Hawaii Travel

Hawaii Vacation Planner and South Pacific Vacation Planner - Hawaii Travel  You are here: About > Travel > Hawaii / South Pacific for Visitors 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 From John Fischer , Your Guide to Hawaii / South Pacific for Visitors . FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now! Plumeria Photos from Hawaii Plumeria is the most common flower that you'll find in Hawaii since it is used in most leis that are given to visitors. It is, however, not native to Hawaii. It is native to tropical and subtropical America. The flowers are found in colors of white, yellow, pink, red, and multiple pastels. In Hawaii one of the best places to view plumeria is at the Koko Crater Botanical Garden - a 60-acre basin inside Koko Crater on the eastern end of the island of Oahu. These plumeria photos are made available by Dr. Kent Bridges, Associate Professor of Botany, at the University of Hawaii. View the photos... Friday January 20, 2006 | permalink You Won't See This Sign at Home! This certainly isn't a sign that you've ever seen near your home or, in fact, anywhere else in the world. As reported in Monday's Maui News, state and federal agencies are posting new warning signs at harbors and boat ramps in Hawaii. They are doing this out of fear that more boating traffic increases the potential for collisions with humpback whales during the winter whale season. View a larger version of the sign and read the entire article in the Maui News. Read more... Wednesday January 18, 2006 | permalink Atlantis Submarine Tour Maui Since I had just experienced the Atlantis Submarine Tour on Oahu in May of 2005, I was excited when I received an invitation to experience their Maui Submarine Tour when we were on Maui in November 2005. Having thoroughly enjoyed the tour on Oahu, I was expecting that I would also enjoy the Maui tour, but I didn't expect that I'd really enjoy it as much, if not more than the tour on Oahu. Find out why... Monday January 16, 2006 | permalink Maui Swap Meet Photos Held every Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to noon is the Maui Swap Meet. The Maui Swap meet is held on South Puunene Ave. next to the Kahului Post Office. If you driving north on the Kuihelani Highway/Dairy Road (380) from either West or South Maui make a left on South Puuene Avenue. After you cross Wakea Avenue, parking for the swap meet will be on your left. Admission is 50 cents. We hope you enjoy our photos of the Maui Swap Meet. View the photos... Thursday January 12, 2006 | permalink Top 10 Things to Pack for an Extended Trip to Hawaii One of the hardest parts of preparing for any trip is deciding what to pack. You want to make sure you have everything that you'll need and still leave room for all of those souvenirs that you'll bring home. We offer our thoughts on packing for Hawaii, or for any long vacation. Read more... Wednesday January 11, 2006 | permalink Ameniti Luxury Travel Club - No Thanks Once again, United Airlines is sending Mileage Plus members an invitation to join its Ameniti Travel Club. The solicitation looks attractive, even at the $295 cost, but we've dug deeper and will show you why this club may not be for you. Read more... Tuesday January 10, 2006 | permalink Sheraton Maui Resort Special Packages for 2006 The Sheraton Maui Resort has announced their special packages for 2006. The Sheraton Maui is my personal favorite of the many fine Kaanapali Beach hotels and resorts. It's a top notch resort with a great staff and is certainly not hurt by its prime location at at the north end of Kaanapali Beach near Pu'u Keka'a, the famous Black Rock where the beach is the widest and the swimming and snorkeling are superb. This location gives Sheraton guests a unique sense of privacy. You never feel that you are nestled into an area with many other condominiums, hotels and resorts. Take a look at these specials for 2006. Sunday January 08, 2006 | permalink Star of Honolulu Announces Five-Star Winter Menu Hawaii's premier cruise ship, the Star of Honolulu, offers an all-new seven-course Winter-inspired menu from January through March on its Five Star Sunset Dining Cruise. My wife and I have dined on the Star of Honolulu and enjoyed their five-star sunset dinner cruise. It's definitely something I'd recommend for anyone in Honolulu or Waikiki this winter. Read more... Friday January 06, 2006 | permalink Oahu is Home to More Than 125 Beaches Beaches on Oahu offer more than sunbathing and people watching on powder white sand in the embrace of warm Hawaiian sun rays. With more than 125 beaches on Oahu from which to choose, from the powerful, pounding winter waves of the North Shore to the gentle shore break of Waikiki, there is a beach on Oahu that fits every taste from a sunbathing visitor to the more athletic windsurfer. Read more... Tuesday January 03, 2006 | permalink Exploring Oahu's Manoa Valley Oahu's Manoa Valley, although located within minutes of Waikiki by bus or car, is often totally overlooked by visitors. While the lack of heavy visitor traffic is surely appreciated by local residents, there is much to be appreciated in this secluded corner of Hawaii which makes a visit worthwhile. Check out our feature on Exploring Oahu's Manoa Valley , and be sure to check our our extensive Manoa Valley Photo Collection . Tuesday January 03, 2006 | permalink Display Latest Headlines | | | Read Archives powered by Movable Type Advertisement Most Popular Nudist Beaches in Hawaii Hawaii Photos Hawaii Pictures Life's a Beach in Hawaii - Our collection of photos of peopl... Hawaiian Island Scorecard What's Hot Top Picks in Hawaiian Coffee Kamehameha the Great Kalua Pig Waikiki Beach, Oahu - Life's a Beach in Hawaii - Hawaii Beac... 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Maui Swap Meet Photos Held every Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to noon is the...

