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One of the Hawaiian Islands, Kauai, is sometimes referred to as “Hawaii’s Island Of Discovery”. That’s because Kauai is Hawaii’s oldest island, yet it’s constantly changing to enlighten and satisfy all the many visitors who go there.

One can find shops and restaurants bustling with activity alongside the many vendors working the highways and by-ways to sell flowers, a variety of fish and lots of fruit.

On Kauai’s west side on the beach on Kekaha, an old sugar camp house sat for years awaiting restoration. Finally, this facility along with an historic 5-bedroom house, has now joined Waimea Plantation Cottages as a restored plantation- style home bringing the cottage count now to 50.

Heading east to Kalaheo, two houses have been added as rentals for vacationers. Although both sites are away from any beaches (and are more residential than resort-style), the accommodations are affordable, clean and comfortable. Plus, guests do not need to be concerned with minimum stays or cleaning fees.

Vacationers here can even enjoy more perks like a hot tub, free tennis court usage, beach gear, boogie boards and snorkel equipment.

On the south side, reconstruction of a hotel (Waiohai Hotel), damaged by Hurricane Iniki in 1992, has been completed. This property was converted into timeshares—200 2-bedroom accommodations in nine buildings.

Catering to the upscale market, 22 units in the Poipu Kai Resort were added measuring 1,700 to 2,000 square feet. These condos have air conditioning, featuring walk-in showers made of glass block, complete with designer furnishings. Oh and for kitchen lovers, there’s Corian countertops throughout. Visitors here will agree this place is a pleasant, nicely-manicured resort, complete with pool and ocean-front units.

Also in the Poipu area, roughly a block from the ocean, is a quiet setting with restored former residential rentals featuring hardwood floors, hot tubs and walk-in showers. Here one finds a feeling of seclusion in this lovely place called Hideaway Love Villas.

For those visitors wishing to be pampered while staying at Poipu, there is another setting of three 2,600 square-foot units: two at ocean front; one with an ocean view. Here, at Kauai Cottages at Poipu Beach, a guest gets elegant furnishings, high-speed Internet access—complimented with tennis and honeymoon packages. The honeymoon packages come with a cold bottle of champagne upon arrival PLUS a chef will even prepare a delicious meal! So, be assured to find a lot of romance when staying in these private, beautifully- landscaped cottages.

As the continual proliferation of vacation rentals marches on, the south side of Kauai will doubtless feel some growing pains. More commercial development will need to keep pace—town squares, shops, restaurants and grocery stores will blanket the landscape.

Approaching Lihue, one finds what used to be one of the “off limits” in Kauai—until a 3,000 acre ranch owner opened his property to small tours. This was a former sugar plantation now managed by Kipu Ranch Adventures. Here, a visitor can enjoy the land as it sprawls from hilly terrain to coastal beaches. These beaches offer common sites of turtles, seals and yes, even dolphins!

Should visitors have a passion for Polynesian dancing, attending a three-day Kauai Polynesian Festival event is an absolute treat. Located at the Kukui Grove Park and Pavilion on Highway 50, guests are entertained by local Hula troupes, dancers from Somoa, Tahiti and as far away as New Zealand. The festival usually held in late May, boasts international craft displays, intereresting booths and an abundance of local cuisine.

While in Lihue, check out the fascinating yet unusual museum known as the Kauai Veterans’ Center Military Museum. Here, the die-hard war-buff can view displays of weaponry donated by local soldiers of Hawaii who fought in World War II and in Vietnam. There are even archives from combat units dating back to the Spanish American War.

Making your way on Kauai’s east side north of Lihue, visitors discover the little community of Kapaa. Here you find the Kauai Children’s Discovery Museum specializing in the developmental needs of kids under five years in age. Parents are welcome to gather information about community resources and services as well as on child development. One will be very impressed with the numerous special toys and playground equipment—all designed for the stimulation of kids’ brains and muscles.

