Your flights are booked, your hotel reservations are made and in a few short weeks (or days) you'll be off to paradise in Hawaii. But what should you do once you get there? Here are a few of the events happening around the islands over the next few months to help you plan your stay.
Aloha Fridays
The Big Island
Every Friday in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park there's a hands-on demonstration lesson given about a cultural craft. The lesson varies from week to week and the events are free, though donations are welcome. Call 808-967-8222 for more information.
LPGA Lotte Championship Presented by J Golf
Oahu
The Ladies Pro Golf Tournament will be held at the amazing Ko Olina Resort from April 14th-20th. The tournament will feature some of the world's best female golfers, including Hawaii's own Michelle Wie. For more information check out www.lottechampionship.com.
A Culinary Romp Through Paradise - Nani Moon Mead
Kauai
Local food experts guide you "from farm to fork" as you explore authentic tastes of Kauai. The monthly tours are designed to offer a variety of tropical flavors as guests explore an exotic fruit orchard, enjoy a cooking demonstration and four-course gourmet meal, and learn about locally made beverages. The tours are held on the east side of the island and reservations are required. Visit www.tastingkauai.com for more information.
Wailuku First Friday
Maui
Wailuku Town's monthly street party comes complete with live music, sidewalk artisans, crafters and food vendors. The street closes to local traffic for this free community event which runs from 6-9pm. The May event will be held on May 3rd. For more information visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wailukufirstfriday
These are just some of the events going on in Hawaii in the coming weeks. Visit Go Hawaii for a full list of all 113 upcoming events.
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Once you've picked the island for your perfect Hawaii honeymoon, the first question you need
to ask yourself is, do you want to stay in a hotel/resort or a condo (with a kitchen)?
Yes, this question even comes before you set your budget. Why? Because the answer to this question can actually help in determining how much to spend each night for your accommodations.
Resorts with lots of restaurants and room service are usually what people picture when they're daydreaming about their honeymoon accommodations, but keep in mind this means you'll need to eat out for almost every meal and the food at the resorts (especially room service) can be pricey.
On the other hand, condos offer fully equipped kitchens meaning you can reheat leftovers, whip up a quick meal or, if you're foodies, cook up a special romantic dinner using local ingredients to enjoy on your private lanai (balcony). Preparing some meals yourself will reduce food costs and could potentially allow you to spend that money on upgrading your accommodations, for example going from a three-star to a four-star or getting an oceanview instead of a gardenview.
Let's take a look at the pros and cons of each:
Hotels
PROS
|
CONS
|
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+ Full-service hotels offer amenities such as restaurants and activities
+ Room service
+ On-site health spa with romantic treatments such as couple massage
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-More expensive than comparable quality condo accommodations
-No kitchen facilities, so all meals will need to be eaten out at restaurants
-Smaller rooms
|
Condos
PROS
|
CONS
|
|
+ Full kitchen in your unit means you can reheat last night's dinner or cook up a romantic dinner for two to enjoy on your balcony
+ More space than traditional hotel rooms
+ Some properties offer condo accommodations in a resort atmosphere offering the best of both worlds
|
-Typically don't offer the same kinds of amenities as hotels
-More space than traditional hotel rooms
-Some properties offer condo accommodations in a resort atmosphere offering the best of both worlds
|
All that said, there are some properties that are the best of both worlds.
For example, the Honua Kai Resort & Spa on Maui has resort-style pools complete with a waterslide, two restaurants and even a fitness center. This type of hybrid property can give you the best of both experiences. Ask your Great Hawaii Vacations personal travel consultant to recommend some other properties like the Honua Kai if this type of option interests you.
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It's easy to say "I want to go to Hawaii for my honeymoon". What's not so easy is determining which island you want to spend what's likely to be the most special trip of your life. Do you want the peace and quiet of Kauai? Or maybe the vibrant Waikiki nightlife on Oahu? In this post we'll cover some of the differences between the four major Hawaiian Islands (Maui, Oahu, Kauai and The Big Island) to help make that decision a little easier for you.
