Following Links to Hawaii

I've often used the Net for planning my personal and business trips. Trips to Australia, Hawaii, Seattle and Las Vegas, to name a few, are a cinch to plan on the Net... If you know how to go about it. The main problem with the Internet these days is that people often are overwhelmed by information overload.

Many destinations have many sites covering details on vacationing there and Hawaii is no exception. In fact, Hawaii, as a travel destination, is covered by numerous websites covering everything from activities to mountain biking, and snorkeling to luaus. So many sites and so little time.

Thought there are many activities, hotels and ways to get to Hawaii, they are limited and after a while you'll discover that many sites on the various topics cover the same ground. This is both good and bad: Good, in that you have numerous choices to choose from for look and feel and price. Let's face it, some sites are easier to navigate than others, while some also have better privacy statements and ease of contact. Also, competition generally keeps prices lower. The bad: Well, there's just so many choices and one can easily become overwhelmed.

My suggestion here is not to try and visit every Hawaii travel website on the planet, but to check out a few and stick with those you feel at ease with regarding navigation, product, pricing and privacy. There are many excellent Hawaii travel sites out there, so the first thing to do is to target how you want to get there, where you want to stay and what you actually plan to do once you are there. If you're like most visitors to the Islands these days, you'll arrive by air.

If you have frequent flyer accounts, you'll likely choose one of those airlines, otherwise, leave this open until you have completed some rudimentary pricing. The quickest, but not always the cheapest, is to book a non-stop flight. Cruises from the Mainland are available, but are quite expensive and are generally round trip, round-island cruises, with little time actually on the Islands.

Read the full Hawaii article by Dave Davis.

Finding The Best Oahu Activities Discounts

Are you a "coupon-cutter"? Well, if you're looking to find some Oahu activities discounts on your Hawaii vacation, you'll do well in Waikiki!

There are lots of discounts and coupons on Oahu attractions to be found, Waikiki coupons are good for discounts on Polynesian shows, sunset cruises, Hawaiian luaus, dolphin shows, zoo and aquarium, and submarine rides, just to name a few.

Usually what we do is just take an hour or two at the start of our Waikiki holiday and stroll down some of the main Waikiki avenues (Kuhio Ave, Kalakaua Ave and Lewers St. are 3 of our favorites). In vending boxes and dispensers, you'll find all kinds of Oahu attractions booklets and guides.

Then, it's help yourself time! It's easy to load up on meal discounts, 2-for-1 Mai Tai offers, guided tour deals, and so on.

Another good place to find Oahu attraction discount coupons and offers is in the Honolulu newpapers, like the Star Bulletin (especially on weekends).

Here's a look at some of the popular publications that are full of discounts and coupons on Oahu attractions, shows, tours and restaurants:

See the full Oahu article by Greg Mattson.

The Temple on the Hill of the Whale

Pu'ukohola Heiau, located on the northwestern coast of the Island of Hawaii, represents one of the last major sacred structures built in Hawaii before traditional life was forever changed by outside influences.

Kamehameha constructed the temple in 1790-1791, he had been successful in conquering Maui, Lanai and Molokai. At this time he had not yet claimed full possession to his home island of Hawaii. His cousin Keoua Kuahu'ula remained his chief rival. While Kamehameha was on Molokai he learned that his cousin was invading his territory on the Island of Hawaii. His aunt was sent to consult the prophet Kapoukahi, for guidance as what could be done to overcome Kamehameha's rival, Kuahu'ula, the prophet told her that Kamehameha would conquer all of the islands if he built a heiau dedicated to the family war god, Kuka'ilimoku atop Pu'ukohola, at Kawaihae.

According to the prophecy, rigid guidelines in the construction of the temple needed to be employed to please Ku, the war god. Kapoukahi served as the royal architect to ensure the guidelines were followed to perfection. For nearly a year Kamehameha toiled alongside thousands of men as they worked on the huge stone structure. The heiau was to be built of water-worn lava rock, it is believed the stones were transported from the seaside valley of Pololu. A human chain, of about 20 miles long was formed and the rocks were transported hand to hand to the top of Pu'ukohola.

When other rival chiefs learned of the ongoing construction, they decided to attack Kamehameha while his warriors were occupied building the temple. The invasion could be successful in either of two ways: it would eliminate Kamehameha and the threat of his army to rival chiefs, or interfere with the specific rituals required to build the temple, displeasing the god Ku. The chiefs of Maui, Lanai, and Molokai reconquered their islands then joined forces with the chiefs of Kauai and Oahu. They sailed to attack Kamehameha, who in turn counterattacked, routed the invading armies and resumed work on the temple.

The heiau was completed during the summer of 1791. Kamehameha invited his cousin Keoua Kuahu'ula to the dedication ceremonies. Kuahu'ula knew he would be facing is demise, yet came willingly. There was a scuffle when Keoua arrived, he was slain with almost all of his companions. The body of Keoua was carried up to the top of the temple and offered as a sacrifice to Ku.

Read the full Hawaii article by Gayle Olson.

What is the Weather Really Like in Hawaii?

Yes, it is usually pretty balmy here in Hawaii, but are you prepared for all of the different weather that you will find in the islands?

