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Free entrance to U.S. National Parks

Hot lava flows across the road on Hawaii
Originally uploaded by Picture Perfect Vacations

Great news. For those travelers looking for less expensive vacation options this year, the National Park Service has decided to waive its' entrance fees at 147 National Parks. Volcanoes National Park, is just one of three, that are located in the Hawaiian islands. Travelers can take advantage of the free-fee weekends at three different times this summer...June 20 - 21, July 18-19, and August 15-16. For more information, click here.

Honolulu extras - Making your stay more valuable

 

  

I just finished up an on-line webinar this morning on Aqua Hotel and Resorts. This hotel chain appeals to travelers of all budgets, but it looks like they are offering a lot more than just good, clean accommodations. Among their 12 hotels in Waikiki, they offer guests several FREE  perks - things like free internet access, free phone calls, free daily continental breakfasts, and free weekly manager's receptions.

According to the manager of sales, Rose Kemna, Aqua Hotels can be classified as "premier, mid-priced boutique hotels." Boutique, because these hand picked properties have been renovated, and upgraded, to the Aqua standards of hip, comfortable, and technologically savvy (top computer and TV access capabilities).

The hotel biz in Waikiki is such a big enterprise, and I am wary of sending guests to just any hotel just to save them money. Aqua Hotels look like they deserve my attention,  however. Overall, I like smaller, more intimate properties, with character, and Aqua hotels look like they offer that.

Ziplines of Hawaii

Zipline enthusiasts now have six different choices for tree top adventures, on three different islands. Kauai Back Country Adventures is located on Kauai, of course. It offers thrill seekers 7 zip lines, down an exhilirating mountain side. The most popular island for zip lines, thus far, seems to be Maui.  Skyline Eco-adventures offers two different courses; one in upcountry Maui near Haleakala volcano, and the Kanapali course, an 8 zip line course in Western Maui. The Kapalua zip line course, located on the resort of the same name, offers a unique 2 rider side by side course.

Most recently, the Piiholo Ranch, also on Maui, made its debut, offering 4 different adventures, from a 5 zip line course (boasting as Hawaii's longest), a 4 zip line course,(where up to 4 people can ride side by side), a Tango Tower course (with 6 different activities), and a "walkers course" for non-zippers and photographers. This latest zip line course features a hands-free zip, for a smoother, easier operation.

Zip lines may have originated in Costa Rica, but now, you don't have to leave the U.S. for this kind of a thrill.

Hawaiian Super Ferry Ceases Operations

This just in! As reported in an earlier post, the Super Ferry had some, I thought, valid complaints against it. On Monday, the Hawaiian Supreme Court issued a ruling stating that a law passed earlier that allowed the Super Ferry to operate while an environmental impact study was still going on, was unconstitutional. In response, the management of the Super Ferry voluntarily stopped its operations.

There is some politics involved here, of course. The bottom line however, is that if there are still doubts about the Super Ferry being totally safe, then it should NOT be running. Period. If you read my earlier post, you'll see the concerns.

The Hawaii Super Ferry - Is it a Super Ferry or just Super Scary?

When I first heard about the Hawaii Super Ferry, I thought it might be a good alternative resource for transporting people from one island to another, as opposed to flying. (Currently, the ferry travels twice a day from Oahu and Maui).  The ferry was supposed to operate between Oahu and Kauai as well, but that route is now on hold. It turns out there is a lot of controversy about the ferry, and whether or not it is a potential environmental hazard.

The ferry has done its best to ease the fears of environmentalists. I was surprised and pleased to learn the following –

The ship meets or exceeds emission standards set by the EPA

No wastewater is dumped into the ocean, but rather held in tanks and discharged into approved Honolulu processing facilities.

They have no propellers that can injure whales if encountered

It is shaped like a catamaran with twin 15’ by 14’ hulls, which means there is less "boat" in the water.

They operate at a maximum of 25 knots in waters less than 100 fathoms to minimize "encounters" and have time to change course.

The ferry will have 4 extra personnel on duty during whale season (Nov – March) whose sole purposes are to spot any whales in the ferry’s vicinity and to avoid encounters.

The ferry even has a “whale encounter avoidance plan in place, which includes instructions of what to do, and how to report “immediately” if a whale is struck.

Which, of course, means that the system is not foolproof.

Dreaming of Kauai.....

I'm sitting here at my desk dreaming about Hawaii. It's a litte warm this morning, and I'm thinking of that ocean front condo we stayed at in Hanalei last October.No air conditioning needed there. The sliding glass door to the porch facing the ocean and the louvred windows above the bed kept us cool all day and night. The condo had huge picture windows on two sides, and due to the location, we had an incredible view of the ocean as the waves rolled to shore right below our balcony. In the morning, we'd wake to a beautiful sunrise, and at night, the moon would glisten over the waves, as they pounded to shore. Hanalei Colony Resort is not for everyone.. but for us, it was the perfect location - away from the crowds, and close to nature.... Paradise on Kauai.