Cruis'n

I know that cruising the Hawaiian Islands is not a new thing, American Hawaii Steamship Company had been doing it for years on a ship that was well past it’s prime. Recently Norwegian Cruise Lines announced that they would begin service in the islands with newer boats and better service. Well, they got the “newer boats” part right with the “Pride of Aloha” a ship that was refurbished but the reports were saying that the service part was lacking. NCL was not one to give up the ship (sorry about the pun) and has sent their newest ship “Pride of America” off to the Islands. I had a chance to go aboard and sample the service and accommodations recently and have to say that I am hopeful that this time NCL has it right.
What the Pride of America has going for it:
A definite American feel with a slight emphasis toward Hawaii in the public areas.
An eager, all-American staff, many of whom are from Hawaii
It’s new!
Several dining options with restaurants with themes from Texas steakhouse to sushi bar.
The plan is for the ship to sail on seven night voyages from Honolulu with stops Hilo on The Big Island, Kahului in Maui, back to The Big Island at Kona, then on to Kauai and back to Oahu. This itinerary gives you a taste of the four main islands but only a taste. Advantages are the overnight stays in Maui and Kauai to give you a little more time to experience the islands.

The Flowers are Coming.

New prospects to the economy of Hawaii are a couple of flowers. One is used in lotions, candles and food and is probably scenting your bathroom right now. The other is an orchid and it flavors everyone’s favorite comfort food… ice cream.
The flowers are lavender and vanilla.
In upcountry Maui, growers have found the altitude and cool air work quite well for the lavender plants which can take two years to mature. Its popularity is growing for use in food and in aromatherapy where it’s earthy, field fresh scent is said to rejuvenate the tired soul.
On the Big Island, the vanilla orchid is being grown and pollinated by hand to produce the bean that is anything but plain. I toured a vanilla plantation on the island of Moorea and watched as the guide showed us how pollen must be carefully deposited by hand into each vanilla flower. I had no idea how labor intensive this simple looking bean was to grow and harvest and I have never considered it expensive again.
These two new crops are being grown and harvested by pioneers who know that agriculture in Hawaii is still a viable and important part of the State's economy just as sugar cane and pineapple once were.
You can visit a lavender farm at: http://www.aliikulalavender.com
Visit Hawaii Vanilla at: http://www.hawaiianvanilla.com

Of Scents and Sounds

The sense of smell is amazing for bringing back memories. After returning home from a particularly wonderful trip to Hawaii, I noticed that every morning after I showered and shaved something made me feel like I was back in Maui. It was a faint scent that sent me back. OK, I know this is a little strange but I realized it actually was my deodorant. I had switched to a new brand with a different scent right before I left for my vacation and, even weeks after I had gotten back, that faint smell was transporting me right back to the islands.
Well, that’s one way to relive the memories and feelings of a great Hawaii vacation but I know another that’s worked well too. Music! Before you leave on your trip buy a couple of CDs of Hawaiian music. Slack key guitar is my favorite and there are several good albums of compilations. In fact, “Slack Key Guitar Volume 2” even won a Grammy. Other favorite artists are Hapa, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Iz) and Keali'i Reichel, and there are dozens more. Keep these CDs handy in your rental car, close to your personal CD player or transfer to your Mp3 player. Listen to these whenever you’re driving, hanging at the beach or lounging on your lanai. On your first day home when you’re stuck on the interstate, fighting your way through traffic on your way to work, pop in one of the CDs of Hawaiian style music. It will instantly transport you back to Kapalua, Sunset Beach, Waikiki or wherever you spent your Hawaiian holiday. You will feel the sun, remember the ocean breeze and the taste the pineapple. The traffic will instantly become less stressful. You will greet that jerk that just cut you off with a raise of your hand in a fist with thumb and pinky raised, smile and shout, “Wa's your hurry bruddah? Hang loose!” Probably not the same salute and salutation you would have given him two weeks ago.

Turtle Bay Wave

Wave1
Originally uploaded by Michael.

Wave at sunset on Turtle Bay.

