Lanai is the smallest inhabited island in Hawaii and enjoys a relaxed and secluded atmosphere.  Only 30 miles of Lanai’s roads are paved; there is no traffic and not one traffic light on this island.  It hosts two large resorts—one with a breathtaking beachfront view and another tucked away in the inland mountains.

Keahiakawelo, the Garden of the Gods, occupies the northern tip of the island.  Here you will find spectacular rock towers and beautiful formations caused by erosion.  The island’s southern coast is home to Hulopoe Bay, with a dazzling expanse of white sand and sparkling water.  A short way up the beach is Puu Pehe (Sweetheart Rock), a huge lava formation 150 feet offshore.  Legend tells of a warrior who carried the body of his dead wife to the top of this formation (with the help of his ancestors) where he laid her to rest and then threw himself off the 80-foot rise.

There is a cliff that overlooks the top of Puu Pehe, where the “tomb” can be seen.  From the cliff that overlooks Puu Pehe, you will get a spectacular view of Hulopoe Bay, Sharks Cove, and Manele Bay.  It’s a great place to catch a glimpse of the spinner dolphins that call the bay home and, during the winter months, humpback whales can be seen.

There is a ferry that runs several times a day to nearby Maui.

Beaches and Tide Pools

Manele Bay is a great place to spend a lazy, romantic day.  Most of the year this is the best place for swimming and snorkeling because it is a protected bay.  There is also a public beach park at Hulopoe Beach with barbecue grills and picnic tables.  Hulopoe Bay has large protected tide pools carved out of volcanic rock on the eastern side of the bay, thriving with marine life.

Sailing, Surfing, Scuba, and Snorkeling

You can be trained in snorkeling and scuba so you can enjoy your underwater adventure safely and with expert guidance.  You can also book a 4 x 4 excursion with trainers to a secluded surfing beach for lessons.  The island also features kayaking excursions and sunset sails.

Golf

There are two championship-level golf courses—The Challenge at Manele is built on lava outcroppings high above the surf of Hulopoe Bay, with three of its holes on cliffs.  Bring along plenty of golf balls!  The Experience at Koele offers stunning mountain views and lush forests.  This inland course has a cooler climate and terraced water hazards—lakes, streams, and waterfalls.

Weddings

Whether you want a barefoot wedding on the beach, romantic sunset vows on a cliff overlooking the ocean, a garden affair, or the more traditional hotel backdrop, Lanai is the ideal location for your wedding.  You can even craft a dramatic arrival in a white horse-drawn carriage.

This romantic getaway is sure to give you memories for a lifetime.

If you ever have the opportunity to visit the big island of Hawaii be sure to visit Mauna Lani. Once known as Kalahuipua’a, it was a place in ancient times where Kings would come for a vacation on the white sand beaches and the elders of the community would worship.  Ancient fishponds that were on the hallowed grounds of Mauna Lani are preserved and look as they did then.

If golf is your game you are in luck, there are two championship golf courses in Mauna Lani. The weather is perfect for golf with gentle breezes keeping you comfortable all day. The golf courses are named for the late Francis Hyde I‘i Brown, known as Mr. Golf on the island.

The devotion to the preservation of the natural and cultural history of Hawaii is apparent in Mauna Lani. The preservation of the Kalahuipua’a Fishponds, the spiritual center of Mauna Lani is unparalleled. Ancient Hawaiians raised fish in the seven fishponds Hope’ala, Kahinawao, Kalahuipua’a, Manoku, Milokukahi, Waipuhi, and Waipuhi Iki to supplement their ocean fishing endeavors. The Kalahuipua’a Fishponds are thought to date back to 250 BC. The ponds were used to raise shrimp and other sea creatures strictly for the royalty of the island. Today the ponds are stocked and a variety of plants grown in ancient Hawaii have been planted to restore the fish ponds their natural state. As the Natives say “the Spirit of Place” is awesome.

Another place to get in touch with your spirit is the Mauna Lani spa where you can relax in a uniquely Hawaiian way. Healing and renewal can be found at this award winning Mauna Lani spa. Ancient Hawaiian healing methods of massage and heated stones will take your cares away and give you a new outlook. The beautiful spa is spacious with twenty five thousand square feet of space indoors and fifteen thousand square feet of space outdoors.

The Mauna Lani spa also offers a naturally heated lava rock sauna and an Aquatic Therapy facility. A complete line of facials, body treatments, and other beauty treatments are available at the spa. Visiting the spa is a unique experience that you will never want to forget.

Another great place to visit while in Mauna Lani is the Eva Parker Woods Cottage. The cottage was a favorite place of Francis H. I‘i Brown and he is aid to have spent a lot of time there with the beautiful Hawaiian hula dancer Winona Love. Today the cottage is a favorite spot for weddings and other romantic encounters.

When you tire of relaxing at the spa and touring the ancient fish ponds take a shopping trip to the Shops at Mauna Lani. As you walk the open air walkways you will discover name brand items and local craftsmanship showcased side by side. If you are looking for a unique gift or souvenir from your trip this is the place to find it. You can also enjoy a 4-D movie ride at the Shops at Mauna Lani or dine at one of the fine restaurants in the area. Whatever you choose to do it will be an unforgettable trip!

Located on Maui Island up above the Kapalua coastline, the Plantation House Restaurant offers exquisite views with equally impressive dining options. Sitting on hand carved chairs at teak tables and enjoying the majestic double sided fireplace that sits in the middle of the restaurant, I really got the sense that that may have been the most relaxing meal I’ll ever have.

The breakfast menu is full of some of the best benedicts I’ve ever tasted, from classic eggs with hollandaise sauce to a bold flavored Cajun Sashimi Ahi Benedict that combines wasabi with hollandaise. Fresh local fruits are also available, and I can testify to the fact that if you’ve never had a fresh picked Hawaiian pineapple, it will change your life.

Options for lunch are similarly impressive, offering sandwiches with freshly cooked fish, chicken, or turkey and fantastic salads adorned with seafood. The calamari strips come with a Chef’s tartar sauce that is absolutely delicious.

Dinner guests can choose from any number of elegant starters, including wonderfully presented scallop skewers wrapped in applewood smoked bacon stacked on top of each other and drizzled with a lehua honey guava glaze.  Sushi lovers will find incredible flavor in the crispy crab stuffed Ahi roll.

For vacationers looking for a healthy meal, the restaurant offers unique takes on salad, one of which is sure to be a match for your taste buds. From fresh watermelon and toasted walnut salad, to goat cheese salad adorned with olives and passion fruit vinaigrette, the Plantation House looks to take the best ingredients and combine them to create truly one of a kind flavors.

For fish lovers, the restaurant offers five different preparation methods from all over the world, ranging from Venetian panko-pressed with shrimp to Maui style pistachio crusted with local tomatoes and onions.  If you’ve got a taste for something besides seafood, the Plantation House has an equally impressive entrée menu with varying takes on duck, lamb, steak, and pork. The entrees are also often served using locally grown, fresh produce  depending on the season, adding a real taste of Maui no matter what dish you order.

Wine selections are of the highest taste and the suggestions on entrée-wine pairings make for some great combinations. There is also a nice selection of champagne offerings to make any celebration a truly unforgettable event.

And while it seems the Plantation House seeks to fill you up with their main courses, the chef’s never cease to amaze with their traditional desserts. I found the bananas foster for two to be the perfect night cap to a truly romantic evening.

While the Plantation House Restaurant blew me away with their service, decoration, and high caliber food, it was the decidedly homey feel that made it such a joy to frequent. While I’m always one to try to taste as many different restaurants’ cuisine as possible while on vacation, the atmosphere and satisfying menu at the Plantation House kept me coming back meal after meal. In the end, I’m not sad I didn’t get to eat at too many other restaurants.

Kailua Kona Hawaii is best known for the Iron Man World Championship Triathlon that begins at the Kailua Pier but it has so much more to offer. Located about fifteen minutes away from the Kona international Airport it is a beautiful place full of the culture and history of the Hawaiian people.

Kailua Kona is at the foot of the Hualalai Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. Kona as it is sometimes called was once known as a vacation retreat for Hawaiian royalty due to the excellent climate.  There are still remnants of those days to be seen in and around Kailua Kona. Visit Hulihe’e Palace, which is a short distance from Ali’I Drive, to see a museum filled with items that the royalty of Hawaii used in their everyday lives.

Leave the fast pace of the city behind when you arrive in Kailua Kona. Though there is a lot to see and do, life moves slower here on the Big Island and you might as well enjoy it. It is a great place to relax on the beach or participate in water sports especially snorkeling in the clear blue water.

