Which Hawaiian Beach photo do you like best?

Hawaii Beach Bums Wanted,
At least, their personal opinion about Hawaii beach photos!

When visiting the Hawaiian Islands and asking our Best Hawaii Vacation blog visitors why they prefer Hawaii for their vacation destination and NOT Mexico or California or Phoenix the majority of visitors will tell us, the answer is the Hawaiian Beaches on clear turquoise ocean waters of the Pacific Ocean. There is a never ending discussion going on among Hawaii visitors and residents which one is the best Hawaiian beach. Hawaii Beach photos it is TODAY!

After our most recent post of Best Big Island Beaches Youtube Videos, we decided to stay with the theme and asked our Hawaiian ohana from different Hawaiian Islands for their best Hawaii Beach photos. We received a very unique selection of Hawaii beach photos. We are proud of sharing our friends' Best Hawaii Beach photos'. You will find out very fast that they are very unique, beautiful but each one is very personal and reflecting the photographers relation with the Hawaiian Islands and its beaches.

Best Hawaii Beach Photos Oahu, Maui and Molokai

Special 'Mahalo' goes to Brigitte from 'Be Back Hawaii' who submitted the following Hawaii beach photos of Beaches on Oahu, Maui and Molokai.

Waimanalo Beach Photos Oahu

Napili Bay Beach Photos Maui



Molokai Papahaku Beach Photos

Best Hawaii Beach Photos Big Island Kona

Barbara from 'Kona Ocean View' took these unique photos of Big Island beaches on the Kona side of the Big Island. Enjoy photos with views of Kona Beaches.

Kukio Beach Photo Kona Big Island

Photo of famous Kahaluu Beach in Kona


Another Photo City of Refuge Snorkel Beach

Another photo City of Refuge snorkel beach

Best Hawaii Beach Photos Big Island South Point + Punaluu Beach

Each time Big Island visitors are at awe when they see the Green Sands Beach at South Point and beautiful Black sand beaches on big Island's East Coast. Missie from 'Big Island Cottage' shares some rare and unique photos of Green Sands and Black sands beaches with you.

Best Hawaii Beach Photo Kohala Coast

When taking best Hawaii beach photos on the Kohala Coast, it's mostly Hapuna Beach and Mauna Kea beach photos. Barry Rose from 'Waiaka Homestead' shows a beach photo of Puako's Wailea Bay beach, also called Beach 69 among locals, which is claiming more attention among Kohala Coast Big Island visitors for its unique beauty, privacy and easy access.


Hope you enjoyed those Hawaiian beach photos just as we did. Please, let us know which of our Hawaii beach photos gets your vote as 'My Best Hawaii Beach Photo'. Looking forward to hearing from you. More personal Hawaii Beach photos are welcome. Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations
p.s.
If you are interested to use any of these Hawaii beach photos on your own Hawaii website, please, be aware that these photos are copyright material. So please ask the site owners for permission to use a certain photo from our blog post,and in most cases you will get it when you refer to your Hawaii beach photo owner's site.

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Best Big Island Beaches Youtube Videos

Dear Hawaii visitors who are NOT in Hawaii this winter,
Everybody who is in Hawaii right now or will be there soon, will tell you that the white sand beaches are the best part of their Hawaii vacation. So let's give everybody a taste of the Hawaiian Islands with some great Big Island beach videos, which I found on youtube when preparing this post. Remember pictures or videos speak a thousand words.

Best Big Island Beaches



'Best Big Island Beaches' by Steve are nicely done Hawaii beach videos. The order of beaches wouldn't be my personal choice of Big Island beaches but that's all in the eye of the beholder. Actually, my personal #1 Big Island Beach, Mauna Kea Beach or Kauna'oa Beach, is not even featured in Best Big Island Beaches. My post 'Best Big Island Beach' tells you more about Mauna Kea Beach. You can get nice glimpses of Mauna Kea Beach on Kohala Coast Beaches or watch the following Mauna Kea Beach youtube video.

Views at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel



Looking forward to your comments on YOUR 'Best Big Island Beaches'. Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations
p.s.
By the way, don't be too tough on Steve regards his pronunciation of the Hawaiian beach names. Admittedly, he could have asked some locals to tell him but hey he did a good job with his Best Big Island Beach videos.

Tags: Best Big Island Beaches, Big Island beach youtube videos

Secret Beaches in Hawaii

Beaches, Beaches, Beaches!!! When visiting Hawaii, to locate the closest and best beach seems to be a top priority for any Hawaii visitor whether they spend their vacation on Oahu, Maui, Kaui or the Big Island.

Here is another one of those secret Big Island beaches, which Kona resident and vacation rental owner Bill is sharing with our Best Hawaii Vacation blog visitors today.

"My favorite Big Island beach is probably the best kept secret. It is Honomalino Bay. Most people who live here think Honomalino is on Maui. This lovely black and white sands beach is not that well known. It is a 100 yards or so of beautiful secluded beach backed by loads of coconut trees and it descends to a wonderful swimming and snorkeling beach. A great place to swim with the dolphins.

It is about a 20 minute hike that is marked with lots of “private property” signs but if you stay on the trail you will bypass each and every private area and then it opens up to the most beautiful, breath taking and private spots on the Big Island. There have never been more than a handful of people on this beach making it that much more enjoyable. With a good book and some sun screen I can’t think of a better way to spend a day!


