Hawaii Honeymoon Package :

Looking for a Better Hawaii Vacation Package? Try Hawaii Travel Bureau! What are you looking for? Hawaii Vacation Package : Multi-island Oahu, Honolulu, Waikiki Maui Kauai Big Island Lanai Molokai Hawaii Honeymoon Package : Any Island Hawaii Hotels and Condos : All Islands (107 hotels) Oahu, Honolulu, Waikiki Maui Kauai Big Island Lanai Molokai Find Hotel by Name Monthly Newsletter : More Info Reservations & Questions : 1-800-873-0370 aloha@hawaiitravelbureau.com Book a Better Hawaii Vacation Package with Hawaii Travel Bureau: All of our Hawaii vacation packages are custom-designed . You can tell us about your vacation plans, and we will put together a Hawaii vacation package that represents the best value in your price range. Our average customer saves 37% on his Hawaii vacation package . We offer special rates for airfare, hotels, and car rentals that are 10-65% less than rack rates, as well as less than Orbitz, Expedia and Travelocity. All of our agents are certified Hawaii Destination Specialists . They can answer your questions fully and promptly, and offer you candid opinions and recommendations about different Hawaii hotels and things to do. Custom Design Your Ideal Hawaii Vacation Package: Luxury, Moderate, All Inclusive, or Anything Else! START HERE: Fill out the form below to receive a fast and accurate quote for your Hawaii vacation package. Or you can call us at 1-800-873-0370 instead. Average time to complete the form: 2 minutes. What are your travel plans? Departure date: Return date: TIP: You will get the lowest airfare if you travel on Mon, Tue, Wed or Thu. You can save $40-$260 per ticket compared to Fri, Sat or Sun airfares. Adults: Children under 18: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 More 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 More What would you like to be included in your package? Airfare from US mainland: <From which airport?> Non-US Akron-Canton (CAK) Albany, NY (ALB) Albany, GA (ABY) Albuquerque (ABQ) Alexandria (AEX) Allentown (ABE) Amarillo (AMA) Anchorage (ANC) Appleton (ATW) Ashville (AVL) Aspen (ASE) Atlanta (ATL) Augusta (AGS) Austin (AUS) Bakersfield (BFL) Baltimore (BWI) Bangor (BGR) Baton Rouge (BTR) Beaumont-Port Arthur (BPT) Billings, Logan (BIL) Binghampton (BGM) Birmingham (BHM) Bismarck (BIS) Bloomington-Normal (BMI) Boise (BOI) Boston, Logan (BOS) Bozeman (BZN) Brunswick (BQK) Buffalo NY (BUF) Burbank (BUR) Burlington (BTV) Butte, Bert Mooney (BTM) Carlsbad (CLD) Casper (CPR) Cedar City (CDC) Cedar Rapids (CID) Charleston, SC (CHS) Charleston, WV (CRW) Charlotte (CLT) Charlottesville (CHO) Chattanooga (CHA) Chicago, Midway (MDW) Chicago, O'Hare (ORD) Cincinnati (CVG) Cleveland (CLE) Cody (COD) Colorado Springs (COS) Columbia (CAE) Columbus, OH (CMH) Columbus, GA (CSG) Columbus, MS (GTR) Corpus Christi (CRP) Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Dayton (DAY) Daytona Beach (DAB) Denver (DEN) Des Moines (DSM) Detroit (DTW) Dothan (DHN) Durango (DRO) El Centro (IPL) El Paso (ELP) Elko (EKO) Erie (ERI) Eugene (EUG) Evansville (EVV) Fargo, Hector (FAR) Flint, Bishop (FNT) Florence (FLO) Fresno Air Terminal (FAT) Friedman Memorial (SUN) Ft Lauderdale-Hollywood (FLL) Ft Myers (RSW) Ft Walton Beach (VPS) Ft Wayne (FWA) Gainesville (GNV) Grand Rapids (GRR) Green Bay (GRB) Greensboro (GSO) Greenville/Spartanburg (GSP) Gulfport-Biloxi (GPT) Harrisburg (MDT) Hartford (BDL) Helena (HLN) Honolulu (HNL) Houston Intercontinental (IAH) Houston Hobby (HOU) Indianapolis (IND) Islip, MacArthur (ISP) Jackson Hole (JAC) Jackson (JAN) Jacksonville (JAX) John Wayne (SNA) Kalamazoo (AZO) Kansas City (MCI) Key West (EYW) Knoxville (TYS) Lansing (LAN) Las Vegas (LAS) Lexington (LEX) Lincoln (LNK) Little Rock (LIT) Los Angeles (LAX) Louisville (SDF) Lubbock (LBB) Lynchburg (LYH) Madison (MSN) Manchester (MHT) Medford-Jackson County (MFR) Melbourne (MLB) Memphis (MEM) Miami (MIA) Milwaukee (MKE) Minneapolis/St Paul (MSP) Missoula (MSO) Mobile (MOB) Monterey Peninsula (MRY) Montgomery (MGM) Myrtle Beach (MYR) Nashville (BNA) New Orleans (MSY) New York, Kennedy (JFK) New York, La Guardia (LGA) New York, Westchester (HPN) Newark (EWR) Newport News (PHF) Norfolk (ORF) Northwest Arkansas (XNA) Oakland (OAK) Oklahoma City (OKC) Omaha (OMA) Ontario (ONT) Orange County (SNA) Orlando (MCO) Panama City (PFN) Pasco (PSC) Pensacola (PNS) Peoria (PIA) Philadelphia (PHL) Phoenix (PHX) Pittsburgh (PIT) Portland, ME (PWM) Portland, OR (PDX) Providence (PVD) Raleigh-Durham (RDU) Rapid City (RAP) Redding (RDD) Redmond (RDM) Reno/Tahoe (RNO) Richmond (RIC) Roanoke (ROA) Rochester (ROC) Sacramento (SMF) Salt Lake City (SLC) San Antonio (SAT) San Diego (SAN) San Francisco (SFO) San Jose (SJC) San Luis Obispo (SBP) Santa Barbara (SBA) Sarasota-Bradenton (SRQ) Savannah (SAV) Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) Shreveport (SHV) Sioux Falls (FSD) South Bend (SBN) Spokane (GEG) Springfield, IL (SPI) Springfield, MO (SGF) St Louis, Lambert (STL) State College (SCE) Syracuse (SYR) Tallahassee (TLH) Tampa (TPA) Toledo (TOL) Traverse City (TVC) Tucson (TUS) Tulsa (TUL) Washington, Dulles (IAD) Washington, National (DCA) Wausau (CWA) West Palm Beach (PBI) Wichita (ICT) Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (AVP) Other Help! TIP: Include a car rental in your package if you are traveling to Maui, Kauai or the Big Island - these islands have no public transportation. Honolulu (Oahu) is the only place where you will NOT need a car because it is easy to walk or take buses. Or just inter-island air: <From which island?> From Oahu (Honolulu) From Maui From Kauai From Big Island (Kona) From Big Island (Hilo) Other Not sure, need help Help! Hotel or condo: <In what price range?> Economy (1-2 stars): from $77 Moderate (3 stars): from $116 Deluxe (4 stars): from $194 Luxury (5 stars): from $254 Not sure, need help Help! Car rental: <What kind of car?> Economy Compact (most popular) Mid-size Full-size Convertible Jeep Wrangler Luxury Grand Cherokee Laredo Minivan Not sure, need help Help! Which islands would you like to visit? Oahu & Honolulu: <For how long?> Don't know 1 night 2 nights 3 nights 4 nights 5 nights 6 nights 7 nights 8 nights 9 nights 10 nights More than 10 Tell me what's there TIP: We recommend spending at least 4-5 days on each island to allow yourself enough time to explore the island, as well as relax. The only place that can be seen in 1-2 days is Honolulu (Oahu), if you just want to visit Pearl Harbor, check out downtown and Waikiki Beach. Maui: <For how long?> Don't know 1 night 2 nights 3 nights 4 nights 5 nights 6 nights 7 nights 8 nights 9 nights 10 nights More than 10 Tell me what's there Kauai: <For how long?> Don't know 1 night 2 nights 3 nights 4 nights 5 nights 6 nights 7 nights 8 nights 9 nights 10 nights More than 10 Tell me what's there Big Island: <For how long?> Don't know 1 night 2 nights 3 nights 4 nights 5 nights 6 nights 7 nights 8 nights 9 nights 10 nights More than 10 Tell me what's there Molokai: <For how long?> Don't know 1 night 2 nights 3 nights 4 nights 5 nights 6 nights 7 nights 8 nights 9 nights 10 nights More than 10 Tell me what's there Lanai: <For how long?> Don't know 1 night 2 nights 3 nights 4 nights 5 nights 6 nights 7 nights 8 nights 9 nights 10 nights More than 10 Tell me what's there If you have a certain budget for this package , what is it? Total budget for all travelers: $ How can we contact you? Your name: We Value Your Privacy! Your e-mail address will be used only to send you this quote. Your phone number will be used only if there is a problem with your e-mail address. E-mail address: * Phone number: * area code number Additional information: Would you like to subscribe to our Monthly Newsletter ? More Info Yes No What else would you like to tell us about your vacationplans? What kind of activities are you interested in? What hotel features areimportant to you? Average time to receive your quote: 2 hours. Reliable and Risk-Free: Hawaii Travel Bureau is a member of BBB with perfect record. All of our agents are certified by HVCB as Hawaii Destination Specialists. Here is what one of our customers said about her Hawaii vacation package: "We had a GREAT time in Maui and Kauai! What a beautiful place to visit; paradise really. The hotels you booked were fabulous. Embassy Vacation Resort in Kaanapali was even better than we expected. Having laundry facilities at my disposal was invaluable. We chose Hawaii Travel Bureau because we were searching online for Hawaii vacation package and found your company to meet all of our needs. You answered all of our questions in a timely manner, and why look someplace else? We were most pleased with you, Kelli, and everyone else at Hawaii Travel Bureau, and wouldn't hesitate to use your services again in the future. I want to be back!" Donna M., Rockland, MA home | plan your trip | specials | faqs | about us | contact us Contact Hawaii Travel Bureau: phone 1-800-873-0370, e-mail aloha@hawaiitravelbureau.com © 1999-2006 Hawaii Travel Bureau. All rights reserved. Member of BBB and HVCB. Privacy Policy . Terms and Conditions .

HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

Bed and Breakfast, Hawaii B & B, Volcano Hawaii: Volcano Rainforest Retreat Home Page Guest Cottage Forest House Sanctuary Bamboo Guest House Gathering Hale Counseling / Reiki Healing Schedule of Events Volcano Area & Activities Hawaiian Links Information / Booking Explore... A few miles up the road is Kilauea Volcano, home of Pele, the Hawaiian Goddess of Fire. Hike , bike , or drive through this magnificent landscape at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park . A half-hour drive toward the sea is historic Hilo town with its picturesque bay, waterfalls and botanical gardens . Check out the current activity at the volcano lava flow . Discover... Just a short distance away is Volcano Village - a community noted for its distinctive blend of artists , scientists , and entrepreneurs. The village has two country stores, gas stations and a post office. Local restaurants and cafés offer a variety of dining experiences including the charm of old Hawai`i at Kilauea Lodge . Visit VolcanoWinery , home of Tropical Hawaiian Wines. Explore other Volcano Area Activities View our guest cottages the Guest Cottage the Forest House the Sanctuary the Bamboo Guest House or go directly to our Booking Information Or Return to Main Page Local/ FAX (808) 985-8696 Toll Free (800) 550-8696 email: volrain@volcanoretreat.com For fastest response to your Reservation Request please use our Information Form Volcano Rainforest Retreat Kathleen & Peter Golden PO Box 957, Volcano HI 96785 MORE ABOUT THE VOLCANO AREA AND ACTIVITIES Volcano is a relatively undeveloped rural area, adjacent to HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK , which has become the Big Island's most visited natural attraction. Explore the ambiance and activities of this back-to-nature destination and discover a truly unique Hawaiian experience. 4000 ft above the sea, giant tree ferns, lofty ohi'a-lehua trees and fragrant ginger create a lush refreshing appeal in contrast to the primal volcanic land. Temperatures are cooler than are typical of Hawaiian coastal areas. Rainfall is a natural part of the native rainforest with misty rains alternating with clear skies. Hike, bike or drive the CRATER RIM DRIVE in Volcanoes National Park. Be invigorated by its craters, steam vents, lava tubes, and rainforest trails. For the adventurous, the Chain of Craters Road winds down to the coast where vast systems of lava tubes carry active lava flows into the sea, creating the newest land on earth. Another exceptional experience while in the National Park is a visit to the VOLCANO ART CENTER GALLERY , with its collection of fine arts and crafts, available for purchase and displayed in the original historic Volcano House on the edge of Kilauea Caldera. The Volcano Art Center is currently developing an arts and environmental campus on 7 acres of land in Volcano Village. This new facility will expand its already well-established and ongoing programs in visual, literary, and performing arts. These include an acclaimed hula and Hawaiian music series which garnered a prestigious Kihili Award from the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. The outlying community is a mix of scientists, artists and local entrepreneurs in a village-like town with a variety of restaurants and cafes. The village and its surrounding inhabitants blend almost imperceptibly into the native-forested landscape. The whole area has been designated by the United Nations as an INTERNATIONAL BIOSPHERE RESERVE AND HISTORIC SITE. Volcano is a destination in which to relax as well as be active, a place to be awed and slow down, to get in touch with oneself beyond the often busy pace of daily life. Surreal and serene, it is a place which is empowering, enduring and ever-changing. The harmony of man and nature here attracts aware and sensitive individuals whose values show concern for the earth and its remaining places of great natural beauty. "Perhaps this village of 3,600 (inhabitants) can show us how to better tend the land and each other as we move into the new millennium." HONOLULU STAR BULLETIN DAY TRIPS FROM VOLCANO PUNA Experience old Hawaii along the old road on the PUNA COAST with its papaya farms, hot pools, black sands beach and newly-created land - 1-hour drive each way. HILO AND HAMAKUA Explore the lush tropical Hilo area and Hamakua Coast, which offer a local farmers market, restaurants and shops in the old town on the picturesque bayfront, botanical gardens, scenic coast views and waterfalls. 1/2 to 1 hour drive each way. KA'U Wander the rural, sparsely-settled land beyond Volcanoes National Park. Visit WOOD VALLEY with is hidden Tibetan temple, and nearby PUNALUU BLACK SAND BEACH with its green sea turtles, often seen sunning themselves on the shore. Walk the old forested trail at Bird Park, in KIPUKA PUAULU , an island of old lava and vegetation surrounded by more recent lava flows. Within 1/2 hour of Volcano. HAWAIIAN LINKS Go directly to our Booking Information Or Return to Main Page Local/ FAX (808) 985-8696 Toll Free (800) 550-8696 email: volrain@volcanoretreat.com For fastest response to your Reservation Request please use our Information Form

Hawaiian Gifts and Clothing

