Hawaiian cruise, two nights

One-of-a-kind Hawaii Cruise Deals BudgetTravelOnline.com One-of-a-kind Hawaii Cruise Deals A week-long Hawaiian cruise, two nights in Honolulu, and roundtrip airfare all together costs just $1,399 from dozens of cities Reid Bramblett Wednesday, July 30, 2003; Perhaps you'd love to take a cruise--a week at sea with nothing to do but have fun. Then again, it might be nice for a few days just to veg on the beach--not just any beach, but Waikiki, sipping a mai tai under the palm trees. OK, do you'd like to do both--but not pay too much for either...oh, and get some cheap airfare thrown in to cover it all. Would you believe it actually can be done? United Airlines has a branch of the frequent flier program called Cruise4Miles (888-666-8120, cruise4miles.com/ )--you can earn miles by buying cruises, or redeem airlines miles earned for a cruise. Anyone who signs up for the frequent flyer program (which is free) can get in on these deals. The logistical (and economic) problem with most cruises is that airfare is rarely included in the base price, and can often be pretty expensive. Same goes for the land portion of your trip, by which I mean landlubbing lodgings. Most folks arrive in the port of embarkation a day or two before the ship sets sail, and/or sometimes choose not to return home until the day after the cruise puts into port, which means you're stuck finding a night's hotel accommodations on either end of your cruise. Well, with a cruise shop run by an airline, one that is also adept at putting together air/hotel packages, that problem is niftily solved. Everything but the kitchen sink And boy, how niftily. Rather than charge everyone from each gateway a different rate, the base price--which covers roundtrip airfare, the seven-day cruise, and two nights lodging in Honolulu before or after the trip--is $1,399 from dozens of cities on the East Coast, Midwest, and Southwest. (That in of itself is a bit unusual--a cheap Hawaii deal not from the West Coast). The list of possible departure cities includes Atlanta, Albuquerque, Boston, Baltimore, Chicago, Colorado Springs, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Grand Rapids, Houston, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Memphis, Miami, Milwaukee, Orlando, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Orleans, Newark, New York (LaGuardia), Omaha, Philadelphia, Tampa, and Washington, DC. The ship sails pretty much weekly from Sept 14 through Jan 4, but the cheapest rate--that $1,399--is available on the following sail dates: Oct 26, Nov 16, Dec 7, Dec 14, and Jan 4. You pick which end of the cruise you want to spend your two free nights in Honolulu at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani ( princess-kaiulani.com/ ) or a similar property. (Sadly, you cannot split them up for one before and one after. Ah, well.) The cruise itself aboard the Norwegian Star ( ncl.com/ ) has restaurants, 14 bars and lounges, swimming pool and gym, etc.--lasts seven days. You leave Honolulu at 8pm to arrive at Hilo by 6am. You have seven hours to enjoy the Big Island before steaming off again at 1pm to spend a day and a half at sea en route to a 9am docking just across the International Date Line on Fanning Island in the Republic of Kiribati (one island up from Christmas Island; a silly US law forces foreign-flagged ships to hit at least one foreign port before returning to US soil). At 3pm it's time to head back Hawaii-way, arriving 46 hours later at Kahului on Maui, where you hang for the entire afternoon. At 10pm you set of again to steam overnight toward Nawiliwili, where you arrive at 8am for an eight-hour day on Kauai. Then at 4pm it's back on the boat for the final leg back to Honolulu, where you get in at 7am. Once again, go to Cruise4Miles (888-666-8120, cruise4miles.com/ ) to learn more about this offer.

