Hawaiian City Garden

Charming, blue-collar Hilo is the unsung Hawaii SFGate Home Business Sports Entertainment Travel Jobs Real Estate Autos SFGate News Web by Charming, blue-collar Hilo is the unsung Hawaii Eric Brazil, Special to The Chronicle Sunday, August 25, 2002 now part of stylesheet -- Printable Version Email This Article Hilo, Hawaii --Because Hilo gets 130 inches of rain a year, lacks white-sand beaches and has a history of being clobbered by tsunamis, tourists tend to bypass Hawaii's second-biggest city. Big mistake. Hilo, the county seat of the Big Island, with a population of 47,000, has authentic South Seas charm, a vibrant local culture, a rich history and some of the grandest sights anywhere on the planet. Located on the windward side of the island, Hilo has taken a backseat as a tourist destination to the Kailua area on the Kona Coast, with its dry climate and reliable sunshine, luxury hotels, world-class sportfishing and famous coffee. Hilo's physical setting is spectacular, with false-fronted, early 20th century downtown buildings curving along Kamehameha Avenue around palm-lined Hilo Bay, and 13,796-foot Mauna Kea -- snow-crowned in winter -- rising majestically in the background. The city's tropical gardens are perpetually abloom with orchids, ginger and anthurium, and its orchards are heavy with avocados, bananas, guava and macadamia nuts. Just up the road, the active volcano Kilauea steams and smokes and sends molten lava streams snaking seaward. Unlike Honolulu, which is beset by many of the mainland's intractable big-city problems, or Kailua-Kona, with its array of glitzy shops and tourist hustle, Hilo is your basic working-class American small town, except for its decidedly tropical atmosphere. A city with a day-old-bread store smack in the middle of its main street does not put on airs. Yes, Hilo has sprawl. Development, including a huge shopping center with a Wal-Mart, creeps inexorably up Highway 11. But at the city's old, slightly ramshackle, multiethnic core, the beat is slow. Pidgin, the local dialect, is widely spoken here. The Wiki Wiki market advertises "Poi -- We Always Get" in its front window. An arborist in the Puna district bills himself as "Da Puna Pruna." One of Hilo's most colorful and distinctive institutions, the Suisan fish auction on the waterfront at Banyan Drive and Lihiwai Street, was recently closed and doesn't expect to reopen. But visitors can still experience fresh-from-the-producers action at the daily farmers' market on Kamehameha Avenue, where flowers, tropical fruit and vegetables, smoked fish, local cheeses and even some livestock are for sale. We saw a baby goat sold for $50 and led away on a rope leash by a father who evidently intended it as a family pet. Old-town Hilo, between Ponahawai Street and Wailuku Drive, extending three blocks back from Hilo Bay, is an easy stroll. But a car is handy for attractions on the edge of town, notably Rainbow Falls and the Boiling Pots on the Wailuku River, and the tropical gardens that lie just beyond the city limits. One of Hilo's don't-miss attractions is its Pacific Tsunami Museum. Hilo was devastated by two deadly "tidal waves." In 1946, 91 people died and most of the city's business district, an entire residential area, its railroad and the royal fish ponds were destroyed. In 1960, a 35-foot swell, born of an earthquake off the coast of Chile, 6,000 miles away, killed 61 people and destroyed 537 buildings. The museum features awe-inspiring photographs of the damage created by the tsunamis and a video, with scenes from both, plus interviews with survivors. "We're overdue for another big one," said Nani Pierce, a museum docent and survivor of the 1960 disaster. Hilo figures to be better prepared next time, since the installation of a fine-tuned early-warning system, plus the creation of clearly marked evacuation routes leading to higher ground. "First there's a warning," Pierce said. "Then 'it's coming' and finally 'watch out, it's here.' " Another worthwhile attraction is the Lyman Mission House and Museum. Built in 1839 by Congregationalist missionaries, it is the oldest wood-frame building on the island of Hawaii, and it contains an impressive aggregation of furniture, household implements and artifacts from the period when the impact of newly arrived people of European ancestry was first being felt in the Hawaiian Islands. Dining in Hilo can be an adventure. And it can be