Hawaii Travel Guide

On the island of Oahu, you will find great shopping, tons of nightlife, white-sand beaches, world-famous surf, snorkeling, leisure, and outdoor adventure for the entire family. Perhaps this is why Oahu is the most populated island in Hawaii.

For adventure, you can take a hike to the top of Diamond Head crater for a spectacular 360-degree view of Oahu and Waikiki beach, take surfing lessons in front of the Royal Hawaiian hotel, scuba dive the spectacular coral reefs, go shark cage diving on the north shore, or take a ride on an outrigger canoe. Additional side-trips include snorkeling at Hanauma Bay amongst a myriad of tropical marine life, go sport fishing, take a Catamaran sunset cruise on Waikiki Beach, or for the really adventurous, go for a ride in a glider airplane high above the Oahu mountains.

An Oahu vacation isn't just for the adventuresome. Leisure recreation is everywhere. One thing everyone must do is take the scenic drive over the Pali Highway, stopping at the historic site for a phenomenal view from the Nuuanu Pali Lookout point. Also be sure to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center where you can stop and see where the famous big surf rolls in. If you want to buy a flower lei, stop at one of the stands on Maunakea Street to see how they're made. Many people love to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center in Oahu to, not only view original Hawaiian lifestyle, but also become familiar with many of the other Polynesian South Pacific Islands. This is a full day of entertainment and its recommended that you buy your tickets well in advance if you are traveling during a busy season.

On Oahu, there are many different nature tours to choose from. Discover tropical rain forests, waterfalls, old Hawaiian Villages, visit an arboretum, or experience sunrise atop Diamond Head while learning of its history from your knowledgeable tour guide.

For surfers and those who simply enjoy the thrill of watching some of the largest surf in the world pound the Hawaiian beaches, a stop at Oahu's North Shore is a trip you'll never forget. With waves reaching 30 feet in height, you'll see some of the bravest surfers in the world risk it all as they tackle one of nature's most powerful forces. On Oahu's North Shore, you'll find famous surf beaches like Waimea Bay and Pipeline. The largest waves on the North Shore can be found during the winter months between November and February, while the summer months usually produce very small surf anywhere from a few feet in height to complete calm, which provides for great snorkeling and swimming for vacationers.

Your Hawaii Vacation in Oahu would not be complete without a trip to King Kamehameha's Palace. King Kamehameha was the first King of Hawaii. Under his rule, he conquered the Hawaiian Islands and formally established the Kingdom of Hawaii in the year 1810. By developing alliances with the major Pacific colonial powers, Kamehameha successfully preserved Hawaii's independence. Under his rule, he brought together all the other island's chiefdoms and united them under one single government.

Certainly, if this is your 1st vacation in Oahu, you'll want to visit Pearl Harbor. Here you'll visit the Memorials of the USS Arizona and the Missouri. The Memorial is the final resting place for many of the battleship's 1,177 crew who lost their lives on December 7, 1941. The Memorial commemorates the site where World War II began for the United States. The tour of the Memorial begins with a 23-minute documentary film depicting the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, showing actual footage that enthrusts awe, appreciation, and great respect for those who lost their lives on that fateful day.

Anyone who appreciates aviation will certainly enjoy The Pacific Aviation Museum located in the WWII Hangars in Pearl Harbor. These hangers still show scars of our nation's first aviation battlefield. Here you'll find exhibits of a 1942 Japanese Zero and its' opponent, the USA's Wildcat. See the Stearman 18 year old George H. W. Bush honored as the war's youngest aviator. Learn how aviation turned the tide of World War II. Flight Simulators are also available for an extra fee.

With so many things to do on one island, it's no wonder Oahu is the most popular Hawaiian island for vacationers. For Oahu vacation accommodations, there are many Oahu hotels to choose from in Waikiki but many prefer to stay in privately-owned vacation rentals for both comfort and cost-efficiency. Most Oahu vacation rentals include fully stocked kitchens, multiple bedrooms, and some even have a private swimming pool, which works out great for a cheap familiy vacation. Therefore, it pays to shop around before considering the multitude of expensive Oahu hotels.

Aloha to everyone!

First things first, scuba diving is one of the foremost fun things one could do in Hawaii. Believe it or not, there are various diving companies, diving sites in and around Hawaii. All you have to do is open yourself up to the possibilities of fun and diving adventure.

Why dive in Hawaii?

The fact of the matter is that the chain of islands in Hawaii is basically made up of more than a hundred islands. The most famous of these islands are Kauai, Ni'ihau, Lanai, Molokai, Maui and Kahoolawe.

Hawaii is surrounded by the ocean and is specifically located about more than two thousand miles from the nearest continent.

It has been shown that more than twenty five percent of marine life is attributed to Hawaii.

Of the islands mentioned, the four islands that tourists most flock to are Maui, Oahu, Kauai as well as Hawaii.

These islands all have their own unique traits as well as diving locations.

