Maui has offered naturalist-led

Hike Maui hiking Maui eco tour adventure: walking, whale watching, snorkeling, kayaking and birding for your Hawaii vacation Called the "grandfather of ecotourism," Hike Maui has offered naturalist-led hikes into Maui's wilderness since 1983. Our Hikes Our Story Our Guides Best of Maui Comments & Articles Common Questions Information, Contact Us Store Map & Directions Why Hike Maui? Experience We're the oldest, most experienced hiking company in the state. We are the wilderness experts. We started by living off the land in Maui's jungle in the early 1980s (read " Our Story "). Now we have ten big, expensive vans, way too much insurance and fifteen very knowledgeable hiking guides. Best Guides Described as "walking encyclopedias," our guides are considered the best on Maui (read " Our Guides "). They include: a marine biologist a professor of ethnobotany and botany two (former) national park rangers an expert on whales, dolphins and turtles two wildlife biologists a (former) physics teacher Safety In two decades, we've never had a major mishap. All guides are CPR and First Aid certified. Permits & Licenses We have permits and permission to hike to more places on public and private lands than any other Maui tour company. Favorite Quotes from a stack of articles: " All of (Hike Maui's) guides seem to be encyclopedias in hiking boots." Honolulu Magazine " Back at the Hike Maui van, one man said, 'This has been a great day. In fact, it has been the best day of my entire life.'" Travel & Leisure Magazine " Nothing is overlooked on (Hike Maui's) hikes." Los Angeles Times " Among the most incredible adventures to be experienced on Maui..." Maui A Paradise Guide Privacy Statement P.O. BOX 330969, Kahului, HI 96733 Toll Free (866) 324-MAUI (Maui) 808.879.5270 (fax) 808.893.2515 © 2002 Hike Maui. All Rights Reserved

Hawaii Condo

Affordable Makaha Condo - Oahu, Hawaii Studio Hosted by Alternative-Hawaii: Paradise Awaits! A beautiful Makaha Valley Towers Studio Overlooking the Mountains, the Valley and the Sea On the Leeward Coast of Oahu, Hawaii (Click on photos for better view) Pool The Accommodation features: A large studio with private lanai (patio) Queen Murphy bed & queen sleeper sofa (comfortably sleeps four) Completely furnished & air conditioned Full kitchen & built in microwave Cable, TV, internet access, telephone Gated community, on-site security Washers & dryers on each floor Olympic size swimming pool, BBQ area The Location: Situated in one of Oahu's most beautiful valleys on the Leeward Coast - the Valley of the Peacocks. Beautifully landscaped, arboretum-like grounds. One of Hawaii's top surfing beaches is one mile down the road. Site of one of the State's best preserved heiaus (ancient Hawaiian temples). Only a 45 minute drive to Honolulu Airport. Things to See & Do: Golf (two championship golf courses & tennis at nearby Makaha Resort) Deep sea fishing Hiking, biking Surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving Sailing, kayaking Swim near the dolphins, whale watch (Dec.-Apr.) Cultural and historical sites Or simply relax under the warm Hawaiian sun! Studio with Murphy Bed/Full Kitchen Rates and Policies: High season (11/15/05 - 4/15/06): $68 per night ( 5 night minimum stay ); $475 per week; $1237 per month Low season (4/16/06 - 11/14/06): $62 per night ( 5 night minimum stay ); $428 per week; $1142 per month Lodging tax extra - 11.25% Cleaning fee $70 A $300 deposit is required. Balance due 35 days before arrival date Deposits are refundable up to 46 days prior to arrival date less a $75 administration fee Full Bathroom For more information, please contact: Pat at Affordable Makaha Condo Email: INQUIRY FORM TESTIMONIALS: My husband and I stayed in this condo for two glorious weeks. The condo was super clean and the view unbelievable! We loved the pool and BBQ area, the people were very friendly too. The location is fantastic with mountains behind the condo and the ocean in front. Each morning we woke up to the beautiful view of the ocean. When I saw this condo on the website, I realized how long its been since our trip to Hawaii. We're definitely going back and we're definitely staying in this condo! Cheryl Randall, Plymouth, MA I recently spent 10 days on vacation at the Makaha Valley Towers. A great location with both ocean and mountain views - and peacocks wandering the lush tropical grounds! The Studio was immaculately furnished in the Polynesian style and very comfortable. Highly recommended. S. Clements, Denver, CO Visit Alternative-Hawaii's Special Places in Leeward Oahu Site Maintained by Alternative-Hawaii

