One of the best resort areas in all of the Hawaiian Islands is Maui’s Wailea Resort just south of Kihei. The Grand Wailea has been listed among the top resorts in the world by numerous travel magazines including Conde Nast and Travel & Leisure.
The Grand Wailea is also known for its large, full-service day spa called Spa Grande which offers everything from massages to aromatherapy and has been rated as one of the world’s top spas.

Another luxury resort at Wailea is the Four Seasons Resort which provides a bit more serenity than the Grand Wailea, which can be quite busy during the peak season when excited children fill the pool area. The Spa at Four Seasons has also received awards from prominent travel magazines for its high quality.

The Fairmont Kea Lani at Wailea features an adults-only pool and a kid’s camp with lots of activities for children. The elegant hotel provides the finest in luxuries, and every room is a suite. The beach along these oceanfront resorts of Wailea is sheltered from the open ocean making it great for snorkeling and relaxing, while also providing some small waves that are fun for kids. The area also boasts the most high-end shopping on Maui at the Shops at Wailea retails shopping center.

One of Maui’s most popular fine resort areas is Kaanapali known for its golden sands, pristine water, and world-class luxury hotels and condominiums as well as vacation club resorts.

Located on Maui’s western shore, Kaanapali also has a paved beach walk with great restaurants and shopping. You can enjoy sailing, snorkeling, golf, tennis, or a beach side massage in the ultimate luxury of Kaanapali.

You shouldn’t have any problems with the airlines. Expect to pay the extra baggage fees though.

According to the Hawaii Department of Agriculture’s website…

“In general, foods that are cooked, canned, frozen or commercially processed and/or packaged are allowed to be transported to Hawaii, as long as the product originates from within the U.S.

Food products are not required to be declared or inspected.”

So as long as the meat comes from within the US you should be OK.

Vegetables are a different story and you’ll need to read the regulations here.

There used to be an interisland ferry service back in the 70′s, but they went out of business. The new Superferry started recently, but was met by a lot of protests and service was put on hold temporarily. Gov. Lingle recently approved the service with limitations. I can’t find a date on when the superferry will be able to resme service though.

So… for now you are stuck with interisland flights. Check out the Hawaiian Airlines link at the top of the page for discount rates on these.

Aloha!

In Hawaii’s world of endless summer, there are hundreds of entertaining wonders to be enjoyed throughout its six beautiful islands – Kauai, Molokai, Oahu, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii’s Big Island.

Whether by land, air or sea, Hawaii is one exhilarating activity after another with the opportunities for fun and excitement discovered island by island.

How about world-class golf, biking, hiking and horseback riding through balmy tropical landscapes? Soaring high above on a zipline adventure tour through a forested canopy over rivers and waterfalls, or even higher on helicopter tours over lush valleys, hidden waterfalls, and spectacular shorelines? Or taking to Hawaii’s warm Pacific waters to surf, snorkel, scuba, kayak, or para sail? For a more leisurely enjoyment, one can explore the depths of Hawaii’s marine life through undersea submarine tours, or sun and frolic aboard a cruise excursion.
And only in Hawaii can one explore an active volcano and watch the flow of lava up-close (but not too close!) and bear witness to earth’s creation of land.

For educational enrichment, Hawaii offers more than 80 museums showcasing its culture, history, and the arts. History buffs will be fascinated by the “bookend battleships” of World War II now located bow-to-bow in Pearl Harbor: the revered USS Arizona Memorial and the gigantic “Mighty Mo” (Battleship Missouri Memorial).

Those wanting to be pampered and indulged can enjoy state-of the-art spas, the highly touted Hawaii Regional Cuisine, and everything-under-the-sun shopping.

And rarely does a weekend pass by without a celebration of Hawaii’s multi-cultural heritage, Hawaiian music, or island-inspired sports event taking place.

In addition to activities that visitors can do on their own or book through a qualified member of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB), there are hundreds of fun and interesting things to see and do on HVCB’s Calendar of Events – with the list growing all the time. Check it out online at GoHawaii.com.

How best to describe the Hawaii vacation experience? Jay Talwar, HVCB’s vice president of marketing, sums it up perfectly: “There is plenty of time to do absolutely nothing … on your plane ride home!”

The flight time is approximately 17.5 hours from the UK to Honolulu. Time may differ due to layovers, headwinds etc.

For US mainland flight times please see this post.

No, Hawaii is the 50th state, you do not need to have a passport to visit Hawaii if you are from the USA.

If you are visiting from outside the United States or you have travel plans to another country after Hawaii, then you would need a passport.

State Name:
Hawaii

State Nickname:
The Aloha State

Capital City:
Honolulu

Population:
1,262,840

Time Zone:
Hawaii Standard Time (GMT-10 hours), 5 hours behind the US East Coast, 6 hours behind during Daylight Saving Time (Hawaii does not observe Daylight Saving Time).

Languages:
English
Hawaiian

Currency:
US dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted. Traveler’s checks are accepted at many businesses.

Average Temperature:
April- November: 75Ëš-88Ëš F.
December- March: 68Ëš-80Ëš F.
Average water temperature: 74Ëš F.

Area Code/Cell phones:
The area code for all of Hawaii is (808). Cell phone coverage on most Islands is readily available if you’re coming from the US. Check your carrier and calling plan for details.

Internet Access:
Internet access is readily available on most islands and at many hotels.

Accommodations:
Luxury resorts, hotels, bed and breakfasts, rental cottages and condos are located throughout the islands.

Transportation:
Transportation options include car rentals, tour buses, shuttles, taxis or city buses.

Clothing:
Dress casually. Bring a light jacket for nights. Bring semi-casual dress clothes or resort wear for restaurants and nightlife. Suits and ties are rarely worn.

Tipping:
U.S. standards apply: 15-20% on meals, at least $1 per bag for porters, and at least $1 per night for housekeeping.

The average temperatures in Hawaii will range between 60° F – 85° F for most of the islands. However, the interior mountains of the Big Island can range from 30° F – 60° F.

The Kona side of the Big Island is warmer and dryer than the Hilo side where it usually gets a small shower almost on a daily basis.

The ocean temperatures are warmer on the west and south sides of the islands, while the north and east sides of the islands the water temperature is little cooler.

Here are some approximate flight times from various US cities:

Los Angeles – 5.75 hrs
San Francisco – 5.5 hrs
Seattle – 5.75 hrs
Las Vegas – 7 hrs
Phoenix – 8.25 hrs
Salt Lake City – 8 hrs
Chicago – 9 hrs
New York – 12.5 hrs

There are a few beliefs on where the name Hawaii originated. Some believe the name came from Hawaiki, the name for the mythical home for all people polynesian. While others believe it came from a south pacific island Raiatea, which was called ‘Havaii’ at the time of the great migration.

Still other theories exist on the origin of the name Hawaii.

One theory says that the name Hawaii comes from a combination of the words “Hawa” and “ii”and means a small or new homeland; “Hawa” meaning a traditional homeland and “ii” meaning small and raging.

The other theory is that the name comes from the traditional discoverer of the islands, ‘Hawaii Loa’.

Hawaii or The Big Island is the name of the largest of the Hawaiian islands and is also the name of the 50th State in the USA. Hawaii consists of 8 main islands – Hawaii, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Koho’olawe, Oahu, Kauai, and Ni’ihau.