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When the shards and fragments of what had once been Dr. Donald B. MacGowan washed-up on the shores of Kona, Hawaii, they were magically transformed into DrBlizzardo--washed away in warm tropical currents was the internationally-recognized scientist; gone was the one-time punk rock recording nobody; gone was the aspiring rock climber, the telemark ski addict, the big mountain aficionado, the reciter of Jack Kerouac, Gary Snyder and Richard Brautigan poems, the kayaker of big rivers ... [More]

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Hilo Askance
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Beautiful but wet, metropolitan but decrepit, bustling but laid back, Hilo is a lovely, maddening, heartbreaking, addictive study in contrasts. In can rain all day long for 50 days in a row, yet when the sun does shine, the views of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea from the Liliuokalani Gardens, or of Hilo Bay as you drive down from the mountains on Kaumana Drive, or the waterfall and flower choked jungle gulches leading to lovely small beaches along the highway north of town, make Hilo one of the most truly, achingly lovely spots on earth.

Fossils From Volcanoes? Hawaii's Incredible Lava Fossils
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] With minor local exceptions, the rocks of the Big Island of Hawaii are made up almost entirely of eruptive volcanic effluent-lava and ash, and sediment derived from eroding and weathering lava and ash. As such, it doesn't seem a likely place to hunt fossils. After all, the lava pours from the vents on Hawaii's volcanoes at between 1100°C and 1130°C and even the hardened crust on the top of an active flow can be as hot as 600°C. It seems like the advancing lava ought incinerate everything in its path and leave no trace of organic matter behind as fossils. Or would it? Sometimes things in nature don't always act the way we expect them to. Let's take a quick tour around the island of Hawaii and look at some places where the remarkable, amazing, lava fossils of Hawaii can be found.

Answering the Call of Aloha
[Travel-and-Leisure:Adventure-Travel] When the Aloha of Hawaii first called me, I felt my spirit ache, seeking adventure and the unknown; my soul reaching toward an inner connectedness with the aina, the sacred land of Hawaii. For some, unraveling these mysteries of Hawaii promises an experience of the profound. For me, it was like awakening in a new body, a new universe; like coming home for the first time.

Hawaii Snorkeling Tips Part VI - Big Island Wilderness Snorkeling Spots
[Recreation-and-Sports:Scuba-Diving] Coming to my island for a vacation? There are three things I always recommend the first-time visitor do. First, go on an air tour. Secondly-go to a luau. Finally, I advise people of every age to get in the water and go snorkeling.

Hawaii - How to Get To, And Get Around On, The Big Island
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] The standing joke among residents of Hawaii about the hassle of traveling to the mainland is: "This used to be so much easier before the bridge blew down"! Of course, there never was a bridge, but the humor underlines the commitment, planning and time Hawaii travel takes. The Big Island of Hawaii's beauty is legendary. It has the most diverse landscape on earth-the icy, snow-covered volcanoes, steamy jungles and tropical beaches, flowing fields of lava, flower choked canyons and wide-open tropical grassland, its scenery is unsurpassed.

Big Island Day Trips Number 4 - Kona to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Lava Viewing
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] From Kona, connect to Highway 11 south 2 1/2 hours to Ka'u Desert Trail. A 40 minute round trip hike leads to footprints of ancient warriors who where caught in a sudden, ferocious eruption. Continue on Highway 11 to Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Park Rangers at the Visitor Center will have the latest lava information. Chain of Craters Road has numerous craters, tons of hiking trails and several breathtaking vistas for great photographs. Upon exiting the Park, continue to Kea'au and Highway 130 (food stop). Proceed to Pahoa and the junction to Highway 132 and Lava Trees State Park. Here trees were inundated with fast flowing lava. When the trees rotted, it left these Lava Trees.

Big Island Day Trips 3 - Kona to South Point and the Black Sand Beach
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Connect to Highway 11, driving south 20 minutes, to sample Kona Coffee. Numerous farms offer tours to discover the history and processing of this highly prized beverage. In this region are Kealakekua Bay and the Captain Cook Monument, the locations where Hawai'ian history was forever changed and the best snorkeling in the state. Follow the beach road 10 minutes to Pu'u Honua 'O Honaunau National Historic Park. Discover why this spiritual complex was a "place of refuge". Continuing south 1 hour, after some beach time and a short hike, is South Point Road. This is where early Polynesians arrived and started a village based on the rich fishing grounds offshore. Nearby is the trail for a 3 hour round trip hike to a Green Sand Beach (bring drinking water). Then drive 30 minutes south to visit endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtles at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. From Punalu'u it is a 2 hour drive back to Kona.

