Contributed by shutterbugs with a passport (or just some frequent flier miles), you’ll find pictures from Argentina to Zimbabwe, and from Pier One to Thousand Oaks.  Stop by, and contribute your own favorite photos.

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler

More from the Alohaween files: If you and your little ones are interested in some pumpkin carving activities for this season, here are a few starter ideas to get you going wikki wikki.

First Check Architects Hawaii LTD  or give them a call.  They usually hold an annual pumpkin carving that’s top notch.

Look at Kuhuku Public Library.  It’s Halloween Extravaganza is scheduled for Oct. 20.

Keep looking at the Honolulu Advertiser  or the Honolulu Star-Bulletin for current events and announcements as Halloween time draws near.

Hanapepe Spook Night is an annual event that takes place on or near Halloween night every year in Kauai’s Hanapepe Town Park. Contact the Hanapepe Town Association for more information.

If all else fails, there’s always the underwater pumpkin carving contest at Maui Ocean Center, but I don’t recommend you try this at home (unless you’re in the bathtub.)

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler

• Museums–The Hawaiian cultural experience is the richest on Oahu, but there are usually small exhibits and “ad hoc” museums on every island, if not in a designated spot, then at hotels and resorts.
• Libraries–Getting something good to read while you wait it out doesn’t have to be expensive. Hang out at a library, not just for the books, but because librarians are a wealth of information about what else there is to do during your stay.
• Botanical gardens–Most public and botanical gardens have at least a few indoor areas, and are beautiful, fragrant places to spend time.
• Indoor tours–Home Tours Hawai’i is a culinary tour of the Big Island, but if you consider homes on wheels, there’s also a motor home tour of Oahu that sounds interesting and totally unique.  Upcountry Maui is also a great place to take self-guided tours of arts studios.
• Make something–with arts and crafts studios cropping up everywhere, it’s easy, even on-island, to find a place to let your inner artist out, even if it doesn’t want to get wet.
• Go up–Getting high in Hawaii, so to speak, is easy, because each island is situated around one or more volcanoes. Drive to the highest place on the island, and you might just find yourself above it all.
• Eat–While you may already be stuffed, take the opportunity to eat someplace you wouldn’t ordinarily go. Try something you wouldn’t ordinarily try, like the ox tail soup a Kaua’i diner serves for breakfast, or Spam sushi.
• Helicopter rides–Depending on how severe the weather is, a helicopter service may cancel all flights; however, call to get the scoop. The rain may actually free up a charter service’s schedule.
• Water parks–one way to ignore the rain is to get wet, at your own discretion.
• Hotels and resorts–Take a tour of the grand, sprawling resorts in your neck of the rainforest.
• Play centers–take the kids to an indoor playground or learning center, and make new friends to boot.
• Spas–a no-brainer, for anyone, anytime.
• Take a drive–Get out the map and point. Remember the saying, “No rain, no rainbows?” Rainbow hunting in gray conditions ought to be easy.
• Get out of Dodge–Check the weather and visit another island. If you’re on Maui or Oahu, you can take a ferry. If you’re elsewhere, you may have to take an interisland flight.
• Malls–Not only can you shop and grab a shave ice or ice cream, you might catch a free show while you’re there and do some people-watching.
• See a movie–Either by renting one, or going to a theater.
• Take in some live music–It’s everywhere on the islands; walk or drive to the nearest cluster of shops or restaurants, and listen for the slack key guitar.
• Go out anyway–When was the last time you went singing in the rain? Most of us don’t have the gills it takes to weather a week of exposure to the elements, but an hour or two could be fun. Just make sure, if you decide to swim, that conditions are safe.

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler

Several years ago, I was behind the wheel in Kaua’i, on my way to the north shore’s Tunnels beach, my favorite.  I didn’t have much time on the island, and wanted to see as many turtles as possible while I was there, and still enjoy a burger in Hanalei.  I had crossed the seemingly endless chain of one-way bridges on the way there, and had been so kind as to wave the car on the other side over instead of going first every time.Near the end of my drive, I was getting anxious. I could see the water from the road, and knew that it was late enough that parking was going to be a hassle, which was why it angered me to find some guy blocking the road and stopping traffic so that he could have a chat with one of the drivers.  When he’d finished his morning conversation, I drove by, grumbling, eager to give him the hairy eyeball and maybe a little lecture on manners.  It turned out to be none other than Glen Fry of Eagles fame. I was still pissed.

These are the kinds of shenanigans and setbacks you’re bound to encounter on-island, which is why it’s best to remember that life moves differently in Hawai’i.  While you may be pressed for time, and have spent a lot of time and money making it to the islands with all your liquids in one plastic bag, there are lots of people living their dreams here, which includes stopping traffic for a minute to catch up with a friend.

If you’re visiting Honolulu, you may find traffic jams. If you’re on the “road to Hana,” you may find yourself behind a line of slow tour busses a mile long. If you’re anywhere, you’ll find  expensive gas, but the news isn’t all bad.

1. Find cheap gas before you go.  It’s not always the most expensive gas in the country, either. For a while, California had higher gas prices.
2. Plan carefully:  Buy a good guidebook with maps and make notes on your excursions beforehand.
3. Combine driving trips with public transportation:  Drive to one central location and take a bus or ferry to other destinations.
4. Do your road-intensive sightseeing early: Not only will you have more energy to enjoy the sights, you’re more likely to miss heavy traffic times after shift workers take to the roads.
5. Remember, you’re on vacation:  Don’t try and do too much; rather enjoy the things you are able to do more deeply by staying in the moment.
6. And if you see Glen Fry:  Tell him I said hello. Then, drive away. There are people behind you trying to get to Tunnels.

