Easter Vacation in Hawaii - Happy Easter!

Happy Easter

to all our Hawaii blog visitors, the ones on the Mainland, still dreaming of their Hawaii vacation, and the lucky ones who are enjoying their Maitai on a warm white sand beach on the Hawaiian Islands right now! Easter is the next big holiday in Hawaii after Christmas and New Year's, when Hawaii hotels are having 100% occupancy. Having an Easter vacation in Hawaii means you belong to the privileged folks who were able to get away for a week from the cold or rainy weather on the Mainland. As we all know, spring has not delivered the warm sunny weather everywhere yet.

When you are staying at one of our our big Hawaii beach resorts, you will be offered an excellent Easter brunch at a restaurant location where you can overlook the ocean. In most cases a group of Hawaiian musicians is playing some lovely soothing Hawaiian tunes to entertain you. You might be even lucky to have a hula dancer for your Easter brunch. If not, you will be able to watch the lovely hula dancer at sunset when you are enjoying a tropical drink and some Hawaiian appetizers. Who can resist the charm of the Hawaiian music and hula dancer? This is your Hawaii Easter vacation at its best!

If you brought your kids, get ready for the Sunday morning Easter Egg hunt at your hotel. You'd better line up early. If you have little ones, make sure that they manage to find something. Hotels have now learned that they need to allow the little kids to be in the front for the Easter egg hunt. Otherwise, they can't compete against the 12-year olds. Well, if against all odds, your kid is not lucky, best to have some Easter eggs or bunnies with you to prevent tears. After all, everybody is supposed to have fun at Easter in Hawaii.

Here is my last recommendation for those who did not make it to Hawaii for Easter and wonder when is the best time to visit Hawaii and the cheapest. Believe me it's NOW! April guarantees you the cheapest vacation in Hawaii, with cheap Hawaii air fares, car rentals and Hawaii hotel rooms or vacation rentals. Why is April the cheapest month for Hawaii vacation? Who knows for sure! My personal explanation from many years of running our own Kohala Coast vacation rentals: April is tax month!

Well, it's not any different this year April 2008. There are high quality Kohala Coast vacation rentals at premier location on the Kona and Kohala Coast available at low season rates from the owners. If you did not join the 'Win a Free Hawaii Vacation' lottery, here is a better chance to save money on you Hawaii vacation. Stay tuned for our next Hawaii blog post. We will show you Hawaii vacation rentals, which offer a special rate for April 2008. Happy Easter!
Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations
p.s.
Toshua from WahineStyle is our today's post girl.

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Tags: Best of Hawaii, Easter in Hawaii

Win a Free Hawaii Vacation

Our Hawaiian conch shell photos intrigued your interest? Well, it's easy to watch and listen to the conch shell at sunset at a Hawaii hotel. When you are still saving the money for your Hawaii vacation, here is a way how can you win a free Trip for Two to Hawaii! Frommer's Hawaii Guidebook makes it possible. It's still time before deadline 3/31/08 and this offer ends. Hurry before it's too late. Wouldn't that be lovely to celebrate your honeymoon, wedding anniversary or 'just' your best Hawaii Vacation in 2008 at no charge?!

Are you looking for

"Blue lagoons, lush rain-forests, hidden gardens, cascading waterfalls, wild rivers running through rugged canyons, soaring volcanoes, and exquisite beaches? Enter now to win an amazing tropical getaway to Honolulu, Hawaii and you can find it all! You and a guest will enjoy a five night stay at a four star hotel in world famous Waikiki. Prize also includes round-trip economy class tickets and a traditional Hawaiian luau for two."

If you say 'Yes' to all of the above and would love to win a free stay at a Waikiki Beach Hotel, then apply NOW to win this great Hawaii vacation by Frommers Hawaii.

This is what you get with your free Hawaii vacation, provided you win:

1. Round-trip economy class airfare for two (2) from Los Angeles to Honolulu, Hawaii.
2. Five (5) Nights accommodation in a 4-Star Hotel in Waikiki (standard room / double occupancy).
3. Traditional Hawaiian Luau for two.

