I Love Hawaii

There is no better way to see the Big Island in Hawaii but by driving around it. You will be going thru different landscapes like lava flows, jungles, cool highlands, valleys, soaring mountains, and warm beaches. The Big Island is the biggest portion of Hawaii and is the first seat of the old Kingdom that started it all.

Kailua Kona

Start your journey at the Kailua Kona where you will see the first church built by the Christians in 1820. The Mokuaikaua was rebuilt using lava rock and crushed coral in 1837 and up to this day, it is a good place to retreat into if you want to escape from all the urban noise you are used to. Just nearby is the Hulihee Palace which now serves as a museum.

Ahuena Heiau

The Ahueana Heaiu was used by the Great Kamehameha when he conquered the islands of Hawaii in the early part of the nineteenth century. The surrounding villages was known as the capital of the islands thru 1821 and up to now a lot of the natives see it as the capital of Hawaii.

Coffee Country

Just before reaching the village of Captain Cook on the 110 mile marker, pull over to the Kona Coffee farm where you can learn about the lifestyle in the plantation that has evolved in the last century. Here you will know more about coffee and also be able to try local fruits like Kona oranges, guavas, passion fruit and more.

Kealakekua Bay

In the Kealakekua Bay, you will see a monument where James Cook was killed in 1779 by the natives of the islands. This significant piece of history happened a year after Cook became the first Europeans to reach what they called Sandwich Island.

Forest and Lava Fields

After the coffee shack and Painted Church, you will be passing thru fields of lava and paradise like forests.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Stop by at the visitor center of the park and inquire how you can see some active lava flowing out of the earth. Most likely a ranger will take you thru a guided hike.

Honokaa

From Honomu you have to get off the highway to go to the Honokaa which overlooks the Waipio Valley offering one of the most picturesque sites in Hawaii.

Over the last few years whale watching has become a very popular activity. As a result almost anywhere that whales pass close to will market itself as a great whale watching destination. However one of the best places to see whales is in the already popular tourist destination of Maui. The reason for this is that Maui has a lot of advantages over other areas where there are a lot of whales.

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If you want to have a Hawaii holiday but you are a parent that have kids to worry about, then you must remember that Hawaii offers more than being a top honeymoon destination. Your kids can do a lot of things in Hawaii and they will not have any reason to be bored.

Here are some things kids can be busy with in Hawaii:

Surfing

This is on top of the activities your kids can engage in Hawaii. If your kid has not tried this before, there are a lot of surfing schools in Hawaii which cater to children who want to learn. A good place to learn how to ride the waves Is in the island of Oahu. The waves around the third biggest island of Hawaii are gentle enough for kids and perfect for surfing beginners.

Pearl Harbor

Help your kids learn about a good chunk of history and visit Pearl Harbor with them. Your kids will not be snoring during the tour since there are a lot of interesting things to see like the USS Missouri where the Japanese forces surrendered. They can also tour the battleship to see where Gen. Douglas McArthur once walked. There is also the USS Bowfin Submarine which is now converted as a museum.

Volcanoes National Park

The islands of Hawaii are still evolving because of the active volcanoes of the islands. The volcanoes are also great destinations so your kids can learn something about our planet. You and your kids will enjoy the ride thru the Crater Rime Drive or along the Chain of Craters Road which will bring you close enough to the flowing lava.

Hawaii offers unlimited number of places if you are looking for spectacular views. If you are on a Hawaii holiday and cruising on its roads, you even do not need to get off the car to appreciate the beauty, just roll down the window and click away. Here are some of the best destinations in Hawaii:

Road to Hana

The Hana Highway in Maui brings you down a road that stitches in and out of the green valleys, breath taking cliffs, by the waterfalls, and exciting one lane bridges. There are several lookouts where you can stop and stretch a bit. You can also hike to swimming holes or go for some hiking.

Papawai Point

All you will need are your binoculars to see the giant humpback whales enjoying the waters near the Maalaea Bay. Slow down when you get to the 8 and 9-mile marker. Stop when you see the scenic point sign. Stop. And enjoy the beautiful Hawaii sunset.

Mauna Kea Summit

Mauna Kea is in Big Island offers one of the most breath taking views in the state of Hawaii. It is considered as a sacred spot by the locals. Being on top of Mauna Kea is like looking down into earth from heaven with all the marshmallowy clouds. Stay for a bit and wait for the stars, and you can be looking at the best view of our galaxy.