Photo by Flickr –Creative Commons, by erichrichardson

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler

In an attempt to alleviate some of the pain associated with the lack of rail-based public transportation on Oahu, the city and county of Honolulu launched TheBus in the ’70s. It has since become the 20^th most utilized transit system in the country and the 13^th most utilized bus fleet.

A ferry linked to TheBus began service in September 2007 known as TheBoat. Fare for TheBoat is $2.00, and it runs from Barber’s Point to Aloha Tower Marketplace daily. (Check often for cancellations.)  It is hoped that linking to TheBus and delivering commuters from Leeward to Honolulu will change some of the dynamics between commuters, tourists, and part-time residents.

A light rail system in Honolulu is currently in its design phase.

Photo by –Creative Commons, by Skyseeker

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler

While I’m not sure whether or not that’s still a rule that’s even still applicable to today’s wardrobe, the longer answer is: Even if it were a hard-and-fast fashion rule, nobody will care what you’re wearing.  And also: Don’t wear it if you want to bring it home as white and bright as when you brought it.  The red and black sands, as well as the reddish mud and dirt that seems to cover most surfaces on the islands, are bound to stain your nice, bright whites.  If that doesn’t bother you, have at it with your whites the day after Labor Day and beyond. As a general rule, if there is a place on earth that couldn’t care less about fashion faux pas, it’s the Hawaiian Islands.

Sandals with socks, however, are still OUT!

And now, a message about cool things to do in Hawai’i on Labor Day, whatever color you’re wearing:

The 37th Annual Queen Lili’uokalani 2008
World’s Largest Long Distance Canoe Races

Held each year on Oahu during Labor Day Weekend, the fun includes a torchlight parade and dance on Saturday night, and an awards luau on Sunday.

Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by midiman

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler

But really, summer is actually a great time to visit, and the crowds are not as big.  You may even find yourself with a little extra time there due to summer break school closures.  This does, of course, leave you with a dilemma if part of your plan is to escape the winter weather during your trip. But Hawaii’s remarkably high hotel occupancies trend downward after the January to March rush, and the weather is basically the same year-round.   And one more advantage Hawai’i has over the Caribbean: it doesn’t get the hurricanes to the same degree or frequency.

With summer winding down right now, it may just be the perfect time to plan your summer getaway to Hawai’i–for next year.   Happy planning!

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler

The last time we were at Mauna Kea beach on the Big Island, the red flags were up, indicating rough conditions. We had our boogie boards with us, and as a lifeguard came out of the water, he warned us, “Be careful out there. People get their necks snapped on days like today.”  It sounds harsh, but he knew what a lot of people don’t: That sharks may make the headlines, but drownings claim far more lives.

Although the state of Hawai’i is serious about their lifeguards, most drownings occur at beaches where there aren’t any.  

The City and County of Honolulu has a staff of 200 professional lifeguards (the largest in the nation) and so to educate people about ocean safety, and how that beautiful blue ocean is to be respected as much as it’s to be admired, the state has launched several websites, including Hawaii Beach Hazard Forecast. Kaua’i keeps its own excellent beach and surf conditions Web site, with daily updates from lifeguards around the island.

Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by Unobtanium 

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler

In the interests of freedom of choice, I’d like to introduce some small, public carriers that provide inter-island flights.

Mokulele Airlines is a small, public carrier that provides inter-island flights. Operated by Go! and Go! Express, and Charter Services, Mokulele’s fleet includes small crafts, twin-engine Piper Chieftains to be exact, each seating nine passengers.  Mokulele will deliver you any of the six islands, and depending on flight patterns and weather, will take you over some scenery that people would pay big bucks for. The last time we took Mokulele, we got a premium view of the Hana Highway.

Pacific Wings operate operate a discount airline called PW Express with daily nonstop flights between Honolulu and Molokai and Lanai, plus flights from Kahului, Maui, and Molokai.  Cal  888/866-5022 or 808/873-0877 for more information.

Island Air’s motto “we do Hawai’i best because Hawai’i is all we do.”   Island Air services all six islands, with  service to both Kona and Hilo (Big Island), and  Kahalue and  Kapalua (Maui).  Note that the flight schedule changes in mid-September.

The important thing to remember with these smaller airlines is that luggage space is limited, and that in most cases, the gates are away from the main terminals.   We’ve always experienced excellent service with these smaller airlines, and would use them without hesitation. We’re sold on these types of carriers for inter-island travel, and wonder if you’ve had recent experiences you’d like to share.  To weigh in with your thoughts, just use the comments or email me anytime.

Photo by Flickr–Creative Commons, by johntrainor.

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler

Please don’t pet the coral

If you’ve read anything about coral and coral reefs, it’s obvious that their conservation is key to the overall health of our oceans and the planet.  As someone who grew up in a desert environment, it’s strange to consider that something that looks so much like big shelves of rock are actually a living organism.It’s not furry or adorable, and there’s no YouTube video of a coral polyp reuniting with its rescuers. And yet coral is one of the most interesting living things in existence.  Get to know your coral before visiting the islands, and get on board with the rest of humanity’s fascination with those families of stony entities that create whole underwater universes.  But don’t touch! Coral may appear durable, but it’s very fragile.  And it can hurt you, too.

By the way, if you do accidentally come in contact with coral, you can find yourself with a nasty gouge in your skin, both because corals can be very sharp, and may leave proteins and other irritating substances under the skin.  Take care of the wound promptly by scrubbing it and applying Bacitracin or similar application.  If the infection spreads, see a doctor for more aggressive treatment, perhaps with antibiotics.

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler