Discover the World of Whales in Hawaii

Hawaii, being famous for its beaches, is also a seasonal home for whales. In fact, whale watching is a favorite activity of tourists and locals alike once the winter season rolls by in the state. There exist roughly 10,000 up to 15,000 humpback whales throughout the world and more than a thousand of these adorable animals stay at the warm waters of the Hawaiian Islands each year, during the latter part of November. The whales remain in the state until April and there are even some who are spotted until May before making their way back to their other home, which is Alaska.  Hawaii photographers

Tourists would be able to see whales in the tropical waters of each of the Hawaiian Islands. There are plenty of tour providers that arrange either day or sunset whale watching cruises on both small and huge boats. Majority of these tours assure guests of some whale sightings, and if some visitors were not able to view any whales, they would be given a complimentary whale watching tour. Normally, the charge for the tour also incorporates a snack, a drink, some comprehensive narration, and there are also those who offer hydrophones on board the ship. These hydrophones would allow the passengers to listen to the sounds that whales make to communicate with each other.

Immersing one’s self into the world of whales with the help of a submarine is a fascinating way to observe and discover more facts about the humpback whales. In the Aloha State, Atlantis Submarines is the only submarine provider throughout Hawaii and it operates on Maui, Oahu, as well as the Big Island. Not only would the guests be able to see the whales in their natural environment, but since humpback whales are naturally curious about their surroundings, there are some of them who would even approach the water vessel.

Even if whale watching in the state could be done in any Hawaiian Island, the protected Auau Channel as well as the shallow tropical waters farther down Maui’s west coast are among the greatest places to observe whales. There are also boat tours available here from November until April and it departs from the Lahaina Harbor plenty of times each day during the season for watching whales. On the island of Kauai and on the Big Island, there are also abundant whale-watching opportunities and the boat tours are offered by experienced and expert guides.

If one is not comfortable on board a boat, humpback whales could also be seen from dry land. On Kauai, some great sites to start looking for whales are the Kealia Lookout, the Kilauea Lighthouse, and other elevated points of land, particularly in the coastal regions.

In the state of Hawaii, watching whales is a preferred pursuit, and similar with other outdoor activities, there are also rules in whale watching. Observers of these animals should not approach them either by swimming or via a boat within a hundred yards of a whale. But then, since whales are innately inquisitive, they could approach people and there is no law against that. Come to Hawaii to listen to the sounds of the whales as they “sing” and have an amazing experience like no other.  Hawaii beach weddings

Have Fun Shopping in Hawaii

Endless stretches of sand and sparkling waters are what tourists expect to see in the Hawaiian Islands. It may be a bit unexpected but aside from being a tropical oasis, the state is also a shopping haven. The assortment of goods in the islands varies from elegant designer brands and chic department store products to some local handicrafts. In the Aloha State, any person would be able to purchase whatever it is that one’s heart desires, all at such affordable prices.

The heart of this retail paradise in Hawaii is definitely Waikiki, which is found on the island of Oahu. This is where one could see the stunning store-lined boulevards of Kuhio Avenue as well as Kalakaua Avenue that are crammed full of numerous galleries, boutiques, and shops. Hawaii wedding photographer

In Waikiki, there are some exceptional shopping centers that could be enjoyed by everyone. The celebrated Ala Moana Center houses around 240 stores and restaurants. Its charming decor such as fish pools and various tropical plants is ideal for some serious shopping. In this area, tourists could browse through casual beachwear, classy designer ensemble and assorted perfumes.

The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center covers around 3 blocks of Kalakaua Avenue with its numerous finds that include some 150 boutiques and stores. Close to the Ala Moana Center is the Victoria Ward Center. People who are searching for other mall activities after taking advantage of its 120 stores could see a film in its 16-screen cinema complex or they could grab a bite to eat in one of its several restaurants.

For people who are searching for some dreamy Hawaiian scenery, the DFS Galleria presents an incomparable shopping adventure in the center of Waikiki. It is the lone shopping complex where foreign visitors could take pleasure in some tax free shopping. This is only possible if the Aloha State is their point of departure from the U.S. and if they would not stop over in the mainland once they travel for home.

The island of Maui also offers some fantastic shopping escapades. Aside from the countless stores located at the Whaler’s Village, one would be able to find some cafes, restaurants, as well as art workshops in the island. These art workshops provide lessons to interested guests on how to make traditional handicrafts. Another option for the discerning shopper is the ultra exclusive Wailea Resort. The Shops at Wailea takes pride in their various designer shops, the jewelry stores and quaint cafes.

When one saunters down the length of Kalakaua Avenue or even at the Ala Moana Shopping Center, both in Waikiki, a person could very well be in Paris. Each of the leading designer labels could be found in this area such as Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani and Chanel. Even if travelers might not want to spend their hard-earned money on these designer brands, it is still fun to gaze at the stylish clothes that are displayed prominently in the vicinity.

