Today’s edition focuses on Maui and its nickname, “the valley isle”. The following photo taken from a catamaran off the West coast of Maui illustrates that name. (By the way, Maui is also known as the magic isle, too.)
So in keeping with the Aloha Friday tradition started by Kailani at An Island Life, it’s time to pose a fun question. My question to you is what’s the nickname of your town or region? Please share it in the comments. Happy Aloha Friday!
Oh, and be sure to check out the other Aloha Friday participants here.
According to this VRBO article it is and in some ways I tend to agree with them. Most people have heard of the popular resort areas of Kapalua, Kaanapali, Lahaina, and Wailea, but Kihei isn’t as well known for being a Maui vacation destination, probably because there aren’t many resort hotels. Though Kihei is not heavily laden with hotels (which can be a good thing), it does offer some nice condo accommodations. Of course, you savvy GoVisitHawaii.com readers already know that staying in a condo can save you lots of money.
Kihei is centrally located on the coast of the West side of Maui. It’s just north of Wailea and south of Lahaina and less than a 30 minute drive from the Kahului Airport (OGG).
The VRBO article had some interesting facts about Kihei that I thought were worth mentioning. First, the weather can be fairly predictable.
Kihei’s weather is ideal almost year round. Temperatures average between 75 and 85 degrees, and while other areas of Maui tend to have a rainy season from November to March, Kihei averages less than 12 inches per year.
Next the beaches are great for water sports. (Too be honest, are there any/many bad beaches in Hawaii?)
Kihei’s largest draw is its fine beaches. In fact, the Kihei coast consists of one wide, sandy, sunny beach after another. Under the attentive watch of lifeguards, these beaches are also considered some of the safest areas in Hawaii.
Regular visitors to Kihei learn some of the town’s beaches are renowned for swimming, while others for scuba diving, body surfing, or board surfing. The water remains warm year round, often climbing to 80 degrees in the summer.
In case you don’t already know, I’m a big fan of staying in condos on my vacations to Hawaii. Sure, staying at the Four Seasons is a treat, but you really can’t beat the conveniences and price of staying in a condo anywhere in Hawaii. In fact, I’m going to the Kohala Coast of the Big Island in March and I’ll be staying in a condo.
What makes condos a wise decision? I’ll give you 5 good reasons:
1. You’ll save money on accommodation cost. From my experience, I’d estimate that the average cost for a condo in Hawaii is somewhere around $200 to 250 per night, but you can find many for much less than that. In fact in March, I’ll be staying in a brand new condo with a beautiful golf course and sunset view for $150 per night.
On average, most Hawaii vacation condos sleep 4 to 6 people, making it a great choice for families who need the extra room. The kids can have their own room, while mom and dad get some privacy in their own bedroom.
If you’re single, staying in a condo is also a good choice. Split $200 per night with 3 of your friends and voila, you’ve found a cheap vacation to Hawaii! A Go Visit Hawaii reader, Sheri Bigelow, shared this comment on my article, Vacationing in Hawaii on the Cheap:
I just visited Oahu in May and rented a house with a bunch of fellow photographers. We stayed at a house we found on www.vrbo.com and it was great! Splitting the cost of the rental between us worked out to be about $550 each for a week. Beat that for Hawaii vacation budget-friendliness! Word of advice though, you may want to take care of the money arrangements ahead of time just to be safe (or in case you don’t completely trust the $pending habits of your rental buddies).
2. You can cook some meals. Every condo I’ve stayed in has well equipped kitchens. Many of them are quite nice with granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. They usually have lots of extra stuff like toasters, blenders, and full-sized coffee makers (not those microscopic, 2 cuppers that you find in a hotel room.) Most condos have grills, too. So if you get to go fishing in Hawaii and catch a nice fish, you can grill it for dinner.
So, stop off at the Safeway or Foodland in Hawaii, pick up some milk, cereal, fruit, bread and sandwich stuff for lunch and you’ve saved bunches and bunches of money - I’d estimate at least $20 per person per day.
