Hawaii Vacation Connection

Direct from Honolulu Hawaii, this podcast focuses on Hawaii Vacations and Travel to Hawaii. Each 15 minute podcast segment is packed with valuable information on pricing, trends and Hawaii vacation itineraries submitted by podcast listeners. Topics range from booking Hawaii All inclusive packages to sailing Hawaii cruises covering just about anything having to do with Hawaii Travel

Today we start the show answering questions from our podcast and Facebook friends. I offer some tips and advice to these listeners and hope they will be of some help. Big Mahalo's to Juale Winas, Monika, Betinna Tores, Carol Silversteinm Jan Blocker, S...

Today we start the show answering questions from our podcast and Facebook friends. I offer some tips and advice to these listeners and hope they will be of some help. Big Mahalo's to Juale Winas, Monika, Betinna Tores, Carol Silversteinm Jan Blocker, Stacy aAexander and Betina Parker for the great questions. If you have a question you'd like answered or an itinerary you need some help with feel free to reach out to me at bruce@hawaii-aloha.com, I'd love to hear from you! Driving in Hawaii vs. Driving in the Mainland One thing folks love to reminisce about from their trip to Hawaii is how driving around the island was vastly different from driving on the mainland. While we will agree it's different, we won't say that it is vastly different. After all, when us islanders travel back to the mainland, all we can think about is how crazy those drivers are in LA and San Francisco! Seriously, is 80mph really worth the risk?!! But anyways, we posed this topic on our Facebook page and watched as the comments piled up. Some were very true-to-life while others were just plain comical. Our favorite repeat mention was how drivers in Hawaii “drive with aloha.” We recently covered this topic on our blog, but because it's proved to be so entertaining we're doing it again. This time with a slightly different spin. We're breaking down driving here island-by-island, beginning with the quiet island that some might not even be able to envision even having a rush hour. The Garden Isle of Kauai is roughly the same size as Oahu but home to only about 67,000 people (compared to Oahu's 875,000 residents). There is one road on Kauai, and the speed limit is 50mph. With recent expansion to the stretch of the Kaumuali'i Highway in Lihue (Kauai's main town), it has given residents and tourists a little more room to navigate together on the road. But that doesn't mean drivers change their habits. Kauai's north shore has many one-lane bridges that fit only one car at a time. While many locals are generous on the road and will wave a car in front of them, there are the faster-driving, lifted truck and speedy coupe drivers that aren't as friendly. Kauai is notorious for this local mentality, so just be forewarned when you visit; not all drivers in Hawaii are as friendly as they might appear. Also, Lihue and Kapa‘a traffic can be a major hold up, and most locals seem to never be in a hurry. If you're late for a dinner reservation or activity, expect to be maddened by a slow-driving, rubbernecking, making-the-traffic-even-worse type of driver on this island! (That is, unless you're behind one of the crazier drivers!) Due to its dense population and capitol city, Oahu has a blend of “good” drivers and “bad” drivers. In Hawaii it is habit to wave to other drivers and throw shaka, but that doesn't mean everyone will. And in areas like Honolulu and the north shore, locals are known to race through certain areas to try and avoid the tourist traffic. Take the stretch of highway in Haleiwa, Oahu's north shore, for example. While it is only a one-lane road, many locals will attempt to bypass the traffic by cutting cars off from the shoulder lane or merging lanes. It really puts a damper on everyone's day! Why does that guy in the big lifted truck think he is above having to wait in traffic to get to the beautiful beaches on this side? Waimea Bay parking lot is another especially aggressive area on the north shore for this type of driving as well. You will see lines of cars waiting patiently for a car to reverse and give up their parking spot, only to be snaked by some local driver who has been eagle-eyeing the spot for the past 10 minutes. Waikiki is notorious for quick-moving buses and trolleys and confused people trying to navigate the roads. Perhaps the lack of grid systems is to blame? Maui is a blend of Kauai and Oahu, but seems to take after more of Kauai's driving habits than Oahu's.