Hawaiian Cruise

Peak Travel Group, Hawaii vacation packages, Mexico travel packages .................................. ................... Welcome Peak Travel Group's mission is to provide you, the traveler with: In-depth EXPERIENCE to enrich your travel decisions A feeling of TRUST that we are your advocate 24/7 Solid VALUE for your travel dollar SERVICE that will keep you coming back Once you've traveled with us, you'll never settle for less than PEAK Performance ! Peak Travel Group 1221 Lincoln Ave, San Jose, California USA 95125 Phone: +1- 408.286.2633 / Toll-Free + 1.800.737.9776 CST #2029626-40 / All Rights Reserved. All site contents © 2005 Peak Travel Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved Legal Statements - Please Read ................................................................................... . 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Hawaii vacations , Maui

Maui Activities - information on Hawaii vacations and Maui weddings Maui Activities Maui Weddings Featuring: Maui activities , Maui activities discounts , Maui weddings , Maui spas , live Maui web cams , Hawaii vacations , Maui condos , Maui hotels , Hawaii discount card , Maui visitor information video and Maui magazines ! These Maui, Hawaii, Hawaiian Islands vacations travel guides and discounts are brought to you by ParadiseMaui.com! Maui Visitor Video Maui Magazines Maui Condos Maui Cams Read more... Maui Activities Maui Luau's Maui Cams Read more... Maui Weddings Beach Weddings Maui Weddings Luau Weddings Read more... Maui IQ Card Maui Spas Maui Live Horoscope Island Music Read more... Maui Condos Maui Activities If you're dreaming of activities during a trip to Maui, Hawaii, then bookmark this page . Despite what you've heard about "Maui time," things move fairly quickly here, and you'll want to keep up with everything happening on Maui. Recently we've had a flurry of activity at Paradise Maui . Visit our new forum and post a question. Better yet, answer one! This is becoming a source of great vacations ideas and answers for Maui Hawaii travelers. Paradise Maui is now the only place you need to go to arrange Maui accommodations . Review the Maui vacation rentals and Maui Condos listed in our " Where to Stay " section. If you don't have time to do your own research then let us do it for you ! So if you are ready to experience life's greatest thrills while you are on Maui, book one or more activities with us and will take care of all the guesswork, and the paperwork before you arrive here. Maui activities information and booking , is where you can arrange every kind of Maui activity from Helicopter tours and dinner cruises to kayaking and submarine rides! Maui Activities are in abundance available, but first let's find out more about Maui. Maui is one of the islands of Hawaii. The second largest island of Hawaii to be exact and is also known as the Valley Isle. Wailuku is the seat of the County of Maui, which includes the islands Kaho'olawe, Lana'i, Maui and Moloka'i. The weather on Maui and in all of Hawaii is the main reason it is such a popular year-round vacation destination. Lets face it, it beats being snowed in Chicago. Part of the reason we have such a wonderful weather here is because of the trade winds that blow in nice warm air from the ocean and the leeward side of the island is in the rain shadow. This side of Maui so not too wet ;but hotter and wetter on the windward side. Most MAUI RESORTS are located on the leeward side of the island. The closer you are to the windward side the more it will rain. The difference between these two climates is what gives rise to the famous MAUI RAINBOWS. The spectacular waterfalls that you probably have seen on some Hawaii Island poster advertisers can be seen best when viewed from the helicopter flight. Lets not forget one of the most important part of any vacation. GOING OUT TO EAT! The restaurants of Maui are from very local great food to world class restaurants featuring world known chefs. One of the most popular dishes here is of course Ahi, and Mahi tunas. Ahi is a Hawaiian name for "big eye, and Yellow fin tuna". There are so many activities on Maui that is impossible to describe them all here. We will be happy to assist you in any Maui activities you decide to participate in. Some of the Maui activities information and booking that you can reserve with us are: Maui Bike Tours Maui Snorkeling Maui Sunset Cruises Maui Horseback Riding Maui Kayaking Maui Wale Watching Maui Parasailing Maui Surfing And much More So if you are ready to experience life's greatest thrills while you are on Maui, book one or more activities with us and will take care of all the guesswork, and the paperwork before you arrive here. Maui Weddings Since we offer all these activities lets not forget about one more reason so many people come to