There are some travel dates restrictions and blackout dates for your trip to Hawaii, like major holidays, which you want to read about. Good luck from Best Hawaii Vacations blog.
Aloha Pua, Hawaii Vacations

p.s.

If you did not win, check our site for April SPECIALS on Kohala Coast vacation rentals near best Big Island's white sand beaches. April is the cheapest time for your Hawaii vacation with cheap air fares, car rentals and most affordable accommodation at Hawaii hotels and vacation rentals.

Our today's post girl from WahineStyle Hawaiian girls photos is Amber. She attracted already a lot of attention on our post 'When is the Best time to visit Hawaii?'. You can see more beautiful Hawaiian girls at WahineStyle.com.

Tags: Best of Hawaii, Waikiki hotel, free trip to Hawaii

Conch Shell Blowing In Hawaii

Aloha everybody and welcome back to our Hawaii photo of the Week!

If you are interested in Hawaii's ocean life and seeing photos of the Hawaii green sea turtle, you probably liked our recent post with tips for watching the turtles in Hawaii. Here is what

Honolulu based photographer Jennifer Crites selected for today's Hawaii photo. The photo is closely connected to ancient Hawaiian traditions and culture: a Hawaiian conch shell blower.

Those of you who have stayed at one of our Hawaii Beach hotels probably experienced the sound of the conch shell first hand when the tiki torches got lit at sunset and a guy or girl dressed in typical ancient Hawaiian outfit was running from torch to torch and also blowing the conch shell at certain locations. It always attracts a crowd of visitors, naturally the kids are most impressed and follow the conch shell blower around the hotel.

Blowing the 'Pu' (pronounced 'poo'), which is the Hawaiian name for conch shell, marks these days very often the official beginning of a ceremony, whether at a Hawaiian wedding or the start of a Hawaiian luau. The conch shell blowing for a luau after sunset is actually the only exception when the shell is blown after sunset. Traditionally, blowing of the Pu, is a deep part of the Hawaiian culture, has various meanings. Today the "Pu" is used to announce the opening of the Hawaii State Legislature, a great way to keep the Hawaiian culture alive.

Did you know that the sound of the conch shell the Hawaiian people use can be heard over two miles away? In ancient times the blowing of the 'Pu' was used to communicate with each other, such as when people on canoes asked permission to land. A certain number of blows on the conch shell by the people on land would mean permission or denial to land. It would then be returned from those on shore by them blowing the conch shell back with a certain number of blows. Permission to land avoided possible death, making the Pu a vital instrument for safety. I found on a Hawaiian site that the meaning of the number of blows on the conch shell is a secret and won't be published for that reason.

I found the following legend about the 'Pu' on a Hawaiian website. It said that "the mythical Menehune, an ancient tiny people, that are believed to have lived throughout the Hawaiian islands were considered god-like by the Polynesian settlers in Hawaii. When the new settlers blew a conch shell to "control" the little gods, the Menehune stole the special conch and kept the Hawaiians up at nights with constant concerts, till a brave Hawaiian retrieved the stolen conch shell"! True or not, but when you visit Bishop Museum in Honolulu that very conch shell from the story is on display there!

Do you have any stories about the conch shell or the little menehune to share with our Best Hawaii Vacation blog visitors, we would love to hear from you. If you tried blowing the conch shell on your Hawaii vacation, how did you do?

Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

Tags: Best of Hawaii, Hawaii vacations, Hawaii, Best

Tips for Watching Sea Turtles in Hawaii

Hawaii and the ocean is calling you again here at Best Hawaii Vacation Blog. After our recent tips for kayaking in Hawaii - one of the best Hawaii attractions around the Hawaiian islands - we are still staying in or close to the water. We are delighted to publish another well written guest post by Bobbie Sullivan, who lives on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island. Bobbie has been diving for more than 30 years and is a PADI certified Divemaster. She writes about the ocean and diving on her website 'The Right Blue'. We promise you her ocean blog stories and amazing ocean life photos will get you hooked. Go visit and see for yourself! Get a taste now with Bobbie's article:

Tips for Watching Sea Turtles in Hawaii by Bobbie Sullivan

Most visitors who come to Hawaii spend a good bit of their time in and around the ocean, swimming, snorkeling, beach-combing or just enjoying the sunshine and salt air. Sometimes, if they are lucky, they will get to see one of Hawaii’s most special shoreline residents – the sea turtle.

Several species of sea turtle can be found in Hawaiian waters, but the one that is most commonly seen is the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). These creatures are native to Hawaii. Most Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles breed and nest in the uninhabited Northwest Hawaiian Islands, away from human populations.

During their adolescent and early adult years, they spend a lot of time at or near the shorelines of the main islands of Hawaii. Green Sea Turtles can be seen, at least occasionally, on any of the Hawaiian Islands you might visit, but they seem to be most plentiful around Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii.

A diver or snorkeler may be lucky enough to see a sea turtle swimming underwater, or resting on a coral shelf or a sandy patch on the bottom. If you happen to see a turtle in the water, it’s very important that you not try to grab or – heaven forbid! – try to ‘ride’ the turtle. Sea turtles are air breathers. They can stay underwater for quite awhile, but from time to time they have to come to the surface for a breath. They become instinctively frightened if they are restrained or cornered underwater.

People wading in shallow water close to shore sometimes encounter sea turtles, especially in rocky areas. The Green Sea Turtle’s favorite food is a type of seaweed (limu) that covers inshore rocks. If you visit a rocky shoreline, you may notice a turtle lazily grazing on limu, but just as with the turtles you may see underwater, they do not like to have their space invaded while they are feeding. Do not approach a turtle that is grazing. Watch from a distance that will not make the turtle uncomfortable.

Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles engage in a behavior called ‘basking.’ They haul themselves out of the water onto rocks or sand, and go to sleep. Marine scientists are not exactly sure why Green Sea Turtles do this. Some think that they do it to rest, away from their natural predators. Another theory is that basking serves as a way to elevate the turtle’s body temperature. In any case, this behavior is quite common. As a result, beachgoers in certain areas are very likely to see one or more turtles lying on the sand, looking like they’re working on their tans!

Some people become alarmed when they come across a turtle basking in the sun. They imagine that the turtle is injured, or that it has become stranded. Be assured that this is a natural behavior. The creature will haul itself back into the ocean when it has finished its nap -- and without any help!

You should know that sea turtles are protected by both State and Federal laws. It is important not to touch or harass the turtles, whether they are in the water or on the shore. Please respect them and enjoy them from a safe distance – safe for both you and the turtles!Have a wonderful time in the ocean in Hawaii, and stay safe."

Have you seen the turtles on your last vacation in Hawaii and if so, what was the best part meeting them? Tell us your about your encounter with Hawaiian green sea turtle.
Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations
p.s.
Mahalo again Bobbie for helping our Hawaii visitors to get more educated about the ocean life around the islands.

Tags: Best of Hawaii, Scuba, Hawaii, turtles

Kayaking in Hawaii

It was our pleasure to publish all our Best Hawaii Vacation Blog guest authors recently. We hope to hear from more Hawaii blogs and Hawaii tourists with their exciting articles about vacation in Hawaii. Thanks for checking back what our Monday Hawaii photo of the week is all about. Our Hawaii photographer Jennifer Crites from the island of Hawaii and renowned travel writer - read here one of her recent articles for the University of Hawaii magazine 'Malamalama', quite a different outdoors experience compared to Hawaii - chose a photo showing an outrigger canoe and its crew paddling along Oahu's shore.

