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Happy New Year EveryoneThe Hawaii Travel Ezine from VolcanoAlley.com, dated 01/01/01, by Lisa Weber
---Happy New Year everyone,--- I am happy to report that, here on the Big Island anyway, there were no major New Year's incidents. Unfortunately, there were many brush fires in Kailua-Kona, all of them fireworks related I am sure. *so what did the new fireworks law accomplish anyway?* Nothing that I can see. Hilo sounded like a war zone until at least 2:30 in the morning and the fireworks-waste mounds were as big as snowdrifts in Puna. At least our recent rains kept the Hilo side from catching on fire. -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+- --- Hotel prices going up in 2001 --- Yes, inflation is rearing its head in hotel prices again. Practically every hotel and condo I have researched in the last few months has 2001 rates that are approximately $10 to $20 more expensive than last year. Luckily, most vacation rentals and bed and breakfasts are unaffected by the rolling on into 2001. Here are two good bets for low-price lodging: ++ E Walea by the Sea E Walea by the Sea offers guest rooms as low as $65 a night (plus tax) in Puako on the Big Island of Hawaii. ++ ++ Apartment in Hawaiian Monarch A corner apartment in the Hawaiian Monarch in Waikiki on Oahu, rented by owner for as little as $40 a night. Two week stay minimum. ++ --- In the News --- Waipio Valley land use on the Big Island is at the heart of a controversy that could affect visitor's tours to the area. After reading the article, I think the state should step in and buy the lands, halting wagon tours beyond the stream. Waipio Valley is really the epitome of the beauty that can be found in nature here, and it should not be spoiled. Interested visitors can hike in causing less of an impact on the lands and the farmers. For the article, click here: Article at the Tribune Herald ---Hawaiian word of the week --- pali - (pah lee) - cliff This is a good word for visitors to know, as it is integrated into English at times - and also used in place names frequently. Now you know that the Na Pali coast in Kauai simply signifies the the coast of "the cliff". --- Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays, recommended --- Live on the West coast and looking for a travel agency to make your trip to Hawaii easy and inexpensive? Try Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays at Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays . Even if you don't want to use their services, you may want to check out the website, the virtual hawaiian vacation is amazing. For a personal recommendation of the service, read this article Personal Reccomendation --- The whales are back! --- Well, winter is here, and besides the most exquisite weather I've seen in four or five years, the humpback whales are in the islands again to amaze us. A friend of mine went out in her kayak last week off of Puhi Bay in Hilo and saw two of them about 100 feet away from her. She saw a couple of sharks too, but they didn't bother her, and she sure didn't bother them. I plan to go out as soon as possible and hopefully bring you back some nice pictures for one of the February issues. Whale watching is incredibly easy in Hawaii. Just stand on practically any coastline and look at the water. Maui is supposed to be the best island for watching whales, but the Big Island is pretty darn good too. Last winter, my husband and I had the pants scared off of us while we were fishing at a small bay in Kau. A large whale came into the bay underwater, and breached less than 50 feet from shore. I wasn't expecting it, and it was so large my first thought was that it was some sort of monster (you know - loch ness action) but I quickly realized what it really was and was pretty amazed. Unfortunately, it left as quickly and as quietly as it appeared. Two years ago, when we used to have more time off together, we used to walk down to the cliffs behind our house every morning and afternoon to watch the whales. In the mornings a momma whale and her baby (we assume) would head south down the coast and in the afternoons, they would come by again on their way back north. We saw them almost every time we looked for them. Real reliable, these whales. They would breach and play - about 500 feet off the shoreline, but we could see them really well with binoculars. Another good time to watch for whales is any time you are on a boat. We have seen whales more than once on the Fairwind's snorkel tour from Keauhou Bay to Kealakekua Bay in Kailua-Kona, and we have seen pilot whales swim within 20 feet of the boat on a sportfishing trip from Honokohau Harbor. For the Fairwind web page go here Fairwind. I highly recommend it. Have a story or a question you'd like to share? E-mail me at ezine@andhawaii.com . Until next week, Lisa. http://www.andhawaii.com |
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