Tropic Hawaiian

Real Guide Home - Music videos, movie trailers and breaking news real.com The best of music, movies, breaking news & Hollywood headlines. Hello, Guest My Account Home Music Music Store Radio Movies Downloads & DVDs Sports NFL NASCAR MLB NBA Soccer News TV/Celebrities Hot Stuff Playboy TV Mobile Games Wow! RollingStone We Value Your Opinion. Tell us what you think about the Real Guide. Real Guide Directory Subscribe to Feeds Hawaiian Tropic: Brooke vs. Erin Provider: iFilm ADVERTISEMENT Latest in Viral Video Click, Click, Boom With EOD The 332d Air Expeditionary Wing teams up with Saliva to demo some topnotch Click, Click, Boom! Fallujah A tribute to the soldiers in harm's way during the war's m... Metallica Drummer He's talented. He's obsessed. He's Canadian. Clash In Hebron Raw footage of Israeli troops fighting back against stone-... Banned By The Feds! Banned by the Norwegian government, this music video calls... 4th25: Live From Iraq Plenty of rappers talk a big game, but these guys are from... MI-8 Attack The Army of the Mujahideen released this video showing the... Bunker Buster Demo Check out this demonstration of the powerful Bunker Buster... A Drive Through Mosul Raw footage from a drive through Iraq, where danger is fou... Bouncy Ball Sony recently filmed a TV commercial where they dropped th... Latest From iFilm Dark Night Of The Hobo When Rob brings an old Hobo to the party, everyone learns a valuable lesson. Wrestling Nipple Slip Even the illustrious world of Professional Wrestling isn't... Nicole Richie Nipple Slip Nicole Richie is felled by the "dreaded" nipple slip in th... Ball Bounce This comely young woman certainly knows how to pass the ti... Say Anything Outtake Somehow we came across this rare outtake from the 1989 Cam... Bad Eyesight This Austrian TV spot alludes to one of those times when a... Drug Dealer Runs From Cops A man suspected of dealing drugs flees from the cops and w... Brokeback President During a speech in Kansas, the President is asked if he's ... ADVERTISEMENT US/CAN REGION APAC CHN JPN KOR TW HK | BRA | DEU ESP FRA ITA NED UK EU | LATAM Mac Player | Linux/Unix Player | Mobile Player | Software Accessories | Subscriber Upgrade | Directory | Site Map RealNetworks.com | Mailing List Removal | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Affiliate Program | Jobs | Advertise with us | Customer Support Portions of album content provided by ® © 1948-2004, Muze Inc.

Hawaii Travel

Hawaii Travel Guide - USA Tourist Hawaii The Hawaiian Islands are in the middle of the Pacific Ocean The Hawaiian Islands are located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean approximately 2,400 miles (4.000 km) southwest of California. You can go there only by airplane or boat. There are six major islands : Oahu, Maui, The Big Island of Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai. Each island is unique and may feature live volcanoes, lava flows, tropical rain forests, beautiful beaches, sugar cane fields, pineapple plantations or historic sites. These tropical paradises attract about 7 million tourists each year, but most visitors only see one or two of the islands. You can easily travel between the islands by using one of the two domestic airlines: Aloha or Hawaiian. Flights are frequent and inexpensive. When landing at each airport, be sure to look for the racks of free coupon magazines. Each island has its own coupon book with lots of discounts. Oahu Coast Hawaii has a wonderful climate The climate is consistent and enjoyable. Temperatures seldom fall below 65 degrees or rise above 80 throughout the year. A pleasant breeze frequently cools the day. Don't forget your sunscreen, or sunblock! In such pleasant conditions, you can easily forget that the tropical sun causes severe sunburn to anyone not accustomed to it. Rainfall varies by location but can be an almost daily occurrence in the rain forests. The Aloha Spirit is prevalent everywhere Visitors are warmly welcomed and quickly enveloped by the "Aloha" spirit of Hawaii. Life is very informal on the islands and the dress is casual. Take lots of casual warm weather clothing and don't forget your swimwear! Men visiting the islands usually buy and wear "Aloha shirts" made of bright colorful fabrics. Women usually buy colorful muumuus (loose fitting comfortable dresses that can be worn anywhere in Hawaii). Go Hawaii Card: Unlimited Admission at over 25 Oahu Attractions and Tours PLUS! Savings and Special Offers on shopping, dining and much more Get unlimited admissions including Circle Island Tour, Makani Catamaran tours, Waikiki Trolley, USS Arizona Memorial Audio Tour, Bike, snorkel and beach gear rentals, Historic Museums and much more! Save up to 25% on luaus, shows, dining, shopping and more Get a 100-page, full-color pocket guidebook to help you plan your Hawaiian vacation! BONUS Your choice of a Free Surfing Lesson or Free full day car rental. The different islands offer a variety of features There are numerous recreational opportunities on the islands. You can swim, surf, scuba dive, snorkel, sail, fish, golf or just see the sights. The famous Hawaiian surf is among the biggest and best in the world. Remember these two rules when surfing in Hawaii: 1. Never turn your back on the ocean! 