cheap. At Cafe 100 on Kilauea Avenue, we filled up for $4 each on loco moco -- a cholesterolically lethal, but tasty, concoction of fried meat under a mountain of gravy-soaked rice, topped with a fried egg. Cafe 100 serves 17 kinds of loco moco, including the Super Loco, which includes Spam, linguica, kim chee, two fried eggs and a side order of macaroni-potato salad. Low International Food, which occupies the corner of Kilauea Avenue and Ponahawai Street and specializes in unusual breads -- mango, guava, taro, coconut -- also serves something called a gravy burger. Being fainthearted haole mainlanders, we passed. Banyan Drive, a 15-minute stroll or a short drive from downtown Hilo, is a destination in itself, with luxury hotels, Uncle Billy's lounge -- which has a nightly Hawaiian musical act -- a nine-hole golf course and one of the most delightful public spaces anywhere, the Liliuokalani Garden. Meticulously landscaped, clean as a pin and free, the Japanese-style garden is situated on the edge of Hilo Bay and has been constructed to permit tidal movement in the pools set among its walking paths and flowering shrubs. Fishing is permitted. The banyan, ironwood and palm trees throughout the garden resound with birdsong -- principally mynah birds, which, along with mongooses and feral cats, are a dominant wildlife species on the Big Island and the bane of indigenous fauna. There are swimming beaches near town, but better ones are 45 minutes away on the Puna Coast, southeast of Hilo. Among them is Alalanui Park, where we soaked in a terrific, sandy-bottomed thermal pool, protected from crashing surf by a breakwater -- a good thing to remember when the tsunami alarm goes off. If you go-- GETTING THERE: Hawaiian and Aloha airlines fly regularly to Hilo from Honolulu.-- WHERE TO STAY: We stayed at the Hilo Hawaiian, 71 Banyan Drive, Hilo, HI 96720; phone, (800) 367-5004; Web, www.castleresorts.com . We got the Internet rate of $119 a night for an ocean-view room. Official rates are $149 for an ocean view, $183-$277 for suites, $119 for a garden view. We also stayed at the Dolphin Bay Hotel, 333 Iliahi St., Hilo, HI, 96720; (808) 935-1466; www.dolphinbayhotel.com . $72 a night for a standard double, which includes a kitchen; $99, for two-bedroom doubles. Shipman House B&B, 131 Kaiulani St., Hilo, 96720; (800) 627-8447; e-mail, inn keeper@hilo-hawaii.com ; Web, www.hilo-hawaii.com . This elegant "old Hawaii" landmark, built in 1800, is set on 5 exquisitely landscaped acres on a ridge above the city. It's worth a visit even if you don't stay there. Doubles, $145-$175 a night. Wild Ginger Inn, 100 Puueo St., Hilo, HI 96720; (877) 212-8276, www.wildgingerinn.com . Twenty-seven rooms within walking distance of downtown. Private rooms $45-$69, but the inn offers "shared accommodation" for four to six people per room at $15 apiece.-- WHERE TO EAT: Seaside Restaurant, 1790 Kalaniaole Ave.; (808) 935-8825. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 5-8:30 p.m. Reservations recommended. A terrific restaurant -- not much on decor, but splendid seafood raised in the owner's ponds in the backyard lagoon. Dinner for two with wine, about $60.-- WHAT TO DO: Pacific Tsunami Museum, 130 Kamehameha Ave., (808) 935-0926; www.tsunami.org . Adults, $5; students, $2; children under 5, free. Open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Lyman Mission House and Museum, 276 Haili St.; (808) 935-5021, www.lymanmuseum.org . Open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.-- FOR MORE INFORMATION: Big Island Visitors Bureau, 250 Keawe St., Hilo, HI 96720; (808) 886-1655, www.bigisland.org . Eric Brazil recently retired as a reporter for The Chronicle. Page C - 14 Get up to 50% off home delivery of the Chronicle for 12 weeks! EARLY SPRING PATIO FURNITURE SALE Order now at fantastic savings for Spring delivery Allegro Classics Bay Area Donate a car to Habitat for Humanity Your car donation helps build homes for families in need. 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Maui Resort & Spa

