Haleakala

Dear Best Hawaii Vacation Visitors,

Our Hawaii winter rates 2009 included Maui Escape Winter at the Maui Prince Hotel - starting rate range $298, which is not really a bargain for the budget traveler. Don't let that discourage you from planning your Maui vacation. Maui's south coast, like the Kihei Coast, is beach territory for snorkeling, kayaking and whale watch from shore during the winter months. The Kihei community offers affordable condos and hotels for Maui budget travelers.

On our numerous posts about Maui Vacation, we gave our Hawaii blog visitors hints for finding the best Surfing Spots, shared Maui Surfing videos with you and best things to do on your Maui Vacation Not to forget our post 'How to have a great Maui vacation and save money'. If Maui is your vacation Hawaii destination, find useful information on our Maui Vacation posts. Start cruising and I bet you will find something which intrigues your interest on Maui, just like our today's article about Haleakala.

How could it happen that I neglected one of the biggest Maui attractions - or maybe the biggest - so far?! Easy answer: Hawaii and the Hawaiian islands are like a never ending reservoir of fascinating stories about white sand, tropical flowers, swaying palm trees, amazing ocean life and so much more. One can easily get carried away writing about the beauty of the islands. Well, today it's finally time to catch up on Heleakala Volcano on Maui. Before we give you some tips for visiting Haleakala on your Maui Vacation - Yes, do it. Don't just lie on the beaches. Have the adventure of your lifetime! - we thought a few facts about Haleakala can be educational and fun.

Haleakala Facts

Like all of the Hawaiian Islands, Maui was formed as the result of undersea volcanic activity. Although a lush and green, island today, evidence of its far more violent and volcanic past can be seen in the impressive Haleakala volcano, the centerpiece of Haleakala National Park. Standing over 10,000 feet it is the world's largest dormant volcano. Last eruption is registered though in 1790, which does not seem that long ago at all. Originally part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Haleakala National Park became its own entity in 1961.

The Haleakala Visitor Center, open daily from sunrise to 3pm, is near the summit, 11 miles from the park entrance. It offers a panoramic view of the volcanic landscape, with photos identifying the various features, and exhibits that explain its history, ecology, geology, and volcanology. Park staff members are often on hand to answer questions. The only facilities are restrooms and water.

Haleakala National Park Headquarters (ph 808/572-4400) is open daily from 7am to 4pm. It is one mile from the park entrance, at 7,000 feet. That's the perfect place to pick up information on rules and regulations, park programs, activities. You can also get camping permits and details on Haleakala hiking trails through the Park. Restrooms, a pay phone, and drinking water are available. This is a great place to get acclimated to the higher elevation. By the way, to tour Haleakala takes a round trip that covers about 76 miles throughout Haleakala National Park.

All park visitors, including campers, are required to purchase a recreational pass upon entering Haleakala National Park: $10 per car, $5 for motorcycles, bicycles and hikers. Passes are non-transferable. They are valid for 3 days. Campgrounds in Haleakala National Park are available for free on a first come first serve basis. The stay in the campgrounds is free.

A slideshow of Haleakala National Park, Mau'i, Hawai'i by Paradisedriver 2006

5 Best Tips to visit Haleakala Volcano on Maui

1.

Check the official Haleakala National Park site for maps, driving directions and times from different locations.

2.

Be prepared for sudden temperature change. Get dressed in layers the summit of Haleakala can be 30 degrees lower than they are at sea level. Your Mainland attire with warm anorak, gloves and woolen cap might come handy.

3.

Stop at Leleiwi Overlook. It is one of the most popular overlooks in Haleakala National Park. It stands at an elevation of about 8,000 feet and lies about 8 miles from the Visitor Center.

4.

Come prepared for your visit to Haleakala with plenty of food + water (maybe even warm tea in thermos). There won't be lodges, food or gas stations once you entered the Park!

5.

Always inquire locally before you start your trip to Haleakala to determine conditions at the summit or whether you might want to make the trip another day. Call tel. 808/572-4400 or the National Weather Service tel. 808/871-5054.

That's it from us for your adventure tour to Haleakala Volcano on Maui. Take Highway 37 to Highway 377, and then to Highway 378. After that it's just heading up to Haleakala - The House of Sun! If you are early birds, you might want to visit Haleakala for a spectacular sun rise! Let us know what you think of Haleakala. Mahalo, Pua Hawaii Vacations

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Tags: Haleakala, Maui Vacation, tips to visit Haleakala

Hawaii Winter Rates 2009

Aloha Hawaii travelers and welcome to Best Hawaii Vacation blog,

Remember a few blogs back when we told you that Mauna Kea Beach Hotel has opened for business again after a 2-year extensive renovation, we told you:

"When asking for a hot deal rate quote for Keoki's birthday in March, the cheapest was Mountain view at $375/nt. on floors 5 - 8 and cheapest Oceanview Room at Beachfront Plumeria Beach Club on floors 1-4 was $625/nt. There was a Mountain View Package Deal for Room and Car for $450, which seems to be 'affordable' for Mauna Kea standards."