The islands of Molokai, Lanai, Ni'ihau are actually less frequently dived yet they offer unique marine life.

These islands are recommended generally for divers that are advanced as well as intermediate levels.

If interested in going to Kahoolawe for diving, a charter diving boat is needed. However, there are other fun options one could do when you're not under the waves. Skydiving is one, visiting a luau is another.

You could also try going to one of the active volcano's in the world. Or if you prefer, relaxing in a secluded and peaceful beach is also a good option.

Diving sites in Hawaii

Hawaii is a perfect place to go diving. Thanks to its warm and pristine waters.

Oahu is a diving site in Hawaii that has lava offshore formations as well as grottoes, shipwrecks and plane. It also carries large colorful schools of sea green turtles and fish.

Maui is another Hawaii scuba diving site that is located on the west coast and also offers excellent sites for diving for any level.

Kauai is also known for the pristine and rugged diving sites. The winter season makes it quite inaccessible for diving, however that isn't the case when summer comes.

Lanai is another diving site that is known for the lava formations it offers. The formations consist of nature-made ridges, archways, tunnels and pinnacles.

All in all, there are many Hawaii diving sites to choose from. It all depends on your preference and need. It is a guarantee though that scuba diving anywhere in Hawaii is an activity that is unforgettably fun.

I used my road trip planner to plan a great 8-day trip to the Big Island and found so much to see and do on the Kona Coast alone that I really needed two weeks to fully explore the island. So, by combining my Kona Coast experience with recommendations from locals, here then is a two-week road trip that will give you the full Big Island treatment.

I'd recommend staying one week on the Kona Coast and the next in Hilo to have a great jumping off point for your many explorations. We'll start our road trip planning on the Kona side, the sunnier region. We stayed in the Kailua-Kona, site of the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon (scheduled for October 11th this year) and home of the revered King Kamehameha, the leader who united the islands. It has a great waterfront and pier, where you could enjoy dinner each night with a view of the sun dipping behind the water horizon. My favorite was the Kona Brewing Company (baked garlic, home-made focaccia & melted gorgonzola dip).

Make sure to include plenty of beaches in your road trip planner. Snorkelers should go to Kahaluu Beach Park, surfers to White Sands Beach, privacy buffs to Kona Coast State Park, and beach lovers can choose from Anaehoomalu Bay, Hapuna Beach, or Mauna Kea Beach.

Other places to consider in your road trip planning in Kailua-Kona: The Hulihee Palace, Kokuaikaua Church, and Kamehameha's Compound at Kamakahonu Bay. I found souvenirs and affordable wine at the Kona Wine Market. Include one Luau in your trip; I went to the Island Breeze Luau because it was right on the beach in the King Kamehameha Compound at the Kailua Pier.

Along the Kohala Coast, your road trip takes you north into some quaint towns like Hawi. The road ends a few miles past Hawi, where you'll view the Pololu Valley (very dramatic!). But first, catch a tour at the Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm (NELHA), the only Seahorse farm in the US. Stroll through the Puukohola Heiau National Historic Site, the temple Kamehameha built to the war god to insure his success in battle. Keep driving up Highway 270 in North Kohala to the Lapakahi State Historical Park for a view of a typical 14th-century Hawaiian village and the Mo'okini Luakini Heiau. The original Kamehameha Statue is along this route, as well as a view of Maui. A mile from the Pololu lookout, enjoy a picnic at the Keokea Beach Park. On your way back, check out the Puako Petroglyph Archaeological District.

Along the southern coast on the Kona side, you'll find Captain Cook, Kealakekua Bay, the Place of Refuge and Honaunau Bay. All of these make for a perfect full day's exploration to add to your road trip planner, with historical places and monuments, great scenic shots of the bays and snorkeling/swimming at Honaunau Bay, considered the second best place to snorkel or scuba with turtles, fish, and huge coral growths!

Now it's time to move your home base to the Hilo side to give you plenty of time to explore the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Leaving Kailua-Kona, include in your road trip planning, stops at South Point (the southernmost spot in the US), the Punaluu Bakery shop in Naalehu, and the Punaluu Black Sand Beach.

We didn't spend nearly enough time at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park because the ranger told us the current lava flow was outside the park (in August, 2008, drive one hour to the end of Highway 130 in Kaimu, then hike 20 minutes over lava beds to the viewing area). Schedule two days in your road trip planner to fully explore the Kilauea Visitors Center, Halemaumau Crater, Thurston Lava Tube, Devastation Trail, and a Crater Rim drive as well as make the sunset trek to the lava flow. Local Shannon Cormie says, "Seeing the ribbon of red lava snake its way down the side of the mountain and then thunder into the ocean is a sight you will never forget".

