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Aloha, I was on the mainland, California, for ten days in August. I was anxious to get back home to Hawaii. As we were circling around and beginning our landing, I looked out the window. I couldn’t believe my eyes! All I saw was cement! There wasn’t a tree, a bush or flower in sight. The baggage claim was a the other end of the airport and it wasn’t much better there either.

I am embarrassed as a Hawaii resident. This is a terrible first impression for visitors to see coming to Oahu. The Maui airport is very nice with trees and flowers everywhere. I don’t get off the island much so I forget that it has always looked this way and I was probably just as appalled last time I flew home.

Please don’t let this stop you from coming to Oahu. Oahu is beautiful! There are palm and coconut trees every where. Flowers are blooming every where you look. There is so much to do and see on Oahu that there is something for everybody. You will never be bored. Our beaches are white, our ocean is blue and the sunsets and sunrises are gorgeous. Once you are out of the airport, don’t look back. Paradise is waiting for you.

Aloha, CiCi

I have researched some of the things you can have in your carry on bags on the domestic flights. This is subject to change without notice and this list was posted on Tuesday, September 26, 2006.

1. You can carry 3 oz of liquids, gels and aerosols. No half-filled containers are allowed. For example, eye drops, liquid soaps, shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, liquid foundation, nail polish and nail remover, etc.

2. Solid cosmetic items are allowed such as lipstick, lip balm, deodorant, etc.

3. These examples used to be banned and now they are allowed.
Cigar cutters, corkscrews, cuticle cutters, eye glass repair kit, eyelash curler, knitting crochet needles, nail clippers, nail files, disposable razors, safety razors, scissors with a blunt tip, and tweezers.

4. Some odd things that are allowed are toy transformer robots, replica toy weapons, umbrella (after it has been inspected for anything being hidden inside of it), and walking canes.

5. Electronics are allowed aboard. They are: camcorders, laptops, mobile phone, pagers, and PDA. It is advised that you do not have film inside of camcorder or cameras. This source said nothing about allowing cameras on board.

6. Tools are allowed in carry on baggage. screwdrivers, wrenches and pliers (must be sheathed or securely wrapped to prevent injury to baggage and baggage handlers) must all be 7 inches or shorter.

7. Passengers may bring aboard 3oz beverages from home or buy after the screening process.

8. Canned or jarred goods in 3 oz sizes such as soups, sauces, peanut butter, fruits, vegetables and jellies, cheese in pressurized containers, etc.

9. Passengers can also bring gel based sports supplements, jello, pudding, whipped cream, yogurt, etc. in 3 oz sizes.

10. Non-flammable liquid, gel or aerosol paint in 3 oz sizes are allowed.

It is always good to check with your airline if you have questions about what you can bring on board. If in doubt, put it in your luggage or mail it to your destination.

1. Kuhio Beach: There is a protected cove that is one to four feet deep. Great for kids to swim, use air mattresses or play with beach balls. There are showers, restrooms and a baby pool. Older children can swim, surf or boogie board past the cove. It is located behind the Pacific Beach Hotel in Waikiki.

2. Kapiolani Beach Park: This is a great place for all water sports. Pack a picnic lunch and spend the day. It is near the zoo and Waikiki Aquarium at the south end of Waikiki.

3. Ko’Olina Beach: It is a beautiful spot and it has a cove that is surrounded by a lava wall with shallow water with no waves. The older children can go outside of the cove and boogie board or swim. There are bathrooms nearby and grassy areas by the beach. The beach is at the Ko’Olina Resort.

4. Haunama Bay: It is located around the south end of Oahu. This is a fish reserve and it has many different types of fish to see through your snorkel mask. I do recommend that you buy your snorkel gear at home if you plan to snorkel a lot. It is expensive to rent it every day for every one and Haunama is expensive to rent. You can drive here from your hotel and save $12 each from the tour bus and come and go on your own schedule.

