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Entries in kaua'i (36)

Monday
Oct302006

local customs

one of the items on my shopping list this time around was a replacement "mahalo for removing your shoes" ceramic tile for a friend's new home. while this is an unspoken custom in the islands, the tile is a polite reminder for mainland guests that your home is still hawaiian style even though it is across the pacific.

the tiles are handmade at the banana patch studio in kauai and are available in two sizes and a variety of island inspired designs. they can also be found over at native books/na mea hawaii at ward warehouse.

Friday
Sep082006

get up and go

waimea canyon, kaua'i

luckily, the fella & i were able to take advantage of the super sale fares to the neighbor islands on this last trip home. if you haven't gotten around to booking your ticket yet, the $29 one-way airfare sale has returned so go explore the world in your backyard instead of taking yet another trip to vegas.

and if you go to kaua'i, where this photo was snapped, check out the oki diner in lihue where they whip up macadamia nut pancakes & homemade syrups that are even better than eggs 'n things!

details:

  • book it: sat, sep 9th
  • fly: now to dec 31st*
  • blackout: veteran's day, thanksgiving, xmas & new year's

the choice is yours: aloha airlines (*must travel by dec 28th) | go! | hawaiian airlines

Monday
Aug072006

a peek into hawaii's hidden archipelago

 

a few months ago, i had a chance to watch jean-michel cousteau's documentary, voyage to kure, which explored the rarely seen northwestern hawaiian islands. it's a journey that most of us will never have the opportunity to make, and, quite honestly, that's probably a good thing for all the endangered creatures that call this part of the world home.

you can get a glimpse of these rare specimans in archipelago, the latest book from photographers' david liittschwager & susan middleton. you will be amazed at what they found and their stunning photographs reinforce just how important it is for each and every one of us to do our part for the environment.

if you really don't think this matters, let me tell you how disheartening it was to see the animals that
died from ingesting all the plastic crap that clueless people continue to litter across the earth, as well as the tons of fishing nets that volunteers gathered up from the ocean in just one day.

bet you didn't know that this part of hawaii is like a whirlpool gathering up all the stuff that people, as far as thousands of miles away, have tossed into the ocean eventually finding its way into the ecosystem to the unsuspecting wildlife who make all this man-made stuff their next meal.

alrighty, off my soapbox. if you're intrigued you may also want to add remains of a rainbow, another book from l+m featuring rare plants of hawaii, to your book list.

photographs from archipelago are currently on exhibit at the kauai museum until oct 15th.

Thursday
Apr272006

kayaking up the na'pali coast

here's something fun to add to your "things to do before i die" list: a kayak tour up the na'pali coast. of course, fun can be a subjective thing so just make sure you can endure the 17 mile trek before signing up at napali kayak.

the payoff is well worth it since you'll get to explore sea caves and waterfalls while marveling at the magnificent na'pali coastline. guided day tours can be booked from april to october and napali kayak also offers all-inclusive luxury multi-day tours for those who long for a more extended and plush adventure.

Monday
Apr032006

all aboard the pride of hawaii

after taking my first cruise down the mexican riviera earlier this year, i learned a few things that other cruising newbies may not be aware of like . . .

  • someone else tidies up your room not once, but twice a day!
  • the ability to take a nap (or two) while traveling to your next destination
  • never worrying about where to go for dinner. or breakfast. or lunch. or snacks (lots and lots of snacking opportunities abound on a cruise ship)

that being said, if you have always thought a cruise around the hawaiian islands would be fun then hele on over to norwegian cruise lines. it's not every day that you have the opportunity to travel on a brand spanking new ship, and, if you do your home work, you might be able to score a cruise on the pride of hawai'i (going on her maiden voyage this summer) for as little as $799 per person.

although your time ashore can be limited, with a little planning and research you can definitely travel off the beaten path and avoid the somewhat touristy & overpriced shore excursions.