Today’s Aloha Friday Photo was taken by Bruce Allie from the Waikiki Prince Hotel. Bruce tells me that he took this photo while staying there in 2008. Then a few months later he moved to Hawaii permanently.

Mahalo to Bruce for sharing his sunset photo with us.

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Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island is a massive resort.  How big is it? The resort sprawls over 62 beautiful oceanfront acres. That’s big!

Some folks describe the Hilton Waikoloa Village as Disney-esque with the tram and boat rides that transport guests throughout the resort. Though we found it fairly walkable from one end to the other. Of course the tropical landscaping and corridors of artwork and artifacts certainly provide eye candy as you move about.

Location

This Hilton resort is located about 30 minutes north of Kona airport in Waikoloa Beach Resort. We really love this spot on Hawaii Island and highly recommend it as a great place to stay on the Big Island. The shops, free entertainment, great restaurants and Hawaiian history are some of the reasons that Waikoloa Beach Resort is an excellent base for a Hawaii vacation.

Amenities

Hilton Waikoloa Village’s large area lends space for all sorts of water sports. One natural feature is the large salt water lagoon at the heart of the resort. The lagoon water is quite calm, making it a sheltered spot for kids to play. The lagoon is a great place to try kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding and snorkeling. (One recommendation to share that we learned the hard way is that snorkeling visibility is best in the morning.)

Water fun at the Hilton Waikoloa Village salt water lagoon

On the southern end of the lagoon, you’ll find the Dolphin Learning Center where you can watch them swim and play. If you really want to get close to the dolphins you can book an experience with Dolphin Quest. We didn’t have the time to experience Dolphin Quest here, but we have enjoyed swimming with dolphins on Oahu with Dolphin Quest.

There’s pools around every corner at Hilton Waikoloa Village. Some pools have waterslides and one has a lazy river attached. (Another recommendation is to make sure you get a wristband so that you can use all the pool amenities. We learned this the hard way, too. No one explained the wristband requirement or how to get one. We literally only had enough time for one chance for a run down the waterslide, but the pool attendant rudely refused to let us go down, even though we could show her our room key.)

Kona Pool at the Hilton Waikoloa Village

Lounge chairs were easy to find throughout the resort. We liked the fact that beach cabanas for two were available to guests at no additional charge. The cabanas are available on a first come, first served basis so if you see one open, snag it.

Other nice amenities in this village are a spa, wedding chapel, tennis courts, shops, convention space and loads of restaurants including one of our Big Island favorites, Kamuela Provision Company.

Rooms

The rooms were spacious with a sitting area, desk space, lanai (balcony) and a walk-in closet. Some of the in-room amenities include a small refrigerator, coffee maker and tropical toiletries created by the spa.

Our room in the Lagoon Tower of Hilton Waikoloa Village

The bed was very comfortable and the linens seemed fresh and luxurious.

I don’t know if we were unlucky with our room or not, but we felt like our room needed refurbishing. The sofa and carpet were noticeably soiled and stained.

Our room was located in the Lagoon Tower with a view of the lagoon. On the way to our room we could tell that sections of the Lagoon Tower had ah-mazing ocean views. From the looks of it, parts of the Ocean Tower have excellent ocean views, too.

Luau

The onsite luau, Legends of the Pacific, is excellent. The food and entertainment are very high quality. Some things I look for in a luau are traditional Hawaiian foods, imu ceremony and a fire knife dancer. Legends of the Pacific definitely ticked all those boxes.

We thought the luau staff was particularly friendly and helpful even though gratuity is included in the price.

Legends of the Pacific offers guests the option to upgrade to Ali’i seating for $26 more. We think this option is worth doing for the relaxed table service and better seating near the stage.

Fireknife Dancer at Hilton Waikoloa Village Legends of the Pacific Luau

See all our photos from the Legends of the Pacific luau.

Video Tour

Andy captured some excellent video to tour you around the Hilton Waikoloa Village.

(Email subscribers: click here to watch this Hilton Waikoloa Village video tour.)

Final Bits and Pieces

- We only stayed at Hilton Waikoloa Village for two nights, which really didn’t do it justice. We barely got to scrape the surface of the resort amenities.

- With rates starting at $199, this resort offers pretty good value for money.

- I think families traveling with kids would particularly enjoy this resort. That being said, there’s enough relaxation and romance for adult guests.