Maui
The Valley Isle (Maui's nickname) was recently listed #2 on US News & World Report's list of the 17 best honeymoon destinations in the world. For anyone who's been there before it's easy to see why. Maui is the most well-rounded of the Hawaiian Islands since it's able to offer lots of shops and restaurants along with lots of natural beauty without feeling overly commercial and busy. Also, if getting accommodations on the beach are important to you then you should take a close look at Maui. Without a doubt it's the island with the most beachfront accommodations. If shopping is your thing there are plenty of options for that with Front St. in Lahaina, Whalers Shopping Village in Kaanapali and the Shops at Wailea. If your more into nature then you can drive the Road to Hana, go horseback riding in Haleakala (the extinct volcano) or take a snorkel trip out to Molokini. Maui really does have it all.
Best for: Those wanting to experience everything Hawaii has to offer all on one island.
Popular Honeymoon Accommodations: Fairmont Kea Lani, Four Seasons Maui, Grand Wailea, Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa, Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Ritz Carlton Kapalua
Oahu
Do you love the idea of having lots of different shops and restaurants within an easy walk from your hotel? Does the energy of a bustling city excite you? If so then Oahu may be the island for you. Waikiki (a neighborhood within the city of Honolulu) has the most shops and restaurants within easy walking distance of any of the Hawaiian Islands. In fact, it's the one area in Hawaii where you don't need to rent a car. One really cool thing about Oahu is with the busy atmosphere you have in Waikiki vs. the quieter areas of the island like the North Shore and Ko'Olina it can almost feel like you're visiting two islands. They also have some of the most popular attractions in the state with places like the Polynesian Cultural Center, Pearl Harbor and Hanauma Bay.
Best for: Those who enjoy the energy of a city and exciting nightlife. Also great for history buffs with the likes of Pearl Harbor and the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Popular Honeymoon Accommodations: Halekulani, Royal Hawaiian, Moana Surfrider a Westin Resort, Turtle Bay Resort, Kahala Hotel & Resort
Kauai 
Kauai was #4 on US News & World Report's list of the best honeymoon destinations in the world. If you're looking for rest and relaxation with a bit of adventure mixed in then this is the island for you. Kauai was nicknamed The Garden Isle due to its vast amount of tropical foliage. It's also the island with the most waterfalls in the state, and it's not even close. Kauai's majestic vistas and jungle vegetation have drawn countless Hollywood film crews to capture her beauty and sense of adventure. Some pretty major motion pictures have been shot on Kauai, including Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Avatar and Pirates of the Caribbean. The North Shore of Hawaii offers the famed Bali Hai view with mountains disappearing into the ocean. Be sure to check out Waimea Canyon (what Mark Twain dubbed the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific"), the Napali Coast and the countless waterfalls dotting the landscape.
Best for: Adventure seekers and, not to be contradictory, those who would enjoy more peace and quiet and less activity.
Popular Honeymoon Accommodations: Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa, Sheraton Kauai Resort, Poipu Kai Resort, St. Regis Princeville Resort
Hawaii (The Big Island)
Hawaii is nicknamed "The Big Island" because, well, it's so massive. The three main resort areas are all very different from each other. Kona is an old fishing village on the southwest side of Hawaii. The Waikoloa/Mauna Lani area is the newer, upscale part of the island about 40 minutes up the coast from Kona. Hilo is clear across the island on the east shore (about 90 miles from Kona). While it's more commercial (though nowhere close to Waikiki) it's also the only place to stay and be within a short car ride of Volcanoes National Park (Volcano House not withstanding). If you want to see a live volcano spewing lava then this is the island for you. There are some great shopping areas, too, especially in Kona and Waikoloa.
Hawaii is a bit like Maui in that it's very well rounded. The one big difference is that due to the size of the island you sometimes have to drive a longer distance to do different things. Also, one thing to point out is that the Big Island has a different look from the other islands due to the sheer amount of lava rock found everywhere. Some people love it (it's a very clean, vibrant black that contrasts nicely with the tropical foliage) while others feel like they're vacationing on the moon. We definitely recommend scoping out some pictures of the landscape before deciding whether or not The Big Island is for you.
Best for: Those who want to see an active volcano since, well, it's the only option. Also great for adventure seekers.