Maui. To get Mauied. On Maui we get married and we get Mauied. So if Maui Weddings is what brings you here you are in luck, because we offer the best Maui wedding packages on the island. Celebrate your love for each other with a once-in-a lifetime wedding experiences. Our Maui wedding packages include a variety of beautiful warm sandy beaches, oceanfront lawns and our famous Maui sunsets. Seemingly endless sun-drenched days and balmy warm tropical evenings add that special backdrop to the most memorable Hawaiian wedding on the island of Maui. Our Hawaiian Wedding coordinators are available to personally assist you with all of the necessary arrangements. We understand the importance of your Hawaiian wedding dream to become reality. Whether a simple ceremony on Maui beach or the most extravagant affair, we will be able to make that dream your reality. So if you are ready to make your wedding day most memorable day for the rest of your life we can be part of this event. We also arrange for couples vow renewals, reception party, and even fireworks, if you so desire. From simple to extravagant, we can do it all for you, So check us out at MAUI WEDDINGS and let us be the one to make your dreams come true. Finally, so you can stay in touch with Hawaii from all four corners of the earth, we've included a WebCam page which features a live-on-location Maui Hawaii photograph along with other web cam images from around the globe. Check out the Maui Web Cams for live shots of Maui, Hawaii! AWARDS | SITE CREDITS | SITE STATS | PRIVACY | LEGAL NOTICE | SITE MAP | RESOURCES © 1998 - 2005 Paradise Maui . All rights reserved. search10.com , Webvideo , mauiweddings.tv , iNews Hawaii are registered trademarks of Paradise Maui.Com © 1998-2005 ParadiseMaui.Com. All rights reserved

Hawaii Resort

Overview of Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Traditions established by Queen Lili'uokalani, the last Hawaiian monarch, continue to flourish at our resort. home over view -- -- Let us show you exclusive offers & updates tailored to your interests. resort services fast facts testimonials map & directions A century ago, Queen Lili'uokalani, the last Hawaiian monarch, inherited the lands at Hamohamo, the area in which the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort now stands, from her grandfather, 'Aikanaka. The land on which the Hotel is directly built was once the Ku'ekaunahi stream, which ran through the Queen's property. There were two summer homes on Lili'uokalani's property, one called Kealohilani and the other Paoakalani (literally translated as "heavenly fragrance"). Here she retreated to relax and informally entertain family, friends, and on occasion, visiting royalty. She also spent much of her time composing her songs and translating Hawaiian stories into English, surrounded by lily ponds and elaborate gardens, and when the trade winds blew, the fragrance of the topical flowers was carried throughout the estate. According to Queen Lili'uokalani, the large inviting living room was a place where "all could gather in joy and hospitality." Her home served as a comforting getaway from the pressures of business at I'olani Palace, several miles away. Nearby stood another one-story guest cottage, Kealohilani ("heavenly brightness"), where visitors enjoyed the tranquility of old Hawaii. In 1966, the Lili'uokalani Trust revealed plans for turning 16 acres of "old Waikiki" into a multi-million dollar resort development. American International Travel Services, Inc. (AITS) broke ground at this site in 1968 with plans for a twin towers, 23-story hotel at a cost of $12 million. Only one tower was initially completed. In October 1971, and at a cost of close to double the original estimate, the hotel officially opened. The grand opening ceremony took place on February 9-10, 1972. Reverend Abraham Akaka of the Kawaiahao Church conducted the blessing in the Garden Courtyard and Princess Abigail Kawananakoa, the niece of the late Queen Lili'uokalani, ceremoniously untied the maile lei. Eight years later, in 1979, the Kuhio Tower was added to the Resort, bringing the total room count to 1,346. In November 2000, Marriott International, Inc. assumed management of the hotel. Today, the area surrounding the resort bears little resemblance to the neighborhood at the turn of the century, but the traditions established by the queen continues to flourish at our resort. Diverse food and beverage outlets Business Center 24-hour Internet access 24-hour Fitness Center Live Entertainment Hawaiian cultural activities Concierge services Shops and Boutiques Two heated fresh-water swimming pools Valet service In-room safe deposit box Rental car desk 24-hour Laundromat Doctors On-Call medical service Property Address Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa 2552 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 