Big Island Day Trips #2 - Kona to Hamakua - Waterfalls, Canyons and Rainforest
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Head from Kona north to Waimea then on to Honoka'a and Waipi'o Valley; photos from the valley overlook are postcard gorgeous and Honoka'a has cute shops and restaurants. In addition to several sights along the Hamakua Coast, Highway 220 branches to Akaka Falls, a not-to-be-missed, easy 1 hour waterfall hike. Be sure to stop in Honomu for the unique shops. Proceeding south Pepe'ekeo Scenic Drive (4 Mile) and Onomea Bay Trail. Heading south again, it's 20 minutes to Rainbow Falls, Hilo's signature waterfall. Hilo is the largest city on the island and has numerous shops, malls, museums, restaurants and beaches, such as Richardson Beach, near downtown. From Hilo, it is a 2 1/2 hour drive back to Kona.

Big Island Day Trips 5 - From Kona Across the Top of Hawaii to Mauna Kea, Kaumana Caves and Hilo Via
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Approximate minimum time start to finish (to see every site): 12 hours... From Kona take Highway 190 to Highway 200 in 45 minutes of driving. Saddle Road, which cuts between the "saddle" of Mauna Loa on the south and Mauna Kea to the north, passes through ranch lands and the Pohakuloa Military Training Facility, for another 45 minutes, to the turn for Mauna Kea Access Road (John Burns Way). Nearby, Kipuka Huluhulu, or "shaggy hill", is a 20 minute hike to the top and back. From here it is a 30 minute drive to the Mauna Kea Visitor Information Center.

Big Island Day Trips #1 - Kona and Kohala
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] The tour begins at the Keauhou Historic District with ancient battlefields, heiau (stone temples), beaches the town of Kailua Kona and Kaloko-Honokohau National Historic Park. Hapuna Beach State Park, 30 minutes north, is rated in the Top 10 Best Beaches of the world, then stop 20 minutes further at Pu'u Kohala National Historic Park to visit an enormous heiau erected to the war god, Kuka'ilimoku. The road ends at Pololu Valley where wild ocean, cliffs, rainforest, waterfalls and a black sand beach make for stunning photographs plus a one hour hike. Looping back over Kohala Volcano to the lush pastures of Waimea, it is two hours back to Kona.

Hiking and Camping at Hawaii's Last Wilderness Beach - La'amaomao the Wind God and Makalawena Beach
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Backpacking on Hawaii beaches in general, and at Makalawena in particular, is simplified because of the mild climate - usually I just take a few quarts of water, a couple sandwiches, my camera, dry clothes for post-snorkeling comfort, a fleece blanket (a dry beach towel will suffice) and rice mat to sleep on and a small tarp on the off-chance it rains. The key here is that if the weather turns truly ugly, you are no more than twenty minutes from your car.

Hawaii Snorkeling Tips Part IV - Snorkeling Safety
[Travel-and-Leisure:Outdoors] First and foremost, as with all ocean sports, never turn your back on the ocean. Just as important, never snorkel alone; never get more than 20 feet from your partner. Memorize the color of your partner's mask and snorkel...this is how you will recognize him from a distance in the water. Listen to advice from the lifeguards, obey posted warnings, always pay attention to the currents, surf conditions and surges over rocks. Plan your entry and exit before you get wet; try to enter and exit from sandy areas.

Hawaii Snorkeling Tips Part V - Big Island Snorkeling Spots
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Hawaii's varied landscape and dynamic shoreline provides for an amazing array of snorkeling experiences, from broad, sandy beaches with placid and inviting turquoise water to broken glass-sharp cliffs where the swimmer leaps into dark water. Everywhere I've snorkeled on Hawaii, from lazily paddling in calm waters at Kahalu'u to rappelling into the wild surf and open ocean currents at Pau'ekolu, the snorkeling is wonderful, beautiful, exhilarating. But many of the best places to snorkel are difficult or scary for the beginning snorkeler, some could be lethal. Here's a list of the crown jewel snorkeling spots that are easy for the beginner, tantalizingly fascinating for the experienced.