As you leave Kapaa and continue northward on Highway 56, prepare yourself for all the congestion due to a construction boom. Surprisingly, an oasis appears revealing the Na Aina Kai Botanical Gardens and Sculpture Park. Guests are permitted to tour the grounds where gardens feature exotic vegetation, hardwood trees, even dozens of statues made of bronze. Two of the most recently added statues depict a young Hawaiian with his father planting a mahogany tree; and the other was installed adjacent to the ponds along the garden’s birdwalk, called “Still Life” which is a likeness of a blue heron.

For the hiking enthusiasts, Princeville Ranch has a fantastic hiking tour lasting five hours over ranch land hosting some awe-inspiring viewpoints. This tour even features an exciting area where you must swing on a chain to advance off a small cliff. At the end of the hiking is Kalihwai Falls, providing the visitor/hiker with a refreshing dip and a fulfilling lunch.

There is a place on Kauai debated to be the most remote place on the island: Hanalei Colony Resort. There are no phones and no televisions. Renovations are underway upgrading these condos from one bath to one and a half baths. Workers minimize their building efforts, however, to focus on the most important detail: Don’t Disrupt the Quiet-Seeking Patrons! As remote and quiet as this resort remains, wedding, honeymoon and small meeting groups are always welcome.

Yes, Kauai is continually offering its visitors something pristine and glorious. It’s an adventure into Paradise not soon forgotten.

With 4,028 square miles of land and still growing, there’s no shortage of adventure on Hawaii’s Big Island. Hiking, biking, and horseback riding seem even more thrilling set amongst the island’s diverse environments and volcanic formations. Spend your morning snorkelling in Kealakekua Bay, then spend the afternoon horseback riding in Parker Ranch. Visit Volcanoes National Park one day, then stargaze atop Mauna Kea the next. Learn about ancient Hawaiian culture at a temple (Puukohala Heiau), a palace (Hulihee Palace), or a city of refuge (Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park). The itineraries are endless on Hawaii’s Big Island, and Hawaii vacation rentals open a world of adventure!

Hiking adventures near Hawaiian vacation rentals abound in Volcanoes National Park. Hike through the Thurston Lava Tube, Devastation Trail, or the challenging Crater Rim trail, which encircles the summit of Kilauea Volcano’s caldera. Be sure to pack comfortable shoes when you visit Hawaii’s Big Island. Take a day hike on Chain of Craters Road. Or for well-equipped and experienced backpackers, hike overnight in the park’s backcountry. See a ranger at the Kilauea Visitor Center to get trail information, maps, and permits. Or you can discover Hawaii by taking a guided tour with a renowned naturalist guide who will share with you a world of rainforests, waterfalls, cliffside trails, rare birds, sunsets atop Mauna Kea and other active volcanoes. Guided biking tours are also available at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, followed by wine tasting at the Volcano Winery. Many stables provide guided horseback tours in Waipio Valley and Kahua Ranch. Waipio Valley provides spectacular waterfalls and lush jungle trails, while Kohala boasts panoramic views of the coastline. One of Hawaii’s great area kayaking adventures is the sea caves and lava tubes out of Keauhou Bay. There are also many great kayaking and snorkeling sites like Kiholo, A bay, Puako, Kona bay, and Hookena beach that are both fun and rewarding. If you take a swim at Ho’okena Beach, the green sea turtles may come right up to you in the surf!

Big island vacation rentals put you in the center of the action. The Big Island is also the birthplace of King Kamehameha I, and home to the annual Merrie Monarch Festival, Hawaii’s Big Island has a strong connection to its Hawaiian heritage. The arts community is also flourishing in places like Holualoa near Kailua-Kona, Hawi in North Kohala, and Hilo. Performing arts, exhibits, and festivals occur year-round so check local papers for events and times. While in Kona, have a cup of coffee! 100% pure Kona coffee is a rare commodity exclusively grown in north and south Kona. The high elevation, constant cloud coverage, and rich volcanic soil in the upland slopes of Kona and the small town of Holualoa create an ideal environment for harvesting this unique Hawaiian coffee bean. There are roughly 600 coffee farms in Kona and many offer tours to the public. Visit thriving coffee orchards and learn about the meticulous harvesting process. Then explore the coffee mill and see how the beans are processed. As you finish your tour, sip a freshly brewed cup for yourself and experience the rich aroma and flavorful taste that makes 100% Kona coffee so highly valued.