The photo on the right shows one of my favorite breakfasts in Hawaii. Kona coffee and a Safeway cinnamon roll with cream cheese icing. (Trust me, they were delicious, though a bit decadent.) We took that photo while staying at a beautiful ocean front penthouse condo on the North Shore of Kauai. Who can beat that ocean front view from the lanai?
3. Most condos have a washer and dryer. So, you can pack light and you know I’m a big fan of that!
4. Many condos are equipped with coolers, beach towels and beach chairs. Hawaii has so many gorgeous beaches and it’s so nice to be able visit different beaches with your own beach chairs. It’s also handy to have a cooler of cold drinks in the trunk of your rental car when you’re out sight-seeing.
Sometimes, you can get lucky with other amenities that you’d never find in a hotel. In the condo we stayed at in Kauai, we had a telescope for star gazing, a sunroom (shown in the top left photo), a Japanese soaking tub, and remote controlled, surround sound stereo system.
5. You’ll have a bit more privacy and a lot more space. I think this one is pretty self explanatory.
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So how do I find the condos I rent? I usually find them on www.VRBO.com (Vacation Rental By Owner). It’s a bit of a clunky website to use, but if you can set aside the time to sift through it, you can find some real gems. Alternative, if you’re a bit worried about working directly with the owner rather than a full management company, then ResortQuest and Outrigger are of Hawaii’s largest companies who manage condo vacations.
There are some “downsides” to renting a condo, though they’re really not so bad.
Unless you stay at a ResortQuest or Outrigger managed property, you won’t have daily maid service to make your bed or give you fresh towels. Some owners may offer the option to add daily or semi-weekly housekeeping services for an additional fee.
Each condo is individually owned and decorated. Some are beautifully decorated and others make you wonder what were they thinking.
As each condo is individually owned, they are not all kept up to the same standards. Check out websites like TripAdvisor.com for reviews. Also, don’t be afraid to ask the owner for references, if you have concerns.
Bear in mind that you’ll still have to pay Hawaii hotel tax at a rate of 11.416%.
You may have to pay a cleaning fee, that’s usually no more than $150 for your entire stay.
You may have to pay a security deposit up front to protect the owner from any damage that you may inadvertently cause. The deposit will be refunded if you don’t damage anything.
I know there are other proponents of condos who read Go Visit Hawaii, so please chime in on the comments and share your opinions.
Are you ready to celebrate the new Chinese New Year, the year of the brown rat? If you’re on Oahu, you’ll find exciting ways to celebrate it Here’s a couple of fun events going on in Honolulu:
Night in Chinatown 2008 Festival & Parade Event Description: A day long block party features food, Martial Arts, crafts, good luck trinkets, Lion Dances, fireworks, and other entertainment. At 4:00 pm the ever-popular Night in Chinatown commences with Color Guards, Lion Dances, bands, Martial Arts clubs, Chinese Societies, marching units, and the majestic and colorful dragon! When: Saturday, February 2nd Where: Chinatown in Honolulu. Parade from Richards/Hotel St to River/Hotel St.
Aloha Tower Marketplace Chinese New Year Celebration Event Description: Celebrate the Year of the Rat with FREE entertainment in the Center Atrium, including a traditional Lion Dance by the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association. Don’t miss out! The Lion will roam the Marketplace setting off firecrackers and bringing spectators and merchants good fortune in the coming year! Head to Hong Kong Harbor View for unbeatable New Year menu specials and Imperial Gallery for fantastic discounts on Asian-inspired art, apparel and accessories. When: Sunday, February 10, 2008 from 11:00 AM Where:Aloha Tower Marketplace Center Atrium
Here’s a brief video from 2007 Chinese New Year Celebration. I just love the lions, dancing, music and colors of the festivities!
If you own a business with an online presence and you’d like to learn how social media can help your business, then consider participating in the Aloha Social Media Summit on March 18th and 19th. This two day workshop will be held on the Big Island on the Kohala Coast.
As one of the summit sponsors described it: “The Aloha Social Media Summit will be run like a workshop–in the vein of Elite Retreat–and will be limited to just 28 attendees. That way we can guarantee that you’ll come away with valuable, personalized knowledge you can use.”