This is how to get to Hanomalino Bay beach: DRIVE to Miloli’i Beach Park, HIKE to Honomalino Bay. Take the winding one lane paved road just south of the 89 mile marker. This is a very local place, and it is a courtesy to leave it to the locals on weekends and holidays. Park and take the trail heading south along the waterfront, through the tide pools. Ignore the “private” signs, access to the trail is public. You’ll regain the trail at the back of the sand and palm trees at the south end of Miloli’i. This beach is public also, but not too appealing with the “keep out” signs. You will have a 20 minute walk south to a beautiful and secluded black and white sand beach. Swimming is good when calm. Carry food and water. There are a few homes here, accessed by this trail or a torturous 4 wheel drive private road."

Much mahalo again, Bill, for joining our guest author list. Please everybody, share your favorite Hawaii beach for any of the Hawaiian Islands with our blog visitors. They appreciate your vacation ideas. Guest posts by Hawaii visitors or residents about your favorite Hawaii beach are most welcome. Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

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Big Island Secret Beach

After our fun interview with the guys from Beat of Hawaii and some great recommendations for your Kauai vacation, it's Big Island lovers turn again. Welcome back to Joanne Sala from California who joined our Best Hawaii Vacation articles with another wonderful story of her visit to Kiholo Bay when on Big Island vacation. In case, you missed her entertaining Big Island horseback riding adventure in Waipio Valley, it's not too late. It's a fun post. Great photos of Waipio Valley too! Well, let's get things started with Joanne's

Off the beaten Path - The Big Island's Kiholo Bay

"The Big Island has wonderfully uncrowded beaches compared to Oahu and Maui, but if you really want to be guaranteed absolute solitude on Hawaii’s killer Kohala Coast, I adore Kiholo Bay. Once part of a Hawaiian fishpond built by King Kamehameha in 1820, the brilliant turquoise waters of the bay are an unusual mixture of salt and fresh water. Be warned: green sea turtles are everywhere. You can look, but don’t touch!

The 30-minute walk to the beach off of Highway 19 at mile marker 81 (no public facilities either), practically guarantees you’ll have this gorgeous piece of paradise to yourself. The first time we visited we got sunburned on the hike down, so wear protective sun gear and tennis shoes—not flip flops—for this adventure. The walk takes every bit of a long, hot 30 minutes and is slow-going, especially when you’re carrying water, snacks and beach accoutrements on your back. Once you reach the bay, you’ll be overwhelmed by its beauty. You’ll also have a little more walking to do over coarse black sand and lava rocks.

At the northern end of Kiholo Bay you’ll find the famous fish pond, which is basically a shallow, partially walled five-acre lagoon that lies next to a sand spit approximately a quarter mile long. We waded across the water, waist-deep, to the sand spit where there are a few palm trees to provide shade, and of course, a gorgeous swath of soft white sand for settling in for a picnic or short siesta. Swimming along the pond’s enclosed walls is a delight, especially when the turtles are out for a romp. We used our snorkel gear, but it was challenging as the water is slightly murky (and cold)! due to the mixture of fresh and saltwater.

The second time we visited to the bay, the tide was too high to reach the sand spit, so we hiked north along the bay’s maze of black lava fields and found some large flat rocks at the ocean’s edge on which to sun ourselves. We kept cool by jumping into the ocean and swimming near the shoreline, ever alert for those beautiful prehistoric creatures.

I recommend consulting the latest copy of "Hawaii Revealed" before going to Kiholo. This thorough and well-researched guidebook to the island provides extremely accurate directions on how to find the footpath from the highway to the beach and gives an interesting overview of the fish pond’s history and information on how to get to nearby Queen’s Bath."

Once again a great Big Island story, Joanne. Lot's of mahalos. We are certain that all those who were not lucky yet watching the green sea turtles in Hawaii will pack the backpacks and head out for Kiholo Bay.

We love your Hawaii stories, Joanne. Hope more will come our way for publishing on Best Hawaii Vacation blog. As everybody knows 'Word-of-mouth' is the best advertising. So, all those Hawaii lovers who have a great Hawaii story to share, please, contact us. Sorry no advertising but we will publish your Hawaii article with a short bio and link to your blog or website URL and include you in our Hawaii Blog Authors category. Short stories are accepted too. Hawaii photos are most welcome! Share your Hawaiian story with our blog visitors and Hawaii lovers.
Much mahalo, Pua Hawaii Vacations
p.s
Kiholo Bay is on the sunny West Coast, Kona Kohala Coast, of Hawaii Big Island. See our Big Island map.

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Best Beach Big Island

After visiting Maui for best beaches for surfing and windsurfing in recent blog posts, it's time to catch up with famous Mauna Kea beach on Hawaii Big Island, which has its well-deserved reputation as the Big Island's best beach. It's definitely our favorite Big Island beach! Can you imagine that Mauna Kea and Hapuna beach have both been ranked among the best beaches in the world by Conde Nast Magazine? That's proof by itself.

Why do we love Mauna Kea beach so much? The beach is a nice half a mile stretch of beautiful white sand shaped in a crescent bay, witch each side extending coral reefs into the ocean perfect for amateur snorkelers. Best time for snorkeling the clearest turquoise waters are the early morning hours before bigger waves roll in and make the water murky. Most visitors take advantage for easy beach walks and strolls along the water's edge. The afterwards swim feels like a heavenly reward.

OK we promised our Best Hawaii Vacation blog visitors an update on Mauna Kea Beach. Here it is. Mauna Kea Beach hotel is still under major construction and remodeling, which naturally comes with some noises. However, since the beach is stretching from the hotel south for a good distance, you can totally get away from it. Currently, parking is not at the former beach parking by the golf shop but at the regular hotel parking.