Hawaii whale-watching is truly a memorable experience. In this article, we will focus on whale-watching off the island of Maui. Whale-watching season starts as early as November, but the largest number of whales travel through Hawaii waters from mid-December to mid-April.

Each year during this time, approximately 1,500 to 2,000 humpback whales migrate south from their summer feeding grounds in the Arctic. Scientists estimate that this 3,000 mile swimming trip takes them from 80 to 100 days.

The whales seem to favor the calmer bays and wide bank areas between the islands of Maui, Molokai and Lanai. With their bulky heads and two blow-holes, they can often be seen cavorting in the warm waters, breaching and slapping the surface of the water. Here they mate, or bear their “calves” conceived the previous winter.

A mature humpback whale is about 45 feet in lenth and can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Their calves weigh around 3,000 pounds at birth and feed off their mother’s high-fat milk for six to eight months, consuming 100 to 130 gallons per day.

Strangely enough, the adult whales do not eat while in Hawaii, since they are “seasonal” feeders. However, when they return to their Arctic habitat an average humpback whale will consume 4,500 to 5,000 pounds of plankton, krill (small, shrimp-like creatures), and fish per day!

On Maui, the opportunities for whale-watching from land are extensive. A good vantage point for seeing whales from land is basically anywhere you get a pretty a wide ocean view. McGregor Point, at mile marker 9, as you head from Maalaea, toward Lahaina, is a well-known whale watching place. Continuing toward Lahaina, whales can also be seen off the Olowalu Reef–between McGregor Point and the town of Olowalu.

When you head south on the Wailea coast, the Outrigger Wailea Resort provides another excellent viewing spot, with a telescope installed by the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. South from Wailea, Puu Olai overlooking Makeena Beach is considered Maui’s best spot for whale-watching.

Whale watching requires patience. Scan the horizon for a cloud of spewing water that rises from 10 to 20 feet above the ocean’s surface. Watch for a good half-hour or so; whales need to breath every 7 to 20 minutes, and their spray is simply water vapor that they exhale from their blow hole. So once you locate that tell-tale spray of water, focus your eyes on the area for another one. Here binoculars are especially helpful.

But the best way to see humpback whales is out in their domain–and you can book a whale-watching cruise for that. Maui is the home of the Pacific Whale Foundation. A non-profit whale research organization, it supports its research by offering whale-watching tours.

In addition, almost every snorkel and dive-boat in the area becomes a whale-watching vessel in winter. Maui whale-watching tours leave Lahaina and Maalaea harbors daily during the winter months. In addition to humpbacks, sperm whales, pilot whales, pygmy killer whales, beaked whales, melon-headed whales and “false” killer whales can often be seen there. You can also view the whales on a rafting expedition. These excursions also leave daily from Lahaina harbor.

The whale may play a little game with you — he will poke his head just above the water’s surface to “scope out the scene.” That kind of behavior is actually called a “spy hop,” meaning it’s his way of showing off (if he feels so inclined). He’ll then leap completely out of the water. If he’s only in the mood to exchange nods, he’ll slap his tail or wave his side fins at you — that’s the humpback whale’s way of saying “Hi!”

Whales communicate underwater through mysterious “songs,” forming a perplexing series of sounds. Most whale-watching charters on Maui have a hydrophone on board, which will enable you to hear and enjoy the complex sounds of these majestic creatures.

Remember that humpback whales are protected by the Marine Mammals Protection Act, and you may come no closer than 100 yards. Even at that distance you will sense the power and beauty of these creatures, and you will come away with memories of a lifetime.

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