Hawaiian Music: Bands and

Hawaiian Music/Bands and Artists/Israel Kamakawiwoole and Hawaii: Hawaiian Music: Bands and Artists: Israel Kamakawiwoole Hawaii : Hawaiian Music: Bands and Artists: Israel Kamakawiwoole • LINK TO US • ADD A LINK • RANDOM LINK • HOME • • LISTENNOW • WHAT'SPLAYING? • Looking for something in particular? THIS SITE The Web Listen LIVE to Hawaiian Music! What's Playing? Link To Us Somewhere Over the Rainbow Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Over the Rainbow Your host, Rich Shipley Browse Island Categories: Hawaiian Music Hawaii - All Islands Big Island Kauai Lanai Leeward Islands Maui Molokai Oahu Hawaii : Hawaiian Music : Bands and Artists : Israel Kamakawiwoole Adda Link to this Category >> Click Here to Listen to Hawaiian Music Now << Pages: 1 2 [] "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Listen > Click Here . Facing Future Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's 1993 CD "Facing Future" includes the medley "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World" which has been heard in numerous movies, television shows and commercials. Israel - better known as "Bruddah Iz" or "Iz" - who passed away in 1997, was far more than an entertainer. He was loved deeply by all the people of Hawaii. In a sense, he was a living hero in the Islands, and upon his death he was given the profound honor of lying in state in the capital rotunda in Honolulu so that his thousands of loyal fans could pay their loving last respects. Today, his legacy lives on through his music. Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole Memorial Tribute Hawaiian Music Site A Memorial tribute entitled "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". May 20, 1959 - June 26, 1997 "Hawaiian Music Legends" In Memory of Israel "IZ" his Life, Songs and Lyrics...Special artcles, links, stories and his Music CDs with free MP3 downloads. http://1800sunstar.com/sitesR/H_listen/offscan/IZ/00izmemorial.html details Aloha `oe Israel Tribute, discography, news articles, and autobiography. http://www.mele.com/Farewell/tribute.htm details Bradda Israel Kamakawiwo'ole A tribute page with biography, photographs, and links to audio samples and related sites. http://www.geocities.com/NapaValley/Vineyard/1945/iz.html details Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Iz Overview of the artist's career and reviews of his works. http://starbulletin.com/97/07/04/features/index.html details Honolulu Star-Bulletin: Izzy's Latest Disc Showcases his Versatility A review of his fourth solo album. http://starbulletin.com/97/01/24/features/stuffs.html details In Loving Memory - Israel Kamakawiwo`ole Newsletter, brief biography and discography, memory guestbook, and links. http://www.e-hawaii.com/iz/default.htm details Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, IZ, Hawaiian Supaman Biography with photographs. http://home.earthlink.net/~homeyrf/izbio.html details Israel Kamakawiwo`ole Memorial Page Obituaries and album information. http://smi-web.stanford.edu/people/kxl/Iz.html details IZ - the Man and his Music Hawaiian language lyrics and translations of Iz: The Man and His Music, and links. http://www.geocities.com/~olelo/iz-themanandhismusic.html details Memorial to Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Memories and photographs. http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/tollington/72/iz.htm details Pages: 1 2 [] Hawaii : Hawaiian Music: Bands and Artists: Israel Kamakawiwoole • LINK TO US • ADD A LINK • RANDOM LINK • HOME • • LISTENNOW • WHAT'SPLAYING? • Maui | Maui Vacation | Maui Hotels | Maui Condos | Maui Bed Breakfast | Maui Vacation Rentals | Maui Real Estate | Maui Maps | Maui Pictures | Maui Weddings | Maui Condo Rental | Maui Activities | Maui Car Rental | Maui Snorkeling | Hawaii | HawaiiHotels | HawaiiBed Breakfast | HawaiiVacation Rentals | HawaiiReal Estate | HawaiiMaps | HawaiiPictures | HawaiiCondo Rental | HawaiiActivities | BigIsland | BigIsland Hotels | BigIsland Bed Breakfast | BigIsland Vacation Rentals | BigIsland Real Estate | BigIsland Maps | BigIsland Pictures | BigIsland Activities | BigIsland Snorkeling | BigIsland Camping and RVs | Kauai | KauaiHotels | KauaiBed Breakfast | KauaiVacation Rentals | KauaiReal Estate | KauaiMaps | KauaiPictures | KauaiWeddings | KauaiActivities | KauaiCar Rental | KauaiSnorkeling | Molokai | MolokaiVacation Rentals | MolokaiReal Estate | MolokaiWeddings | Oahu | OahuHotels | OahuBed Breakfast | OahuVacation Rentals | OahuReal Estate | OahuMaps | OahuPictures | OahuWeddings | OahuActivities | OahuScuba Diving | FijiTravel HawaiianRainbow.com - Powered By Aloha What are thumbshots?

Hawaii Resort

Wailea Grand Champions Maui - Kihei - Wailea Grand Champions Maui Reviews - TripAdvisor Wailea Grand Champions Maui Sign in • Sign up Home > United States > Hawaii > Maui > Kihei > Kihei Hotels > Wailea Grand Champions Maui Kihei tourism: Overview Hotels Flights Attractions Dining Deals Forums Maps, etc. Search (e.g., Boston hotels, Las Vegas, Paris art museum) Kihei Kihei Overview Kihei Hotels Wailea Grand Champions Maui All Kihei Hotels Flights to Kihei Kihei Deals Kihei Attractions Kihei Restaurants Kihei Forum Kihei Maps Kihei Discount Hotels Kihei Vacation Packages Wailea Grand Champions Maui Maui e-mail this page to a friend Traveler Reviews Write a review . What was your experience with Wailea Grand Champions Maui? Tell others what's hot and what's not. Kihei Wailea Grand Champions Maui 3750 Wailea Alanui Shops at Wailea, Suite B51 Kihei, Maui, Hawaii 96753 United States Deals on Kihei Hotels Four Seasons Resort Maui The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui Maui Kamaole ResortQuest Maui Hill Maui Prince Hotel Mana Kai Maui Renaissance Wailea Beach Resort Grand Wailea Resort and Spa Maui Makena Surf - Destination Resorts Maui Sunseeker Wailea Marriott Resort Sugar Beach Resort Condos Kihei Surfside Maui Coast Hotel Leinaala Outrigger Palms at Wailea Hale Pau Hana Resort Royal Mauian Resort Maui Sunset Condos Nani Kai Hale Condos Maui Polo Beach Club - Destinations Resorts ResortQuest at the Maui Banyan Kihei Akahi Kealia Resort Castle Kamaole Sands Kihei Beach Resort Wailea Elua Village - Destination Resorts Wailea Grand Champions Maui Kauhale Makai (Village by the Sea) Hale Kamaole Wailea Ekolu Village - Destination Resorts Maui Vista Resort Kamaole Nalu Resort Kihei Bay Vista Wailea Ekahi Village - Destination Resorts Best Western Maui Oceanfront Inn Hale Kai O'kihei Aston Maui Lu Resort Maui Parkshore More Kihei Hotels Kihei Kai Nani Koa Lagoon Aloha Pualani Hotel Boutique Punahoa Beach Apartments Luana Kai Resort Kamaole Beach Royale Resort Menehune Shores Maui Schooner Resort Kihei Beachfront Resort Shores of Maui Kihei Alii Kai Kihei hotels: 1 - 20 Kihei hotels: 21 - 63 Read more Kihei tourism Wailea Grand Champions Maui #35 of 63 hotels in Kihei Compare rates with: Average price*: $ 243 3750 Wailea Alanui | Shops at Wailea, Suite B51, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii 96753, United States Rooms: 275 TripAdvisor traveler rating: Call now to book: 1-800-434-6835 from hotels.com Map this hotel: Expedia.com Hotel photos: Expedia.com Virtual tour: Expedia.com View candid traveler photos Villas and Condominiums situated directly on Championship Golf Courses and near the Wailea Tennis Club. This description is based on information provided by the hotel. Sponsored links * Hotel deal search: Wailea Grand Champions Maui Click here for best prices for Wailea Grand Champions Maui Wailea Grand Champions Maui : Great rooms, Great rates Expedia.com Don't just travel. Travel right! Wailea Grand Champions Maui : Low Hotel Prices Made Easy Orbitz.com The faster, easier way to find the hotel you want. Just Orbitz and go! Wailea Grand Champions Maui : Up to 20% Less Than All Others GreatHawaiiVacations.com We Know Hawaii Best. Five Star Service Starts With Us. Wailea Grand Champions Maui : This Hotel from $185 hotels.com We Know Hotels Inside And Out. Click or call now: 1-800-434-6835 All results: View all 418 Kihei travel deals Share your travel photos, get free prints! Have snapshots of hotels or attractions from your last trip? Get up to $40 in free prints from Shutterfly® when you post travel photos on TripAdvisor. Offer ends January 31, 2006. See offer details . TripAdvisor Traveler Reviews 1-10 of 20 (English) RATING: DATE: Show: All languages English (20) Next Dec 19, 2005 "Construction at Grand Champions" A TripAdvisor Member, Reno, Nevada We stayed at Grand Champions from Nov. 24-Dec. 4. While our unit (#162) was lovely and well-equipped,... Dec 5, 2005 "Good Value for the dollar" A TripAdvisor Member, London Ontario Canada We just spent 18 nights in a two bedroom condo at Grand Champions in Wailea. It is very obvious that... Oct 2, 2005 "Nice Pleasant Place" A TripAdvisor Member, Lakewood, CA While searching for a place to stay, I found these reviews very helpful. We were pleasantly surprised... Oct 12, 2005 Management response from Gail Dornstreich, Private Owner This review incorrectly states that the complex is in Kihei on the border of Wailea. That is not true.... Sep 28, 2005 "Good place for large family" A TripAdvisor Member, SF, CA We stayed in unit 153 for 3 nights. It's a 3 bed/2bath ground floor condo. It was nicely decorated although... Sep 11, 2005 "Our unit had seen better days." A TripAdvisor Member, Vancouver. BC, Canada We stayed at the Grand Champions from late August until early September. Maui was beautiful, the unit... Sep 8, 2005 "great value" A TripAdvisor Member, Morristown, New Jersey We were completely satisfied with Grand Champions. We stayed there late August through early September... Aug 8, 2005 "Understand your parameters" A TripAdvisor Member, Conn Like many others I spent countless time reviewing the various postings on this website for information... Jul 28, 2005 "Comfortable and relaxing stay at the Grand Champions" A TripAdvisor Member, Cerritos, CA My husband and I stayed at the Grand Champions for 5 nights in July. We had a one bedroom unit with a... Jul 27, 2005 "Unit 84 (Destination Resorts) 3 BR/2 BA partial ocean view" A TripAdvisor Member, Gilbert, AZ We loved our condo. It was very nicely decorated and the kitchen was updated with nice appliances and... Jul 15, 2005 "Warning on the Wailea Grand Champion Villas" A TripAdvisor Member, monterey, ca Our family and our friends recently rented two condos at the Wailea Grand Champion Villas. We requested... 1-10 of 20 (English) Next Sponsored links * Hotel deal search: Wailea Grand Champions Maui Click here for best prices for Wailea Grand Champions Maui Wailea Grand Champions Maui : Great rooms, Great rates Expedia.com Don't just travel. Travel right! Wailea Grand Champions Maui : Great Rooms from $210 Orbitz.com The faster, easier way to find the hotel you want. Just Orbitz and go! All results: View all 418 Kihei travel deals From Around the Web: Wailea Grand Champions Maui Expert Guidebooks (2) Title Source "Wailea Villas" Fodors.com "Wailea/Makena Resort Condominiums" Gayot.com Related Web Comments (1) Title Source Date "Wailea Elua Village" IgoUgo.com Jan 2, 2001 Forums Get candid advice from real travelers! Title # of Replies Most Recent Reply "2 BR, 2 Bath unit without gardenview" 6 replies 9:54 am, today "Breakfast in South Kiehei" 7 replies 11:19 pm, yesterday "Condos in Kihei for 9 of us" 1 reply 7:50 pm, yesterday Go to the Kihei Forum Post a forums topic about Wailea Grand Champions Maui Share your travel savvy! Join a discussion... Title # of Replies Time/Date Posted "Need feedback on Kihei Beach Resort " no replies 10:56 pm, yesterday "Kihei Bay Surf, Kihei, Maui, Hawaii, USA" no replies 8:01 pm, yesterday "Grand Wailea Spa" no replies 1:49 pm, Jan 20, 2006 Browse Kihei discussions Research Other Kihei Hotels Wailea Grand Champions Maui not what you're looking for? Find out about other Kihei hotels , or check out Kihei hotel deals ! More Information on Travel in Maui Explore our site to find travel information and unbiased reviews on Kihei tourism , restaurants , attractions , maps and much more. Review Summary Based on 20 reviews worldwide Traveler Rating Overall What to expect Rooms Service Value Cleanliness Pool Recommendations families with small children seniors couples and romantics honeymooners active/adventure travelers Sponsored links * Specials: Wailea Grand Champions Maui Wailea Grand Champions Maui : Discount Rates Great Low Prices, Pictures, and Guest Reviews. Shop. Compare. Save. Priceline.com Hotels Wailea Grand Champions Maui : Spacious Condos and Suites, Book Now Condo, B&B’s, homes, suites, guaranteed low rates VacationSpot.com Wailea Grand Champions Maui : Save on this hotel + air Don't just travel. Travel right! Expedia Vacations Wailea Grand Champions Maui : Book Hotel + Air and Save We Know Hotels Inside And Out. 1-800-764-6835 hotels.com Vacations View all deals: Kihei Similar Hotels Nearby Less than 2 miles from Wailea Grand Champions Maui ResortQuest Maui Hill Ranks #5 in Kihei Avg. price: $231 /night Mana Kai Maui Ranks #7 in Kihei Avg. price: $131 /night Less than 3 miles from Wailea Grand Champions Maui Maui Kamaole Ranks #3 in Kihei Avg. price: $198 /night Kihei Kai Nani Ranks #4 in Kihei Avg. price: $125 /night Kihei Surfside Ranks #16 in Kihei Avg. price: $187 /night Free Newsletter Interested in Wailea Grand Champions Maui and Kihei ? We'll send you weekly updates with new articles, reviews and special deals. Just enter your e-mail address: Hotel owners: expand your listing About TripAdvisor TripAdvisor provides unbiased reviews, articles, recommendations and opinions on Wailea Grand Champions Maui , Kihei. Recommendations for hotels, resorts, inns, vacations, travel packages, travel guides and lots more! Visit TripAdvisor's international sites: About Us | Membership | Site Map | Become an Affiliate | Top Cities | Hotel Reservations | Hotel Deals | TripAdvisor Gear Popular Hotels: 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , by city TripAdvisor Recommends: Las Vegas hotels , London hotels , Paris hotels , Rome hotels , New York City hotels , Chicago hotels , Orlando hotels © 2005 TripAdvisor, Inc. All rights reserved. TripAdvisor Terms of Use and Privacy Policy . * TripAdvisor, Inc. is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site... 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Lahaina Town McGregor Point

Lahaina, Maui Need Info Other Sites to See... BOTANICAL GARDENS Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens HISTORICAL SITES Ahihi Kinau Bay and Nature Preserve Baily House Museum Bellstone Black Rock Oneuli Beach and Red Hill Area Charles Lindburg Grave Dragons Teeth Halekii and Pihana Heiau Hana Cross Iao Valley Needle Kaulanapueo Church Kaupo Store Keawalai Church La Perouse Bay Makena Landing Maui Arts and Cultural Center Mokulua Church Oheo Pools Seven Sacred Pools Olowalu Petroglyphs Waianapanapa Caves LANDMARKS Alaalaula Bridge and Stream Black Rock Oneuli Beach and Red Hill Area Dragons Teeth Haleakala Crater Iao Valley Needle Kahakuloa Head Kanaha Pond Kihei Boat Landing Lahaina Town McGregor Point Light Beacon Nakalele Blow Hole Nakalele Point and Lookout Oheo Pools Seven Sacred Pools Old Kahakuloa Village MUSEUMS Baily House Museum Humpback Whale Museum Maui Arts and Cultural Center Sugar Museum WATERFALLS Alaalaula Bridge and Stream Blue Angle Falls Haipuaena Falls Hanawi Falls Lower Makamakaole Falls Lower Puohokamoa Falls Makapipi Falls Oheo Pools Seven Sacred Pools Paihi Roadside Waterfall Puaa Luu Falls Three Bears and Waikani Falls Upper Puohokamoa Falls Waikamoi Falls Wailua Falls Wailuaki Falls Bridge Waimoku Falls Lahaina may, at first glance, seem like just another seashore town. But this lovely and pictureque city is full of life and brimming with history! Day or night, Lahaina is a site not to be missed. Lahaina started as an ancient Hawaiian fishing village. Then westerners and their tall ships began sailing to the islands and Lahaina became a popular town due to it's natural harbor. Several of the buildings and much of the history of the area revolves around those early years of the 1800's Directions: Take Highway 30 west from Ma'alaea. Around Mile Marker #20 you can take any street going toward the sea to get to Lahaina. Front Street runs the length of the city along the ocean. Useful Information: Numerous natural and historical sites located in town Restaurants, shops and lodging throughout the area Limited parking on the street. Several pay, public parking lots in town Lahaina Harbor has a ferry boat that goes to the neighbor island of Lanai, 7 miles across the channel. Visitor Center located on Canal Street near Hotel Street Walking tours of the city available or pick-up a self-guided map from the Old Courthouse Museum Kauai | Oahu | Molokai | Lanai | Maui | Hawaii Home | Contact Us | View Itinerary | Island Maps | Brochures | Screensavers | Free Newsletter About Us | Site Map | Privacy Policy Call Us Toll Free at 1.866.268.7459 All content © 2003 HawaiiWeb, Inc. This site is optimized for Internet Explorer 6 and Netscape 7.1 and utilizes Macromedia Flash 6.0 site designed by: HawaiiWeb, Inc. info@HawaiiWeb.com

Hawaiian Barbecue

Comments on: L&L Hawaiian Barbecue http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/11/28/ll-hawaiian-barbecue/ foodblogging los angeles Wed, 25 Jan 2006 16:00:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=1.5 by: G. Matsuda http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/11/28/ll-hawaiian-barbecue/#comment-4465 Mon, 28 Nov 2005 17:23:48 -0800 http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/11/28/ll-hawaiian-barbecue/#comment-4465 Yeah, L&L's are popping up all over the place now. From what I've seen, each one has a slightly different menu. The other thing is...you can get much better "local" food (that's how people from Hawaii refer to their local cuisine) at places like Shaka's on Garfield near I-10 in Monterey Park, Aloha Kitchen on Atlantic Bl. in Monterey Park, The Loft in Gardena, Kings Hawaiian (both the restaurant on Sepulveda and the take-out place on Western).IMHO, Ono Hawaiian Barbeque is horrible. Their kalua pork is way too salty and has no smoke flavor at all. All the other dishes I've tried there are definitely sub-par as well.Shaka's is the one I go to the most. They even bring in their lau-lau daily from Hawaii. And they authentic Hawaiian Shave (not shaved) ice...with Azuki beans, too (the whole beans not the sweet red bean paste [kintoki} that they used to have). Yeah, L&L’s are popping up all over the place now. From what I’ve seen, each one has a slightly different menu. The other thing is…you can get much better “local” food (that’s how people from Hawaii refer to their local cuisine) at places like Shaka’s on Garfield near I-10 in Monterey Park, Aloha Kitchen on Atlantic Bl. in Monterey Park, The Loft in Gardena, Kings Hawaiian (both the restaurant on Sepulveda and the take-out place on Western). IMHO, Ono Hawaiian Barbeque is horrible. Their kalua pork is way too salty and has no smoke flavor at all. All the other dishes I’ve tried there are definitely sub-par as well. Shaka’s is the one I go to the most. They even bring in their lau-lau daily from Hawaii. And they authentic Hawaiian Shave (not shaved) ice…with Azuki beans, too (the whole beans not the sweet red bean paste [kintoki} that they used to have). ]] by: Jonah http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/11/28/ll-hawaiian-barbecue/#comment-4466 Mon, 28 Nov 2005 17:27:06 -0800 http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/11/28/ll-hawaiian-barbecue/#comment-4466 I have heard that the Loft is the place to go, I'll have to shoot over there and give it a try. I have heard pretty mixed things about King's though.<a href="http://ratearestaurant.blogspot.com/2003/11/rate-restaurant-28-in-series.html" rel="nofollow">Here's a mixed review from Rate A Restaurant</a> I have heard that the Loft is the place to go, I’ll have to shoot over there and give it a try. I have heard pretty mixed things about King’s though. Here’s a mixed review from Rate A Restaurant ]] by: G. Matsuda http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/11/28/ll-hawaiian-barbecue/#comment-4467 Mon, 28 Nov 2005 20:26:47 -0800 http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/11/28/ll-hawaiian-barbecue/#comment-4467 Kings isn't the best, but it's definitely better than Ono Hawaiian Barbeque, and some of the L&L outlets. Kings isn’t the best, but it’s definitely better than Ono Hawaiian Barbeque, and some of the L&L outlets. ]] by: Kristy http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/11/28/ll-hawaiian-barbecue/#comment-4468 Mon, 28 Nov 2005 22:02:06 -0800 http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/11/28/ll-hawaiian-barbecue/#comment-4468 I like L&L's chicken teri plate. King's is good for desserts... chocolate dobash and hawaiian paradise cakes. Haven't been to Bruddah's in a long time, but used to go there for some good kalua pork and lau lau. I wonder if it's still good.... heard it's gone down hill over the past few years. I like L&L’s chicken teri plate. King’s is good for desserts… chocolate dobash and hawaiian paradise cakes. Haven’t been to Bruddah’s in a long time, but used to go there for some good kalua pork and lau lau. I wonder if it’s still good…. heard it’s gone down hill over the past few years. ]] by: Dylan http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/11/28/ll-hawaiian-barbecue/#comment-4472 Tue, 29 Nov 2005 01:48:48 -0800 http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/11/28/ll-hawaiian-barbecue/#comment-4472 Jonah, i think the reason why these meals were made so big in hawaii was b/c of the working class. When the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans and Hawaiians worked on the sugar plantations, they'd congregate at night markets and trade their own food. Koreans introduced kalbi ribs. Japanese brought chicken katsu. etc. They'd bring their food for lunch, and save the rest for dinner. Jonah, i think the reason why these meals were made so big in hawaii was b/c of the working class. When the Chinese, Japanese, Koreans and Hawaiians worked on the sugar plantations, they’d congregate at night markets and trade their own food. Koreans introduced kalbi ribs. Japanese brought chicken katsu. etc. They’d bring their food for lunch, and save the rest for dinner. ]] by: G.Matsuda http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/11/28/ll-hawaiian-barbecue/#comment-4474 Tue, 29 Nov 2005 12:32:45 -0800 http://la.foodblogging.com/2005/11/28/ll-hawaiian-barbecue/#comment-4474 There's no question about the effect of the plantation economy had on how the workers prepared their food/ate. It happened in the sugar cane and pineapple industries in Hawaii. There’s no question about the effect of the plantation economy had on how the workers prepared their food/ate. It happened in the sugar cane and pineapple industries in Hawaii. ]]

Hawaiian Cruise

Cruise Ship Profiles Cruise Lines - American Hawaii Cruise Home Photo Gallery Cruise Talk Cruise Search Cruise News Search -- Search CruisePage -- Book a Cruise - CruiseServer - Search Caribbean - Search Alaska - Search Europe - 866.469.4733 Forums Cruise Talk Rail Talk Air Talk Destination Talk Hotel Talk Buy Stuff Evolution of the Ocean Liner Poster Reviews - Ship Reviews - Dream Cruise - Ship of the Month - Reader Reviews - Submit a Review - Millennium Cruise Community - Photo Gallery - Join Cruise Club - Cruise News - Cruise Survey - Cruise Jobs - Special Needs - Maritime Q & A - Sea Stories Industry - New Ship Guide - Former Ships - Port Information - Inspection Scores - Shipyards - Ship Cams - Freighter Travel - Potpourri Shopping - Shirts & Hats - Books - Videos - Reservations - Vacation Specials - Web Deals Contact Us - Reservations - Mail - Feedback - Suggest-a-Site - About Us Travel Resources Reservations Destinations Hotels Air Travel Cruise Travel News/Weather SHIP PROFILE American Hawaii SS Independence TravelPage.com Rating : Submit your review here Operator: American Hawaii Cruises Year Built / Last Refurbished: 1951 / 1994 Length / Tonnage: 682 / 30,900 Number of Cabins / Passengers: 406 / 872 Officers / Crew: American / American Operating Area: Year-round Hawaii Telephone / Fax: Tel 150 2244 / Fax 150 2244 Review by Mark H. Goldberg, TravelServer.net, Cruise Editor Hawaii captures you, soothes and enchants you, she lets you hangloose and envelop yourself in the bright colors of her land andsea. Sail the INDEPENDENCE and it won't be long before you'redecked out in a loud, colorful Hawaiian shirt and enjoying lifethe Old Hawaiian Way. Simply because the State of Hawaii iscomprised of islands, the ideal way to approach them is from thesea and the best way to see them is by this wonderful old cruiseship. Able to produce a maximum of 55,000 shaft horsepower at 150rpms, her steam turbines geared to twin screws are a sight tobehold. When she was new the INDEPENDENCE showed how powerfulthat is when she steamed at just over 26 knots on her trials offCape Cod. By international rules, when new, the INDEPENDENCE was theeleventh largest liner in the world and certainly one of thefastest. The big question was...would anyone care? For spoken intones of a flat declaratory to a shrill protest the cry "No onetravels in an American ship!" was heard in steamship agencies andsmart parties the world over. Experienced travelers and neophytesalike looked upon American ships with a bemused condescension,secure in the "knowledge" that in terms of food and service,those "Yankee" liners just couldn't produce - the foreign linerswere better. American ships had a severe image problem. Yet theAmerican twins INDEPENDENCE and her identical twin CONSTITUTIONsoon proved themselves extraordinarily popular, hostingglittering rosters of notables intent on sailing under the "Starsand Stripes". Movie producers were drawn to them. Cary Grant andDeborah Kerr starred in "An Affair to Remember" costarrinq theCONSTITUTION. After United States Lines stodgily rebuffed Desilustudios, American Export sent plenty of material and film footageof the twin liners to Hollywood. Who among us can ever forgetLucille Ball "landing" by helicopter on the after Bridge Deck ofthe CONSTITUTION? And yes...THIS is the INDEPENDENCE the agent onthe pier mentioned when he told a distraught Lucy that she couldget to Europe on the following sailing... So great was theirpopularity that in 1958 American Export Lines sent both ships formajor overhauls. Fitting additional First Class cabins, theforward ends of their superstructures were massively altered. Forall that, against the ANDREA DORIA and CRISTOFORO COLOMBO andlater the LEONARDO da VINCI and the superliners MICHELANGELO andRAFFAELLO on the "Sunny Southern Route", the American liners justcouldn't compete. The results of a projected trio of 20,000 ton express liners forthe Mediterranean route, these ships began to take shape as farback as 1940 when American Export Lines, Inc. planned for thefuture. It would be YEARS before any such ships were built andwhen they were, there were two, not three. And bucking anAmerican Export Line tradition, the two ships were not givennames beginning with "EX" but were instead named for historicU.S. Navy frigates. Had the intended third sister been built, shewould likely have been named CONSTELLATION. Asking for inputfrom many quarters, it is Gustavo Pulitzer, famed Italianinterior designer who should be