When you come to the entrance of Mauna Kea Beach hotel, you just ask for your beach pass, which is free. The hotel gives out 30 beach passes a day according to the available parking spaces. We watched that at low season months like April and May, passes are available all over the day. As in the past, some visitors and locals don't want to 'go through the hassle' to ask for a beach pass and prefer the easy access at public Hapuna Beach State Park. But as there are only a few hotel guests from Hapuna Beach hotel who take the shuttle to Mauna Kea beach, this most wonderful beach is all yours! At least till Mauna Kea Beach hotel will reopen in December 2008.

Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and the totally remodeled Mauna Kea golf course - old sprinkler system was deteriated and grass was not resistant enough to constant ocean spray - are expected to open for business December 20, 2008. We heard, not from an official source, that the hotel is already booked out for one year in advance. To be honest I don't doubt it. When you once fell in love with Mauna Kea beach, there is no other Big Island beach which can compare.

But who knows?! What doe you think which Big Island beach is the best beach? We'd love to hear from Big Island beach lovers. Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

p.s.

Locate Big Island beaches on our Big Island map.

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Biggest Waves in Hawaii

Aloha Hawaii lovers,
Let's get right into our Hawaii Monday Photo of the week by well-known Hawaii photographer's Jennifer Crites. Hope we can attract your attention with this big shot of a huge wave on Oahu's North Shore surfer's paradise. Facing a wave of that size is even for pro Hawaiian surfers a challenge. Having watched Hawaiian surfers on the Big Island during the winter months for many years, each time time I was mesmerized. Big Island surf does not really have the pipelines like North Shore of Oahu. So, each time when I saw a surfer crushed by the big wave at the end of the ride, I seriously doubted he'd come ever up again. Big relief when he did!

Here is what Jennifer, who also a popular Hawaii travel writer, has to say about this photo: "Showing one of the amazing shore-break waves at Waimea Bay during winter's high surf, when all the surf contests are held on the North Shore. Every year, top surfers hope the waves at Waimea will be big enough (must be at least 20-foot waves) and rideable enough to hold the Eddie Aikau Big-Wave surf contest.

It hasn't happened for awhile. I'm not sure when the last one was. The waves have been almost big enough but not quite, but if the wave size cooperates, the contest will be on with perhaps only hours notice to competitors. Eddie Aikau was an expert big-wave surfer, lifeguard at Waimea Bay, and crew member aboard an early voyage of the famous Polynesian Voyaging Canoe Hokule'a. When the canoe ran into trouble and capsized, Eddie paddled off on his surfboard to get help. The crew was rescued, but Eddie was never found. We honor Eddie with this giant of a surf contest because he risked his life for his crew members. We say in Hawaii, "Eddie Would Go," meaning he wouldn't hesitate to face danger to protect those he cared about."

Honolulu star bulletin wrote a great article about Eddie Aikau 'Twenty years ago this month, big-wave surfer and lifeguardEddie Aikau lost his life in a brave effort to save crew members of the capsized Hokule'a.' Here is more about the Big Wave on North Shore, also showing interested surfers or visitors the current height of North Shore Oahu waves! Check it out.

Well, next to the question 'Where are the best beaches in Hawaii?', another favorite question is - of course, especially asked by passionate surfers 'When is the time for the high waves in Hawaii?'. The time is here and now. The winter months are the months for the biggest waves and often most dangerous surf. It's very interesting for Hawaii residents to see how small beaches suddenly totally disappear like they have never been there. But believe me they all will be coming back into existence when the winter surf calms down in spring. Even the big popular beaches change their appearance during high and rough winter surf - the sandy part gets much narrower and tide pools and big rocks, normally out on the sand, will disappear. To cut a long story short, winter surf is different.

Here are 5 best ocean safety tips for your Hawaii vacation during winter months:

1. Biggest rule: Pay respect to the ocean!
2. Make sure to go to a beach with a lifeguard. Look for a calm beach when traveling with kids.
3. Don't stand on rocks which can be reached by water because of the risk of a sudden wave.
4. Never turn your back to the ocean and always follow Ocean Safety signs.
5. If signs are up for jelly fish Portuguese man-of-war, don't ignore them.

Have fun, but don't take chances. With that being said, enjoy this youtube video Pipeline, North Shore, Oahu, from February 2007. As usual, we'd love to hear from you about your encounters with big waves in Hawaii. Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

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Visit Hanauma Bay Beach on your Oahu Vacation

It's Monday but this is a special Monday. Today, we start our new exciting blog project of introducing Hawaii to our Best Hawaii Vacation blog visitors with a 'Hawaii photo of the week'. So get ready for seeing many more beautiful Hawaii photos taken by renowned Hawaii stock photographer Jennifer Crites.

Get to know Hawaii, the number # vacation destination (read our Thanksgiving in Hawaii post), through spectacular, fascinating photos of the unique Hawaii scenery of tropical waterfalls and beaches, lush green rain forests and rare tropical flowers, snow-capped mountains or the hot lava flow of a live volcano and all the other powerful images of Hawaii. Here is our first Hawaii photo of the week. This photo was cover photo of Hawaii Magazine in in December 2006:

Who has not heard of Hanauma Bay when visiting Oahu on vacation? This large curved bay attracts many Oahu visitors each year. Hanauma Bay is well protected from huge ocean waves, which allows snorkelers and divers to watch marine and coral reef life under safe conditions. The beach is also perfect for sunbathing, relaxing and picnicing. There are even hiking trails which lead to great lookouts from where you can have breathtaking views.

Hanauma Bay was declared a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park in 1967, in order to protect and preserve the Bay and its spectatucal natural resources. This is why Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is not just the regular beach one of the most spectacular natural resources in Hawaii. With the measuments taken by the State of Hawaii, Hanauma Bay has become the first Marine Life Conservation District in the State.