5. Waikiki Aquarium: Located by Kapiolani Park, the Waikiki Aquarium is home to 2,500 creatures representing 420 species of marine life. You can see a shark and a monk seal up close. It is a great experience and your kids will love it!

6. Dole Plantation: There is a narrated train ride and the world’s largest maze. It contains more than 11,400 colorful Hawaiian plants. You can win prizes for finding the six secret stations located in the maze in the fasted time.

7. Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park: This is a screaming good time for all! There are nine thrill rides, five family rides and 10 specialty areas in this 25-acre water theme amusement park near Kapolei. There will be a miniature golf course
come Memorial Day weekend.

8. Sea Life Park: You can interact with the animals here or sit on the bench. There are shows where the animals do tricks and display animal behavior. You will see dolphins, stingrays. sea lions, penguins and an array of tropical fish.

9. Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii Hotel: Go to the ground level to the lagoon. The organization called Dolphin Quest conducts programs for children and adults that promote interaction between dolphins and people. The staff shares information about dolphins and how the environment affects them.

10. Honolulu Zoo: It has grown to include a number of exhibits, including the African Savanna, Tropical Forest, Pacific Islands and Children’s Zoo. The zoo’s inhabitants include gazelles, monkeys, rhinos, cheetahs, porcupines, elephants, giraffes, lions, zebras, hippos, warthogs, exotic birds, vultures, turtles, lizards, snakes, tree frogs and much more.

The zoo offers a number of after-hours family programs. “Snooze in the Zoo” allows guests to stay overnight at the zoo and enjoy storytelling, campfire songs and walking tours. Visitors may set up tents on the back lawn or sleep out under the stars. The “Twilight Tour,” meanwhile, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of the animals after the sun goes down.

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ALOHA!
It has been raining off and on here on Oahu which can be difficult for the tourists. However, it is cool to snorkel in the rain. Then the sun shines and the humidity goes up. But rain is what keeps Hawaii green year round. Our rain is rarely a downpour. However, we have had a few floods this year and last year where houses were lost. A dam burst and a lot of damage was done to the road and many houses. Kauai is known to be the rainiest spot in the world.

Tourists are always surprised to find out that Hawaii has a winter. It can get down to 55 to 60 degrees and, for us, that’s cold. At the top of Haleakala crater on Maui it gets much colder and windier there. People from Alaska come here during the winter and laugh at our weather. I lived in Alaska for two years before I came to Hawaii. I am from California so I am still used to hot weather in the summer. The Alaskans are running around swimming in the summer at 70 degrees! Not me, I had a sweater on.

Now during the summer here it gets to be about 88 degrees. In California, it can get to 98 degrees. I like it better here. Plus the ocean is warner and closer. Plus you don’t have to drive miles and miles to get somewhere. On the mainland, it takes an hour or more just to get to an attraction. I visited my best friend in Boulder Creek, California and we had to drive an hour or more to get anywhere. I hated it. If I can’t get somewhere in 20 minutes, I don’t want to go.

We are definitely spoiled here. Everything is at our fingertips. Our bus system is the best in the country. Parking is at a premium and the cost is high at many of the public lots. Many times when you rent a place to live, they will charge you extra for a parking space. Ripoff! I use our bus system. It is air conditioned, the seats are high enough that you can look down on the cars, I don’t have to worry about traffic, I don’t absorb the cost of car insurance or repairs, or look for a parking space. Many of the bus stops offer a covering and a bench.

Hawaii is beautiful. There are palm trees and coconut trees everywhere. There are many types of flowerer bushes growing all over the island. They are just beautiful. The trees are bushy and some are quite big and offer shade. Almost everyone’s yard has fruit trees of some sort and sometimes you can find a wild fruit tree just ripe for the picking. You can usually find a plumeria tree close by to pick enough for a lei.