Hawaiian Gifts and Clothing  You are here: About > Travel > Hawaii / South Pacific for Visitors > Shopping and Gifts > Gifts and Clothing Travel Go Hawaii Essentials Which Hawaiian Island Suits You Best? Clickable Map of the Hawaiian Islands Beach Guide Hawaii Pictures Clickable Map of Maui, Hawaii Topics A Hawaii Vacation Planner Big Island of Hawaii Kauai Maui / Molokai / Lanai Oahu / Honolulu / Waikiki South Pacific Culture, History & Language Hawaii Lodging Hula Luau Maps and Weather Pearl Harbor Photos, Video & Cams Recipes Shopping and Gifts Buyer's Guide Tastes of Paradise from Hilo Hattie HilHilo Hattie Dresses and Sarongs Multi-Day Guided Tours Top Hawaii Guidebooks Top Maui / Molokai / Lanai Guidebooks Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Hawaii / South Pacific for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses   Search Hawaii / South Pacific for Visitors > Shopping and Gifts > Gifts and Clothing Hawaiian Gifts and Clothing Looking for that special gift from Hawaii? Check out these links to Hawaiian gifts, memorabilia, and clothing. Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent ABC Stores - The Store With Aloha You'll find them on almost every corner in Waikiki and throughout the islands. Now you can buy many of their products and gifts online. Booklines Hawaii A large selection of Hawaii related books can be found at this site. They also have a large selection of Hawaiian music CDs and Hawaii related videos. Gourd Connection The best place on the net to learn about gourds, ipu and ipu heke. You can order gourd drums and instructions and taped on how to play them. Hawaiian Music Island If you would like to purchase Hawaiian CDs, be sure to visit Aunty Maria at the Hawaiian Music Island. This is the best source for Hawaiian CDs and cassettes on the Internet. Hawaii Clothing Company Offering a wide assortment of Hawaiian clothing for both men and women. Hilo Hattie If you have been to Hawaii and not been to Hilo Hattie, you are the only one. Seriously, though, a visit to Hilo Hattie is great fun. Now you can order their clothes and other gifts directly on the Internet. Mutual Publishing of Hawaii "From bird watching to fishing, from sharks to Aunty Pua, from Manoa to Maui, from nostalgia to contemporary issues - all that make the islands great!" Excellent books from a major publisher locates in Honolulu. Red Dirt Shirts from Kauai Winner of the 1996 Hawaii "Unique Manufacturer of the Year" award. Hand made by Paradise Sportswear employees at their Port Allen, Kauai, manufacturing plant, Red Dirt T-shirts are the hottest souvenir items in the islands for tourists and local residents alike. Sun Jose Hawaii Featuring a huge selection of clothing, fabrics, food, books, music, video and art. Located in San Jose, California where they have a large retail store. Top Picks in Hawaiian Aloha Shirts The Aloha shirt is the quintessential symbol of Hawaii. Cool, comfortable and casual, Aloha shirts are perfect for that Sunday beach barbeque, a night out at the movies, or just plain lounging around. They're perfect almost anytime in the islands and a great way to remember paradise when you're back home. Top Picks in Hilo Hattie Dresses and Sarongs Hilo Hattie is the Store of Hawaii. With stores on each of the major islands, Hilo Hattie is a must stop for all island visitors. Eileen Fischer, your Guide's wife is a regular Hilo Hattie customer and she offers her picks for some wonderful Hilo Hattie dresses and sarongs. Top Picks in Maui Jim Sunglasses Our picks for the best sunglasses sold by Maui Jim of Lahaina, Maui. Top Picks in Maui Jim Sunglasses Don't miss our picks for the best sunglasses made by Maui Jim of Lahaina Maui. University of Hawaii Press Publisher of over 1100 books the University of Hawaii Press is recognized as a leading publisher of books and journals in Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Studies.   Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2006 About, Inc., A part of The New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About Tips to Losing Weight Guide to Distance Learning How to Travel for Less PHOTOS: Italy PHOTOS: Hybrid Cars What's Hot Top Picks in Hawaiian Coffee Kamehameha the Great Kalua Pig Waikiki Beach, Oahu - Life's a Beach in Hawaii - Hawaii Beac... Best Beaches 1999 Headlines Plumeria Photos from Hawaii Plumeria is the most common flower that you'll find in... You Won't See This Sign at Home! This certainly isn't a sign that you've ever seen near... Atlantis Submarine Tour Maui Since I had just experienced the Atlantis Submarine Tour on... Maui Swap Meet Photos Held every Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to noon is the...

Hawaiian music artist. If

Hawaiian 101 Hawaiian Music 101 "Ho'olohe mai kakou la i na mo'olelo la o ka wa kahiko" (Let us listen together to the stories of the ancient days) Ku Kahakalau "Everything you know is wrong." Firesign Theater Quick test: Name a Hawaiian music artist. If you said Don Ho , or couldn't think of one, this is the page for you. Whatever you think you know about what Hawaiian music sounds like, it's quite possible that you're wrong. If you think it all sounds alike, you're wrong for sure. I've put up a couple of internet "radio stations." Unlike most internet radio, I'll tell you the name of the artist on each song, plus there's a popup box that will show you song title and artist. (They're on Live365 , where you'll have to register if you're a new listener, and you'll have to log on each time you listen. It only takes a minute, and it's well worth doing.) If you're not very familiar with Hawaiian music, these stations are here to introduce you: Hawaiian 101; An Introduction to Hawaiian Music - It's almost two hundred of the best songs from the biggest Hawaiian albums from the lastquarter century (about 13 hours of music), just the thing to introduce you to what you've been missing in contemporary Hawaiian music. You'll hear old Hawaiian songs, pop hits, some reggae, some rock, and even a touch of Polynesian rap. This one's 56k stereo. Slack Key Paradise - All Hawaiian slack key guitar, all the time. Also, some interviews from Dancing Cat Records artists mixed in. This one's set on Shuffle, so you may hear the same artist back to back occasionally, but it's all great. 