So, when visiting Hanauma Beach, be aware, that there are certain rules to maintain this Marine Life Conservation Area like: no pets allowed; no alcoholic beverages; no fishing or feeding the fish; do not remove, harass, or harm any marine life. We recommend to visit Hawaii Web for more detailed information, fees, opening hours for your beach visit to Hanauma Bay.
Directions to Hanauma Bay Beach:

Take Kalaniana'ole Highway east from Waikiki for approximately 10 miles. Entrance to the preserve is on the right.

Enjoy Hanauma Bay beach on your Oahu vacation in Hawaii. Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

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5 Best Things to Do in Hawaii on Hawaii Vacation

Blog post is sponsored by Hawaii Ironman Kona Rentals

Aloha Best Hawaii Vacation visitors,
From our blog posts and About us you know by now that we, Keoki and Pua, are in love with Hawaii, the islands and its people. For so many people, having a Hawaii vacation is just a dream like dreaming of winning the lottery. The ones who can return year after year to their favorite Hawaii oceanfront hotel are the more privileged.

For the majority of Hawaii visitors, their Hawaii vacation is a-once-in-a-lifetime dream come true. That's the people we are here for, telling them about favorite things to do in Hawaii and everything else about Hawaii which makes their trip to Hawaii their Best Hawaii Vacation. So all of you lucky ones, please, join our efforts.

Today, we made a list of '5 Best Things to do in Hawaii'. You can approve or turn them around or choose some other ones. To make it easy on your voting. Tell us and our blog readers what you think is 'The Best Thing To Do On Your Hawaii Vacation'. We will show you some link love and include your Vote with Link to your Blog or Site right here in this post '5 Best Things to Do On Your Hawaii Vacation'

We hope to hear from many Hawaii visitors, not just Hawaii business owners, what activity they like or liked best on their Hawaii vacation. We are well aware that this list varies from island to island. So, please, when voting, let us know on which Hawaiian island you stayed or are planning to stay.

5 Best Things to Do on your Hawaii Vacation

1. Sunbathing on a white sand beach & Swimming in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.

2. Snorkeling or scuba diving to see the Hawaiian Sea Life & tropical fish. Whale Watching.

3. Helicopter flight over the Hawaiian islands.

4. Attending a Hawaiian luai with Polynesian Show

5. Getting a Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage or Swedish or Shiatsu, main thing...get rubbed.

What do you think? Mahalo and aloha, Pua Kohala Coast Vacation Guide
p.s.
Thanks to WahineStyle.com for our today's blog post girl Vanessa.

To our blogger fellows: Don't forget to submit your post to our first Hawaii Blog Carnival about 'Best Hawaii Vacation Hot Picks'. Everything goes from a Hawaii luau you attended, a snorkel cruise you took on the islands, whale watch photo, some adventurous heliopter ride over remote Hawaii valleys or just any other Hawaii vacation story!

If you like our blog, please, use the "Subscribe to our Feed" or "Subscribe By Email" in the top of side bar. Mahalo!

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How safe are Hawaii Beaches - A Life or Death Story

Aloha to all our Best Hawaii Vacations blog readers. We were so happy about all the great responses on our recent post about 5 Hawaii myths. We really received some great suggestions for Hawaii myth #5. When we had a closer look at all the good suggestions, we decided Sheila's suggestion is definitely one of special interest for anybody who visits Hawaii, no matter on what Hawaiian island they stay.

Here is what Sheila said "I would say that most people assume that all the beautiful beaches are completely safe. Some beaches have dangerous currents, but people just hop in the water without checking for any safety concerns. They ignore beach safety signs and then get in trouble. I like to encourage people to check the official beach safety website.

This is to all Hawaii visitors from Pua: You don't want to have to learn this through your own lesson. Here is one scary story, no legend, no myth but real, scary real!

It was on one of those gorgeous blue sky winter days with extremely high surf on all the west shores of Hawaii Big Island. Huge rollers coming in with close to shore breaking. We were tennis club members at 'The Ritz Carlton', nowadays Orchid Fairmont at Mauna Lani at Mauna Lani Beach Resort. It was a wonderful place to play tennis and enjoy the nice crescent white sand beach afterwards! So that's what we did on this Sunday morning. Keoki settled in a beach chair and I went for swimming laps in the small lagoon. No big waves coming in there, just the tide moving in and out! Believe me I would never have never gone in otherwise. Even young children were still playing in the waters...

The Mauna Lani Ritz Carlton had beach attendants but no lifeguards. There were warning signs everywhere that the beach has 'No lifeguard on duty'. One can't blame them. When you see that lagoon beach, you'd never think it could do harm to anybody. It seems the most extremely safe Hawaiian beach. Again, the crescent lagoon beach has shallow waters which gradually gets deeper. The lagoon is protected by big lava rocks on both sides and in the middle before it opens to the ocean.

Remember my words 'just the tide moving in and out'. Well, here is what happened. The waves outside the protected lagoon grew bigger and bigger by the minute, which must have generated a terrible riptide. When I was on my 7th or 8th lap across the lagoon side to side, the riptide picked me up like a piece of nothing and pulled me at extreme speed in the direction of the open ocean.

I had no chance against that force and the lesson lifeguards always taught me not to resist the tide but allow yourself being pulled out till the riptide loses power, would not have worked this time. The huge waves would have crushed me in no time. What saved me, you ask, as I am obviously still walking on this planet...there were big iron chains hanging between the lava rocks on the sides and the middle one, I have no clue whatsoever what they were for but they saved my life!