Direct from Honolulu Hawaii, this podcast focuses on Hawaii Vacations and Travel to Hawaii. Each 15 minute podcast segment is packed with valuable information on pricing, trends and Hawaii vacation itineraries submitted by podcast listeners. Topics range from booking Hawaii All inclusive packages to sailing Hawaii cruises covering just about anything having to do with Hawaii Travel

On today’s podcast we answer a few e-mails I’ve received from podcast listeners and friends on our Facebook page. The first one is from Wade who’s planning a trip in April or May to Maui and wanted some advice on the itinerary he has created and researched . I break down his questions and offer […]

On today's podcast we answer a few e-mails I've received from podcast listeners and friends on our Facebook page. The first one is from Wade who's planning a trip in April or May to Maui and wanted some advice on the itinerary he has created and researched . I break down his questions and offer advice about some of the ideas he has about his Hawaii vacation plans. I discuss his condo choice, pricing, and activity wishlist when traveling to Maui. Dropping it all and running away to Hawaii Have you ever thought about dropping everything and moving to Hawaii? That's exactly what one of our listeners is planning on doing and reached out to me for some advice. I discuss the reality of doing something like this and go over pricing for someone who wants to stay here a couple of months and not spend a lot of money. The reality is that if you're going to plan to do something like this you need to be prepared and have a lot of information. Oahu - Big Island Ideas Finally, on today's show, I discuss an itinerary that was sent in from Patricia who wants to get some ideas about an itinerary she's playing for her family to go to two islands. She actually did a great job with her research and I went over some of the ideas she's planning and gave my advice. She wants to see Hilo and Kona on the Big Island. As a reminder, when you fly into Hilo and return your car in Kona there is a perry hefty drop off fee. Hawaii Vacation News Tidbits Several people in Hawaii reported seeing a meteoroid similar to the one that was seen in Russia this week. Turns out that astronomers in Hawaii were not surprised and think it's actually just the space station being seen from the islands. This just underlines the fact that we're so close to the equator we can see most everything in space! If you're coming to Hawaii and love the theater you may want to consider checking out one of the many local performances we have here in the islands. There are several community theater groups that do an excellent job and bring you plays from Oklahoma to funny girl for your enjoyment. We also offer Broadway shows that come in from time to time to play at the Blaisdell Arena if that's something you just can't be without on your Hawaii vacation. Billionaire Larry Ellison bought Island Air this week which adds to his strategy and presence here in the islands. Allison recently bought the island of lanai so it makes sense that he would purchase this airline to control some of the airlift to this small exotic island.

Direct from Honolulu Hawaii, this podcast focuses on Hawaii Vacations and Travel to Hawaii. Each 15 minute podcast segment is packed with valuable information on pricing, trends and Hawaii vacation itineraries submitted by podcast listeners. Topics range from booking Hawaii All inclusive packages to sailing Hawaii cruises covering just about anything having to do with Hawaii Travel

