Depending on what you want out of your vacation, frenetic levels of activity, rocking night life, or peaceful sandy beaches, you’ll want to choose an island that fits your personal preferences.  While sharing the basics of beautiful sun, sand, and surf, each island has its own special ambience, so be sure to make the right match up and have a perfect vacation in paradise.

Here’s a brief rundown to help with your preliminary research.

Waikiki Beach shortly after sunrise, ©2009, Mary Jo Manzanares

Hawaii, the Big Island:  This is the largest of the islands, and also the youngest in development.  On the windward side of the island, you’ll find lush, tropical rain forests and quaint little inns, while on the leeward side of the island is lava rock beaches and big resorts.  There’s also an active volcano on the island, Kilauea.  The Big Island has lots of off-the-beaten-path kind of spots, and with a little luck you’ll be able to find one of the island’s hidden black sand beaches.  If you want activity, you’ll find resorts along the Kohala-Kona Coast offering golf, sport fishing, snorkeling, and tennis.  Specialty tours include Kona coffee plantation tours, swimming with manta rays, hiking across lava beds in Volcanoes National Park, or gazing at the stars at Imiloa Astronomy Center.

Oahu, the Gathering Place:  The most populated of the islands, you’ll find the best in shopping, dining, nightlife, and beautiful hotels and resorts.  The most popular area is Waikiki Beach, where you’ll find options, in all budget ranges, for hotels, dining, shopping, and things to do.  The trade off, however, is beaches that are more crowded, and a little faster, more hectic pace.  Drive or hike Diamond Head, get a little culture at the Polynesian Cultural Center or Iolani Palace, or spend a day at the beach or out on the water.  For a quieter Oahu experience, you could check out the North Shore.  With only one resort (Turtle Bay Resort), it’s a slower, more relaxed pace, and a wonderful antidote the frenzy that can overcome Waikiki.

Maui, the Valley Isle:  Offering something for everyone, Maui is full of quiet, peaceful activities as well as home to bustling and energetic nightlife.  The windward side is fairly remote, with plenty of out-of-the-way spots to spend some quiet time.  The leeward side has plenty of resorts, and development, but you’ll also find a few secluded areas as well.  You may want the solitude of watching sunrise from the top of Mount Haleakala or the adventure of driving the road to Hana, or exploring the shopping, dining and nightlife of the former whaling village (and now main tourist town) of Lahaina.  You’ll find plenty of beautiful water for diving, swimming and snorkeling, and can choose to stay at a major resort (Kapalua, Kaanapali, or Wailea) or find a condo of small hotel.  Maui, with all it’s variety, is a popular spot with honeymooners.

Bench sitting on Kauai, ©2009, Mary Jo Manzanares

Kauai, the Garden Isle:  Less commercial, less developed, and more tropical, Kauai is the oldest of the islands.  This is a wonderful island on which to relax, while still offering a few attractions and things to do.  Most activity centers around the lush tropical foliage of the island, with Fern Grotto (a natural lava-rock grotto with hanging ferns, accessible only by the Wailua River), Waimea Canyon (the Grand Canyon of the Pacific), Na Pali Coast (cliffs, sea caves, remote beaches and waterfalls), hiking, inner tubing, and zip-lining.  Princeville and Poipu are the resort areas, and a little more upscale, and Hanalei and Koloa are older, more historic Hawaiian towns.

Lanai, the Pineapple Isle:  The smallest of the island, Lanai will appeal to people who want to escape the crowds, and be alone.  With only a couple resorts, you won’t find a lot of tourists here.  But that doesn’t mean you won’t find upscale accommodations –- two of the resorts are operated by the Four Seasons.  There’s still a variety of terrain, though, and you can go from beach to forest in very little time.  Rent a jeep and go island exploring, check out Shipwreck Beach, Kaunolu (King Kamehameha’s summer fishing village), and Garden of the Gods (which some swear looks a bit like Mars).

Molokai, the Friendly Isle:  The most secluded and laid back of the island, Molokai harkens back to what Hawaii was like years and years ago, making it one of the most historic and cultural significant islands.  There is only one resort (the Aqua Hotel Molokai with 53 rooms), although you’ll find a few small inns and private residences that rent out rooms, so the island never gets very crowded. Molokai was the residence of Father Damien, a Catholic Priest who cared for the lepers who once sought refuge on the island.  Many of the residents of the island are descendants from the original lepers who lived here.  There are, however, NO active cases on leprosy on Molokai, so it is a safe place to visit.

Photo credit:  both from Mary Jo Manzanares

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

In fact, that type of vacation is one of the reasons people love Hawaii – sun, sand, surf, and stepping on the treadmill of ordinary life.

But at some point, you’re going to want to do something else.  I had a handful of ideas of those “other things” and one of the top of my list was whale watching.  Only problem — I was there on the very early end of the season, and the whales weren’t in town.

It didn’t take but a heartbeat to come up with another idea – if I couldn’t see whale, how about some dolphins?!  I remember watching these graceful and playful creatures as they’d swim alongside a cruise ship.  They’d play in the water, jumping about, almost like they were mocking us.

But I’m also sensitive to not disturbing marine habitat.  They were there first, after all, and I was just interested in viewing, not disrupting them.  Find a tour that appreciated the delicate and important balance between man and nature was important.

The Hoku Nai’a Wild Dolphin Watch Cruise offered by Star of Honolulu seemed to offer a good choice.

The day started off with an early morning pick up (a little after 7 am) at my Waikiki hotel.  "Pick up" meant transportation to west Oahu (our cruise departure location), and was in a comfortable air-conditioned motor coach.  There were a couple of guests from my hotel booked on the cruise, and we picked up a additional guests at stops at other Waikiki hotels.  If you have a car and want to drive, you can meet directly at the harbor, but it was easy and comfortable to just leave the driving and timing to someone else.