Outrigger canoes have been proved to be a stable and save transportation means between the Hawaiian islands in the history of the Hawaiians. These days, the outrigger canoes are used for recreation, sports or races. No wonder that most of the coastal areas and marinas have their own canoe club like the Kawaihae Canoe Club or Waikoloa Canoe Club on the Kohala Coast dedicated to promoting the art and sport of Hawaiian canoe paddling. The Hawaiian canoe clubs are definitely for Hawaii residents who live close to the the ocean and love to engage in ocean sports on a social level. That's why many prefer the 4-seater or even the 8-seater canoes.

Our Big Island neighbors Sammy (paddler) and Ed (coach) have been and still are such dedicated paddlers. This is how we first heard about the challenging paddling canoe race 'The Molokai Hoe' which is a 41-mile open ocean race that launches from Hale O Lono Harbor on Molokai and ends at Duke Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki, Oahu. In addition to all the Hawaii outrigger canoe club teams, there are more than 1,000 canoe paddlers from Tahiti, Japan, Singapore, Italy, Australia and California.

Moloka'i Hoe (read a book about the race), begun in 1952 for men and Na Wahine O Ke Kai, in 1979 for women. Listening to our neighbors' stories each year, we have the deepest respect for those who accomplish this race through the unpredictable Moloka‘i (Kaiwi) Channel that has a well-deserved reputation as one of the roughest interisland channels in existence!

Believe us paddling the Molokai channel takes lots of practice, skills and strong physique. When you visit Hawaii and love the ocean and kayaking, we recommend to book a Guided Kayaking Tour. The kayak guides know the special area where they take you out and are CPR, First Aid and Lifeguard certified. The ocean condition can change in an instant. Always wear a life vest, no matter what a great swimmer you are.

The fun part of a Guided Kayak Tour is that tours combine a regular kayak tour with Snorkel, Whale Watch or Turtle encounters and help you encounter the rich wildlife and beauty of Hawaii. We have put together a list of a few Kayak companies for the different islands. We are not claiming the are the best Hawaii Kayak Tour companies. We've found them just through the appropriate search. Please, make sure when using their service that they are providing Kayak tours which are safe and exciting:

Maui Eco Tours provides kayak and snorkel, whales and snorkel, easy fun for kids, encounter with sea turtles. Another Maui Kayak company is Maui Kayaks which offers guided kayak tours to small groups by experienced and enthusiastic certified kayak guides.

Big Island Kayak Their guided trips are all inclusive: guides, instruction, snacks, drinks, gear and transportation . Another Big Island kayak tour company is Aloha Kayak in Kona They also provide kayak & snorkel instruction, gear, guide, & drinks & snacks.

Kayak Kauai offers a special Kayak Tour to the Na Pali Coast to the experienced kayaker. Encounter dolphins, tropical birds and if lucky, Monk Seals. The kayak tour includes lunch and rest at Miloli'i beach, you can swim, beach comb, and visit an old Hawaiian fishing heiau.

Too bad that the Hawaii YouTube video about the 2007 Molokai Hoe race has too many blackouts. But the following video about another outrigger canoe shows the challenges of ocean canoe racing very impressively. Have fun paddling in Hawaii! Aloha Pua Hawaii Vacations

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Tags: Best, Travel, Hawaii, Hawaii video, Best of Hawaii, Hawaii Kayak

Best Hawaii Vacation Blog Guest Authors

Aloha everybody,
Since the start of our Hawaii blog in July 2006, we have always been welcoming everybody who wanted to share his or her experience about Hawaii, Hawaii vacation and Hawaii travel. Today we'd like to renew this invitation to other Hawaii related blog owners or Hawaii visitors. Write an article about what you love in Hawaii (sorry no advertising!), submit it by email and upon approval, we will publish it on our Best Hawaii Vacation Blog with a short author 'bio' and link to your URL.

In addition, you and your URL will be added here, at our guest authors' page. We would like to say 'Mahalo' to all of our guest authors for their Hawaii article contributions, which showed their knowledge of and love for the Hawaiian Islands. To be fair to everybody, we list our guest writers in alphabetical order with link to their blog or site URL and in what categories you can find their article(s). Number of articles shows behind name. In the future, we consider listing our Hawaii Guest Authors according to the highest number of articles...the author with most Hawaii articles will show in the top of our list.

