The Hawaii Traveler

Here at The Hawai’i Traveler, we primarily talk about the eight main Hawaiian islands of interest to tourists and armchair travelers, but thinking outside the box brings us, strangely, to a triangle–The Polynesian Triangle, that is.
Hawai’i is actually comprised of a chain of 137 islands, islets, and shoals. Only seven of these islands are inhabited year round and four are the main attractions: The Big Island, O’ahu, Maui, and Kaua’i.
At first glance, Hawai’i is a lot like a little piece of Americana wrapped in ti leaves and served with poi. The atmosphere is unlike what most of us travelers …read more

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Best beach for keeping up with the Joneses (whoever they are) and maintaining your hip, in-the-know image: (That’s a no-brainer) Waikiki Beach on Oahu.
Best hike across what looks like a moonscape before finding yourself on a deserted black and white beach with a terrific array of tidepools:   Kiholo Bay  on the Northwest side of the Big Island.
Best beach for swimming with turtles and the occasional school of spinner dolphins: Tunnels Beach on Kauai.
Best giant-sized bathtub: Queen’s Bath on Kauai. (Pictured)
Best beach that requires four-wheeling first:  Mo’omomi Beach on Molokai. (Visit during the summer months for best results.)
Best beach that’s totally …read more

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If you haven’t heard the term “babymooning,” you may know it as the “last hurrah.” Whatever you call it, it’s the rejuvenating trip expecting couples take before the arrival of what is sure to dramatically change the family travel plans for good. Babymoonfinder.com lists resorts and vacation plans that cater to the babymooner, but there’s no harm in winging it.
We took our last hurrah to Kaua’i during my second trimester, where we made some mistakes, such as trying to do too much, and got some things right, like eating at the Noodle House every day …read more

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BIG ISLAND
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF THE PACIFIC
Hilo’s annual celebration of all things Hawaiian. For more information call the Japanese Chamber of Commerce at (808) 934-0177.
KAUA’I
GARDEN ISLAND ORCHID SHOW
An orchid show of hundreds of varieties for those who want to buy, or those who want to learn about orchid culture or cultivating them. In Lihue at Vidinha Stadium. For more information call (808) 742-0333.
MAUI
WHALERS VILLAGE MAUI ONION FESTIVAL
Enjoy the fun and the food based on this world-famous vegetable. Activities include cooking demos and an onion eating contest. Includes farmer’s market and music. At Whalers Village in the Kaanapali Resort. For more …read more

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This week, and in some cases until the end of the month of July, Play Golf America and the National Golf Course Owners Association are giving girls the chance to golf at six Kaua’i courses for free, when accompanied by a paying adult.
The initiative is part of “Take Your Daughter to the Course Week,” and includes free play, and in some cases, free clinics and instruction with a PGA pro.  Take Your Daughter to the Course is happening at the following locations:

Princeville’s Makai Course and Prince Course
Kaua’i Lagoons Golf Club 
Kiahuna Golf Club
Puakea Golf Course
Poipu Bay Golf Course

Fore!

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For decades, the only way to travel among the islands was by air. But with the closure of Aloha Airlines, and the skyrocketing costs of jet travel due to the oil crisis, having to take a flight left an estimated 1.3 million residents and tens of thousands of tourists with interisland designs high and dry.
And then in 2007, Hawaii Superferry Inc. began running the first passenger-vehicle ferry service between the Hawaiian Islands; however, protesters in Nawiliwili Harbor on Kaua’i suspended operations last August.
Today, however, Hawaii Superferry offers daily inter-island ferry service between Honolulu, Oahu and Kahului, Maui, with plans …read more

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If you know the social networking site Twitter, you know how easy it is to make new friends. (Come on over and make friends with me at Twitter or FriendFeed to join in the fun.) One of those new friends, who goes by the moniker LaMama Naturale over at her blog Recycle Your Day, is going to Kaua’i soon; it’ll be her first time to the islands, and her little one’s first-ever plane ride.As you can tell by the title, Recycle Your Day is a site that’s dedicated to green living, and in the post Save Kauai, LaMama addresses an …read more

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From the environmental files: did you know that Hawai’i is the Endangered Species Capital of the World?According to the Hawaii Biological Survey, there are more endangered species per square mile on these islands than any other place on the planet. On the list of endangered living things are:

Nearly 300 taxa of plants
The O’ahu tree snail
The Monk Seal
The Green Sea Turtle (honu)
30 species of bird including the Hawaiian ‘Akepa, the Hawaiian Duck, and Hawaiin Goose (nene)
And many more.

There are heavy, heavy fines for tangling with endangered species of any kind, which begs the question, “What can I tangle with?” …read more

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If you’ve ever heard of the hiking along the Napali Coast, you probably already know its reputation for being the most scenic, epic walk on the islands.
Here’s a b5 media wrap-up tribute to walking everywhere. Get your proverbial passport and let’s go.

Filipina Soul tells you how to Walk Old Manila At Your Leisure
Walk Bondi to Bronte over at the Sydney Traveler
Getting places on foot is one of the reasons why The Europe String names Amsterdam one of the top 5 budget traveler’s havens.

A Hearty Life journal entry includes walking as a part of Kendra’s overall health plan.

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Yesterday’s test was a random sampling of five facts that you may or may not have known about Hawai’i. How well did you do? Here we go:
Q: Which Hawaiian island is the one least visited by tourists?
A: Did you read Monday’s post, Mystery Island? If you did, you were ahead of the game, since the answer is Ni’ihau, “the forbidden island.”
Q: What is the computer operating system of choice among Hawaiian residents?
A: According to some guy @ Twitter, more Hawaii folks use Macs than any other operating system. Go figure.
Q: How many campuses are there in the …read more

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