http://www.hawaii-guide.com The latest topics that are being discussed and commented on at Hawaii-Guide.com en jcderrick@hawaiianstyle.org Copyright 2008 2008-08-15T19:25:04-05:00 http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/maui/spot/pipiwai_trail/ http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/maui/spot/pipiwai_trail/#When:17:43:31Z The Pipiwai Trail, above the Oheo Gulch (Seven Sacred Pools), is one of the best hikes on Maui. Pipiwai Trail is 4 miles roundtrip, gaining 650-feet in elevation. It takes 2 1/2 - 5 hours to hike, depending on how much nature loving you do. There are several great waterfalls along the route with the final destination fall being Waimoku Falls, falling 400-feet down a sheer lava rock wall shaped like a horse shoe. If it's been wet in the area recently, you can additionally find yourself surrounded by numerous small waterfalls on the surrounding cliff face. This is an absolutely beautiful falls and well worth the hike to get to it. The Waimoku Falls hike passes the 185 foot Makahiku Falls (which is also beautiful). Basically, the hike to Waimoku is the Makahiku hike extended about 1 1/2 miles. At one mile you will enter the first of three bamboo forests. Because of the marshy ground, wooden boardwalks have been built to make hiking easier. Maui Hiking Trails, Moderate, Hana Highway Sights, Southeast Maui Region 2008-01-24T17:43:31-05:00 http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/kauai/spot/alakai_swamp_trail/ http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/kauai/spot/alakai_swamp_trail/#When:21:37:00Z After two miles on the Pihea Trail is the junction with Alakai Swamp Trail. The scenery drastically changes from open valley to rainforest as you head into Alaka‘i Swamp, the world’s highest rainforest and swampland fed by the abundant precipitation on Wai‘ale‘ale’s slopes. The trail is said to be the highlight of many visitors’ journeys to the island, and it’s one of our favorite hidden gems as well. As a bonus, in the last few years the trail has been greatly enhanced with boardwalks. No longer do hikers have to trudge through the mud to reach the magical lookout of Kilohana at the end of the journey. Kauai Hiking Trails, Strenuous, West Kauai Region 2008-02-02T21:37:00-05:00 http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/maui/spot/lahaina_town/ http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/maui/spot/lahaina_town/#When:18:00:00Z You simply can’t leave Mau‘i without experiencing Lahaina. A port town, Lahaina is full of things to see and do from shopping to exploring several historical sites. The main drag is Front Street which you can get to by turning left just before mile marker 20 on Honoapi’ilani Hwy. A few things to see in Lahaina are: the gigantic banyan tree which literally takes up an entire city block, the historic Baldwin House, the old courthouse, and the old prison. Be prepared to search and possibly pay for parking in Lahaina. It is incredibly popular and has the reputation for being crowded. There is plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment here. It is home to shows such as Ulalena and the Old Lahaina Luau. Maui Towns, Southwest Maui Region 2008-01-24T18:00:00-05:00 http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/big_island_of_hawaii/spot/big_island_of_hawaii_faq/ http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/big_island_of_hawaii/spot/big_island_of_hawaii_faq/#When:02:26:00Z Q: Can I scoop up a handful of steaming hot lava? A: First of all, we wouldn’t recommend that unless you want to burst into flames. Second, Madame Pele, the Goddess of the Volcano, aka Kilauea is basically unpredictable. You could just as easily witness lava flows chewing on Chain of Craters Road as you could view a steam plume from afar. It is a living, breathing volcano with a mind of its own. Check THIS for updates on lava flows. Plus, even if you don’t see any flowing lava, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Big Island are well worth the time. Another great option is to take a helicopter tour over Pu’u O’o for a look into the bowels of the earth. But, that could change tomorrow. Lava has a mind of its own. Q: Should we stay on Hilo or Kona side? A: This is a big debate among locals and visitors alike. We say, never knock something until you try it, but here are a few observations. Kona side and its northern brother Kohala are made for tourists. All the high dollar resorts and hotels are on this side of the island because of its long stretches of sunny days. Kona is the place to be for upscale shopping and dining as well as what limited nightlife exists. Hilo on the other hand is a greater representation of the “real Hawaii.” Many of the residents of Hilo make the pre-dawn drive to work at the resorts in Kona. Some say that Hilo isn’t very friendly but we just don’t believe it. Follow the golden rule and you’ll discover that you get more smiles than frowns. On the downside, Hilo is the wettest city in the U.S. It also doesn’t have the same pricey hotels as Kona but some nice bed and breakfasts can be found. So, you do the math. Sight-wise both sides of the island have something to offer, so you may consider splitting your time based on what you want to see. Hilo is an ideal location to visit the volcano, the Hamakua Coast and Mauna Kea. You do not want to make the late night drive back to Kona after a long day at the volcano - trust us. Kona is a prime location for all the Kohala beaches, Waimea and Place of Refuge. Q: Do I need a 4x4 vehicle? A: You should be fine with a normal rental car unless you plan to do some off-roading in which case that would probably be prohibited by your rental agreement anyway. Nearly all of the must-see sights on the Big Island can be reached in a normal car. The exceptions are the summit of Mauna Kea and Green Sand Beach. Harper’s Rental in Kona and Hilo has four wheel drive vehicles at reasonable prices for excursions. We can’t emphasize it enough: do not take your normal vehicle off-roading no matter how good of a driver you think you are. Visitors who thought they could drive to the summit of Mauna Kea in a Neon are no longer around to tell the tale. If you don’t want to mess with a 4x4 rental, there are many tours that will guide you off the beaten path. Big Island of Hawaii Factoids 