Saddle Road

The name comes from the shape of the path you will take from Mauna Kea through Mauna Loa. This is a 53 mile saddle-shaped road. The sunrise and sunsets are among the best in the world.

Na Pali Coast

Take a boat earl y in the morning and you will be viewing the velvety cliffs from the waters while sea turtles, dolphins, and whales keep you company.

The Renew Hotel in Honolulu is not your ordinary, beachfront hotel. As a matter of fact, it’s about a block away from the Waikiki Beach. Replacing the old Tower Hotel, this nine-story hotel is a modern, inexpensive, and subtle but sophisticated boutique hotel which only recently opened in 2008.

If one is going to describe the style of the Renew, the concepts of “New Age” and “Japanese” will probably pop up. However, unlike other hotels who have ventured in the same line, the Renew sits there without pretention. When you enter the building, you’ll feel nothing but warmth and friendliness from both the structure itself and the hotel staff.

The hotel is located on the eastern tip of the Waikiki. It’s about a block away from the Kapiolani Park. You’ll also find an abundance of upscale shops, souvenir stores, restaurants, and bars just 10 minutes away from the Renew. A room at the Renew will pretty much feel like an oasis as well. Some rooms may not have a balcony, but they’re definitely big enough for two people.

The Japanese styling details are comforting. You’ll be immersed in a black, brown, gray theme, with Japanese sliding window screens opening up to the Pacific. You can also adjust the room’s lighting to your taste, whether you’re off to sleep, prefer dimmed lighting for relaxation, or in need of bright lights for reading.

Standard rooms of the hotel also have a large TV, a lounge chair, a small refrigerator, and an average-sized bathroom with a New Age vibe to it. You might find the tub small, but the bathroom is good enough for relaxing showers.

When it comes to Hawaii – by far, one of the most important attractions in Hawaii is the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  This park is filled with active volcanoes and I can tell you for sure, that these volcanoes are certainly a sight to see.  Not only will you get to see some bubbling, hot lava, but the volcanoes themselves are breathtaking.

These volcanoes are extremely different, totally unique and are definitely one of those things that you have to see whenever you are in Hawaii.  Hawaii is one of the only places that have active volcanoes left and I have to say, they are beautiful.

You want to try a unique and different tour?  Try a volcano park tour, they are certainly unique!

Whenever you are in Hawaii, one of the most popular tourists attractions to visit is Pearl Harbor.  If you are a history buff, then you know all about Pearl Harbor, but can you imagine exactly what it is actually like to be there?  This attraction is definitely one that you need to check out whenever you are in Hawaii.

One great way to do that is actually via a tour.  There are many different tours for you to choose from, however you want to make sure that you find one suits all of your needs and certainly gives you enough time to really appreciate what you are seeing.

Pearl Harbor is a beautiful sight and one that is so historic, why would you not want to see it?

Once again, it seems that Hawaii has actually taken the bill of gambling down.  It seems that Hawaii is kicking the gambling out of its islands and while it might seem like Hawaii might be a good place to gamble, that is just not the case.  Personally, I think that this bill going through is fantastic.

Why would you want to spend all of your days on the inside, gambling all of your money away instead of spending it on the beach or outside where you can actually soak up some of those beautiful rays.

Hawaii is a place to be outside and if you are inside, you are gambling all of the time.

By far, one of the most exciting and interesting attractions in Hawaii that people do not know about is the Sugarcane Train and it is actually the only remaining steam train here in Maui.  It is one of the most unique and different attractions and I think if you just give it a chance … you will love it.

It runs about four times a day from three different stations, Puukolii, Kaanapali and finally Lahaina.  These three stations are the only ones that it runs out of and if you are curious about the times … you might have to do some research.

The price though?  That is about $22.50 round trip for adults and then $15.50 for kids and anyone under 3 is free.

Now that we have talked a little bit about the camping on the beach, let’s go ahead and discuss the snorkeling that happens in Hawaii.  Hawaii is by far one of the best places in the world to snorkel.  The reason being that you can see so many beautiful, wonderful things in the ocean and it is so blue and so clear, it is absolutely incredible!

There are a ton of different places that you can find snorkeling too, which makes it extremely easy and most of the time, it is very inexpensive, so if you are on a budget, you can definitely make sure that you stay within that while you are snorkeling.

Hawaii is a fantastic place to visit and certainly one of the best places in the world to take a vacation to!