- For more photos, see our collection from our stay at Hilton Waikoloa Village.

Mahalo to Hilton Waikoloa Village for hosting our stay.

Have you stayed at Hilton Waikoloa Village? How was your stay?

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Mahalo to Lisa Eichinger for sharing her photo of Ehukai Beach Park. This North Shore Oahu spot is where the famous Banzai Pipeline surfing spot is.

For such a popular beach park, notice how pristine and peaceful this beach looks. Lisa definitely found a beautiful scene to share with us.

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*  Congratulations to Four Seasons Resort Lanai Lodge at Koele for making the top 10 list of US hotels by U.S. News & World Report. The Lodge secured the second highest ranking. We at Go Visit Hawaii love the Lodge at Koele as you can see from our review. Pssst! Here’s a secret – it’s one of the top luxury values in all of Hawaii. With their third night free offer, rates start at just $207 per night!

*  Do you have a favorite Hawaiian Island, beach, hotel, luau or activity that you think is tops? GoHawaii.About.com wants your nominations!

*  By popular demand, the folks at JetLev Hawaii contacted me to let me know they’re extending the special $199 rate for a limited time. So, if you didn’t get a chance to take advantage of the JetLev Groupon we mentioned, you can call Eric at 808-393-0153 and ask for the $199 rate.

*  United Continental plans to launch nonstop service between Washington Dulles (IAD) and Honolulu (HNL) in June per this report.

*  Ala Moana Hotel near Waikiki is getting into Super Bowl 46 spirit with a special offer. After the game, the folks at Ala Moana Hotel will offer a special rate that’s the combined score. That’ll make you cheer for a defensive struggle. This special rate will be valid for stays between March 1 and April 15, 2012.  Read more about this special offer at www.AlaMoanaHotel.com/46.

*  Aqua Aloha Surf & Spa in Waikiki is offering a great rate of $85 per night plus free daily continental breakfast. For this Book Now Save Later deal, you must book by February 16 for stays between March 12 and June 21, 2012. Note that this deal is not available between April 30 and May 4.

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Aloha Friday Photo shared by Dave on October 22, 2010

Today marks our second year of Aloha Friday Photos on Go Visit Hawaii. Can you believe it?

It’s my honor and pleasure to share your Hawaii vacation photos each Friday. You capture great photos, but more than that, you also share your memories that transport us back to Hawaii with a smile.

Many thanks for sharing two years worth of photos with us. Keep’em comin’! If you’ve not yet shared a photo, see how to submit yours for Aloha Friday Photos.

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Today’s Aloha Friday Photo comes to us from Kathy Riffey of Baltimore, Maryland. She took this photo near Hana on Maui.

The detail of this scene really captures my attention. There’s the swirling ocean waves pounding against the eroded lava rocks. Though the black sand beach is small, it’s such a deep shade of charcoal. Another attention grabber is the tenacious shrubs and plants that thrive in the craggy cliffs. This photo shows just one of the many amazing views from the Road to Hana.

Mahalo to Kathy Riffey for sharing her Maui vacation photo with us!

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Colorful lantana growing along Kauai's Kalalau Trail

* Disney’s Aulani Resort is offering a Spring special of 6th night free and complimentary continental breakfast each day during your stay. See all the details here.

* Aqua’s Kauai Beach Resort is offering rates as low as $159 including daily breakfast buffet, but you must book before January 31 and complete your stay by December 31, 2012.

* Speaking of Kauai, Hawaiian Airlines has put Kauai fares on sale for travel between now and March 14 and again from April 24 through June 8, 2012. Fares from the Bay area start from $363. For this sale, you must book by January 31.

* JetBlue is teaming up with Hawaiian Airlines to make connections easy. Per JetBlue’s website, “Transfer from JetBlue to Hawaiian’s service at Los Angeles (LAX). Beginning June 4th, transfer to Hawaiian’s new non-stop service to Honolulu at New York (JFK).” Read more about this partnership on Smarter Travel.

* Do you want to make this Valentine’s Day extra special with your spouse? Outrigger Resorts is offering free vow renewals across resorts in all the major islands. Participating resorts are Kapalua Villas Maui, Keauhou Beach Resorts on Hawaii’s Big Island, Outrigger Kiahuna Plantation on Kauai and Outrigger Reef on the Beach in Oahu. Andy and I renewed our vows at Outrigger Reef on the Beach in 2009 and it was a lovely ceremony.

