TNT NewsHawaii® is an ongoing monthly newsletter we send to people like you who visit our website and request information about Hawaii. The newsletter is just one way we hope to keep you connected with Hawaii before and after your visits to the islands.
TNT Specials: Exclusive Discounts & Savings – Click here now!
For readers of this newsletter only – find great discounts and other cost saving packages from major travel providers. Just look for the words “TNT Special.”
* Coming Events (see below)
Discover exciting upcoming events on Kauai, Maui, the Big Island, and Oahu.
* Best (Hidden) Places Hawaii (see below)
Find your way to the special places in Hawaii that other visitors may miss.
* Taste of Hawaii Recipe (see below)
Try a mouthwatering Hawaiian recipe from one of the most-renowned chefs in the islands.
* Travel Tips (see below)
Hawaii is so unique that it even has its own time zone. Enjoy the latest pointers from our collection of travel ideas to enhance your Hawaiian vacation.
* Ask the Big Kahuna (see below)
Find answers to questions from travelers. Submit a question for the Big Kahuna to answer in a future issue.
Kauai
January 31, 2004
4TH ANNUAL BURNS SUPPER
A birthday celebration of Scotland’s most acclaimed poet, Robert Burns on the grounds of Waimea Plantation Cottages. The Burns’ Supper celebrates this special man with food, Burns’ poetry and music. A fabulous dinner under the palms follows the pipes and drums with dinner tickets to be purchased in advance. Sponsored in part by Hawaii Tourism Authority, West Kauai Business & Professional Association and Waimea Plantation Cottages.
Maui
January 17, 2004
HULA BOWL MAUI
Maui and Kaanapali resort host the Best of the Best collegiate all-star players in the 57th anniversary of this premier football game. Maui War Memorial Stadium, Kahului (Central Maui). Kick off at 3:00 p.m. Televised live on ESPN.
Big Island of Hawaii
January 17, 2004
HILO’S CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL
KUNG HEE FAT CHOY! Celebrate 4702, the Year of the Monkey! Colorful Lion Dancers open and bless the Festival by “feeding” on firecrackers. Feed yourself on samples of fried rice wokked up by local celebrity chefs at the Cooking Contest or check out the fine food booths. Art, craft and Asian product vendors will be featured along with free cultural displays and demonstrations, kid’s activities and costume contest, live entertainment and fireworks.
Oahu/Waikiki
January 12 – 18, 2004
SONY OPEN IN HAWAII PGA TOUR TOURNAMENT
The 2004 Sony Open launches the PGA TOUR Aloha Season of golf at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu. As the first full-field PGA TOUR event of the year, the Sony Open in Hawaii features over 140 internationally famed pros competing for a $864,000 victor’s prize from the overall $4,800,000 purse. Also, during the past five years, more than $3,000,000 in grants to Hawaii organizations have been distributed by the event charity sponsor, the Friends of Hawaii Charities, in conjunction with charity partner, The Harry & Jeannette Weinberg Foundation, Inc. Fun, week-long free activities are planned for all ages, including the Million Dollar Shot Semi-Finals.
For contact details and a complete annual calendar of events by month for each of the Hawaiian Islands, visit our online Events Calendar.
TNT SPECIAL: Pleasant Holidays has put together great air & hotel packages, at great low rates, from Los Angeles or San Francisco. Stay three nights in Waikiki for $299 or three nights on Maui for $329. Take advantage of these great offers and book today. Offer ends January 23, 2004. January and other 2004 deals are available online now, too! Or call our Reservations Experts at 1-800-742-9244.
Request TNT Special Value Offer – Email Direct Now!®
Pleasant Holidays offers low rates on travel to Hawaii. Get price quotes and confirm your trip online fast at PleasantHolidays.com. We have great airfare, car and hotel packages at your favorite hotels with air only on scheduled carriers from all over the United States!
Contact: Todd Castor
Toll Free: 1-800-742-9244
Pleasant Holidays Website: https://www.pleasantholidays.com
TNT SPECIAL: Clicking on our website below will take you to 10 online, limited-time specials for Aston Hotels and Resorts on Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island.
Request TNT Special Value Offer – Email Direct Now!®
Aston Hotels and Resorts have 30 hotels and condominium resorts in Hawaii. From budget to luxury. All on or near the beach with more than 4,500 rooms and suites to choose from.