This is a photographers dream. The girls are pretty with a flower in their hair. The beaches are some of the best in the world. The surfing tournaments known around the world. The ocean is clean and clear. There is pleanty of fish for snorkeling and scubadiving. We have sharks and sometimes they make their presence known. But that happens everywhere their is a warm ocean.

There is so much to do and see here in Hawaii that can be done for free. There beaches are free. You can swim, body surf, boggie board, surf, wind surf, snorkel or scubadive. You can picnic and sunbathe. We have many, many, many art museums from local, mainland and across-the-sea artists. You can listen to a band at Kapiolani Park on Fridays at sundown. There is an outdoor movie screen at Kuhio Beach. There is so much more to do here and I will talk about in another writing. ALOHA!

Traveling with children, especially small children, care should be taken when preparing for the trip. Here are 10 tips on traveling with children of any age:

1. When planning the vacation, let the children have input. Give them travel books and other material about the vacation spot so that they can be excited about the place you have chosen to go.

2. Determine what type of things you may need for your child and ask the hotel if they provide it, like cribs, highchairs, changing table, playpen, etc. Also, for pool side, do they provide water wings for the children.

3. It is important for the children to pack their own suitcase or bag. This way they will know what is in it. They can pack their clothes, games, favorite toy and sleeping animals or electronic game.

4. You will need to have the phone number of your doctor, a first aid kit and all the medications that your family takes or might need. It is difficult to find a doctor while on vacation to fill a prescription so be sure to get yours filled before you leave home.

5. Whether you are on a road trip or flying to your destination, you will need to have snacks for everyone. It is best to have things that are not too messy like nuts, fruit, sandwiches, and water.

6. Be sure to have games, DVDs, or CDs available. Whether flying or driving, children get restless and it is best to keep them occupied no matter what age they are.

7. Upon arrival, take everyone on a tour of where you are staying. Familiarize them with the grounds pointing out where they can go for information or help if they get lost. Help them connect how to get back and forth to their room and to the downstairs, the pool, snack shop, shopping, etc.

8. Plan activities that the small children can participate in. Small children get bored easily and their little legs get tired.

9. Weather can change no matter where you are and whatever the season is. Plan for it. Have board games, coloring books, and anything else that would make the day enjoyable.

10. Bring your camera and take lots of pictures with the children in them. Then when you get the double prints, give them one of them. If you have more than one child that wants a picture, get triple prints. Above all, let everyone enjoy the vacation!

Hawaii is closer to the sun than anywhere else and thus it is easier to get sunburned. Don’t ruin your vacation by getting a bad sunburn.

Here’s How:

1. Limit outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m..This can include playing golf, laying in the sun, swimming, etc.,
2. If you must sunbathe get some sun before you visit Hawaii. The Hawaiian sun is very dangerous to pale skin.

3. Beware of cloudy days. You can still burn even on a cloudy day.

4. Wear a good pair of sun glasses and some kind of protection — the looser the better — on your head.

5. If you are among those likely to burn, use a sun block with a PF of 15 or greater. An ounce of sun block will effectively cover your entire body.

6. Apply sun block at least 15 to 30 minutes before venturing out into the sun and re-apply at least every two hours especially if you have been swimming or perspiring.

7. Use sun blocks with higher PFs on areas that need extra protection like the tip of your nose, your ears, the tops of your feet, and your shoulders.

8. Do not use sun block on your lips. Instead, use only sun protection products designed specifically for lips.

9. Protect your children. Keep them from excessive sun exposure when the sun is strongest and apply sunscreen liberally and frequently to children 6 months of age and older.

10. Do not use sunscreen on children under 6 months of age. Parents with children under 6 months of age should severely limit their children’s sun exposure.

Tips:

1. Sand and water reflect UV radiation, which means being in the shade under a beach umbrella does not provide complete protection.

2. Check with your doctor to make sure that some of the medications you are on do not actually make you more susceptible to sunburn.

The ocean is clear and perfect for snorkeling where there is fish.