North Shore's New Old Favorite

Had the chance to stay at a new old hotel not long ago.
On a first visit to Oahu’s North Shore we stayed at the renovated Turtle Bay Resort. What a delightful experience! The former owners of the resort had let things run down a little and it’s reputation sagged from what it had been when my brother had visited in 1995. New owners decided an investment in the property was needed and, according to a hotel news release, what began as a $20 million project turned into a $50 million project. Now pretty much complete the feeling is simple and laid back, very fitting for the North Shore lifestyle. The remodeled beach cottages are very charming. The hotel property is huge with riding stables, beautiful beaches and, of course, two great golf courses. We played the Palmer course and had more fun and I played as well as I’ve played in years. When we returned the cart the attendant asked how the round went. “Great!” I said. He looked at me kinda funny. “We don’t hear that much from people coming off the Palmer.” What I didn’t tell him was I played from the white tees. We’ll keep that our little secret.
I just got off the phone with the resort and found out they have a golf special for about $240 per person per day (2 people per room) with unlimited golf with a three night minimum stay. This price was for early May and price will vary and could change depending on when you’re going.
You can see Turtle Bay’s website at:
http//:www.turtlebayresort.com

Lil' Snorkler

Lil' Snorkler
Originally uploaded by Michael.

First time snorkler, Poipu Beach, Kauai.

To Condo or Not to Condo

Sometimes we get spoiled. Staying in nice hotels, greeted by friendly staff, ordering room service, those little flowers on your pillow at night. Ahhh, vacation can be a nice life. But when we wanted to take our 8-year-old son and my 78-year-old mother along on a trip to Kauai someone suggested a condo. No way! Never. Not us.
Spoiled brats.
But then they mentioned things like:
• Not having to pay for two rooms
• Room to spread out
• A full kitchen
• Our son being able to make his own breakfast in the morning without waking us up
• Having a fridge full of food for snacks or a quick lunch
• Being able to afford to eat at nicer restaurants for dinner because we didn’t spend all that money on breakfast and lunch.
Hmmmmm.
We booked a two-bedroom unit at Poipu Kai on the sunny south shore of Kauai and I remember being pretty nervous thinking we were going to hate not having the usual services of a hotel. I was wrong and have been back twice to the same place even taking along good friends on our last trip. One note: Poipu Kai is huge. Make sure your unit is close to where you want to be. My favorite side is near Brennecke Beach and is a short walk to Poipu Beach State Park. The other side is closer to Shipwreck Beach and the beautiful Hyatt Regency Hotel. Not a bad place to be but the swimming at the beach there can be dangerous so it means a long walk or short drive to Poipu Beach for snorkeling and playing in the calm ocean waters. Both Aston and Suite Paradise manage the units at Poipu Kai. Check their websites for price and availability. Just Google “Poipu Kai”.
There are great condos in great locations from Waikiki to Princeville and Hilo so consider them if you have a crew or want a feeling more like home than like being a guest. A highlight of our trip is the stop at Sueoka's or Big Save, the grocery stores in Koloa Town to load up on goodies to stock the kitchen, things like local beer, macadamia nut shortbread cookies, Fruit Loops, Kauai coffee, fresh pineapple, dried squid, some Spam…

Going to Maui? Toni Stroud wrote a terrific article for the Seattle Times about great deals on condos in Maui. You can read it here.

Great Hawaiian Treats!

Can’t get enough of those Hawaiian yummies!
Being the generous person you are you probably brought back chocolate macadamia nuts, fresh pineapples, guava jelly and macadamia nut shortbread cookies for your postman, hairdresser, office buddies, Uncle Larry and your neighbors but you forgot to bring back a coffee mug for your dad to add to his collection. Or worse, you didn’t purchase enough extras for you to enjoy too. No worries. It’s as easy as hilohattie.com! Hilo Hattie offers a wide selection of hawaiiana gifts, apparel and of course treats of aloha. Their stores are located on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island and Kauai and now just a click away. Think about it, you can have all your souvenirs waiting for at your door when you get home.

Gift basket recipe for the coffee lovers:
Buy a luahala basket (ask in the gift stores), add a bag of 100% Kona or Kauai Coffee. Add two Hawaiian coffee mugs (Hilo Hattie has a huge selection).
Throw in a can of Kona coffee glazed macadamia nuts.
Add a gift card, tie it up with a piece of raffia and you have a memorable gift.

Lapperts Ice Cream
Here’s the deal, you’ve got to try my favorite, Carmel Cashew Turtle Fudge. It’s a sweet combination of creamy vanilla ice cream and what appears to taste a bit like rolo bits, swirled with dreamy carmel and cashews. The favorite is probably the Macadamia Nut ice cream, but honestly, I don’t think you can make a bad choice.

Island Book - The Happy Isles of Oceania

Paul Theroux was having a lousy time in his life and marriage so he packed a bag and his foldable kayak and took off to tour the South Pacific. He wrote about his odyssey in a book called The Happy Isles of Oceania. If you are going to New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti, Fiji or Hawaii and want to know as much about the people as the place, this is a wonderful resource. Reading this book may feel a little like walking through the messy kitchens of your favorite restaurants. You may learn some things that you may not have wanted to know but you will understand what makes each place so unique.
Mr. Theroux, who also wrote The Mosquito Coast, now lives on the North Shore of Oahu.

Great Guide Books

Until we have wireless information access everywhere we go we still need reliable, fun, easy to use guidebooks to tell us what's to do and get us where we want to be. Every time we go to Hawaii, Maui, Oahu or Kauai we make sure we have the latest books by Andrew Doughty and Harriet Friedman. And since we always have friends going to the islands, we make sure they get a copy or we give them one of our annotated, dog-eared copies before they go.
I reccommend you get a copy before you go, have everyone in the family check it out and highlight their favorite places and things to do. Make a list of what you plan to do and make your reservations! Keep notes in your book about whether or not you agreed with the authors or jot down places you noticed that look good for your visit next year.
These books are like having a local in your pocket.

A Special Little Hotel

Heard some wonderful things about a new little boutique hotel in Maui called Aloha Pualani from some very experienced Hawaii visitors. Believe it or not, this little jem of a hotel is not in Kapalua or Wailea, they’re in Kihei. People I have talked to have fallen in love with this charming place. View their website here.
http://www.alohapualani.com

Aloha Disney!

I’m sure you’ve heard that Disney is bringing it’s proven family formula to Hawaii. This summer Disney will be testing a family tour experience of the islands. Some people have been wondering for years why Disney never built a resort or bought a property like the Hilton Waikoloa. The beauty of the islands, the graciousness of the local people and Disney’s sense of entertainment and value could make for a wonderful vacation. It will likely be a little too “canned and planned” for some. The moderately adventurous and Sierra Club types need not apply. Families looking for a familiar feeling in an unfamiliar place will enjoy, I'm sure.

If they golf, they will come… won’t they?

There seems to be a big push for Hawaii as a golf destination. Did you notice all the Hawaii commercials during the PGA’s swing through the islands? It used to be, "Bring your sunscreen and a bathing suit and if you can, bring your clubs too." But now the islands and the resorts are trying to let the guys and girls who usually go to Florida, Palm Springs or the Carolinas for their golf vacation know that Hawaii has the best the world has to offer in the way of golf experiences. Though they still can’t match the green fees at the other destinations, Hawaii does have a more exotic appeal. Watch for special deals with tour operators and resorts. With some of the great airfares and specials like the one at Turtle Bay it’s not much more than going to La Quinta. Well, maybe a little more but the sunsets from the 19th are worth it.
Some other golf notes:
Be sure to check twilight rates. These can be a great deal and many courses are pretty quiet in the afternoon especially in spring, fall and winter.
Never played Bermuda greens before? Ask a local for a little help reading the grain. Putting against the grain is like petting your dog from tail to head.
Wailua Golf Course on Kauai has been the home to 3 USGA Amateur Pub Links Championships. Non-resident weekday rate is $32. Resident rate is $10. I know where I’m retiring.
The Village Course in Kapalua is my favorite. Not sure why, never played particularly well there. Just always had a better time than score.
Before you play the Prince Course in Princeville, walk to the first tee box and take a good look at the hole. That narrow little strip you see winding down the canyon is not the cart path, it’s the fairway.

Kihei Canoe Club

Kihei Canoe Club
Originally uploaded by Michael.

These guys paddled out to us while we were returning from a snorkling trip to Molokini. They were looking for a young member of their club who had been blown off shore by the trade winds. The boy was found later that day, safe and sound but pretty tired. The original picture was taken in about 1985.