Tropic Hawaiian

Hawaiian gifts, Christmas, music, books, art, and products - a large online Hawaii shopping mall. Aloha ! HOME CHRISTMAS GIFTS HAWAIIAN MUSIC HAWAIIAN BOOKS HAWAIIAN VIDEOS CLOTHING ETC. HAWAIIAN JEWELRY HAWAIIAN GIFTS CHILDREN & TEENS FABRIC & CRAFTS HULA IMPLEMENTS HEALTH & BEAUTY HAWAIIAN FOOD HOME ACCESSORIES ARTIFICIAL FLOWERS HAWAII STATIONERY HAWAII CALENDARS WOOD CARVINGS UKULELE (Put "phrases in quotes") ALOOOOHA! Here among the thousands of Hawaiian gifts and authentic products from Hawaii, you can easily find the perfect Hawaii Christmas gift , Anniversary, Wedding or Birthday present. Our online Hawaii shopping mall is filled with unique tropical Hawaii products - Hawaiian Heirloom Jewelry, a large selection of Hawaiian music and art, Hawaiian Books, Hawaii hula skirts and aloha shirts, Hawaiian gift baskets, Hawaiian Christmas gifts , Hawaiian food and much more. We have great respect for your online privacy and offer you the highest security while you are on our web site . However, if you do not feel comfortable using credit cards to purchase online, please do not hesitate to call us at 1-808-245-8700 to make your purchases. We are located on beautiful Kalapaki Bay on the island of Kauai and we truly care about each and every customer. The Tropic Isle Music Co., established in 1994 , has grown from a home based business to a thriving 1500 square foot store with 10 employees - all full of aloha! Here are some of the great items we have in stock: Hawaii Gifts Hawaiian Music Hawaii Christmas Ornaments Hawaii gift baskets Hawaii Christmas cards Hawaiian Tikis Niihau Shell Jewelry Hula Girls Hawaiian Heirloom Jewelry Shell Jewelry Black Pearls Hawaii t-shirts Puka shells Hula Skirts Hawaii Christmas shirts Hawaii leis Aloha Shirts Hawaii children's clothing Hawaii Pareos Feather Jewelry seed jewelry Hawaiian plants bonsai plants Hawaii stuffed animals Hawaii Children's books Hawaii craft book oriental fabrics Hawaiian sewing Patterns Hawaiian quilt kits Hula drums Hula books Hula accessories Hula videos nut and seed leis uli uli gourds Hawaiian ukulele Hawaiian skin oils Hawaiian skin lotion Hawaiian Herbs bamboo candles Hawaiian coffee macadamia nuts Kauai cookies Hawaiian jelly Hawaiian poi Hawaiian seasoning Hawaiian snacks Hawaiian hot sauce Maui potato chips Hawaiian salt and seasonings Hawaii wood bowls Hawaiian prints monkeypod bowls Hula lamps Hawaii wood carving Hawaiian stone carving Hawaiian tiles and ceramics Hawaii picture frames tropical scented candles tropical flowers Hawaiian hair clips Hawaiian note pads Hawaii guestbooks Hawaii computer paper ukulele strings ukulele books Don Ho music Israel Kamakawiwo'ole music Makaha Sons of Niihau music Hapa music Kealii Reichel music Willie K music Typical Hawaiians music Hawaii Calls music Alfred Apaka music Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar music Hawaii scenic videos Hawaii music videos Hula videos Hawaii children's books Hawaii coffee cups Hawaiian thimbles Hawaii spoons Hanna's dolls Jewelry boxes Hawaii salt and pepper shakers Hawaiian mumuus We welcome special orders, we will be happy to help you find things from Hawaii. Looking for a gift from Hawaii? A Hawaiian Christmas gift perhaps? If you do not find what you are looking for on our web site let us do the searching. If it is from Hawaii, we will be happy to find it for you. Please don't hesitate to call us at 1-808-245-8700. Mahalo and Aloha! Privacy Policy | Contact | Hawaii News | Friends | Company Info . | Hawaii Gift Catalog Things to do on Kauai Tropic Isle Music Company Anchor Cove Shopping Center - 3416 Rice St. P.O. Box 3333 Lihue, Kauai, Hi. 96766 808-245-8700 | Fax: 808-246-1888 Site map Kauai activities and tours site design Kauai Hawaii Web Design webhosting Hawaii Web Host Kauai information