Telephone (808) 922-6611 Phone (808) 921-5255 Facsimile 1-800-367-5370 Toll Free Reservations in the Continental U.S. & Canada Website: www.MarriottWaikiki.com Credit Cards Accepted American Express, Diners Club, JCB, Mastercard, Visa and Discover. Hotel Tax 11.41% Location Overlooking Waikiki Beach near Diamond Head. Located on 5.2 acres of prime Waikiki property. Eight miles from Honolulu International Airport. Built October 1971 Architect Shimokawa Architects Date Marriott Assumed Management November 2000 Number of Rooms 1,310 rooms Kealohilani Tower Floors: 25 Rooms: 656 Suites: 10 Non-smoking rooms: 452 ADA Rooms: 5 Paoakalani Tower Floors: 33 Rooms: 654 Suites: 3 Non-smoking rooms: 326 ADA Rooms: 22 home resort overview accommodations check rates reserve now packages specials meetings & events weddings spa olakino things to do resort dining resort activities news press room take a tour contact privacy policy site map 2552 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu, Hawaii 96815-3699 RES 1.800.367.5370 PH: 1.808.922.6611 FAX: 1.808.921-5255 ©2005 Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa Developed by Symbolic

Hawaiian music, for example,

Honolulu Star-Bulletin Hawaii News Thursday, April 29, 2004 HELEN ALTONN / HALTONN@STARBULLETIN.COM University of Hawaii music professor Arthur Harvey plays 35 instruments. Music, especially by Bach, helps reduce stress Heartbeat music calms chimps By Helen Altonn haltonn@starbulletin.com Music, particularly classical compositions by Bach, relieves stress, says a University of Hawaii music professor. "Of all the music we tested in medical school with patients, colleagues and others, Bach's music consistently made the brain work in a balanced way better than any other genre," said Arthur Harvey, who is also an internationally known neuromusicologist. Loudness, speed or tempo of music, the degree of dissonance and tone quality are primary elements of music that can affect health, behavior and emotions, Harvey said. He created a recording called "Bach for the Morning," intended for nursing home and hospital patients who "didn't wake up very nicely. ... Each piece gets a teeny bit faster, so it is a very helpful way to wake people up." He also has created a "Handel for Sleeping" recording and softly played Handel's music during a recent interview in his office at Calvary-by-the-Sea Lutheran Church, where he is musical director. Harvey has taught for 45 years and studied music as a force in education, religion and health. For the past 20 years, he has been interested in learning more about "why and what happens" when music is played. Therapeutically, he said, music "can be a tremendous intervention." It can relieve pain and stress, calm the heart rate and blood pressure, affect physical responses for healing and growth, and stimulate creative thinking, he said. Hawaiian music, for example, has orderly and predictable patterns that tend to be calming, he said. "Someone like brother Iz (the late Israel Kamakawiwo'ole), besides the emotional content of singing and beauty of his voice, the majority of his songs are near resting heart rate (62 beats a minute), in the lower frequency." Harvey created a recording of Hawaiian songs with a heartbeat tempo, "Island Sounds Healing Heart," to help care for senior Hawaiians with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. It was done for Alu Like's Kumu Kahi Department. Cadences in the recording stimulate "feel-good chemicals" and physical systems that reduce effects of stress, he said. "If we utilize music that slows down the stress hormone, we then can help with things such as development of ulcers, diarrhea, even Crohn's (chronic inflammatory) disease and irritable bowel syndrome." Last year, Harvey tested the effects of Hawaiian, Japanese and Chinese music with a heartbeat on 37 volunteer patients, 50 and older, of cardiologist Dr. Pon-Sang Chan. He compared cardiac responses to recordings with heartbeat only, with heartbeat and keyboard performance, with heartbeat and vocal performance and heartbeat with both keyboard and vocal performances. The object was to see if music could be used as a relatively inexpensive technique to regulate the heart rate of cardiac patients, who tend to be highly stressed, Harvey said. All recordings helped, he said, but selections combining heartbeat, instrumental and vocal performances were most effective, calming and regulating the heart rate from 62 to 72 beats a minute. Joseph Ruszkowski, UH-Manoa music professor; Michelle Wong, of the Integrative Health Care Consortium; and Kathleen Cramer Baker assisted with the project. Harvey presented the results in June at a symposium of the International Society on Music in Medicine, founded by two anesthesiologists in Hamburg, Germany. He annually discusses how music can