* If you’ll be staying in Waikiki, check out the special farm to table prix fixe menus at  and Sansei Seafood Restaurant on Wednesdays and d.k. Steak House on Thursdays. They’re great values for four-course dinners under $50.

* What’s the average room rate in the state of Hawaii? According to the latest report, the rate is $199.63 which is up 7% over the same time period last year. Occupancy is also up by 2.7% overall. Hawaii’s tourism recovery appears to be well on the mend.

* Have you seen the movie The Decendants? This award-nominated movie was partly filmed in Kauai and is expected to boost tourism per TheGardenIsland.com.

* Will Kauai’s historic Coco Palms Resort ever be revived? Here’s the most recent news about Coco Palms that doesn’t sound very encouraging.

* The USPS offers five new Hawaii themed postcard stamp with Aloha shirt designs.

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If you’re hankering to go to Oahu, but not sure when to go, perhaps you’d like to go during one of the many excellent festivals. To help you, I’ve created this handy dandy list of Oahu festivals – which mixes in input from the nice folks at the Oahu Visitor’s Bureau, plus my opinion.

Honolulu Festival 
March 2-4 in 2012
Honolulu Festival  celebrates cultures from across the Pacific with art, music, dance and crafts. The event culminates with a Grand Parade in Waikiki followed by fireworks.

Waikiki SPAM® Jam
April 28 in 2012
The Waikiki SPAM® Jam is an exciting annual street festival that takes place on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. The event celebrates Hawaii’s love of SPAM® and features a variety of Honolulu’s finest restaurants serving up SPAM®-inspired creations. Two entertainment stages provide non-stop entertainment ranging from hula dancers to local musicians, and merchandise vendors sell SPAM®-themed items and Hawaiian crafts. Proceeds from the event benefit the Hawaii Food Bank.

Mele Mei
Entire month of May
Mele Mei celebrates the unique music of Hawaii with workshops, concert performance and award ceremonies.

Lantern Floating Hawai‘i
Memorial Day, May 28 in 2012
Every year on Memorial Day, thousands of people gather at Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park to honor ancestors and loved ones who have passed away. At sundown, more than 3,000 candlelit lanterns are set afloat on the ocean, a traditional Buddhist rite originating in Japan. The ceremony is based on the theme “Many Rivers, One Ocean,” and serves to honor those who have sacrificed their lives in war, pay respect to ancestors and loved ones who have passed away, and pray for a harmonious and peaceful future. Lantern Floating Hawaii also features live entertainment by local and international musicians, as well as inspiring speeches.

Pan-Pacific Festival
June 8 – 10 in 2012
The Pan-Pacific Festival is a three-day international cultural celebration that features a weekend of Pacific Rim cultural performances, demonstrations, hula, food, hoolaulea (block party). The event culminates with a colorful parade with thousands of participants in lively costumes marching down Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki.

King Kamehameha Floral Parade
June 9 in 2012
This colorful celebration honors the reign of King Kamehameha, who was responsible for uniting the Hawaiian Islands under his rule in 1795. The King Kamehameha Floral Parade extends from Iolani Palace to Kapiolani Park and features brightly decorated floats, energetic marching bands and traditional pa‘u riders who represent a Hawaiian royal court on horseback.

July 4th/Independence Day Holiday
July 4
Hawaii celebrates Independence day with excellent fireworks shows on both July 3 and 4. For an idea of what this year’s celebration may entail, see this comprehensive round up of Oahu July 4th fireworks and celebrations from 2011.

Prince Lot Hula Festival
July 21 in 2012
The Prince Lot Hula Festival is held in the beautiful Moanalua Gardens, features hula halau (troupes) gracing the hula mound for spectators to enjoy. The festival showcases Native Hawaiian culture through crafts, kapa making, lauhala weaving, lomilomi massage, traditional Hawaiian games, and more. 

Duke’s OceanFest
Late August (Specific Dates TBA)
Duke’s OceanFest, a weeklong festival, features a variety of exciting water sports competitions, including longboard surfing, surf polo, swimming, standup paddling, and other events that pay tribute to the surfing and swimming legend Duke Kahanamoku. The festivities culminate with the Duke’s Statue lei draping ceremony on August 24, the anniversary of his birthday.

Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival
September
Following a successful inaugural year, the second annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival will once again take place in Honolulu in September 2012. The festival includes culinary-focused events and evening receptions featuring dishes prepared by an all-star lineup of chefs from Hawaii and around the world, using locally sourced ingredients. The Hawaii Food & Wine Festival is co-chaired by chefs Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong and serves to showcase the state’s bounty of produce and proteins and highlight the islands’ return to a sustainable eco-system of agriculture, environment and economy

Aloha Festivals
September 15 and September 22 in 2012
On Oahu, the Aloha Festival celebrates Hawaii’s music, dance and history, and is intended to preserve the islands’ unique traditions. Festivities on Oahu include a Waikiki Ho‘olaulea on September 15 and a floral parade on September 22.

Hawai‘i International Film Festival
Spring Showcase is April 6-12 in 2012; Fall Showcase is in October
The Hawaii International Film Festival is dedicated to the advancement of understanding and cultural exchange among the peoples of Asia, the Pacific and North America through the medium of film. HIFF showcases independent feature films and is held at the Signature Dole Cannery Theatres each spring and fall. Expect the very best and latest in independent and global cinema

Vans Triple Crown of Surfing
November 12 – December 20 in 2012
The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing returns to the North Shore of Oahu for the men’s series and women’s Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach. Kicking off with the Op Pro at Haleiwa, the series continues with the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing and women’s Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach, and lastly the Billabong Pipeline Masters at the famous Banzai Pipeline. Oahu’s North Shore is home to these final events on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) calendar that will crown surfing’s new world champion

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If you can’t include any of these festivals we’ve mentioned, don’t worry, there’s almost always a festival or celebration of some kind happening on Oahu. To find out what special events might be going on during your Oahu vacation, visit GoHawaii.com/Oahu and use the Vacation Directory from the right column. Be sure to click on the Events tab first, then enter your desired dates.

Have you been to any of these Oahu festivals?

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Kris from Illinois sent in today’s Aloha Friday Photo. Kris took this photo while he was at the Maui Photo Festival last August. More specifically, he was on a photo session in a doors-off helicopter tour.

This photo gives a great aerial view of Kaanapali Beach – Kris’ favorite beach. Does this photo make you want to swoop into a soft landing on that sandy beach like it does to me?

Kris is a talented photographer who loves to share his Maui photos at Daily Maui Photo. You should check it out.

Mahalo to Kris for sharing his aerial Kaanapali Beach photo!

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The Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona is set in a location fit for a king, literally. King Kamehameha the Great established one of his royal residences here. As you survey the site, you can see how these grounds would have been chosen with a naturally protected bay. Remains and reconstruction of this royal residence and heiau provide reminders of the site’s importance. (Read more about the history of the Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel.)

Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel celebrates this place’s history with artifacts on display in the main corridor. There, they also have a large collection of museum-quality paintings by Herb Kane that depict historic moments and battles in Hawaii. Additionally, their onsite luau reenacts a royal court procession that may have taken place in this very spot.

Location

The Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel is located in the northern end of the town of Kailua-Kona. The hotel overlooks lovely Kailua Bay. It’s near enough to all the lively action of Kona, but also not smack dab in the middle of it where parking becomes more of a challenge. Navigating in and out of the hotel’s parking lot to other parts of the island is very easy.

That naturally protected bay that once helped sustain King Kamehameha and his people, now provides an ideal spot for swimming, snorkeling, stand up paddle boarding, and more. Kona Boys’ watersports hut is right on site to rent gear and provide lessons. The hotel is set on the only permanent sandy beach in Kailua-Kona, that’s enjoyed by both visitors and locals. It’s also the only hotel in Kailua-Kona that’s set on a beach.

Rooms

The rooms have been recently renovated and impressed us from the start. Though only a 3-star resort, we had a spacious oceanview king room that was nicer than some 4 and 5-star rooms we’ve had in Hawaii. The newly renovated rooms are confortable and well appointed with a large flat-screen TV, sitting area and room to spread out.

The bath had a single sink with an extra large granite countertop providing plenty of space for all our stuff. We liked the tropical-inspired Bath & Body Works toiletries.

Other in-room amenities  include safe, coffee maker with Kona coffee and free wireless internet.

What to Know When You Go

- We were treated to an oceanview room on the fourth floor, however, bear in mind that there are a very limited number of rooms with ocean views.

- Ample onsite parking is available for $10 per day.