Starwood Hawaii Hotels & Resorts Westin Maui Kaanapali, Maui Vacation | Westin Villas Make Maui your exclusive getaway with Starwood Vacation Ownership. View all news The Westin Maui Resort & Spa is situated along a spectacular stretch of the famed Ka'anapali Beach. This Maui hotel blends an endless array of activities and amenities with gracious aloha spirit, perfect for any Hawaiian vacation. Located beachfront with spectacular views of Lanai and Molokai, The Westin Maui Resort & Spa is just minutes from Maui's many attractions, yet remains a world unto itself, where exclusive services, first-rate restaurants, cultured entertainment, and thrilling diversions satisfy every interest. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 From To Maui, HI (OGG) Departing morning afternoon evening Returning morning afternoon evening Rooms 1 2 3 Service Class Coach Adults 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Children (2-11) 0 1 2 3 4 Select a Property ------------------------------ Starwood Worldwide Starwood Preferred Guest ------------------------------ Starwood Hawaii ------------------------------ Sheraton Hawaii ------------------------------ Sheratons in Waikiki Sheraton Waikiki Sheraton Moana Surfrider Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Sheraton Kauai Resort Sheraton Maui Resort The Royal Hawaiian Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa ------------------------------ The Luxury Collection Hawaii ------------------------------ Princeville Resort ------------------------------ The W Hotel Honolulu ------------------------------ The Westin Maui Resort & Spa The Westin Kaanapali Ocean Resort Villas ---

Kauai HI Hotels Island

Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii HI - Hotels, Resorts, Condos - A Helpful Guide Poipu Beach Kauai Hawaii HI - Hotels Resorts Condos - PoipuBeach Hawii Hawai Hawaii Hotels Guide Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii – Hotels, Resorts – A Guide Hotels - htels - hoteles - hoteis - alberghi - hoteller - 12 languages Use this guide to learn about Poipu Beach, Kauai hotels and resorts, check availability and discounts, and make secure reservations with immediate confirmation. We charge NO SERVICE FEES ... and our hotel location information and unique cost codes will save you time and money. If you like this guide, please add it to your Favorites list .. Makahuena at Poipu - Poipu Beach - $$$$ 1661 Pe'e Road, Poipu Beach, Kauai, HI 96756 Swimming pool Overview | More Info | Map | Availability & Rates Nihi Kai Villas - Poipu Beach - $$$$ 1942 Poipu Road, Poipu Beach, Kauai, HI 96756 Swimming pool Overview | Map | Availability & Rates Poipu Crater Resort - Poipu Beach - $$$ 1943 Poipu Road, Poipu Beach, Kauai, HI 96756 Swimming pool - fitness center Overview | Map | Availability & Rates Poipu Kai Resort - Poipu Beach - $$$ 1941 Poipu Road, Poipu Beach, Kauai, HI 96756 Swimming pool - restaurant - lounge Overview | Map | Availability & Rates Thanks for using our Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii hotels guide. We hope you enjoy your trip. Related search terms: hotels/motels motel hoteles moteles condo rentals condos rental condominium condominiums lodging accommodations accommodation inns inn destination destinations romantic weekend getaways getaway breaks honeymoon packages holiday package holidays vacation vacations travel best choice discount rate price discounts cheap hotels budget hotel deals dog friendly in near by nearby close to around search finder Abbreviations, variants, misspellings: oceanfront beachfront hi. hawaiian poipubeach ocean front beach front ha ha. hawaian hawii hawai hawiia hawiian hawaiin hawiiee hawaiihotel hawaiihotels hihotel hihotels accomodation accomodations accomadation accomadations petfriendly dogfriendly MORE HAWAII HOTELS All State of Hawaii Hotels Island of Hawaii HI Hotels Island of Kauai HI Hotels Island of Lanai HI Hotels Island of Maui HI Hotels Island of Molokai HI Hotels Island of Oahu HI Hotels Aiea HI Hotels Hana HI Hotels Hilo HI Hotels Honokowai HI Hotels Honolulu HI Hotels Kaanapali HI Hotels Kahana HI Hotels Kahuku HI Hotels Kahului HI Hotels Kailua-Kona HI Hotels Kamuela HI Hotels Kapaa HI Hotels Kapalua HI Hotels Kapolei HI Hotels Kaunakakai HI Hotels Kihei HI Hotels Kohala Coast HI Hotels Koloa HI Hotels Kona HI Hotels Lahaina HI Hotels Laie HI Hotels Lanai City HI Hotels Lihue HI Hotels Maalaea HI Hotels Makaha Beach HI Hotels Mauna Loa HI Hotels Napili HI Hotels Poipu Beach HI Hotels Princeville HI Hotels Volcano Village HI Hotels Waikoloa HI Hotels Wailea HI Hotels Wailua HI Hotels Waimea HI Hotels All State of Hawaii Hotels USA Hotels - all states World Hotels - all countries Who We Are Our Privacy Policy No Service Fees Fewer Advance Charges Some Surprising Deals ! Hotel & Air Travel Packages