I don’t know if you’re aware or not, but regular unleaded gas has reached the $4.00/gallon mark in the Kailua-Kona area and Kahului, Maui!  Not that its a bargain in Honolulu @$3.45/gal. or Hilo @$3.65/gal., but its just a psychological barrier when it hits $4.00.

Of course, even on the mainland, gas prices have pushed pass the $3.00/gallon mark in many places.  With Washington continuing to spend their way out of this economic slowdown and printing money to cover it all, inflation will be a big issue in 2011.

Fortunately, with the exception of the Big Island, you really don’t have far to drive to get around in Hawaii.  While the typical driver on the mainland may drive three-to-five- hundred miles a week, the typical driver in Hawaii may only cover half that.

On the Big Island, things are a little more spread out, so they may average 300 miles or more a week.

At any rate, you should be prepared for these higher prices at the gas pump!

Back in October of last year, I  commented on the United/Continental Airlines merger and how it might affect the number and cost of seats to Hawaii.  Well, I’m happy to observe that there has at least been one positive addition to come from this merger.

United/Continental has just announced that Continental will begin direct service in and out of Hilo (ITO) to Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO).  This brings direct service in and out of Hilo for the first time in 21 years.

Flights to and from LAX will be offered on a daily basis while flights to and from SFO will be offered once a week.  These new flights are scheduled to begin in June of this year.

This should be a welcome service to Hilo residents who will no longer have to drive to Kona (KOA) for direct service to the mainland or connect through Honolulu (HNL).  It could also be good for Hilo by making Hilo a more easily accessible destination for those interested in visiting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is only 30 miles away.

No special introductory rates have been announced, but tickets may be purchased now.  An initial check comes up with a rd-trip, mid-week ticket cost of $676 LAX-ITO.

Oops!  I apologize for my oversight and it may be too late for you to acquire tickets to this highly anticipated event.  This year’s tickets went on sale on December 27th and prices range from $5 to $30 per person, depending on the dates and seat location.

For those unfamiliar, the Merrie Monarch Festival is held in honor of King David Kalakaua, aka the Merrie Monarch.  It was during his reign (1874-1891) as the last King of Hawaii, that he made a concerted effort to revive native Hawaiian song and dance, which had been banned by the missionaries.

This world renown competition draws competitors from several countries annually and is recognized for its contribution to culture and arts.  It includes art exhibits, craft fairs, demonstrations, performances, and a parade that emphasizes the cultures of Hawaii.

The festival itself usually begins on Easter Sunday and this year will run from April 24th through the 30th.  The actual hula competitions are held the last three days of the festival.

One last point, whether or not you intend on attending the demonstrations and exhibits or the actual competition, if you plan on being on the Big Island during that time frame, you’ll want to make sure to reserve your room and car well in advance.  Rental cars in particular are very hard to come by during the festival…even if you’re staying in Kona, on the other side of the island.   Consider yourself warned.

I don’t know if you’ve heard, but its not enough that car rental companies charge you a late fee if you return your car more than an hour later than you say you will, but now it appears, some of them are charging a fee if you return your car earlier than you said you would!

Dollar and Thrifty now charge a penalty if you return your car a day or more earlier than you had scheduled it for.  So, make sure your plans are firm if you intend on renting your car from either of these two companies.

Think that’s bad?  Well, ever since I heard the airlines were going to start charging a fee for blankets and pillows, I have been joking about how they will start charging to use the bathroom next!

Well, its finally happening!  After charging us for baggage, taking away the meals, downgrading snacks, and adding a fee for using their blankets…Ryanair, a European airline, recently announced plans to start charging $1.50 to use the bathroom!

Ryanair recently garnered media attention when passengers revolted by refusing to get off the airplane when fog closed their destination airport and caused them to land at another airport.   For the full story on the passenger revolt:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40233766/

Of course, there’s always a chance that this charge will not spread, as the overhead baggage charge of $45 for using the overhead bin on Spirit Airlines, which has so far not gained support from any other airlines. (Knock-on-wood!)

Anyone care to add your two-cents to this post?

The latest fee resulting from the economic hard times is the Department of Natural Resources’ new $5 per car entry fee at Akaka Falls State Park on the Big Island (higher rates apply to commercial tours and buses).  So, yet another free attraction will now generate some badly needed revenue from visitors to the state.

Hawaii residents, who must show their id, are exempt from this new fee.