given first initial credit formany of the pleasing touches in the ultimate form of theseclassic liners. Noted American industrial designer Henry Dreyfussin collaboration with the Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporationdeserves credit as the designers of the INDEPENDENCE and hersister CONSTITUTION. With the help of mail contracts and buildingsubsidies to pay the $25,000,000 each ship cost (that's over $150million each, in TODAY's dollars!) two ships were laid down atBethlehem Steel Company's Quincy, Massachusetts yards at thevery end of the 1940's, the INDEPENDENCE on March 29, 1949, theCONSTITUTION on July 12th. Their plans included many eventualdefense and military needs so safety provisions, fire proofing andrapid convertibility to trooping requirements took first place inthe design of the pair. And the INDEPENDENCE is still a very safeship today! Debuting with a 53 day cruise to the Mediterranean, Red Sea andIndia in 1951, the INDEPENDENCE got into service before theItalian postwar liners came out and captured the cream of theItaly trade. And even had the competition been less, theINDEPENDENCE and CONSTITUTION would have been hard pressed tomeet the enormous costs of operating under the American flageither on their regular Atlantic service or on cruises throughthe Mediterranean or to the Caribbean. By the late 1960s theseAmerican liners were desperate for money and American ExportLines entered into an agreement with Diner's Club/Fugazy to jazzup the twin ships. Only the INDEPENDENCE was actually updated toappeal to a "mod" generation and when she appeared with Harlow'seyes peering out from her halo of a "mod" sunburst on her whitehull, eyes rolled in contempt. Before the ship lover knew it, sheand the CONSTITUTION were gone from our lives. Withdrawn by 1968,the CONSTITUTION went into idleness at Jacksonville, Floridafollowed a few months later by the INDEPENDENCE which was laid upat Baltimore with their fleet mate ATLANTIC. Reports of a sale ofone or both of the sisters to Chandris came to naught. A plan tooperate the INDEPENDENCE on charter by Wall Street Tours, aManhattan based travel company also went nowhere. Should theyfind buyers willing to operate them, they would be but shadows oftheir former selves. The ships were idle for years until 1974 when fabled Chineseshipowner C.Y. Tung came to their rescue. Buying the pair with anobligation to return them to the control of the United Statesgovernment in time of war, he had each ship's twin funnelsrepainted with his signature livery, a red chrysanthemum on buff.Prefacing each ship's name with "OCEANIC", he sent them to HongKong. Some work was found for the OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE but nonefor her sister which now rode at anchor in the shadow of VictoriaPeak. For a while in 1975 the OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE shuttledbetween Lisbon and Angola carrying refugees, mostly civiliansfleeing Angola to Portugal Lisbon. Then, despite several goodintentions, she was again retired and returned to lay up. When Matson and later Pacific Far East Line went out of thepassenger business leaving the piers at Aloha Tower bereft ofpassenger tonnage save the occasional cruise caller, C.Y. Tungsaw possibilities where others saw problems and investigated thepossibility of operating his beautiful OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE as acruise ship among the Hawaiian Islands. But since Congressthought to protect American ship owners and shipbuilders as earlyas 1886, any ship operating Hawaii cruises would have to haveAmerican registry. American ships sold abroad are ineligible toreturn to U.S. registry except in time of war. Though Americanbuilt, the ship was now registered abroad and THAT could havebeen a big problem for the proposed weekly cruises through theHawaiian islands. Unanimously approved by both the U.S. Senateand House of Representatives in 1979, an Act of Congress broughtthe OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE back under the Stars and Stripes andallowed American Hawaii Cruises to go into business. The pleasanttask of refurbishing the graceful vessel for modern cruisingbegan. Eliminating class distinctions, upgrading cabins on thelower decks and altering the decor to include the soft atmosphereof the Hawaiian Islands, the OCEANIC INDEPENDENCE was ready tobegin a new life. Wearing a traditional Hawaiian lei at her stemas she arrived off Honolulu for the first time, she paused offPearl Harbor long enough to drop a wreath in memory of Americanforces killed in the surprise attack there on December 7, 1941. But after that, at least since her maiden sailing on her 7 daycruise circuit of the major islands on June 21, 1980, the gentleHawaii of the tradewinds reigns supreme aboard this wonderfulship. In the meantime American Hawaii Cruises has changed handstwice and the newest owners, who also own the wonderfulMISSISSIPPI QUEEN, AMERICAN QUEEN and DELTA QUEEN decided toupgrade and substantially improve the INDEPENDENCE. In 1994 theship was withdrawn from service and sent to Newport NewsShipbuilding and Drydock Company where she was extensivelyrefitted and prepared to last another forty five years! Conceived to be an example of luxurious modernAmerican living at sea the INDEPENDENCE still offers relaxedelegance in a bright and airy modern decor reflecting the naturalbeauty and colors of Hawaii. The INDEPENDENCE has acres of deck space and both open andcovered promenades. The design of the ship includes a pair ofwings over the old Sea Isle Club, once the First Class pool. Fromthere you have an eaqle's view of the festivities on the afterdecks. It's also a great place to see and not be noticed...Justbeyond