Go Visit Hawaii

Here are some great deals I dug up today.  If you find a really good one, would you consider taking me along? 

Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Big Island Orbitz Sale
The Deal:  Save 10% or more   
Why I like this deal: This sale covers all budgets from 2-star to 5-star hotels.  I was particularly drawn to the 5-star Mauna Lani on the Big Island at a nightly rate of $266 including buffet breakfast for two.  I’ve stayed here and it’s a nice hotel in a wonderful location.      
Offer Valid Through:  Book by July 6th for travel by September 30th (2008)   
Special Rate Code: SUMMERSALE10  
For More Information: See this link to Orbitz

$438 Hawaii September Weekend Getaway
The Deal:  Four nights accommodation and airfare for $438 purchased through Expedia.   
Why I like this deal:  It includes airfare!  The catch is you must fly from Los Angeles (LAX), if LAX is not your normal departure airport, consider buying separate roundtrip airfare from your home to LAX.      
Offer Valid Through:  It’s valid for September weekend stays only.  You must depart on Thursday and return on Monday.
Special Rate Code:  NA  
For More Information:  See this link.  

I was recently reviewing some statistics for Go Visit Hawaii and I noticed that we have over 1500 comments! That rocks! I very much appreciate your comments. Even if you have a different point of view than mine, your comments are welcomed.

If you’ve not been reading the comments, then you’ve been missing out on some valuable insight. Sometimes readers will ask questions in the comments and I respond to them in detail. I’m happy to say that many other folks who enjoy traveling to Hawaii read Go Visit Hawaii and they often comment with their recommendations from their travels. I’m also very pleased that many Hawaii residents read Go Visit Hawaii and they frequently comment to add their local perspective. So, there are some really useful comments and discussions happening.

As a small token of appreciation, I thought it would be fun to give away a waterproof carry case to one randomly selected person who comments on this post. As you’ve probably already read, these waterproof cases will come in very handy for storing your valuables at the beach or pool. So, please add a comment to this post before midnight ET May 1, 2008 to be eligible.

If you’ve never commented before, it’s really quite easy. All you have to do is click on “Add Your Thoughts” or “Comments”. Next you’ll enter your name and e-mail address in the fields provided Note that your e-mail address will not be displayed in the comment. If you have a website or blog, you can list your web address, but that is optional. If it is your first time commenting, your comment will go into moderation at first to be approved.

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get this comment party started.

Mahalo!

The savvy reader knows that you should never leave your valuables unattended on the beach. So what are you to do with your money, car keys, room keys, license, credit cards, etc? How will you keep them dry when you snorkel, kayak, swim, etc? Store them in a floating waterproof carry case or dry sack.

You can search for waterproof cases and dry sacks online. (REI sells dry sacks online. For example, here’s what one search turned up.) You can also check in your local stores like Wal-Mart and Target. As summer swimming gear is arriving in stores, this is a good time to look for waterproof cases. Oddly enough I found the floating waterproof case shown in the photo at my local Kroger grocery store.

A reader recently asked if it was possible to take a day trip from Maui to see the Big Island lava flow.  The answer is yes, it is possible and there are a few alternatives. 

Before I get into the details of the alternatives, let me make sure that I emphasize that an active volcano is extremely unpredictable.  In the most recent few months, the lava flow went from pooling in the flats at a restricted area to dramatic flow into the ocean easily visible by a short hike.  It is possible that if you schedule a flight or tour to see the lava flowing, you may not get to see it.  So, please be aware of that risk when you are booking a flight or tour.  No company can guarantee that you’ll see lava flowing.

Now let’s take a look at some of the alternatives for island hopping from Maui to the Big Island.

1.  Arrange a tour by air. 

Volcano Air Tours operates an flight tour from Maui over to the Big Island and back.  The tour is narrated by the pilot.  In addition to flying over the active lava flow, you’ll also get to see the beautiful Hamakua Coast and Mauna Kea on the Big Island. 

If your time is tight, this tour may be your best alternative.  You will see quite a bit of fascinating scenery in a short amount of time.  Tours leave from Kapalua airport in West Maui and from Kahului at the main airport.  The tours last between 2hr and 2hr 15 minutes.  Tours cost $335 and $365 depending on the tour and your point of departure. 

A representative from Volcano Air Tours was kind enough to provide the photo (above right) that was recently taken from one of their tours.  One important fact to consider when selecting an air tour is how much time will be spent flying around the active lava flow.  I asked the Volcano Air Tour representative and she said that the pilots spend about 15 to 20 minutes flying there.  That should be very adequate for allowing everyone to get a good view.  

2.  Arrange a air/land package tour.

I did some research and Polynesian Adventures Tours was the only company I could find that offers a comprehensive air/land tour package from Maui to the Big Island.  You fly to Hilo on a commercial Island Air flight, then they tour you around this part of the island on a tour bus.  You would need a dedicated day for this tour as it leaves around 7am and returns around 7pm. 