Mauna Kea's Snowy Summit - The Home of the Hawaiian Snow Goddess, Poliahu
[Travel-and-Leisure:Outdoors] I love visiting the summit of Mauna Kea-whether I spend the day hiking the six-mile trail to the top or I drive to the end of the road for the 10 minute walk up the summit at Pu'u Weiku. I spend hours and hours watching the clouds, listening to the silence, soaking up the island-wide vistas. I'm not sure what draws me out of the tropical torpor of Kona, time and again, to the summit of Mauna Kea-maybe the exhilaration of altitude and the crisp, clean air, or the opportunities for snow-play, solitude; perhaps unconsciously I hope to see one of the legendary cat-fights between Pele and Poliahu, fire and ice.

Hawaii Snorkeling Tips Part III - Reef Etiquette
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Coming to my island for a vacation? There are three things I always recommend the first-time visitor do. First, get in the air; secondly-go to a luau; finally, I advise people of every age to get in the water and go snorkeling. The "one-one-one, experiencing the world through their eyes" magic of swimming in those bath-warm lagoons surrounded by clouds of tropical fish is an amazing, restful and restorative pursuit-you will find your mind going back to that experience over and over through the years much more so than many of your other travel experiences.

Hawaii Snorkeling Tips Part II - Snorkeling Techniques
[Recreation-and-Sports:Scuba-Diving] Coming to my island for a vacation? There are three things I always recommend the first-time visitor do. First, get in the air. Secondly--go to a luau. Finally, I advise people of every age to get in the water and go snorkeling. The "one-one-one, experiencing the world through the fishes' eyes" magic of swimming in those bath-warm lagoons surrounded by clouds of tropical fish is an amazing, restful and restorative pursuit-you will find your mind going back to that experience over and over through the years much more so than many of your other travel experiences. Part I of this series discussed Snorkeling Gear; Part II of this series will discuss Snorkeling Techniques.

Hawaii Snorkeling Tips Part I - Gear
[Travel-and-Leisure:Outdoors] Coming to my island for a vacation? There are three things I always recommend the first-time visitor do. First, get in the air. Secondly-go to a luau. Finally, I advise people of every age to get in the water and go snorkeling. The "one-one-one, experiencing the world through the fishes' eyes" magic of swimming in those bath-warm lagoons surrounded by clouds of tropical fish is an amazing, restful and restorative pursuit-you will find your mind going back to that experience over and over through the years much more so than many of your other travel experiences. Part I of this series discuses Snorkeling Gear; Part II of this series will discuss Snorkeling Technique and Part III will cover Snorkeling Safety.

Hawaii's Magical Humpback Whales
[Travel-and-Leisure:Outdoors] Winter and early spring in Hawaii are especially magical times-well, more magical even than usual for Hawaii. Starting about mid-November and lasting through April, Humpback whales migrate in and visit our islands. From as far as way as Alaska and as near as California, the Humpies, as we call them, arrive to breed and, cows that bred last year, give birth this year.

How I Came to Love Hawaii
[Travel-and-Leisure] No matter where I am flying in from, where I have been or for how long I have been gone from Hawaii, when the door of that airplane first opens and Hawaii's gentle breath envelopes me, I know I am home. I have lived all over the US but I have never, ever felt that I was where I belonged, that I was at home, until I moved to Hawaii. When I come to Hawaii, I am coming home. I love Hawaii with a tender fierceness that sometimes surprises me with its intensity. How I came to understand this aspect of Hawaii is an allegory for how I came to love my tropical home here...for it is in the warp and weft of the contradictions, of the beauty and sorrow, of the ancient traditions and modern hustle, of snow clad peaks and steaming jungle, spuming volcanoes and calm, clear lagoons and yes, the embracing promises of paradise and the grinding waste and poverty here that Hawaii weaves her magic spell on me.

Kalapana, Hawaii - From the Fires of Hades to the Eden of Rebirth
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] On the southeast coast of the Big Island of Hawaii runs the Kapoho-Kalapana Highway, perhaps the only road in the world named for two cities that have been buried by volcanic eruptions. Before the destruction of these towns, this area harbored some of the last refuges of the native Hawaiian way of life--it was a safe haven from the ravages, temptations and noisome encroachments of western civilization.