If you are expecting rows of tall buildings and hotels, you will be surprised when you arrive in Kailua Kona. The skyline is unspoiled by the clutter of buildings which makes it easy to enjoy the beautiful sunsets as they color the pristine water surrounding the island. At times you may feel like you are on your own private island when you venture to one of the soft, sand beaches hidden on the coastline of Kailua Kona.

Though things move slower in Kailua Kona there many things to see and do while you are visiting the area. Enjoy the fine foods at a Polynesian style luau with roast pork and turkey along with other island delicacies. Take time to savor the moment as you watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean while enjoying good food and drinks in the open air. It will be an experience that you will never forget!

Be sure to take in the sights on Ali’i Drive from Kailua Pier to Keauhou Bay. Ali’I Drive runs along the lava formed seawall and the many shops and restaurants. It is a great place to get out of your car and walk to see the sights and sounds of the town. Enjoy an open air restaurant or café while you watch the unforgettable Hawaiian sunset. A trip to Kailua Kona is not complete without a visit to this unique oceanfront boulevard.

One of the prettiest beaches near Kailua Kona is a beach called Magic Sands. This beautiful white sand beach is located on Alii Drive and is great for playing in the surf, swimming and body surfing. Magic Sands Beach has a lifeguard, restrooms, and showers to wash the sand off in.

Kailua Kona will teach you the meaning of Aloha; it is a place where the living is easy and the people are friendly. You’ll want to get the opportunity to visit this beautiful place on the island again sometime.

Aloha!  Your dream of being on perfect white sand beaches and enjoying the spectacular views and sights of Hawaii can now be a reality. They say it is easy to feel small on the Big Island Hawaii. With incredible natural beauty in abundance there will be no shortage of activities to plan your vacation around.

Breathtaking Vistas

There are many areas on Big Island that offer some of earths truly most incredible natural environments. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is one of these. This 330,000 acre park on the summit of Maunaloa and on to Kilauea which is home to one of earths most active volcanoes.

Come and see the Pololu Valley Lookout as well as it offers some incredible views and panoramas that include the black sand beach as well as the northeastern coastline.

Do not forget to stop by and see the Akaka Falls State Park in all of its majestic beauty. The two incredible waterfalls there, Akaka Falls with a height of 442 feet and Kahuna Falls with a height of 100 feet are two of the most incredible sights on earth. Do not forget your camera!

Before you go do not hesitate to visit the coffee plantations on Big Island Hawaii. With hundreds of coffee farms that harvest a very unique coffee bean known as the Kona, you will not want to miss the sight and smell of these rich fertile plantations.

Downtown Hilo

The town of Hilo is a must see for any traveler. This town on Big Island Hawaii is the largest town in all of Hawaii. This area still has features of its long ago origins in that it still sports some of its original wooden storefronts. Many of the buildings located here are actually on the National Register of Historic places, these areas also house a wide variety of shops, restaurants, cultural sites and galleries.

Take a trip down Kamehameha Avenue which faces the lovely Hilo Bay. Here awaiting your discovery are a variety of attractions which includes the shopping for some very highly recognized fashion designers lines. A great array of art galleries featuring art of all types such as paintings, woodwork, glassworks and jewelry crafts from Hawaiian artist with their own unique Big Island point of views.

Check out the Pacific Tsunami Museum for the chronicles of the horrendous natural disaster suffered in 1946 and 1960 which forced Hilo to rebuild even further inland.

And the Mokupapapa Discovery Center can help you to understand the culture, natural science and virtually untouched areas of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands.

Plan Your Trip

When planning your trip to Big Island Hawaii be sure to have a planned itinerary for all of the things you want to see and do. With all of the available activities you will want a great schedule to help you keep up with what your idea of the perfect Hawaiian vacation includes.

Talk with your local travel planner or even a friend who has visited the gorgeous islands and may have some insight as to the best way to enjoy your vacation to the fullest!

To many, Oahu is synonymous with Waikiki.  There you will find swaying palms, long stretches of white sand that flows into the aquamarine water, and entertainment to fit just about anyone’s taste.

You can take your morning run along a winding path that borders lapping waves. As you are running or strolling along in the early morning, you might even see a picture-perfect view of an ocean liner making its way into Honolulu harbor.  If you are a camera buff all you need do is step back behind a palm and frame that view from a hanging frond for a photo that will make you the envy of all your friends.

