Sunday, January 30, 2011

Cherry Blossom Festival in Hawaii

A Komo Mai 'Best Hawaii Vacation blog' visitors,
As all of you know monthly events are plentiful in Hawaii. Hawaii visitors to the Kohala Coast on the Big Island have to choose from a lot of events in the Kohala Coast event calendar for February. Admitted, February events are not the big national events like the Big Island Triathlon in Kona or the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo. However, there are lots of local area events in Hawaii, which came to life through their residents and their different cultural background and traditions.

One of those traditions is the Cherry blossom festival in Hawaii. Honolulu's Cherry Blossom Festival has a long tradition and offers lots of events for Hawaii visitors and residents alike all the way through February and March as long as the cherry blossoms are blooming.

And yes they are blooming not just in Honolulu but also in upcountry Waimea on the Big Island. Each year an abundance of cherry tree blossoms are blooming in Church Row attracting with their beauitiful pink colors and wonderful scent. The Japanese residents of Waimea and Big Islanders from all over will come to Waimea to celebrate the blossoming of the cherry trees on Church Row Park, just east of KTA shopping center on Saturday, the 5th of Februray.

The tradition of flower viewing of cherry trees has it roots in Japanese culture, but has become a tradition across the U.S. to celebrate the unofficial arrival of spring. There is even a National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. to commemorate the gift of cherry trees from Japan in 1912.

Those planning to attend the Waimea Cherry Blossom Festival will be able to view a Japanese bon dance, taiko drumming and Cherry blossom art. Waimea also has two very extensive Farmers markets providing fruits, veggies and prepared foods for those with a hearty appetite. This year's event pays tribute to master lei and kapa maker Marie McDonald, and Milton Yamasaki.

During the 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. festival, a host of activities will take place from the Parker Ranch Historic Homes on Mamalahoa Hwy. 190 to the Hawaiian Homestead Farmer's Market on Hwy. 19. Enjoy Japanese and multi-cultural performing arts, plus demonstrations of bonsai, origami, tea ceremony and mochi pounding and a wonderful craft fair.

Hope you can make it to the Cherry Blossom in Honolulu or Waimea. If you do, let us know what you liked best at this year's Cherry Blossom Festival in Hawaii. Photos of the cherry blossom trees in Hawaii are most welcome too. Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

How to Move to Hawaii with your Pets

Best wishes for the New 2011 Year to all of our Best Hawaii Vacation blog visitors! May all your dreams, like moving to Hawaii for good, come true!

The 2011 Hawaii real estate market is still a great buyer's market with great prices, far below the 2005 high, so thoughts of moving to Hawaii can become a reality instead of being a dream. A big part of 'Moving to Hawaii' plans has been and still is for many families the question 'How to move the pets to Hawaii?' Generally, moving pets to Hawaii has become so much easier in recent years with the 5-day or less program. Erick from Royal Hawaiian Movers joins us today with his guest author article about:

How to move to Hawaii with your pets

"Moving to Hawaii can be a rewarding experience, but transporting all of your belongings from the mainland to the Aloha State can leave you with a bit of a headache, especially when you have to consider all the restrictions and special sanctions that apply to certain things you might want to ship… like your pets. If you have dogs, cats or other animals that you wish to take with you when you make the move, it’s a good idea to read up on the current restrictions by the State of Hawaii that apply to shipping pets to Hawaii. Here’s some of the basic info you need to know.

Hawaii’s Animal Quarantine

Hawaii has a special animal quarantine program that was put in place in 1912 to prevent the entry of rabies into the state of Hawaii. Historically, Hawaii has always been a rabies-free state, having had no indigenous cases of the disease. In an effort to maintain this status, the state’s Department of Agriculture instituted an animal quarantine that applies to dogs, cats and all other carnivores that could potentially carry the disease.

The quarantine requires that all animals to which it applies be properly inspected and qualified before entering Hawaii. Pets can be released directly from the airport if the owner follows the required procedures before the pet’s arrival. If not, the procedures must be done before the pet may be released. It usually takes about four months to test and qualify an adult pet, as various vaccinations and inspections are needed. Qualifying a newborn kitten or puppy for Hawaii’s quarantine program can take 10 months or more.

