All you need to know about visiting the Hawaiian islands of <a href="/topics/Oahu">Oahu</a>, <a href="/topics/Kauai">Kauai</a>, Lanai, Molokai, <a href="/topics/Maui">Maui</a> and the Big Island of Hawaii.

Travel

ny-travel-hawaii-gallery

In the tiny, ramshackle Waikane Store, on Oahu's east shore, a cheerful woman in a old-fashioned hairnet offered up Hawaiian-style sushi. And that means Spam. 
The canned meat long has been a Hawaiian favorite, morphing into all kinds of dishes, including Spam musubi -- slices of grilled Spam draped on blocks of rice. At this store, it's made in the back, along with hot dog rolls, slices of hot dog encased in rice. 
You could, if you prefer, get traditional Japanese sushi all around Oahu, including at fancy restaurants in high-rise Waikiki. Or try the local version at a little down-home place like Waikane, part of the essence of "country" that endures along this part of the island. 
Storms roll in from the Pacific, dumping about 100 inches of rain a year on some of this windward coast and helping keep much of it rural and less touristy. I drove a scenic route out of Waikiki that hugs the coast all the way, ending up at the island's wave-pounded North Shore. Here's a sampling of what to see as you drive east, then north from Waikiki, mostly on routes 72 and 83. 
1. HANAUMA BAY NATURE PRESERVE Start early in the morning to get a parking place and beat the crowds that flock to this protected bay that has some of Hawaii's best snorkeling. There's a bonanza of tropical fish, and sometimes sea turtles, to be seen in the steep-walled, collapsed volcanic crater that's now ocean-filled. Walk down to the beach or take the park's tram. Hanauma has a visitor center and natural-history exhibits. 
INFO About 11 miles from Waikiki, just off Route 72. Admission $7.50, parking $1. See <a href="http://bit.ly/1oxljCt" target="_blank">bit.ly/1oxljCt</a> 
2. SANDY BEACH Stop and see the daredevil body surfers and bodyboarders at this beach off Route 72. Don't go in the water unless you're very experienced. Waves toss people here, causing injuries or worse. 
INFO About two miles from Hanauma Bay, with a parking lot right off Route 72. 
3. MAKAPU'U POINT LIGHTHOUSE TRAIL Walk to the top of a bluff on a paved trail with outstanding views of towering headlands and islets, humpback whales and paragliders. Makapu'u Point is at Oahu's eastern tip, and the mile- long trail winds 500 feet up amid low scrubby plants to the lookout. A red-roofed lighthouse perches postcard-perfect on a ledge part way up (although it's closed to visitors). At the top are abandoned military bunkers and views, views, views. 
INFO About 2.5 miles from Sandy Beach. Parking lot is several hundred yards off Route 72 as it climbs between tall bluffs. No fee. See <a href="http://bit.ly/1k3w6b2" target="_blank">bit.ly/1k3w6b2</a> 
4. HO'OMALUHIA BOTANICAL GARDEN Going north from Makapu'u on Route 72 is this 400-acre botanical wonderland of tropical rain forest trees and shrubs. Park at some of the half-dozen themed areas to walk short trails among gardens of Polynesian, African, native Hawaiian and other plants and to a small lake. 
INFO About 13.5 miles from Makapu'u Point. Watch for signs to the garden turnoff in the suburban area of Kaneohe. No fee. See <a href="http://bit.ly/1fAguHU" target="_blank">bit.ly/1fAguHU</a> 
5. BYODO-IN TEMPLE Hook into Route 83 -- the two-lane meandering route to the North Shore -- and veer off it to the surreal Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. The 200-acre cemetery, spreading over rolling hills, contains a replica of a Japanese temple, with a pagoda-like roof, a gleaming statue of Buddha inside and a koi pond. Built in 1968 to commemorate a century of Japanese immigration to Hawaii, it's the grandest of the replica temples that dot the cemetery. 
INFO About 4.5 miles from Ho'omaluhia garden. It's also in suburban Kaneohe, along the highway. $3 admission. See <a href="http://byodo-in.com" target="_blank">byodo-in.com</a> 
6. WAIKANE Get a glimpse of local life at the little Waikane Store and low wood houses tucked into masses of junglelike greenery. For miles on either side of Waikane, the route skirts the ocean and is dotted with roadside beach parks. Choose the one you like best and pause for a beach stroll or a picnic, perhaps with the store's Spam musubi for a snack. 
INFO About five miles from Byodo-In Temple. 
7. POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER And now for something completely different, a Polynesian cultural theme park run by Mormons in small-town Hawaii. 
Utah's Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened the Polynesian Cultural Center in 1963 to highlight Polynesian culture and offer employment to students at the Hawaii branch of Brigham Young University. 
Themed performance areas or "villages" of thatched-roof buildings are surrounded by emerald-green lawns and palms that stretch along a man-made stream. At each area -- Hawaii, Samoa, Maori New Zealand (Aotearoa), Fiji, Tonga, Easter Island, Tahiti and the Marquesas -- fresh-faced staff perform traditional songs, stories and dances. 
Day admission is $39.95 for an adult (which includes a short film on Hawaii in the impressive new theater). An evening show of songs and fire-dance special effects is an additional $39.95. (There are package discounts plus some discounts for seniors and children.) Or go deluxe with a luau or prime-rib dining package. 
INFO About 15 miles from Waikane. For a daytime visit to the villages, get there right when it opens, or even before, to beat the tour buses that come rolling in. See <a href="http://polynesia.com" target="_blank">polynesia.com</a> 
8. NORTH SHORE Beyond the Polynesian Cultural Center, Route 83 veers inland past small communities and shrimp-farming ponds where a dozen roadside food trucks serve big plates of garlic, lemon-butter and curried shrimp. 
Soon you'll spot Turtle Bay Resort, where you can park in the lot. Stroll past the right side of the hotel to the lovely Kulima Bay, where you can swim without fear of dangerously big waves. 
After your dip, check out more of the North Shore, including several funky shops in Haleiwa; seven miles of white sand beaches; and Waimea Bay, where 50-foot waves sometimes come thundering in. Savor this wilder side of Oahu before backtracking along the east coast, or take the fast and not-nearly-so-scenic 45-mile interior route, including the H2 freeway, back to Honolulu. 
INFO About 7.5 miles to Turtle Bay from the Polynesian Cultural Center. See <a href="http://bit.ly/1mDVqkZ" target="_blank">bit.ly/1mDVqkZ</a>

