MAUI WINDSURFING VANS 415

Hawaii - Maui - Auto/Recreation Rentals (surfboards, kayaks, boogie boards, bicycles, mopeds, snorkel gear etc.) Activities Maui Printer Friendly Version Help us preserve the Islands. Tell our advertisers you found them on Alternative-Hawaii. RENTALS: AUTO & OUTDOOR GEAR (See Also Sports & Recreation ) Automobiles / Campers | Bicycles | Boats / Yachts | Camping Equipment Kayaks | Medical Equipment Snorkeling/Diving | Surfing / Windsurfing AUTOMOBILES / CAMPERS SPONSORS AL WEST'S MAUI VANS 180 East Wakea Avenue, Suite K Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. (808) 877-0090 or 1-800-870-4084 (Reservations) Fax (808) 871-8733 Email: mauivan@mauivans.com Providing rental vans and station wagons to Maui windsurfers, surfers and vacation travelers for over 23 years. Featuring new or dependable used Fords and Chryslers - non-smoking vehicles that include windsurf and surfboard racks, free ice coolers, beach chairs, free child seats and beach toys. Free shuttle pick-up from the Kahului Airport. Photo CAR RENTALS IN HAWAII (Islands of Maui, Big Island, Oahu, Kauai & Molokai) Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1835, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745-1835 Tel. 1-888-292-3307 (toll free) Email: info@hawaiidiscountcarrental.com Discounted rates on Wrangler soft tops, Mustang convertibles, SUV's, mini vans and cars through Budget, Avis, Dollar and Thrifty. No Prepayment! Book online. Free upgrades. Big Island, Maui, Oahu, Kauai and Molokai. Photo DISCOUNT HAWAII CAR RENTALS (Islands of Maui, Big Island, Oahu, Kauai & Molokai) $139.50/wk Economy cars, $274.75/wk Wranglers and Convertibles. Reserve Avis, Budget, Dollar and Thrifty Rental Cars at our pre-negotiated discounted rates lower than booking directly with car companies. Free upgrades. Spouse drives free. Age 21-24 no surcharge. Free overtime. No money up front. No cancellation charges. Photo IMUA CAMPER COMPANY 45 Shipman Street Hilo, HI 96720 (Islands of Maui and the Big Island) Tel. (808) 935-6241 Fax (808) 935-6241 Email: reservations@imua-tour.com Daily, weekly, and monthly rental of Volkswagen Westfalia Campers with gas stove, refrigerator, sink, and sleeping accommodations for four. A pleasurable and affordable way to freely explore the Hawaiian Islands. Rates: $85 per day with weekly discounts. Photo WAILUA BAY DISCOUNT CAR RENTALS (Islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island & Molokai) Tel. 1-800-882-9007 Fax (425) 556-1292 Email: info@wailuabay.com Offering corporate discount Hawaii car rentals from Avis, Budget, Thrifty and Dollar on Kauai, Maui, Oahu, Big Island of Hawaii and Molokai. There are no prepayment or cancellation fees. Jeep Wranglers, Ford Mustangs, SUV's and Minivans. Compare rates instantly and reserve online. Photo FRIENDS AA ALOHA CARS-R-US 938 South Kihei Road Kihei, HI 96753 (South Maui) Tel. (808) 879-7989 or 1-800-655-7989 A reservation center representing major car rental agencies offering discounted rates for all Hawaiian Islands. Recommended by Frommers, Fodors and Paradise Family Guides. ACCESSIBLE VANS OF HAWAII 296 Alamaha Street, Suite C Kahului, HI 96732 (All Hawaiian Islands) Tel. (808) 871-7785 or 1-800-303-3750 Rent and sell full size and mini wheelchair and scooter vans by the day, the week, or the month. Their travel consultant can arrange accessible accommodations, activities, sightseeing, medical equipment rentals, or personal care attendants. ADVENTURES RENT A JEEP 190 Papa Place Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. (808) 877-6626 or 1-800-701-5337 Drive to Hana on the dirt road - go for it in a Wrangler. ALAMO RENT A CAR 905 W. Mokuea Place Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. (808) 871-6235 Daily, weekly and weekend rates. AVIS RENT A CAR Kahului Airport Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. (808) 871-7575 or 1-800-321-3712 Featuring G.M. cars. BUDGET CAR RENTAL Kahului Airport Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. 