Popular Honeymoon Accommodations: Four Seasons Hualalai, Fairmont Orchid, Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort, Hilton Waikoloa Village
So Which Island is the Best for Honeymoons?
That's up to you! The beauty of Hawaii is that you can have a very different experience depending on which island you're staying on, so it's all a matter of finding the island that best fits your interests and activity level as a couple. Hopefully this guide will help make that choice a little easier for you.
Have you honeymooned on Hawaii? Leave a comment and tell us where you stayed!
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Hawaii has long been one of the top honeymoon destinations in the world.
In fact, a recent ranking of the best honeymoon destinations by US News & World Report puts two of Hawaii's islands (Maui and Kauai) among the top four honeymoon locations on the planet.
So picking the destination should be easy, but once you've decided on where to go, what comes next?
Over the next few weeks we'll be doing a blog series on planning your perfect Hawaii honeymoon. From choosing the perfect romantic restaurant to planning a romantic day trip we'll help take the stress out of planning one of the most special trips of your life.
In this series we will be posting about:
- Picking the perfect Hawaiian island
- Should you stay in a hotel or condo?
- Setting your accommodations budget
- Should you stay on the beach?
- Is an oceanview room worth it?
- What are the best romantic restaurants?
- Planning a romantic day trip
- Popular honeymoon activities
- General honeymoon planning tips
Tomorrow we'll launch the first post in the series focusing on picking the
perfect island for your Hawaii honeymoon.
In the meantime are there any Hawaii honeymoon topics you'd like to see us cover?
Post your suggestions for topics and honeymoon planning tips in the comments below!
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Wailea, Maui, Hawai΄i, September 6, 2012
The Fairmont Kea Lani was recently voted as the best resort on Maui for both dining and Hawaiian culture by the readers of Maui News. Kō, the hotel’s signature restaurant, was named “Best Resort Restaurant,” and “Best Plantation Cuisine.”
The venue was also runner-up for the “Best Restaurant Overall” and “Best Chef” categories. In addition to the dining accolades, The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui was voted to have the “Best Hawaiian Cultural Program” by the island community.
The title of “Best Resort Restaurant” follows a multi-million dollar renovation to Kō last fall. Kō, which translates to “sugarcane” in Hawaiian, showcases the diverse culinary history of the sugarcane plantation era, serving innovative Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese, Korean, and Japanese dishes. The unique dining experience features island family recipes that have been passed down for generations and serves over 85% local ingredients. Since its reopening last April, Kō has also been honored with the title of Best Menu for a Small Planet by Maui No Ka ‘Oi Magazine.
Executive Chef Tylun Pang was also named as The 2012 Friend of Agriculture by the Maui County Farm Bureau. The new Wailea hotspot offers nightly entertainment, a wine list with over 200 bottles, hand crafted signature cocktails and two daily fresh catch specials.
The title of “Best Cultural Program” on Maui recognizes The Fairmont Kea Lani’s dedication to preserve and perpetuate the Hawaiian culture. The resort’s extensive cultural program is led by full time Learning and Cultural Coach, Jonelle Kamai. As a graduate of Ola Hawai’i, a program developed by The Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association (NaHHA), Kamai oversees all complimentary guest activities and classes that include outrigger canoe paddling, Hawaiian language, Hawaiian history, and monthly cultural celebrations. The hotel’s close partnership with University of Hawaii, Maui College also allows access to the island’s most talented culinary and music students, offering traditional Hawaiian entertainment and cuisine. In addition to guest activities, Kamai leads the hotel’s Hawaiian Cultural Committee and trains all hotel staff in Hawaiian history, language and culture.
Maui News’ annual “Best of Maui” contest provides an opportunity for the community to recognize the primer offerings on Maui. The contest, which was established in 1992, collects hundreds of electronic and paper ballots each year. Winners were announced on September 2.
For more information on The Fairmont Kea Lani contact your Great Hawaii Vacations expert at 866-574-1909.
