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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Visit one of the most beautiful islands on the planet - the big island of Hawaii.
Call us for some great specials and deals.
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We are happy to provide some great savings at these Marriott Resorts in Hawaii.
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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 found a great article from DOWN UNDER and reproduced it here on our Hawaii Blog.
Credit to Kristy Muir of The Fraser Coast Chronicle.
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Relax and explore Hawaii's culture
8th September 2012 2:00 PM
The islands of Hawaii boast some of the best beaches and views in the world.
WHEN you hear the word Hawaii, you think coconuts, frangipanis, ukuleles, grass skirts, pineapples and surfing. But there is so much more to the 50th state of the US than meets the eye.
The country is rich in culture and history as well as being picturesque and diverse in activities. Upon landing at Honolulu International Airport on the island of Oahu, I fell instantly in love. I have never been welcomed by ground staff as warmly as I was there. The Hawaiian language is so beautiful and nothing beats being serenaded by a Hawaiian man in their native tongue.
There are six major islands to visit in Hawaii: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii's Big Island. You'll find each island has its own distinct personality and offers its own adventures, activities and sights. Mark Twain called Hawaii, "That peaceful land, that beautiful land... the climate, one long delicious summer day, and the good that die experience no change, for they but fall asleep in one heaven and wake up in another".
I spent just under a week on Oahu (with a couple of extra days on Maui), which gave me time to get around the whole island, as well as do some hiking, snorkelling, partying and lazing at the beach. My decision to spend time on Oahu stemmed from my childhood, growing up watching Elvis Presley's Blue Hawaii and as a teen dreaming about being a famous surfer after watching Blue Crush.
Despite grand plans to learn to surf, my lack of co-ordination kept me from taking the plunge. For me, walking on uneven ground, such as sand, is challenging enough, so trying to stand up on a board in the ocean just seemed too dangerous.
The magical island of Oahu is also home to world-famous Waikiki beach, Pearl Harbor, the North Shore and the dramatic mountain views from the Nuuanu Pali Lookout. Instead of surfing, I opted for snorkelling with turtles at the quaint beach of Haleiwa and hiking up the Diamond Head Summit Trail near Waikiki. I have to admit being one of only four people swimming with wild turtles on Haleiwa beach was not only the highlight of my trip, but also one of the most amazing experiences of my life.
The trip around the island was only a few dollars, on public transport and took about five hours, plus stops at the major attractions along the way, popular beaches, quaint villages and the Dole pineapple plantation. But the long bus ride went fast after meeting three guys from Germany and spending the day exploring with them. Nothing beats travelling alone, with no plans. I love nothing more than meeting a stranger and tagging along with them or letting them join me on my adventures. The people you meet definitely make your holiday unforgettable and the Hawaiian Islands are teaming with like-minded people.
The best thing about these heavenly islands is you can do as little or as much as you like, and I have to admit for most of my holiday, I just lazed on the beach, soaking up the rays and drank Hawaiian punch in a cute little bar on the Waikiki strip.
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There are lots of great things to do in Hawaii. From luaus to kayaking, helicopter tours to horseback riding the islands are filled with fun ways to spend your time in paradise. But since the cost of airfare, accommodations, food and more adds up so quickly it's always nice to find a fun free activity. And, thankfully, Hawaii has some great options in that department. Here's one of our favorites for each island:
The Road to Hana- Maui
Without a doubt the most famous drive in all of Hawaii, the Road to Hana (or Hana Highway as it's also called) is a roughly 50-mile stretch of road which connects Kahului with the town of Hana in East Maui. Don't let the 50 miles fool you; it takes about 2.5 hours to drive from Kahului to Hana because of the winding and narrow roads which pass over 46 one-lane bridges. The drive is well worth the time, though. Along the way you'll pass some of the most spectacular scenery Hawaii has to offer. You'll see a bamboo forest, red sand beach (in Hana) and more waterfalls than you can count. When you go be sure to bring along a guidebook which offers tips and which mile markers to stop at in order to get the best views.