24k, so even dial-up connections should be able to get it. If you're already a Hawaiian music fan, there's lots more to hear on the web; visit my mikini mele page, the Hawaiian Music Machine, to find all the Hawaiian music on the internet that I know about. Here's some links to learn more about Hawaiian music: Stevo's Hawaiian Music Guide 1997 article (by me) in Perfect Sound Forever music magazine Ukuleles by Kawika , See the artistry that goes into the creation of a great concert ukelele (and a great web page). Download some .wav files and hear the differences. Hawaiian Music Island . To buy Hawaiian music, or learn about artists and records, visit Auntie Maria's site. She's got a special place for you to start, the Introduction Page . Search her database, listen to clips, buy at good prices. Don't forget, while you're there, check her concert calendar . Some great Hawaiian artists may be coming to your neighborhood soon. Don't miss them. And of course, I know you want to buy Hawaiian 101 logo stuff; it's here. I hope this very short introduction will help you start finding some newfavorite songs while you're listening to the most beautiful music in the world, andhelp you support the artists that make it. Maybe I'll see you at a concert one of these days. Art Hadley's pointless personal home page Email to Art@Hawaii.com Hawaiian music hawaiian music Hawaiian Music Hawaiian music hawaiian music Hawaiian Music Hawaiian music hawaiian music Hawaiian Music Hawaiian music hawaiian music Hawaiian Music Hawaiian music hawaiian music Hawaiian Music Hawaiian music hawaiian music Hawaiian Music Hawaiian music hawaiian music Hawaiian Music Updated June 11, 2005 Hawaiian music hawaiian music Hawaiian Music Hawaiian music hawaiian music Hawaiian Music Hawaiian music hawaiian music Hawaiian Music Hawaiian music hawaiian music Hawaiian Music Hawaiian music hawaiian music Hawaiian Music Hawaiian music hawaiian music Hawaiian Music Hawaiian music hawaiian music Hawaiian Music

Hawaiian Cruise

Cruise Ship Profiles Cruise Lines - American Hawaii Cruise Home Photo Gallery Cruise Talk Cruise Search Cruise News Search -- Search CruisePage -- Book a Cruise - CruiseServer - Search Caribbean - Search Alaska - Search Europe - 866.469.4733 Forums Cruise Talk Rail Talk Air Talk Destination Talk Hotel Talk Buy Stuff Evolution of the Ocean Liner Poster Reviews - Ship Reviews - Dream Cruise - Ship of the Month - Reader Reviews - Submit a Review - Millennium Cruise Community - Photo Gallery - Join Cruise Club - Cruise News - Cruise Survey - Cruise Jobs - Special Needs - Maritime Q & A - Sea Stories Industry - New Ship Guide - Former Ships - Port Information - Inspection Scores - Shipyards - Ship Cams - Freighter Travel - Potpourri Shopping - Shirts & Hats - Books - Videos - Reservations - Vacation Specials - Web Deals Contact Us - Reservations - Mail - Feedback - Suggest-a-Site - About Us Travel Resources Reservations Destinations Hotels Air Travel Cruise Travel News/Weather SHIP PROFILE American Hawaii SS Independence TravelPage.com Rating : Submit your review here Operator: American Hawaii Cruises Year Built / Last Refurbished: 1951 / 1994 Length / Tonnage: 682 / 30,900 Number of Cabins / Passengers: 406 / 872 Officers / Crew: American / American Operating Area: Year-round Hawaii Telephone / Fax: Tel 150 2244 / Fax 150 2244 Review by Mark H. Goldberg, TravelServer.net, Cruise Editor Hawaii captures you, soothes and enchants you, she lets you hangloose and envelop yourself in the bright colors of her land andsea. Sail the INDEPENDENCE and it won't be long before you'redecked out in a loud, colorful Hawaiian shirt and enjoying lifethe Old Hawaiian Way. Simply because the State of Hawaii iscomprised of islands, the ideal way to approach them is from thesea and the best way to see them is by this wonderful old cruiseship. Able to produce a maximum of 55,000 shaft horsepower at 150rpms, her steam turbines geared to twin screws are a sight tobehold. When she was new the INDEPENDENCE showed how powerfulthat is when she steamed at just over 26 knots on her trials offCape Cod. By international rules, when new, the INDEPENDENCE was theeleventh largest liner in the world and certainly one of thefastest. The big question was...would anyone care? For spoken intones of a flat declaratory to a shrill protest the cry "No onetravels in an American ship!" was heard in steamship agencies andsmart parties the world over. Experienced travelers and neophytesalike looked upon American ships with a bemused condescension,secure in the "knowledge" that in terms of food and service,those "Yankee" liners just couldn't produce - the foreign linerswere better. American ships had a severe image problem. Yet theAmerican twins INDEPENDENCE and her identical twin CONSTITUTIONsoon proved themselves extraordinarily popular, hostingglittering rosters of notables intent on sailing under the "Starsand Stripes". Movie producers were drawn to them. Cary Grant andDeborah Kerr starred in "An Affair to Remember" costarrinq theCONSTITUTION. After United States Lines stodgily rebuffed Desilustudios, American Export sent plenty of material and film footageof the twin liners to Hollywood. Who among us can ever forgetLucille Ball "landing" by helicopter on the after Bridge Deck ofthe CONSTITUTION? And yes...THIS is the INDEPENDENCE the agent onthe pier mentioned when he told a distraught Lucy that she couldget to Europe on the following sailing... So great was theirpopularity that in 1958 American Export Lines sent both ships formajor overhauls. Fitting additional First Class cabins, theforward ends of their superstructures were massively altered. Forall that, against the ANDREA DORIA and CRISTOFORO COLOMBO andlater the LEONARDO da VINCI and the superliners MICHELANGELO andRAFFAELLO on the "Sunny Southern Route", the American liners justcouldn't compete. The results of a projected trio of 20,000 ton express liners forthe Mediterranean route, these ships began to take shape as farback as 1940 when American Export Lines, Inc. planned for thefuture. It would be YEARS