TRCOV13.WEB

Oahu road trip: Must-see places to go

trOAHU

Aloha, Disney! 
The <a href="/topics/Disney_Channel">Walt Disney</a> Co.’s new upscale, beachside Hawaiian resort Aulani opens Monday, thousands of miles from the nearest Disney theme park. And while <a href="/topics/Mickey_Mouse">Mickey Mouse</a> and friends can be found on the property, Hawaii’s culture, history and natural beauty are the biggest stars. 
“The resort is not a replication of any of our theme parks. We know if guests want to go to Disneyland, they’ll go to Disneyland,” said Djuan Rivers, a Disney vice president who oversees the resort. “Our guests are coming here first and foremost for Hawaii and everything Hawaii has to offer.” 
Joe Rohde, head of Aulani’s creative team, grew <a href="/topics/Up_%282009_Film%29">up</a> in <a href="/topics/Honolulu%2C_HI">Honolulu</a> and said “we made a choice early on to really, really focus on Hawaiian culture as a defining element of Aulani.” 
Aulani is located on the west side of <a href="/topics/Oahu">Oahu</a>, about an hour’s drive from Waikiki. The sprawling 840-unit resort is the first major Disney property to offer a mix of regular hotel rooms and Disney Vacation Club time shares away from a theme park. (Disney’s smaller resorts in Hilton Head, Ga., and Vero Beach, Fla., are time shares.) 
Aulani is a Hawaiian term for messenger of a chief or higher authority. Showcasing the host culture as Aulani’s main theme is a departure from other Disney properties where the iconic mouse and other Disney references are visible at every turn. True, visitors will find a surfer Mickey lamp in each Aulani guest room, with his image subtly blended in the bedding design, and Disney cast members portraying Mickey, Minnie, Donald and <a href="/topics/The_Rest_%28musician%29">the rest</a> of the crew can be found strolling around in bright aloha shirts and shorts. But the spotlight here is definitely on Hawaii. 
“This story is about this place, that you came to see, experience and want to take away memories from that are different than the&nbsp; memories if you went to <a href="/topics/Idaho">Idaho</a>,” Rohde said. 
Tom Staggs, chairman of <a href="/topics/Disney_Channel">Walt Disney</a> Parks and Resorts and the company’s former chief financial officer, said Aulani “captures <a href="/topics/The_Very_Best_%28musician%29">the very best</a> of the rich Hawaiian storytelling and culture with a touch of Disney.” 
Designers have incorporated historical and contemporary island scenes, artwork, values, designs, textures, colors, language and traditions in nearly every aspect of the place, from taro fields and native foliage in the landscaping, to the Olelo Room lounge, where everything is labeled in the Hawaiian language, including the chairs (noho) and the floor (papahele). Olelo’s staff, including servers and bartenders, is fluent in Hawaiian and will speak to each other in the island’s native tongue while sharing the language with guests. Other employees have also undergone some language and cultural training. 
“Here you are in Hawaii. You will meet people who are Hawaiian. You will meet people who speak Hawaiian. I think that’s cool,” Rohde said. 
The resort’s two main towers have 359 hotel rooms, 481 time-share condo units, two main restaurants, conference rooms, an 18,000-square-foot spa, a fire pit for storytelling and a <a href="/topics/VAST_%28musician%29">vast</a> water play area. 
Hotel rooms range from $399 a night for a 420-square-foot room to $2,449 a night for the Ahu Ulu Suite (two bedrooms, 1,910 square feet). An ocean view room runs $549 a night, which rivals prices at Hawaii’s most posh resorts. 
Disney would not comment on the cost of building Aulani, which has been reported at more than $800 million. But behind the scenes, the resort has not always been the happiest place on <a href="/topics/Earth_%28musician%29">earth</a>. Disney broke ground on the project in November 2008 during the recession and temporarily suspended sales of time-share units in July amid concerns that it underpriced annual fees, including maintenance costs for the units. The <a href="/topics/Orlando_Sentinel">Orlando Sentinel</a> first reported that Disney fired three executives over the financial mistake including <a href="/topics/Jim_Lewis">Jim Lewis</a>, president of Disney Vacation Club. Disney said it recalculated the annual fee and was taking deposit reservations from prospective buyers, but not executing contracts until modifications are made in the registration materials. 
Besides an 8,200-square-foot pool, there is a 950-foot-long lazy river where kids can glide along in a tube through forests and caverns, a saltwater snorkel lagoon filled with tropical fish, a rock formation with lava tube slides and an aquatic jungle gym called Menehune Bridge. Pay an extra $45 to visit a water preserve where you can feed stingrays and see starfish and anemones. A portion of proceeds will be donated to conservation efforts in Hawaii. 
A supervised kid’s club for children ages 3 to 12 called Aunty’s Beach House was inspired by Rohde’s aunt’s beach home in Punaluu. With the exception of a fireplace, which most Hawaiian homes don’t have, it’s designed to look like a traditional home, decorated with old trophies, photos and a garage filled with tools and tins. The high-tech windows are digital portals depicting scenes from around Hawaii. 
Kids can watch Disney movies, play dress-<a href="/topics/Up_%282009_Film%29">up</a> or video games, or participate in activities such as learning hula while parents play golf, hit the spa or beach or enjoy a quiet meal. Tweens and teens have a separate hangout where they can listen to music, eat frozen yogurt and surf the Internet. 
The landscaping is inspired by an ahupuaa, an ancient Hawaiian land division system that extended from the mountain to the sea. Situated between the towers is a lush tropical forest that serves as a make-believe hideout for Hawaiian trolls, or menehune. Closer to the ocean, coconut trees sway in the Pacific breeze. 
A canoe and maritime theme inspired by the legendary Hawaiian voyaging canoe Hokulea is found throughout Aulani, from artwork to handmade lashings on signs and structures. High arches in the architecture evoke traditional Hawaiian canoe houses. 
“We return again and again to this canoe idea because of this whole sense of arrival, journey and also because the canoes are this sort of this quintessential Hawaiian art form,” Rohde said. 
Aulani is expected to attract many of its visitors from the West Coast and Asia. With Japanese guests in mind, time share units are equipped with rice cookers, chopsticks and a tea drawer. 
Around the corner from the resort, farther up the Waianae Coast are unspoiled beaches and mountainsides, a stark contrast to the blight from the deep poverty and homelessness that has long plagued this part of <a href="/topics/Oahu">Oahu</a>. Some locals have voiced concern about preserving the area’s rural character, but with an expected workforce of 1,200, Aulani is bringing in much-needed jobs. 
Aulani sits on 21 acres of a larger property, the Ko Olina Resort, which also houses a golf course with waterfalls, luxury homes, a public beach park, and the J.W. <a href="/topics/J._Willard_%28Bill%29_Marriott">Marriott</a> Ihilani Resort and Spa. The Marriott resort houses the <a href="/topics/National_Football_League">NFL</a>’s Pro Bowlers and for years was the biggest building in the area, but it’s now dwarfed by Aulani. 
Staggs said a key component of Disney’s business strategy is to figure out where families like to vacation. “Our guests told us that Hawaii is one of their favorite vacation destinations,” he said, “and we created Aulani in response to that feedback.” 
&nbsp;

ny-travel-disneyaulani

Disney opens new Hawaiian resort, ’Aulani’

In the middle of the summer high season, it seems possible to walk from one end of the beach at Waikiki to the other without ever touching sand or surf because of all the bodies and beach towels. 
At Kaanapali on <a href="/topics/Maui">Maui</a>, the beaches are fronted by luxury hotels, and a boardwalk moves the hordes from spot to spot, beach to bar, sand to shopping. 
Finding a beautiful, nearly deserted beach isn't a tropical fantasy. You just might have to make a long, sometimes bumpy ride or a bit of a hike. But if you long to be alone, buy a good map and head for these places where you can still get lost in paradise. 
 OAHU 
Army Beach 
Finding a good, deserted beach on an island known as "The Gathering Place" is difficult. My top choice is on the "other" side of the North Shore, west of Haleiwa -- away from Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach. The Hawaiian name for the spot is Mokuleia Beach. But its nickname is Army Beach because an Army recreation center was located nearby until 1989. There's a rocky shelf that requires reef walker shoes to navigate. But the beach is gorgeous, and there is usually no one around -- which is why they filmed much of "Lost" on this stretch of oceanfront. The water is calmest in summer. This is an easy beach to get to -- it's just a few feet off a paved road. But that also means it is sometimes a spot for car break-ins, so take care with your valuables. 
GETTING THERE: Easy 
 KAUAI 
Polihale Beach 
A well-developed dirt road takes you the last part of the drive to the longest beach in the islands, so it's best to rent a <a href="/topics/Jeep">Jeep</a> or SUV -- something with a little ground clearance. Most rental car companies say the beach is off-limits -- meaning if you get stuck, you are on your own getting out. But in more than a decade of visiting the beach, I've never had a problem with the road if I had the right kind of vehicle. The reward is a beautiful sunset spot with only a scattering of visitors. The road keeps the crowds out, but because it is a state park, there are plenty of benches, bathrooms and barbecue spots. The water here is usually too rough for anything more than a knees-and-below dip. Native Hawaiians believe that the souls of the dead jump off into the afterlife from the cliffs at the north end of the beach -- the most westerly point in the main islands. 
GETTING THERE: Medium 
 MAUI 
Hamoa Beach 
You have to make the long, twisting drive to Hana and then go on even farther. Regularly voted one of the most beautiful beaches in all the islands, Hamoa is often deserted, or nearly so. It's just too much of a time and distance commitment for all but the most determined beach enthusiasts. But once you get to the Hana area, finding the beach is easy, with decent parking and a short walk to the water's edge. There's plenty of shade in the trees above the surf line. The waters are placid in winter and a little bit more rollicking in summer. A visit is best in the early morning and late afternoon, when the day trippers making the Hana Road drive have yet to arrive or have already left. 
GETTING THERE: Medium 
 LANAI 
Polihua Beach 
I love Hulopoe Beach on the south coast -- it's one of the most beautiful in the state and a great place to swim, body surf and snorkel. But with the Manele Bay resort on the west end and a popular local park on the east end, it's usually as full as a beach on tiny Lanai can get. The opposite is true of Polihua, on the north coast. You'll need a four-wheel drive <a href="/topics/Jeep">Jeep</a> in Lanai City. Get a good map and drive north on the dirt roads toward the stone formations known as the Garden of the Gods. From there, it is a steep grade to finally pull up to a wide, golden stretch of sand with views out to Molokai. You'll likely have it all to yourself except in the late afternoon, when a sundowner crowd of locals comes down to TGI whatever day it is. Don't drive too far onto the soft sand -- it's a long (and expensive) tow out. 
GETTING THERE: Hard 
 MOLOKAI 
Kaupoa Beach 
It's not hard to find a deserted beach on Molokai, the island with the least developed tourism of the main Hawaiian islands. Even a spot like Murphy's Beach, popular in most guidebooks, is usually sparsely peopled. 
I've never been to Papohaku Beach, which sounds like a prime candidate for this list. My choice is Kaupoa Beach, on the west end of the island. It's not too far from Hoolehua, the main town on Molokai. The beach's look is right out of Hawaii central casting -- with a beautiful white crescent, set off by blue waters and dark brown of volcanic outcroppings that run down to the beach. If the water is too rough -- watch out for a quick drop-off -- then stick to shore and check out the tide pools. Once you get your bearings, it's a fairly easy drive and walk to the beach. 
GETTING THERE: Medium 
 BIG ISLAND 
Waipio Valley Beach 
Distances are big on the Big Island and, as the youngest volcanic island, the shoreline is almost always rocky. There are a few classic beaches such as Hapuna, but they're usually too crowded or too far to drive. So I'll go with the black sand beach at Waipio Valley at the north end of the island. Be warned: It's a tough hike in and out. Most visitors come on organized tours to explore one of the least developed traditional Hawaiian valleys in the islands. At the beach, you will almost certainly be alone, with the exception perhaps of a fisherman or maybe a few local <a href="/topics/Surfing">surfers</a>. It's more for strolling and driftwood collecting than taking a swim -- the water is often rough, and a lifeguard is miles away. You'll love it until you hit that hill on the way back up to the highway. You'll work up a sweat for your solitude. 
GETTING THERE: Very hard 
 GREAT BEACHES IF YOU DON'T MIND A LITTLE COMPANY 
Swimming, <a href="/topics/Surfing">surfing</a>, snorkeling -- there's a beach for every pleasure in Hawaii. If you're not going for seclusion, here's a look at some other beaches of note: 
 OAHU 
Waikiki Beach 
GOOD FOR People-watching 
The strip of sand that runs along the busy resort area has long been Hawaii's busiest beach. From dawn until sunset, tourists pack this relatively narrow beach. Take an outrigger canoe ride, watch the <a href="/topics/Surfing">surfers</a> or just laze the day away. 
 HANAUMA BAY 
GOOD FOR Snorkeling 
One of the best-known spots for diving and snorkeling in <a href="/topics/Oahu">Oahu</a>, Hanauma is a vast crescent-shaped bay that's also a nature preserve. Expect to see tropical fish galore (and likely some sea turtles) swimming along the reef. But, of course, you won't be alone -- many guided tour companies ferry tourists in from downtown Waikiki for inexpensive snorkel trips. 
 MAUI 
Honokalani Beach, Wai'anapanapa State Park (Hana) 
GOOD FOR Black sand 
One of the last stops along the venerable Road to Hana, Wai'anapanapa State Park has one of Hawaii's few volcanic sand beaches. While there, take a walk to explore some unusual freshwater cave pools. 
 READER PICKS: 
KAANAPALI BEACH 
SUBMITTED BY Gail Levy, Huntington 
GOOD FOR Pleasing a crowd 
On <a href="/topics/Maui">Maui</a>'s northwest side, Kaanapali is a resort community with several hotels that have access to the beach, where there is good swimming, snorkeling and sunset cruises on the water. Additionally, the area's Whalers Village is a shopping complex with restaurants and live entertainment such as music and hula shows. Everyone sits on the beach and watches the sunset every night, Levy says. 
 BIG ISLAND 
Papakolea Green Sand Beach 
GOOD FOR Explorers 
It's the only beach in Hawaii with green sand, which gets its tint from olivine deposits. Located near South Point, getting there involves a rugged, roughly two-mile hike on dirt paths. 
 LA'ALOA BEACH PARK 
SUBMITTED BY Nancy Constantino, West Sayville 
GOOD FOR Boogie boarding 
Also known as "Magic Sands Beach," because the rough winter waves tend to erode the shoreline down to the rocks before returning all the sand in the summertime, La'aloa is a favorite spot for boogie boarding, Constantino says. It's within walking distance of Kailua-Kona town.

