GALLERY: Enjoying Hawaii
Have you heard great things about Hawaii but you're just not sure where you want to go? What do you want to do? Which place fits you best? Here are tips on vacationing on the islands.
10:00 AM EDT, May 10, 2013
Hawaii: Volcano House is back in business
Volcano House, uniquely located on the edge of the active Kilauea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, has reopened after a multimillion-dollar restoration by its new owners.
9:15 AM EDT, May 3, 2013
Hawaii: Polynesian center to introduce new luau
Beginning May 20, visitors to Oahu can enjoy the island’s newest luau and all the sights of the Polynesian Cultural Center for $74.95 (for adults) and $57.95 for kids 5-11.
10:15 AM EDT, April 26, 2013
Hawaii: Lanai resorts offer a chance to linger for less
Two Lanai resorts are offering “Stay Longer” packages that make them more affordable.
2:00 PM EDT, April 23, 2013
Cruises: Why sailing to Hawaii may require a foreign port call
Our cruise to Hawaii on the Celebrity Millennium began with saying goodbye to our ship docked in San Diego Harbor and taking a bus ride to Ensenada, Mexico, to meet it again.
10:30 AM EDT, April 22, 2013
Las Vegas: Celebrating Hawaii's Lei Day, Sin City-style
May 1 may be Lei Day in Hawaii, but in Las Vegas, it's May 4 and 5 -- at least in downtown Las Vegas at the California Hotel Casino.
10:45 AM EDT, April 19, 2013
Hawaii: Andaz Maui set for summer opening
The Andaz Maui at Wailea, a LEED-certified hotel, is set to open this summer along Maui's Mokapu Beach, a 1.2-mile stretch of white sand.
April 21, 2013
Eddie Kamae, ukulele extraordinaire and a Honolulu original
He's known as the Woody Guthrie of Hawaiian music, a virtuoso ukulele player who's helped to introduce new generations to music that might otherwise be lost.
April 21, 2013
A slow — yet energizing — boat to Hawaii
Whichever ship you choose, you'll be sailing in the metaphorical wake of the Matson and American President lines, great West Coast steamship companies that served Hawaii and the Far East in the heyday of passenger shipping.
6:01 PM EDT, April 19, 2013
Molokai, Hawaii: Island elders keep tradition alive in song
A fire that raged through Hotel Molokai's Hula Shores restaurant last spring did not keep the kupuna — and their audience — from claiming their spots near the lapping sea and coconut palms. For more than a decade, at 4 p.m. Fridays, 10 to 30 kupuna ("elders" in Hawaiian) have gathered at the hotel to strum their ukuleles and sing the lost songs of their youth.
10:45 AM EDT, April 12, 2013
Hawaii: Waikiki Spam Jam pays homage to an island favorite
Spam, beloved among Hawaiians, will be celebrated April 27 during Waikiki Spam Jam, one of Honolulu’s biggest annual street festivals.
10:15 AM EDT, April 5, 2013
Hawaii: Grow festival celebrates island culture
Visitors to Honolulu will be able to mingle with the locals while learning more about Hawaiian culture at the Grow Hawaiian Festival on April 20. The event, the sixth-annual, will be at the Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St.
10:50 AM EDT, April 2, 2013
Hawaii: Spruced-up Shoreline Waikiki makes its Oahu debut
Once it was a hostel for stewardesses and pilots, but now Honolulu’s newest hotel is positioning itself as an alternative to Oahu’s beachfront, family-filled resorts.
10:45 AM EDT, March 29, 2013
Hawaii: Missing your pets? Volunteer at Maui's humane society
Visitors to Maui now have a way to stay connected to four-legged friends, even if the family pets are back home, thousands of miles away.
11:00 AM EDT, March 15, 2013
Oahu's stirring Easter backdrop
Amid stirring surroundings and breathtaking views, the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu will hold its annual Easter sunrise service March 31. It’s one of a variety of Easter weekend activities – religious and secular – on Oahu. The military park, located on 116 acres inside the crater of the now extinct Punchbowl volcano, is the final resting place of more than 13,000 American soldiers and sailors who died during World War II.
9:30 AM EST, March 8, 2013
Hawaii: Maui's Kaanapali Beach Hotel is a festival of culture
Visitors to Maui who want to learn just a little about native culture can attend a hula lesson at many hotels, but those who want a more in-depth cultural experience may find it at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel. it has a long history of immersing guests in island traditions and offers more than 30 cultural activities each day.
10:15 AM EST, February 22, 2013
Hawaii: Exhibit honors Japanese American World War II soldiers
The Japanese American soldiers who fought valiantly in World War II, even as many of their relatives were held in internment camps, will be remembered in an exhibition at Honolulu’s Bishop Museum.