before any such ships were built andwhen they were, there were two, not three. And bucking anAmerican Export Line tradition, the two ships were not givennames beginning with "EX" but were instead named for historicU.S. Navy frigates. Had the intended third sister been built, shewould likely have been named CONSTELLATION. Asking for inputfrom many quarters, it is Gustavo Pulitzer, famed Italianinterior designer who should be given first initial credit formany of the pleasing touches in the ultimate form of theseclassic liners. Noted American industrial designer Henry Dreyfussin collaboration with the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporationdeserves credit as the designers of the INDEPENDENCE and hersister CONSTITUTION. With the help of mail contracts and buildingsubsidies to pay the $25,000,000 each ship cost (that's over $150million each, in TODAY's dollars!) two ships were laid down atBethlehem Steel Company's Quincy, Massachusetts yards at thevery end of the 1940's, the INDEPENDENCE on March 29, 1949, theCONSTITUTION on July 12th. Their plans included many eventualdefense and military needs so safety provisions, fire proofing andrapid convertibility to trooping requirements took first place inthe design of the pair. And the INDEPENDENCE is still a very safeship today! Debuting with a 53 day cruise to the Mediterranean, Red Sea andIndia in 1951, the INDEPENDENCE got into service before theItalian postwar liners came out and captured the cream of theItaly trade. And even had the competition been less, theINDEPENDENCE and CONSTITUTION would have been hard pressed tomeet the enormous costs of operating under the American flageither on their regular Atlantic service or on cruises throughthe Mediterranean or to the Caribbean. By the late 1960s theseAmerican liners were desperate for money and American ExportLines entered into an agreement with Diner's Club/Fugazy to jazzup the twin ships. Only the INDEPENDENCE was actually updated toappeal to a "mod" generation and when she appeared with Harlow'seyes peering out from her halo of a "mod" sunburst on her whitehull, eyes rolled in contempt. Before the ship lover knew it, sheand the CONSTITUTION were gone from our lives. Withdrawn by 1968,the CONSTITUTION went into idleness at Jacksonville, Floridafollowed a few months later by the INDEPENDENCE which was laid upat Baltimore with their fleet mate ATLANTIC. Reports of a sale ofone or both of the sisters to Chandris came to naught. A plan tooperate the INDEPENDENCE on charter by Wall Street Tours, aManhattan based travel company also went nowhere. Should theyfind buyers willing to operate them, they would be but shadows oftheir former selves. The ships were idle for years until 1974 when fabled Chineseshipowner C.Y. Tung came to their rescue. Buying the pair with anobligation to return them to the control of the United Statesgovernment in time of war, he had each ship's twin funnelsrepainted with his signature livery, a red chrysanthemum on buff.Prefacing each ship's name with "OCEANIC", he sent them to HongKong. Some work was found for the OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE but nonefor her sister which now rode at anchor in the shadow of VictoriaPeak. For a while in 1975 the OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE shuttledbetween Lisbon and Angola carrying refugees, mostly civiliansfleeing Angola to Portugal Lisbon. Then, despite several goodintentions, she was again retired and returned to lay up. When Matson and later Pacific Far East Line went out of thepassenger business leaving the piers at Aloha Tower bereft ofpassenger tonnage save the occasional cruise caller, C.Y. Tungsaw possibilities where others saw problems and investigated thepossibility of operating his beautiful OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE as acruise ship among the Hawaiian Islands. But since Congressthought to protect American ship owners and shipbuilders as earlyas 1886, any ship operating Hawaii cruises would have to haveAmerican registry. American ships sold abroad are ineligible toreturn to U.S. registry except in time of war. Though Americanbuilt, the ship was now registered abroad and THAT could havebeen a big problem for the proposed weekly cruises through theHawaiian islands. Unanimously approved by both the U.S. Senateand House of Representatives in 1979, an Act of Congress broughtthe OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE back under the Stars and Stripes andallowed American Hawaii Cruises to go into business. The pleasanttask of refurbishing the graceful vessel for modern cruisingbegan. Eliminating class distinctions, upgrading cabins on thelower decks and altering the decor to include the soft atmosphereof the Hawaiian Islands, the OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE was ready tobegin a new life. Wearing a traditional Hawaiian lei at her stemas she arrived off Honolulu for the first time, she paused offPearl Harbor long enough to drop a wreath in memory of Americanforces killed in the surprise attack there on December 7, 1941. But after that, at least since her maiden sailing on her 7 daycruise circuit of the major islands on June 21, 1980, the gentleHawaii of the tradewinds reigns supreme aboard this wonderfulship. In the meantime American Hawaii Cruises has changed handstwice and the newest owners, who also own the wonderfulMISSISSIPPI QUEEN, AMERICAN QUEEN and DELTA QUEEN decided toupgrade and substantially improve the INDEPENDENCE. In 1994 theship was withdrawn from service and sent to Newport NewsShipbuilding and Drydock Company where she was extensivelyrefitted and prepared to last another forty five years! Conceived to be an example of luxurious modernAmerican living at sea the INDEPENDENCE still offers relaxedelegance in a bright and airy modern decor reflecting the naturalbeauty and colors of