About The Fairmont Kea Lani
Located on the pristine white sands of Wailea, The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui is Hawaii’s only luxury oceanfront resort featuring spacious suites and villas. This distinctive hotel encompasses 22 acres of tropical landscape and offers authentic Hawaiian cultural experiences and warm and personal service which portray the essence of aloha. A luxurious haven in one of the most scenic places on earth, the resort rests gracefully on Polo Beach, situated on the sunny southwest shores of Maui.
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We have good news for our Canadian friends. WestJet has recently leased two Boeing 757-200 aircraft from Thomas Cook Airlines. With the new equipment they will be adding three new routes to Hawaii. The new routes are seasonal, though they've been added for the right time- mid-December through April. So if you're wanting to get somewhere warm and sunny in the dead of winter WestJet just made it a little easier.
The new planes bring a few perks with them. For one, they'll hold more passengers than WestJet's current fleet of planes (their 737's hold between 119-166 passengers while the 757's hold 235 passengers). Another big benefit is the fact that they can fly farther as well, allowing for flights between Alberta and Hawaii.
Here is the breakdown of the new routes:
- Edmonton to Maui (Kahului) three times per week
- Calgary to Maui (Kahului) three times per week
- Calgary to Oahu (Honolulu) three times per week
The hotels and condos are already starting to fill up for the peak winter travel time (end of December through the end of February) so you'll want to jump on these fares and get your accommodations booked as soon as possible.
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Wailea, Maui, Hawai΄i, July 18, 2012
The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui resort recently introduced an extensive cultural program tailored to guests who desire a deeper understanding of Hawaiian culture. The program is led by the resort’s full-time certified Cultural Coach and offers authentic Hawaiian
experiences in a luxury resort setting.
“We’re finding that travelers are looking for a vacation experience that offers Hawaiian elements beyond lei, mai tais and tropical flowers,” says Jonelle Kamai, Cultural Coach at The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui. “The hotel’s philosophy is to value and respect the Hawaiian culture. Every employee at our resort takes tremendous pride in sharing Hawaiian history, art, language, customs and cuisine with our guests.”
The resort offers three cultural activities throughout the year, including the Hawaiian Canoe Experience Hawaiian Cultural Tours, and a weekly session on ΄Ōlelo Hawai‘i (Hawaiian language). In a commitment to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture, all Hawaiian cultural activities are complimentary for hotel guests.
In addition to these activities, the resort honors a different aspect of Hawaiian culture and history each month with a day-long celebration that includes musical performances, educational activities and dining specials.
Also this summer, this Maui resort will be offering a special 8-week Aloha Friday Summer Concert Series with theUniversity ofHawai΄i,MauiCollege’s Institute of Hawaiian Music (IHM). IHM is dedicated to the preservation of Hawaiian music and is led by Hawaiian music icons, including four-time Grammy award winnerGeorge Kahumoku Jr. The Free concerts take place in the hotel lobby every Friday from 5-6 p.m.
Diners looking to experience local flavors can do so at Kō, the resort’s newly renovated award-winning signature restaurant, which showcases the diverse culinary history ofMaui’s sugarcane plantation era. Led by Executive Chef Tylun Pang, the menu includes island family recipes that have been passed down for generations.
Couples planning a Maui wedding will enjoy Ka Male ΄Ana Hawai΄i, a new wedding
package that emulates an ancient Hawaiian wedding ceremony. The unique ceremony is conducted by a Kahu (Hawaiian minister) who is the great, great grandson of Queen Ka'ahumanu and includes an arrival by outrigger canoe, a Hawaiian oli (chant) and a kī (ti leaf) ring exchange.
Through enriching experiences in the comfort of luxury accommodations, The Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui resort’s cultural program offers guests a deeper understanding ofHawaii’s rich culture.
Travelers visiting Maui this fall can take advantage of 40% off the best available room rate now through August. Call Great Hawaii Vacations, Toll Free at 866-574-1909 for all the details.
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Don't look now, but it looks like airfare to Hawaii might finally be on the way down.
For the past several years airfare seems to have been continually climbing, with prices from West Coast cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco coming in between $700-$900/ticket for the summer. But recently we've noticed some encouraging signs that the price for flights to Hawaii are on the way down.
