News - Big Island of Hawaii
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SIZZLIN' OCTOBER NEWS FROM HAWAII, THE BIG ISLAND
Hawaii Island (October 1, 2015) - Lace up your hiking boots, slather on some sunscreen, fill your canteens with lots of water and your backpack with trail mix, then head out into Hawaii Island's great outdoors and onto its many hiking trails. We've got a handful of hiking adventures lined up below, and some upcoming accommodation specials and events.
NOTABLE HIKES
Get out on the trail with travel blogger Vanessa Chiasson on a hike to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park's Puu Loa Petroglyph Field, an archeological site home to more than 23,000 lava bedrock carvings made by early Hawaiians between A.D. 1200 and 1450. Check her post out here on the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau's "So Much More Hawaii" blog.
KapohoKine Adventures offers adventure-seeking travelers hikes around and within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The "Kilauea Hike n Glow" trek takes guests beyond the park's visitor centers with a walk through the Thurston Lava Tube, then four miles across the floor or Kilauea Iki crater with steam and smoke rising all around. As evening nears, enjoy dinner at the world-renowned Volcano House hotel, perched on the rim of the Kilauea volcano caldera. Before the sun sets, we head to the Thomas A. Jaggar Museum Observation Deck to see the glow of red lava reflected in steam at the bottom of Halemaumau crater. For more information, to to KapohoKine Adventures brochures and click on their website link.
Guests at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows can enjoy a "View into the Past" as they tour ancient fishponds and historic petroglyphs at Kalahuipuaa. The hotel's director of cultural affairs, Danny Akaka, who leads the weekly tour and is one of Hawaii's living legends, has dedicated his life to the preservation of Hawaiian culture and its values. Akaka offers other historic tours of Mauna Lani's grounds, as well, and introduces guests to the significance of the fishponds. He offers demonstrations of traditional Hawaiian throw-net fishing, giving a historical view of the era of Hawaiian royalty.
Home of the popular cultural tour of the early Hawaiian fishing heiau (temple), Kaukulaelae, Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay is partnering with Keauhou Bay Adventures to offer a historical walking tour along the Kona Coast. The three-mile, two-hour journey begins at Keauhou Bay and escorts guests to the sacred grounds of Lekeleke, site of the Battle of Kuamoo, which overturned Hawaiian religious beliefs and brought the Christianity of Europeans to the Islands in 1819. The tour is $49 per person and is reservation-only.
The Kings' Trail borders the Kings' Shops at Waikoloa Beach Resort. Join Kings' Shops' expert guide, Kaleiula Kaneau, for an hour-long tour of these culturally significant petroglyphs. Complimentary guided tours are offered on Thursdays and Fridays, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., and meet at the Kings' Shops' lakeside lanai, under the tower next to Island Fish & Chips. As the lava trails are uneven and rough, good walking shoes and sunscreen, plus hats and water, are recommended.
Here's a travel tip. Stay at a vacation rental in the town of Volcano on Hawaii Island and explore the many hiking trails of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Staying at a vacation rental is a great way to get a real island-life experience. You can also view a variety of free Hawaii travel brochures to help plan your activities and adventures on your next dream vacation to Hawaii Island. Bookmark our site as a favorite, follow us on Twitter, and watch for new Hawaii vacation rentals and brochures. Visit www.Islandsource.com.
If you visit the petroglyphs within Waikoloa Resort on your own, please respect this culturally sensitive area. Stay on the trail and do not approach the petroglyphs for photos or rubbings without the permission of Waikoloa Resort Security. The fragile carvings, which may be thousands of years old, are easily subject to damage and erosion. The best time to capture a photo of a petroglyph is in the late afternoon when sunlight shadows are long.
UPCOMING EVENT
Golf enthusiasts are invited to enjoy six days and five nights of championship golf, paired with luxury accommodations, prizes and more during the 42nd Annual Mauna Kea Pro-Am, happening Dec. 2 to 7, 2015. Entry fees begin at $3,620, which includes taxes, accommodations for five nights, daily breakfast, practice and tournament rounds, special dinner events, and more. In honor of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel's 50th anniversary, Pro-Am participants can take advantage of the following trio of offers, each priced for just $50: parking and internet for the duration of a player's stay, golf guest fee for spouses, and late checkout until 8 p.m. on departure day.
TASTY TIDBITS
Chef Allen Hess introduces his new Mai Grille restaurant at Kings' Golf Course, opening Oct. 5, 2015. Hess brings skills and passion to what he calls his "chef-driven, housemade farm-to-table comfort food." Mai Grille's "House of Bacon" also features the Hess family's artisan-style, thick-cut bacon. The restaurant will be open daily for breakfast from 7:30 to 11 a.m.; for lunch, cocktails, and afternoon dining from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and for Sunday brunch from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, call (808) 886-7600.
Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows' executive sous chef, Allan Nagun, is taking the helm of chef de cuisine at the resort's oceanfront CanoeHouse. Nagun has been a key member of Mauna Lani's culinary team for 11 years. He is a firm believer that when one has superior quality ingredients, flavors need to be revealed rather than hidden. Nagun leads the CanoeHouse team and is the host chef for the Captain's Table, an intimate blind-tasting menu created with seasonal ingredients. His menu incorporates an artisanal flair into Hawaii Regional cuisine. Visit www.maunalani.com.
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HONOLULU – The Hawaiian Islands received top honors at the TravelAge West WAVE (Western Agents’ Votes of Excellence) Awards for "Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, USA" and "Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Agent Support." The Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) accepted the awards on June 11 in Marina Del Rey, Calif.
Hawaii beat stiff competition from California, Florida, Las Vegas and New York City in the Highest Client Satisfaction category, and Travel Alberta, Tourism Ireland, Jamaica Tourist Board, and Mexico Tourism Board in the Best Travel Agent Support category.
"This recognition by the editors and readers of TravelAge West is a testament to the high quality of service that the HVCB and travel industry partners provide on a daily basis throughout the year," said George Szigeti, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority. "The Hawaiian Islands continue to deliver on its promise as a destination of remarkable experiences and beauty, and I’d like to thank our visitor industry for all of their hard work year after year."
"The work our travel trade team has accomplished in the last 12 months continues to exceed expectations and reset the bar on delivering unparalleled service to our valued travel agent partners," said John Monahan, HVCB president and CEO. "We’ve completely revamped our travel agent online resource center and Hawaii destination training program to ensure agents are equipped with the most compelling information about the islands to help their clients plan the most memorable vacations. We accept these accolades on behalf of our marketing partners and the entire hospitality industry in Hawaii whose support make it possible."
Travel agent professionals throughout the 14 Western states and readers of TravelAge West were invited to vote on the best-of-the-best from a list of Editor’s Pick award recipients that were chosen after careful review by Editor-in-Chief Ken Shapiro and the editorial team of TravelAge West. Review methods included product analysis, on-site visits, a survey of a select group of travel agents and online research. Hawaii received three 2015 Editor’s Pick Awards in the categories of "Destination with the Highest Client Satisfaction, USA," "Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Agent Support," and "Best Beach Destination for Romance Vacation."