Hawaii. The INDEPENDENCE has acres of deck space and both open andcovered promenades. The design of the ship includes a pair ofwings over the old Sea Isle Club, once the First Class pool. Fromthere you have an eaqle's view of the festivities on the afterdecks. It's also a great place to see and not be noticed...Justbeyond the former Sunlane Club, now called the Ohana Lounge isthe big swimming pool and its surrounding lido is the scene ofmany a party. The main public rooms are the semicircularCommodore's Terrace...aft on Kamaa'ina (formerly Promenade) Deckwhere evenings are welcomed with a cocktail and a tune from thetalented pianist. Next is the Hoi Hoi Showplace where sightlinesare mostly good and the efforts of the cruise staff and twoHawaiian dance troupes are shown during nightly shows.Centerpiece of the INDEPENDENCE's public rooms, though, is theKama'aina Lounge...newly thought out and opened up during herrecent refit...so it now extends to the floor to ceiling windowsof the former glass enclosed promenade. Tropical in decor it'sworth a visit if only to write a postcard home...if you can evenremember you had a life before you came to Hawaii. One deck below are the Ohana Lounge and the Ohana Buffet...theformer providing seating for people feasting from the buffet aswell as offering a venue for some late night entertainments. Waydown deep in the ship is a cinema while in spaces once occupiedby Tourist Class public rooms on Maui (formerly A) Deck are thegym and a conference center. There are generally two sittings at dinner, mostbreakfasts and lunches are served in open sittings. Down in the420 seat Hibiscus Dining Room on sailing night there's a buffet.The more intimate 110 seat Orchid Dining Room doesn't operate onSaturday night...it opens for breakfast on Sunday morning. "Aha!"you'll think if you are skeptical of American tonnage - the hotdogs. "There must be something fishy here...Is this an Americanship? This is a sumptuous set up and it looks good," you'llthink. That's what I thought the first time and every time I'vesailed since as I pile on enough shrimp, roast beef and assortedfoodstuffs to choke a pig. A steward brightly garbed in an Alohashirt will escort you to a table and your culinary adventurebegins. For a change I cannot say enough about the food in theINDEPENDENCE. Maybe it's because my expectations were low ormaybe because the food is so good...in fact the food is usuallybetter than good and I'll spill the beans...one feisty old lady,a Mrs. Gottrocks in her own right...and something of a cruiseship reviewer proclaimed the only cruise ship to serve betterfood than she ate on the INDEPENDENCE was the SEA GODDESS I, anaccolade I surely second.... You will eat so well aboard this ship I'd be surprised if you'reable to muster up the curiosity to investigate the midnightsnack. If the lunch buffet doesn't tempt you and the menu in the DiningRoom does, GO...even if you feel less than hunger pangs. Iremember sitting down and thinking "Drat!, foiled again! No HotDogs" - but for simple meals there are great burgers assembled asyou like them, a big sandwich and several choices of hot dishes. Every brochure in the business trumpets the praises of the shin'scuisines so loudly that few can really deliver. American HawaiiCruises has always underplayed its claims to wonderful foodthough the food aboard the INDEPENDENCE is a treat. Somewherebehind the scenes in this American operation must be a Jewish orItalian grandmother demanding that all hands be overfed! Underlining the contemporary American way of living, there was solittle cleavage between First and Cabin class spaces it seemedthat most cabins were interchangeable between the two. And therewas a lot of truth in that for 40% of the 1,003 berths in eachship were interchangeable among classes. Only 205 berths werepermanently graded First Class, 109 always Cabin Class and 258full time Tourist Class. That flexible passenger arrangement gaveAmerican Export Lines tremendous leeway in following marketdemands. Highlight of modern American living were cabinsconvertible to sitting rooms by day. Most cabins are still soequipped and that sofa you use in the afternoon is a verycomfortable bed - because it's not a pull out...the sofa back folds down to reveal a thick comfortable mattress. TheINDEPENDENCE is a one class ship now offering a dazzling 13different varieties of private quarters from tiny Category GBudget Cabins (both inside and outside available) to a CategoryAAA Superior Suite...Category D is the lowest grade for two lowerbeds but for this cruise...your cabin is not where you will wantto be. Take a look at an outside cabin on A deck forward. Decorated withHawaii in mind, it has a Hawaiian name as well as a number. It'sbig enough to sleep four comfortably and the round portholereminds you you are aboard ship. Once you unpack you will bepuzzled by the surfeit of storage space for there are enoughclosets for a dowager and enough drawers for an apothecary. What is small, though, is the shower...but that good Americanplumbing is happily in evidence. American Hawaii Cruises is very"INTO" Hawaii...so much so that one of the most popular employeesaboard ship is the KUMU, the Hawaiian story teller....whose jobit is to tell the visitor as much as possible about Hawaiianlore, customs and culture... Around twilight time on Saturdayevenings, passengers gather in the Hoi Hoi Showplace for aHawaiian Show, one show aboard ship I'm glad I saw. Thisextravaganza of Hawaiian music and hula dancing and memories ofthe "Aloha" that evening will remain with you long after theINDEPENDENCE stops sailing. With the full range of usual cruiseship activities enhanced by some like lei making and ukelelelessons apropos in these parts, it's not hard to imagine how mostpassengers spent their day at sea. I saw some at breakfast in theDining Room where the extraordinary personalities