- Many restaurants and attractions are located within walking distance.

- All of the boating excursions depart from the dock that’s just steps from the hotel.

- At the moment, there’s not a spa.

- There’s only two onsite restaurants, but many restaurants within walking distance. We thought Honu’s provided a nice spread for a well-priced ($17.95) breakfast buffet.

Video Overview

Andy created this excellent video tour of Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel.

Overall Impressions

We were impressed with this hotel. It was clean and tidy and included all the basics you need for a great Hawaii Island vacation.

With rates starting at $159 during Hawaii’s high season, this hotel is a bargain.

For additional opinions about this hotel, see TripAdvisor reviews.

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Mahalo to the Big Island Visitors Bureau and Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel for sponsoring our stay.

Have you stayed at Courtyard King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel? How was your stay?

What a beautiful sunset photo captured by Kathy Reeves after Friday night fireworks on Waikiki Beach. The colors of this sunset sky are simply amazing. I love scanning the transition of colors from purple and pink to peach

Mahalo to Kathy for sharing her photo with us for Aloha Friday!

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Just a heads up for all of our Hawaii friends–which judging by the traffic to Go Visit Hawaii, there are thousands of you–Sheila and I will be back in Waikiki this coming February.

In addition to our normal efforts to bring you the best, unbiased Hawaii travel advice, we’ve both been invited to speak at the upcoming Pubcon Paradise conference.

If you’re involved in marketing, PR, or any part of Hawaii’s hospitality industry, you should definitely plan to attend! I’ve been involved with Pubcon for many, many years and can tell you that the content is some of the highest in the industry and you won’t be disappointed!

Even if you don’t plan to attend, Sheila and I will be out and about in Waikiki and Honolulu, so if you’ll be around, drop us a comment.

Pubcon Hawaii will be a blast, so hope to see you there!

Register here.

PS. For those making the trip from the mainland, don’t miss Go Visit Hawaii’s guide to all things Oahu!

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It’s high time for another giveaway here on Go Visit Hawaii. This Hawaii prize pack includes:

• a 2012 Hawaii calendar
• set of 10 postcards of vintage Hawaii travel posters
• a luggage tag with a vintage Hawaii scene
• mints in a tin designed like a Hawaii license plate

To enter for a chance to win this prize pack, please comment here on this blog post your answer to this question:

Is a trip to Hawaii in 2012 in your plans?

You must enter you comment by January 14, 2012.

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Today’s Aloha Friday Photo was taken at Maui’s Garden of Eden just off the road to Hana. What a delightful view filled with serene shades of blue and green. Looking at this scene makes me want to relax on one of those benches for an hour or two or three.

Mahalo to Nan DeMott of Richland, Michigan for sending in this beautiful photo from her Maui vacation. Nan tells me that this photo is only one of 980 photos she snapped during her Maui visit. That’s a lot of photos, but this one is one of her favorites. I can see why.

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So you’ve picked the Hawaiian island that’s perfect for you and now you must determine the logistics of getting there. Every first time visitor has faced the head scratching challenge of finding the right airport to begin their Hawaii vacation. I want to help you understand how to navigate with ease in Hawaii.

As you may have been researching airport options in the Hawaiian Islands, you may have noticed that some islands have multiple airports. Though some islands may have a small regional airport that appears to be more convenient on paper, I recommend you opt to fly into the major airport of each island and here’s why:

• There’s many more flights and airlines servicing the major airports providing you more options to suit your time schedule.
• Larger planes fly into the major island airports, with the exceptions of Lanai and Molokai. That means that you are less likely to fly on a propeller-type aircraft.
• There’s significantly more car rental companies and rental car inventories at the major airports.
• The major airports are all within an easy driving distance (less than an hour) from all the major resort hotel areas.

Let’s take an island by island look at the major airports and special flight considerations.

OAHU
Oahu’s major airport is in Honolulu with the airport code of HNL. It’s by far Hawaii’s largest airport and hub.

Most transpacific flights fly into Oahu. As you research flights from your home airport, you’ll likely discover that almost all your options require you to fly into Oahu first. From Oahu’s HNL, you can easily connect to any other island in Hawaii.

MAUI
Maui’s major airport is in Kahului with the airport code of OGG. There are a limited number of flights from the US Mainland that fly directly into OGG, but most visitors connect in Oahu’s Honolulu (HNL) airport.

The only circumstance where you might want to consider flying into another Maui airport is if you plan on making secluded Hana (HNM) your Maui vacation base.

You may notice there’s an airport in Kapalua that appears to be convenient to West Maui resorts, however, for the reasons mentioned above, I still recommend you fly into Kahului (OGG). Kapalua is a small regional airport.

KAUAI
Kauai’s major airport is centrally located in East Kauai in Lihue with the airport code of LIH. There are a very limited number of flights from the US Mainland that fly directly to Kauai, but most visitors connect in Oahu’s Honolulu (HNL) airport.

BIG ISLAND (West Kona Side)
Most folks coming to the Big Island for a vacation tend to stay on the west side of Hawaii’s Big Island in Kailua-Kona, Keauhou, and the Kohala Coast. The major airport on this side of the island is north of Kona in Keahole with the code of KOA.

Just like Maui and Kauai, there are a limited number of flights that arrive directly into Kona (KOA) from the mainland, but connecting in Oahu’s Honolulu (HNL) airport is easily done.

BIG ISLAND (East Hilo Side)
Though the west side of Hawaii’s Big Island is home to the beautiful beach resort hotels, the east side does have its attractions, namely Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the active volcano, Kilauea.For first time Big Island visitors with a week or more vacation, I recommend you fly into the east side airport of Hilo with the code of ITO to begin your vacation exploring the volcano wonders. Then drive over to the West side for your beach vacation. See more on where to stay on Hawaii’s Big Island.

Just like Maui and Kauai, there are a limited number of flights that arrive directly into Hilo (ITO) from the mainland, but connecting in Oahu’s Honolulu (HNL) airport is easily done.

LANAI
Lanai’s major airport is near Lanai City with the airport code of LNY. To fly into Lanai, you must connect in Oahu’s Honolulu (HNL) airport.

MOLOKAI
Molokai’s major airport is Kaunakakai in with the airport code of MKK. To fly to Molokai, you must connect in Oahu’s Honolulu (HNL) airport. If you are visiting Kalaupapa National Historic Park, you will need to fly into Kalaupapa Airport with the code of LUP.

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I hope you’ve found this guide to flying into Hawaii to be useful. If your Hawaii vacation includes visits to more than one island, please review my guide to inter-island travel in Hawaii.

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*  We are really honored that Go Visit Hawaii was recently selected as one of the top 12 travel blogs to follow in 2012. Mahalo to our readers who nominated and voted for us!

* The Fairmont Orchid on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii’s Big Island is offering an excellent luxury package beginning at $369 per night for ocean view rooms. The deal includes daily breakfast for two, a $100 food and beverage credit, a $50 spa credit to be enjoyed at the Spa Without Walls, complimentary self parking, and complimentary internet access. In total the value of this deal is $609, but you can get all those special deals included at the Orchid Experience Package rate starting at $369 with a five-night minimum stay. See this link for more information.

*  2012 Hawaii Entertainment Books are on sale this week for $20.12 with free shipping. These coupon books are mainly beneficial for Oahu vacations. If you use the luau coupons, you’ll more than recover the cost of the book. See our discussion the Hawaii Entertainment Book.

*  Hawaiian Airlines has a sale of flights to Hawaii’s Big Island starting at $298 plus taxes and fees. You must book before January 10 for travel between January 5 – June 8, 2012. Seats are limited. 

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As 2012 nears, we at Go Visit Hawaii want to wish you Hau’oli Makahiki Hou, the Hawaiian way to say happy new year!

If you’re one of the lucky ones visiting the Aloha State for the New Year’s holiday, check out this roundup of New Year’s Eve fireworks and celebrations across Hawaii. 

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Our Oahu pal, Dave, sent today’s photo. He spotted this display of SPAM mints on his way out of the store. He said that the cashier gave him a sample to try and he liked it.

Now, at first glance these mints sound, well, awful, but unlike their mac nut cousins, SPAM mints are not SPAM flavored. Whew! SPAM mints are cinnamon flavored.

Dave says, “The mints look like little slices of SPAM – pink with darker pink flakes in the shape of a slice of SPAM. They kind of look like PEZ candy.”

With Hawaii’s strong affinity for SPAM, these SPAM mints might make a quirky Hawaii souvenir to bring home to your friends and co-workers. They’ll surely spark conversation.

Mahalo to Dave for sharing these SPAM mint photos from Oahu.

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When we were visiting Big Island last month, we popped into the visitors center at the Hamakua Macadamia Nut Company to see and taste new flavors. We were amused when we saw SPAM flavored mac nuts. With Hawaii being known for producing yummy macadamia nuts and Hawaii’s long standing love affair with SPAM this flavor was a perfect marriage.

I posted the above photo on our facebook page while we were at the Hamakua store. To my surprise, the post drew quite a bit of debate. Some seemed to like the thought while others were not willing to try them.

I did taste one of these SPAM flavored nuts. I thought it was actually good.

How about you? What do you think of SPAM flavored macadamia nuts?

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If you are interesting in sampling macadamia nuts on your Hawaii vacation, see my post, Where to Visit Macadamia Nut Farms in Hawaii.

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While we’re in between holidays, I thought we’d revisit this blast-from-the-past post with a checklist of what to do before going on your Hawaii vacation. I’d really appreciate you’re input,, too. So, please comment to add your checklist items.

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I wrote this checklist while I was recently in-flight while all the “going away” preparations were fresh in my mind. Preparing to go on vacation can be stressful, but hopefully this checklist will help you stay organized and calm.

Prep yourself and your home before you go away

1. Check and pay your bills.
2. Take out trash – so that you don’t come home to a smelly home.
3. Wash dishes – don’t let ick grow in your sink or dishwasher while you’re away
4. Hold your mail or arrange for a neighbor to collect it daily while you’re away. For US Postal Service customers, you can very easily arrange for your mail to be held by the post office while you’re away, and then redelivered when you get home, at USPS.com.
5. Put your newspaper delivery on hold.
6. Check your calendar for any appointments that you may have accidentally scheduled during your vacation. Also check for any special occasions like upcoming birthdays and anniversaries that you normally acknowledge with a gift or card.
7. Set your heat or air conditioner on a more economical temperature; as there’s no need to waste and pay for that energy while you are away. For example, we usually set our heat to 62 and our air conditioner to 82.
8. Do you have a pet that needs to go to a boarder or friend? Make plans well in advance for these situations.
9. Check your prescriptions. Do you have any that will run out while you are on vacation?
10. Notify your credit card company that you will be traveling to Hawaii to prevent your card from declining payment under fraud suspicions.
11. Call your alarm system company to let them know you’ll be away. Provide them with any of your temporary telephone numbers.
12. Charge your mobile phones, iPods, mp3 players, laptops etc. Don’t forget to bring the chargers with you.
13. Verify your hotel booking. If you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other significant event, let the hotel know. They may upgrade you or provide an amenity for the occasion.
14. Print or otherwise electronically store your travel details such as car, hotel, tour confirmations.
15. Research and print directions from the airport in Hawaii to your hotel and/or bring your portable GPS navigation system, if you have one.
16. Determine the parking situation at your hotel. Can you self park? If so, where is the parking? What’s the valet charge?  It’s best to know your choices before you arrive.
17. Pack your suitcases. Here’s my handy dandy Hawaii packing list. .

Prepare for your flight

1. Check that your flight is still scheduled as planned. Sometimes when you book through a third party, you are not directly informed when a flight is either canceled or has a departure time change.
2. Check your seat assignments on the airlines website or by calling them. If you have a bad seat assignment, your chances of finding a better seat improve within 48-hours of your flight; as frequent fliers with elite status get upgrades their exit row seats become available.
3. Plan your in-flight meals. Most airlines don’t offer any free food in economy/coach class. Non-alcoholic beverages are free, though. So plan or prepare snacks and meals.
4. Though you’ll be headed to the warm temperatures of Hawaii, the in-flight air might be chilly. So, bring a light sweater or jacket for the flight.
5. Make sure you have your prescription medications packed in your carry-on baggage in case you need them in flight or your checked luggage is lost. Make sure you are hydrated before you get on board.
6. Plan to keep yourself entertained on your flight. It’s a long way out to the middle of the Pacific. Most airlines offer some sort of in-flight entertainment, though you will need to either bring your own earphones or purchase them on board. Bring books, puzzles, magazines, music, movies to watch on your iPhone, iPod or laptop to keep entertained in case the in-flight system doesn’t work or you don’t care to watch the movies they are showing.
7. Create a little flight necessitates and comfort kit for the long flight. I shared my own list of necessities when flying to Hawaii.

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