Using a snorkel properly will give you a clear vision of what’s 0going on under the sea without having to breathe water.

Step One
Test your mask and snorkel together to determine fit and comfort.

Step Two
Position the small rubber strap that attaches the snorkel to your mask so that the snorkel passes just above your left ear. (If you are using a special left-handed snorkel, it will be on your right.)

Step Three
Take a deep breath, bite down on the mouthpiece and submerge your head in the water.

Step Four
Exhale sharply once to clear any water that may be in the snorkel shaft. This is commonly called ‘blasting’ or ‘purging.

Step Five
Inhale gently at first in case there is any residual water. Blast a second time if needed, and continue to do so whenever water enters the snorkel.

Step Six
Learn to move gently on the surface’rapid or abrupt movements can fill the snorkel with water.

Step Seven
Inhale and hold your breath, then dive to explore the underwater environment around you.

Step Eight
Ascend, make sure the snorkel end is above the surface, then purge to clear the tube of water.

Step Nine
Breathe cautiously to be sure the snorkel has cleared completely. If you don’t have enough air left to purge, lift your head above the surface and take the snorkel out to breathe.

Tips & Warnings
* When you’re floating facedown in the water in a relaxed position, the snorkel should extend vertically above your head.

* It’s normal for snorkels to flood with water periodically because of wave action as you move about on the surface. Practice purging your snorkel until it becomes routine.

Clearing the Snorkel of Water
Step One
Make sure you are gripping the mouthpiece of the snorkel securely with your teeth.

Step Two
Exhale forcefully through your mouth. The majority of the water should be expelled from the tube. This method is commonly called “blasting” or “popping.”

Step Three
Inhale gently at first in case there is any residual water. Blast a second time if needed.

Step Four
Continue blasting whenever water enters the snorkel.

Tips & Warnings
*If you are ascending to the surface, you can tilt your head back and exhale a small puff of air into the snorkel. Then as you rise, the air puff will expand and clear the tube naturally so that by the time you reach the surface the snorkel is already clear. This trick takes some practice to perfect, but it requires less effort than blasting.

* Some snorkels have a type of one-way valve at the top that is intended to stop any water from washing inside while on the surface. These rarely work as advertised and are not needed.

With high gas prices, credit card debt and the rising cost of food, how can you take a vacation? It is never easy but…it is important for your health to do so. You can read about it many magazines about how healthy it is to take a break from our day to day stress. It can be a three day weekend to a two week vacation. But how can you plan for this?

Do research by looking at travel books, brochures, the library, AAA and the Internet. Work up a reasonable budget and stay within the limits. Ask about package deals, and try to be flexible about the weekdays versus the weekends. Many times airlines and hotels will offer price breaks if you can come and go during the weekdays.

You can cut costs if you rent the car that will suit your needs and no more. You’ll save on gas and the rental bill. Renting a luxury or specialty car is expensive, along with the insurance, and it takes away from the other things you could have enjoyed on your vacation.

You can save money by taking a vacation during non-peak seasons. Hotels want to be full and you can get a better price during this time. This is a great time to ask for upgrades, also. It never hurts to ask. This is true with car rentals. During non-peak times, you can usually get a larger car for the same price as a budget car. Just ask for the upgrade if it is not offered.

Begin saving for your vacation now. Put your loose change in a jar each night. Put a certain amount in the bank each week. Turn in your recyclables and toss the money in the jar. Think of ways where everyone in the family can contribute money for the vacation. One final tip: Don’t charge a majoy vacation expense on your credit card unless you are going to pay it off the next month. By the time you pay it off in installments, with interest, it could add thousands of dollars to your total amount. Enjoy your vacation!

Welcome to Hawaii On Your Own - An Insider’s Guide. This blog is about our Hawaii experiences as well as some articles I will write. Please let others know what you enjoyed about Hawaii, some tips and some of the best buys you found. You will need to register before you post and you can write as much as you want.