Hawaiian Gift Baskets .

Bath, Body & More! Hawaiian Gift Basket Bath, Body & More Gift Basket The Bath, Body & More! gift basket offers a compliment of premium handmade soaps, bath salts, tropical bath crystals, body lotion, Hawaiian candles and personal care items. More Hawaiian Gift Baskets . Express Shipping via USPS Express Mail available for this gift item. Bath, Body & More! Gift Basket The Bath, Body & More! Gift Basket includes: Kauai Rose Handmade Soap 3.25oz Lavender Handmade Soap 3.25oz Passion Fruit Pure Coconut Soap 2oz Coconut-Rose Premium Hawaiian Bath Salt Tube 4.5oz Tropical Scented Lotion 4oz Tropical Scented Bath Crystals 6Pack Gift Set Nylon Lather Builder Pack (25) Assorted Mini Floating Plumeria Candles Keepsake Hawaiian Woven Lauhala Basket Gift Card Free USPS Priority Mail shipping within the US. Qty. Bath, Body & More! Gift Basket w/Free Shipping $54.95 Availability - this gift basket ships within 2 business days. Qty. Bath, Body & More! Gift Basket w/USPS Express Shipping $76.15 Availability - this gift basket ships next business day. Please note: Each keepsake basket is individually hand decorated here in Hawaii. The Hawaiian fabric colors and basket ornamentation may vary from those pictured above. It may be necessary to substitute an out of stock item with a similar item of equal or greater value on occasion. All of our Hawaiian gift baskets are individually created here in our shop and not mass produced or drop shipped from a gift basket vendor. Free shipping is via USPS Priority Mail with Delivery Confirmation within the US only. Please allow additional time for delivery during the busy holiday season. Fresh floral accents not included. Order online or call us toll free! 1-800-210-1668 [Home] [Handmade Soap] [Bath Salts] [Bath Crystals] [Gift Baskets] [Gift Certificates] [Glossary] [Kids Soap] [Hawaiian Bath Gels] [Hawaiian Body Lotion] [Hawaiian Candles] [Hawaiian Calendars] [Soap Making Books] [Soap Making Resources] [Soap Making Supplies] [Contact Us] [FAQ] [News] [Ordering] [Ohana/Links]

Lanai Rocks Luxe Outpost

Hawaiian Islands Overview | Outside Online Home Gear Bodywork Travel Archives Online Specials Subscribe United States Canada Caribbean Mexico Central America South America Europe Africa Asia Australia-Pacific Search for You Are Here: Home Travel Luxe Outpost More Travel New Mexico Amazing Best Trips 2005 Hiking Scotland MSR Miox purifier (Accessories) 66° North Glymur Powershield Pants (Ski & Snowboard Gear / Pants) Outdoor Research Neoplume Jacket (Jacket) View all Gear Blogs Today's Question Should I run on the treadmill before I eat breakfast or should I eat something first? answer How can I give my legs the right amount of rest when training for a triathlon? answer Today's Question Can you recommend a folding bike I can load onto an inflatable kayak? answer Where can I get a good "strapack"? answer Buy Gear at REI Hiking Gear Cycling Gear Paddling Gear Snow Sports Gear Women's Specific Gear Women's Outerwear Men's Outerwear Kid's Outerwear Luggage & Travel Gear All Gear on Sale Online Favorites " Into Thin Air " Best Adventure Books The O Files: Unsolved Mysteries Dream Towns Dream Jobs Special Issues 2005 Buyer's Guide Summer Traveler Tour de France Adventure Lodges Oceanic Endeavors Adventure Goddesses Photo Galleries Tour de France 2005 American Coasts Beaches See All Galleries Outside Magazine, March 2005 Why Lanai Rocks Luxe Outpost Mellow never had it so good By Ethan Watters Intro | Kauai | Big Island | Lanai | Molokai | Oahu | Maui Going nowhere fast: fat-tire riding, Lanai (Castle & Cooke Resorts) I WAS IN THE GARDEN OF THE GODS at twilight when the feeling first came over me. From Lanai's only town, I had driven half an hour north on a single-lane dirt road to this otherworldly plateau of red dust, pinnacles, and encrusted lava. I turned off the engine of the jeep but left the radio blaring rock from a Big Island station. Walking away from the car—at just the point where the trade winds began to drown out the electric guitar—I felt suddenly and deliriously alone. Like many city dwellers, I fantasize about being stranded on a Pacific island. I read Robinson Crusoe as a kid and saw Cast Away the day it opened, but I'd never experienced the exquisite ache of loneliness that a shipwreck survivor might feel until that moment, standing at the northern edge of Lanai and looking out at the darkening ocean. Of course, this was an illusion. When I turned around, my jeep was there, with the Stone Temple Pilots singing an anthem to modern-day alienation. But all was not lost: I was still on Lanai. Shaped like a teardrop, 18 miles long, and only 13 miles across at its widest point, Lanai has retained a sense of splendid seclusion. No theme-park resorts here. In fact, since the island was once used for growing pineapples and cattle ranching—and 98 percent of it is owned by a single real estate holding—development has been kept to a minimum. Lanai City, with a population of just 3,000, is tightly contained in less than four square miles and still looks like the 1920s pineapple-plantation village it used to be. About half of the island's coast is sheer cliff against ocean, and most of the land is arid—red dirt and low grass. There are less than three dozen miles of paved road, not a single mile of which runs along the coastline; nearly all shore access is by jeep trail, hiking, or rappelling. From almost any place on the island, I had to walk only 15 minutes and I could be deep in my thousands-of-miles-from-civilization reverie. The illusion of utter isolation is a delicacy, but like ordering blowfish at a sushi bar, it's one you want carefully served with the poison excised. Which is to say that the thrill of feeling stranded can sometimes lead to restlessness if you don't have an ultra-luxe hotel to head back to at the end of the day. Fortunately, Lanai has two such retreats. The low, Mediterranean-style buildings of the Manele Bay Hotel are terraced into a hillside next to the island's nicest strand, Hulopoe Beach. The most decadent suites—outfitted with four-poster beds—come with butler service, so I wasn't surprised to learn that, back in the early nineties, Bill Gates had rented the entire place for his wedding. Ten miles away, close to town, the Lodge at Koele, with its old-world hunting-estate decor, is an oddity in Hawaii. Because it's situated at 1,700 feet in the island's center, breezes are often cool enough to warrant use of the lobby's wood-burning fireplace. Both resorts have golf courses that are so well manicured and cleverly designed, with ocean backdrops and island greens, that they look like the virtual landscapes in a golf video game. What I like best about Lanai is that it manages a perfect balance between what there is to do and what there isn't. Sure, you can hook up with scuba and fishing charters, sample world-class snorkeling off Shipwreck Beach (so named because a World War II Liberty Ship rusts on the reef), sea-kayak with pods of spinner dolphins in Kaunolu Bay, mountain-bike down the Munro Trail, and ride horses above Maunalei Gulch. But karaoke nightclubs and beachfront bacchanalias? If you use party as a verb, this is not your island. In the end, your choices come down to a happily manageable handful: Should I play croquet or visit the sporting-clay facility to blow some plates out of the sky? Should I take a jeep down that dirt road or rent a mountain bike and go exploring? Should I get the alii banana-and-coconut scrub or the ki pola hoolu ti leaf wrap? Still want more? Take your day planner and head for Maui. Access & Resources Hole Up: The 249-room, Mediterranean-style Manele Bay Hotel is the only resort on the water. Its spacious rooms open onto garden courtyards or overlook Hulopoe Beach, the island's best. Doubles from $400; 800-450-3704, www.manelebayhotel.com » If you're into fetishizing the lifestyle of English lords and ladies, the 102-room Lodge at Koele, just north of Lanai City, is perfection. The largest wooden structure in the islands, it's modeled after old English hunting lodges, with a full croquet course and pros to teach you the game. Doubles from $400; 800-450-3704, www.lodgeatkoele.com » The oldest and most low-key of the island's accommodations is the 11-room Hotel Lanai, on the edge of Lanai City. Built by pineapple king James Dole in 1923 to house his execs, the plantation-style rooms have a warm charm. Doubles from $105; 877-665-2624, www.hotellanai.com Dine: The Blue Ginger Café is a casual local favorite just across the street from Dole Park, in the center of Lanai City. Eat there two days in a row and you're likely to see the same friendly faces. 808-565-6363 » Henry Clay's Rotisserie, in the Hotel Lanai, serves hearty New Orleans fare at moderate prices. The small bar here is one of the few places where locals and visitors mingle. 877-665-2624 Get Out: Trilogy Ocean Sports Lanai is the catchall guiding service on the island. It leads catamaran-supported scuba dives to the walls and reefs below Lanai's rocky shores, rents jeeps to explore the island's mostly dirt roads, and arranges guided four-wheel-drive expeditions if you don't want to go it alone. Prices vary; 888-628-4800, www.visitlanai.com » Thanks to the cliffs that cover nearly half of Lanai's 47-mile coastline, access to many beaches requires a hike or four-wheel drive. There is one notable exception: Hulopoe Beach, at the south end of Route 440, is not only car-accessible; it's continually rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. On the west end of the beach, the Manele Bay Hotel keeps a stash of snorkel equipment in a kiosk for its guests. » Blast a couple of clay pigeons at the Lodge at Koele's sport-shooting facility. $150 for 100 rounds; 808-559-4600, www.lodgeatkoele.com Shop: The Heart of Lanai art gallery sells island paintings by local artists and custom-made ukuleles. 888-565-7815 Next Page: Your ticket to the land of big cliffs and big hearts Intro | Kauai | Big Island | Lanai | Molokai | Oahu | Maui • Subscribe to Outside magazine for just $1.50 per month. • Give the gift of Outside Magazine! Sponsored Results Where City name or airport code Check in Check out Guests 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rooms 1 2 3 COMPARE PRICES on Web sites Expedia Orbitz Hotels.com Travelocity Cheap Tickets Lodging.com From City name or airport code To City name or airport code Leave Return Travelers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 COMPARE PRICES on Web sites Expedia Orbitz Travelocity Cheap Tickets Pick-up location City name / airport code Pick-up date Time 7 am 7:30 am 8 am 8:30 am 9 am 9:30 am 10 am 10:30 am 11 am 11:30 am noon 12:30 pm 1 pm 1:30 pm 2 pm 2:30 pm 3 pm 3:30 pm 4 pm 4:30 pm 5 pm 5:30 pm 6 pm 6:30 pm 7 pm 7:30 pm 8 pm 8:30 pm 9 pm 9:30 pm 10 pm 10:30 pm 11 pm midnight Drop-off location City name / airport code Drop-off date Time 7 am 7:30 am 8 am 8:30 am 9 am 9:30 am 10 am 10:30 am 11 am 11:30 am noon 12:30 pm 1 pm 1:30 pm 2 pm 2:30 pm 3 pm 3:30 pm 4 pm 4:30 pm 5 pm 5:30 pm 6 pm 6:30 pm 7 pm 7:30 pm 8 pm 8:30 pm 9 pm 9:30 pm 10 pm 10:30 pm 11 pm midnight COMPARE PRICES on Web sites Orbitz Cheaptickets advertisement The Ultimate Beach Guide—$99 Vegas: 3rd Night Free Celebrate 50 Years of Disney Magic with Special Deals All-Inclusive Vacations—Leave Your Wallet Behind United Airlines Spring Travel Sale—from $85+ AirTran: All Destinations Are on Sale—from $94+ R/T Summertime Deals are Here—$112 R/T TACA: Central America Sale $179 Mexico, Your Way: Air + Hotel from $451 All-Inclusive Vacations—Leave Your Wallet Behind 5-Day Rome Super Saver—from $499 Air France Fare Sale to Europe! $309 Save an Extra $100 Now with Flight + Hotel Last-Minute Flights—Cheap! $83! Win the Trip of Your Choice! In London, We Have Over 200 Ways to Say "Free" FREE Disney World Vacation Planning Kit & DVD -- Sign up now to receive the monthly VisitEurope travel newsletter Get your FREE Alaska Vacation Planner and screensaver! FREE Lake George, NY Travel Guide More From Outside Online Outside December 2005 All-Stars Lance Armstrong Gift Guide Winter Escapes Special Issues 2005 Buyer's Guide Outside Traveler Summer '05 Tour de France 2005 Climber Girls Photo Gallery Outside November 2005 Australia Afghanistan Patagonia Winter Hot List Online Exclusives Outside Lodges Literary All-Stars Oceanic Endeavors Adventure Goddesses Outside October 2005 Worst Moments Yvon Chouinard Ultrarunning Rivals Custom Gear Online Favorites Outside Gear Blog Gear Guy Fitness Q&A Guide to Summer Outside September 2005 Dream Jobs Brad Washburn Nevada Jack Johnson Outside Classics Into Thin Air The Whale Hunters Terminal Ice The Killing Bones Vacation Ideas from The Away Network Active & Outdoor Australia Belize California Colorado Costa Rica Caribbean Vacations Bahamas Dominican Republic Jamaica Puerto Rico U.S. Virgin Islands Family Vacations Lake Tahoe Los Angeles Orlando Sanibel Island Washington, D.C. Golf Boca Raton Hilton Head Myrtle Beach Palm Springs Scottsdale National Parks Acadia Crater Lake Rocky Mountain Yellowstone Yosemite Ski Vacations California Colorado Utah Vermont All Ski Resorts European Vacations Dublin London Paris Prague Rome U.S. Cities Las Vegas Miami New York City San Diego San Francisco Home | Gear | Travel | Bodywork | Archives | Feedback | Subscribe to Outside Magazine | Join/Login About Outside | Advertise | Subscription Services | Outside Info | Site Map | Press Room Photo Department | Privacy Policy | Contact Us | Contributor's Guidelines ©2006 Mariah Media Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of material from any pages without written permission is strictly prohibited.

Hawaiian Quilt Masterpieces by

Hawaiian Quilt Masterpieces Book Categories ---------------- Art Nature Judaica Ethnic Cultures Military Crafts Keepsake Books Books for Brides Calendars Children's Classics Other Skip To . . . ------------- Front Page Who we are / contact info. Ordering Info. Books by Title Books by Category Upcoming Titles Reference Library Authors Reviews Interactive Area Search this site Hawaiian Quilt Masterpieces by Robert Shaw In a land where the warmth afforded by a wool- or cotton-filled quilt is anything but a necessity, quiltmaking takes on an entirely new and different meaning Bringing elements of their Polynesian heritage to the American quilt, nineteenth-century Hawaiians created a distinctive and beautiful art form that is still actively practiced throughout the islands. Hawaiian Quilt Masterpieces presents 55 remarkable historic and contemporary quilts, all reproduced in full color, which trace the history of the islands: from the early influences of missionaries and traders, to annexation by the United States and subsequent statehood, to the current concerns of today's Hawaiian quilt masters. Hawaii's stunning quilts capture the essence of the islands' overwhelming natural beauty. Early quilters developed the beloved Hawaiian appliqué quilt, its lovely floral designs cut like giant snowflakes from a single piece of cloth. They also created the unique tradition of the flag quilt, made to memorialize the glorious past of the Hawaiian kingdom that fell when the United States annexed the islands in 1898. This volume offers some of the finest examples of the islands' fabric art, highlighted by works of such masterful island quiltmakers as Elizabeth Akana, Sharon Balai, and Junedale Lauwaeomakana Quinories, whose clever variations on classic designs and techniques are spiced with subtle twists of modernity. This book's insightful and informative text tells how the designs of these extraordinary creations are grounded in spirituality, the indigenous flora, and the visual expression of history. Hawaiian Quilt Masterpieces is the first new book on the subject in many years and is sure to become a standard reference in the field. If you are a lover of quilts, and if the idyllic geography and fascinating lore of the Hawaiian Islands lures you, then this is the perfect guide to the exotic and beautiful world of Hawaiian quilts. 9 x 12 in., 120 pages ISBN: 0-88363-396-5 $35.00 U.S., $47.50 Canada More info. about this book Buy This Book from . . .