2. If the natives are not in the water, stay out! When picking which islands to visit, consider the type of activities you enjoy. Some islands provide lots of nightlife and lots of sports or recreational opportunities. Others offer spectacular scenery or quiet beaches and solitude. Polynesian Hula Dancers Accommodations on the islands include plenty of hotels and motels in various price ranges. If you stay longer than a few days, there are also lots of condominiums and apartments for rent. Car rentals are readily available and are the best way to see all of the spectacular scenery on most of the islands. When visiting Oahu, long-term car rentals are not a good choice as parking is very limited in Honolulu. Tour busses and daily car rentals are much better options on Oahu. Hawaii has a strict quarantine Hawaii enforces a strict quarantine inspection upon arrival. You will not be allowed to take any fresh fruit, flowers, plants and certain meats into the state. Small sniffer dogs very efficiently search all luggage and passengers on arrival. Written by: Joane Hawaii compare price, make reservations compare price, make reservations compare price, make reservations Hawaii Pages Main Page Island Guide Honolulu Time and Temperature Other Cool Places California New York Florida Disney World Las Vegas Colorado Utah Arizona South Dakota Washington DC South Carolina Nashville, Tennessee Texas Hawaii Links Honolulu, Hawaii hotel and vacation guide : Hotel and vacation guide to Honolulu, Hawaii. Plan your trip to Oahu, Maui, lanai, Kauai today and book your hotel online. Discount Kauai Tours and Activities Choose from a wide variety of activities ranging from off-the-beaten-path land and water tours, NaPali Cruises, soaring Zipline tours, helicopter tours, and much more all at discount prices. HelloHonolulu.com -- Local Honolulu City Guide Planet BnB offers a convenient Hawaii Bed and Breakfast Directory information guide. For the wine loving traveler, the website Wineries and Vineyards features nearby Hawaii Wineries and Vineyard tours . Say Aloha to Great Fares to Hawaii! Aloha Airlines provides frequent, convenient, all-jet service connecting the five major airports in the State of Hawaii (Hilo, Hawaii; Honolulu, Oahu; Kahului, Maui; Kona, Hawaii; Lihue, Kauai). Save money with the Go Hawaii Card. Youll get unlimited admission to the top attractions plus your choice of a free surfing lesson or full-day car rental! Go Hawaii Card: Unlimited Admission at over 25 Oahu Attractions and Tours for one low price. Go Pacific is a very comprehensive site with good information about visiting Hawaii. For over 500 pages of information visit http://www.gopacific.com Hawaii State Vacation Planner has information on four of the most popular islands. You can take an island tour, find accommodations, get shopping information, and read interesting stories about the islands. http://www.hshawaii.com/ Hawaii Convention and Visitors Bureau has information about attractions, events, accommodations, transportation and more. http://www.visit.hawaii.org/ The Pictures from Hawaii page has many beautiful photos of Hawaii to get you into the "Aloha" spirit! http://www.hcc.hawaii.edu/hawaii/ Inter-Island Hawaii Adventures has coupons for discounted air fares between the islands. http://travelhawaii.net/index1.html Hawaii Weather and Surf has reports for the most popular destinations. http://www.hawaii.edu/News/weather.html Tell a friend about this page! Click Here!

Air Hawaiian

Berkeley Parents Network: Going to Hawaii Berkeley Parents Network Home Members Post a Msg Reviews Advice Join BPN Help/FAQ What's New Search Going to Hawaii Berkeley Parents Network Reviews Places to Go Going to Hawaii Questions Trip to Hawaii with a 13 month old Need a rental - any island OK Toy Rentals for Hotel Room Use? Hawaii with Grandma & the kids Flying Hawaiian Air General Advice about Going to Hawaii Hawaii Wedding/Honeymoon Specific Islands the Big Island Kauai Maui Oahu Trip to Hawaii with a 13 month old May 2004 Hi. My husband and I are planning a week long vacation in Hawaii. It does not matter which island (except Maui since we've been there before) to go, but we'd like to have a relaxing time. We have a very active 13 months old son. Any recommendation on baby friendly hotels or condos? We prefer to stay in a condo so that we can cook meals for our son.I already read the previous recommendations on the web. I'd love to have more updated opinions. THANKS! anon Recommended: the Big Island Mauna Lani Terrace condos Kauai Kiahuna Plantation resort Kauai Poipu Beach (2 reviews) Need a rental - any island OK April 2004 Help help help! Here's what I need to find: a 3 bedroom (no lofts or pull-out sofas; we NEED 3 bedrooms) condo or house on or near the water in Hawaii (any island). Must have good amenities and be well furnished, and allow small children. Pool a plus. I've looked at the archives, on the net, and thru all the Wizard Publications guidebooks (Maui Revealed, etc.), and most of the things I've found either don't have 3 bedrooms, don't allow children, or are in the ''not fancy, but clean and comfortable'' category. Does anyone know of a friend who has a nice place they rent out? I've done many a google search and my eyes are bleary!thanks!Ellen Recommended: Kauai, North Shore Maui, Kapalua Bay Toy Rentals for Hotel Room Use? March 2004 is anyone familiar with a company in kauai that rents children's toys while you visit the island? i'm not looking for water toys, but rather everyday toys to play with while staying in hotel rooms.pamela Try the Keiki Cottage in Kapaa. It's a consignment store and Holly rents things like pack n plays, so she might do toys too. Have a great trip!!Rachel How about www.babysaway.comRebecca Hawaii with Grandma & the kids April 2002 Any recommendations for good spots in Hawaii to take a senior citizen who's always wantedto see Hawaii, but isn't very active (can't do a lot of walking)? Accomodations can't berustic, but we're also not looking for ultra-luxury (finances are an issue).Some historical spots, some shopping would be good, but don't need a lot of either. Probablymost important is that it be a beautiful setting (since she's probably got some classic Hawaiianimage--crystal blue water, palm trees, sunsets, etc.--in her mind). Nice beaches are important,too, to keep the grandkids happy. Plan is to go around Thanksgiving. Thanks in advance for anyrecommendations.(Yes, I've looked at the Hawaii recommendations already, but nothing struck me as the perfectplace to meet these needs. Hoping my request will spark a response from folks in a similarposition, or who see their favorite Hawaiian spot as perfect for taking both a senior and kids...)Judy Recommendations received: Kawaii (two) Flying Hawaiian Air August 2002 I'm interested in hearing comments (good and bad) from peoplewho have flown Hawaiian Air from the Bay Area to Honolulu. I'veonly flown with them on short inter-island flights in Hawaii.Our family is planning a trip to Hawaii. The fact that they flyout of Oakland or Sacramento instead of SFO intrigues me (Ireally dislike SFO).Clarisse I haven't flown Hawaiian Air out of Oakland, but I have flownAloha Air from Oakland to Maui. Aloha Air also flies fromOakland to Honolulu. The attendants are pretty much the mostpleasant I have encountered on any airline. You can use UnitedMileage Plus miles to fly on Aloha Air (or earn United MileagePlus miles), as they are partners. This definitely beats makingthe trek to SFO and dealing with the craziness there!!Yearly traveler to Maui My husband and I had a bad experience traveling on Hawaiian Airabout 18 months ago. There were mechanical problems and thecompany seemed to be really unorganized in terms of getting allthe passengers on other flights and in terms of keepingpassengers posted as to the status of the mechanics working onthe plane. They also failed to announce that there were freevouchers available for food at the airport during the longwait. Once we made it on the flight, I found out from aseatmate that if you ASKED for vouchers they were given out andmy husband and I had just spent about $35 of our own money onmeals. It seemed rather unfair. We sat in the airport forabout 20 hours. It was horrible and I don't think we would flythem again.The one thing they did handle well was that they gave everyonefree round trip tickets (on Hawaiian Air) to fly to Hawaii againin the next 12 months.Good luck.Julie We flew Hawaiian from SFO - HNL several times and will not usethem in the future. We had one flight where all the attendentswere fighting with each other. On another flight, where weused our free mileage, they totally messed up our reservation.On the other hand, we most recently used Aloha from OAK - HNLand we were very pleased with the customer service andprofessionalism. I think they do fly a smaller plane than otherairlines, and my partner felt quite cramped. Nonetheless,we plan to use Aloha again.Regards, Michele General Advice about Going to Hawaii From: Karen Have a great time. We went to Kauai when our daughter was 2 and Maui whenshe was 4ish. One thing I discovered both times (for different reasons) isthat our family does better when the place we sleep is delightful enough tospend a good portion of the day in. We really needed a place that wasexotic, Hawaii, versitile enough to be satisfying without driving. Whenour daughter was 2, if we spent a moderate time driving to the beautifulbeach or hike (and home again), there was lots of fussing, sleeping in thecar and then not at naps or nights. When our daughter was 4ish, she lovedbeing in charge of her environment - playing games in the cabin, drawing inthe cabin, exploring outside the cabin etc. Our ideas of driving to thebeach or the state park were met with much protest! (I was very surprised!)Luckily, we ended up in a couple of places that satisfied her age-relatedneeds and our needs to feel like we really were away from home. On Kauaiiwe stayed at Glo Manor on the north coast. We found them on the internet.We also rented a cabin at Waimea Canyon State Park. I was less contenthere because the ocean was not walkable. But the hiking is great. It isthat tropical forest surrounding. On Maui, in Hana, we rented a cabin atthe Waianapanapa State