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.

clear blue hawaii

molokini kayak

okay, i'm not the most sporty girl but i love to kayak. most anyone can do it and you can explore areas untouched by land locked humans like a calm lagoon or enjoy an ocean ride without a surfboard. the only downside is that you never really get to see what's going on down below unless a dolphin swims by or a flying fish jumps in front of you.

then clear blue hawaii introduced their molokini kayak which has racked up kudos for its innovative transparent design. yep, now you can peek beneath the ocean waves at the underwater world beneath you without jumping in the water. the molokini is built for two and you can even add an outrigger system if you prefer a smooth ride.

blue sun solar backpack

clear blue hawaii also makes inflatable & folding kayaks plus neat travel gear that utilize solar power. the blue sun solar backpack would be super handy when you're on the road and need to keep your cell phone, lap top, ipod, etc. charged no matter where life takes you.

most of their gear is available at clear blue hawaii's website, via hammacher schlemmer, or if you're the touchy-feely type click here to find a dealer near you.

yummy honey

 

one of the first things that caught my eye when i first spotted a jar of volcano island honey was the label. the artwork was donated by dietrich varez, the noted big island linoblock artist (and one of my favorites), who must be a fan of the lovely organic white honey. in addition to the original honey, you can also savor honey with a ginger, lilikoi or lehua twist.

the artisanal honey company has been sharing their nectar for 25 years and it has been said to be "some of the best honey in the entire world". the secret may be that the honey is harvested from a kiawe forest on the big island where some sort of alchemy occurs when the unique topography and nature meet up with the honeybees.

volcano island honey can be found at specialty shops around the islands. if you're ordering online remember that there is minimum order of $40 to avoid a shipping surcharge or just stop by your nearest whole foods which also stocks the honey.

food lover's guide to honolulu

surprise, surprise . . . people from hawaii love to eat. you only need to click on the hawaii blog links over on the left sidebar to confirm that islanders *love* food (even in the ether that is cyberspace). if you ever get stumped by all the choices in town at kaukau time, pick up a copy of food lover's guide to honolulu by island food writer (and one time head foodie at the advertiser) joan namkoong.

this is the ultimate local resource for honolulu-bound foodies detailing everything from fancy eats to hole-in-the-walls. there's even a shopping guide so you always know where to go when it's time to procure those hard to find ingredients before the big family potluck.

hawaiian vanilla company

it's the secret ingredient at some of the most notable restaurants in the islands so, if you love to bake, you may want to stock up on premium vanilla beans & extract from the big island's hawaiian vanilla company which has the distinction of being the one and only vanilla farm in the states.

even if you're not into cooking, hawaiian vanilla has partnered up with other local companies so your tastebuds will be the happy recipient of estate grown 100% hawaiian vanilla coffee, roselani ice cream, and other goodies.

you can even take a culinary tour and discover all things vanilla at an upcountry tea, luncheon or tasting (reservations required) at hawaiian vanilla's vineyard on the hamakua coast.