Compare Car Rentals Order Free Travel Guides HOTEL COST CODES $ = Under $60 $$ = $60-99 $$$ = $100-149 $$$$ = $150-199 $$$$$ = $200 + AOM, Rack, Special, & Traveler's Discount Rates are for everyone. TIPS & SUGGESTIONS Tip 1 – Make reservations early. Some hotels cut off online reservations 1 to 3 days before check-in time. Tip 2 – When you make a reservation, you will receive a confirmation email. Print a copy of this message to take with you ... and don't delete the original email until you have completed your stay and know you have been billed correctly. Tip 3 – Our hotel cost codes are based on the lowest peak season rates available to all guests. We do offer discount rates for corporate and government employees, AAA and AARP members, seniors, and other special groups. But we do not base our cost codes on these discounts. Off-season room prices may be much lower than our cost codes indicate. This is especially true for coastal hotels during the winter. Tip 4 – The earlier in the day you check into a hotel, the more likely you will get a room or suite that matches your preferences. More tips – Learn more about this guide and how to use it effectively . Help improve this guide – Please send us corrections, new info, and comments about hotels where you have stayed. Home • USA Hotels • World Hotels • Tips • Feedback • View or Cancel Reservation • Contact Us Hotel-Guides.us – Poipu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii, USA © 2006 Hotel-Guides.us, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this website may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from Hotel-Guides.us Inc .

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcano, Mauna Loa Volcano, Kilauea Volcano, Volcano House Hotel, Home > Destinations > North America > United States > Hawaii > Big Island > Halema Uma U Crater Halema Uma U Crater Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the state's premier natural attraction, containing tow of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. The park extends for 377 miles from the 13,777-foot summit of Mauna Loa down to the Pacific, where Kilaluea, the youngest of the volcanic mountains, has since 1983 been pushing into the ocean from a vent, creating new land. Compared to more active volcanoes around the Pacific Rim and in other areas, Hawaii's volcanoes are fairly benign, so you can pass eruptions and lava flows in relative safety. No matter where you look, you'll see volcano views from a range of perspectives. Much of the park is preserved as wilderness, but it does provide 150 miles of trails, two visitor centers, and two scenic drives with a wealth of volcano views An 11-mile drive, called Crater Rim, passes by many rising steam vents. The Chain of Craters Road, a 46-mile round trip journey, goes by historic pit craters and heads down toward the ocean. Along the way you can see lava flowing like molasses. Three days has been suggested as a good time frame for exploring the park if you're not taking extensive hikes that eat up more time. Among the top hikes is the trail to Halemaumau Crater, emitting steam and sulfur. It's a moderate 3 1/2-mile hike and goes down 500 feet to the floor of Halemaumau Crater. You can also get a view and walk into a lava flow on a 10-minute walk from Crater Rim Drive. The Volcano House Hotel and Restaurant and the Kilauea Visitors Center and Park Headquarters are where you'll learn a great deal about the park and where you can get permits for overnight camping. They're all just inside the park's gate. There's no way to predict exactly what you'll see at the park. With luck, you'll view streaming rivers of red lava and you might see fountains of lava shooting hundreds of feet into the air. Or, the volcanoes could be completely still and silent. Bulletins sometimes keep you up-to-date on the volcano's activities. contact us | advertising with us | content licensing | privacy policy | terms of use | help (C) 2004 Destination360 All Rights Reserved Hawaii Map Select a region North America Central America South America Caribbean Hawaii Overview When to Go Events and Holidays Top 10 things to do Hawaiian History Interisland Flight Flights to Hawaii Hawaiian Islands Oahu Maui The Big Island Kauai Destinations Akaka Falls Anaehoomalu Bay Beaches Hawaii Volcano Park Kona Liliuokalani Gardens Hawaii Petroglyphs Puuhonua Rainbow Falls Hawaii Hotels Oahu Hotels Maui Hotels Big Island Hotels Kauai Hotels Travel Resources ATV Tours in Hawaii Hawaii Cruises Hawaiian Dinner Cruise Hawaiian Car Rental Hawaii Diving Golfing Helicopter Tour Luau Sailing Snorkeling Snuba Surfing Big Island Weather Weddings Wedding Photographer