One reason to place Hilo front and center in your road trip planning is because it's so lush! David Carpenter, a local, recommends the Akatsuka Orchid Garden for its large assortment of orchids. It's situated about halfway between Volcano and Hilo. Shannon recommends Banyan Drive, Liliuokalani Gardens, Lyman Museum & Mission House, the Pacific Tsunami Museum, and the wonderful botanical gardens like Nani Mau Gardens Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, and World Botanical Garden.

From there, you road trip takes you north to the Hamakua Coast with stops at the Akaka Falls and lunch in Honokaa. Then check out Waipio Valley, the birthplace of Hawaii's kings, before heading for Waimea, a cowboy town with the Parker Ranch Visitor Center & Museum as the focal point.

Pencil in a full day in your trip planner to explore Mauna Kea. Rent a four-wheel drive vehicle to climb to the top (13,796 feet) or book a full-day tour where guides will take you to hidden waterfalls, sacred spots and an observatory, treasured by astronomers around the globe.

All of the above will fill your Big Island Road Trip to the brim. And you're sure to discover some new places as well. But take heart, if you don't get to them all this round, you'll have a perfect excuse to fill another road trip planner for your next visit!

As we set out fishing across the blue pacific ocean I wondered why the sky was perfectly touched up against the horizon. The sun gleaming with joy on this day that would surely turn out to be adventourus on all levels. No we were not on a seventy foot ship but a 30 foot fishing boat called "karlyn".

As the captain whistled to his apprentice to pick up speed we swiftly got the go ahead to lower our lures. Live squid on three inch hooks would be the means of snagging our highly sought after game fish. This is not charter fishing but sport fishing at its purest.

A month prior to our fishing expedition in Hawaii I would have never thought to acquire such an activity. My boyfriend of 5 years was a regular extreme junkie and sport fishing, although a bore to him, would be the limit to my extreme tastes. Convinced to have a good time and treasure a memory I pleasantly looked forward to the trip out the sea.

Charter fishing in Hawaii has proven to be a winner for me on my Hawaiian vacation. Who would have thought? Boy was I glad when we set foot back on land. Not to mention one hundred eighty pounds of pacific blue marlin and mahi combined. Thanks to captain mark and his crew of the karlyn, who are experts in Hawaii for charter fishing we had a blast and a whale of a time.

Romantic vacations are for couples who want some intimate time alone. They should be passion filled, stress free and relaxing. They can be a romantic couples retreat to a spa or hotel suite, three day weekend vacations or weeklong romantic getaways to the beach or mountains.

The beach is also a popular place for exchanging wedding vows. There's nothing more romantic than saying "I do" at the ocean's edge at sunset. Beach weddings are definite Kodak moments that a couple will cherish for a lifetime.

Mountain getaways allow couples to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Relaxing on a cabin deck at sunset while soaking in an outside jacuzzi for two is extremely romantic. Being one with nature will allow a couple to be one with each other.

Spa getaways allow some sensual time for the couple. Couples massages release stress and soothe tired muscles. Look into each other's eyes as your tensions are driven away.

Special occasions are the time when couples should take a much needed break and escape, just the two of them. Time away to rediscover and reconnect with each other is vital in every relationship. Falling in love again and again with each other keeps the relationship fresh and allows each person to grow together, and not apart.

Anniversary vacations allow a couple to reflect on their relationship and celebrate their love. There's romantic winery getaways throughout the U.S. Enjoy a romantic dinner, savor a bottle of wine and toast to each other.

Honeymoon getaways are popular in Hawaii, Florida, Las Vegas and Niagara Falls. These are destinations the couple will always remember at one of the most important times in their lives.

The Poconos in Pennsylvania is another ideal spot for a couples vacation. The fall is gorgeous with the colored fall foliage. Some resorts offer heart shaped tubs to soak your cares away, drink some chilled bubbly and revel in each other. Cuddle up by the fireplace and make some heat of your own.

Romantic getaways are also popular for Valentine's Day. Even an overnight stay at a local hotel with romance, favorite beverages and a candlelight dinner can recharge the batteries of love. Valentine's Day isn't about the size of the gift, it's about couples spending precious time together.

Romantic vacations can be more romantic with carriage rides, romantic dinner cruises, hand in hand walks on the beach, proposals in vineyards and taking your love to new heights on scenic helicopter tours, especially in Hawaii.

Many cities have scenic gardens with colorful flowers. A vacation to romance should include something that the couple doesn't get to do very often - or at all. Strolling arm in arm through gardens and taking walking tours of the romantic destination the couple is vacationing in allows the couple to experience new things together.

Spontaneous is good, too! Enjoy breakfast in bed one morning, then check out a jazz bar for dinner. Or pick up and head for a romantic picnic by the lake. Some cheese, wine, crackers and your beloved are all that is needed.

Romantic vacations are needed by every couple to get the romance fresh. It doesn't matter where you go, how far away you go, but alone time is something a couple needs to cultivate as often as they can.

Romance is where the heart is, whether you're vacationing in your city or 3000 miles from home. Treasure your love, cherish your soulmate and make time for romance every day of your lives.