In the second before being pulled out into the open ocean, I grabbed the chain and was clinging on for pure life against the power of the tide. I had to hold on to the chain with all my force...my whole body stretched in one big horizontal pull. When the riptide weakened, I took all my courage and leftover strength (not much left then!) to swim out of the danger zone before the next wave set would start.

I was one shaking person, heart pumping, hands trembling, legs wobbling but...alive!!! Keoki had not noticed. He had read his magzine all the time I had literally struggled for my life. He had a hard time to understand my aggitation and the impact what had happened. One beach attendant friend had seen me and said 'This was close!" but i doubt that he really knew how close it had been.

So, show big respect to the ocean waves and its powers. Ocean conditions can change in seconds, when even lifeguards cannot help anymore. Don't try to prove to yourself or others, how strong and brave you are. Hawaiian winter waves with undercurrents, riptides and close-to-shore breaking waves are stronger than you. Better be safe than sorry. Aloha, Pua Kohala Coast Vacation Guide

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5 Myths about Hawaii

Getting ready for your first Hawaii Vacation? Well, when you think of Hawaii, you probably remember some things other people told you about Hawaii and their Hawaii vacation. There are certain myths about places and people, which are mostly legendary stories but they are actually not true. Anyhow, Hawaii is a good one for myths. Here is what we, Keoki and Pua from Best Hawaii Vacations, came up with after having lived for many years in Hawaii:

Hawaii myth number 1:

Hawaii is white sand beaches and swaying palm trees

Remember 'Mutiny on the Bounty' with Marlon Brando and all the beautiful Hawaiian (or was it Tahitian girls), white sand beaches, fresh tropical fruits and hula all day long. To tell you the truth, that was my image of Hawaii. Can you imagine my shock when I landed at Kona International Airport in the middle of old lava fields? Later, when getting to know all the Hawaiian Islands better, I found out that the beaches and the palm trees are not everywhere (they are just a small part of the islands), that beaches are not always white (Big Island has probably a larger number of black sand beaches created from lava), that there is lots of upcountry ranchland on Maui or the Big Island, that there are rough areas where you have hardly any access to (see Napali Coast on Kauai). Well, be prepared, Hawaii is much more than white sand beaches and palm trees (actually a lot of those were planted with resort construction!).

Hawaii myth number 2:

Hawaii weather is always sunny and nice

OK we admit it. Hawaii is blessed with some of the nicest climates and weather around the world. But guess what, not each part of the Hawaiian Islands is pure sunshine all year round. A general rule of thumb is - east coasts are more wet and rainy and west coasts are more dry and sunny! And don't forget the elevation. It can be quite cold at upcountry areas. So bring your sweater and be prepared to close the roof of your convertible, which you rented under the misconception, that it will be warm and sunny everywhere. A sudden, unexpected downpour when touring Hawaii countryside is not that rare. Especially winter months can bring a rain storm in with flash floods, which can be pretty dangerous. Scary stuff !!!! Watch the weather news and switch your radio on when riding down the Hwy! By the way, in most cases, winter storms hit all the Hawaiian islands starting on Kauai and coming its way 'down' to the Big Island, which is sometimes lucky, as the storm might have lost its power by then.

Here we go with the most often asked question: "When is the best month to visit Hawaii for my best Hawaii vacation"? Believe me, it's not just the most asked but the hardest to answer. When potential guests at our Hawaii vacation rentals asked us, we mostly said something like: "It's nice all year around but we cannot make any prediction or guarantees for the best Hawaii weather at any time of the year." Read GoHawaii Travel Planner article on When to visit Hawaii

Hawaii myth number 3:

Flipflops are cheap and good for your feet

First thing I did when I arrived in Hawaii in summer 1991 was buying flipflops. Everybody was wearing flipflops, from Hawaiian dudes, to white tourists and residents. It seemed the best way to cope with the heat plus comfortable and casual. But that feeling did not last long. Soon I experienced leg pain and cramps in the foot which I first could not pinpoint where it came from. Did not take me long to find the cause. Getting some more expensive sandals, with arch support and straps to hold the sandel on the foot, immediately 'healed' my unexplained symptoms. Later on as a licensed massage therapist, I was able to 'heal' other Hawaii visitors from their new Hawaii pains. I call it the 'flipflop' syndrome. So rather spend some money on some more supporting sandals for walking at the resort. If the sand is not too hot, just walk bare foot on the beach in Hawaii.

Hawaii myth number 4:

Taking a lava rock from the islands brings bad luck

With so many years having run our Hawaii vacation rentals, it was not rare that vistors would come back from the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with all kinds of lava rocks. They had never heard about the myth that taking alava rock from islands will haunt you and bring you bad luck because Pele, the Goddess of the Volcano got mad at you. It is a known fact that vacationers who took lava rocks home against better advice, were haunted by bad luck until they returned the rocks to Hawaii. That's why we would always share the myth or legend with our visitors, as we felt it's their own decision. Myth or superstition, who knows? What do you think?

Hawaii myth number 5:

What do you think is a Hawaii myth 5?????