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Weddings in Hawaii - Oahu Wedding Hawaii weddings, oahu wedding, Hawaiian, weddings in hawaii Hawaii Wedding Packages Hawaii Wedding Locations Bridal Flowers Photography Video Limousine Service Hawaiian Bridal Music Tuxedo & Gown rental Vow Renewals Hawaii Marriage License Our Reputation Links Wedding Tips Site Map See everything in one page Home Contact Us Rev. Mark Yasuhara Minister Call us Toll-Free: 1-866-488-2049 Address: Alohaforever Hawaii Weddings 98-288 Kaonohi Street, #3902 Aiea, Hawaii 96701 Local: (808)485-2461 Fax: (808)488-2049 (3.16MB) Click this CD to listen to our original "The Hawaiian Wedding Song" cheap weddings in Hawaii, hawaii wedding planners, Oahu Weddings , get married in hawai Weddings in Hawaii Local Hawaii Wedding minister Rev. Mark's Oahu Wedding and Renewal services include traditional elements with Hawaiian wedding prayers and blessings. Aloha! I am a local minister, licensed with the State of Hawaii. My wife, Diane, and I are committed to helping make your special day a beautiful, romantic, and meaningful occasion with a choice of services and many wonderful Hawaii wedding locations almost anywhere on Oahu at very reasonable rates with as little stress to you as possible. Affordable Oahu Wedding My Hawaii wedding ceremony is low-key and informal, but with all the dignity and meaning of the traditional wedding service. It is my hope that, regardless of your religious background, if any, your wedding will be a very personal and profound sharing of your commitment and love to each other, the memories of which will bless you for years to come. We will handle all of your wedding arrangements so you don't have to worry about anything, and even sing the beautiful "Hawaiian Wedding Song" just for you. Once your wedding date is confirmed, you will receive a packet of very important information regarding what works and what doesn't at beach weddings in Hawaii which will help to make your wedding everything you had hoped, and perhaps avoid some of the difficulties couples sometimes experience (re. weather, wedding attire, traffic, etc.) Please let us know how we can serve you. We look forward to working with you to make your wedding day one filled with wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime memories. Mahalo and Aloha, Rev. Mark Yasuhara Hawaii Wedding Packages Starting from $120.00 Rev. Mark's personalized wedding service Personalized excerpts of wedding service Ceremonial marriage certificate Hand delivery of marriage license to Department of Health 2 (two) fresh orchid leis Y ou may choose to add or change as many options as you wish (location, flowers, music, limo, etc.) for your own custom-made celebration. The cost of your unique wedding then, will directly reflect your own choices. The related pages on our website will give you all the information you need regarding descriptions, availability, and costs of these options. Any wedding package and/or option can be applied to Marriage Vow Renewals. Please click here for details. Oahu Wedding Locations Unless otherwise specifically stated, all wedding locations are just minutes from Waikiki and lots of them are free. Hawaii has many beautiful potential wedding sites - and we will be happy to consider any location of this island (Oahu), or any island, for that matter. Rev. Mark Yasuhara and Diane Yasuhara Mark and Diane were both born and raised in Hawaii, he in Hilo on the Big Island, and she in Honolulu. They were married on Father's Day, 1967 and have two grown daughters. Between 1969 and 1989, Mark and Diane recorded and concertized in some of the greatest concert halls and churches in America as "The Hawaiians." Their music ministry included several international crusade telecasts with Dr. Billy Graham. They recorded 14 albums all of which are now out of print. Rev. Mark Yasuhara and Diane have been marrying hundreds of couples on this beautiful island of Oahu every year. Toll-Free: 1-866-488-2049 98-288 Kaonohi Street, #3902 Aiea, Hawaii 96701 Local: (808)485-2461 Fax: (808)488-2049 E-mail: alohaforeverweddings@yahoo.com Web site: http://www.alohaforeverhawaiiweddings.com Honolulu Web Awards 2005-2006 Oahu Wedding