Park. Cabin are very sparsely equipped. Cabins 1-7have nice views. Our best choice for the 4 year old was the 1st floorcondo a Maalea Bay in Maui. We had a relatively calm beach, great views,lots of grandparent aged people that would chat with my daughter, somefamilies with kids. I can get phone #'s for you if you have troublefinding them. The next place we want to try is camping on Lanai. I haven'tinvestigated it much. It could be hard if there were no other kids there From: laura beth I know there are some places you can camp, but in general, camping isprohibited (and it is strictly enforced) on the beaches. So, I have noinfo really except that I know people who went over thinking, "weel, I canjust camp and I won;t get a ticket" and this is not the fact of the matter.They do ticket and will arrest. Good luck! From: Deborah Just got back from a week on Oahu with kids age 4 and 8. It was great. Westayed at a B&B in a small beach town called Waimanalo, about a half hourfrom Honolulu. I would recommend the place we stayed, called "Nalo Winds"www.nalowinds.com.For $550 for 7 nights we had the "mermaid suite," a good-sized bedroom witha queen bed, a teeny bathroom (shower only--no tub), and a large lanai(screened porch) with a double futon, table and 4 chairs, and kitchenettewith small fridge, 2 burner hotplate, microwave, toaster oven, coffeemaker. The kitchen was stocked with coffee, tea, milk, juice, fruit,yogurt, cereal, muffins. One of the things I liked most is that the lanaiopens onto a private garden with a small lawn and hammock. The rental alsoincludes the use of a wide selection of snorkelling equipment (some kidsize), adult bikes, coolers, a gas grill, washer/dryer, kiddie pool. Itsort of felt like borrowing someone's slightly funky, but comfortable beachhouse (oh, it's half a block from the beach). There's no tv/vcr, which wedidn't miss, and sound carries perfectly from the bedroom to the lanai, soit's hard for someone to take a nap in one room while others are playing inthe other room. I wouldn't think Hawaii would be a great place to camp for a week, butmaybe for part of the time. It can get really hot and also rainy. You wouldneed to get ice daily to keep food cold. Be sure to find someplace withshowers for all the sand and saltwater (some beaches have showers...) Hawaii Wedding/Honeymoon Claudia My sister is getting married in May and is planning a honeymoon in Hawaii, 5 days in Maui and 5 in Kauai. Since they're travelling on a shoestring budget, my husband and I would like to give them a gift certificate for some activity to do there -- like a snorkeling/sailing package or biking down the volcano in Maui. Does anyone have any good suggestions for activities on either island that are fun, adventurous and memorable and cost under $200? They're both active, outdoorsy types who would be willing to try pretty much anything. We also thought of treating them to dinner at a romantic restaurant so if anyone has a recommendation for a nice place for honeymooners, I'd appreciate it. Thanks for your help. Linda A great romantic restaurant on Kauai with amazing food is The Beach House near Poipu. It has a wonderful view (go near sunset), and the food is wonderful (but not cheap). It is a sister restaurant to A Pacific Cafe on the east side of the island, which has great food too but no view. We really enjoyed the boat/snorkeling tours we took. We did one on Kauai around the Na Pali coast (only accessible by boat or foot). On Maui, we did a snorkeling tour to Molikini, a tiny island crater. There were boats packed in the little crater, but despite the crowds the snorkeling was great (tons of fish). We booked these trips through our hotels, and I don't remember the costs. From: Christina My husband and I honeymooned on Kauai and our favorite beach on the island wasPolihale State Beach. It's the most south-westerly beach on the island that'saccessible by car, and a great place to watch the sun set. It's a long stretch of beach, and at one end the Na Pali coastline begins with it's dramatic lushgreen steep cliffs. Also there aren't many people there, since it is a bit ofa drive (5 minutes off the highway on a dirt road). Would be most convenient if you are staying in Poipu or west of Poipu. Congratulations! Home | Reviews | Advice | Members | Post a Message Join BPN | Help | What's New | Search Please send questions and comments to Berkeley Parents Network . Last updated: Oct 10, 2004 © 1996-2006 Berkeley Parents Network The opinions and statements expressed on this website are those of parents who subscribe to the Berkeley Parents Network . Please see our Disclaimer for details.

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. More Headlines ADVERTISEMENT Advertise With Us: Online | In Print | Broadcast | Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us TBO.com: Feedback | Advertise With Us | Email Alerts | Make Us Your Home Page | Member Center | -- Contact Us WFLA: See news developing? Email or call our Tipline at 1-800-348-WFLA | 8 on Your Side | 8's Army | Links We Mentioned The Tampa Tribune: Subscribe | Place an Ad | Electronic Edition | Photo Reprints | Public Research | Archive | Corrections