One of the beauties of visiting Hawaii is being able to live like the locals do. The unique culture of the islands is unlike that of any other place in the world. As a melting pot of literally hundreds of different cultures, the unique language, cuisine, and lifestyle of local residents in Hawaii can be an interesting opportunity for visitors to immerse into a way of life so different and so special. One of the joys of living in a Hawaii vacation rental home is the unparalleled chance to understand and live within the local atmosphere. While visitors in Waikiki hotels are subjected to the touristy side of Hawaii, renting a home in Hawaii provides a much more authentic experience.

A look at different foods can tell a lot about the culture. One of the locals’ favorites is spam musubi. A tradition taken from traditional Japanese cooking, span musubi are created from a ball of rice and piece of luncheon meat, wrapped with nori, or seaweed. While many people from outside of Hawaii may frown upon the prospect of eating canned spam, many local residents will gobble down several spam musubis without flinching. Having a taste of these delectable delights is certainly a must for visitors to Hawaii.

The world famous Honolulu Marathon is the sixth largest of its kind and takes place every year in December.  Winding its way through Honolulu, and past many Oahu condos for sale in eastern Oahu, the course is not only a highly-competitive race but also a scenic view through the sunny part of Oahu.  The course starts near Ala Moana Beach Park and winds through downtown Honolulu before looping through Waikiki, around Diamond Head, and out towards Hawaii Kai on the H1 freeway.  Once in Hawaii Kai, the course takes a U-turn to return to Waikiki at the storied Kapiolani Park finish line.  A number of different tents await finishers at the park, offering massages, food, and entertainment to congratulate those who make it through the course.  The relative difficulty of the course precludes participants from setting record times relative to other marathons worldwide.

Since the race began in 1973, the marathon has steadily grown to become one of the premier races in the world.  In 2008, over 24,000 people participated in the contest. Unique to the Honolulu Marathon is the high number of international contestants that travel to Hawaii for the sole purpose of participating.  Japan, where there are very few marathons, is the largest country represented and in 2008 accounted for almost 62% of the field.  Due to large corporate sponsorship, the winner of the contest is awarded a large sum of money.

The 30-story hotel opened in 1964 and claimed that it was Oahu’s first luxury high-rise hotel with sweeping views of the Honolulu skyline and beautiful Waikiki beaches. The Y-shaped hotel gained its fame in the late 60’s when the popular cop show “Hawaii Five-O” filmed there for an opening sequence. Unfortunately, the Ilikai Hotel was forced to close its doors just after midnight on Thursday, July 9, ousting guests from the hotel after employes were given only 24 hours notice to empty out the hotel. Due to increasing operating losses, the hotel was closed by its new owner, iStar Financial Inc., which obtained the hotel for $51 million after the hotel was foreclosed in May. It is still uncertain what the company plans to do with the hotel now the it is closed.

Unfortunately, the Ilikai Hotel isn’t the only hotel that has suffered financially. Due to the current economic recession and rising fuel prices, Hawaii tourism has suffered greatly, with hotel occupancy rates declining rapidly. However, this gives many hotels reason to offer many great discount rates and vacation packages in order to help attract tourists back to Hawaii. With many recent renovations and developments in Waikiki, tourists will still be able to find paradise but with discounted rates.

また家具、電話、テレビ、キッチン、食器類など生活に必要な環境が整っていますので、チェックイン後すぐに「ハワイで暮らすように」滞在をすることができます。スケジュールが完全に決められたお仕着せのツアーでの滞在とは異なる、「好きな時間に自由に振舞い、暮らすように」自分のペースでゆったりとハワイに滞在してみませんか？

Oahu is fast becoming a favorite holiday destination for families because of the wide options that it offers. From cultural activities to adventurous sports, your visit to Oahu will be unique. From exploring the natural beauty of this tropical island to learning about its history, Oahu gives you a vacation where you have diverse experiences.

                   Built in 1849, the Queen Emma Summer Palace in the Nu’uanu Valley was once the country house of King Kamehameha IV & his queen. Tourists visit this palace today to take a look at their personal artifacts. The North Shore Surf & Cultural Museum guides you to a history of surfing. The Mission Houses Museum including the Frame House, the New England-style saltbox houses take you through a tour of history. You can also see the replica of the Ramage hand press that was used to print the first Hawaiian laws, newspapers, bibles, school texts & other things. Echoing the grandeur of the Hawaiian royalty, the Iolani Palace is the only of its kind existing in the United States. The different exhibitions & art programs at the Honolulu Academy of Arts is amazing. Established in 1967, the Hawaii State Art Museum is one of the few museums sponsored by the state. It houses some of the best collections by the Hawaiian artists. The Hawaii Plantation Village transports you to the historic period of Hawaii when the first sugar plantation transformed the life, culture & economy of Hawaii forever. Hawaii Maritime Centre, Bishop Museum & the Hawaiian Arts & Cultural Center are other places that can guide through the rich history of Hawaii.

                       Several sightseeing tours & cruises such as Duck Tours, Discover Hidden Hawaii Tours, Navatek Sunset Dinner Cruise, Star of Honolulu Hawaiian Cultural Cruise, the Mauka Makai Excursions Inc., Martin & MacArthur Factory Tour & the KoAloha Ukulele Factory Tour are developed to help tourists explore the island. Other activities include the Atlantis Submarine Adventures, a trip to the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Honolulu Zoo & a plethora of other specialty tours to adventure parks & pineapple plantations give you a clear knowledge of this Hawaiian Island.  ]]> http://www.oahu-guide.net/2008/08/31/oahu-the-worlds-hottest-tourist-spot/feed/ 0 http://www.oahu-guide.net/2008/08/31/deep-sea-fishing/ http://www.oahu-guide.net/2008/08/31/deep-sea-fishing/#comments Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:08:37 +0000 admin http://oahu-guide.net/?p=32

DIVING ON OAHU

The island of Oahu offers diverse opportunities for diving. Whether it be shore dives or boat dives, the turquoise waters of the Hawaiian Islands offer some of the best spots for diving. The rich marine life comprising of reef fish, coral beds, starfish, turtles, octopuses, lobsters are a treat to the eyes of any diver. In fact, Oahu is the only island in Hawaii that offer opportunity for wreck diving. Over 650 species of reef fish, 38 types of moray eels, and 9 different species of the anglerfish, apart from the numerous varieties of scorpion fish, shrimps, flat worms, nudibranchs & giant sea turtles will mesmerize everybody into the waters of Oahu.