The speakers that have been confirmed are Andy Beal (my fabulous husband), Dave Taylor, and Roxanne Darling. The event is already great value–at $2499 per person–but Go Visit Hawaii readers can save another $250 by using the code “VisitHawaii”.
Yay! It’s time for a new reader reward contest. The entry requirements are simple. All you have to do is be a free subscriber via RSS or e-mail then watch for a secret message at the bottom of a post. Once you see the secret message, you can use this easy contact form to send me the secret message. To make the contest just a bit more fun, I’m going to be issuing more than one secret message periodically between now and February 29th. Each new secret message that you send me will result in an entry. So, you can have one new entry for each new secret message. As a thank you to the nice bloggers who blog about the contest, they will get an entry for blogging about the contest.
This fun Hawaii-themed fun pack includes:
A cool “Aloha Hawaii” mouse pad with a retro scene of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head
Milk Chocolate Toffee Covered Macadamia Nuts
Roasted Macadamia Nuts with Sea Salt
Two Hawaii-themed, hand-painted, fridge magnets.
As far as rules go, I just need to receive your entries by March 1, 1008. Good luck!
I love this article on why Hawaii is the best place in the world for stargazing. I’ve been amazed at the number of stars and shooting stars that I’ve at the top of Haleakala just before dawn. You don’t have to get up to the top of Haleakala or Mauna Kea to appreciate the clear view of the night sky. Just try to get to a place without nearby “light pollution”. It’s a real treat!
Go! Airlines is having another inter-island fare sale. This one is a leap year sale for $29 one way. You must book your tickets by midnight January 30th for travel from tomorrow through February 29th.
If you’re a frugal traveler, you may find some good money saving ideas in this article, Hawaii on a Dime, in the NY Times. I thought I was frugal, well, not in comparison to this chap who visited the Big Island and Kauai. He really saved significantly on his accommodations.
A Hawaii State Senator is proposing a plan for the state to buy the Coco Palms Resort and convert it into a public park, per the Kauai Garden Island New. I like the concept, but it comes with a $10 million price tag. Oh, please, someone bring back life into this storied resort.
Today, we’re so fortunate to have Natalie Norton back with us to share some fantastic tips for getting those ‘knock your socks off’ Hawaii vacation photos. (I hope you didn’t miss yesterday’s awesome interview with Natalie on tips for hiring a wedding and family portrait photographer in Hawaii.)
Natalie Norton is a very talented and energetic professional photographer on Oahu. I really appreciate her willingness to share her photography tips and tricks with us so enthusiastically. (Thank you, Natalie!)
So, let’s dive into our Q&A with Natalie…
Go Visit Hawaii: We’re on the market for a new point and shoot digital camera for our Hawaii vacation, any suggestions?
Natalie Norton: I’ve got a doosie for you. It’s not necessarily what I’d recommend to everyone for everything mind you, but for a family vacation in Hawaii this one rocks the chart! Anything in the Olympus Stylus family (my point and shoot beach baby is the Stylus 790 SW: and she’s a beaut!). This little angel is digital, WATERPROOF, and shockproof up to 5 feet. So you can get great snorkeling shots and then step up onto the beach and also get a great shot of your two year old throwing sand in grandma’s eyes. It’s got all sorts of fun, simple settings. It’s a great size, totally durable (I’ve dropped mine off of a moving horse and buggy before onto the pavement. . . don’t ask. . . and it came back unscathed). It’s not even ultra expensive, you can find them at BestBuy (online or in the store) for a little over $200. You may want to order a floating strap at the same time, because though it is magical in many ways, the Stylus has not yet learned to swim and you’d hate to have to leave her on the bottom of the ocean.
In the end, don’t get sucked into worrying too much about Megapixels. Anything around 6 Megapixels is going to give you great shots (even at larger sizes).
Go Visit Hawaii: What tips do you have for looking your best in your Hawaii vacation photos?
Natalie Norton: RELAX. You’ve got to just relax. You want a picture that makes you feel the aloha all over again and again and again every time you see it. You don’t want a shot with a forced smile that every time you look at it you can hear yourself muttering through a clenched (however “smiling”) mouth, “take the picture already!”