the former Sunlane Club, now called the Ohana Lounge isthe big swimming pool and its surrounding lido is the scene ofmany a party. The main public rooms are the semicircularCommodore's Terrace...aft on Kamaa'ina (formerly Promenade) Deckwhere evenings are welcomed with a cocktail and a tune from thetalented pianist. Next is the Hoi Hoi Showplace where sightlinesare mostly good and the efforts of the cruise staff and twoHawaiian dance troupes are shown during nightly shows.Centerpiece of the INDEPENDENCE's public rooms, though, is theKama'aina Lounge...newly thought out and opened up during herrecent refit...so it now extends to the floor to ceiling windowsof the former glass enclosed promenade. Tropical in decor it'sworth a visit if only to write a postcard home...if you can evenremember you had a life before you came to Hawaii. One deck below are the Ohana Lounge and the Ohana Buffet...theformer providing seating for people feasting from the buffet aswell as offering a venue for some late night entertainments. Waydown deep in the ship is a cinema while in spaces once occupiedby Tourist Class public rooms on Maui (formerly A) Deck are thegym and a conference center. There are generally two sittings at dinner, mostbreakfasts and lunches are served in open sittings. Down in the420 seat Hibiscus Dining Room on sailing night there's a buffet.The more intimate 110 seat Orchid Dining Room doesn't operate onSaturday night...it opens for breakfast on Sunday morning. "Aha!"you'll think if you are skeptical of American tonnage - the hotdogs. "There must be something fishy here...Is this an Americanship? This is a sumptuous set up and it looks good," you'llthink. That's what I thought the first time and every time I'vesailed since as I pile on enough shrimp, roast beef and assortedfoodstuffs to choke a pig. A steward brightly garbed in an Alohashirt will escort you to a table and your culinary adventurebegins. For a change I cannot say enough about the food in theINDEPENDENCE. Maybe it's because my expectations were low ormaybe because the food is so good...in fact the food is usuallybetter than good and I'll spill the beans...one feisty old lady,a Mrs. Gottrocks in her own right...and something of a cruiseship reviewer proclaimed the only cruise ship to serve betterfood than she ate on the INDEPENDENCE was the SEA GODDESS I, anaccolade I surely second.... You will eat so well aboard this ship I'd be surprised if you'reable to muster up the curiosity to investigate the midnightsnack. If the lunch buffet doesn't tempt you and the menu in the DiningRoom does, GO...even if you feel less than hunger pangs. Iremember sitting down and thinking "Drat!, foiled again! No HotDogs" - but for simple meals there are great burgers assembled asyou like them, a big sandwich and several choices of hot dishes. Every brochure in the business trumpets the praises of the shin'scuisines so loudly that few can really deliver. American HawaiiCruises has always underplayed its claims to wonderful foodthough the food aboard the INDEPENDENCE is a treat. Somewherebehind the scenes in this American operation must be a Jewish orItalian grandmother demanding that all hands be overfed! Underlining the contemporary American way of living, there was solittle cleavage between First and Cabin class spaces it seemedthat most cabins were interchangeable between the two. And therewas a lot of truth in that for 40% of the 1,003 berths in eachship were interchangeable among classes. Only 205 berths werepermanently graded First Class, 109 always Cabin Class and 258full time Tourist Class. That flexible passenger arrangement gaveAmerican Export Lines tremendous leeway in following marketdemands. Highlight of modern American living were cabinsconvertible to sitting rooms by day. Most cabins are still soequipped and that sofa you use in the afternoon is a verycomfortable bed - because it's not a pull out...the sofa back folds down to reveal a thick comfortable mattress. TheINDEPENDENCE is a one class ship now offering a dazzling 13different varieties of private quarters from tiny Category GBudget Cabins (both inside and outside available) to a CategoryAAA Superior Suite...Category D is the lowest grade for two lowerbeds but for this cruise...your cabin is not where you will wantto be. Take a look at an outside cabin on A deck forward. Decorated withHawaii in mind, it has a Hawaiian name as well as a number. It'sbig enough to sleep four comfortably and the round portholereminds you you are aboard ship. Once you unpack you will bepuzzled by the surfeit of storage space for there are enoughclosets for a dowager and enough drawers for an apothecary. What is small, though, is the shower...but that good Americanplumbing is happily in evidence. American Hawaii Cruises is very"INTO" Hawaii...so much so that one of the most popular employeesaboard ship is the KUMU, the Hawaiian story teller....whose jobit is to tell the visitor as much as possible about Hawaiianlore, customs and culture... Around twilight time on Saturdayevenings, passengers gather in the Hoi Hoi Showplace for aHawaiian Show, one show aboard ship I'm glad I saw. Thisextravaganza of Hawaiian music and hula dancing and memories ofthe "Aloha" that evening will remain with you long after theINDEPENDENCE stops sailing. With the full range of usual cruiseship activities enhanced by some like lei making and ukelelelessons apropos in these parts, it's not hard to imagine how mostpassengers spent their day at sea. I saw some at breakfast in theDining Room where the extraordinary personalities of friendlystaff broke the ice of a first morning at sea. I saw others atthe breakfast buffet while I was on my way to stock up withlogoed souvenirs