Shopping is undoubtedly a pleasurable activity that people love to indulge in, particularly women. But shopping in Hawaii is extra special because these islands are dubbed as one tropical paradise, truly unrivalled by no other place in the world.  Oahu wedding packages

The Secluded Island of Kahoolawe

Not all of the Hawaiian Islands are ideal for some fun tourist sightseeing. Among the 8 major islands of Hawaii namely Big Island, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, and Niihau, the Kahoolawe Island is the smallest one of them all. This tiny island only measures around 12 miles in length and its area is approximately 45 square miles. The island’s tallest peak is the Lua Makika’s crater located at Pu’u Moaulanui’s summit, which stands at around 1,477 feet above the sea level. What is fascinating about this island is not only its small size, but also the fact that it is completely deserted.

The island of Kahoolawe, as legend goes, is believed to have been christened after Kanaloa, who was among the 4 major Hawaiian gods. Kanaloa was forbidden from entering heaven by Kane, who was the chief Hawaiian god and from then on, the disgraced god became similar to Lucifer. Kanaloa was then supposed to have been the ruler of the dead as well as every poisonous thing on the planet.

Evidently, it was only until the 13^th century that the island of Kahoolawe was inhabited by native Hawaiians. Because of constant drought, these Kahoolawe residents transferred to the other Hawaiian Islands, which were able to offer them more water. For roughly 600 years, the island of Kahoolawe continued to be desolate. But during the 1830s, a penal colony comparable to the Alcatraz Island was established here but it was also abandoned soon after.

After being utilized as a place for prisoners, the island was later taken over by the United States military and it was used as their training ground. Back in 1994, the U.S. government gave the island back to the Aloha State. However, there was limited access to Kahoolawe until 2003 since the United States Navy had a job to tidy up the island first, owing to the fact that plenty of unexploded ammunitions remained in this isle.

These days, the island is being run and controlled by the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission. It is widely assumed that not every single hazardous explosive from the U.S. Navy has been removed from Kahoolawe yet. There are a few people who believe that the military had only removed around 25 % of their total explosives, so if the allegation is true, there are still 75 % of the entire explosives that still remain on the island.

In the olden times, Kahoolawe was an exquisitely lush island filled with flourishing flora and fauna. However, the goats that were brought to Kahoolawe consumed and spoiled the once thriving vegetation. Moreover, the powerful ocean winds also became a factor to the island’s erosion and Kahoolawe turned arid and rocky. This erosion occurred even before the military had taken over the island.

The Aloha State has already started the restoration of the island of Kahoolawe by getting rid of the grazing animals as well as by planting vegetations. This would really be a lengthy process and it would take numerous years before the island is entirely restored. Until that day comes, visits to Kahoolawe would be very limited and would require a special permit. But still, this historic place welcomes interested visitors. To get more information on possible access to the island of Kahoolawe, guests should get in touch with the Visitors Center located on Honolulu or the island of Maui.

Fix Your Eyes on Molokini’s Wonders

Molokini is a semicircular lunar-shaped isle situated not more than 3 miles outside the southern coast of Maui. According to myths, Molokini used to be a lovely woman. As the story goes, both Molokini and Pele, who was the fire goddess, fell madly in love with just one man. The resentful Pele then cut her rival Molokini in half and proceeded to change her into stone. The head of the beautiful woman is apparently Puu Olai, which is the cinder cone located near the Makena Beach.

The Molokini islet is nestled along the southwest rift area of the Haleakala. The scientists from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory suppose that the isle, whose peak stands around 160 feet above the sea level, most recently erupted more or less 230,000 years ago. Even if plenty of geologists think that Molokini is a relatively youthful volcanic formation, there are new evidences that imply that the islet is really a lot older and it could even be probably older than the Haleakala Crater.

These days, Molokini is as exquisite as ever and it is thought of as among the Aloha State’s leading dive spots. Its stunning crescent shape functions as a protection from the strong waves as well as from the powerful currents.

Molokini presents various sites that lure numerous beginners, intermediate and skilled scuba divers. For instance, the crater basin offers sheltered waters and it has a depth of merely 35 feet, which makes it perfect for those people who are just starting to dive and snorkel. Divers who are on the intermediate level, meanwhile, could set out to the underwater wall section that drops up to 70 feet. For expert divers, they could go ahead and be delighted by the panoramic view found at the crater’s back side, which could reach as deep as 350 feet.

Regardless of which level of diving one is currently in or whatever area of Molokini’s magical underwater world a person decides to delve into, one would surely come across sparkling azure waters as well as a variety of multicolored fish. This islet plays host to approximately 250 species of fish, which include tangs, surgeon fish, Moorish idols, parrot fish, and many more.

There are several boat tours that provide either a half-day or a full-day Molokini escapades. These are available on a daily basis from the Kihei Boat Ramp or even from the Ma‘alaea Harbor. These adventures typically encompass the snorkeling or scuba diving gear in addition to the refreshments. It would be best to take part in these tours during the morning for it presents the most ideal viewing conditions. One should also bear in mind that the isle is a recognized marine life conservation district. This actually means that the fish and the other marine life found here are not allowed to be caught, removed or even fed by tourists.

Molokini is truly an enchanting island in Hawaii. It is considered by many not just as a top diving site in Hawaii, but also in the world due to the outstanding visibility it offers. Be sure to have a look at this island’s eye-catching underwater world and it would be an experience one could not forget for a long time.