Veggie Hawaiian Choices Are you a vegetarian traveling to Hawaii and still want to enjoy some Hawaiian cuisine? That's exactly the question one of our listeners proposed which we answer on today's show. The fact is traditional Hawaiian food does contain a lot of meat so the choices are limited. The good news is there is lots of choices for folks who still want to experience and Hawaiian food. Koko Crater versus Koko Head Hawaii is notorious for its confusing, hard-to-pronounce landmarks, street names, and towns. With only 12 letters in the Hawaiian alphabet, many visitors come to the islands and never really learn how to correctly pronounce or identify names, which makes vacationing a little bit harder than normal. If you're trying to get to the ocean, but you confuse makai with mauka, then you'll be finding yourself deep in the valleys of the island in no time. The same goes for the names of things, such as beaches, hikes, or points of interest. Our topic today attempts to unveil the mystery and confusion behind the two landmarks on Oahu's southeast side, Koko Crater and Koko Head. Probably the more known of the Koko's for travelers and locals alike is the Koko Crater, but this name has become popular and widely used for misleading reasons. Most people think when they hike the treacherous staircase trail up the mountain, they're hiking the Koko Crater trail. Technically you are hiking the crater, but the trail (and peak for that matter) is in fact called Puu Mai and even further, Kohelepelepe. But for the sake of sanity, let's just refer to it as Puu Mai. There is no such hike as “Koko Crater Trail” although the Internet and apps like Yelp will have you thinking differently. But we're calling ourselves the authority on this topic, and the trail is called PUU MAI! Koko Crater is very massive and from an aerial view looks very much like a crater, visually dominating the view plains in that area. Probably the biggest difference between Koko Crater and Koko Head are their sizes. Koko Crater is much larger than Koko Head. And you can hike up Koko Crater. You can't hike up Koko Head. A little more on the crater: Koko Crater is a cinder cone with a 1.5-mile trail that offers an incredible 360-degree view of southeast Oahu. It's been known to be a great workout, and from Kalanianaole Highway you can see people making the trek up the steep cliff, which faces the ocean, just north of Haunama Bay. Koko Crater is behind Koko Head and has farms and Kaiser High School on it. Within the crater are horse stables and a botanical garden. It is a popular hike on Oahu and pictures online are plentiful. Koko Head, on the other hand, has relatively no photos on the Internet. This is because people are confused as to what land mass it is, and also because they think it is the same thing as Koko Crater. (If you Google Koko Head, images of the Koko Crater will come up). Koko Head is a much smaller cinder cone that juts into the ocean and cradles Haunama Bay. On the other side of Koko Head is Maunalua Bay, a beach with shallow waters located in Hawaii Kai's smaller neighborhood of Portlock. “Maunalua” means “two mountains”, which refers to the two peaks of Koko Head and Koko Crater, which are both visible from the beach. Koko Head is basically just a high point of landmass above Haunama Bay. It has a water tank and communication towers on it, with an access road that is off-limits to the public. Koko Head also has the Koko Head Elementary School on it and upscale homes on it, although I'm not sure what this neighborhood is called… Let's unlock this mystery: The reason why they are both named “Koko” is because they both lie along the Koko rift zone. A rift zone is a feature of some volcanoes where lava erupts from the flanks (or sides) of the volcano, instead of its summit (or peak), due to gravity. (Lava easily flows out of the sides of volcanoes as opposed to being pu...

Veggie Hawaiian Choices Are you a vegetarian traveling to Hawaii and still want to enjoy some Hawaiian cuisine? That's exactly the question one of our listeners proposed which we answer on today's show. The fact is traditional Hawaiian food does conta...

Direct from Honolulu Hawaii, this podcast focuses on Hawaii Vacations and Travel to Hawaii. Each 15 minute podcast segment is packed with valuable information on pricing, trends and Hawaii vacation itineraries submitted by podcast listeners. Topics range from booking Hawaii All inclusive packages to sailing Hawaii cruises covering just about anything having to do with Hawaii Travel

Resort fees. Have you heard of them? They're those LITTLE numbers tacked onto your hotel bill during checkout that make a BIG difference when it comes to price. And now in Hawaii almost every single hotel you stay in will have these “little” mandatory resort fees. That means you have no option, no choice in the matter of whether or not you want to partake in these amenities that are covered by these resort fees. You don't get to choose whether or not you want that newspaper delivered to your door or that one-hour tennis court time reserved or even those fax and copy services made available to you in the hotel's office. You're forced to accept them and further more, pay for them. But just because we're doing our fair share of griping doesn't mean it's all bad news. This topic is designed to inform people on how to take advantage of this seemingly annoying little extra fee. So instead of feeling shocked and pissed off when you see those little number signs slipped onto your bill on a daily rate, heed our advice and allow them to do YOU a favor. It's important to become familiar with the resort amenities that are covered under your hotel's resort fees, in order to maximize your vacation. Go ahead and allow yourself the benefit of those snorkel rentals, free valet, or access to the DVD library so you can know you're getting a good deal when those extra prices pop up. And remember, resort fees are usually a daily fee, which means you are charged anywhere from $2.50 to $37 per night, depending on your hotel. Some hotels do however, charge a “one-time” resort fee that is charged only once per stay. But regardless, let's get you updated, informed, and in-the-know on these fees so that you can feel like the money you're spending equals the amenities you'll receive. Here's a brief look into some of Waikiki's popular hotels and what they're charging for what they're offering: Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel- $18.75 per night. Amenities include: In-room Internet access; Playstation 2 console in each room; unlimited access to DVD movies and Playstation 2 games; daily newspaper; daily in-room safe; Local & Toll Free calls. (The only things we like about this are the Internet access and unlimited DVD rentals, so at least their price isn't SO bad). Hilton Hawaiian Village- $26.18 per night. Amenities include: High Speed Internet access in guest rooms and all public areas; Local calls and 800 access calls; In-Room PlayStation 3 Console with unlimited movies and games; Daily cultural activities including Lei Making, Hula Lessons, Ukulele Lessons (Subject to class availability); Resort Audio Tour. (The classes and activities are pretty cool here, but only relevant if you care to partake. If not, we recommend checking into other hotels, as this resort fee rate is pretty exorbitant). Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa- $25.00 per night. Amenities include: Wireless internet access; complimentary local phone and toll free calls; up to 60 minutes of international calls (per stay); health club access; resort cultural amenities (Hula lessons, Hawaiian history, etc.); beach amenities (towel, umbrella, beach chairs); 2 bottled waters daily. (Again, the classes offered are great, if you're interested in taking them. But we also like the free waters and beach amenities with this hotel because any guest would most likely want to take the Hyatt up on these offers). Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa- $26.18 per night. Amenities include: High-speed internet access in guest room; Wireless high speed internet access in public areas to include lobby, pool area, and Banyan Courtyard; Self parking (valet parking available for a nominal fee); Unlimited local and 1-800 telephone calls; Up to 60 minutes of long distance and international telephone calls per day; Children 12 and under eat for free from children's menu at designated dining outlets for breakfast, lunch,

Resort fees. Have you heard of them? They're those LITTLE numbers tacked onto your hotel bill during checkout that make a BIG difference when it comes to price. And now in Hawaii almost every single hotel you stay in will have these “little” mandatory resort fees. That means you have no option, no choice in the matter of whether or not you want to partake in these amenities that are covered by these resort fees. You don't get to choose whether or not you want that newspaper delivered to your door or that one-hour tennis court time reserved or even those fax and copy services made available to you in the hotel's office. You're forced to accept them and further more, pay for them. But just because we're doing our fair share of griping doesn't mean it's all bad news. This topic is designed to inform people on how to take advantage of this seemingly annoying little extra fee. So instead of feeling shocked and pissed off when you see those little number signs slipped onto your bill on a daily rate, heed our advice and allow them to do YOU a favor. It's important to become familiar with the resort amenities that are covered under your hotel's resort fees, in order to maximize your vacation. Go ahead and allow yourself the benefit of those snorkel rentals, free valet, or access to the DVD library so you can know you're getting a good deal when those extra prices pop up. And remember, resort fees are usually a daily fee, which means you are charged anywhere from $2.50 to $37 per night, depending on your hotel. Some hotels do however, charge a “one-time” resort fee that is charged only once per stay. But regardless, let's get you updated, informed, and in-the-know on these fees so that you can feel like the money you're spending equals the amenities you'll receive. Here's a brief look into some of Waikiki's popular hotels and what they're charging for what they're offering: Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel- $18.75 per night. Amenities include: In-room Internet access; Playstation 2 console in each room; unlimited access to DVD movies and Playstation 2 games; daily newspaper; daily in-room safe; Local & Toll Free calls. (The only things we like about this are the Internet access and unlimited DVD rentals, so at least their price isn't SO bad). Hilton Hawaiian Village- $26.18 per night. Amenities include: High Speed Internet access in guest rooms and all public areas; Local calls and 800 access calls; In-Room PlayStation 3 Console with unlimited movies and games; Daily cultural activities including Lei Making, Hula Lessons, Ukulele Lessons (Subject to class availability); Resort Audio Tour. (The classes and activities are pretty cool here, but only relevant if you care to partake. If not, we recommend checking into other hotels, as this resort fee rate is pretty exorbitant). Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort & Spa- $25.00 per night. Amenities include: Wireless internet access; complimentary local phone and toll free calls; up to 60 minutes of international calls (per stay); health club access; resort cultural amenities (Hula lessons, Hawaiian history, etc.); beach amenities (towel, umbrella, beach chairs); 2 bottled waters daily. (Again, the classes offered are great, if you're interested in taking them. But we also like the free waters and beach amenities with this hotel because any guest would most likely want to take the Hyatt up on these offers). Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa- $26.18 per night. Amenities include: High-speed internet access in guest room; Wireless high speed internet access in public areas to include lobby, pool area, and Banyan Courtyard; Self parking (valet parking available for a nominal fee); Unlimited local and 1-800 telephone calls; Up to 60 minutes of long distance and international telephone calls per day; Children 12 and under eat for free from children's menu at designated dining outlets for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner with paying adult; Mini-surfing lesson (15 minutes, on the beach,

Direct from Honolulu Hawaii, this podcast focuses on Hawaii Vacations and Travel to Hawaii. Each 15 minute podcast segment is packed with valuable information on pricing, trends and Hawaii vacation itineraries submitted by podcast listeners. Topics range from booking Hawaii All inclusive packages to sailing Hawaii cruises covering just about anything having to do with Hawaii Travel

Waterfalls are a big source of question when it comes to vacationers traveling to Hawaii. For some, these natural water spectacles might seem like a mythical creatures, existing only in dreams and in highly unattainable landscapes. Or maybe you've seen waterfalls online and on TV and think the ones in Hawaii could never compare. You might even think that in order to access one, you'd have to be some sort of hiker guru or super nature enthusiast. But no. None of this is true. In fact, Hawaii harbors not only some of the most beautiful waterfalls but some of the tallest in the world too! From steep tumbling falls against jagged cliffs to shorter falls you can jump off, to waterfalls backed by lush green moss and ferns, to shallow pools, deep pools, small pools, and large pools beneath, Hawaii has the ultimate variety when it comes to waterfalls! Many waterfalls in Hawaii are accessible only via helicopter, but don't get discouraged just yet! There are tons that are accessible via hiking trails, kayaks, and tour boats too! Some waterfalls freefall into the ocean, while others drain into fresh pools below. Some are off-limits and some are open to the public. Some are major tourist attractions, while others offer more personal encounters. Some waterfall trails are a quick walk, others are a long hike, and some can take days. Most are free to explore, but some have the occasional parking fee or park entrance fee. Some waterfalls are commonly known and widely visited while others are yet to be discovered. You can usually find wildlife in and around waterfalls such as crayfish, freshwater gobies, freshwater crabs, wild pigs, birds, mosquitoes (yes, lots of them!), and anything else that runs wild in the forests of Hawaii (no snakes though!) You can also usually find fruit along waterfall hiking trails such as guava, papaya, lilikoi, and strawberry guava. Waterfall hikes in Hawaii are usually safe for any age and any stage of hiker, unless there are signs indicating otherwise or security guards protecting the entrance (for example Stairway to Heaven on Oahu and Kipu Falls on Kauai). While we'd like to mention all of our favorites, we're narrowing it down to just one waterfall hike per main island (Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and Big Island). These waterfall hikes were picked for their astounding beauty, accessibility, and overall satisfaction factor. So while we may have other favorites in mind, these ones provide the ideal array for any type of hike and hiker. And we're listing them from the most effortless to the most advanced, but remember; there are plenty of other waterfall hikes on each island that will appeal to any skill level. So if you're vacationing to Hawaii be sure to check out all your options, and not just the ones we mention here. There is so much to explore! So get busy! Big Island: Akaka Falls, Hamakua Our first mention is also the easiest mention that we're highlighting, but quite possibly the one that will yield the heaviest water tumbling down. Akaka Falls State Park features two different waterfalls, Akaka Falls and Kahuna Falls. They are both easily accessed via a short, well-maintained paved path. You'll pass through dense rainforests filled with stunning flora and fauna including bamboo groves, wild orchids, ferns, and towering trees. While walking the 0.4-mile trail through the lush vegetation, you'll first come to the 100-foot Kahuna Falls. Walk further around the loop and you'll come across 442 feet of falling water, known as Akaka Falls- this will simply mesmerize you. There is a parking fee of $5 per car or $1 for walk-ins, but this goes toward the maintenance of the park and upkeep of facilities. There are public restrooms, trashcans, and drinking water available here for convenience. The all-around experience of Akaka Falls is gratifying, easy, and accommodating,

