I saw all these little gems in one Big Island tide pool the size of a cereal bowl; it was carved into a huge slab of lava near Pu’uhonua o Honaunau. (Or, if you get tongue tied with all those syllables, just call it the Place of Refuge.)

The lava is what makes the Big Island a paradise for people like me, people who find the divine in the details. And, because the lava rock provides a nice habitat for fish and there’s little sand to obscure the view, it’s also a snorkeling picnic for those who actually like to get in and go deep. In fact, Rodale’s Scuba Diving Magazine rated the Big Island as one of the top three destinations for Best Snorkeling, and Best Visibility. Take that, Carribean!

I saw similar, small sites at the breathtaking Ke-awa-iki Beach, in some of the rocks jutting up out of the salt-and-pepper sand. I could really take my time there, without interruption, mostly because we were the only two people on the entire beach, which is probably because of the 15-minute walk through a very inhospitable lava field, next to an even more inhospitable barbed wire fence. At the southern edge of the bay were the most impressive collection of tide pools ever. You’ll find them in the older, smoother lava, although the incoming tide might be the thing that eventually runs you off.

The snorkeling here is famed to be good when the water is calm, however there is never a lifeguard on duty, and because it’s the least known beach on the island, poses the greatest danger to swimmers during high surf.

The next time you find yourself with some time and your reef shoes, stop on the rocks and look down–and closely. You’re bound to find a little sea within a sea. Tread lightly and prosper!

Photo by Webshots–rickreh

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler

For starters, the average cross-country commercial flight burns about 100 gallons of fossil fuel and creates nearly 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per passenger, according to Expedia Travel Trendwatch.

To help offset that kind of an ecological impact, you may want to buy carbon credits when purchasing your tickets. Technically, carbon credits provide a means for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by way of assigning them a monetary value. Buying credits from airlines or travel sites when you buy your tickets gives you the chance to finance green activism for the price of about five bucks per flight. Those dollars go to enterprises such as Native Energy, Carbon Fund, or TerraPass, which invest in and finance green projects such as wind farms and solar energy.

by © marcinkamil

How Else Can I Tread Lightly?

• Observe all laws for protecting marine and land wildlife, particularly endangered species. When the monk seals are sunbathing, take pictures using your zoom lens. It is illegal to touch the turtles, even if they practically swim into you. (They won’t, by the way, as a creature with a hundred years of experience in the water knows how to swim better than you do.)
• Leave coral and sea creatures untouched and undisturbed. Yes, even at Tunnels Beach on Kauai, where the coral reef practically begs you to walk across the top to take a peek into tide pools where you’ll find some of the most memorable sea cucumbers ever. To get a good look at undersea life, grab your snorkel, mask, and fins, and get a real eye-full.
• Wear UV protective clothing in the water, such as rash-guard tee shirts, to reduce the amount of sunscreen in the rivers and ocean. (You’ll save money, too.)
• Plan road excursions carefully to minimize backtracking and unnecessary miles in your car. Ask for a map with your rental car, or invest in a book with detailed maps and directions to your desired on-island destinations.
• Ask about renting a fuel-efficient or hybrid vehicle. Anywhere you’ll want to go will be accessible in an economy car; a smaller vehicle with good gas mileage will not only save the atmosphere, it’ll save you money on gas, which is expensive on the islands.
• Turn everything off before leaving your accommodations for the day. The geckos can hunt bugs in the dark.
• Use your hotel towels and linens more than once.
• Hawai’i isn’t known for its public transportation, but some tours and hotels will take groups to popular destinations, thus also taking care of parking shortages, fees, and the hassle of trying to find things yourself.
• Learn about and look for “green” accommodations, wherever you go.

As one of the greenest places there is, it’s easy to lose yourself in the wonder of the place that Mark Twain called “The loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean.” However, if you pack common sense and mindfulness along with the rest of your things, you and your family will remain in good stead to enjoy Hawai’i for ages to come.

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler

Understanding that our backyard rooster was there first, and that we were leaving our unit to head down the cliffs to Hideaways Beach anyway, we embraced the aloha spirit and left our feathery friend to the rest of his outdoor performance.

by © janruss316

What’s With All the Chickens, Anyway?
There have been wild chickens on Kauai for ages, but the population spiked after hurricane Iniki is rumored to have freed a chicken farm, reintroducing them into the wild, and leaving them to live long and prosper. In fact, feral chickens live on all the Hawaiian Islands, but Kaua’i is the only major island without a mongoose population, which is what keeps the chickens in check everywhere else.

Since these feathery natives have been habituated to human contact for so long, they are quite bold and unafraid to say hello. While I was in the water one morning, admiring Bali Hai, a mother with several of her chicks commandeered my entire beach blanket, and weren’t too keen on relinquishing it once I’d returned to touch up my sunscreen.

Without being too intrusive, you will see them everywhere, including the beaches and water falls, and will make for a unique addition to your memories of Hawai’i’s Garden Isle that demonstrates this destination’s rural beauty and playful personality. And when your friends and family ask you what you thought of an island that is also home to some of the Earth’s rarest species, you can say, “Tastes like chicken.”

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler

Ka’anapali has been crowned America’s Best Beach, and I’m in full agreement. It’s not so crowded that a couple can’t share a romantic moment alone, and not so isolated that swimming is a dangerous proposition. It’s where old school meets new school, where the old Whaler condominiums live in harmony down the way from the newer Westin Resort and Spa. There’s a concrete sidewalk for strolling that runs almost the entire three-mile stretch from the Sheraton (Black Rock) to the Hyatt (Canoe Beach), and it’s a spectacular place to be at sunset.

It’s not hard here, on one of Maui’s most renowned and relished beachfronts, to get along. In fact, the aloha spirit is everywhere: There’s music in the air, dinner cruises plying the waters, kayaks and outriggers riding the surf, shopping kiosks along the path, delicious restaurants, couples holding hands, and, if you’re lucky, whales breaching within eyeshot.

If Whaler’s Village is the place to shop, Black Rock is the place to snorkel. That’s where I heard whales singing when I dove down to get a gander at some urchins at the bottom. The north end of the beach in general is a lovely stretch of sand and clear water that is especially kid-friendly.

Yes, it’s on the commercial side, and it’s not advised to leave your stuff unattended while you swim. It is patrolled by lifeguards, but not well, and it’s a good idea to heed the signs and warnings at high surf. (I’ve seen a few comical and not-so-comical tourist poundings there.) It’s also where the groceries stores will put the hurt on you, so it’s a good idea to grab your milk before or after entering West Maui.

Also, one other warning: Hawai’ians believed that Black Rock was the jumping off point for spirits joining their ancestors. Those who got lost on the way remained along the lava as ghosts, causing mischief and making trouble. So if you go, take your pictures home, but not the rocks. Your fellow plane travelers will say mahalo for it.

Post from: The Hawaii Traveler