1st Suggestion from Personal Development for Book Smart
Hawaii Myth 5 would be "There are only hot babes and hunks in Hawaii"

2nd Suggestion from Sheila from 'Go Visit Hawaii' Blog
Hawaii Myth 5 would be "Most people assume that all the beautiful beaches are completely safe. Some beaches have dangerous currents, but people just hop in the water without checking for any safety concerns. They ignore beach safety signs and then get in trouble. I like to encourage people to check the official beach safety website"

3rd Suggestion from Da Kine Hawaiian Aloha
Hawaii Myth 5 would be "You may or may not know this, but did you know that what we refer to as the 6 Hawaiian Islands comprise a total of 137 Hawaiian Islands"

4th Suggestion from Ideal Hawaii Vacation
Hawaii Myth 5 would be "Hawaii is Too Expensive for a Vacation."
"Over the years we have heard many people make the comment that Hawaii is too expensive. We have been going to Maui for the last 20+ years and so think we have the authority to dispel such a myth. Yes if you stay in an expensive resort you will probably pay $350 or more per night, so that is expensive. However if you stay in a vacation rental that you rent from an owner, you can find some very affordable Hawaii accommodations. If you choose to eat every meal in a restaurant, yes, Hawaii, just like my home town in Penticton British Columbia, is expensive. However if you rent from an owner and cook your own meals it is the same as anywhere else."

Find more about this myth in comments below. This is a great comment how you can save on you vacation in Hawaii and still have your best Hawaii vacation.

5th Suggestion from Hawaii VacationGifts
Hawaii Myths 5 would be "If you live in Hawaii you can wake up and pick papayas for breakfast and catch your own fish for dinner. (People actually told me this when I went to school in California in the early nineties!)"

5th Suggestion is from Blogatech (ever need any help for your blogger blog, go visit Stratman)Hawaii Myth 5 would be"I've always heard that in the islands marijuana plants grow to the size of palm trees and their seeds are the size of coconuts :)"
Well, what do people say when they get addressed with a question or statement, they don't want to deal with: "No comment!"

To all those who believed in the Hawaii myth of catching a fresh fish for dinner, don't rely on that. Even those charter boats which take you out for deep sea fishing in Hawaii, can come home without the big fish!

Make a suggestion for Hawaii myth number 5. What do you think is a good myth about Hawaii? Share it today and leave a comment. Sign in with 'Other' for your name + your URL. We will add all your suggestions right here.

We are very excited to hear from Hawaii residents and Hawaii visitors. Mahalo and aloha, Pua
Kohala Coast Vacation Guide

This post is open and will be continued with your suggestions. Please, bookmark.

Tags: 5 myths about hawaii, best hawaii vacation tips

Kohala Coast Vacation Plan

This blog post is sponsored by Hawaii Affordable Vacation Rentals

Kohala Coast Vacation Plan - Ideas for your Stay

Aloha Kohala Coast lovers. Today we are back with some great ideas for everybody's first visit on the Kohala Coast, after we had some detailed Kohala Coast golf information last time. we recommend at least a weekly stay using your Kohala Coast vacation rental or your Kohala Coast vacation home as your 'base camp'. The Kohala Coast is centrally located for exploring not only South and North Kohala Coast areas but the Hilo and Kona areas as well. Staying at one place eliminates having to pack and unpack plus saves you the hassle of several check-in and check-out procedures. After a day of Big Island adventures, you are always coming 'home' and can relax and feel comfortable in your familiar surroundings at your Kohala Coast vacation rental or even take the short drive to one of the white sand Kohala Coast beaches for a refreshing dip in the ocean at sunset.

When planning your vacation on the Hawaiian Islands rather focus on two islands and come back later for another visit. We feel especially sorry for those Big Island visitors who planned three nights for the entire Big Island 'chasing' over this beautiful island not taking the moment or having the time to relax and inhale its natural beauty.

Here are some basic ideas for a 7-day vacation plan for your stay at a vacation rental, vacation home or vacation condo on the Kohala Coast:

1st Vacation Day

After arrival, drive to Hapuna or Mauna Kea beach or A-Bay at Waokoloa Beach Resort or just access the ocean from your Puako vacation rental in order to take a first dip in the ocean. Shop at a local market in Waimea or Waikoloa Village (open till 10pm), have a casual dinner at one of our convenient affordable restaurants (see our Restaurant Guide). Sit on your lanai, take a couple of deep breaths, melt away your tension (may get a little help with a glass of wine) allowing you to enjoy our island atmosphere.

2nd Vacation Day

Take Hwy 270 to Hawi, 3000ft.elevation overlooking Kohala and Kona Coast. Drive through Hawi to the end of the highway to Pololu Valley Lookout. Hike 30 minutes down to the most beautiful & peaceful empty black sand beach and...exhale! Come back through Hawi, King Kamehameha's birthplace, have lunch at Bamboo restaurant, drive along the Kohala Coast Hwy and visit various Heiaus and National Recreation Parks. Finish the day at Hapuna or Spencer Beach or do something 'touristy' like stopping at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Inhale the Hawaiian flair while sitting at the Terrace listening to the island music, watching the Hula dancer (6 - 7p.m.), checking out the gorgeous sunset for a spectacular 'green flash' and taste the original Mai Tai.

3rd Day

Get up early for a day trip to Volcanoes National Park. Take Hwy 19 via Waimea and Hilo. For most guests of the Kohala Coast vacation rentals, it's advisable to return the same way as the hwy south of Kona is very windy and mostly has 25 mile speed limit. Don't stop at attractions on your way to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, as you will need all your hours for exploring the park and making it to the lava flow. Best at night! Take lots of water, cooler with food and flash lights. Be prepared for all weather conditions. Could be cooler and rainy in Volcano. For spending a night in Volcano, check for accommodations close to Volcanoes National Park here.