Best Hawaii Vacation Blog Guest Authors: 

Alex Cortez (1 post) from Maui Real Estate Search

Guest post 'My journey to Maui'

Bill Jardine (11 posts) from Big Island Buyers Brokers

Guest post 'Hawaii Real Estate value and market trends 2013'
Guest post 'Bill's surf adventure with big Kahuna waves in Hawaii'
Guest post 'Spring in Hawaii'
Guest post 'What's new on the Kohala Coast?'
Guest Post 'June is the month for sunsets'
Guest Post 'Hawaii Real Estate Market 2010'
Guest Post Hawaii Game Fishing A Hawaii Story
Guest Post 'April in Hawaii'
Guest Post Hawaii Real Estate Market 2009
Guest Post Hawaii Real Estate Market 2008
Guest Post Will falling Prices in Hawaii Real Estate attract new home buyers?
Guest Post Mele Kalikimaka

Jennifer Crites (3 posts) from Hawaii Stock Photography

Guest Post 5 Best Photo Tips for your Hawaii Vacation
Guest Post Get a Tour of Hawaii with Hawaii Photos
Guest Post Get a Taste of Your Big Island Vacation with Big Island Photos

Galen (1 post)  from Tropical Snorkeling - Snorkel Hawaii 

Guest Post Best spots for snorkeling in Hawaii

Gerrit van der Plas (2 posts) from BigIslandHawaiianVacation
 
Guest post 'How to watch a Meteor shower in Hawaii'
Guest post '3 Reasons for Star watching in Hawaii in December'

Julie (2 posts) from Ideal Vacation Rentals BlogGuest Post Maui Vacation Trip Reports
Guest Post 3 Best Things to do on Maui

Bobbie Sullivan (2 posts) from The Right Blue
Guest Post Tips for Watching Sea Turtles in Hawaii
Guest Post Tips for Snorkeling and Diving in Hawaii


Joanne (2 posts) Hawaii visitor from CA
Guest Post Horseback Riding in Hawaii on the Big Island
Guest Post Big Island Secret Beach

Brigitte (1) from BeBackHawaii
Guest Post Molokai Vacation Trip Report

Catherine Tarleton (1) from Moku O Keawe
Guest Post Hawaiian Traditions

Captain Howard (1) from Sail Holy Grail
Guest Post Sailing the Hawaiian Islands

Desire Watson (1) from Kamuela Life Retreats
Guest Post Hawaii Healing Vacation

Erick (1) from Royal Hawaiian MoversGuest Post Moving to Hawaii with Pets

Melinda (1 post) from MauiBanyanCondo
Guest post '8 Best Maui Vacation Tips'

Joe Duck (1) from Joe Duck Blog
Guest Post Big Island Trip Report

JoLoyce (1) from Hana Maui Botanical Garden
Guest Post in Blog Category: Big Island Trip Reports

Sabine (1) Hawaii visitor from Germany
Guest Post Where are the Dolphins in Hawaii?

Jeff & Rob (1) from Beat of Hawaii
Guest Post Hawaii Vacation Travel Tips

Bill (1) from Kona Vacation Rentals
Guest Post Honomalino Secret Beach Big Island

Lisa Klein Weber (1) from AndHawaii
Guest Post Dolphins in Hawaii

Get your name and your blog listed here. If you have something nice to say about Hawaii, Hawaii vacation and travel, don't be shy, let us know what you've got. Hawaii articles with photos are most welcome! Everybody can write. Just let your heart speak.

Mahalo and aloha, Pua and Keoki Best Hawaii Vacation Blog

Tags: Best of Hawaii, Hawaii Blog, Vacation in Hawaii, Best Hawaii Vacation

Where to buy fresh fruits in Hawaii?