1-800-451-3600 One of Hawaii's top car rental companies. DOLLAR RENT A CAR 946 Mokuea Place Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. 1-800-800-4000 Daily and weekly rates on all six major islands. ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR 335 E. Wakea Avenue Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. (808) 871-1511 or 1-800-325-8007 Low rates, great cars, free pick-up. HERTZ RENT A CAR 850 Mokuea Place Kahului Airport Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. (808) 877-5167 or 1-800-654-3011 Featuring Fords and other fine cars. KIHEI RENT-A-CAR 96 Kio Loop Kihei, HI 96753 (South Maui) Tel. (808) 879-7257 Jeeps and sedans. Daily, weekly and monthly rates. MAUI CRUISERS CAR RENTAL, INC. 1270 Piihana Road Wailuku, HI 96793 (Central Maui) Tel. (808) 249-2319 or 1-877-749-7889 Maui's affordable car rental company. Offering decent, clean, well-maintained Toyotas and Nissans. Drive a car that has the "local look" and you'll blend right in. If you want to look like a tourist, call one of the bigger companies. MAUI WINDSURFING VANS 415 Dairy Road Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. (808) 877-0090 Vans with inside board racks, coolers, beach chairs. NATIONAL CAR RENTAL Mokuea Place Kahului Airport Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. (808) 871-8851 or 1-800-227-7368 Wide variety of cars - from economy to mini-vans. THRIFTY CAR RENTAL 542 Keolani Place Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. 1-877-283-0898 or 1-800-367-5238 Featuring Chrysler and other fine cars. WORD OF MOUTH RENT A CAR Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. (808) 877-2436 or 1-800-533-5929 Maui's original low cost rentals in business since 1975. Free airport pick up. Top BICYCLES SPONSORS HALEAKALA BIKE COMPANY 810 Haiku Road, Suite 120 Haiku, HI 96708 (Upcountry Maui) Tel. (808) 575-9575 or 1-888-922-2453 (toll free) Email: staff@bikemaui.com One of Maui's most experienced, most affordable downhill tour companies. Home of the original freestyle Haleakala Downhill. Over 50,000 satisfied customers. Mountain bike rentals available. Photo FRIENDS SOUTH MAUI BICYCLES 1993 South Kihei Road, Unit # 5 Kihei, HI 96753 (South Maui) Tel. (808) 874-0068 Road and mountain bike rentals and repairs. Daily and weekly rates. WEST MAUI CYCLES 840 Wainee Street Lahaina, HI 96761 (West Maui) Tel. (808) 661-9005 Road and mountain bike rentals. Top BOATS / YACHTS SPONSOR HAWAII NAUTICAL: KO OLINA CAT Ko Olina Resort and Marina Ko Olina, HI (All Hawaiian Islands) Mailing Address: 46-471 Hololio Street, Kaneohe, HI 96744 Tel. (808) 234-SAIL Fax (808) 235-6794 Email: hawaiinautical@aol.com Featuring the brand-new 52 foot Ko Olina Cat for dolphin activities, sailing and snorkeling. Guaranteed dolphin or whale sightings. Great crew, great food and drink, great time! The complete source for boats, professional marine services, and recreation packages to enjoy Hawaii's beautiful waters. They provide yacht sales, boat charters, captains, deliveries, sailing lessons, ecotours, slips, and marine surveys. Photo Top CAMPING EQUIPMENT MAUI ECO-ADVENTURES 180 Dickenson Street, Suite 102 Lahaina, HI 96761 (West Maui) Tel. (808) 661-7720 Tents & sleeping bags. Call for information. Top KAYAKS SOUTH PACIFIC KAYAKS & OUTFITTERS 95 Hale Kauai Street Kihei, HI 96753 (Island of Maui) Tel. (808) 875-4848 or 1-800-776-2326 Maui's original kayak adventures. World class guides offering experiences you won't forget. Come paddle with some of the best. Maui's only full service kayak store - sales and rentals. Top MEDICAL EQUIPMENT HAWAII HOME INFUSION 4473 Pahee Street, Suite 1 Lihue, HI 96766 (Islands of Kauai, Oahu and Maui) Tel. (808) 245-3787 Offering the following services and equipment to visitors: home medical equipment and supplies, wheelchairs (manual and electric), IV therapy, and respiratory and oxygen therapy. Top SNORKELING / DIVING MAUI DIVE SHOP 1455 South Kihei Road Kihei, HI 96753 (Island of Maui) Tel. (808) 879-3388 or 1-800-542-DIVE Maui's full-service dive shop established in 1978. Nine locations island-wide. Daily diving / snorkeling boats to Molokini and Lanai. Choose between a 48 foot custom built Pro-Diver or two 32 foot Munson Jet-Drives. Continental breakfast, all equipment available. Call for the shop location nearest you. Top SURFING / WINDSURFING SPONSOR AL WEST'S MAUI VANS 180 East Wakea Avenue, Suite K Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. (808) 877-0090 or 1-800-870-4084 (Reservations) Fax (808) 871-8733 Email: mauivan@mauivans.com Providing rental vans and station wagons to Maui windsurfers, surfers and vacation travelers for over 23 years. Featuring new or dependable used Fords and Chryslers - non-smoking vehicles that include windsurf and surfboard racks, free ice coolers, beach chairs, free child seats and beach toys. Free shuttle pick-up from the Kahului Airport. Photo FRIENDS A & B RENTAL 3481 Lower Honoapiilani Road Honokowai, HI 96761 (West Maui) Tel. (808) 669-0027 Snorkel masks, surfboards, etc. HAWAIIAN ISLAND SURF AND SPORT 415 Dairy Road, Suite A Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. (808) 871-4981 or 1-800-231-6958 Have helped thousands of visitors from around the world come to Maui. They have it all - windsurfing and boardsurfing equipment sales and rentals, accommodations and car rentals. HI-TECH SURF SPORTS 425 Koloa Kahului, HI 96732 (Central Maui) Tel. (808) 877-2111 Considered one of Maui's best board stores. Carrying the largest selection of windsurfing equipment in Hawaii, Hi-Tech also has the biggest inventory of surfboards on Maui. Surfboard rentals and lessons. Rental includes two sails, roof rack, pads, harness, and lifejacket. Also offer kiteboards, skateboards, logo items and videos, and has a Hi-Tech Online Store. MAUI WINDSURF COMPANY 22 Hana Highway Kahului, HI 96732 (Island of Maui) Tel. (808) 877-4816 or 1-800-872-0999 The choice for all your windsurfing, kite sailing, and surfing needs. Lessons, new and used equipment for purchase or rental, used gear, windsurf vans and wagons. Specializing in windsurf vacations and offering accommodations in every price range - B&Bs, condos, cottages, homes, estates. Top Activities Index | Home Page Contact Us | Sponsor Join Us Form ©Ala Mua Hawaii 1997

Hawaii Wedding

Hawaii weddings on Maui A quality Maui wedding does not have to be expensive. We'll give you a romantic Maui wedding! LINKS No other destination can match the beauty and romance of a Maui wedding. With tight times, Affordable Maui Weddings can help you save money while still obtaining the wedding of your dreams. Save time This website will give you the information you need to help you plan your wedding. We'll take care of all the details for you , so you can concentrate on each other. Whether you want a large wedding at a private resort or just a simple intimate affair on the beach, Affordable Maui Weddings will put everything together for you. We take care of all the details so you won't have to worry about anything. Save money We know all of the great sites for your wedding ceremony. Our network of musicians, florists, photographers, videographers and limo companies will provide you with great service at a reasonable price . You don’t have to pay the high prices which the resorts charge for their on-site weddings. Affordable Maui Weddings will give you more and better service—at the same locations—and it will cost less money. We know Maui and we know how to save you money. Feel free to ask us all your questions. Your call puts you under no obligation, but it will help you firm up your wedding plans. Take the first step As you begin to plan and prepare for your Maui wedding adventure, one of your first steps will be to see if the wedding date you desire is available . Call us to reserve it with your refundable deposit. See our Affordable Maui Weddings Guarantee . To learn more about Maui, click here: USA Toll Free: 1-888-990-MAUI (888-990-6284) CANADA Toll Free: 1-800-920-0611

Hawaii Honeymoon Villas In

Article Insider - Honeymoon Villas In Hawaii HOME ABOUT US CONTACT US NEWSLETTER ADVERTISE Wednesday, January 25th, 2006 Articles Luxury Villa Rentals Caribbean Villa Rentals Private Villa Rentals Villa Rentals In Jamaica St. John Villa Rentals Mexico Vacation Villa Rentals Island Villa Rentals Hawaii Vacation Villa Rentals Vacation Villa Rentals St. Barts Villa Rentals Beach Villa Rentals Virgin Islands Villa Rentals Hawaii Luxury Villas Romantic Villas In Hawaii Honeymoon Villas In Hawaii Hawaii Beachfront Villas And Cottages Holiday Villas In Hawaii Private Full Service Beach Bungalow Maui Vacations Beach Bungalows Secluded Beach Bungalows Maui Beach Cottages Secluded Beach Cottage Honeymoons Caribbean Beach Cottages Hawaii Beach Cottages Beach Cottage Rentals Los Cabos Vacation Villas Villa Catering Vacation Planning Vacation Planning Virgin Islands Hawaii Vacation Planning Maui Vacation Planning More Resources About Luxury Villa Rentals Home > Travel > Exotic Vacations Luxury Villa Rentals Honeymoon Villas In Hawaii by Benjamin Messmer Planning a honeymoon can be just as exasperating as planning the other aspects of your wedding (unless you immediately think of honeymoon villas in Hawaii). The last thing you want after your intensely social wedding experience is to be surrounded by people at a crowded resort hotel. Worry not, because honeymoon villas in Hawaii offer a secluded and private place for your most special vacation. Gentle breezes drift over the lush green mountains of Hawaii, where perfect days are an everyday occurrence. When you choose honeymoon villas in Hawaii, you will have the option of spending your days and nights in blissful seclusion, steps away from golden sandy beaches and calm tides, or enjoying the natural beauty of Hawaii, whether you stay in Maui, Kauai, Oahu, or Waikiki. No environment is more conducive to pleasurable relaxation and enjoyment of another person's good company than Hawaii. Honeymoon villas in Hawaii are surprisingly affordable and offer every amenity of a luxury resort. Such villas also offer an unparalleled level of intimate privacy. Access Honeymoon Villas in Hawaii from Home Finding honeymoon villas in Hawaii is easier than you might think. The Web has several reputable villa rental companies who offer photographs of their properties available throughout the Hawaiian Islands. You will probably want to call a helpful agent at one of these services after you browse through several villas--these professionals are trained to help you find exactly the right honeymoon villas in Hawaii for you. Your wedding will be even sweeter knowing that your honeymoon will be spent in glorious privacy in Hawaiian paradise. Get all Exotic Vacations articles via v. 5.0154 © 2002 - 2006 InfoSearch Media, Inc . All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy

Hawaiian Jewelry