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Hawaii's Volcano Parks Let Visitors Go With The Flow Welcome to TBO.com. Skip directly to: our Keyword Search , Section Navigation , Content . TBO.com Life TBO.com WFLA The Tampa Tribune Search: Keyword Site News | Weather | Hurricane Guide | Things to Do | Sports | Jobs | Cars | Homes | Shopping | Classified Travel TBO.com Life Travel Hawaii's Volcano Parks Let Visitors Go With The Flow Skip directly to the full story . By TANYA BRICKING LEACH For The Associated Press Published: Dec 18, 2005 ADVERTISEMENT More from this channel: This feature requires the Macromedia Flash Plugin. Please visit http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer to download this plugin. Search our archives: Type keyword(s) 30 days 6 months 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 All Past 7 days most viewed | Tribune archive from 1990 VOLCANO, HAWAII - About the time jagged edges started poking through my T-shirt as I wormed my way through a tight spot in a lava tube, I began to wonder: What am I doing here? We could have been relaxing on the famous Green Sand Beach at South Point of the Big Island of Hawaii. But in the spirit of adventure, we were instead exploring the world underground. I had convinced my husband that it would be neat to go hiking to see flowing lava at the Kilauea Volcano on the first night of our weekend getaway, and then get up early the next morning to go caving in 1,000-year-old lava tubes. He was agreeable, even after twisting his ankle on the initial hiking excursion, which lasted past midnight. Once we got back to our cabin at Volcanoes National Park, we understood why each room had a Jacuzzi. But we weren't about to let our sore muscles get the best of us. Watching the orange glow of waxy-looking lava hiss into the ocean had intoxicated us. We wanted to see tunnels formed by the molten stuff. The Dawn Patrol So we caught just enough sleep to wake at the crack of dawn and drive to South Point in search of a labyrinth of lava tubes at a place called Kula Kai Caverns. To get there, we punched in a pass code and entered a remote neighborhood built on lava rock. Then we saw our guide's landmark, a thatched hut that looked like something out of "Gilligan's Island." Our tour guide, Kathlyn Richardson, led us into the yurt and handed us spelunking helmets, lights, gloves and kneepads to gear up. We looked like coal miners without the soot, and we were about to go on a two-hour spelunking tour. So she tested us a little. Would we like to try shimmying up parts of the cave and crawling around in tunnels? We were game. Let me just say my previous experience in caves was limited to a guided tour years earlier on a heavily traveled pathway at Kentucky's Mammoth Cave. Although it is considered the granddaddy of American caves - and the longest cave in the world - I saw only the easy-access "tourist" part of it. No shimmying through narrow passageways was involved. And I had seen Thurston Lava Tube, a major attraction on the drive around Crater Rim Drive at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. But that was just a peek into a cavelike shell. I had never seen much of caves or could explain the difference between stalactites and stalagmites. Somehow, the idea of exploring a pitch-black volcanic cavern still appealed to me. That's just the kind of tourist Kula Kai Cavern founder Ric Elhard wants to educate. "I started crawling around in caves when I was 12 years old," said Elhard, a California native who bought property on the Big Island because he knew there were caves underneath it. He and other cavers have since mapped out miles of lava tubes that crisscross the area. "We're not doing big numbers, but we saw huge potential," Elhard said. "We want to be more of an educational tour. We want people to learn and understand about the archaeological aspects of caves." Treks Of Your Choice He and other guides lead small groups, even children as young as 5, through parts of the caves on tours that last from easy half-hour strolls to more challenging half-day explorations. When my husband and I were there, it was just the two of us, following Richardson into a braided maze she knew by heart and getting a taste of massive chambers and small spaces formed by volcanic gases rising through cooling magma 1,000 years ago. A National Park tour, it is not. It's a fledgling operation that's loosely organized, and sometimes the battery-powered lights on the well-used equipment go out. But it's definitely an adventure tour. We broke a sweat, despite the cool 68-degree temperature inside the cave, and had to watch our footing navigating craggy rocks that seemed to grow out from above and below. One of the most interesting parts was when we turned off our head lamps and sat in the dark, listening closely to dripping water and the sound of ourselves breathing. I'll admit I liked climbing and scrambling over loose rocks much better than belly-crawling through the tight spots. The crawling part made me think about being swallowed by hot lava as I tried to untangle myself from its pointy fingers. Underground Point Of View But squirming around on my hands and knees gave me a feeling not just for overcoming claustrophobia, but also for looking at a volcanic island from a different perspective. I thought about the cave dwellers who must have used the spaces for shelter. I wondered how long the kukui nuts, which contained oil that Hawaiians used to light like candles, had been left on the rock shelves that we passed. I pictured the lava flowing through the walls I could now touch. The tour captured my imagination. Yes, I could have spent the day relaxing on the beach. What I did instead made me feel like an explorer. And to me, discovering a world I had never seen before made the vacation feel complete. FOR LOVE OF LAVA KULA KAI CAVERNS AND LAVA TUBES: www.kulakai caverns.com or (808) 929-7539. Located off Highway 11 in Ocean View, Hawaii. Tours by appointment ranging from $15 half-hour walking tours to $95 half-day tours. The two-hour spelunking tour is $65. Discounts for Hawaii residents and groups. Wear a T-shirt, long pants and sturdy shoes. WHERE TO STAY: For the full Kilauea experience, stay in a B&B in Volcano Village or in a cabin at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. •Carson's Volcano Cottages: www.carsonscottage.com or 1-800-845-5282 or (808) 967-7683. B&B accommodations, from one-room spaces to family cottages with kitchens and storybook cottages nestled in the tropical rain forest. Breakfast is served in a dining room beside the fire. Rates range from $115 to $170 a night. •Volcano House: (808) 967-7321. This historical hotel sits on the edge of a crater, and the rooms are heated by volcanic steam. Rooms range from $95 to $225. Its cabins are among the few available in the park, but the rooms are a bit worn. Cabins are $50. •Kilauea Military Camp: www.kmc-volcano.com or (808) 967-8333. A joint services recreation center in Volcanoes National Park, open to military members and Department of Defense workers and retirees. Rates are based on rank, and accommodations range from dorms to cottages. WHERE TO EAT: After a spelunking tour, drive to the Kona side of the island for food. •The Coffee Shack: A casual coffeehouse with a sweeping view of the ocean. The staff is friendly, and the portions are big. •Cafe Pesto in Hilo: Whether you're in Kawaihae near the harbor on the scenic South Kohala coast or in historic Hilo on the Big Island's east side, find this restaurant. It has gourmet pizzas, an assortment of pasta and seafood. Most items are about $10. •Ken's House of Pancakes: Ken's is like a local Denny's. It's open 24 hours a day, and most items are less than $7. Write a letter to the editor | Subscribe to the Tribune | Place an Ad Online TBO.com AdLinks Site Tools Advertise with us Web site feedback Make TBO.com my homepage RSS Feeds: Feed for this channel All feeds/RSS FAQ Most Popular: This feature requires the Macromedia Flash Plugin. Please visit http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer to download this plugin. 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Oahu; Hawaii's bird and

