to see the number of monk seals and other rare and endangered creatures that you will off the coast of Kaua’i and Ni’ihau.
Bubbles Below is one of …read more

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If you happened to catch NPR’s piece on heirloom tomatoes,”Heirloom Tomato Farmer Finds Beauty in the Ugly,” you’ll be glad to know that you’ll be able to find a little piece of that kind of wonderful ugliness right there on Oahu.North Shore Farms is the home of homegrown tomatoes and the big wave of flavors that go with them. Drop by, call, or just check out some of their recipes online.
Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by jackie-dee

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 If you think Kona’s just about the coffee, consider also its grapes.  For one, The Volcano Winery at the 30 mile marker in Volcanoes makes award winning wines that can’t be had anywhere but in the great state of Hawaii.  (For a list of states to which you can have wine shipped, check out the rates and availability here.)
Attend a tasting, or just take a tour. And when your friends ask you how it tastes, tell them, “Like chicken.” Gets ‘em every time.
Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by jesiehart

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News from the This Oil Crisis Sucks files: the Moloka’i ferry I’ve mentioned here at The Hawaii Traveler raised its rates today by adding a temporary fuel surcharge.  The regular $40 one-way fare to/from Maui and Moloka’i will now cost you $66.  Work commuters are certainly going to be the most hard-hit from the hike, but Sea Link, the ferry operator is appealing to the PUC for a special concession to avoid shutting down.Unlike other operators like the Superferry, Sea Link  receives no subsidies, loan guarantees or other special considerations from government; gas prices combined with declining tourist turn-out in …read more

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Since its founding in 1951 The Nature Conservancy has become, “the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.” It’s an international organization with more than 117 million acres worldwide and 11 private preserves in Hawaii totaling 32,000 acres.Active for 20 years in the state of Hawaii, it’s a membership coalition that works in cooperation with more than 100 businesses. In Maui, the Conservancy manages preserves at Kapunakea and Waikamoi, the sites of a feral animal hunting initiative. On Lanai, it manages Kanepuu, the site of a see-it-before-you-die ecosystem. And …read more

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A few years ago I was asking my cousin about her trip to Maui. Her face fell. “It rained the entire time,” she said, “we were so disappointed.”
Although it’s possible for a rain-out during an island vacation, most of the islands are big enough that tourists can drive to a dry side in a matter of an hour or so. But my cousin said that, with the whole island socked in with clouds and rain, the trip was a bust. There was nowhere to go but back into their condo unit, which wasn’t that interesting, especially with two …read more

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Mary Jo over at b5’s Flyaway Cafe has a nice post up today about an environmentally friendly dolphin-watching cruise she took in Oahu last fall.  Read her review of Hoku Nai’a Wild Dolphin Watch and you’ll find yourself there, even if you’re in Omaha or Duluth.
Just a few things to remember when packing up for a day trip tour or cruise:

If you drive to a marina or pick-up spot, don’t leave valuables in your car. Burglars know that you’re going to be gone for a long time, and tourists often make the mistake of leaving cameras and wallets in the …read more

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