What Do I Do on the Big Island? Visit the Beautiful Waterfall Parks of Windward Hawaii
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] The windward side of Hawaii Island is famous for its numerous, beautiful waterfalls. Flying into Hilo on rainy day, one is presented with the incredible vision of an island seeming brimming with waterfalls, spuming off from every declivity, crack and canyon in the beach cliffs. Many of these waterfalls are inaccessible, or available for view only by paying admission, but three of the loveliest are located in public parks, either within the city limits of Hilo, or with an easy drive from town.

Your First Trip to Hawaii - What Do I Do on Oahu?
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] One of the most breathtaking places on earth, a first trip to Oahu can be a bit daunting and confusing. Let me take a few minutes of your time and point out some of my favorite things and some of the tricks I've learned so that you can hit the ground running-it's expensive to come to Hawaii, expensive to stay here. In these tight economic times you may as well make the best of your vacation investment by being a bit prepared. Let me make some suggestions about visiting Oahu logically and efficiently, to maximize your fun.

What Do I Do on the Big Island? Visit Hilo's Lovely Metropolitan Parks
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Beautiful but wet, metropolitan but decrepit, bustling but laid back, Hilo is a lovely, maddening, heartbreaking, addictive study in contrasts. In can rain all day long for 50 days in a row, yet when the sun does shine, the views of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea from the Lilioukalani Gardens, or of Hilo Bay as you drive down from the mountains on Kaumana Drive, or the rain-forest and waterfall choked gulches leading to lovely small beaches along the highway north of town, make Hilo one of the most truly achingly lovely spots on earth.

What Do I Do on the Big Island? Explore Mysterious Puna!
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Beautiful, mysterious, untraveled and undiscovered by the herds of tourists, Puna District has so far managed to avoid the overcrowding, loss of local flavor and other problems that come with the extreme popularity being experienced by other parts of this island. Let's take a quick trip through Puna, starting in Pahoa Town and going clockwise through the district, ending up at the Hawaii Belt Road at Kea'au.

What Do I Do on the Big Island? Explore Historical, Lovely, Up-Country Kona!
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] When the Kona Coast becomes too hot and humid upon a torrid afternoon, or post-littoral torpor sets in from sunbathing overindulgence at the beach, visitor's to the Big Island Kona side should take a cue from locals and head up-country for the fresh, cool afternoon air. The Old Road, a 12 mile long remnant of the Mamalahoa Highway, runs through a beautiful slice of Old Hawai'i; here, coffee farms, fruit orchards, historical buildings, small towns and an old sugar mill grace the sunny slopes of Hualalai Volcano.

What Do I Do on the Big Island? Loll on West Hawaii's Sun-Drenched Beaches!
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] As it rains, sleets and snows from now until next May, imagine yourself lying under cerulean blue skies bathed in healing sunlight on a warm golden sand beach, playing in bath-water temperature water and snorkeling among brightly-colored, tropical fish and placid, but amazing sea turtles. Sound too good to be true? In West Hawaii, this soothing day dream is our day-to-day reality. So...once you are armed with all this information and after you've had the best, mid-winter, beach day-dream you've had in years, I just have to ask...what are you doing sitting there in your cold, wet, winter misery for? C'mon over to West Hawaii and soak up your fair share of the rays!

What Do I Do on the Big Island? Explore Fabulous History and Scenic Up Country Kealakekua in Kona
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] One unexpected joy of many trips to the Big Island is the discovery of the rich, varied tapestry of history woven into the Big Island. Hawaii is the only state in the union that has king's palaces, temples to the gods of surfing and an architectural history that spans a millennium and a half.

What Do I Do on the Big Island? Explore Hawaii's Incomparable, Fantastic and Wild South Coast!
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Many people, flying along the highway from Kona to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, dash through South Hawaii as quickly as possible to reach the park without realizing they are missing some of the best, and least visited, places in the whole state. This southern end of the island is where the Polynesians first landed and began their colonization of the Hawaiian Islands; it is home to the beaches where most o the endangered green sea turtles breed and lay their eggs in the main Hawaiian chain, and it is home to some of the most amazing history and awesome history anywhere in the world...let's take a few minutes and explore some of the fabulous and fantastic things to see and do along the Hawaii Belt Road through South Hawaii.