TRCOV08.WEB

Getting lost in Hawaii

Let's call it Diving Lite. 
Snorkeling, the colorful yet cautious cousin of scuba diving, is a way to see the sea without - glub, glub - going under. You don't even have to know how to swim. 
"I had a family of four the other day, and after I gave them the lesson and put them in the water, I discovered not one of them could swim. That is when I took them, one by one, and just dragged them with me so they could at least enjoy the fish of Bonaire," says Renee Leach of Renee Snorkel Trips in Bonaire, a snorkel-friendly island in the southern <a href="/topics/Caribbean">Caribbean</a>. 
Around for thousands of years - since the first person thought of breathing through a reed poking above water - snorkeling is also called skin diving. It can mean anything from beginners gingerly sticking their faces into shallow water to free diving underwater with snorkel gear, holding your breath. 
 SNORKEL VS. SCUBA 
More spontaneous than scuba, snorkeling requires only a mask, snorkel and fins. No air tanks, no wet suits. You can pack gear in your suitcase or rent it for a few bucks when you get there. 
Cheap? Yes. The undersea world doesn't yet charge admission. 
While scuba diving may be the sexy sport, snorkeling is far more popular. More than 10 million Americans snorkeled in 2008, while only 3 million went scuba diving. Snorkeling is almost equally as popular with men and women, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association. 
Leach says, "The youngest snorkeler I had was 3 years, and the oldest was 93, so it is something that anybody can do at any age." 
As your body adjusts to the underwater world, magical things float by - schools of fish that look like they were splashed by Crayola, waving plants, sea fans, urchins, coral, snails. Suddenly snorkeling is fun. Snorkeling is cool. 
Actually, snorkeling is like diving. Or close enough. 
 FOR BEGINNERS 
Here are four places recommended for extreme beginners. Hardly the top snorkeling destinations in the world, they're still amazing. All have snorkeling gear available for rent. Prices vary, but all are about $15. 
 COKI BEACH, ST. THOMAS 
<a href="/topics/U.S._Virgin_Islands">U.S. Virgin Islands</a>, <a href="http://www.visitusvi.com/">www.visitusvi.com</a> 
Snorkel in water a few feet deep and see schools of brightly colored fish. A good place for ultra beginners to start their snorkeling adventures. 
 TRUNK BAY, ST. JOHN 
<a href="/topics/U.S._Virgin_Islands">U.S. Virgin Islands</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://nps.gov/VIIS">nps.gov/VIIS</a> 
Follow the underwater snorkeling trail, which even has plaques under the water. Sometimes, it can be a bit wavy or cloudy. 
 STINGRAY CITY, GRAND CAYMAN 
<a href="http://stingraycitytrips.com">stingraycitytrips.com</a> 
A boat takes you out in the bay to shallow, clear water to see dozens of giant and rather tame stingrays circling for food. Equipment is included, but, honestly, the stingrays are so big you don't even need to put your head in the water to see them. 
 CHANKANAAB NATIONAL PARK 
Cozumel, Mexico,&nbsp;<a href="http://cozumelparks.com">cozumelparks.com</a> 
A pretty park with easy-to-access water for beginner snorkelers. Cozumel is one of the most popular scuba destinations in the world, and this place is a nonintimidating spot to start, just to see fish and practice your moves. There are underwater statues just offshore to see, too. 
 MORE ADVANCED 
Once you've got your snorkeling comfort, graduate to spots such as Honduras, Bonaire, <a href="/topics/Hawaii">Hawaii</a>, <a href="/topics/Belize">Belize</a> or St. Lucia. 
 ROATAN, HONDURAS 
<a href="http://letsgohonduras.com">letsgohonduras.com</a> 
One resort, Anthony's Key, offers snorkeling packages that include lodging, meals and several snorkeling trips, including one at night. Rates from $769 a person (double occupancy) for 7 nights (anthonyskey.com). 
 BONAIRE, NETHERLANDS ANTILLES 
<a href="http://infobonaire.com">infobonaire.com</a> 
One of the most famous diving spots in the world, the southern <a href="/topics/Caribbean">Caribbean</a> island also has multiple shore diving and snorkeling opportunities, notably at Andrea II Shallow and Klein Bonaire. 
 THREE TABLES AND HANAUMA BAY 
<a href="/topics/Oahu">Oahu</a>, <a href="/topics/Hawaii">Hawaii</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://gohawaii.com">gohawaii.com</a> 
The surf can be rough at Three Tables, but when it's calm, you can snorkel in an intriguing reef close to shore. Tidal pools are nearby for those who would rather wade. 
 SOUTHERN BELIZE 
<a href="http://travelbelize.org">travelbelize.org</a> 
The South Water Cay Marine Reserve reef, one of the most pristine in the world, has amazing coral and fish. 
 ANSE CHASTANET BEACH, ST. LUCIA 
<a href="http://stlucia.org">stlucia.org</a> 
Protected and relatively shallow marine reserve. 
 JELLYFISH LAKE, PALAU 
<a href="http://visit-palau.com">visit-palau.com</a> 
I've never been there, but apparently the jellyfish in this lake have lost their sting, so you can snorkel while hundreds of blobby little creatures bob against you. 
 BUCK ISLAND, ST. CROIX 
<a href="/topics/U.S._Virgin_Islands">U.S. Virgin Islands</a>, <a href="http://www.visitusvi.com/">www.visitusvi.com</a> 
Underwater preserve with excellent snorkeling. 
 HERON ISLAND, GREAT BARRIER REEF 
Australia,&nbsp;<a href="http://heronisland.com">heronisland.com</a> 
Remote location with walk-in reef snorkeling. Heron Island resort offers guided reef tours, half-day snorkeling tours and semi-underwater rides in an amphibious vessel. Rates from about $340 a night. 
 JEAN-MICHEL COUSTEAU FIJI ISLANDS RESORT, FIJI 
<a href="http://fijiresort.com">fijiresort.com</a> 
One of the best dive resorts in the world also offers guided snorkeling. All-inclusive rates from $690 a night for two people. 
&nbsp; 
<h4>SNORKELING TIPS</h4> 
* Get to your snorkel destination early, so it's not stirred up by others. 
* Make sure your mask fits, so water doesn't get in. 
* At first, your breathing will sound like <a href="/topics/Darth_Vader">Darth Vader</a> sucking wind. After a while, the sound is comforting. 
* Don't snorkel alone. 
<h4>PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS</h4> 
To shoot fantastic underwater snorkeling photos, you need a waterproof housing for your camera or a decent waterproof camera. I tried a Fuji disposable underwater camera (about $10), and only two of the 27 photos were decent. A photo editor used a Canon PowerShot SD960 ($329.99) with the additional waterproof housing (about $160, Canon WP-DC32). The results were excellent. 
TIPS 
* Shoot near the surface on a bright, sunny day for best light. Below 20 feet, you need a strobe. 
* Shoot up, not down on the creatures and plants, and get as close as you can. 
* Be as still as possible while shooting.

TRCOV19.WEB

Peep with the fishes at these snorkeling hot spots

KAPOLEI, Hawaii (AP) — More than 80 years after Mickey Mouse piloted “Steamboat Willie” and whistled his way into the hearts of children across the world, he has finally reached the shores of Hawaii. 
The Walt Disney Co. on Friday gave a peek of its sprawling, beachside Hawaiian resort that is under construction and scheduled open next year. 
“Aulani” is Disney’s first major stand-alone resort away from a theme park and could serve as a model for future projects as the company diversifies and expands its vacation offerings. 
“This is a very special project for us,” said Tom Staggs, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “It’s unlike anything that Disney has done before; at the same time, it’s very like many of the things we do.” 
Aulani will have 359 hotel rooms, 481 time-share units, restaurants, convention center, a 15,000-square-foot spa and massive water play area that includes a volcano tube slide and snorkel lagoon. 
It sits on 21 acres on <a href="/topics/Oahu">Oahu</a>’s Leeward Coast in the Ko Olina development, known for its white-sand lagoons, scenic golf course and colorful sunsets. Ko Olina is about an hour west of Waikiki, where most of the hotels and tourists are. 
<a href="/topics/Jim_Lewis">Jim Lewis</a>, president of Disney’s time-share component, said Hawaii makes “perfect sense” with its rich culture, traditions, warm greetings, family values, friendships and story-telling. 
“Those are also terms synonymous with Disney,” he said. “And by the way, Hawaii also happens to be one of the most popular vacation destinations on the planet, and that’s the business that we’re in.” 
Most of the resort is currently a jungle of concrete, steel, wires and pipes with no Mickey and Minnie in sight. Aulani is scheduled to open Aug. 29, 2011, with hotel reservations to begin next month. Time-share sales started three weeks ago. 
With the construction phase alone costing more than $600 million, Aulani represents a huge investment for Disney amid a sharp tourism downturn. 
Staggs, who previously served as Disney’s chief financial officer, wouldn’t comment on the final cost. 
“Are we nervous about this investment right now given this economy? The answer is we really aren’t,” he said. “We really do have a fundamental belief in this location and Hawaii in general.” 
Staggs called the project “a tremendous opportunity,” giving Disney a permanent presence in the islands. He wouldn’t say what other areas Disney was considering because “right now, our focus is right here and making sure we get this right.” 
According to an economic impact study commissioned by Disney, Aulani is expected to generate 4,800 jobs during construction. When completed, 2,400 jobs will be created, with about half working at the resort. More than $271 million annually in economic activity will be generated. 
The largest units at Aulani are 3-bedroom “Grand Villas” — 2,300-square-foot timeshare units that are larger than most Hawaii homes, sleep 12 and have sweeping views of the Pacific. 
All the hotel and timeshare units have more of a traditional Hawaiian flair with touches of Disney that generally are subtle — other than the <a href="/topics/Surfing">surfer</a> Mickey lamp in each room. 
David Uchiyama, of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said Disney’s arrrival is a “validator” of the Aloha state as a family destination. He was impressed by Disney’s efforts in trying to connect with Hawaiian culture. 
“(Others) usually lay out a structure, put pictures up and put a canoe here. These guys went way beyond that,” Uchiyama said. “The extent that they took to connect with the host culture should be commended.” 
While this may be Disney’s first big push into Hawaii, the company has had a long and growing relationship with Hawaii. One of the most notable is the animated film “Lilo &amp; Stitch,” the centerpiece of a $1.7 million marketing deal between Hawaii and Disney. 
Other projects have included the 2001 film “<a href="/topics/Pearl_Harbor">Pearl Harbor</a>” and ABC’s castaway drama “Lost,” which filmed here for six seasons. ABC is owned by Disney. In addition, “Pirates of the <a href="/topics/Caribbean">Caribbean</a>: On Stranger Tides” began shooting here this summer. 
“We couldn’t find a more perfect place in putting a resort like this,” Staggs said.

travel_Disney Hawaii

Disney gives sneak peek into new Hawaii resort

Food Pantry (2370 Kuhio Ave., 808-923-9831) might be the least expensive place in Waikiki to buy milk, bottled water, juice, fresh fruit and other breakfast fixings, if your hotel doesn't have a free continental buffet. Elsewhere, Satura Cakes' (three locations, 808-537-1206, satura cakes.com) version of French toast ($2.50) takes on the texture of a syrup-heavy sponge cake, baked as though erupting from a cupcake form and can be topped with whipped cream. 
The plate lunch is an every-day Hawaiian affair, often served in a Styrofoam compartmentalized tray that includes two scoops of white rice, a scoop of macaroni salad and a choice of meat. Among the many: Kaka'ako Kitchen (1200 Ala Moana Blvd., 808- 596-7488) is just outside <a href="/topics/Honolulu">Honolulu</a>'s Ward Centre mall and has outdoor seating. 
Further north, Giovanni's Shrimp Truck , a graffiti-laden white truck on the side of the road (83 Kamehameha Hwy., Kahuku), sells huge platefuls of garlic shrimp scampi ($12) and fresh coconut milk that can be enjoyed on a picnic bench under a tent. Patrons get to graffiti their names onto the side of the truck. 
At dinnertime, go for a very upscale version of the humble Hawaiian mainstay, loco moco, at Roy's Waikiki Beach (226 Lewers St.; 808- 923-7697; roysrestaurant .com). Loco moco ordinarily is a scoop of rice topped with fried egg, hamburger patty and gravy; and it costs $4-$7 in local eateries. But the Roy's version ($19) uses meat loaf and shiitake pan sauce. Or get the toasted brisket-and-jack sandwich ($14.95) with potato salad at Giovanni Pastrami (227 Lewers St., giovannipastrami.com ). 
In Haleiwa, a quaint and quirky offbeat <a href="/topics/Surfing">surfing</a> village on Oahu's North side, indulge in a Matsumoto Shave Ice (66-087 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa, 808-637-4827, matsumotoshaveice.com ). Be sure to get some azuki beans and vanilla ice cream with it. The favorite local flavor is Li Hing Mui, dried plum. 
Beard Papa <a href="/topics/Hawaii">Hawaii</a> (several locations, beardpapahawaii.com ) bakes airy cream puff pastries ($1.75) on premises, and you can watch them fill your order - literally - when they fit the puff onto the nozzle of a hand pump that smooshes the cream of your choice inside.

ny-travel-oahu-food

Where to eat on Oahu

KAUNAKAKAI, HAWAII -&nbsp; Molokai goes to bed shortly after sunset. But on this 40-mile wide Hawaiian island with zero traffic lights and just a handful of intersections worthy of a stop sign, one place keeps local and wise tourists buzzing at night. 
It has none of the typical accoutrements of a Hawaiian nightspot. Because it's not. No tiki torches, no hula girls. No fruity drinks with umbrellas, no luaus. 
All Kanemitsu's Bakery has to offer is hot bread. That's all it needs. Molokai Hot Bread is exactly as it sounds, yet it will revolutionize the way you visit the Islands or dream about late-night snacking. Seriously, if you're staying on Maui or Lanai, or even Kauai or Oahu, strongly consider an inter-island flight strictly for the night. 
The bakery begins cooking the next day's delicacies at 9:30 p.m. (It's a weather thing.) The store is actually closed, but the back door in the kitchen is open to customers. 
All you have to do is walk down a short, poorly lit, rundown alley and bang a left at the street lamp. Then knock on the door and order up some bread. 
Fillings include blueberry, strawberry, butter, cinnamon sugar and cream cheese (the cake kind, not the bagel kind), or any combination thereof. Blueberry and cream cheese is ridiculous. Cinnamon sugar and butter is ridonkulous. 
A loaf costs between $5-7, depending on the amount of fillings you order. You'll get your money's worth of fillings, too. 
Of course, the bread is best consumed&nbsp; hot and fresh, but it's just as delectable 36 hours later. 
So next time you're in Hawaii or even near it, if you've got the bread to fly there, get the bread to eat there, too. &nbsp;

Eat local: Molokai hot bread

Oahu is the <a href="/topics/Rodney_Dangerfield">Rodney Dangerfield</a> of Hawaiian islands. People rave about the whales and waterfalls of <a href="/topics/Maui">Maui</a>, the primeval energy of the Big Island, the lush greenery of <a href="/topics/Kauai">Kauai</a> - but Oahu? All too often, it’s dismissed as a mere jumping-off point for trendier Hawaiian hot spots -- an over-touristed landscape of high-rises, crowded beaches and <a href="/topics/Don_Ho">Don Ho</a> impersonators. 
And that’s a shame, because Oahu is special. <a href="/topics/Honolulu">Honolulu</a>, the state capital, is an irresistible mix of laid-back and big-city charms - all those bureaucrats striding along next to swimsuit-clad tourists on their way to the beach. Drive an hour from Waikiki and you’ll find giant waves and jungly terrain to rival anything in <a href="/topics/Maui">Maui</a>. Add the island’s funky small towns, the many cultural and historic attractions, the trove of ethnic eateries and the pathos of <a href="/topics/Pearl_Harbor">Pearl Harbor</a>, and it’s clear that this is a world-class destination. 
For the Buziak family of Frederick, Md., returning to Oahu will be a homecoming of sorts: Chris Buziak was stationed at <a href="/topics/Pearl_Harbor">Pearl Harbor</a> when he and Patti got married, and now they want to introduce their 7-year-old daughters, Amelia and Marina, to the island. They asked for our help in planning a visit next summer, hoping to keep expenses under $6,000. 
Getting there. It’s not something airline ads and travel agents tend to emphasize, but <a href="/topics/Hawaii">Hawaii</a> is a long way from the East Coast - we’re talking five time zones and an average of 13 hours’ travel time, with airfares to match. But with their trip a year off, the Buziaks have time to track airfares at sites such as Bing <a href="http://www.bing.com/travel">(www.bing.com/travel</a>), Smarter Travel (<a href="http://www.smartertravel.com">www.smartertravel.com</a>) and <a href="/topics/FareCompare">FareCompare</a> (<a href="http://www.farecompare.com">www.farecompare.com</a>). A recent online search showed round-trip fares from Washington starting at about $900, or $745 on <a href="/topics/Alaska">Alaska</a> Air (with some truly horrendous layovers). But sale fares can go as low as $600 or $650, so sign up for fare alerts and be ready to pounce when you see a price you like. 
Timing. While winter is high season in <a href="/topics/Hawaii">Hawaii</a>, with the biggest crowds and the highest prices, summer is a close second, especially for families with school-age children. If you can swing it, consider traveling in spring or fall for smaller crowds and the best rates. 
Lodging. Whether you want to base yourself near Waikiki, for optimum options, or on the quieter windward (east) coast or North Shore, a search on <a href="/topics/Expedia%2C_Inc.">Expedia</a> (<a href="http://www.expedia.com">www.expedia.com</a>), <a href="/topics/Travelocity">Travelocity</a> (<a href="http://www.travelocity.com">www.travelocity.com</a>) or other booking site will turn up a wide range of hotels and resorts in all price ranges. Don’t let the $500-a-day tariffs scare you: You should be able to find a place that sleeps four, with cooking facilities, for less than $100 a night. For example, the Ohana Waikiki West Hotel, a 10-minute walk to the beach, features rooms with kitchenettes and has (in descending order of importance for families) a pool, a Chili’s and a <a href="/topics/Starbucks_Corp">Starbucks</a>; there’s also a grocery store across the street. Rooms start at $95 per night, or $758 for a week including taxes. 
For one-of-a-kind options and possible savings, take a look at the offerings on Vacation Rentals by Owner (<a href="http://www.vrbo.com">www.vrbo.com</a>), a source for short-term rental houses, condos, cabins, villas and apartments offered by, you guessed it, property owners. A recent search, for example, turned up the darling Kalama Kai Cottage in the small town of Kailua, on Oahu’s east coast. The recently renovated one-bedroom cottage sleeps four and has a full kitchen, a large covered lanai (porch) and a fenced-in yard with tropical landscaping. It’s a two-block walk to Kailua Beach (a windsurfing hot spot) and 12 to 14 miles to Waikiki and <a href="/topics/Honolulu">Honolulu</a>. Rate: $95 per night, plus $10 a night extra for third and fourth guests. Info: 808-227-6791, <a href="http://www.vrbo.com/68966">www.vrbo.com/68966</a>. As with any online transaction, be sure to check references, scrutinize photos and compare prices before you pay. 
What to do. Oahu is so much more than ersatz luaus and “Tiny Bubbles” (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Pearl Harbor and the USS <a href="/topics/Arizona">Arizona</a> memorial are a poignant reminder of the cost of freedom and should be at the top of anyone’s list. Other possibilities: Hike the 0.7-mile trail to the top of Diamond Head, the island’s iconic extinct volcano; sign up for <a href="/topics/Surfing">surfing</a> lessons and canoe paddling; go whale-watching (December to May - another reason to visit in spring, if you can); explore the wild North Shore; visit such cultural landmarks as the Iolani Palace, the Bishop Museum and the Contemporary Museum. For details on all: Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau, 800-GO-HAWAII, <a href="http://www.gohawaii.com">www.gohawaii.com</a>. 
The Buziaks wondered whether a day trip from Oahu to the Big Island was feasible. It is, but be prepared for a long day and a budget-busting price. You can make arrangements on your own to fly to the Big Island (round-trip fares from Honolulu start at about $150 per person) and rent a car (about $60 for the day on <a href="http://Hotwire.com">Hotwire.com</a>) for the drive from Hilo airport to Volcanoes National Park, for a total of about $660. Or, to maximize your time, consider going with a tour operator who will handle all the details. Most will pick you up in Waikiki at about 6:30 a.m and return about 7:30 p.m. Hawaii Activities, for example, has a Volcano Adventure Tour that includes pickup in Waikiki, round-trip air from Honolulu to Hilo, stops at Rainbow Falls and a macadamia nut factory, and a visit to Kilauea Volcano. Prices start at $282 for adults and $255 for kids 3 to 11, plus 4.7 percent tax. Total for a family of four: $1,128. Info: 877-877-1222,<a href="http://www.hawaiiactivities.com"> www.hawaiiactivities.com</a>. 
 Cost. Assuming a week’s stay, plan on anywhere from $2,600 to $3,600 for airfare, $800 for lodging and $255 for a rental car. 
Total: $3,655 to $4,655, leaving $2,345 to $1,345 for food, admissions and incidentals. If you watch the food budget (thank goodness for shrimp trucks and plate lunches), the trip is doable on a $6,000 budget.

ny-travel-hawaii-oahu

A great Oahu family vacation

Every day, about an hour after first light hits the green hillsides of upcountry <a href="/topics/Maui">Maui</a>, the spokes begin to sing. 
If you stand along the road by Sunrise Market in the hamlet of Kula, you'll first hear the buzz, then with a whoosh the bicycles come around the bend: tourists by the dozen, their heads encased in heavy-duty helmets, their bodies wrapped in rain suits, their speed about 20 mph. They're riding 27 miles, following about two dozen hairpin turns, rolling past hardened lava and cane fields, fruit stands, lazy livestock and three small towns. And 99 percent of it is downhill. 
"It's a little surreal," says M. Sarah Creachbaum, who passes the riders every morning on her way to work as superintendent of Haleakala National Park. "They're like space people with the helmets and the colored outfits." 
On a busy day, 300 of these riders come around the bend, tempted by a simple, powerful, double-barreled idea: to see sunrise from the lip of Haleakala, a 10,000-foot Hawaiian volcano, then glide down the slope to the sea. 
Yet this ride can hurt you or even kill you. 
In February, a 64-year-old rider from Mankato, Minn., died of head injuries after she crashed (she was wearing a helmet) into an embankment near the town of Makawao. She wasn't the first. Since it first popped up in the 1980s, the volcano-ride trade has grown into a full-fledged industry, fallen into crisis amid a spate of injuries and deaths, then righted itself again. As many as 90,000 customers a year ride down Haleakala, typically paying $115 to $150 each for a sunrise tour and guided ride. 
In the old days - that is, until late 2007 - the classic Haleakala downhill route was 38 miles, not 27, and it began where those sunbeams struck us at the volcano's lip. The first 11 miles were inside park boundaries, and they were fairly nasty, descending about 3,500 feet through a series of tight turns, with jagged rocks at the edge of the blacktop. 
But tourists wanted to ride it anyway, including many who were overmatched. By 2007, rangers were handling an average of five injury accidents every month. Later that year, a 65-year-old woman on a bike tour lost control on a curve near the summit, crossed the center line, collided with another company's tour van, and died. By the park service's tally, her death was the second within a year involving guided commercial downhill bicycle tours. Soon after, the park temporarily banned commercial bike tours within its boundaries. 
In the months that followed, a compromise emerged: The volcano-bike tour buses would be allowed to carry their customers to the top of Haleakala for sunrise, but they would ferry their customers back down to 6,500 feet - just outside the park entrance - to begin their rides. Below the park, the road isn't as steep, the turns aren't as sharp and the roadside isn't as rocky. 
Three years later, while park officials continue to work on a long-term commercial-services plan, those rules still hold for all bike-tour companies. (Individuals can still ride from the top, but few do.) The result, locals say, is less bike-tour traffic and fewer accidents. 
&nbsp; 
<h3>Schedule for adventure</h3> 
&nbsp; 
So how does it work, this balancing of risk and thrill on two wheels? One morning in late October, I signed on to find out. 
2:45 a.m.: A bike-tour van picked me up at my hotel. I chose Cruiser Phil's, a small outfit, because it did well in a 2008 <a href="/topics/National_Park_Service">National Park Service</a> safety study. After a stop to collect equipment and sign release forms with about a dozen fellow riders, we made the two-hour drive through the darkness to the top of Haleakala. 
5:15 a.m.: We stepped out near the top, 9,740 feet above sea level, and into a parking lot crowded with hundreds of bundled-up tourists, a dawn of 40-degree gusts, numb digits, swirling clouds and volcanic moonscape, all of which erupted in golden light when the sun hurled its first beams at us from the horizon. 
7:30 a.m.: After transport to our starting point just outside the park, we saddled up and got a stern safety briefing from guides Everett Bennett (driving) and Joshua Sisson (riding). I chose Cruiser Phil's, a small outfit, because it d well in a 2008 <a href="/topics/National_Park_Service">National Park Service</a> safety study. 
"I need you to ride defensively," Sisson said. "I don't mind if you take a quick glance at the view, but not on the hairpin turns." Then, bundled up in jackets, gloves, rain suits and motocross helmets, we rolled in a single-file line. 
One turn, two turns, three turns. Green valley, blue sea and, because the high ground is cattle country, the occasional cow pie. I expected to be intimidated, but I wasn't - just invigorated. By the time we reached Kula, 3,200 feet above sea level, I was running low on things to worry about. The grade was about 5 percent, and it felt gentle, perhaps because of the good visibility and the surrounding beauty, perhaps because the road was so smooth. 
Traffic was thin. Though the route was on public roads, I saw mostly open road and probably more bikes than automobiles. When cars turned up behind us, we pulled over and let them pass. 
Many companies stop for breakfast in Kula - we blew right past. The Cruiser Phil philosophy is to get down the hill before eating a full breakfast. 
9 a.m.: We'd dropped down to about 1,600 feet above sea level and the artsy outskirts of Makawao, where our guides waved us over and loaded our bikes into the trailer. This wasn't the end. To avoid further clogging the main drag, Cruiser Phil buses his customers through the town, whose commercial strip of several blocks is full of boutiques, restaurants and cars pulling in and out. As we saddled up again for the last seven miles or so, Sisson told us to keep our mouths shut - it's not fun to swallow bugs at 20 mph. 
9:45 a.m.: We pulled into the parking lot of the Holy Rosary Church in Paia, about a mile from the beach. We were done. Subtracting standing-around time, we had averaged 24 mph. 
Seven companies hold permits to offer bike tours that begin with van or bus trips to sunrise viewings atop Haleakala. 
Rides typically run $115-$150 for sunrise tours, but discounts are common. 
&nbsp; 
<h3>If you go</h3> 
&nbsp; 
GUIDED TOURS 
<a href="/topics/Maui">Maui</a> Downhill 
mauidownhill.com 
Mountain Riders 
mountainriders.com 
&nbsp; 
<a href="/topics/Maui">Maui</a> Mountain Cruisers 
mauimountaincruisers.com 
&nbsp; 
Cruiser Phil's Volcano Riders 
cruiserphil.com 
&nbsp; 
Bike It <a href="/topics/Maui">Maui</a> 
bikeitmaui.com 
&nbsp; 
SUNRISE TOURS/UNGUIDED RIDES 
Haleakala Bike Co. 
bikemaui.net 
&nbsp; 
Maui Sunriders 
mauibikeride.com

TRBIKE28.WEB

A daring 27-mile bike ride down Haleakala in Hawaii

Nab a room in a four-star hotel in Waikiki for well under $200 a night for six nights and get the seventh night free. 
Book a five-night air-hotel package through Pleasant Holidays to the islands in May or next fall, and the travel company will throw in a rental car. 
Signs point to a mild recovery for tourism in Hawaii this year after a long and steep slump because of the economic recession. But for now, at least, Hawaii is still on sale. 
The pressure is on for hotels to keep rooms filled, even if it means discounting rates heavily, something they're willing to do if it boosts business in their restaurants, bars and activity centers, said Jay Talwar, senior vice president of marketing for the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. 
"No one is saying it's changing in 2010. It's basic Economics 101 that's coming into play," Talwar said. "The demand isn't high enough to allow anyone not to give value, from the <a href="/topics/Four_Seasons">Four Seasons</a> to the B&amp;B." 
About one-third of Hawaii's hotel rooms were empty in 2009, according to Smith Travel Research, so it's no surprise that some of the deals for travel in early 2010 are even better than last winter. 
Bing Travel reports February and March rates at premium hotels in <a href="/topics/Honolulu">Honolulu</a> are averaging $153 a night, about a 9 percent drop from the same period last year.&nbsp; 
<h4>Flights</h4> 
While West Coast cities such as <a href="/topics/Seattle">Seattle</a> and <a href="/topics/Los_Angeles">Los Angeles</a> have seen fare slashes to Hawaii in recent months, New Yorkers are paying just as much now for airfare, if not more. Round-trip airfares from New York City airports are averaging between $685 and $738 in February and March, according to Bing Travel data, which is 6 to 20 percent more that what it cost to fly during the same period in 2009. 
TO GET A DEAL Start an airfare search at <a href="http://kayak.com">kayak.com</a> and <a href="http://bing.com" target="new">bing.com. </a>Both sites scan what's available directly from the airlines and commercial sites such as Orbitz or <a href="/topics/Expedia%2C_Inc." target="new">Expedia</a>, and provide links for booking. For the best deals, avoid the peak <a href="/topics/Easter">Easter</a>/spring break holidays, when fares soar and hotels raise room rates.&nbsp; 
<h4>Lodging</h4> 
The best deals tend to be in <a href="/topics/Honolulu">Honolulu</a> and Waikiki, where there's the biggest concentration of hotel rooms, and on the Big Island, which tends to be less well-known than <a href="/topics/Maui">Maui</a> or <a href="/topics/Kauai">Kauai</a>. (Travelers looking for a more low-key vacation will find it on the smaller islands of Molokai and Lanai.) "Rather than reduce rates further, most of the major chains are responding with special promotions and add-ons, free-night stays being the most popular," Brian Ek, vice president of <a href="/topics/Priceline.com">Priceline.com</a>, said. 
"Some of the chains will offer kids' stay, eat and play free, and some that used to offer a fifth night free, now offer the third, " says Steve Pomranz, vice president of travel services for AAA Washington. 
The Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort on the Big Island's Kona coast is one example. Stay two nights between March 11 and April 4, and the third night is free, bringing the regular $189 nightly rate for a partial ocean-view room down to $126 (866-326-6803, <a href="http://www.outrigger.com" target="new">outrigger.com</a>). 
Luxury hotels have been hard hit by the downturn. 
"Two years ago, it wasn't uncommon to see average daily rates (for four-star hotels) in the $300s," Stacey Meyer, a Hawaii marketing manager for Orbitz, said. "Now, you can see rates from $179 for a four-star hotel on the beach." 
Even the posh <a href="/topics/Four_Seasons">Four Seasons</a> Resort in <a href="/topics/Maui">Maui</a> is discounting. Stay four nights and get a fifth night free for travel through Dec. 16. The offer brings the daily rate of $595 down to $476 for a garden view room with one king or two queen beds. 
TO GET A DEAL Shop around for hotel deals. <a href="/topics/Expedia%2C_Inc.">Expedia</a>, Orbitz, <a href="/topics/Travelocity">Travelocity</a> and other online-booking sites are offering Hawaii sales. Prices sometimes beat what hotels offer on their Web sites, but it's always best to call hotels directly to check AAA or <a href="/topics/AARP">AARP</a> rates or other discounts. 
<a href="/topics/Priceline.com">Priceline.com</a> bidders are reporting snagging rooms for half the price quoted on online sites or available through the hotels. With Priceline, you pick the class of hotel you want (such as two- to four-star or resort) and the location, but don't find out the name until your bid is accepted and your credit card charged. Check biddingfortravel.com or betterbidding.com to see what other travelers report finding. 
Hotwire.com offers similar deals. The difference is that Hotwire lists a price (i.e.: Four-star Lihue Kapaa hotel for $102) and reveals the name of the hotel once you've paid. 
Packages&nbsp; 
Pleasant Holidays, AAA, the airlines and various online-booking sites offer packages that combine airfare, hotel and sometimes a car. 
Example: Pleasant Holidays is throwing in a free Hertz rental car on five-night vacation packages in May and from September through Dec. 15. 
Among its offerings is a May package including five nights at the Sheraton Waikiki Resort, round-trip airfare from JFK and a car for $1,175 a person - a good deal, considering airfare alone costs about $725 in May. 
TO GET A DEAL Check the component prices of a package and deal individually on airline and hotel Web sites. Make sure all taxes and fees are included in the bottom-line price. If booking online, uncheck any boxes that automatically add the cost of trip insurance or other services you may not want. 
<h4>Vacation rentals</h4> 
For longer stays, a house or a condo rented directly from the owner can be the most economical way to go. 
Vacation Rentals by Owner (vrbo.com) is a reliable site with hundreds of listings and photos organized by areas of each island. Offerings include a two-bedroom, two-bath cottage on the Big Island's Kona coast for $110-$150 per night, and a $150-per-night family mountain retreat on Molokai that sleeps 7-10. 
Rooms in private homes can be found on Airbnb (airbnb.com), an online marketplace where locals advertise vacation homes, spare rooms and apartments. The site has 163 Hawaii listings. Among them: a $75 per night room in a tropical beach house on Maui and a $55 per night studio cottage four blocks from the ocean in the village of Pahoa on the Big Island. 
TO GET A DEAL Consider the cost of the extras -- many listings have minimum stay requirements, and a cleaning fee might be imposed. There might also be cancellation penalties. 
<h4>Car rentals</h4> 
With Hawaii's hotel occupancy plunging last spring, car-rental companies decreased fleets, leaving renters sometimes scrambling to find vehicles during peak travel times. Cars are available now, but prices vary by the island and the rental-car company, so shop around. Enterprise usually has the lowest rates for refundable bookings. 
TO GET A DEAL Priceline and Hotwire often have the lowest prices, but bookings are nonrefundable. You're guaranteed a car from one of the major car-rental agencies, but you don't find out which one until after you've booked and your credit card has been charged. 
PHOTOS:&nbsp; <a href="http://www.newsday.com/travel/good-deals-in-hawaii-1.1778401">Deals in Hawaii</a> 
PHOTOS: <a href="http://www.newsday.com/travel/oahu-hawaii-1.216709">Oahu, Hawaii</a> 
PHOTOS: <a href="http://www.newsday.com/travel/the-big-island-of-hawaii-1.216071">The Big Island of Hawaii</a> 
PHOTOS: <a href="http://www.newsday.com/travel/aboard-the-uss-missouri-1.221035">Aboard the U.S.S. Missouri on Oahu</a> 
PHOTOS: <a href="http://www.newsday.com/travel/bowfin-park-1.220422">Bowfin Park</a> 
PHOTOS: <a href="http://www.newsday.com/travel/kauai-1.1220261">Kauai</a> 
&nbsp;

TRCOV28.WEB

Hawaii on sale: How to find deals

trHAWAII trHAWAII

You've signed the release forms, cinched yourself into a full-body harness, strapped on the tactical helmet and jostled out to the rugged Kauai jungle in the back of a six-wheel, all-terrain Pinzgauer. 
 You've mounted the platform, peered down your chest to watch the guide snap your tandem pulley to the cable, heard the click of metal as the carabiner marries your harness to the pulley. 
 You note that the cable you'll be riding is no bigger around than your thumb. A wide river valley, 200 feet deep, yawns at your feet. 
 It's time. Time to take that heart-stopping step into the thin air between you and the river, and in the next instant bless the solid tug that means the rigging has caught your fall and is zipping you at 30 or 35 mph, 940 feet across the void to the other side. 
 Now! 
 You! 
 Scream! 
 And when you're done with that, thrill to the wind on your face, the hollow-metal hum of your pulley racing along the cable, your oneness with the sky - this is how birds must feel! - and, in the distance, a view of foliage-draped, cloud-capped Mt. Waialeale that no scenic overlook can match. 
 Just as you're starting to like all of this, you come in for a landing on the opposite platform, into the care of another guide who unhooks you and directs you to the next run. 
 You're zip lining, Kauai style. 
 Don't fret. If the fledgling sport of zip lining is too far out of your comfort zone, this 555-square-mile Hawaiian island offers plenty of other active pursuits. 
 WHAT YOU CAN DO 
 The roll call: River and sea kayaking, mountain hiking, downhill and coastal biking, snorkeling from ship or shore, climbing walls, waterfall swims, helicopter flights, ATV outings, catamaran sails, <a href="/topics/Surfing">surfing</a> and horseback riding. 
 For some Kauai outings, all you need are a sturdy pair of hiking boots and a good trail map, or snorkel gear and some local advice, or the inclination to rent a bicycle or a surf board and just see where they take you. 
 But for more extreme adventures, you need to call in the troops, who not only have the equipment, the expertise and the facilities to get you going but also know how to pack a serious picnic. 
 WHAT TO EXPECT 
 It rains a lot on Kauai, which is why the place is so lush. Tours go out rain or shine. Local conditions can change hour to hour, so some activities, such as waterfall swims, are never guaranteed; it might be too dangerous. Trips are canceled only when the weather overall is deemed hazardous. 
 All tours have minimum age restrictions - many also require participants to wear closed-toe footwear. Be sure to check with your operator for specific guidelines. 
 ZIP LINING 
 Basically, you're jumping off a cliff without a parachute. Great for confronting trust/fear issues - even ones you didn't know you had - and finally satisfying your flight fantasies. 
 Several companies on Kauai offer zip-line runs combined with other activities such as swinging bridges or waterfall swims. Each will take you into its own little slice of Kauai's backcountry, which is a treat in itself. 
 They provide: Trained guides, all equipment. 
 Safety check: All zip-line courses operate under the standards of the Association for Challenge Course Technology. 
 You must: Meet age, height and weight requirements. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes with tread (no clogs or slip-ons); dress for the harness in T-shirt and long shorts or full-length pants; tie your hair back if it's long enough to get in your eyes. 
 Optional: Wearing a swimsuit under your clothing; packing a rain poncho. 
 You bring: Water, sunscreen, insect repellent, camera, towel. 
 Duration: 2 to 41/2 hours 
 Cost: $79-$145 
 Forget it if: You're pregnant or have had recent injury or surgery to feet, ankles, knees, hips or back. 
 Contact: Just Live (808-482-1295, just live.org), Kauai Backcountry Adventures (808-245-2506, kauaibackcountry.com ), Outfitters Kauai (888-742-9887, outfitterskauai.com ), Princeville Ranch Adventures (888-955-7669, adventureskauai.com ) 
 MOUNTAIN TUBING 
 This pleasant float approaches Kauai's scenery inside and out, with participants bobbing downstream in colorful, industrial-strength inner tubes. 
 They provide: Tubes, gloves, helmets with head lamps. 
 You must: Meet age and weight requirements. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes with tread. Full-length pants highly recommended. 
 Optional: Wearing a swimsuit under your clothing. 
 You bring: Sunscreen, insect repellent, towel, change of clothes. 
 Duration: 3 to 31/2 hours, including lunch and round-trip drive. 
 Cost: $100 
 Forget it if: You have claustrophobia or are afraid of the dark. 
 Contact: Kauai Backcountry Adventures (808-245-2506, kauaibackcountry.com ) 
 ATV TOURS 
 You know those famous Red Dirt T-shirts? You'll be making your own with every mud-caked splatter. Movie-set scenery? There's that, too. ATV tours on Kauai offer various routes - some with waterfall stops - on private property and a menu of vehicles. 
 They provide: Leader-guides, all necessary equipment; refreshments on shorter tours, picnic lunch on longer tours. Ask about rental clothing. 
 Safety check: Vehicle instruction is part of the package. 
 You must: Meet age and/or consent requirements and have a valid photo ID to drive. Meet age, weight and relationship-to-driver requirements to be a passenger. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes with tread and full-length pants. 
 You bring: Water, sunscreen, insect repellent, camera; swimsuit, aqua shoes and towel if you take one of the waterfall tours. 
 Duration: 3 to 4 hours 
 Cost: $100-$175, depending on whether you're a driver or a passenger. 
 Forget it if: You're pregnant or have back problems. 
 Contact: Kauai ATV Tours (877-707-7088, kauaiatv.com), Kipu Ranch Adventures (808-246-9288, kiputours.com ) 
 SAILING, SNORKELING 
 You haven't experienced all Kauai has to offer unless you take to the ocean. Catamarans go out for snorkeling or sunset dinner sails along the Na Pali Coast, and a couple even venture into the waters off the island of Niihau. Expeditions by inflatable rafts (Zodiacs) explore the Na Pali Coast's sea caves and come ashore on the beaches, when conditions permit. Some outfitters have guided snorkeling from shore, and one offers "snuba," a cross between snorkeling and scuba. 
 They provide: Snorkel, mask, fins. 
 You must: Meet age and fitness requirements. 
 You bring: Sunscreen, insect repellent, swimsuit, aqua shoes, towel, change of dry clothes. Take some pills if you are prone to motion sickness. 
 Duration: 2 to 7 hours 
 Cost: $69-$196 
 Forget the zodiac if: You're pregnant or have back problems. 
 Contact: Aloha Kauai Tours (800-452-1113, alohakauaitours.com ), Blue Dolphin Charters (877-511-1311, kauaiboats.com ), Capt. Andy's Sailing Adventures &amp; Raft Expeditions (800-535-0830, napali.com ), Catamaran Kahanu (808-645-6176, catamarankahanu.com ), Holo Holo Charters (800-848-6130, holoholocharters.com ), Kauai Sea Tours (800-733-7997, kauaiseatours.com ), Kauai Z Tourz (888-998-6879, ztourz.com ), Na Pali Explorer (877-335-9909, napali-explorer.com ), Snuba Tours of Kauai (808-823-8912, snubakauai.com ) 
 GUIDED HIKING 
 On Kauai, there's no such thing as "just a hike." Guided outings will, at the very least, include local cultural wisdom and ecological discussions. Some visit waterfalls or beaches. 
 They provide: Guides 
 You must: Meet fitness requirements and wear hiking boots, sneakers or trail shoes. 
 Optional: Wearing a swimsuit under your clothing. 
 You bring: Water, sunscreen, insect repellent, camera, hat, rain poncho, towel. 
 Duration: 2 to 10 hours 
 Cost: $80-$168 
 Contact: Aloha Kauai Tours (800-452-1113, alohakauaitours.com ), Kauai Nature Tours (888-233-8365, kauainaturetours.com ), Kayak Kauai (800-437-3507, kayakkauai.com), Princeville Ranch Adventures (888-955-7669, adventureskauai.com ) 
 DOWNHILL BIKING 
 No one visits Kauai without visiting the dramatic sea-cliff Kalalau Lookout in Kokee State Park or viewing Waimea Canyon. This organized tour runs 12 miles from cliff to canyon to coast, downhill on paved roads. 
 They provide: Cruising bikes with wide saddles and high-rise handlebars. 
 You must: Meet age and weight requirements. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes with tread and dress in layers for various climate zones. 
 You bring: Windbreaker, sunscreen, insect repellent. 
 Duration: 4 hours 
 Cost: $78-$98 
 Contact: Outfitters Kauai (888-742-9887, outfitterskauai.com ) 
 HORSEBACK RIDES 
 Just when you've started to think you're in pretty good shape, along comes a saddle to prove you wrong. Kauai's dramatic scenery can be counted on to keep you distracted long enough to finish the ride, and some routes are further sweetened with waterfall swims or beachcombing. 
 They provide: Horse, tack and guide. 
 You must: Meet age and weight requirements. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes with tread. Full-length pants are highly recommended. 
 Optional: Wearing a swimsuit under your clothing. 
 You bring: Water, sunscreen, insect repellent, camera, towel. 
 Duration: 11/2 to 8 hours 
 Cost: $80-$390 
 Contact: CJM Country Stables (808-742-6096, cjmstables.com ), Esprit De Corps Riding Academy (808-822-4688, kauaihorses.com ), Princeville Ranch Stables (808-826-6777, princevilleranch.com ), Silver Falls Ranch (808-828-6718, silverfallsranch.com ) 
 KAYAKING 
 Kauai boasts the state's only navigable rivers. After a hike and a swim, there's the ocean. Putting paddle to saltwater on Kauai can come as easy as a dip around a resort bay or as challenging as a daylong course along the south shore or the Na Pali Coast. 
 They provide: Kayaks with dry bags. 
 You must: Meet age and weight requirements and wear hiking/aqua shoes. 
 You bring: Sunscreen, insect repellent, swimsuit, towel, change of dry clothes. 
 Duration: 3 to 8 hours 
 Cost: $60-$225 
 Contact Alii Kayaks (877-246-2544, aliikayaks.com ), Kayak Hanalei (808-826-1881, kayakhanalei.com ), Kayak Kauai (800-437-3507, kayakkauai.com ), Outfitters Kauai (888-742-9887, outfitterskauai.com ), Princeville Ranch Adventures (888-955- 7669, adventureskauai.com ), True Blue and Island Adventures (808-246-6333, kauaifun.com ), Wailua River Guides (808-821-2800, wailuariverguides.com )

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Adventure sports in Kauai, Hawaii

THE BEST WAY 
 From LAX, United, American, <a href="/topics/Hawaii">Hawaii</a>an and Continental have connecting service (change of plane) to Molokai. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $442. 
 WHERE TO STAY 
 The Lodge at Molokai Ranch, 100 Maunaloa Highway, Maunaloa; (808) 660-2824, www.molokairanch.com . It's a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, but service isn't luxe. Hawaiian-Western décor, a spectacular great room with wagon-wheel chandeliers and a stone fireplace. Doubles $427 to $518 (plus $15 resort fee for use of the pool, exercise room etc.). Sister property the Beach Village at Molokai Ranch has 40 rustic two-bedroom "tentalows" on beautiful, isolated Kaupoa Beach. Doubles $294 to $386. 
 Hotel Molokai, Kamehameha V Highway, Star Route, on the ocean two miles from downtown Kaunakakai; (800) 535-0085, www.hotelmolokai.com . Outdated rooms need renovation. The nicest are oceanfront. Has a pool and a popular restaurant. Doubles $130 to $205. 
 Wavecrest Resort condominiums, 7148 Kamehameha V Highway, 13 miles east of Kaunakakai; www.wavecrestaoao.com . Attractive low-rise property on 5 oceanfront acres with a pool, tennis courts. One- and two-bedroom units with kitchens, $90 to $165. Bookings: Friendly Isle Realty, (800) 600-4158, www.molokairesorts.com , or Molokai Vacation Rental, (800) 367-2984, www.molokai-vacation-rental.net . 
 Molokai Sea Ranch, a luxury gated oceanfront home with a pool and Jacuzzi. The main house has five bedrooms, 4 1/2 bathrooms; the guest house has 2 1/2 bedrooms, two bathrooms. Nightly rate for the entire complex, $2,550. Information: Hawaii Hideaways, (866) 962-5642, www.hawaiihideaways.com . 
 WHERE TO EAT 
 Hula Shores, Hotel Molokai (above). The open-air seaside restaurant has a lively bar scene and a view to Lanai. Main dishes $14 to $22. 
 Paddler's Inn, 10 Mohala St., Kaunakakai; (808) 553-5256, www.paddlersinnmolokai.com . This local favorite has old-Hawaii décor, including vintage photos of paddlers. The big menu has Hawaiian touches. Main dishes $11.50 to $20. 
 Maunaloa Room, the Lodge at Molokai Ranch (above). Upscale restaurant with main dishes from $24.40 to $39.50. I preferred the hotel's casual and less expensive Paniolo Lounge. 
 Kualapuu Cookhouse, 102 Farrington Ave., Kualapuu; (808) 567-9655. It's not much to look at, but the food is good. Nightly specials may include stuffed shrimp or rack of lamb. Main dishes $19 to $21. 
 TO LEARN MORE 
 Molokai Visitors Assn., 2 Kamoi St., Suite 200, Kaunakakai; (808) 553-3876, www.molokai-hawaii.com .

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