Waimea Canyon- Kauai
If the Road to Hana is the most famous drive in Hawaii, then the drive up and into Waimea Canyon is a close second. Also known as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific" it's a large canyon about 10 miles long and 3,000 feet deep on the western side of the island. Waimea is actually Hawaiian for "reddish water" and if you've ever seen the canyon you'll agree it's aptly named. As you drive to the top of the canyon you'll see green foliage growing along the red rock canyon walls as several waterfalls flow freely off in the distance. If you're into hiking some of the best trails on Kauai are located in this area.
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park - Hawaii
Ok, so this one is almost free. You wil need to pay $10 per car to enter the park. But once you're inside, everything else is free. There aren't many places on earth where you can sit and watch the land being created, so we definitely think it's worth the nominal entrance fee. Once inside there are some really amazing things to see other than just flowing lava, though. For example, the 11-mile Crater Rim Drive will take you past some beautiful sites as you encircle the summit, including desert, steam vents and a lush tropical rainforest. Visit the park's website for more information and to find out about current lava flows and weather conditions.
Bonzai Pipeline - Oahu
If you're into surfing you definitely need to check out the Bonzai Pipeline, one of the most famous surf spots in the world. Surfers from all over the globe come to the north shore of Oahu to test their surfing mettle on waves that average nine feet tall (and are often higher). If you're not an advanced surfer wanting to tackle the waves on your own (and believe us, you need to be pretty advanced to hang with these waves) it can still be a blast watching the pros do their thing. Some of the most famous surfers in the world have made a name for themselves by surfing the Pipeline, including Kelly Slater, Rob Machado, Tom Carroll and Sunny Garcia.
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When you call, make sure to discuss all your possibilites and to get expert advice and suggestions from our Hawaii specialists.
Remember, Hawaii is all we do, so we know Hawaii best!
Mahalo
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We found this great article about the best ways to use frequent flyer miles to get to and from Hawaii and we wanted to share this asap. The author, Jared Blank , did a great job of pulling together airlines that take frequent flyer miles for flights to Hawaii from the Mainland and we re-post it here.
The full article can be found at Online Travel Review.
For those of us who might not have enough miles to cover the flights, give a call to (toll free) 866-574-1909 and ask any of the Hawaii specialists to help you find your best options for flights and accommodations at our 200+ resorts, hotels and condos.
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This short blog post was sent to us by Lory Quipotla who went with her husband, Jimmy, on a much-needed vacation to Oahu. They stayed at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel. and sent a few photos of that hotel, Waikiki, and showing their happiness to be there.
Thank you for your post Lory.
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We finally went on our trip to the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel to celebrate my husband’s 59th birthday, thanks to Great Hawaii Vacations!!!
We had a wonderful time!!!
By the way, check-in with Glenn of the Aston and my husband, Jimmy. Glenn was extremely helpful and friendly. We requested for early check-in (10:30a.m.) and Glenn was able to accommodate us! Yay!! We didn’t have to wait to get settled.
We will always remember the AWESOME & breathtaking view ofWaikiki Beach from our room and of the swimming pool below and the sunset in the afternoons was incredible too.
“Breakfast on the Beach” is included each morning from 6:30a.m. to 9:00a.m. They served a
variety of doughnuts, fruit, yogurt, cereal, oatmeal, miso soup, rice musubi, kim chee, fountain drinks, coffee, tea, and milk. Also, for a fee, there were options of French toast, omelets or cup-of-noodles. Breakfast on the Beach was located by the pool area and entertainment was provided.
And how can we forget the view of Diamond Headfrom the hotel.
We are extremely grateful for the opportunity that Great Hawaii Vacations provided to us!! The view ofWaikiki Beachfrom our hotel room was spectacular and we pulled the drapes back each time we were in the room to enjoy it!!
Again, thank you very much for the wonderful stay at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel!!
Mahalo nui loa,
Lory Quipotla
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To have your Hawaii vacation photos and journal published on the Hawaii blog, send your post with attached photos to info@GreatHawaiiVacations.com
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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.
For more information about your perfect Hawaii vacation, use the menu links at the top of this page or call our specialists at:
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