The weather can vary greatly within a few miles. For instance, Mount Waialeale on Kauai is the wettest spot on earth with over 460 inches of rain a year (in 1982 it actually rained 666 inches!) However, just a few miles away is a desert that receives less than 10 inches of rain per year. So as you can see the weather varies quite a lot just on one island.

Hawaii weather is greatly influenced by the trade winds that generally blow at speeds of 10-20 MPH. Sometimes the winds will be light to non-existent and sometimes they will blow much stronger--into the 30 MPH range.

The trade winds have a welcome cooling effect. Even though it may be 85 degrees with 80% humidity, the trade winds make it feel much more comfortable.

The opposite wind is called the kona wind. The kona winds tend to bring hot, humid weather, and sometimes rain. The kona winds are not as prevalent as the trade winds. (Don't confuse kona winds with Kona side of the Big Island which tends to be hot and dry.)

Hawaii has semi-tropical weather. Temperatures usually range from 75-90 degrees year round in the daytime, and 70-80 degrees at night. Temperatures in the winter months may be a little cooler, where nighttime temperatures can sometimes fall into the 50's. (It feels much cooler than that with a 20 MPH trade wind blowing.)

Read the full Hawaii article by Brad P.

Your Hawaii Vacation – Five Islands, Infinite Variety

Hawaiian vacation packages give you more flexibility than any other type of tropical beach vacation around. With five islands to choose from, each with its own distinct personality and amenities, you can plan a Hawaiian vacation that suits you perfectly no matter what you’re looking for.

And with no worries about passports, exchange rates or import taxes on souvenirs, it’s a surprisingly cheap way to get to experience the tropics without ever leaving the country.

There are several ways to afford Hawaii on a budget so that you can enjoy anything from a few days to a month or two in paradise. If you’re looking for the ease of staying in a hotel, look into several levels of accommodations. Hawaii has everything from the most luxurious five-star resorts to relatively cheap hotels that offer the basics of a good, clean, air conditioned room and adjacent restaurant and everything in between.

It’s entirely up to you how you want to travel – if you’re only interested in using your hotel as a base for sleeping, you can find some great deals on chain hotels that are safe and consistent that offer great packages. If you prefer a bit of pampering, look into some of the finer resorts’ special deals for couples, families and themed trips that can save you money, especially when bundled with activities like day sailing excursions and fishing trips.

For beach vacations in Hawaii, you should also consider condo rentals. For families traveling together, these are a great money-saving option, especially if you have a large family. You can get great deals on condos when you rent with an eye toward using roll-away beds or fold-out couches for the kids and prepare some of your meals yourself. If you plan on spending a lot of time soaking up the sun, a beach-front condo is an excellent choice.

Read the full Hawaii article by Lori Wilkerson.

Why Take a Hawaii Cruise?

Experiencing a Hawaii cruise is a dream come true for many people around the world. Very few travel adventures can live up to the thrill of sailing out into the depths of the Pacific Ocean on a luxury cruise liner in search of a paradise that is Hawaii and her neighboring islands. And what a paradise it is too!

Golden sunsets, sun-drenched sands and palm trees swaying in the warm gentle breeze await all who take a Hawaiian cruise. Is there anything on Earth that could rival sipping your favorite poison while watching the sun dip down below a watery horizon - all to the gentle sound of wavelets breaking on the golden sands of Hawaii? For many, this is paradise found!

For U.S. and Canadian citizens, Hawaii cruises depart from numerous seaports along the west coast of North America. Vancouver, Seattle and San Diego are the main ports of departure to Hawaii, although several of the other ports up and down the coastline offer cruise services to Hawaii too.

Hawaii cruise vacations normally comprise of a round-trip of 15-18 days and take in Hawaii and one or two ports on the other islands in the group. One-way cruises can also be booked where passengers opt to fly back home from Hawaii. Many companies also offer extended Hawaii cruise vacations of 25-30 days or more. These extended cruises are an excellent choice for those wishing to experience a more intense adventure in Hawaii and also for those who would like the opportunity to spend some time on the other islands of Maui, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai.

Read the full Hawaii cruise article by John Metcalfe.

Traveling To and Around Hawaii, A First-Time Visitor's Primer

Six different islands in Hawaii are open to tourism. Most first-timers planning a trip to one or more than one island have numerous questions relating to where exactly to go and how exactly to get there. This primer will answer those questions.

All interisland flights are through Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha Airlines, or Island Air. Best prices will usually be through the website or through your mainland flight company.

Oahu is the hub of Hawaii transportation. Most mainland and International flights will fly into the Honolulu International Airport (HNL). Travelers heading on to another island may have to deplane and get on an interisland flight to reach their final destination. The airport is located on the outskirts of Honolulu, about a 20 minute drive to Waikiki, and about a 45 minute drive to the North Shore. There are no ferries from Oahu to any other island.

Maui has three airports. The major airport is Kahalui Airport (OGG) which allows direct flights from the West coast of the U.S. mainland. The drive from the airport to Kihei or Wailea is less than half an hour, but can take an hour to Lahaina or Kaanapali. Much closer to the Lahaina area is Kapalua Airport (JHM) but you can only fly there from Honolulu. Hana (HNM) also has an airport if you don't want to drive, but you'll be taking a very small plane. Check with Pacific Wings. You can normally find day ferries from Maui to Lanai and Molokai.

Read the full Hawaii travel article by Lisa Weber.