10:00 AM EST, February 15, 2013
Hawaii: In Waikiki, there will be a whole lot of swaying going on
Visitors to Waikiki can immerse themselves in the islands’ ancient dance traditions May 17-19 during the International Waikiki Hula Conference. The gathering, at the Hawaii Convention Center, aims to fully engage participants through dance and cultural workshops.
10:15 AM EST, February 8, 2013
Hawaii: Vodka distillery to open on Maui
When the talk turns to vodka, Moscow, not Maui, probably comes to mind. But beginning this spring, Hawaii’s very own vodka distillery will begin offering tours and tastings.
11:20 AM EST, February 1, 2013
Hawaii: Culture, nature, crafts are rolled into a 'Grow Weekend'
Visitors to Hawaii’s Big Island can immerse themselves in local culture and natural history Feb. 22-24, when Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden hosts the ninth-annual Grow Hawaiian Weekend.
10:55 AM EST, January 25, 2013
Hawaii: Ukulele fest celebrates the islands' favorite instrument
The ukulele takes center stage Feb. 9 and 10 at the Ukulele Picnic Weekend in Honolulu. There will be music competitions, a benefit concert and (of course) a picnic.
10:45 AM EST, January 21, 2013
Hawaii: Aloha wear exhibit at the Bishop extended until Feb. 25
Visitors to Oahu who realize there’s more to island clothing than swimsuits and flip-flops may enjoy a visit to Honolulu’s Bishop Museum, where an exhibition titled HI Fashion: The Legacy of Alfred Shaheen has been extended until Feb. 25.
11:00 AM EST, January 11, 2013
Hawaii: New rail system serving Honolulu aims for 2019 completion
Construction has begun on a 20-mile rail line to ease traffic congestion in Honolulu, a $5.2-billion project that will run from Kapolei to Ala Moana, the shopping and entertainment center at the start of the airport side of Waikiki on Oahu.
8:27 PM EST, January 8, 2013
Hawaiian sands
KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii — On a Saturday morning, as the sun climbs steadily higher in the royal-blue sky, the occasional motorist turns off busy state Route 19 about five miles north of Kona International Airport.
10:00 AM EST, December 28, 2012
Hawaii: Oahu's Wanderlust fest blends yoga, food, wine and music
For 2013, the Wanderlust Festival will abandon the mountains and snow of California's Squaw Valley for the sand and surf of Oahu's Turtle Bay Resort.
10:45 AM EST, December 21, 2012
Hawaii: Go island-hopping by air for as little as $39 each way
Mokulele Airlines is offering fares as low as $39 each way for inter-island flights in Hawaii. The airline, which many folks haven't heard of if they haven't traveled to the Aloha State, connects Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and the Big Island.
10:15 AM EST, December 21, 2012
Hawaii: Cultural center's new film explores soul of the islands
Oahu's Polynesian Cultural Center kicks off 2013 -- its 50th anniversary year -- with a new movie depicting the people and places of Hawaii. The premiere is expected in late January.
11:45 AM EST, December 14, 2012
Cruising: It's all paws on deck for this group of sea dogs
Eleven salty dogs are sailing the waters of the Hawaiian Islands through Wednesday, making a splash aboard the Golden Princess cruise ship.
11:05 AM EST, December 14, 2012
Hawaii: Poignant trip on Molokai takes on added meaning
There's an added incentive to visit the Kalaupapa National Historical Park on Molokai. Sister Marianne Cope, a nun who made caring for Hawaii’s lepers her mission, was elevated to sainthood in October.
11:00 AM EST, December 13, 2012
Hawaii: Tour the perimeter of the Big Island from a bicycle seat
Explore Hawaii's Big Island on a two-wheel tour to see the rim of Kilauea Crater, sea turtles at Walohinu and Kona's lush coffee country. The seven-day Hawaii Classic Bike Tour from Bicycle Adventures features a circumnavigation of the perimeter of the island, with rides averaging 45 miles a day.
11:00 AM EST, December 7, 2012
Hawaii: Gingerbread, Santa and more put Oahu in the spirit
It may be a tropical paradise, but Oahu still gets into the holiday spirit with activities for adults and kids.
11:45 AM EST, November 28, 2012
Hawaii: USS Bowfin commemorates its 70th with half-price tickets
Even in wartime, anniversaries are significant, which explains why the U.S. Navy launched the USS Bowfin, an attack submarine, on Dec. 7, 1942, one year after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and America’s entry into World War II.
11:20 AM EST, November 23, 2012
Hawaii: Maui's food and wine fest to debut in December
Fine wines and superb food -- served in breathtaking surroundings -- are prerequisites for many travelers to Hawaii, at least those who aren't trying to experience the islands on a budget. Next month, some one-of-a-kind offerings will be available on Maui’s west coast.