2008-01-21T02:26:00-05:00 http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/maui/spot/can_i_drive_to_the_oheo_gulch_and_back_in_one_day/ http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/maui/spot/can_i_drive_to_the_oheo_gulch_and_back_in_one_day/#When:02:08:00Z Second to only one other question, "Is the Road to Hana Worth it?" we hear one other question on a very consistent basis, "Can I make it the Gulch and back in a single day?" YES, you can! Below are our recommendations on achieving this, as we realize many of you don't have 1-3 days for the Highway or the ability to spend a night in Hana. A lot of folks especially want to hike the Pipiwai Trail at the 'Ohe'o Gulch, so we're assuming anyone reading this article is interested in that as well. If you're not, then ignore that part of our time budget. As a general rule, we're assuming most of you are also coming from either south or northwest Maui (like Ka'anapali) or from south Maui (like Kihei). Again, if you're starting in Kahului, you'll need to adjust your time budget (in your favor). Maui Articles 2008-01-23T02:08:00-05:00 http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/kauai/spot/waialeale_blue_hole_hike/ http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/kauai/spot/waialeale_blue_hole_hike/#When:02:22:33Z The Blue Hole is at the base of Wai'ale'ale, which is known as the wettest spot on earth. The 'Blue Hole' is not a physical hole per se, but a rather large pool fed by two streams and a waterfall. The 'Blue Hole' rests just outside the cylindrical cavity of what was once a much larger and taller volcano - one that possibly dwarfed the biggest volcanoes on the Big Island today. This beautiful "weeping wall" glistening with waterfalls is what remains - not too bad if we may say so ourselves. At the end of Highway 580, Kuamo‘o Road will end abruptly at a spillway. We believe for most travelers this where you should park and begin your hike. The drive beyond the paved highway is very rough, bumpy, often muddy, and dangerous in spots (especially when crossing streams). Kauai Hiking Trails, Moderate, Central Kauai Region 2008-02-20T02:22:33-05:00 http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/big_island_of_hawaii/spot/hawaii_volcanoes_national_park/ http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/big_island_of_hawaii/spot/hawaii_volcanoes_national_park/#When:02:15:01Z Originally founded in 1916, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (HVNP) is a living, breathing testament to the awesome power of Mother Nature. HVNP is located 30 miles southwest of Hilo and 96 miles southeast of Kona. It's open year-round, 24 hours a day. HVNP is home to Kilauea Volcano, the most continuously active volcano in the world, and the park offers the unique experience of walking on land that is younger than you are. Visitors are also witness to the world's largest volcano Mauna Loa at 13,677 feet. Mauna Loa, meaning 'long mountain,' encompasses a huge chunk of the Big Island (see our geology page). In recognition of its outstanding natural values, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park has been honored as an International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site. Big Island of Hawaii Sights, Big Island of Hawaii Volcano Sights, Volcano Region 2008-01-28T02:15:01-05:00 http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/maui/spot/all_about_maui/ http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/maui/spot/all_about_maui/#When:02:30:00Z Maui is the second largest landmass in the Hawaiian island chain that consists of eight major islands and 124 islets. The archipelago is made up of numerous volcanic islands in the central Pacific Ocean stretching in a 1,500-mile crescent from Kure Island in the northwest to the Big Island of Hawai‘i in the east, encompassing an area of 6,459 square miles. The eight major islands at the eastern end of the chain are, from west to east, Ni‘ihau, Kaua‘i, Oahu, Moloka‘i, Lana‘i, Kaho‘olawe, Maui, and the Big Island of Hawai‘i. Maui is composed of two major volcanic areas, the older and extinct West Maui Mountains and a very expansive volcano named Haleakala on the eastern side of Maui. In between the two is a valley filled with deposits. In addition to these three primary areas, the island can be divided into several official sub-areas, and it’s a good idea to become familiar with each of them. No area is quite like another on Maui. Read more on the Regions and Areas of Maui. Maui Factoids 2008-01-23T02:30:00-05:00 http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/maui/spot/oheo_gulch_kipahulu/ http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/maui/spot/oheo_gulch_kipahulu/#When:21:19:00Z About 15 minutes past Hana, near mile marker 42 on the Hana Highway (Road to Hana) after it turns into Highway 31, is the ‘Ohe‘o Gulch at the east end of Haleakala National Park. In 1969, the land where the ‘Ohe‘o Gulch is situated (formally known as Kipahulu coastal area) was donated to the Haleakala National Park system so that the pools would forever be open to the public. The ‘Ohe‘o Gulch today is known by many names. Some call it the Kipahulu Area, while others call it the location of the Seven Sacred Pools. However, there are far more than just seven pools, so the name is quite inaccurate. It originates from a 1940’s publicity campaign. There are actually dozens of pools and a multitude of waterfalls which flow through the ‘Ohe‘o Gulch into the ocean nearby. This is one of the best spots to visit on Maui and is well worth a few hours of your time. Maui Sights, Hana Highway Sights, Southeast Maui Region 2008-01-06T21:19:00-05:00 http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/big_island_of_hawaii/spot/rainbow_falls_state_park/ http://www.hawaii-guide.com/index.php/big_island_of_hawaii/spot/rainbow_falls_state_park/#When:05:06:09Z One of several falls along the path of the Wailuku River, Rainbow Falls is a gorgeous waterfall to visit early in the morning. Its name originated from the fact that on some early mornings a rainbow can be seen arching across the falls. Waianuenue Falls is its Hawaiian name which means “rainbow seen in water.” Like all waterfalls, Rainbow Falls’ display is dependent on recent rainfall. Big Island of Hawaii Sights, Hilo Town Region 2008-01-26T05:06:09-05:00