At that time, we decided why not sign up for their 2009 hotel specials and see whether what Mauna Kea Beach hotel hot deals will be offered for the time of Keoki's birthday. Today, nearly a month later, we received for the first time a room special winter offer 'Escape to a warm getaway' by the Prince Resort hotels in Hawaii. Here it is for our Hawaii blog visitors:

There's still time to plan an escape to a warm Hawaiian getaway this Winter at any of our beautiful oceanfront resorts on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island.

Prince Winter Escape Package Rates - Rates include $50 daily resort creditgood toward golf, dining, massage and other resort activities.

Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki - starting rate range: $219 - $249
Maui Prince Hotel - starting rate range: $298 - $340
Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel - starting rate: $299
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel - starting rate: $385

Rates are valid now through 3/31/09* For details and online reservations, please visit Prince Winter Escape Details.

I would not really say that the starting room rate for 'winter rate' at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel of $385/nt. is a special rate - the $50 credit a day might just pay for my dinner tip - but who knows. With all the repeat clients coming back to their favorite beach - famous Mauna Kea Beach - and hotel, there is probably no need to offer special rates.

Hawaii Prince Hotel Waikiki has definitely the best Hawaii winter rate of all the Prince hotels. Plus if you don't want to do much sightseeing on Oahu - most of Honolulu's attractions can be reached by public bus service anyways - you will save lots of money by not renting a car in Hawaii. Remember Oahu is the only island where a car rental is not absolute necessity as it is on Maui, Big Island and Kauai, where there is no public bus service available.

Last but not least, as mentioned before chances for Hawaii winter rates 2009 with private vacation rentals are not as promising as you might have thought. There are still a few openings for Hawaii Kona Kohala Coast rentals during our high season winter months but best way to go is getting quotes for low season Hawaii Spring Specials 2009 NOW!

Good luck planning your Best Hawaii Vacation 2009. Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations
p.s.
After reading the Hawaii Prince winter 'bargains', the 'Hawaii Molokai Condo for Sale' sounds even better by the minute.

I don't want to forget to tell you who is our beautiful Hawaiian girl on today's blog post. It's Kahiau from WahineStyle, our favorite site when it comes to Hawaiian girls. 2009 Hawaii calenders with all the Hawaii beauties, who invited you to Hawaii on our blog, are still available.

Tags: Hawaii, Hawaii winter rates 2009, Hawaii hotels, Spring specials Hawaii 2009

Hawaii Condo for Sale

Dear Best Hawaii Vacation visitors,
After reading our New Year's Wishes on our 'Hau'oli Makahiki Hou' first blog post of 2009 and our Hawaii Real Estate 2009, a few of our Hawaii blog readers might have picked up the 'ancient' dream of moving to Hawaii or at least have a nice private Hawaii condo available for those tough winter months on the Mainland.

Guess what, the opportunity of purchasing a condo in Hawaii becomes more feasible by the months going by. Bargains for ocean view homes, like this luxury Home on the Kohala Coast, and Hawaiian island condos make buyers wonder whether it's time to buy Hawaii property now. My personal feeling is that Hawaii will always be a good real estate investment, even when it does not look like it at the moment.

The Hawaii real estate market will turn around, just as it did in the past. One never knows when it does take off again. Changes happen fast! If one does not want to lose low price chances to buy a Hawaii condo or home, hey why not make an offer at a price you think is a great investment for you. The seller might just jump on it.

Huge Price reduction for Molokai Resort Condo! NEW asking price $189,000!


Here is one of those great chances to own an ocean front condo on lovely Molokai. For $189,000 - remember the old asking was $229,000 - you can have your piece of Paradise waiting for you for your next vacation or for moving to the islands for good. This charming Oceanfront 1Bd/1Ba condo is completely renovated and upgraded with modern kitchen and lanai awaits you in a lush tropical setting and an inviting cool pool at the Molokai Shore beach resort.


Enjoy stunning sunsets; the morning stillness of the ocean; 'flying' fish jumping to catch a meal; hear the waves murmur on the coral reef a mile away; see the clouds unveiling the isle of Lanai across the channel; marvel at the old Molokai fish pond half forgotten built to raise fish for the alii - the royal Hawaiian chiefs; and all this from your lanai.


These are just a few of the many excitements awaiting you in Molokai. Molokai Shores is secluded and five minutes away from the main city Kaunakakai with its small shops, restaurants, banks, theater, and art galleries. Don't miss the 'Farmers Market' on Saturday mornings with it's incredible sweet fruit, fresh vegetables and local art displays. Molokai Shores is centrally located to tour the isle's spectacular and lush south east end with its beautiful rain forests and waterfalls, or the mile long white sand beaches on the west end of Molokai.


Community features of Molokai Shores are:
- Barbeque
- Picnic Tables
- Golf Course
- Tennis Courts
- Shuffle Board
- Laundry facilities, Beauty Salon.

All this awaits you at Molokai Shores of Kaunakakai, just seven miles from the Molokai Airport on the most Hawaiian Island of Molokai.

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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Tags: Hawaii condo bargains, Hawaii Molokai condo for sale

Hawaii Real Estate Market 2009

Dear Best Hawaii Vacation blog visitors,
We hope that our wishes for the New Year 2009 for a Hawaii vacation or even a return visit to Hawaii will come true for you. As there are quite a number of people who don't only dream of a vacation in Hawaii but play with the idea of buying property in Hawaii, we thought we let our friend Bill Jardine, longtime Big Island realtor for the Kohala Coast, Waimea area, share his real estate wisdom with our Hawaii blog visitors. You really want to know what a Hawaii realtor thinks about buying Hawaii real estate in 2009, then keep reading:

Forecasting the 2009 Hawaii Real Estate Market

To buy or not to buy? That is the question …..

"We don’t want our clients to ever be members of that group. Yet, predict we must, and certain old rules may still be applied with some reasonable expectation of accuracy. For instance, we know that the supply and demand relationship will endure. There are too many resort condominiums, in my opinion, and I believe that many were built based on speculative demand versus owner/user demand. Accordingly, I think prices will have to fall a long way before those resort condos become cheap enough to recommend. On the other hand, we have a shortage of good acreage near town, so prices for that kind of thing don't really slump, since demand is owner/user based and is relatively steady.

This past year we have been working with many buyers who intend to take advantage of this current malaise in the real estate market, and most of them believe that you can make a great deal of equity by taking advantage of under-valued properties. For instance, let’s say that you can buy a rental house for substantially less than its replacement cost. That being the case, you will quickly gain the difference as the demand for Hawaii real estate gradually swells. At this point, there are many properties available at prices far below replacement value, and we expect our loan appraisals to exceed the purchase price by substantial margins.

Very soon the Baby Boomer generation will begin making their retirement plans, and some of them will want to be in Hawaii. Our market area, the west side of the Big Island, is the area most likely to see the creation of wonderful new retirement communities and facilities, because we have the room, the infrastructure, the weather and the medical facilities. There are all ready financial giants here who are participating in the growth of the area, and they are serious people with wonderful vision. If we were to attract just one-percent of the Baby Boomers we would need to create 70,000 new housing units to accommodate them all.

According to these simple, major factors, we think that demand for Hawaii real estate that will appeal to retirees should stiffen quite a bit over the next few years as our national economy recovers in more efficient condition than before. It seems to make sense that those who purchase at today’s deep discounts will be handsomely rewarded."

Please, be aware that Bill's point of view is his view as a buyer's agent. This is an excerpt of Bill's article. You can soon read the full article about the '2009 Hawaii Real Estate Market' on Bill's website Big Island Byers Brokers or find his other Hawaii real estate articles in the top of our 'Blog Guest Authors'. Much mahalo Bill for your insight.

So, what do you think about buying a condo or house in Hawaii, now or later? Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

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Tags: Hawaii, Hawaii Real Estate, Buy property in Hawaii, 2009 Hawaii Real Estate

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou

After a warm Mele Kalikimaka to all our Best Hawaii Vacation blog visitors on December 20 and the good news of the reopening of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island a few days later, it's time for spreading 'Aloha' for the New Year 2009.

When you are in love with Hawaii and the islands, you pick up as many Hawaiian phrases as you can. As 'Mahalo' and 'Aloha' already come easily over your lips, let's practice a new, a little bit more complicated phrase: Hau'oli Makahiki Hou or Happy New Year. If you belong to the lucky ones who currently enjoy their Hawaii vacation on a warm white sand beach sipping a Mai Tai, why don't you share this total happiness with friends and people you meet in Hawaii by wishing them 'Hau'oli Makahiki Hou'!

Here are our Hau'oli Makahiki Hou wishes:

May Hawaii become your dream vacation for 2009, with the scents of tropical flowers caressing you and beautiful hula dancers telling their ancient Hawaiian stories for memories of a lifetime!

Warm aloha from Pua and Keoki Hawaii Vacations and Affordable Hawaii

p.s.

We thank Kawika and the beautiful Hawaiian girls from WahineStyle for their photo support of our Hawaii blog throughout the year 2008. Roxy, our today's Hawaii post girl keeps this nice tradition alive for the New Year 2009.

Tags: Hawaii, Hawaii vacation, Hawaiian girls