4th Day

Snorkel day at Mauna Lani Beach Club. Drive to Mauna Lani Bay Hotel. If it's Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, catch the 'fish tour' at 10:30a.m. It's fun for the whole family. After the fish tour, walk left, facing the ocean, passing Eva Parker cottage and ancient Hawaiian fish ponds till you arrive after about a 10min walk at the.most beautiful, protected white sand snorkel beach lagoon. After a couple of hours of snorkeling (coral reefs are close to shore and one will find an abundance of fish, turtles and even Eagle Rays, if lucky!) and sunbathing, have lunch right there at the ocean front restaurant or drive to the next resort, Waikoloa Beach Resort and have lunch at the Hang Ten Restaurant at the dolphin lagoon. Take a ride on the boat or train, look at artifacts, have dinner at home or at one of the restaurants in Kawaihae. After dinner drive to Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and visit their Manta Ray Lookout. Enjoy the graceful ballet of Manta Rays when eating their 'dinner' of plankton at dark.

5th Vacation Day

Start early for spectacular White Rd. Hike (8a.m.) into the hills overlooking the back of Waipio Valley with waterfalls and ocean views. Moderate hike, also for children, 2 hr round trip. After your hike, drive further east on Hwy 19 to Honokaa town on the Hamakua Coast and visit famous Waipio Lookout. Lots of adventure awaits you in the valley, only 4x4 access, though you can take guided valley tours. Since you already made your way to the Hamakua Coast, why not continue to Akaka Waterfalls, another 30min drive east and walk the scenic tropical rain forest enjoying the green 'jungly' side. If you still have enough energy, check our Hilo Botanical Gardens, just 10 minutes down the road.

6th Vacation Day

Majestic Mauna Kea mountain is still waiting for your visit. When you stay at a vacation rental home or condo close to Puako, Hapuna Beach or Mauna Kea Beach, you are at a convenient location for accessing Mauna Kea summit. Car rental companies now allow driving on Saddle Rd and access rd. to Mauna Kea Visitors Center, both paved. Harpers car rental is the only car rental company which allows 4x4 to legally ascend the summit from the Visitors Center (summit rd. is narrow and not paved!). When deciding for a visit to Mauna Kea, please, pay attention to weather conditions, esp. during the winter months..Blizzards are not uncommon and can endanger your life. No worries! The Hawaiian news channels 8 - 12 will always keep updated on Big Island weather and surf conditions so you can safely enjoy your vacations with us.
If you are elderly or your health does not allow you to visit Mauna Kea summit (14,000ft.), why not explore the tourist areas of Kona...Painted Church, visit a Kona coffee farm and Alii drive and do some Hawaiian gift shopping!

7th Vacation Day

Pack your luggage the night before. Leave bathing suits in the carry-on so you enjoy a few more hours on one of our best Kohala Coast beaches before heading to the airport. As you probably noticed, even a 7-night stay is too short of a period to cover the Kohala Coast, not to mention the entire island. South Point, Kealakekua Bay with Captain Cook Monument, City of Refuge south of Kona, Hilo town with farmers market, Kapoho tide pools etc. got skipped in our Big Island vacation 'itinerary'. Don't miss out on Kohala Coast ocean acitivities (sorry, also not included in the vacation plan), just a short minute drive from any of the Kohala Coast vacation rentals & Kohala Coast vacation homes. They offer an experience of a lifetime!

Of course, your personal Kohala Coast vacation plan will depend on your preferences for activities, Big Island places to see and to go and your overall target for your Hawaii vacation...relaxing beach vacation, exploring island attractions, spending healing vacations, experiencing the abundance of Pacific Ocean life in a scuba or snorkel vacation or spending your romantic Kohala Coast honeymoon or a Hawaii family reunion and more. In any case, we hope our Kohala Coast vacation guide and this Kohala Coast vacation plan will provide you with a good ideas for your stay on the Kohala Coast Of Hawaii Big Island.

Please, bookmark this Best Hawaii Vacation Blog and come back often. We also love to hear from you with your comments or questions. Just push the comment button. It's that easy!

Aloha till next time, Pua.

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Kohala Coast Activities in Hawaii

Kohala Coast Activities in Hawaii

Let's pick up where we left you with our last post about the best Kohala Coast beaches. Who wants to just lie on the beach, especially on the Big Island?! So, what is there to do on the Kohala Coast? Believe me there are no limits to your Kohala Coast activities in Hawaii. Within short driving distances of your vacation home or hotel on the Kohala Coast, you can play golf at 9 championship courses, play tennis, go horseback riding, take a hike into spectacular valleys, explore the Pacific waters snorkeling & meeting tropical fish, rays, dolphins and turtles, go deep sea fishing or scuba diving or go boogie boarding…the Kohala Coast has something for everybody! Our frequently updated page about Kohala Coast events tells our vistors all about ongoing events from Farmer's markets to Hawaiian music and what's going on during the present month.

Kings's Shops at Waikoloa Beach Resort

The Kings' Shops are located in Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Kohala Coast of Hawaii's Big Island. This 75,000 square foot dining, shopping and entertainment complex offers a variety of unique local shops and great restaurants. See Kings Shops calendar for their daily hula performances, ukulele lessons, hula lessons, Hawaiian legends and story telling and John Keawe Slackkey guitar playing at 6pm for Kohala Coast visitors. It's all free and lots of fun. The King's Shops are in close vicinity for vistors at all Kohala Coast Resorts, Kohala Coast vacation homes & Kohala Coast vacation condos (See Kohala Coast map). Your kids will love to swim with dolphins at the Hilton Waikoloa at Waikoloa Beach Resort with Dolphin Quest It is very educational and great fun to visit for the whole family!

Hawaii Big Island Activities

While staying on the Kohala Coast on Hawaii Big Island, don't just hang out on the beaches, but venture to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to see a live volcano, tour Mauna Kea Summit for some spectacular star gazing or visit Kona for the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon in October, the ultimate endurance challenge for athletes from around the world. Of all the Hawaiian Islands, Big Island is the Island of Superlatives!