I called Polynesian Adventure Tours to ask if they are currently taking their passengers to view the active lava flow by a hike and they said they do.  If this tour is of interest to you, I recommend that you verify that with them again.  (Somehow, I still feel slightly skeptical.)  This tour also includes a stop in Hilo to Rainbow Falls, a visit to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and a visit to see orchids.  The price for this day long tour cost $231.29, but if you reserve online, you’ll save 10%. 

3.  Arrange your own independent tour.

This alternative gives you the most freedom, but will require that you work out the logistics and  details of renting a car, navigating the island, etc.  Island Air flies directly from Kahului Maui (OGG) to Hilo (ITO).  (See Island Air’s Time/Route Schedule.)  Island Air was the only airline that I found that flies direct and non-stop from Maui to Hilo.

You could choose to fly there and back in the same day or stay overnight (or longer).  If you attempt to do it all in one day, you will be pushing it to the limit because the lava viewing point doesn’t open until 2pm and the flight from Hilo back to Maui leaves at 6:40pm.  Allow at least an hour for your round trip hike to and from the lava viewing.  Then add another 45 minutes to drive back to the airport.  Then factor in time for refueling and returning the rental car, etc.  See what I mean about pushing it to the limit?

Since the current lava viewing point doesn’t open until 2pm, you could spend the morning exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park which is about a 45 minute drive from Hilo Airport or you could check out the waterfalls in and around Hilo.  Another alternative you could consider is picking up a helicopter tour from Hilo.  The price of flights and rental cars vary. 

One thing to bear in mind is that lava is much more dramatic if viewed at night, so an overnight stay might be something worth considering.  See my tips for viewing the lava flow. 

After visiting Kauai and Oahu’s restaurants, let’s continue our restaurant tour of Hawaii with a visit to Maui. Since I’ve had the opportunity to visit all the islands, I’d have to say that Maui has some of the best restaurants in Hawaii. On top of the ono (delicious) food, many of Maui’s restaurants also have outstanding ocean front views. That’s definitely a bonus when you are on vacation!

So, how do you find the best restaurants in Maui? It’s really not that difficult. There’s lots of great resources that we’ll explore here. So, let’s take a look.

TripAdvisor

Hundreds of TripAdvisor members have reviewed and rated Maui restaurants. You’ll find a mixture of reviews written by local residents as well as visitors. I’ll organize TripAdvisor reviews by geography and concentrate on the areas where you’ll likely be staying or sight-seeing.

West Maui Restaurants (includes Kapalua, Kaanapali, and Lahaina)

• Lahaina Restaurants

South Maui Restaurants

• Kihei Restaurants
• Wailea Restaurants

Central Maui Restaurants

• Kahului Restaurants

East Maui

• Paia Restaurants
• Hana Restaurants (FYI - This list is lacking reviews.)

Upcountry Maui

• Kula Restaurants

Guidebooks

• Frommer’s ratings of Maui restaurants. This is an interactive list that you can sort by rating, price, cuisine, and neighborhood.
• Fodor’s also has an interactive list of Maui restaurants. In addition to their own ratings, they have incorporated user ratings.

Other Resources

• Most recent (Winter 2007) Maui No Ka Oi magazine readers’ picks organized. in a number of excellent categories. (If you’re research time is limited, I’d stick with this list.)

Go Visit Hawaii Picks
The following restaurants are ones that I particularly like. (Just a reminder, I’m not compensated in any form for choosing these restaurants. I like these restaurants based on my experience.)

Restaurants with an outstanding view: Maui has many, many great restaurants with lovely views. Two restaurants that have particularly outstanding views are Kula Lodge in the Upcountry (especially perfect for breakfast after watching Haleakala sunrise), Plantation House Restaurant in Kapalua (especially good value at breakfast and lunch).

Best beach front restaurant where you can dig your toes in the sand: Barefoot Bar of the Hula Grill on Kaanapali Beach.

Best over-hyped restaurant, but I still like it: Mama’s Fish House in Paia - they have very good food on a beach front setting. It is a bit pricey, though. Their seafood is so fresh that the menu changes daily to tell you what fishing boats delivered the day’s catches. It’s easy to over order here, so beware of that for your waistline and wallet’s sake. To avoid crowds, I like dining here either very early or very late in evening.  See my review on Mama’s Fish House.

Most beautiful setting for a good though expensive lunch: The Beach House on DT Fleming Beach in Kapalua (at the Ritz-Carlton). The beach is so beautiful, I don’t mind paying for the view.

Best All Around - Kimos in Lahaina has a very nice setting with a good ocean view. It’s good for both families and couples.

Best Place for Local Breakfast or Lunch: Honolua Store in Kapalua. This store is good for picnic supplies, too.

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I know that there are several nice Maui fans who read Go Visit Hawaii. (Ahem, attention Kris and David!) So, please chime in with your favorite places to dine in Maui.

There are a couple of restaurants that I wouldn’t recommend to friends and family. So I’ll post those in the comments.

I hope you’ll enjoy this video and song from Beach Walks.

Beach Walk 624 - To You Sweetheart, Aloha

Another vacation news roundup this week? And on a Saturday? Yep, here are some interesting tidbits from Hawaii and from around the blogosphere.

• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park reopened yesterday after being closed for about two days due to elevated sulfur dioxide levels.
• Erica offers some insight about Hotwire.com, a discount travel website. I especially found the description of Hotwire’s TripStarter intriguing. TripStarter looks like it can be a pretty useful tool to help you find the best time of year to visit your destination. After you enter your origin airport and destination airport, it displays the data trend on flight and hotel costs as well a weather and events. (Also see my advice on the best time to go to Hawaii.)
• By way of Top Site of the Day, I discovered Don’t Forget Your Toothbrush which is a website that helps you create your vacation packing list and checklist of things you need to do before you go. (Also see my advice on what to pack for your Hawaii vacation.)

Okay, that’s it for today. Now, back to my regularly scheduled time of playing with two Dachshund puppies! Oh, what fun! Have a great weekend!

From the Oahu restaurant guide article, I promised a list of top Oahu restaurants from a local resident’s perspective.  I’m so excited and pleased to present the list of Dave and Alice favorite Oahu restaurants.  I think you’ll enjoy this eclectic list that will suit any budget and taste you desire. So, let’s dive into Dave and Alice’s Oahu restaurant picks neatly organized in useful categories.

Pacific Rim:

• Chai’s Island Bistro at Aloha Tower
• Roy’s Restaurant
• Alan Wong’s Restaurant
• Sam Choy’s Breakfast Lunch and Crab

Beach Front:

• Hau Tree Lanai at The New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel Waikiki: Small place, great food, good prices, right on the beach.
• La Mer at the Halekulani Hotel: French Fine Dining
• Orchids at the Halekulani Hotel: Variety - Fine Dining

Amazing Views:

• The Hanohano Room at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel (The photo above shows the view.)
• Sarentos at the top of the Ilikai Hotel Waikiki
• Aaron’s Atop the Ala Moana Hotel

Buffet:

• Oceanarium Restaurant at the Pacific Beach Hotel (Huge aquarium)
• Breakfast Buffet at the the Plantation Cafe at the Alamoana Hotel

Dinner Cruise:

• The Star of Honolulu: The sunset view of Oahu from the ship is very romantic.

Other Fine Dining:

• John Dominis at Kewalo Basin: American Fine Dining with great view of Honolulu shoreline

Cheap Eats:

• L & L Drive Inn at several locations - cheap local food
• Teddy’s Bigger Burgers across from the Zoo in Waikiki: Best Burger Joint Ever
• Eggs ‘n Things: Breakfast

Mexican:

• Cholo’s Homestyle Mexican at North Shore Marketplace in Haleiwa
• Compadres at Ward Center

Japanese:

• Curry House CoCo Ichibanya at many locations: Japanese fast food smothered with curry.
• Nobu Waikiki at the Waikiki Parc Hotel

To Dave and Alice - you guys rock!  A big mahalo to you for creating this list.

If you find yourself in Waikiki on Saturday, May 3rd, head over to Kalakaua Avenue and you’ll find a fun event celebrating Hawaii’s love affair with Spam. The Waikiki Spam Jam sounds like so much fun! 

The street festival will offer entertainment on two separate stages beginning at 5:00pm and going through the evening.  Several local restaurants will have booths selling special creations that feature Spam.

Admission for the event is free.  Attendees are encouraged to bring a can of Spam to donate the the Hawaii Foodbank. 

If you can’t get to the event, then maybe you could celebrate Spam from afar by making these recipes and watching this video.

Whoa, this has been a newsy week so far, hasn’t it? Here’s the new stuff for today:

• Via This Just In, I found a new website that tracks the economic impact of travel by state. If you hover your mouse over the states, a small window pops up to show you the spending generated by tourism for that state. Being the nerd that I am, I had to compare Hawaii tourism spending to other states. I was thrown for a loop when I discovered that New Jersey has more spending at $17.4 billion than Hawaii does at $15.5 billion. Um, what?! Does that seem strange to you, too? Sorry New Jersey, but I know where I’d rather go.
• If you are going to Oahu before September, then mark the Halona Blowhole off your list of sight-seeing stops. The parking lot and viewing area close today for improvements to make it safer and more attractive.
• Are you ready for Lei Day? That’s next Thursday, May 1st. If you find yourself in Honolulu then, you should check out the free celebration at the Queen Kapiolani Regional Bandstand from 9:00am to 5:30pm. There will be music, hula shows, and the world’s longest fresh floral/greenery lei.
• Another Lei Day celebration will be held at the ResortQuest Waikiki Beach Hotel from 9:00am to 12:00pm. You can make your own lei while listening to traditional Hawaiian songs. Over a thousand plumeria blossoms will be on hand. It’s free and open to the public. (Wow - that’s really nice of them!)
• If you’re going to Kauai in May, you can take a free 10-minute golf lesson at one of the Princeville resort courses.
• Coastal Living has some nice articles on Kauai with a nice slide show.
• Gas prices in Hawaii have hit a new record high. The state wide average cost per gallon of regular unleaded is $3.77. Maui’s average is as high as $4.15! As Austin Powers would say, “Ouch, baby, very ouch!”