October 21, 2012
See Hawaiian royal history in a five-stop procession
Palace intrigue? Check. Royal rapscallions? Some. Kings and queens and gorgeous things? You'll find those too.
October 21, 2012
Antiquing for a wedding ring on Hawaii's Big Island
KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii — My husband, Eddie, was allergic to his wedding ring.
October 21, 2012
Casting a new net in Kauai
Beautiful Kauai can get crowded. Here are 10 ways to ditch the crowds (and save some money).
October 21, 2012
Alfred Shaheen's influence beyond the Hawaiian shirt
HONOLULU — That Hawaiian shirt you wore on Friday for casual day? You can thank Alfred Shaheen for that.
October 21, 2012
The lure of Mauna Kea
HILO, Hawaii — About 11,000 feet up Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii, a plaintive-looking young couple stood by the side of the road, their thumbs thrust out.
5:04 AM EDT, July 13, 2012
Travel Postcard: 48 Hours in Honolulu
The islands making up the state of Hawaii are an American paradise, filled with striking mountains and idyllic beaches whose most famous resident, Barack Obama, grew up to become the first black president of the United States.
April 22, 2012
Hawaii is more than fair at festivals
Hawaii loves to celebrate. There are festivals celebrating avocados, mangoes, coffee, craft brew, Chinese New Year, falsetto singing, taro, paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys), slack-key guitar playing and just about everything else you can hear, see or taste in the archipelago that Capt. James Cook called the Sandwich Islands. Come to think of it, the only one missing is a Sandwich Isles Sandwich Festival.
April 22, 2012
Star gazing on Maui in Hana, Hawaii
HANA, Hawaii — I came to play in a jungle, dance under a waterfall and swim with giant turtles in a tranquil sea. But at the end of the long, winding road to Hana, the thing that pleased me most was staring at the star-filled sky.
April 22, 2012
Agritourism takes off in Hawaii
HANALEI, Hawaii — It's a warm Tuesday afternoon on Kauai and tourists are lining up — just a few at first, then a dozen or so. Finally more than 100 have gathered, waiting patiently. They're not here to swim with dolphins, snorkel in turquoise waters or even learn to hula at a luau. They're here for a farmers market.
April 22, 2012
Hawaii's Big Island has more than beaches for vacationers
Travelers may think of Hawaii as the land of surfboards, sunsets and mai tais, but there's a lava flow of reasons to go beyond the beaches and discover why residents say they are lucky to live in Hawaii. And, yes, some of the state's best beaches are found on the Big Island. But don't get stuck there. Do what the locals do:
10:00 PM EDT, April 10, 2012
Hawaii's Garden Isle: Hollywood roles haven't spoiled Kauai just yet
POIPU, Hawaii — The problem with loving a laid-back place so much is that you want to tell everybody about it, yet you don't want to tell anybody about it, lest it be spoiled.
7:34 PM EDT, March 13, 2012
Great places for women leaving the men behind
The fusion of Pacific Rim cultures, combined with remote mountain-to-ocean adventures and international shopping make Oahu the prime choice for the total Hawaiian experience. In Honolulu alone, you can begin the day with a hike to the pinnacle of Diamond Head for panoramic views, then dine, shop or surf the length of Waikiki, home to an increasing number of interesting restaurants and boutiques.
January 29, 2012
12 places to visit in 2012
Oahu: As the Obamas remind us yearly, you need not jump to Maui or Kauai in order to experience that Hawaiian getaway feeling. Though Oahu's big city, Honolulu, has urban challenges, and the crowded towers of Waikiki are a bit much for some people, Oahu's assets are many, beginning with Waikiki's gentle waves and the sight of Diamond Head. There's also the slower pace of life on the windward side, including the enclave of Kailua, where the president's family has vacationed repeatedly. Now add Disney's 21-acre Aulani resort, which opened in August.
Obama's Hawaiian holiday
President Barack Obama and his daughters Sasha and Malia walk with friends during their visit to Sea Life Park in Waimanalo, Hawaii. See this photo and more on their holiday trip.
3:43 PM EST, December 6, 2011
Upcountry in Maui brings a taste of old-time Hawaii
Mornings in Maui generally demand nothing more strenuous than pulling on a pair of shorts and sandals and heading for the beach. So what am I doing in long pants, hiking shoes and a jacket?
Movie sites on Kauai
Find out what six popular movies were filmed in Hawaii featured in this gallery.