Contact: Reservations
Toll Free: 1-800-922-7866
Phone: 808-931-1400
Aston Hotels & Resorts Website: https://www.aston-hotels.com/specials.cfm?operatingcompanyid=5
Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area, Maui
Definitely off the beaten track, Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area is located upland from Kula, the center of Maui’s cool and misty Upcountry. The Recreation Area is comprised of ten acres of conifer forest near the Kula Forest Reserve at an elevation of 6,200 and feels more like Northern California than a tropical island.
Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area, accessible by four-wheel drive, provides camping and lodging facilities which lie within the fog belt of the Kua Forest Reserve. Visitors will enjoy mountain hiking with scenic views as well as in season bird and pig hunting. Photographers will want to bring their cameras. The Recreation Area offers access to a number of trails within the reserve, including through a planned conifer forest. Other facilities at the site include picnic tables and restrooms.
The single cabin at Polopoli Spring sleeps ten people. The cabin has a kitchen-living room, a bathroom with a shower and a bedroom. There is a wood stove, gas hot water heater and a gas oven. There is no electricity, so you must bring flashlights, as candles and lanterns are not permitted. You must also bring your own drinking water and bedding. Reservations are required (808) 984-8109.
The camping area accommodates up to 20 people. A camping permit must be obtained through the Maui District of Hawaii State Parks: 54 S. High St. #101, Wailuku, HI 96793. ph: (808) 984-8109. The permit serves as your campsite reservation.
Located on Maui’s tallest mountain range, the temperatures at Polipoli Spring can reach below freezing on winter nights and is generally 20 degrees cooler than coastal areas. Layers of clothing, gloves and hats for camping and hiking are a must. The park, which is on the western slopes of Haleakala, is accessed from Waipoli Road via Kekaulike Avenue.
It may be a bit chilly, but the beauty and seclusion of this Best (Hidden) Place are worth a shiver or two.
TNT SPECIAL: Best Places Hawaii customers only! Book this luxury home only 80 steps from the white sands of world famous Hanalei Bay and receive a custom Hawaiian gift basket of island specialties upon your arrival. You must mention Best Places Hawaii when you make your reservation to receive this unique gift. Reserve today, Sunset Hale fills up quickly due to its special location.
Request TNT Special Value Offer – Email Direct Now!®
Our home, Sunset Hale (Sunset House), with a view of the classic Hawaiian sunset over famous Hanalei Bay from the lanai and house is an experience that you will long remember. The house is fully supplied home with all the amenities that you would find at your own home to pamper you during your Hawaiian vacation. Feel your troubles disappear in the warm Hawaiian trade winds as you watch from the lanai the sunset over world famous Hanalei Bay or stroll in our garden with many tree orchids and unusual types of native plants.
Contact:
Toll Free: 1-800-367-5025
Phone: 1-800-367-5025
Sunset Hale Ocean House on Beautiful Hanalei Bay, Kauai Website: Sunset Hale
TNT SPECIAL: Receive a free Kaanapali Beach Resort four-color brochure and map at our web site. Best Places Hawaii visitors, call us now and ask us about our current specials. You must mention Best Places Hawaii.
Request TNT Special Value Offer – Email Direct Now!®
Kaanapali Beach Resort is located on Maui’s lively west side on three miles of sunny, sandy beach. We can offer you a wide selection of accommodations and activities as the Resort Association consists of six beautiful hotels, four condominium complexes, two golf courses, the Whalers Village Shopping Center with more than 60 shops, a free whale museum, and the Sugar Cane Train.
Contact: Kaanapali Beach Resort Association
Toll Free: 1-800-245-9229
Phone: 808-661-3271
Kaanapali Beach Resort Association Website: https://www.kaanapaliresort.com/contact.php
SEAFOOD CAKE NOODLES WITH GINGER SAUCE
Courtesy of Guy Higa
Kauai Marriott Resort & Beach Club
4 oz Hong Kong noodles – boil & fry
1 tsp olive oil
1 oz crabmeat
2 oz shrimp, peeled and de-veined
2 oz scallops
1 oz sliced shiitake mushrooms
1 oz chopped bok choy
1 oz choy sum
1 oz ginger sauce
1 oz carrot streamers
2 ea cilantro sprig
Sauté shrimp and scallop in oil, add bok choy, choy sum and shiitake. Add ginger sauce and crab. Pour over cake noodle and garnish with carrots and cilantro.
Ginger Sauce
1 T peeled minced fresh ginger
1 T minced garlic
1T rinsed black beans
1 T oil
Sauté together, then add the following:
1 T oyster sauce
1 tsp sherry
1 tsp sugar
1 cup chicken stock
Bring to boil, then add:
1 T cornstarch water mixture to thicken
Courtesy of Taste of Hawaii®, the Ultimate Sunday Brunch.