Turn on a slight angle. It’s more flattering to the physique. . . but don’t go crazy or you’ll look like your posing. . . that’s not good either.
Try not to shoot photos of your loved ones in sun that’s directly overhead. The angle of the sun will produce unflattering shadows. Step into the shade and take advantage of overcast days.
Honestly, I can’t think of a better time to opt for a photo shoot than on a Hawaii vacation. . .you’re living this remarkable memory, you’re relaxed as can be, your cheeks have been kissed by the sun. . . yum. All of it.
Go Visit Hawaii: Where are some of the best spots on Oahu for photography?
Natalie Norton: Ha ha! I tell you what, it’s so paradisiacal here I think you could get good shots before even leaving the Honolulu Airport.
For landscape photography, look for contrast of colors and simplicity of subject. As I mentioned in yesterday’s interview, Pounders Beach near Laie on Oahu is a perfect example of contrast and simplicity. At Pounders, you have the contrast of the black lava rock against light colored sand, the deep blue water and the Ko’olau Mountain Range in the distance.
You’re going to find a million opportunities for good landscape shots all over Hawaii, but I’d say, the Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden on Oahu would be a great bet. It always amazes me when I go there, because it’s miraculous if I run into a dozen people. It’s so mellow. That’s great, because your beautiful shot of the ducks floating peacefully on the lake with the mountains rising majestically in the background will be spoiled if it’s also got a kindergarten class field trip walking through the frame.
I’d say you really can’t go wrong with the sunset over the water on any beach, anywhere on the island. Two suggestions of great places to watch and shoot the sunset are Sunset Beach and Turtle Bay Resort, both are on the North Shore of Oahu. Sunset shots are surprisingly easy to take. They always seem to turn out great! Turn off your flash for those and make sure the horizon is off center, either in the top 3rd or bottom 3rd of the frame.
Go Visit Hawaii: What tips do you have for taking those “wow” photos of children on vacation?
Natalie Norton: Get down. I often lie on my belly to shoot kiddos–eye level is a good way to gage. Don’t be afraid to get up close either by zooming in or physically walking closer to your child. I really really really REALLY try never to say “Smile!” or “Say Cheese” etc. A forced smile on your little angle is like cow manure (pardon my French) compared to their genuine array of expressions. Also, sneak up if you can. Candid shots of little ones are just priceless. They capture those real, treasured moments that are so fleeting in the lives of our children. These little munchkins grow up so fast.
Final word = be patient and SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT! Rather than getting one nice posed picture of your child’s “picture face,” get him/her laughing and then click 10 frames as fast as you can. . . chances are one of them is BOUND to be a real doosie!
Natalie Norton lives and shoots on the North Shore of Oahu with her husband Richie and her 3 sons, Raleigh (4), Cardon (2), and Lincoln (18 months). To view a sample of her work or to book a session, visit www.natalienortonphoto.blogspot.com.
When I was on Oahu last June, I had the opportunity to meet a delightful and talented photographer, Natalie Norton. She certainly has an expert and creative eye for photography. Just take a look for yourself on her blog at Natalie Norton’s Photo Blog, and I’m sure you’ll agree.
I had never thought of hiring a photographer for a family portrait in Hawaii until I met Natalie, but it makes perfect sense. Hawaii is so beautiful and being there on vacation makes it even more special. So, if you are going there on your dream vacation with your family, or your honeymoon, or your anniversary, consider capturing the moment with professional photos.
Back in June, Natalie kindly agreed to a Q&A about Hawaii photography advice. Today, I’m excited to share with you the first part of that Q&A with a focus finding a photographer for your wedding photos, bridal portraits, and family portraits. I think you’ll really enjoy hearing Natalie’s advice and getting a glimpse of her fun personality. So, let’s get started…
Go Visit Hawaii: Many brides and families who are hiring a photographer for their wedding or family portraits are hiring them from a distance. Since you are a professional wedding/portrait photographer on Oahu what sort of advice to you have for finding and selecting a photographer from a distance?