Leaving the Tourists Behind
Now here is the caveat. If you don’t hop into your rental car and start heading north, you will miss much of what makes Oahu truly a diverse destination. Set your GPS for Highway 3, or H3, as the locals call it. Once you get to H3, you’re going to be headed north.  Don’t let the rock quarry on your right dismay you. All of a sudden you are going to see towering mountains with densely-populated forests. These are the Koolaus. The cliffs sharply cut by the volcanic activity hundreds of years ago are carpeted green and are breathtaking.
As you head on over these mountains you can take a trip into a little town called Kailua. There you can see the Kawainui Marsh. Along with the gardens and water plants and pathway, this is also a restored habitat for all water birds, concentrating on indigenous fowl.

After your stroll you can hop back in your car and set your GPS for Heeia Park. It’s a small park that overlooks a pier, the ocean, and a view that is reminiscent of the movie “South Pacific.”

Continuing on around the north shore, you will have the Koolaus on your left and the ocean on your right. Head to Waimea Beach.

If you have packed a lunch this may be where you will want to stop and take in some sun. What can I say but, again, breathtaking.

If you didn’t pack a lunch I suggest after your sun and swim that you continue on until you hit Pupukea. On your left there is a little lunch wagon called the Pupukea Grill. It has the best Teriyaki Ahi (Yellow Fin Tuna) plate lunch on Oahu.

Now that you’re full, head to Haleiwa, the historic town that refused McDonalds their golden arches. Have a shave ice at Aoki’s shave ice stand (don’t pay attention to the line at Matsumoto’s) and you’ve now spent a day that any local would enjoy.  As you head home through the pineapple fields headed for Highway 1, you can think about all the other hidden treasures you’ve missed. What are they? Ah, you’ll just have to come to Hawaii to find out.

Exploring Kauai Hawaii is a trip to a virtual paradise. This island often referred to as the Garden Island is home to the wettest spot on earth known as Mount Wai’ale’ale which averages 485 inches of rain per year. The average year round temperature at Kauai’s Lihu’e Airport ranges between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Historically Kauai is said to be perhaps the first of the Hawaiian Islands to be settled by Marquesan explorers sometime around 750 A.D. This early settlement as well as Kauai’s remoteness comparatively to the rest of Hawaii’s island chain may have led to the belief that Kauai was the purest of the islands.

The Aston Kauai Beach at Makaiwa offers superb oceanfront accommodations on the Kauai Coconut Coast. This resort offers some of the most breathtaking views available on the Hawaiian Islands. Open air dining is available and a much enjoyed past time at this resort.

St. Regis Princeville Resort provides the finest of luxuries for those who plan to spend their vacations enjoying all of the finer things life may have to offer. From the most pleasing culture and fine dining to the pursuit of culture and sport, this four star resort will remind you why Kauai is considered a small paradise on earth.
Experience the Kauai sea tours that will enable you to explore the serene and majestic coast of Na Pali. These tours are directed by the most expert of boating captains who are well educated on the sea life, wildlife, conservation and history of the Kauai Island.

Kauai Island Activities

Kauai Island offers a myriad of activities catering to the taste of any and all ages of travelers. Some of the Islands main attractions in year round entertainments are:

Golf
Some of Hawaii’s most challenging golf courses are located on the Island of Kauai. Hosting resort courses as well as public courses makes this island an attraction to all golfers. The views from most all courses on this island are spectacular views of the ocean or the majestic mountains.

Horseback Riding
There must not be a more personal and nature inspired way to explore the Island of Kauai than on horseback. From scenic trails that can follow the coastline to a more rugged trip through the Hanalei Valley, this land that has remained mostly untouched for the last thousand years can inspire awe in those not usually normally so taken aback by natures beauties.

Fishing
This island is a most popular spot for fishing enthusiast of saltwater and freshwater anglers. With island reservoirs that sport large and small mouthed bass as well as marlin, ono and aku found in so much abundance just off the coast of Kauai there is no limit to the fishing possibilities of this tropical island. Special charters can be reserved as well that will take you near to the private island of Niihau for the giant tuna and marlin anglers who are out for that one special catch.
This gorgeous island can be a part of your vacation or traveler memories for a lifetime. The majestic beauty is something not easily forgotten. To being planning that special vacation to provide those lifelong memories for your family and loved ones start by visiting GoHawaii.com to help you decide on your accommodations as well as the activities you want to enjoy while taking in the unforgettable features of the lovely island of Kauai itself.