Exceptions

If you’re moving from the continental United States to Hawaii, the quarantine applies to your pets. The only exceptions that are made are for animals that come from other rabies-free areas of the world or from places where rabies prevention and control protocols are as strict as or stricter than Hawaii’s protocols. "

Mahalo again Erick for your input on the pet quarantine program. We hope that everybody who wants to know how to move with pets to Hawaii found some valuable information in our 'Moving pets to Hawaii' post. Even though moving your pets to Hawaii has become so much easier on the pets and the pet owners, it still takes a lot of filling out the right paperwork, following the correct procedures and paying the necessary fees, when you want to take advantage of the 5-day or pick up at the airport program.

Moving to Hawaii is a huge step by itself, so maybe you want to get some help from a company who is familiar with the necessary steps to move your pets. It can't hurt to contact a pet relocation service like AKonaPet, which I found in preparation for this post.

Your comments about how you moved to Hawaii with your pets are most welcome by us and our Hawaii blog visitors. Mahalo, Pua Hawaii Vacations

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Tuesday, December 14, 2010

5 Best Reasons for Christmas in Hawaii

Christmas in Hawaii ?

Have you ever wondered how you can really enjoy the Christmas holidays without all the Mainland christmas stress? All our Hawaii visitors who celebrate their snow free Christmas in Hawaii will tell you "How". Book a vacation in Hawaii for the Holidays, most favorably including Christmas Day and New Years.

Keoki and I had great fun putting our '5 Best reasons for a Christmas in Hawaii' together for our 'Best Hawaii Vacation' visitors:

1. Escape to warm sunny Hawaii

Actually, Keoki recommended to make that reason the top 3 reasons, which is probably true. Escaping snow, icy roads bundling up in tons of layers of clothes is definitely in everybody's mind when making their reservation for Christmas in Hawaii.

Christmas in Hawaii
2. Escape the Mainland Christmas Shopping Mania

Each year it seems that Christmas arrives earlier at the markets and stores with Christmas decorations showing up at early as October and "Silent Night" being played for hours, days and weeks. Christmas shopping for yourselves and family can be really fun in Hawaii. Hawaii gift stores are very happy to mail Christmas presents to your friends and family.

3. Escape long lines at your local Post Office

Christmas in Hawaii saves you from standing in long lines at the local post office, not to mention gift wrapping and packing Christmas packages. As said before, gifts from Hawaii are always welcome by family and friends whether it's Kona coffee, Big Island Macademia Nuts, Hawaiian shirts or Keoki's 'Hawaii Easy Stretch DVD' or other Hawaii goodies. All those can be easily shipped by the Hawaii company right to your family and friends.

4. Trade the Snow Shovel for a Boggie Board and a dip in the warm Hawaiian Ocean

Imagine yourself walking barefoot on a warm white sand beach, or floating in turquoise blue warm water of the Pacific on Christmas Day instead of slipping and slidding down the road with your car on your way to family or friends on Chistmas Day. Christmas Vacation in Hawaii? Priceless!

5. Have a Healthy Holiday in Hawaii.

No need to go to the gym for your tough workouts on the mainland. Beach walks, swimming, boogie boarding, kayaking, and body surfing will get you in the perfect shape during your Christmas Vacation in Hawaii. Have some extra money to spend? Try a relaxing massage at one of Hawaii's excellent spas. Serenity Now!

Last but not least, if we convinced you that a Christmas Vacation in Hawaii is just what you need to make your Christmas Holidays fun, low stress and healthy all at the same time, plan your Hawaii Christmas vacation far ahead to get the best rates for air fares, car rentals and vacation accommodation.

Mele Kalikimaka from Heidi and Keoki Hawaii Vacations

Mele Kalikimaka
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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

In love with Geckos in Hawaii

Dear Hawaii visitors,
E Komo Mai and Welcome back to our special world of fauna and flora in Hawaii. The magic word today is "Gecko".

Gecko in Hawaii
Long before the insurance company Geico adopted the gecko as its mascot, the Hawaiians knew the true value of their little friend. They shared their homes with the gecko, allowing it to roam at will, eating bugs or any other not welcome insects in the Hawaiian homes. The chirp, chirp of the gecko - mostly at night because geckos are nocturnals - was and is a reassuring sound, knowing the geckos were doing their job keeping the hale (Hawaiian for house, home) free of bugs.

Now,I know a lot of visitors come to the Hawaiian Islands not knowing about the benefits of the gecko and their first complaint is, "Hey there is a lizard in my room". Well, I say that's not a lizard, that's a friendly and non-threatening gecko.

Our geckos in Hawaii don't bite, in fact they don't really like you, just leave them alone and they will serenade you with their chirp, chirp chirp and keep your hale free of bugs. Of course you have to clean up some gecko poop once in a while. Little to pay to keep your tropical hale bug free.

If you have a gecko story about your encounter with the geckos in Hawaii, please, let us and our Hawaii visitors know. Mahalo and aloha, Keoki Hawaii Vacations

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Snowbirds are coming back to Hawaii

Dear Hawaii blog visitors,
What's up with today's blog title? At the beginning of each winter season, Hawaii residents and visitors are used to read and hear the excited statement 'The Humpback whales are coming back!'. Our article today is claiming that the 'Snowbirds are coming back!'

Oh well, everybody in Hawaii knows that 'Snowbirds in Hawaii' are not an endangered species of rare Hawaii animals but we call those visitors who come back to the warm Hawaiian Islands and the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean each winter 'Snowbirds'. All they are trying to do is escape the snow and the cold on the Mainland for at least a month or two. The very lucky ones who are retired and call a condo in Kihei Maui or a beach house in Hawaii their second home, might even spend the entire winter months in Hawaii.

Keiki hula in Hawaii for Snowbirds and everybody else
One thing is for certain, Hawaii business owners, whether owners of vacation rentals or restaurants, can't wait for the arrival of the 'Snowbirds' in Hawaii because winter season in Hawaii means big business for Hawaii tourism. Snowbirds are treated like royalties! If you are still planning a Hawaii vacation for this 2010/2011 winter season, be aware that the busiest Snowbird months in Hawaii are January and February when most of the Mainland states are in the firm grip of winter.

Snowbirds love Hawaii. For them, each time they come back to the Hawaiian Islands it's like coming home after a long absence. They reunite with other Snowbird friends, their Hawaiian friends and family from the Mainland. Hawaii's Snowbirds are definitely not on the endangered species list because each year more people fall in love with Hawaii and join the ranks of the Hawaiian Snowbirds.

If you are coming to Hawaii for the first time in winter, you might not even recognize you favorite summer beach anymore. Here is what happens. During the winter months, our Hawaii white sand beaches can lose half of its sand due to constant high tide and surf, which can make beaches more crowded than some of our visitors like. Not your cup of tea? Then travel to Hawaii in November, when the Snowbirds are not in Hawaii yet, or in April, when the Snowbirds have already left Hawaii.

Any Hawaii Snowbird story you want to share with our visitors? We'd love to hear from you. Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations
p.s.
Last but not least, we would like to make you aware of a great discussion at our friends blog 'Beat of Hawaii' about 'Does the Deal fuel your Hawaii Trip'. Read Hawaii visitors' comments carefully. You might find a deal for your Hawaii trip as well.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Is that the Lowest Hawaii Condo price?

Aloha and welcome to our Hawaii bargains!
Current Hawaii vacation rental bargains for this fall season 2010 are the lowest I've seen. Please, don't expect the same deals for the Hawaii holiday season and high season months January and February 2011, when everybody on the Mainland wants to get out of their winter misery for a Hawaii vacation in sunny warm Hawaii. If you want to visit Hawaii for the holidays, NOW is your last chance to find a nice Hawaii vacation home.

For many of you, Hawaii is not only of interest for a short vacation in the sun but the idea of having a Hawaii vacation escape at hand when needed is more than tempting. Those dreams have become a reality, especially with Hawaii condo prices at Kihei Maui condo resorts have having come down. However, a lot of the buyers are still waiting for the 'lowest Hawaii condo price' in the Hawaii Real Estate 'game' or consider even a condo 'short sale'.

Even though we are not Hawaii realtors, we like to write about Hawaii real estate because it's closely connected with 'Best Hawaii vacations'. And when we see a bargain, we love to share it with you. Here is a buying bargain for a Hawaii resort condo on the island of Molokai. The owner has just lowered the price by $30,000 to an impressive $189,000.

Hawaii Molokai Resort Condo for Sale!

Stunning Ocean Views from Molokai CondoIf you want to know more about this Molokai resort condo, go visit my post 'Hawaii Condo for Sale' from 2009 for more information and photos of the condo. Question everybody searching for a Hawaii condo for sale deal has to ask and answer himself "Is that the lowest Hawaii condo price for a resort condo will go?"

If you are interested in this Hawaii condo in Molokai, please, email us with subject line ' Hawaii condo for Sale' and we will connect you with the condo owner. Aloha, Pua, Hawaii Vacations

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Monday, October 11, 2010

Best Time to visit Hawaii Fall bargains 2010

Dear Best Hawaii Vacation blog visitors,
You couldn't make use of our '5 Best Tips for the Kona Big Island Ironman', oh well such is life but I tell you what, fall season is just starting and as posted before, fall season in Hawaii is one of the best times to visit Hawaii: nice warm weather (NOT hot as in summer), kids are back to school, hosts are offering amazing fall bargains for October 2010, beaches and restaurants are quiet and peaceful. Not to forget: Fall flights to Hawaii and car rentals on the islands are on the cheaper end.

Let's have a look at Fall Bargains on the sunny Kona Kohala Coast of Big Island for October. This is as good as it gets. I've never seen such Hawaii vacation rental deals before. Check it out NOW.

Kona vacation Golf condo 2Bd/2Ba - Fall Bargain from $85/nt.(dbl.)

Watch the waves at H-Bay and the ocean view sunsets off the water at Keauhou Bay at this 2Bd/2Ba Luxury Kona Country Club condo. You will have every amenity,long distance phone,high speed internet,granite counters throughout, gourmet kitchen, and BBQ from the beautiful lanai while listening to the luau music. Swim in the beautiful pool to relax and take in the Hawaiian lifestyle. You will not want to go home. Cheap Fall Rates for this Kona condo start October at $85/nt.

Enjoy a Kona Golf Vacation
Waikoloa Golf Condo (Studio) - Fall rate bargain from $100/nt. (dbl.)

Waikoloa Golf Condo with full kitchen enjoys expansive ocean views is located directly on the beautiful Waikoloa Village Golf Course on the Big Island. It has expansive ocean and beautiful sunset views. Beautiful Anaeho'omalu Beach is a short 10-min. drive away. The Golf Condo offers a great Fall Special at $100/nt. (dbl.)

Expansive ocean views from Waikoloa Golf Condo
Puako Vacation Condo 3Bd/2 Ba across from ocean - Fall Special from $135/nt.

Puako, a tiny oceanfront village on the sunny west coast of Hawaii's Big Island, north of Kona on the Kohala Coast, is where you find this 3Bd/2Ba Puako condo. It has three bedrooms with a king size, a queen size, and two twin beds. There are two full baths and a fully equipped kitchen. Condo amenities include beach gear, including chairs, coolers, towels, snorkels and masks are included. Puako vacation condo Stay at most desired Puako village across from beach at a price you can afford 10/12 - 11/5.

Puako condo perfect for an affordable Puako vacation

Kohala Estates Private 2Bd/2Ba Vacation Home - Fall bargain from $175/nt. (dbl.)

2 Bd/2 Ba Kohala Coast vacation home at Kohala Estate with 180° ocean view offers a 40% discount for Fall 2010 October + November at $175/nt. (dbl.). Experience Hawaii at its best. Enjoy the Aloha at this tropically decorated two bedroom, two bathroom Kohala Coast vacation home, minutes from best white sands beaches like Spencer, Mauna Kea and Hapuna Beach, world-class golf and five star resorts.

Kohala Coast Vacation Home in Kohala Estates

Kohala Coast vacation home 3BR/3.5BA, $435/nt. (dbl.) w/pool & tennis court -
Fall bargain $100 off in October ONLY

This private Kohala Coast estate sits on 3-1/2 acres in the prestigious Kohala Ranch on the Big Island’s Kona Coast. The island-style home offers spectacular unobstructed ocean and mountain views, and is ideally set up for family vacations, honeymoon celebration or attending a wedding on the Kohala Coast resorts.

Enjoy your private swimming pool + tennis court at $100 off this fall

Kohala Coast Villa 3Bd/3.5 Ba - Fall bargain from $550/nt.(dbl.)

Spend your Fall vacation at this brand-new Luxurious Kohala Coast Villa - 3 Bd/3.5 Ba - (Sleeps 6) at the lowest rate ever $550/nt.! This 3000sft Kohala Coast villa features spectacular ocean views from each room, private swimming pool and spa. Guests will enjoy all the luxury Kohala Coast resort amenities of Mauna Kea and Hapuna Beach Resort! Vacancy Oct/Nov!

Luxury Waiulaula Villa on the Kohala Coast with Resort + Beach  Amenities
It's big bargain rates for your Hawaii vacation on the Kona Kohala Coast this Fall 2010. If you did not find the location or the rate for your budget and expectations, you might want to check more Kohala Coast vacation rental Fall SPECIALS 2010.

Enjoy this Hawaii fall vacation bargain extravaganza. Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

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