of friendlystaff broke the ice of a first morning at sea. I saw others atthe breakfast buffet while I was on my way to stock up withlogoed souvenirs in the ship's signature shop. But a visit to theNavigation bridge of THIS ship always gets me and I alwaysvisit...even if only for another look at the framed noticeinstructing the officer on watch to take the ship immediately tosea in the event of a nuclear attack. My favorite Hawaiian island is always the one I'm on and I thinkI'd like to keep with the INDEPENDENCE until I have done everyshore excursion the line offers... and at last count there are 56of them. Getting ready to board the INDEPENDENCE I grin like ahyena even before a lei is placed around my neck and I pause forthe obligatory mug shot cruise lines like to sell boardingpassengers. Even before sailing the INDEPENDENCE offers a lot ofthe Hawaii experience but for me one of the best is the moment ofdeparture on this unique American flag ocean liner. Once out ofthe harbor the ship turns to port and is soon off Waikiki. Sunday - It's not far from one island to the next but Sundays are spent at sea and for most of the day from nearly anywhere outon one of her 23,000 feet of open dock space, you can look outand see islands, Kahoolawe, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, depending uponthe circuitous route the Captain chooses to navigate. An activesort, I spent usually spend Sunday afternoons aboard theINDEPENDENCE in a deck chair outside the Surfrider Bar, hardlyable to pause later for some fresh popcorn. When Monday morning comes...be ready for a wonderful time onKauai, the Garden Island. There should be time for a drive out toHanalei Bay. If there is a prettier spot than that end of Kauai,its not on this planet. It's vaguely around the corner from theNa Pali coast, a formation of lushly covered steep cliffsshrouding pretty beaches accessed only by boat orhelicopter.Compelling is the word for the helicopter trip theline offers for a look at those cliffs which rise majesticallyfrom the sea. It's a toss up as to which is lovelier...Kauai orMaui but since the ship arrives at Kahului, Maui on Tuesday foran overnight call, you have plenty of time to check it out anddecide for yourself IF YOU CAN! Maui, so deservedly popular withvacationers, exudes a charm of her own. From the jumbled strandsof spaghetti paved into a road called the Hana highway, a 55 milecourse through landscape inordinately compelling to the majesticIao valley, Maui is a sensual delight. Never mind that AmericanHawaii brings a fabulously rousing Hawaiian show to entertainpassengers here. It's during the Maui call that American Hawaiioffers a shore excursion like no other. Uncommercial in theextreme, it's Tour 32 (at least it USED to be), not a trip forthe queasy or the debile. Leaving the ship's side at 3:30 AM,participants follow a tour leader and bike down the slopes fromthe summit of Mt. Haleakala, 10,000 feet above sea level.MAGNIFICENT! On Thursday the INDEPENDENCE calls at Hilo on the Big Island ofHawaii where you can pick up another rental car and drive it toAkaka Falls, catch another look at Volcano National Park, drivedown the Chain of Craters Road and maybe have lunch in town.(Whatever you do...DON'T bother with the buffet at VolcanoHouse...) To me it is near Hilo, sleepy, rainy little Hilo, wherethe air is gentlest and the breeze softest. Kona on the bright,dry side of this big island is the next port and the INDEPENDENCEanchors there on Friday mornings and the tender gives youflawless views of the ship as it pulls away, runs alongside andcuts across the liner's gently raking bows. Coffee plantations,macadamia nut farms and the Parker ranch are on this side of theBig Island. After the INDEPENDENCE clears Kona on Friday evening, my leiwent into the sea from the after deck. I know that it washedashore and will bring me back...A week in the INDEPENDENCE speedsby like an hour, drawing all to soon to a close. This graciousGRANDE DAME really does turn on its ear for all time must be thatabsurd old saw, "No one travels in an American ship" for here inthe waters of Hawaii the INDEPENDENCE is deservedly popular, anAmerican ship that wins the hearts of most who sails with her. The "who's who" of who has sailed in the INDEPENDENCEor CONSTITUTION at some point in the ship's career really doesread like "Who's Who" for so many names in that book have been onthe ships' passenger lists. It was President Reagan who happilysigned the bill to bring the CONSTITUTION back under Americanregistry. He was familiar with these ships and had been aboardthe INDEPENDENCE for a Governors' conference back in the 1960'swhen he was Governor of California. A framed photograph of himand Mrs. Reagan hangs in the ship's wheelhouse. It is said thatwhen he took the helm the ship veered slightly to the right... People demanding nonstop 24 hour a day loud action accompanied bypulsating bass may not enjoy a cruise in this ship (though I'd besurprised if there is ANYONE who doesn't enjoy a 7 nightINDEPENDENCE cruise). This ship is particularly popular withpeople over 40 who seem to enjoy the sock hop, pajama party andother events calculated to please us aging "boomers" but there isa lot here for everyone - from toddlers to great grandpa!. The first time I set out for Honolulu to takethis ship I hoped for the best and expected the worst. Visions ofplastic cups, paper plates and hot dogs, motel modern style andindifferent American service filled my dream track the nightbefore my first sailing in this ship. Well I needn't haveworried! That cruise was marvelous. Now, after a multi-milliondollar refit and plenty of attention to detail, the ship exudes awarm, friendly Hawaiian air. In a nutshell...this ship and her 7night Hawaii cruise is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 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