Ghosts of Sacrificed Kings, Ruined Palaces and Ancient Temples - Visit the Glory of Hawaii's Past!
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] A region of major fishing villages for a millennium and a half, the Kailua Kona-Keauhou coastline became the religious and political center of Hawaii Island when King Umi founded his capital here in the 16th century. In 1812, King Kamehameha established Kailua Kona as the Capital of his newly united Kingdom of Hawaii. For almost 400 years...

Your Hawaii Vacation - What Do I Pack to Go to Hawaii?
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] With airlines now charging for a second--or in some cases even for the first--piece of luggage, and strict "50 pounds per piece of luggage" weight limits being enforced, the thrifty traveler is forced to plan ahead wisely to avoid racking-up expensive luggage fees. I used to travel by the motto "Don't check your baggage unless you can afford to lose it; if you can afford to loose it, don't bring it", thus I never traveled anywhere with anything more than my carry-on.

A Brief Hisotry of Kona Coffee
[Food-and-Drink:Coffee] World famous Kona coffee owes its richness and flavor to the fertile, volcanic soil, mild climate and abundant rain water in the mountains of the west side of the Big Island. The area's coffee industry began in earnest during the 1830s and soon the lives, and culture, of Kona residents began to revolve around it.

Cows and Ukuleles in Hawaii? What's the Connection?
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Rodeo is not likely the first thing that comes to the visitor's mind when they conjure images of tropical Hawaii, but rodeo here is an old and popular tradition here. Cows were first introduced to Hawaii in 1793 by George Vancouver and Kamehameha the Great soon imported Mexican vaqueros to teach his people how to handle them. Not many people realize that three generations of Hawaiian cowboys lived, worked and died in Hawai'i before cattle were ever driven into Wyoming or Montana, states more typically associated with ranching and rodeo.

A Royal Palace in America? Hawaii Big Island's Hulihe'e Palace in Kailua Kona
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] It is said that ghosts of Hawaiian monarchs still haunt this palace, walking up and down the grand staircase and around the grounds. Built by Governor James Kuakini in 1838 as a home, it was used for many years by Hawaiian royalty as a summer get-away palace, a place of great galas and parties. Abandoned to ruin in 1914, since 1928 the Palace has been operated as a museum by the Daughters of Hawaii. Closed for repairs after the October 16, 2006 earthquake, Hulihe'e Palace--the Gem of Kailua Kona-- is set to re-open to the public soon. So--what's the history of this unique, one of only-two, Royal Palace in America?

What To Do When You Visit Hawaii - Hike a Steamy Tropical Canyon to a Fabulous Black Sand Beach
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Violent, lush, wild; the north end of Hawai'i Island is as varied and exciting as it is unexpected. At the end of the highway are the Pololu Valley Overlook and the trail leading down to Pololu Beach. This is one of the most untamed, beautiful spots in the tropical Pacific and should not be missed. The trail down to the beach drops 400 feet in 20 minutes of hiking-be warned, the hike up is difficult for those not in good physical shape and the hike down should not be attempted if you have doubts about being able to hike back up.

A New God, Human Sacrifice and the Birth of a King - Amazing History of Hawaii Island's Northern End
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] You may never have ever seen anywhere as stark, impressive, primitive and ancient, yet still able to raise the hackles on your neck? Here, untold thousands of people were sacrificed to worship a new god, the war god Ku. Mo'okini Heiau stands today at the north end of Hawai'i, the well preserved remains of a terrible luakini heiau (temple of human sacrifice) built by the powerful Tahitian kahuna Pa'ao in the 11th or 12th century. This heiau was the first temple of human sacrifice in Hawai'i and the first site in Hawai'i to be preserved as a National Historic Landmark under the Historic Sites Act of 1935.

Lapakahi and Pu'u Kohola - Two of the Preimiere Historical Parks On Hawaii's Big Island
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Two of the premiere historical and archeological sites on Hawaii's Big Island, Pu'u Kohola National Historical Park and Lapakahi State Historical Park are located on the sunny Kohala Coast, just minutes from the resorts. At Lapakahi, stroll through a reconstructed ancient Hawaiian fishing and farming village...at Pu'u Kohola, see the largest stone temple construction in all of Polynesia, the temple that, in the raising of it, fulfilled the prophecy of King Kamehameha's rise to power.