enhance health and learning at the Hawaii Medical Service Association's Akamai Living program, scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to noon May 22 at the Hawaii Prince Hotel. Harvey sings and plays 35 instruments, develops recordings and videos for therapeutic use and is a popular speaker at workshops and seminars. He is also a prolific author, writing about "Music and the Brain" and related topics. "He is so multitalented," Ruszkowski said. "He has a wealth of knowledge in so many areas and is an unbelievably good piano player. A lot of people around here (at UH) say he was a musical prodigy." Harvey said UH-Manoa offers music courses and workshops but not music therapy and training, which he would like to see integrated into the medical school's complementary and alternative medicine department. He was involved in establishing Sounding Joy Music Therapy Inc., a nonprofit organization, to educate the public about music therapy, provide clinical services and encourage research in therapeutic music. Among his new projects, the neuromusicologist is creating a recording of spirituals with a heartbeat for hospice patients and caregivers and a recording of Japanese lullabies with a heartbeat. Although he makes all kinds of music, he said he probably likes classical the best. "Sacred is second and I love old-time music, the '20s and '30s. I play it in hospitals regularly." But some music should be avoided, he said, pointing out excessively dissonant, loud and repetitive music can affect thinking, behavior and hearing. "And if you're impacted by emotional pulses, you tend to behave in a way that's not always rational." Music has been his "passport to the world," Harvey said, taking him to every state and 36 countries and places like the White House and Morocco's palace. BACK TO TOP | Heartbeat music calms chimps By Helen Altonn haltonn@starbulletin.com "Baby Go to Sleep," a recording of heartbeat music, works as well on rambunctious young chimpanzees as on infants, Joseph Ruszkowski has found. The University of Hawaii-Manoa music professor played Terry Woodford's recording in a recent pilot study to try to reduce aggression among young male chimpanzees at Honolulu Zoo. The heartbeat music has "proven statistically significant in helping very, very small infants fall asleep," including his own 15-month-old child, Ruszkowski said. The zoo has 10 chimpanzees -- four females and six males, four of whom are infants or juveniles, he said. "Since the males are entering adolescence, they are causing bodily injury and smashing glass," both of which are costly, he said. One broke a window that will cost about $50,000 to replace, he said. Brainstorming with Arthur Harvey, UH-Manoa music education coordinator, Ruszkowski said he developed a study for the chimpanzees similar to one Harvey conducted for cardiac patients. But Harvey was able to hook the patients up to monitoring devices, which he could not do with aggressive male chimpanzees and "keep all my fingers intact," he said. Ruszkowski said he played music about 30 minutes every morning for a week during the chimpanzees' most aggressive period. He played none in a trial period the next week. He has not finished analyzing preliminary data, involving 75 variables, but his general observation was the music had a calming effect on the animals within 10 to 15 minutes, he said. "They were so relaxed, some chimpanzees were falling asleep. That is something that never happened before." Greg Hamilton, primary chimpanzee keeper, said he is continuing to play Woodford's heartbeat recording or Harvey's "Hawaiian Music with a Heartbeat" if he feels the animals are riled up in the morning. Videotapes of Disney movies also are popular, particularly with 8-year-old Nalu, he said. After the chimps are taken from separate pens and put together in a group, there "definitely is increased aggression and excitement," Hamilton said. "It's all about troop dynamics, the socialization of these guys. We have 8-, 9- and 10- and 13-year-olds. They all have way too much testosterone. They're aggressive to prove themselves." He said 10-year-old Kona Kona broke the window, "just feeling like he's macho man and needs to prove himself." Using music to mitigate the aggression is a "win-win situation," he said. "If something happens, great. If it has no effect, we're still in the same situation." Based on preliminary results, Ruszkowski said he probably will do an expanded study in the summer. — ADVERTISEMENTS — — ADVERTISEMENTS — | | | PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION E-mail to City Desk BACK TO TOP Text Site Directory: [News] [Business] [Features] [Sports] [Editorial] [Do It Electric!] [Classified Ads] [Search] [Subscribe] [Info] [Letter to Editor] [Feedback] © 2004 Honolulu Star-Bulletin -- http://starbulletin.com -Advertisement-