Natalie Norton: First you’ve got to get clear with yourself. Do you want more formal photos? With everyone perfectly positioned? Or are you leaning toward more of a candid/photo journalistic approach? Do you like hip and modern? Do you like a mixture of all of the above? What I’m saying here is that step one, you’ve got to know what you’re looking for.
Then you start the hunt. Clearly you want to check their work. Websites are great, but I’ll tell ya, blogs are better. A website is a great showcase of what the photographer feels is his/her best of their best. Blogs on the other hand are what they’re shooting day in and day out. It’s still what they consider the best of the shoot, but not the best of all the shoots they’ve ever shot. There’s less to choose from for a blog post from a single shoot, see? Blogs are also good because by their posts you can see how often a photographer is shooting-the more often you shoot the more polished your skills. It’s just that simple. You can also get to know them a little bit through the dialog on their blog.
Now, I know this may cause a few gasps, but I think more importantly. . .well, ok, not MORE importantly, but right up there with the quality of the photographer’s work is the way you and your fiance/family will work with them. For your brides and grooms, if there’s time, schedule an engagement session a few days prior to the wedding to warm up to one another. This person you’re hiring is not just going to be capturing your special day for you. . . he/she is going to be SPENDING it with you! You should enjoy their company. I was a guest at a wedding recently where the bride spent the whole day feeling so awkward and uncomfortable in front of her photographer, that all the pictures look just that way. . . awkward and uncomfortable.
Final word: PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, DO NOT hire someone based solely on the amount of time they’ve been shooting. Let me elaborate, Joe Shmoe’s been in the business for 25 years? Great. YOU STILL NEED TO SEE HIS WORK! For all you know he peaked in 1988 and hasn’t kept up with the changing photography styles of the last 20 years. Poor Joe? No, poor YOU if you hire him based simply on his years of experience.
Go Visit Hawaii: What sort of questions should you ask a potential photographer?
Natalie Norton: What you need to be sure of is what exactly you’re paying for.
How much is the sitting fee?
How much time does that include?
Does that price include more than one location?
Does that include a high resolution disk of my images or are images purchased a la carte? (Beware the a la carte option. . .it can be a good way to go, unless you are so in love with your photos that you want a copy of every single one and the photographer is charging out the nose for each print. Some photographers will allow you to buy a disk of all the images for a discounted price . . . rather than the price of each and every image. . . usually it’s around $100-200).
Do you create coffee table albums of your shoots? If so, what is the cost? (I recommend getting one of these if at all possible. How fun to have a coffee table book of your own family looking all bronzed and beautiful in Hawaii! Way better than some other stupid coffee table book that just ends up being used as a coaster because no one ever opens it. Show off a little! You know you want to!)
Also ask about post production. How are they going to get the images to you (especially if you’re leaving the island soon after the shoot)? How long should you expect to wait to see your images?
Go Visit Hawaii: What should you expect to pay for a family portrait session?
Natalie Norton: Sitting fees generally range anywhere from $200-$500 (USD). Most often that includes one hour of shooting on one location and a designated amount (expect a bare minimum of 25 pictures) of digitally enhanced photos for you to CHOOSE from for PURCHASE. You should expect to pay around $5-1$5 for a 4×6 $10-$20 for a 5×7 etc. Most photographers will also release the entire cd of all the images to you for a cost. The range for this is broad. . . anywhere from $100-$500.
Some photographers have started to include a disk of all the images as a part of their sitting fee. You will have more leverage negotiating this BEFORE the shoot than after. Before the shoot, they’re fighting for your business and they’ll bend over backwards (to a degree that is) to get it. After you’ve seen the images, they know they have you in the palm of their hand because you’re going to fall in love with all the pictures and they know you’ll be willing to pay a bundle to get each and every one.
Go Visit Hawaii: What should you expect to pay for a wedding photographer in Hawaii?
Natalie Norton: This will depend COMPLETELY on the amount of coverage you want. Expect to pay $600 at the VERY LEAST for a decent photographer offering the very least amount of coverage possible (for a small beach ceremony, that may be all you need). For a GREAT photographer covering all of your event (possibly with a second shooter) you should expect to pay anywhere from $1,200-$5,000 or more.