TNT SPECIAL: Best Places Hawaii customers only! Mention Best Places Hawaii and get a 10% discount as our holiday gift to you!
Request TNT Special Value Offer – Email Direct Now!®
Mountain Riders Bicycle tours, and our elite crew, welcomes you on a breathtaking journey down Haleakala Crater on Maui. As industry leaders, we have the best guides and safest equipment. Join us on a unique and enjoyable way to experience the trip of a lifetime down Haleakala!
Contact: Heather Cabos
Toll Free: 1-800-706-7700
Phone: 808-877-4944
Mountain Riders Bike Tours Website: https://www.mountainriders.com
TNT SPECIAL: Heaven on Earth – Kauai Magazine. Never miss a single issue! Kauai Magazine is published quarterly and focuses on the beauty, culture and people of the Garden Island. Printed on high quality paper and full color throughout, this award-winning Kauai Magazine is a true keep-sake for those persons in love with the beauty of the island. Price is $8.25 for a single issue, a one-year (four issue) subscription for $18.00, a two-year (8 issue) subscription for $32.00 or a three-year (12 issue) subscription for $40.00.
Request TNT Special Value Offer – Email Direct Now!®
Give the Gift of Warmth! We will gladly send a gift card with your subscription.
Contact: Evan Meek
Toll Free: 1-800-835-0583
Phone: 808-822-7449
Kauai Magazine Website: https://www.kauaimagazine.com/subscribe/
- Round trip air travel from the continental U.S.
- Flower lei greeting
- 8 days/7 nights stay
- Use of a rental car
- Candlelight dinner
- Package of romantic tropical isle specials!
It’s free and easy to enter and win – just click “Love Stories of Hawaii” Contest! Sponsored by Pleasant Holidays & Idea Travel.
TNT SPECIAL: Last chance to book at a new low price. Package includes five nights in Kaanapali, car, daily breakfast, guaranteed whale watching, magical illusions dinner show, and more. Only $650 per person. Save $360! Be sure to mention Best Places Hawaii. *Some restrictions apply.
Request TNT Special Value Offer – Email Direct Now!®
Oceanfront on world-famous Kaanapali Beach, this 430-room hotel is officially recognized as the “Most Hawaiian Hotel.” Complimentary children’s program, Hawaiian activities and nightly hula show make Kaanapali Beach Hotel a value-packed Maui experience.
Contact: Kaanapali Beach Hotel
Toll Free: 1-800-262-8450
Phone: 808-661-0011
Kaanapali Beach Hotel (Kaanapali) – See the Whales on Maui! Website: https://www.kbhmaui.com/reserve/specials/
TNT SPECIAL: FREE SHIPPING! Mention Best Places Hawaii and get FREE SHIPPING for your holiday gifts for all purchases by 12/31/2003.
Request TNT Special Value Offer – Email Direct Now!®
Hawaii Books, Magazines, Videos, and DVD’s…
Travel, Vacation, Business, and thought-provoking information for Honolulu, Kauai, Maui, the Big Island of Hawaii, and beyond…
Contact: Evan Meek
Toll Free: 1-800-835-0583
Phone: 808-822-7449
Best Books Hawaii Website: https://www.bestbookshawaii.com
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT HAWAII
We are often asked, ³When is the best time to visit Hawaii?² — which is like asking, ³How high is up?² It¹s all relative. Here are ten tips to help you decide the best time for YOU:
1. The busiest tourist season is December to February, mostly because people from the mainland want to get away from the blizzards.
2. June to October is the ³hottest² period, but temperatures do not vary very much, ranging between 75 to 85 degrees.
3. Rainfall is heaviest between December and March, but not so heavy as to be a concern. If you wait a while the sun will come out and you will be rewarded with a glorious rainbow.
4. Hotel prices are lowest between April and mid-December.
5. The best weather is often found in April, May, September and October. These are also the months when you can find some good travel bargains.
6. Airfare and lodging tend to be more expensive during the “high” season of mid-December to mid-April. Also, winter is the time to see those humongous waves on Oahu¹s famous north shore.
7. In summer, the kids are out of school, so beaches are more crowded.
8. The last week in April and first week in May can be very busy in Waikiki. This is the peak season for visitors from Japan due to the Japanese “Golden Week” holidays.