                   There are some fine diving spots in Oahu. In fact, several dive shops have been strategically set up to cater to the different needs of the divers. The southern side boasts of a number of well-known diving sites, like the Corsair wreck. It was in 1946, the pilot of Corsair who was on a training mission, ran out of fuel & landed the plane on the shores of Hawaii Kai. It is known that rare species of crocodiles, garden eels, horned helmet conch shells, apart from the large pelagic fish like jacks & stingrays. The Mahi shipwreck on the western shore of Oahu is another interesting diving spot. It was here that the U.S. Navy vessel sunk as an artificial reef in 1982. Located just a mile away from the Waianae Boat Harbor, the Mahi wreck dive attracts eagle rays around them. Situated 500 yards off the Mokapu Point, the Moku Manu diving spot attract many divers for its rich aquatic life. It includes eels, turtles, reef fish & lobsters. Shark’s Cove is a fantastic diving spot in the northern shore. A plethora of reef fishes with caves, lava tubes & ledges make Mokapu point an ideal place for scuba training.

                    It is pertinent to remember that there are many training schools, where you can brush your skills. The numerous dive shops are also equipped with trained professionals to help visitors.  ]]> http://www.oahu-guide.net/2008/08/31/deep-sea-fishing/feed/ 0 http://www.oahu-guide.net/2008/08/31/surfing-on-oahu/ http://www.oahu-guide.net/2008/08/31/surfing-on-oahu/#comments Sun, 31 Aug 2008 22:07:24 +0000 admin http://oahu-guide.net/?p=29

Oahu attracts many tourists on account of the fact that the Pacific Ocean surrounding this tropical island serves as an ideal surfing destination. Oahu has brought about many changes into this adventurous water sport by introducing many new styles. The long boards, short boards, paddleboards, wake riding boards, boogie boards, wind surfing, kite surfing, body surfing, surfing spas & various lessons on surfing aim to serve one sole purpose. That is having lots of fun in water. Visitors from all over the world travel to Oahu to nurture their surfing experiences. During the winters, waves rise up to a height of even 40ft along Oahu’s north shore. A courageous few ride those mammoth waves become a part of this natural phenomenon.

                         The focus shifts to the south shore in the summer season. While the shores close to Waikiki & Honolulu have many breaks & is therefore more accessible by the beginners. Waikiki attracts more novice surfers on account of the fact that there are many hostels so that they learn in a group while sharing each other’s experiences. The windward shore of Oahu is more renowned for the opportunities of different types of surfing like kite surfing, wind surfing & wake boarding.

                           In wind surfing, a sail is attached to a surfboard, whereupon the wind is used as the motor & the sail determines the direction to which he or she moves. Wake boarding is another way of enjoying yourselves. It is a mix of water skiing & snow boarding, where the whitecaps formed on the upper surface of the water by the wind. These caps act as water parks. Kite surfing, a fusion of wake boarding & wind surfing, is the latest rage among all surfers.

                           Historically surfing originated in the Hawaiian Islands & it was a symbol of their status & power. The royalty & the elite class used a superior quality board & certain other materials that distinguished them from the common people. This sport was immortalized by Duke Kahanamoku. However, it is pertinent to note that there are certain etiquettes & styles that are to be maintained

THE BEACHES OF OAHU

Oahu is the paradise of beaches. There are as many as 125 beaches on this Hawaiian island. The white sands of Oahu attract tourists & locals for activities like surfing, snorkeling, swimming & relaxation by taking a sunbath or going on a family picnic on the beaches where the warm rays of sun keeps the mercury between 75 & 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

                     The beaches along the southern shore are popular as family beaches & out o them the Ala Moana Beach is the most popular one. During summers, weekends & other holidays, you will find this park bustling with life. Different kinds of activities like sunbathers, surfers, etc. The Waikiki beach is actually a compilation of several small beaches out of which, again, the Kuhio beach is the most popular. The Waikiki beach is a great place for adventures like snorkeling, swimming & sunbathing. The white beaches of the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve are a favorite spot for beginners with its crescent shaped bay. The 1200 ft long, Sandy beach of Oahu is the best one to go snorkeling. The extremely big waves during the summers that break along the shore that drops suddenly about 8-10 ft offer good food for adventure.

                     Some of the fantastic beaches of Oahu are found along the leeward side, which is more popular for the fishing spots. The Makaha beach provides opportunities for some of the most daredevil surfing in the world. You can also go in for snorkeling & swimming. Divided by a small Hawaiian homestead into two parts, the Nanakuli beach attracts many tourists every year. While the Piliokahe section is a great hangout for swimming, snorkeling & diving, Kalanianaole is a calm area & a popular spot for novices. Again, the Yokohama Bay is a great place for picnicking, hiking & other activities.

                      The beaches along the northern shore are great spots for surfing. The Ehukai beach, the Pupukea beach, the Sunset beach & the Waimea Bay are some of the beaches. The eastern shore boasts of some very good beaches like the Kailua, Lanikai, Waimanalo & the Makapuu beach.