feast at lele

if a luau is on your list of things to do but you prefer a more intimate setting sans the crush of crowds, buffet lines, and the possibility of being dragged on stage to amuse the other guests, you may want to book a reservation for the feast at lele which is a touted as a more gourmet option from the folks behind the old lahaina luau.

admission gets you in the door to enjoy an evening of entertainment showcasing music and dance from the islands of polynesia including hawaii, aotearoa (aka new zealand), tahiti and samoa; a 5 course meal created by maui chef james mcdonald (of i'o and pacific'o fame) featuring traditional dishes from all the islands; flowing cocktails; and, if mother nature cooperates, a technicolor sunset maui style.

the show has received rave reviews however foodies seem to disagree on the execution of the menu so click over to chowhound & tripadvisor and judge for yourself.

eco whale watching

with whale season in full swing, consider booking a trip with the non-profit pacific whale foundation which just happens to operate an award winning eco-friendly tour company on maui. marine naturalists are on board to educate guests on ocean life and hydrophones are used to listen to the mystical whale sounds emanating beneath the water.

one way they are minimizing their impact on the earth is by taking guests out on biodiesel powered sea vessels to explore the pacific and choosing biodegradable tableware & 100% post-consumer recycled paper products. 85% of their income is reinvested into the foundation's research work and ocean outreach program which includes the kid friendly discovery center.

the foundation's whale day festival takes place next weekend (sat, feb 17th) with a parade, whale race (inspired by the great hawaiian rubber duckie race), crafters, food booths & a music stage that has booked island artists amy hanaiali'i gilliom, barefoot natives, john cruz, george kahumoku, jr. & raitea helm to perform.

take a peek at tripadvisor for reviews.

island nomad

luana spa retreat

a few years ago i read a very evocative story in the newspaper about living in a yurt (the article is long gone but you can read this one to get a sense of what it is like). the coziness of the round structure and the thought of gazing at the stars through the skylight completely captured my imagination. sigh.

lucky me, it turns out there are a handful of yurt vacation rentals around the islands! the luana spa retreat in hana has a yurt located on its property with a panoramic view of hana bay. it sounds like a romantic getaway especially when you consider that there is a separate bath house (complete with outdoor shower) and that you can indulge in a massage at the spa which is just steps from your hideaway.

click here to read the reviews on tripadvisor before you go.

there is also this fabulous yurt nestled on the grounds of the kona kine coffee farm on the big island. it is luxed out with all the modern amenities you could want and features a wraparound deck with views of the pacific and nature as far as the eye can see. take a peek at the photo gallery for a little tour.

kona yurt

there is a three night minimum so do double check your dates on the availability calendar, but that just means you will have more time to lounge on the deck and soak up the view while you enjoy the complimentary organic coffee grown by the yurt's owner.

flumin' kauai style

welcome to the newly instituted saturday travel post! i know i haven't been very attentive to this section of the blog lately but check in every weekend to discover off the beaten path ideas for your next getaway.

you may have heard that flumin' da ditch on the big island had to shut down for safety reasons after the earthquake last year. there are no definite plans to repair the canals which sustained damage in october's quake, so if you are looking for an alternative you'll have to go to kauai to go flumin' the old school way. 

kauai backcountry adventures (who also operates a zipline) has a mountain tubing adventure which is more like local kids did it back in the day or so my fella (who grew up surrounded by sugar cane fields) tells me (aka city mouse).

if you go that means you'll hop on your very own tube to float down the irrigation canals of the lihue plantation. the three hour tour (i kid you not, gilligan) promises ocean and mountain views and a picnic lunch when you arrive at a quaint sounding swimming hole. keep in mind that this a low key & family friendly adventure so don't expect an adrenaline rush from raging waters.

check out tripadvisor for reviews from travelers who have been there & done that.

$20 getaway plan

okay, so this may not be the absolute lowest the airfare wars have gone but the extra dollar and change still makes for a fabulous deal to fly to the neighbor islands. yep, $20.07 for a o/w ticket is a sweet deal indeed.

details:

• book it: by mon, jan 8th
• fly: now to feb 28th
• cities: honolulu to hilo *or* kahalui *or* kona *or* lihue

fly, fly, fly: aloha airlines | go! | hawaiian airlines