9. The Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, held during the week after Easter and the Ironman Triathlon, held in October are busy times for the Big Island.
10. The water temperature in Hawaii is very consistent. The year-round average water temperature is a warm 74 degrees. It can reach 80 degrees in mid-summer.
So, the best answer to the question “When is the best time to visit Hawaii?” is: there is no bad time to visit paradise!
Submit your Travel Tips to [email protected].
TNT SPECIAL: General admission tickets: $10 per day advance/$15 at the gate. Season badges: $35 advance/$50 at the gate.
Request TNT Special Value Offer – Email Direct Now!®
First Full-Field PGA TOUR Event of the Season. Come to Hawaii for this exciting season launch event, a tournament that brings together top-notch competitors and the stunning tropical splendor of the 50th state. The Sony Open in Hawaii is the largest charity fundraising event in the islands, generating more than $3 million for local nonprofits since its inception.
Contact: Lori Yip
Toll Free: 888-742-7669
Phone: 808-523-7888
Sony Open in Hawaii Website: https://www.sonyopeninhawaii.com
TNT SPECIAL: Save almost 20% on the Gourmet Delight package at Maui’s Premier Bed & Breakfast. Package includes a 2 nights Deluxe room, one dinner for two at award-winning Gerard’s Restaurant, and daily breakfast. Only $180 per person! Additional nights and package with car available. All other packages and rooms on sale at 15% off! Mention Best Places Hawaii. *Some restrictions apply.
Request TNT Special Value Offer – Email Direct Now!®
This nineteen room inn with turn-of-the-century style is just footsteps from the ocean. Antique charm combined with modern amenities of hotel accommodations such as air conditioning, sound-proofing, TV/VCR, tiled bath, pool and jacuzzi allow guests to experience its quiet grace, exceptional food and a warm hospitality generously seasoned with personalized care.
Contact: The Plantation Inn
Toll Free: 1-800-433-6815
Phone: 808-667-9225
The Plantation Inn (Lahaina) – Maui on Sale! Website: https://www.theplantationinn.com
Dear Big Kahuna,
When I was in Hawaii I kept hearing and reading about animals or plants that are native, endemic (sounds like a disease), indigenous or alien. What’s the difference?
Bill W.
Seattle, Washington
Aloha Bill!
People who live in Hawaii care a lot about these words because they want to try to keep plant and animal life like it was hundreds of years ago (before the English–or even the Polynesians got here) as much as possible. To show you what humans can do, prior to their arrival on the Hawaiian islands, there were about 140 native (I’ll get to the meaning in a minute) species and subspecies of birds. Half of them are now extinct. Of the species that are left, 30 are endangered and half of those are literally on the brink of extinction.
Okay, so here are the definitions:
Native: Organisms brought to a location without the help of man, such as by wind, wave and or birds. The nene, or Hawaiian goose (Hawaii’s state bird) is an example.
Endemic: Organisms that are native and can be found ONLY in that location. Examples of organisms that are endemic to Hawaii are the spectacled parrotfish, fantail filefish, and Hawaiian Monk Seal.
Indigenous: Organisms that are native but can be found elsewhere. An example of this is the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle.
Alien or Introduced Species: Organisms that were not brought to that location naturally, but by man, such as the Polynesian. The common guava and feral pigs are examples.
The danger of introducing ANY species onto an island is the potential negative ripple effect on other species. For example, the brown tree snake was introduced on Guam some years ago and now Guam has no birds because the snakes ate all the eggs, since no natural predator could stop the snakes. Hawaii has no snakes of any kind on any of its islands and daily inspections of all aircraft, boats, and cargo keep snakes from becoming the species that ate Hawaii.
The next time you visit Hawaii, be nice to the nene, but go ahead and pig out on pig.
Mahalo for writing,
Big Kahuna
Do you have a question for the Big Kahuna?
Just email your questions to the Big Kahuna.
Due to the great number of questions asked, the Big Kahuna is unable to answer all personally. Questions of general interest will be answered in future issues of this newsletter, usually one per issue. In the meantime, we invite you to explore www.bestplaceshawaii.com.
ABOUT THIS MAILING
You subscribed to this mailing via www.bestplaceshawaii.com.
The TNT NewsHawaii® newsletter is free and your privacy is guaranteed.
TNT NewsHawaii® is not meant to replace the specific information you receive from accommodations, activities, and other companies at the time of your initial Vacation Information Request. We hope you find the newsletter to be fun and useful for making future plans for visiting Hawaii.