October 23, 2011
Kauai remains a popular film location
Kauai has been a favorite film location since it stood in for Bali Hai in the 1958 movie version of "South Pacific." It has been Maui in the Adam Sandler-Jennifer Aniston romantic comedy "Just Go With It" (released this year), and it played the Caribbean in "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," the fourth of the Johnny Depp swashbucklers. Sometimes it even plays itself. In "The Descendants," which is to open next month, a father (George Clooney) takes his children to Kauai after his wife is incapacitated. "Every location is the real place," says co-producer George Parra. Here's a guide to movie sites (some on private property), with tips on how to explore them from film location manager Angela Tillson, who has been guiding film scouts around the island for 23 years.
10:24 AM EDT, October 5, 2011
Hawaii makes surfing an official sport
Students in Hawaii could soon be competing against other schools in another competitive sport — surfing.
September 11, 2011
Greeting the dawn from on high
After one sunrise on Haleakala, I do know what an epic earthly event looks like.
3:10 PM EDT, September 11, 2011
Disney's Aulani offers many ways to chill out, cool down
Reporting from Ko Olina, Oahu - Water plays a central role in Disney's new Aulani hotel in Hawaii — from the water-park-like pool and the sunset-facing hot tubs to the salt water snorkeling pool and the adult and youth spas.
August 3, 2011
Dry-diving underwater Hawaii
Not everybody wants to snorkel or scuba dive in Maui. Particularly those of us who (full sheepish disclosure) don't know how to swim.
6:12 PM EDT, May 10, 2011
Saddle up for a different look at Maui
Most travelers enjoying Maui's great outdoors are content lying on the beach and frolicking in the water. No argument there. But consider a trek on horseback, particularly to parts of the island you might not otherwise discover.
May 8, 2011
Coffee grown on the Big Island's rainy side
Some of the world's most famous coffee is grown along the Kona Coast, on the leeward side of the Big Island, where plantations big and small nurture their well-deserved reputations. Now, though, a band of small growers on the opposite side of the island, a 2 1/2 hour drive, is seeking its day in the sun — at least figuratively.
May 8, 2011
Coffee sampling in Hawaii's new growing region
As a group of visitors from the San Francisco Bay Area toured the Kona Pacific Farmers Cooperative's coffee plantation ([808] 328-2411, http://www.kpfc.com) in Captain Cook on the Big Island, they listened intently as their guide told them what it takes for the beans to make it to their local Starbucks.
December 5, 2010
Honolulu's hotel scene is jumping
The hotel scene in Honolulu never seems to sleep these days. You'll find new players, old favorites and lots of change. Here is a recap of what's happening on the Oahu scene. We'll leave it up to you whether you want to book one, Danno.
December 5, 2010
Hotel review: Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on the Big Island
Luxury, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. At the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai on the Big Island, it whispers rather than screams. Low-rise buildings blend into 32 oceanfront acres lush with tropical flora, ponds and pools. Here, trendiness is not next to godliness.
April 18, 2010
From Oahu to Kauai by catamaran
As with many adventure stories, this one started in a bar. Sipping a post-work CoCoNut Porter at the Yard House in Waikiki with Jim — a family friend who's well connected in the sailing world — I imposed the request that led to the story.
April 18, 2010
Hawaii’s newest crop: Chocolate
The TV commercial for an insurance company — the one in which a gecko is seen putting a dollar bill that's bigger than it is into a vending machine for a bag of chips — is certainly memorable. But it's also implausible.
April 18, 2010
Volcano expedition is a chopper ride to remember
I could see a river of flame below me, a glowing red lava tube that sliced across the jagged black landscape of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The seething, molten rock was so close I could feel the heat and smell the sulfur. Nearby, a stand of eucalyptus trees erupted in flames as lava touched it.
April 18, 2010
The keeper of the flame in Maui
I would rather eat paste than poi, and I hate buffet lines, so I thought I wasn't the luau type. Family-style service, upscale Hawaiian fare and five bare-chested male dancers twirling and throwing flaming knives changed my mind and kindled my curiosity about Samoan fire knife dancing.
4:11 PM EDT, April 18, 2010
Hawaii: 20 Big Island meals for less than $20
Fourteen world-class resorts hug the rugged coastline of Hawaii's Big Island. Scores of pricey, high-end restaurants cater to the well-heeled guests staying in them.
March 28, 2010
CELEBRITY TRAVELER: Larry Miller
Seriously, funnyman loves Hawaii
Actor-comedian Larry Miller is known for his appearances on "Seinfeld," "Mad About You" and the feature film "10 Things I Hate About You." The film inspired an ABC Family television series, beginning its second season, in which he co-stars. Of his travel schedule, Miller, 53, says, "Once you get married and have kids ... if my wife and I get one lone Saturday night free? Believe me, a fire and a drink and holding hands downstairs for 10 minutes is the best getaway possible." Still, he would love to get back to Hawaii one day.
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