Molokai / Lanai >

Molokai - All About Molokai Hawaii - Travel Information Articles and Net Links You are here: About > Travel > Hawaii / South Pacific for Visitors > Maui / Molokai / Lanai > Molokai 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 > Maui / Molokai / Lanai > Molokai All About Molokai Your guide to the best vacation accommodations and sightseeing activities available on Molokai, Hawaii's "most Hawaiian" island. Subtopics A Hawaii Vacation Planner @ Molokai Maps (4) Beach Guide @ Molokai Photos @ Molokai Activities (14) Places to Stay on Molokai (22) Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent Daytrip to Molokai Join us as we visit Molokai for a day with Paragon Air and Molokai Offroad Tours and Taxi. Visiting Kalaupapa Today Thanks to the Molokai Mule Ride and Father Damien Tours you can now visit the Kalaupapa Peninsula on Molokai. Molokai Nun Takes First Step Towards Sainthood On Monday, April 19,2004, the Vatican approved the "heroic virtue" of Mother Marianne Cope, putting her on the road to sainthood. The German-born nun, who joined the St. Francis sisters in Syracuse, NY at the age of 24, worked for more than 30 years with leprosy patients in Hawaii. Molokai: The Story of Father Damien A major motion picture filmed on O'ahu and Molokai is now available on VHS and DVD. 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 2006 Special Packages on Kauai For travelers considering a visit to the Garden Isle of... 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...

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. VACATION & CRUISE SPECIALS Check out these great deals from TravelPage.com Holland America - Holiday Adventures from $372 per person Description: Take advantage of these great holiday itineraries. Sail with Holland America to an amazing collection of ports in the Caribbean and Mexico. You won't find these fares anywhere else! Celebrity - Caribbean from $330 per person Description: More great Celebrity Caribbean values. Stroll on the velvety sands of a Jamaican beach or wander through an emerald rain forest. Swim with the stingrays or Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters or Grand Cayman. Relax with two days at sea. Cruises depart from Miami. SilverSea - Europe and South America includes $200 Onboard Credit Description: Explore the exotic ports of South America, stroll the streets of the French Riviera, or watch the changing of the seasons in New England. Sailing aboard a Silversea ship is unique and intimate. Its as if you had your own chartered yacht and could sail anywhere you wanted, except we do all the work for you while you laze in our pool, or watch the dolphins play. Crystal - Mexican Riviera and New England from $1,323 per person Description: Choose between extended itineraries to the Mexican Riviera or relaxing fall foliage cruises to Canada and New England. Sail with Crystal Cruises and discover why the difference is Crystal clear. Experience a convenient 7, 11 or 14-day voyage with the luxury Crystal Harmony or Crystal Symphony. NCL - Caribbean and Bahamas extra savings of $100 per person Description: Explore the islands and beaches of the Bahamas with stops in Nassau and Castaway Cay. Visit historic Bermuda or experience the changing of the seasons in New England. On your way home, enjoy a relaxing day at sea. Includes Philadelphia and New York departures. Disney World - 6 Days, 5-Nights from $499 Description: Vacations to Walt Disney World Resort are more affordable than ever. Plus, new magical benefits will make staying at Disney Resorts the most relaxing way to do and see everything Walt Disney World Resort has to offer. Check out these great deals. More Vacation & Cruise Specials... Cruise Home Photo Gallery Cruise Talk Cruise Search Cruise News This page, and all contents, are © 1995-2002 by Interactive Travel Guides, Inc. and/or its suppliers. All rights reserved. TravelPage.com is a trademark of Interactive Travel Guides, Inc. Powered by TravelServer Software