For example, if you're traveling from Denver to Honolulu in September we can find flights for as low as $200 each way on US Air. We've seen similar deals on US Air from Phoenix as well. If you're coming from LAX we've seen roundtrip airfare for under $500 to both Oahu and Maui. So, the deals are definitely out there.
This sudden drop in prices begs the question: why is the airfare finally falling?
Well, there are a few potential reasons. Gas prices have been falling, so that can sometimes translate into a reduction in airfares. Also, United and Continental are finally getting their merger figured out. It was rough at the outset, with technical glitches, obscenely long hold times on customer service lines and sky-high fares. But now that their systems seem to be cooperating we've noticed a reduction in their fares. Finally, the truth of the matter is the consumer has started to fight back by simply refusing to pay the extremely high fares. The airlines started to see that people weren't consistenly going to pay the high prices, so they've dropped their prices in order to increase demand.
Regardless of the reason, the good news is that airfare is definitely more affordable now than it has been in quite some time.
So if you've been on the fence about whether or not to take a trip to Hawaii, now is the time to grab that airfare before it disappears.
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It’s easy to see why snorkeling in Maui is some of the best snorkeling in the world.
Each year thousands of visitors travel to Maui to experience one of Maui’s fantastic snorkeling tours. Maui’s shallow reefs provide an excellent place to see the countless variety of fish and sea life that inhabit the Maui coastline. Like finding a hidden treasure, first time snorkelers take home a truly special experience from their Maui vacation with memories that last a lifetime.
We love the new snorkel store in Lahaina, aptly named: "THE SNORKEL STORE".
Now, for a limited time, during their grand opening, the Snorkel Store in Maui is giving away free snorkel gear rentals to travelers with Great Hawaii Vacations.
To reserve the gear Great Hawaii Vacation travelers just need to go to www.TheSnorkelStore.com. Scroll to the bottom of the page and simply reserve your gear.
Even though it is for a limited time, but we think it may last longer. Give them a ring and ask about your next trip. They may just extend it until you come!
They also offer great pricing on all activities for Maui.
Learn about The Snorkel Store or call them at
(877) 669-1077
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At Great Hawaii Vacations we pride ourselves on giving honest, insightful information and we want to make sure you’ve thought about all the different options before spending your hard earned money for the vacation of your dreams in Paradise.
Here is a question sent to us all the way from Boston, MA. Mahalo to Mr. Mark Murphy.
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Q. Do you recommend booking beach front accommodations in Hawaii?
Mr. Murphy - Mahalo for your great question.
At first glance, the answer to this question would seem like a no brainer, and in some cases it is.
Beautiful Hawaii Beaches: Hawaii is known for a lot of things, and at the top of the list are the beautiful stretches of
beach lining the coasts of each island. Does your vision of Hawaii include relaxing in your resort room or condo and spending countless hours on the sand by the resort wrapped up in your favorite book or just soaking in the rays? Then staying at a beachfront property would certainly be on your list of “must-haves” when considering your accommodations choices.
Prices: Although staying at a beachfront property may be desirable, when it comes to booking beachfront accommodations the biggest potential issue may be the price. If you want to stay at a property where you’re literally steps away from the sand it will cost more than a property across the street from the beach. So you might get more bang for your buck getting accommodations across the street. For example, take Wailea, Maui: Though it sits a little ways back from the ocean the Outrigger Palms at Wailea can be a
great alternative to the more expensive beachfront properties in the resort area. The condos at the Outrigger are well appointed, the grounds are peaceful and serene and you can either walk for a few minutes or drive for a couple and arrive at one of Wailea’s pristine beaches.
Other Beaches: Another issue to consider is that while the beach on which your hotel sits may be beautiful, each island in Hawaii offers many other beaches with different qualities. Some are great for swimming, some for snorkeling, some for surfing. Some, like Kaihalulu on Maui, even have different colored sand! If, during your vacation in paradise, you plan on sampling many different beaches on your island then you might be able to save some money by staying at that condo or hotel property across the street from the ocean since you're planning on hitting a different beach every day anyway.
With all that said, the beaches in Hawaii are among the best in the world. Most people want to stay right on the beach, not only for convenience but for the beauty the beaches offer as well. When it is in your budget we absolutely recommend it.
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