Helicopter flights over an active volcano and remote valleys of the Big Island are offered by a number of helicopter companies. A major Hawaiian helicopter starting and landing place is within a short driving distance of all the major Kohala Coast resorts and Kohala Coast vacation homes & condos, like Waikoloa Beach Resort, Mauna Lani Resort and Mauna Kea Beach Resort.

We will continue to fill you in on all those mentioned Big Island adventure activities. Stay tuned till next time!

Mahalo and aloha, Pua Kohala Coast Vacation Guide

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Tags: Kohala Coast, Hawaii, Best

Kohala Coast Beaches

Where are the beaches?

Aloha again everybody. Since you know from our previous post where to stay on the Kohala Coast, we want to answer the most asked question by Kohala Coast visitors is 'Where are the beaches?'. Depending on your preferences, you can choose from: Spencer Beach Park (perfect for families with small children) and Kauna’oa (Mauna Kea Beach w/public part - never crowded and separate from hotel part, so you don't need to mingle with the hotel crowd) and Hapuna Beach State Park. All three beaches feature shower and restroom facilities. Mauna Kea and Hapuna beach have both been ranked among the best beaches in the world by Conde Nast Magazine. Other great options are Wailea Bay in Puako or Anaeho’omalu Beach (called 'A Bay' by the locals) in Waikoloa Beach Resort. Just to name the most well-known and most gorgeous white sand beaches in our area on the Kohala Coast. Locate beaches on our Kohala Coast map.

Mauna Kea Beach

Kauna'oa Beach (Mauna Kea beach), 2 miles south from Kawaihae Harbor & Marina, also known as Mauna Kea beach has been voted one of the the top beaches world wide by Conde Nesta magazine. Located on the property of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, beach access is by way of a beach pass obtained at the entrance. Get there early to assured of a pass, otherwise hop on over to Hapuna Beach Park next door.

Mauna Kea beach is a quarter mile crescent of white sand offering swimming, snorkeling, boogie-boarding and surfing depending on the conditions. Food and drink are available at the Hau Tree Cafe on the beach (not inexpensive). Better you bring your cooler if staying very long. Outdoor showers and bathrooms on the public beach at the south end are maintained by the hotel. Don't forget your sunscreen. Enjoy!

Hapuna Beach Park

Hapuna Beach Park, 3 miles south of Kawaihae Harbor & Marina, Hapuna Beach State Park is located 2 miles south of Kawaihae Harbor & Marina. Hapuna offers one of the best white sand beaches on the island, the other being Mauna Kea beach. Beach activities such as swimming, snorkeling, boogie-boarding and surfing are available year around, though dangerous rip tides can appear during periods of high surf.

Sunbathing and picnicking are available year around due to the abundance of sunshine and warm temperatures, almost 360 days a year. Restrooms and outdoor showers are available. Picnic areas with BBQ pits make for a relaxing day on the beach. If you forgot food, a snack bar offers various basic food fare and drinks.

Spencer Beach Park

Spencer Beach Park, next to Kawaihae Village Harbor and Marina. As this beach is very protected from big ocean waves even in winter, it's the favorite beach for families with small children. Spencer Beach is also preferred by local residents for BBQs and family reunions as it kept the old Hawaiian style atmopshere. Camping permits are available for this beach. The Heiau next to Spencer Beach Park also attracts Kohala Coast visitors who are interested in Hawaii's history and culture.

Puako Beaches

Puako Beach 69 or Wailea Bay Puako Beach 69 (named after electric pole 69!) or also known as Wailea Bay is a more secluded beach well know by residents or return visitors to Puako, a tiny oceanfront village, next to famous Hapuna Beach. The south end of the beach is perfect for snorkeling and encounters with the green sea turtles and occasional Manta Rays or Eagle Rays. In addition to Wailea Bay, Puako offers many more beach access along Puako Drive. As Puako is the dry side of the island and gets less than 11" of rain per year, oceanfront Puako has developed into one of the most desired area for Kohala Coast visitors.

Mauna Lani Beach

Mauna Lani Beach Club is one of Mauna Lani Resort's nicest white sand beaches. All Mauna Lani condo visitors, like the Islands, Mauna Lani Point and Mauna Lani Terrace, have access to this beach from the road through their access card. However, as each beach in Hawaii is public, other Kohala Coast visitors can access this lovely beach by parking at public parking of Mauna Lani Bay and walk left past Mauna Lani Fish Ponds. It's an easy 10-minute walk. The beach is a crescent white sand lagoon with calm waters and a huge array of tropical fish, turtles and rays. Ocean activities like Scuba and Snorkeling are offered. Restrooms, outdoor showers and an ocean front restaurant make this beach a hidden gem on the Kohala Coast.

A-Bay Beach

Anaeho'omalu Bay in Waikoloa Beach Resort, also known as A-Bay, is one of South Kohala’s treasures. In the summer months this long curving sandy beach is great for swimming and snorkeling. Nestled on beautiful Anaeho'omalu Bay is Hawaii Ocean Sports which offers snorkeling, kayaking, diving, whale watching, sailing on a catamaran or relaxing on the beach. It's fun for the entire family.

There are many more beaches along the Kohala Coast. Talk to locals and return visitors for smaller, hidden beaches. Believe me there is a beach for everybody's taste! A hui hou. Aloha, Pua Kohala Coast Vacation Guide

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Tags: Hawaii, Big Island, Kohala Coast, Puako, Best Hawaii beaches