Discover Hawaii. Aloha from Oahu Nature Tours A L O H A! Discover the spectacular natural beauty of Oahu; Hawaii's bird and plant species, waterfalls, rainforests, volcanic craters, dolphins, whales and coral reefs... Oahu Nature Tours We specialize in small group size, guided eco-tours to see Hawaii's unique native bird and plant species. Spectacular scenery, excellent photographic opportunities, and information about the Geology, Archaeology, Mythology and History of Hawaii await you on our fun and educational tours. Founded in 1995 as the original nature adventure company on Oahu, we provide the finest eco-tours and best prices available, and have professional, knowledgeable and friendly local guides to narrate each location visited and assist you while exploring our beautiful island. Whether you are interested in a rainforest - waterfall hike, a Diamond Head Crater adventure, Green Sea Turtles or colorful tropical birds and flowers; or simply would like to learn fun and interesting facts about the natural history of Hawaii, Oahu Nature Tours has always been the adventure travelers' and travel agents' choice for quality ecotours . As a long-term partner of the "Nature Conservancy" we donate a portion of proceeds to local conservation efforts. Through our website, excursions and environmental projects we are committed to work towards the continued enjoyment and existence of our magnificent but endangered natural treasures. "Let us show you the REAL Hawaii." Custom birdwatching tours are also available at request, led by Michael Walther, the owner of Oahu Nature Tours, who has conducted numerous Hawaii forest bird surveys and has written books and magazine articles about Hawaii's native species... Oahu Nature Tours is proud to be a member of The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, The Hawaiian Audubon Society and The Conservation Council for Hawaii . Use these links to travel through our site Oahu Nature Tours Our Adventures Reservations About Oahu Nature Tours Our Professional Guides Our Management Team Maps of Oahu Guestbook Gift Certificate Oahu Nature Tours Gift Shop - -- Tour Photos by Tour Date Photo & Video Galleries The Risks of Hiking Without a Guide. FAQ Printer friendly fact sheet Hawaiian Links Media Coverage Of Our Tours Hawaii Visitor Guide Hawaiian Birding and Ecology Oahu Bird Species Checklist Hawaii Bird Sightings Our Ecological Restoration Projects Explore Oahu's offshore Islands Hawaii's Endangered Species "Species of the Month" Hawaii's Extinct Native Forest Birds Last Remaining Native Forest Birds Birds of Polynesia Images of Hawaii's Birds Pelagic Birding TRAVEL AGENTS AND GROUP RESERVATIONS Please Click Here Find out how to receive 30% commission on each reservation you make with Oahu Nature Tours Click for Honolulu, Hawaii Weather Forecast Online Reservations Pages TRAVEL AGENTS AND GROUP RESERVATIONS Phone: 808-924-2473 Fax: 808-924-5395 General E-mail: natureguide@oahunaturetours.com Reservations E-mail: reservations@oahunaturetours.com Oahu Nature Tours, Inc., 1995 Tour Photos