Hawaii's First Christian Church - Mokuaikawa and the Coming of the Missionaries
[News-and-Society:Religion] Imagine leaving a comfortable home in Boston in the chilly October of 1819, setting out to a new, unknown and mysterious land. Imagine crossing the Atlantic Ocean sailing south along the coast of Africa and then fighting the frigid, turbulent waters off Cape Horn. After enduring 5 months of intense stormy weather and unimaginably cramped and filthy quarters below decks on the Brig Thaddeus, imagine sailing into Kailua Bay; this how the first Christian missionaries to Hawai'i came to Kailua, in 1820.

Waipi'o Valley on the Hamakua Coast - Perhaps the Most Beautiful Place on Hawaii's Big Island
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Waipi'o Valley is arguably the most magical place on the Big Island. Hawai'ian myths hold that the fastness of Waipi'o Valley is guarded by Night Marchers, legendary ghosts of Kamehameha' long-dead armies, and that the impossibly steep, incredibly beautiful valley was excavated by a bragging warrior using his club to demonstrate his strength. While the geologic explanation is more prosaic and certainly much less colorful, that doesn't detract from Waipi'o Valley's charm and allure. Always listed among the most beautiful spots in the State of Hawai'i, this valley is as hauntingly lovely as it is distressingly difficult to see in its entirety.

Snorkel and Surf Where the Kings of Hawaii Lived and Played - Kahalu'u Beach, Big Island, Hawaii
[Travel-and-Leisure:Outdoors] This is the premiere snorkeling beach of the Island of Hawai'i; protected from the open sea by a jetty, the reef is also protected against commercial aquarium fishing. Thus, the snorkeling is in calm, shallow water; frequently during low tide, one can actually walk to the jetty, a couple hundred feet offshore. Also, there is an abundance of fish of an enormous variety...perhaps the best display on the island. For these two reasons, Kahalu'u is where many visitors head for their introduction to snorkeling. Dozens of Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles and a few Hawksbill Sea Turtles call this bay home, eating the limu and thrilling the snorkelers.

What Do I Do When I Visit Hawaii? Hike a Black Sand Beach and See Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles!
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] A truly remarkable place of great peace, beauty and spiritual healing, Punalu'u's black sand-lined coves and beaches are world-renowned. Dozens of endangered Hawai'ian Green Sea Turtles swim the waters of Kuhua Bay, Ninole Cove and Punalu'u Harbor and frequently bask on Kaimu Beach here. The wildness of the ocean and the serenity of the freshwater fishpond and coconut palm-shaded beaches make this an ideal place to spend some soul-recharge time. Snorkeling, picnicking and camping, or just relaxing on the beach, are major destination pass-times here.

What Do I Do When I Visit Hawaii? Explore Hawaiian Culture and Snorkel With Exotic Tropical Fish!
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Easily the most beautiful, peaceful and restful spot in all the Hawai'ian Islands, Pu'u Honua O Honaunau is a place of ease and regeneration for even the most weary and jaded soul. Of enormous historical and cultural significance, the sacred grounds at Honaunau are the best-preserved and largest remaining Pu'u Honua, or Place of Refuge, complex in Hawai'i. It is also a wonderful area to wander, swim, hike, snorkel, relax, picnic or SCUBA dive.

What Do I Do When I Visit Hawaii? Hike to a Green Sand Beach at the Point Farthest South in the US!
[Travel-and-Leisure:Outdoors] Haunting, windswept, wild, empty, beautiful. Imagine the gratitude and wonder of the first Polynesians who, after voyaging at sea without sight of land for more than a month, finally made land here at Ka Lae. This sweeping landscape arches openly and inviting from the tumultuous shore break at Ka Lae to the icy heights of Mauna Kea's summit almost 14,000 feet above. South Point is the farthest point south in the entire United States...not Key West Florida, as some guidebooks claim. The road to Ka Lae from the Hawai'i Belt Road is infamous, but has been greatly improved in recent years, although it's still only 1-lane wide in many places. Even today some rental agencies admonish you not to take their cars down this road. Relax. The road is fine, although blind turns and hills command your attention and should curb your desire to speed.