The Na Hoku Hawaiian Jewelry Story As Advertised New From Na Hoku Hawaiian Slippers Na Hoku Solitaires Flowers of Hawaii Island Lifestyle Jewelry Tanzanite Jewelry Palm Tree Collection Sea Life Jewelry Na Keiki Collection Tahitian Pearls Pearl Jewelry Kabana LeVian Collection Steven Douglas Asch/Grossbardt Na Hoku Watches Body Jewelry Bracelets Chains Earrings Necklaces Pendants Rings Watches Anklets Our Policies Contact Customer Service Customer Comments Free Shipping Offer Free Gift Wrapping Shopping Cart 0 Items in Cart Contact Us E-mail : Customer Service Telephone : 1-800-260-3912 ext. 1 Customer Login: Create New Account Forgot password? E-Mail Address: * Password: * | Login | About Us The Na Hoku Story Na Hoku. Hawaiian for "stars". Once used by voyaging Polynesians as guides on their journeys throughout the Pacific. Today, Na Hoku is your guide tothe essence of Hawaiian and Island Lifestyle captured in our collection of fine jewelry. Those who wear them will themselves glitter and shine forall to admire. Exotic. Tropical. Elegant. Na Hoku jewelry is designed to accent the individuality, taste and style of the woman who wears it. Every piece in ourcollection is a link to a moment in time, an intimate memory, or secret desire. The Na Hoku Tradition Na Hoku has been creating Hawaii's finest jewelry since 1924. From the unique jewelry designs that we create in our manufacturing facility in Hawaiito the exclusive designer collections that we present to you, our incomparable selection of Hawaiian and Island Lifestyle jewelry is unmatched forits quality and expert craftsmanship. A profound love for the islands and a deep sense of tradition fuels our passion for fine jewelry making. It's what sets us apart as manufacturers,and will distinguish you as a proud owner of these unique island treasures. All Na Hoku merchandise has a lifetime warranty against defects in materials or workmanship. Na Hoku Stores The finest in Hawaiian and Island Lifestyle jewelry collections can be seen in its entirety in our Na Hoku stores found on the Hawaiian islands ofOahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island of Hawaii, as well as in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Jose, SanFrancisco, New York, and Washington D.C. We invite you to visit any of our Na Hoku stores where we will welcome you with the spirit of aloha, and treat you as our honored guest. The Na Hoku Website It may not always be possible for you to visit our Na Hoku stores, but you can always shop with us on www.NaHoku.com! In keeping with our commitment to provide you with the best service possible, most www.NaHoku.com orders are shipped to you within one to two workingdays. We appreciate your business and your confidence in Na Hoku. The jewelry that we present to you on our website represents our most popular and most requested items. Whether your selection is for yourself or fora special gift, each and every item in the Na Hoku collection imparts the spirit of aloha and the finest in Hawaiian and Island Lifestylejewelry. Na Hoku Company Facts National Jeweler Magazine, a prominent jewelry industry periodical, ranks Na Hoku the 15th largest fine jewelry retailer in the United States (rankedby units). Na Hoku operates fifty eight (63) fine jewelry stores located in the states of California (9), Colorado (1), Florida (8), Hawaii (31), Nevada (9), Illinois (2), Pennsylvania (1), Virginia (1), and New York. Na Hoku operates these stores under the active dba's: Pearl Factory – Hawaii’s Original Pearl-in-the-Oyster (34), and Na Hoku – Hawaii’s Finest Jewelers Since 1924 (27). Hawaii Business Magazine, a prominent business periodical in the State of Hawaii, where the Na Hoku corporate office and manufacturing facility isbased ranks Na Hoku the 142nd largest company in the State of Hawaii (ranked by revenue). The company is the oldest and largest jewelry manufacturer in the State of Hawaii. “Na Hoku – Hawaii’s Finest Jewelers Since 1924” is a Registered Trademark and Registered Service Mark of Edward D. Sultan Co., Ltd., a Hawaii "C"corporation. Home | Collections | Jewelry Types | Na Hoku Story | Store Locations | Sitemap --| Resources

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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