Aloha and welcome back,

Let's forget about the resort fees charged by fancy Hawaii hotels and enjoy what Hawaii and its people have to offer to its tourists, besides white sand beaches, sunny weather all year round and lots of aloha by the Hawaiian people. When on our Hawaii vacation, we don't only love the Hawaiian music and the beautiful Hawaiian hula dancers, we love the many different tastes of fresh tropical fruits, which seem to melt on our tongue and awaken our spirits with delicate flavors we have long forgotten. Jennifer, our Hawaii photographer for the Monday 'Hawaii photo of the week', submitted a few photos for today's photo post. Mahalo, Jennifer!

So, where can we buy those treats of sweet tropical fruits when in Hawaii? Well, forget the grocery stores or big markets. Yes, they have a selection of tropical fruits but they are sold at high prices plus are not as fresh as when you buy it right from the source, at the old fashioned Hawaiian Farmers Market! No matter on which Hawaiian Island you spend your vacation, just make sure that you check where and when the local farmers markets are located. Some are so big that they are even open daily as the Hilo Farmers Market (biggest number of fresh fruits on Wed + Sat!), others rotate the location on the island as the Kauai Farmer's Market does.

Visiting a Hawaii Farmers Market is a special experience on your vacation, for your eyes and your taste buds. Here are a few recommendations from Best Hawaii Vacation blog:

1. Visit the Farmers Market early - freshest fruits, best selection, not so hot yet.

2. Don't stop at the first stand and buy immediately - there are so many more stands, which might offer better + cheaper fruits.

3. The best tropical fruits from the islands, which hardly ever make it to the Mainland, are the following (ask for those!):

Apple bananas (small but no other banana compares to it with its delicious taste.

Strawberry papayas. So many visitors tell us that they don't like papayas! This is because they never tasted Strawberry Papayas (red inside).

White pineapples. They look more white than the regular yellow pine-apple. You can't buy those on the Mainland. They are sweet, non-acidic and melt on your tongue.

4. Have you ever tried those exotic tropical fruits like lychee and rambutan? They look funny on the outside but are so yummie on the inside.

5. When you are once at the Farmer's market, check out other local goods vegetables, flowers, beef, fresh baked breads, tropical jams and jellies, honey, baked goods, Maui onions, macadamia nuts, coconuts and more.

OK let's make things easy for you to find the freshest tropical fruits and flowers on your Hawaii vacation. Let's get you connected to the Farmer's markets on the Hawaiian Islands:

For Oahu, read more about the Oahu Farmer's Market at Kapiolani or visit this Kapiolani site.

When visiting Kauai, this site lists all the Kauai farmer's markets.

Best of Maui displays Maui farmers markets Farmers Market Maui offers fresh produce, island fruits, baked goods, salsas, dip, and fresh flowers. Don’t miss this exciting event. Get the freshest produce at the best prices. Farmers Market Maui gives out many samples of the food. Popular items are Maui gold pineapple, apple bananas, strawberry papaya, banana bread, salsas, and guacamole. Find detailed Maui locations, days and opening hours for the Maui Farmers Market.

The biggest Big island farmers market is in Hilo.The Hilo Farmers Market is a must-see experience when you are on your Big Island vacation. You will have to pass Hilo anyways when on your way to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Tropical fruits and flowers are sold by over 200 local farmers. It's already a show for the eye. Hawaiian arts and gifts are across the street from the fruit stands. They make wonderful gifts to take home from your Hawaii vacation. You can't miss the Hilo market when driving into Hilo on Kamehameha Avenue. Hilo's Farmer's Market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays but you will find a few stands open during the rest of the week.

Let us know which Farmer's Market you ever visited on your Hawaii vacation and what you liked best there? Mahalo for sharing your experience about mingling with the crowds buying fresh produce from Hawaiian growers. Mahalo Pua

Hawaii Vacations

Tags: Fresh fruits in Hawaii, Hawaii Farmers Markets