What Do I Do When I Visit Hawaii? Take a Walking Tour of Historic, Scenic Kailua Kona
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] The town of Kailua Kona is the crown jewel on the island of Hawaii and the beating heart of the Kona Coast. A sleepy fishing village not so long ago, Kailua Kona is now the metropolitan center of West Hawaii's burgeoning economy and exploding population. Founded by King Umi in the 1500's, Kailua Kona served as the social, religious and political capital of Hawaii for several hundred years. Deeming it the loveliest spot in all the Hawaiian Islands, King Kamehameha the Great ruled his island empire during the final years of his reign from here. Exploring the downtown area from the King Kamehameha Beach Resort to the Honl's Beach on the south provides a couple hours pure enjoyment: easy walking along the incomparable turquoise Kona Coast under the warm, sapphire Hawaii sky, past ancient temples, missionary churches, intriguing and unique shops and wonderful restaurants. It is easy, walking here, to understand how one can be completely seduced by the magic of the Big Island.

Curious About the European Discovery of Hawaii and the Fate of Captain James Cook?
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] A place of both dramatic historic events and unparalleled scenery, beautiful and now peaceful Kealekekua Bay (Pathway of the Gods) opens beneath steep, beetling cliffs on the ancient surfing beach along the shoreline of Napo'opo'o Village. The site of arguably the most important event in the history of Polynesia, home to pods of frolicking dolphins, hosting the greatest density of hammerhead sharks anywhere in the Pacific Ocean and providing some truly breathtaking Kayaking and snorkeling, Kealekekua Bay is one of the most truly magical spots in the State of Hawai'i.

Curious About Visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park?
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. During daylight hours, an access fee is charged. The Visitor Center has a 24-hour information line at 808.985.7017 and there is a 24-hour eruption hotline at 808.985.6000. Within the Park tune to A.M. radio 530 for continuous information broadcast. The star attractions in the Park are a pair of active volcanoes; Mauna Loa is the largest mountain on earth and Kilauea is most active volcano on earth. However, there are numerous other wonders from lava tubes to crawl down, black sand beaches with sea turtles to watch, mysterious petroglyph fields to explore, tropical jungles to hike through, endangered bird species to find, happy-face spiders to amuse and an otherworldly volcanic landscape so fresh it's still steaming.

Do You Know the Four Simple Steps to Writing Successful Grants For Your Non-Profit Group?
[Business:Non-Profit] There are 4 simple steps to writing a grant for obtaining funding for your not-for-profit or 501 (c) (3) group. First step includes deciding whether or not you are ready for the responsibility of grant funding and getting your group its IRS 501 (c) (3) exemption standing. Next, you must identify the scope and narrow the focus of your proposal by identifying goals, constructing timelines for reasonable milestones and deliverables and identifying which individuals or groups benefit from your proposal. Next you need to identify possible sources of funding for your proposal; there are numerous information resources online and in your library. Do not overlook your state and federal congressional representatives, as many time their staff are able to help identify funding sources for extremely worthy projects. Finally, when writing your proposal, it's a good idea to get copies of successful proposals from granting agencies to use as models. Word your grant clearly and succinctly, but don't stint on details. Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression--it's not "good enough" until it's perfect. Spelling counts; grammar counts; neatness counts; show you work. They get hundreds of proposals and only fund a handful...which do you think they discard first?

Do They Really Have Green and Black Sand Beaches on the Big Island of Hawaii?
[Travel-and-Leisure:Outdoors] Imagine lolling about on pink, grey or even green sand beaches...picture yourself sprawled in happy wilderness beach solitude sharing your black sand with only Hawaiian Green sea turtles. It's true that the Big Island of Hawaii has all these and more...but what causes these colored sands and makes the Big Island's beaches so unique? It's not a mystery, it merely geology!

Tips For Seeing the Two Eruptions at Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii
[Travel-and-Leisure] Kilauea, the world's most active volcano, has been erupting almost continually since 1983. Visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park right now are being treated to a rare event. Kilauea Volcano is erupting in two places simultaneously! Up in the summit caldera, in Hale ma'uma'u Crater, a vent exploded open last March that has continued to thrill visitors with its billowing steam cloud and night-time glow.

Advice For Hiking the Summit of Mauna Kea - Hawaii's Highest Peak
[Travel-and-Leisure:Destination-Tips] Hiking to Mauna Kea's summit on the Big Island of Hawaii is becoming increasingly popular with visitors to Hawaii. It's attraction is understandable, at 13,796 feet above sea level, Mauna Kea's summit is the highest point in the State of Hawaii. Since its base lies at 19000 feet below sea level, its has a base-to-summit height of 33,000 feet, making it the tallest mountain on earth.