I recommend for larger weddings (and small ones if you can afford it) that you hire a photographer who shoots with a “second shooter.” That way none of your special day will be overlooked. A wedding is a lot to cover for one photographer. I will tell you right now that it will be impossible for one photographer to catch EVERYTHING alone.
Final tip on pricing, if you have a photographer that you love and you’re on a budget, let them know. Tell them that you absolutely cannot afford to pay more than x amount and you may be surprised. They may just cut you a deal. Photographers tend to be pretty cool people if I do say so myself. . . .
Go Visit Hawaii: Where are some of the best spots on Oahu for wedding and family portrait photography?
Natalie Norton: One of my favorite beaches to shoot on is Pounder’s Beach (one of the most famous body surfing beaches on Oahu-but watch it, when it’s going off, it’s got a HEAVY shore break and strong currents with no life guard on duty). It’s on the North East Shore near the Polynesian Cultural Center, which is incidentally a MUST VISIT attraction while on the island, so you can kill two birds with one stone. . . not really. . . please DON’T kill any birds.
The main thing you’re looking for when scoping out a site for portraits is contrast. I like Pounders because there’s black lava rock, beautiful light colored sand, deep blue water and then the bright green of the Ko’olau Mountain Range in the background. You really can’t go wrong with that much color and contrast.
Another focus when scouting a good backdrop for a portrait is simplicity. . . Pounders is so nice for photography because it’s not a huge tourist spot. When you look back at your photos you’ll want to see you, your loved ones, and the beautiful Pacific, not you and your loved ones with 400 sunburned tourists and their beach umbrellas in the background.
For a lush jungle background, I recommend visiting the Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden in Kaneohe (you may even get some shots of the wild boar roaming the park. . . don’t worry though, they aren’t freaky monsters like on Lost, but I’d still recommend keeping my distance). Remember the tip I gave you about a nice clean background. A common mistake when you want foliage in the background is getting too close to it. Step 15-20ft out from the bushes and trees. Your subject will pop out, rather than getting lost in the busyness of all the leaves, branches and vines.
Go Visit Hawaii: Are some times of the day better than others for portrait photography? If so when are they and how do you determine the best times?
Natalie Norton: Absolutely. Evening is your best bet. I love shooting at sunrise as well, but good luck getting your honeymooners up at the crack of dawn . . .or your jet lagged teenager for that matter. The beauty of the early morning and late afternoon/early evening is that the light softens. It’s coming down at an angle so you won’t get the dark shadows under your eyes and nose typical of shooting mid-day. The sun also has warmer tones at those times as well. Nothing will help your images say “paradise” like a natural filter of warm yellows and soft pinks.
If you are forced to shoot your loved one mid-day: step into the shade. It will filter the sun for you and give you more pleasing shadows.
Go Visit Hawaii:What are things should you avoid wearing for a family portrait?
Natalie Norton: I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but matching aloha (Hawaiian print) wear for the whole family. . . not the most flattering portrait attire. Pick simple, harmonious colors. Solids are always nice. You want your bronzed cheeks and relaxed smile to be the focus of the photo, not the alarmingly bright hibiscus flowers all over your clothing.
Something else to think about is this: how often does your entire family go out on the town wearing matching white polo shirts. . . um never. . . EVER (I hope)! Remember that you want your portraits to have a harmony of style and color but not necessarily everyone wearing the exact same thing. It’s nice to see people’s individual personalities come out in a shot as well as strong family harmony.
Natalie lives and shoots on the North Shore of Oahu with her husband Richie and her 3 sons, Raleigh (4), Cardon (2), and Lincoln (18 months). To view a sample of her work or to book a session, visit www.natalienortonphoto.blogspot.com.
I’m a big fan of using TripAdvisor.com when selecting a hotel for vacation or business. The reviews are generally unbiased as well as insightful. So, when TripAdvisor comes out with their Travelers Choice Awards, I take notice. KHNL has an article listing all the 2008 winners from Hawaii. Here’s a summary:
