Biggest Hula Event in Hawaii coming up

Dear Hawaii hula lovers,

Hawaiian hula is the beautiful way for Hawaii people to express their feelings, emotions and events through the ancient and modern form of hula dance and chant. Easter is the time when hula dancers and hula lovers from the Hawaiian Islands, the Mainland and from around the world meet for the biggest Hawaii hula festival, the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in Hilo on Hawaii Big Island during the week 4/4 - 4/10/10.

When preparing this article, I visited the Merrie Monarch Festival website, as I was curious to see which Hawaiian hula halau (groups) and individual hula dancers will be in Hilo for the 47th Merrie Monarch Hawaii Hula Festival. I loved the Hula backstage videos! Get an idea with how intense the last preparations for the biggest Hula Festival are with watching videotaped last rehearsals!

To get our hula lovers and fans, I chose for today's 'Biggest Hula Festival' post two youtube videos from last year's Merry Monarch Hula Festival. These hula performances don't show last year's hula festival winners and they are not perfect but they show thecommitment, dedication and personal involvement of each hula dancer and their close connection with the audience who get mesmerized by the ancient dances and the powerful rhythm of chants and the Hawaiian gourd drums (Ipu, Ipu Heke and Ipu Hula). Feel the unique atmosphere of the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival TODAY!

2009 Merrie Monarch Hula Festival - Ho'ike - Halau O Kekuhi



Halau o Kekuhi men performed Auana hula at the Merrie Monarch 2009 Ho'ike in Hilo, Hawaii



Sorry guys if you got all excited and maybe plan a last minute visit to Hilo Hawaii for the hula festival, Hilo vacation rentals and Hilo hotels are sold out. The tickets for the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival are sold out too, just like in the years before. I don't know what your chances are and how long the lines will be for the Wednesday night hula performances but I can assure you when you are on Hawaii vacation during the hula festival, Hawaii TV stations are proud to show you the best of Hawaii's hula. So enjoy it then or buy a DVD of the biggest Hula Event in Hawaii later. Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

p.s.

Don't miss our recent post 'How to find peace on Hawaii vacation'.

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Tags: Biggest Hawaii hula event, Merrie Monarch hula festival, Hawaii youtube videos

How to find Peace on Hawaii vacation?

Dear Hawaii vacation lovers,

When dealing with Best Hawaii vacation, we occasionally encounter Hawaii visitors asking us where the non-touristy places in Hawaii are. They tell us they are looking for hidden beaches or Hawaii vacation rentals away from the tourists and the big crowds. Just a few thoughts from us regards non touristy places in Hawaii.

How to find peace on Hawaii vacation?

Hawaii has changed a lot, even more so within the last 10 - 15 year. I love to listen to the stories my husband tells me about the Big Island when he came there over 35 years ago: there was only one highway on the island, there was only one 5-star hotel, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel built by Rockefeller in 1965, most of those white sand beaches on the Kohala Coast were still hard to reach and imagine, there was not one traffic light between Hilo and Kona!

As you know this has all changed big time. Once the beauty and warm climate of the Hawaiian islands were discovered, naturally everybody wanted and wants to experience it! Resorts and golf courses got 'dug out' of the lava fields, palm trees planted and ocean front 5-star hotels with access beach access built. Hawaii's infrastructure is still lagging a bit behind those latest townhouses and condominium subdivisions developed during the Hawaii building boom during 2000 - 2005.

I always have a hard time to accept all the changes at one of the most beautiful resorts, Mauna Lani Beach Resort, when visiting there. Hotels like 'Mauna Lani Beach Hotel & Bungalows' and 'Fairmont Orchid at Mauna Lani' are not easy to spot anymore with all the new condominium and townhouse structures developed around them. I appreciate that Big Island builders at least stayed away from those high rise condo buildings as visitors can find in Honolulu. Well, as Keoki says 'The only constant in life is change!'. This is not any different for the Hawaiian Islands. One cannot go back in time.

Here is the good news. There are still a few secret beaches which are not well known to tourists but mostly it's the ones which are hard to get to. The majority of Hawaii visitors prefer a short walk to the beach from parking lot. So these hard to access beaches and coves still provide the non-touristy visitors with peace, tranquility and serenity they are looking for on their Hawaii visit. Please, be aware that you might not be by yourselves on weekends when Hawaiians love to go camping on those beaches.

Quite a number of locals, Hawaiians and Haoles (white people), do still camp on the beach, play their ukuleles and BBQ. These people know each other well and don't advertise their 'beach party'. You definitely need to know somebody in order to be part of it.

Unfortunately, non-touristy Hawaii visitors' wishes of rain forest and waterfalls being close to white sand beaches do not match how 'Mother Nature' developed the islands. It's either or. There are spectacular waterfalls in Hawaii but a lot of the times it will take you long walks (or a long kayak tour like on Kauai) to reach those but already the walk, hike or kayaking is an experience by itself. Try it and you will love it!

If you really want to spend your Hawaii vacation away from people and resorts, try Upcountry Maui or Upcountry Big Island. It's beautiful ranch land with rolling hills, cows and horses. You may find a private cottage overlooking the mountains and the coastal regions. There is always Molokai being the least developed island in regards to tourists and resorts but this also means it's a little harder to get to and a simpler life with less shopping available.


Hoping this gives the non-touristy visitor, who is in search for peace and tranquility on Hawaii vacation, a better understanding of the Hawaiian Islands TODAY. Have a peaceful Hawaii vacation! Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

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Tags: Peaceful Hawaii vacation, secret beaches in Hawaii, how to find peace in Hawaii

Best Hawaii Vacation Rentals Spring 2010

A Komo Mai and Welcome back to our Hawaii Blog,

Best Hawaii Vacation Blog's editors, Pua and Keoki, are happy to see that our post 'Is it a good time to travel to Hawaii NOW?' attracted a number of Hawaii hosts to share their comments about the many advantages of travel to Hawaii this spring. Today's post will provide vacation rental recommendations for 'Best Hawaii vacation rentals Spring 2010'. We've put together a list of fully equipped, yet affordable Hawaii vacation cottages, condos and suites near best beaches on the sunny Kona Kohala Coast of the Big Island.

Choose from our Best Hawaii Vacation rentals for your Hawaii spring vacation!

Sunny Side Waimea Cottage from $95/nt.

Save lots of money on your nightly rate for going out to dinner or do a whale watch tour when you stay at this fully equipped (full kitchen), private location with short 10-minute drive to Mauna Kea beach, which is currently still available from April 8 - May at $95/nt. with 7-night booking. Sunny Side Waimea Kohala Coast Vacation Rental Cottage Near Best Beaches

Mauna Kea Views 1Bd/1Ba vacation Apartment from $110/nt.

This Waimea vacation rental w/kitchen is a private, peaceful vacation apartment overlooking an expansive valley and captivating, well-known mountain of Mauna Kea on the Big Island Waimea Apartment with Mauna Kea Views It's a short 5-minute drive to Waimea for shopping. Kohala Coast Beaches and Big Island adventures like Waipio Valley or Mauna Kea Summit are in easy to reach. Inquire with your travel dates for April or May 2010!

Waikoloa Golf Condo with full kitchen enjoys expansive ocean and mountain 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 Spring Special at $ 100/nt. for April + May.

Puako Beach Apartment across from ocean from $115/nt.

It's just the two of you and you love to stay close to the beach, this Puako Apartment is right across from Beach 1Bd/1Ba Puako Vacation Apartment Best Deal Puako Beach $115/nt.! It is currently still available for 4/13 - 4/19 + 4/27 - May. A spacious lanai allows for enjoying your meals outdoors in a tropical setting. Puako is one of the most desired areas on the Kohala Coast. You can access the ocean right there in Puako or pack your beach stuff into the car and take a short 5-minute drive to Puako Beach 69 or Wailea Bay.

South Kona Vacation Suites from $115/nt. + Cottage from $150/nt.

Kona Vacation Rentals Suites offer a unique location overlooking historical Kealakekua Bay. This property has breathtaking Pacific Ocean views and an expansive panoramic South Kona coastline view. These two private Kona vacation suites are fully equipped, spacious accommodations with private entrances. The individual cottage with its private lanai is blessed with lots of amenities, views and privacy. It's perfect as a honeymoon cottage in Hawaii. This property lies on a lush, five-acre coffee farm complete with coffee, avocado, papaya and banana trees. Inquiry for your Spring vacation.


Kona Vacation Condo 2Bd/2Ba from $120/nt.

White Sands Estates Triplex on a bluff above Alii Drive with an amazing view of the ocean. Located between Kona's most popular beach, Magic Sands and Kahaluu. This two-bedroom, two-bath condo features sun decks, pool and an incredible panoramic ocean front view from the lanai, splash pool and living areas. Kona Ocean View condo with Pool + Short walk to beach has Spring vacancies from 4/12 - May. Best Kona condo rate for location + amenities!

Kohala Coast vacation rental 1Bd/1Ba Ocean Views from $150/nt.

This Kohala Coast vacation rental is situated 400' above the Kohala Coast on the Big Island of Hawaii, offering expansive,unobstructed views of the ocean, coastline, and nearby Hualalai Volcano. Awesome sunsets and balmy ocean breezes are the norm here. Best rate for Kohala Coast Estates premier location and top amenities. Rare vacancy 4/22 - 4/30 + May!

Kohala Estates Private Vacation Home from $175/nt. (dbl.)

2 Bd/2 Ba Kohala Coast vacation home at Kohala Estate with 180° ocean view offers a a 30% discount for Spring 2010 April + May 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.


We hope you found the Hawaii vacation rental matching your budget and expectations for your 2010 Hawaii Spring vacation. Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

Tags: Hawaii Spring Specials 2010, Best of Hawaii, Affordable Hawaii, Best Hawaii Vacation Rentals