The Hawaii Traveler

Hotel Hana Maui, Hana’s most exclusive and chi-chi resort and spa, must be feeling the pinch of certain trends in tourism and economics, because their latest fall special is pretty, well, special.
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.

Comments Off

A beach in Hana
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 …read more

Comments Off

If you’ve read or heard anything about the culinary customs of old Hawai’i, you’ve no doubt heard about poi.
What it is:
Poi is a starch made from taro root, breadfruit, or sweet potato that has been cooked, pounded into a paste, and fermented.  It’s usually eaten with the fingers, and should accompany some other serving, such as meat.
Poi was used in the old days as a way to make more palatable meats cured and preserved with salt in the absence of refrigeration.  Today it’s used as a thickener for Hawaiian foods, such as soups, stews, and sauces.
The food poi is sometimes …read more

1 Comment

Mary Jo over at Flyaway Cafe and The Seattle Traveler posted recently a bit about “nakations,” or, vacations one can enjoy in the nude.
Although Hawai’i isn’t known for its nude beaches, the thing that is most likely to designate one beach or another as such is its inaccessibility.
Red Sand Beach in Hana, or Kaihalulu Beach, is most definitely clothing optional–if it isn’t, all the naked people I’ve seen there never got the memo.  It’s a stunning beach, with red sand and sparkling blue waters. The contrast is more of a draw than the other bodies there, in my opinion. It’s …read more

Comments Off

Traveling with children to any destination can be tricky business. However, thousands of families successfully make their way to the islands–Oahu and Maui in particular–and leave with a lifetime of treasured memories. In fact, I began visiting the islands at the age of two with my parents, and carried on the tradition by taking our little keiki (child) with us to Maui at the same age. A good time was had by all.
Oahu isn’t the most visited island for nothing. With Honolulu’s big-city amenities, big historical exhibits, and big beaches, it’s the island that’s got it …read more

Comments Off