Waterfalls are a big source of question when it comes to vacationers traveling to Hawaii. For some, these natural water spectacles might seem like a mythical creature, existing only in dreams and in highly unattainable landscapes. Or maybe you've seen waterfalls online and on TV and think the ones in Hawaii could never compare. You might even think that in order to access one, you'd have to be some sort of hiker guru or super nature enthusiast. But no. None of this is true. In fact, Hawaii harbors not only some of the most beautiful waterfalls, but some of the tallest in the world too! From steep tumbling falls against jagged cliffs to shorter falls you can jump off, to waterfalls backed by lush green moss and ferns, to shallow pools, deep pools, small pools, and large pools beneath, Hawaii has the ultimate variety when it comes to waterfalls! Many waterfalls in Hawaii are accessible only via helicopter, but don't get discouraged just yet! There are tons that are accessible via hiking trails, kayaks, and tour boats too! Some waterfalls freefall into the ocean, while others drain into fresh pools below. Some are off limits and some are open to the public. Some are major tourist attractions, while others offer more personal encounters. Some waterfall trails are a quick walk, others are a long hike, and some can take days. Most are free to explore, but some have the occasional parking fee or park entrance fee. Some waterfalls are commonly known and widely visited while others are yet to be discovered. You can usually find wild life in and around waterfalls such as crayfish, fresh water gobies, fresh water crabs, wild pigs, birds, mosquitoes (yes, lots of them!) and anything else that runs wild in the forests of Hawaii (no snakes though!) You can also usually find fruit along waterfall hiking trails such as guava, papaya, lilikoi, and strawberry guava. Waterfall hikes in Hawaii are usually safe for any age and any stage of hiker, unless there are signs indicating otherwise or security guards protecting the entrance (for example Stairway to Heaven on Oahu and Kipu Falls on Kauai). While we'd like to mention all of our favorites, we're narrowing it down to just one waterfall hike per main island (Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and Big Island). These waterfall hikes were picked for their astounding beauty, accessibility, and overall satisfaction factor. So while we may have other favorites in mind, these ones provide the ideal array for any type of hike and hiker. And we're listing them from the most effortless to the most advanced, but remember; there are plenty of other waterfall hikes on each island that will appeal to any skill level. So if you're vacationing to Hawaii be sure to check out all your options, and not just the ones we mention here. There is so much to explore! So get busy! Big Island: Akaka Falls, Hamakua Our first mention is also our easiest mention that we're highlighting, but quite possibly the one that will yield the heaviest water tumbling down. Akaka Falls State Park features two different waterfalls, Akaka Falls and Kahuna Falls. And they are both easily accessed via a short, well-maintained paved path. You'll pass through dense rainforests filled with stunning flora and fauna including bamboo groves, wild orchids, ferns, and towering trees. While walking the 0.4-mile trail through the lush vegetation, you'll first come to the 100-foot Kahuna Falls. Walk further around the loop and you'll come across 442 feet of falling water, known as Akaka Falls- this will simply mesmerize you. There is a parking fee of $5 per car or $1 for walk-ins, but this goes toward the maintenance of the park and upkeep of facilities. There are public restrooms, trashcans, and drinking water available here for convenience. The all around experience of Akaka Falls is gratifying, easy, and accommodating, which is why we recommend it for your visit to the Big Island. Oahu: Maunawili Falls, Kailua This hike is beautiful, rewarding,