The morning ride occurred during morning commute traffic — yes, such a thing exists even in the islands!  The time passed easily as people napped. chatted, or watched an island video played on the motor coach player.   I appreciated that our hosts were available to point out a few sights along the way, answer questions, but did not barrage us with silly puns and inane patter.  Silence is golden at that time of morning.

We were all awake and ready to board by the time we reached Wai’anae Boat Harbor in west Oahu. 

The Hoku Nai’a is a new two-deck catamaran (in photo above), and was custom built to allow for viewing marine life without disturbing them.  On the day of my cruise, there were only about 25-30 passengers (it was off-season), but the boat will hold 149 passengers.  I’d expect it to be much busier during peak season.

As we all wandered around checking out the boat, and locating a spot to sit for departure, we were briefed in some safety information, told a little bit about where we would be going and what to expect, and served some beverages.  Once our crew had everything in order, we were on our way.

But did we see dolphins?  Keep reading. . . .

Riding out to the spot where dolphins had been sighted allowed us a great chance to relax, enjoy the weather, and look for all sorts of other wildlife.  We were given a handout showing a variety of marine life that we might encounter.  We saw a variety of seabirds and fish, but the schools of flying fish were a favorite of all of the guests.

The boat skipper had a general idea of where we were going, and as he was in radio contact with scouts who could point him to the right area with a little more precision.  The crew continued to interact with all the guests, answering questions, pointing out things, and generally making us feel like welcome guests rather than annoying tourists.

When we approached the sighting area, the boat slowed and everyone gathered at the railing to watch.  It wasn’t long before we saw Spinner dolphins swimming, jumping, and playing.  We could see them in the distance, watching as they swam closer, seemingly as curious about us as we were about them.  The crew was great about continuing to point out where we could see them, but it didn’t take must looking at all — they were all over the place.

We did not encroach upon the dolphins’ area, stopping far short.  The crew was very clear that we would only go so close, and that was a matter of protecting them.  Some companies give a sly wink and a nod to environmental rules about man meeting marine life, but this cruise makes clear its commitment to an eco-friendly encounter.

Although we had quite awhile to watch the dolphins, if you love these guys, it could never be long enough.

On the sail back to the harbor, we had lunch (included in the price of the cruise).  The crew fired up the barbecue, grilling burgers for guests.  You picked up your burger and then continued to a table with all the fixings you could want.  I opted for the Hawaiian approach, choosing a Taro bun, and adding grilled pineapple, along with the more standard choices.  Add some chips (there were a variety) and a brownie for dessert, and it was a perfect shipboard lunch.  A refreshing punch was always available, and additional beverages are available for purchased.  (NOTE:  vegetarian option available with 24-hour notice.)

We had no young children on the cruise, but when there are, a keiki program is offered for the young ones.  I took a brief look at some of the activities, and it was almost enough to make me wish I was six years old again.  The Hawaiian culture honors family and children, and that carries over into many of these activities.

Honolulu Star offers a "Dolphin Check."  If you don’t have a dolphin sighting, you receive a free return sailing. (lunch and transportation optional).

The Wild Dolphin Watch cruise operates year round, with a daily sailing at 9:30 am, returning at 11:30 am.  Cruise price is $65 for adults and $39 for children, and includes lunch and non-alcoholic beverages.  Hotel pick up can be added for $20 roundtrip from Waikiki hotels.  Hotel pick up starts at 7 am, returning around 1 pm.

Your hotel will be happy to book the cruise, however, I’d recommend making reservations online before your arrival.

I enthusiastically recommend this activity.  The company is reputable and responsible, managing the difficult balance of providing a quality experience for guests and protecting sea life.  Even a somewhat jaded guest, prepared to dislike anything that seemed remotely like a "tour" was overheard to say, "I’d do this again!"  I’m with him!  I’d do it again, too!

Photo credit: personal collection

_______________________________________________

Post from: Fly Away Cafe

On my recent trip to Honolulu, I had the opportunity to enjoy both aspects of island life, and today’s post touches on a more serious side of island life.

Overlooking the city of Honolulu, is the extinct volcano Punchbowl Crater, home to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, frequently referred to as Punchbowl Cemetery, or simply the Punchbowl.

In addition to its tremendous views of the city, Waikiki, Diamond Head, and Pearl Harbor, the Punchbowl is the final resting place for veterans of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.  During holidays, the individual graves are decorated with small flags, making a sobering view. 

Marble slabs called the Courts of the Missing list the names of military personnel who are missing in action or who were lost or buried at sea (in photo above). At the base of the staircase leading up to the Courts of the Missing reads the following inscription:

In these gardens are recorded

the names of Americans

who gave their lives

in the service of their country

and whose earthly resting place

is known only to God

The Punchbowl was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

The Punchbowl is located at 2177 Puowaina Drive, Honolulu (map it), and is open daily.  Visiting hours are 8 am – 5:30 pm, September 30th – March 1st, and until 6:30 pm, March 2nd – September 29th.  On Memorial Day, visiting hours are 7 am – 7 pm.  There is no charge to visit.

There is no charge to visit.

The Punchbowl is accessible by car, and a number of tour companies make it a scheduled stop on their itineraries.  I much prefer the solitude of a personal visit, rather than visiting with a gaggle of others, who are sometimes unappreciative of the reverence that should be demonstrated while visiting.  There is an e-tour available for those unable to visit in person.

Photo credit

_______________________________________________

Post from: Fly Away Cafe