in the ship's signature shop. But a visit to theNavigation bridge of THIS ship always gets me and I alwaysvisit...even if only for another look at the framed noticeinstructing the officer on watch to take the ship immediately tosea in the event of a nuclear attack. My favorite Hawaiian island is always the one I'm on and I thinkI'd like to keep with the INDEPENDENCE until I have done everyshore excursion the line offers... and at last count there are 56of them. Getting ready to board the INDEPENDENCE I grin like ahyena even before a lei is placed around my neck and I pause forthe obligatory mug shot cruise lines like to sell boardingpassengers. Even before sailing the INDEPENDENCE offers a lot ofthe Hawaii experience but for me one of the best is the moment ofdeparture on this unique American flag ocean liner. Once out ofthe harbor the ship turns to port and is soon off Waikiki. Sunday - It's not far from one island to the next but Sundays are spent at sea and for most of the day from nearly anywhere outon one of her 23,000 feet of open dock space, you can look outand see islands, Kahoolawe, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, depending uponthe circuitous route the Captain chooses to navigate. An activesort, I spent usually spend Sunday afternoons aboard theINDEPENDENCE in a deck chair outside the Surfrider Bar, hardlyable to pause later for some fresh popcorn. When Monday morning comes...be ready for a wonderful time onKauai, the Garden Island. There should be time for a drive out toHanalei Bay. If there is a prettier spot than that end of Kauai,its not on this planet. It's vaguely around the corner from theNa Pali coast, a formation of lushly covered steep cliffsshrouding pretty beaches accessed only by boat orhelicopter.Compelling is the word for the helicopter trip theline offers for a look at those cliffs which rise majesticallyfrom the sea. It's a toss up as to which is lovelier...Kauai orMaui but since the ship arrives at Kahului, Maui on Tuesday foran overnight call, you have plenty of time to check it out anddecide for yourself IF YOU CAN! Maui, so deservedly popular withvacationers, exudes a charm of her own. From the jumbled strandsof spaghetti paved into a road called the Hana highway, a 55 milecourse through landscape inordinately compelling to the majesticIao valley, Maui is a sensual delight. Never mind that AmericanHawaii brings a fabulously rousing Hawaiian show to entertainpassengers here. It's during the Maui call that American Hawaiioffers a shore excursion like no other. Uncommercial in theextreme, it's Tour 32 (at least it USED to be), not a trip forthe queasy or the debile. Leaving the ship's side at 3:30 AM,participants follow a tour leader and bike down the slopes fromthe summit of Mt. Haleakala, 10,000 feet above sea level.MAGNIFICENT! On Thursday the INDEPENDENCE calls at Hilo on the Big Island ofHawaii where you can pick up another rental car and drive it toAkaka Falls, catch another look at Volcano National Park, drivedown the Chain of Craters Road and maybe have lunch in town.(Whatever you do...DON'T bother with the buffet at VolcanoHouse...) To me it is near Hilo, sleepy, rainy little Hilo, wherethe air is gentlest and the breeze softest. Kona on the bright,dry side of this big island is the next port and the INDEPENDENCEanchors there on Friday mornings and the tender gives youflawless views of the ship as it pulls away, runs alongside andcuts across the liner's gently raking bows. Coffee plantations,macadamia nut farms and the Parker ranch are on this side of theBig Island. After the INDEPENDENCE clears Kona on Friday evening, my leiwent into the sea from the after deck. I know that it washedashore and will bring me back...A week in the INDEPENDENCE speedsby like an hour, drawing all to soon to a close. This graciousGRANDE DAME really does turn on its ear for all time must be thatabsurd old saw, "No one travels in an American ship" for here inthe waters of Hawaii the INDEPENDENCE is deservedly popular, anAmerican ship that wins the hearts of most who sails with her. The "who's who" of who has sailed in the INDEPENDENCEor CONSTITUTION at some point in the ship's career really doesread like "Who's Who" for so many names in that book have been onthe ships' passenger lists. It was President Reagan who happilysigned the bill to bring the CONSTITUTION back under Americanregistry. He was familiar with these ships and had been aboardthe INDEPENDENCE for a Governors' conference back in the 1960'swhen he was Governor of California. A framed photograph of himand Mrs. Reagan hangs in the ship's wheelhouse. It is said thatwhen he took the helm the ship veered slightly to the right... People demanding nonstop 24 hour a day loud action accompanied bypulsating bass may not enjoy a cruise in this ship (though I'd besurprised if there is ANYONE who doesn't enjoy a 7 nightINDEPENDENCE cruise). This ship is particularly popular withpeople over 40 who seem to enjoy the sock hop, pajama party andother events calculated to please us aging "boomers" but there isa lot here for everyone - from toddlers to great grandpa!. The first time I set out for Honolulu to takethis ship I hoped for the best and expected the worst. Visions ofplastic cups, paper plates and hot dogs, motel modern style andindifferent American service filled my dream track the nightbefore my first sailing in this ship. Well I needn't haveworried! That cruise was marvelous. Now, after a multi-milliondollar refit and plenty of attention to detail, the ship exudes awarm, friendly Hawaiian air. In a nutshell...this ship and her 7night Hawaii cruise is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. 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