Earlier this year, the Pali Lookout had a parking fee added to non-resident visitors on Oahu.  I guess this is just a sign of things to come.  Unfortunately, as with just about all “new” fees, even a return to better economic times are unlikely to see the end to these latest revenue sources.

Anyone care to guess what will be next?  Can you foresee parking meters at the beach parks?  Many municipalities on the mainland already charge parking at popular beach locations.  Then, again, virtually all of the states bordering the east coast also require a saltwater fishing license, in addition to separate freshwater fishing licenses.  And, it wasn’t any more popular there than it would be to start charging such a fee in Hawaii.

Let’s hope it never gets to that point.  Its hard enough to find anything you can do for free in the islands, without having to pay for beach related activities.

the GoSelect Card!   This discount program is brought to you by Smart Destinations, the same people who offer the Oahu GoCard.   Here’s how it works.   First, pick one of two pre-built packages:

1. the Popular Hawaii Three Pack (incl. Germaine’s Luau, Grand Circle Island Tour, and Pearl Harbor/Honolulu City Tour)  with a savings of 32% over walk-up prices; or
2. the Hawaiian Sand and Surf Package (incl. the Makani Catamaran Sail, Hanauma Bay Snorkel, Beach gear rental, and Canoe Ride by Hawaiian Ocean’s) with a savings of 28% over walk up prices.

Then, you can scroll thru more than two dozen other participating attractions and order a la carte.  The more you pick, the greater your savings. On the right side of the page you’ll see a summary of your choices and your overall Pass price and savings compared to paying walk-in price to these same attractions.

You must start off by picking one of the pre-built packages, then you must add at least two additional attractions to it or you can simply take one of the pre-built packages alone.

They still offer the Go Oahu Card, which offers discounts on 38 participating attractions and is good for 1, 2, 3, 5 or 7-days.  You have up to 2-weeks to use your allocated days.  In other words, if you had a 3-day card and planned on being in Honolulu for a week, you could use the card on any three of the days you choose and as often as you want on those three days.

I have previously said, and continue to believe, that the best buy is their 3 or 5-day cards.  The main reason I prefer those is because the 3, 5, and 7-day cards come with a bonus of your choice of one of the following:

• Dolphin Encounter at Sea Life Park (a $100 value)
• HA Breath of Life Dinner Show at the Polynesian Cultural Center (a $70 value)
• Half-Day Sunset Experience at Kualoa Ranch (Visit the sites of Hollywood blockbusters & TV shows filmed in the famed Kaaawa Valley,once the home of Kings and a place reserved for Hawaiian Royalty. This tour was named one of America’s top 10 Movie Site Tours and is Kualoa’s most popular way to see the Ranch. OR, the second included Tour is a visit to an ancient Hawaiian Fishpond & tropical gardens in beautiful Molii) (a $89 value)
• 18-holes of golf, a shared cart w/transportation from Waikiki (a $125 value)
• 1-day car rental from Dollar Rent-a-Car (a $49 value)
• Hawaiian Ocean Surf Lesson of at least an hour (a $35 value)
• Germaine’s Luau (a $72 value).

As you can see, worse case scenario, you are getting an additional $35 discount for getting the 3 or 5-day GoCard.  (Of course, in my case, I would be getting an additional $70-72 because I’d be eating my bonus at either the Polynesian Cultural Center luau or Germaine’s!)

So, why do I not include the 7-day card in my recommendation?  Well, I think that you can easily take advantage of just about every thing you want to do in 5-days and save the $36 difference.  Of course, if you plan on being on Oahu for a couple of weeks, you may want to get the 7-day Oahu GoCard and revisit some of your favorite attractions.

Hawaii, First state to Ban non-biodegradable plastic bags?

In 2009, Kauai was the first county to pass a law banning non-biodegradable plastic bags at the checkout.  The law went into effect on January 11, 2011.

In 2010, Maui County, which covers Maui, Lanai, and Molokai, passed a similar law which went into effect on January 1, 2011.

In January, Hawaii County passed a no non-biodegradable plastic bags bill which goes into effect in January 2014.

Last Wednesday, April 25, 2012, the Honolulu City Council approved a plan that will ban the distribution of both non-recyclable paper and non-biodegradable plastic bags from distribution at store and restaurant checkouts.  All that awaits making Hawaii the first state to ban non-biodegradable plastic bags and non-recyclable paper trash is Mayor Carlisle’s signature, giving Honolulu businesses until July 15, 2015, to make the change.

Let’s hope he signs it and puts Hawaii in a leadership position for the rest of the country to follow.

New Habits Take Time

As with most change we try to incorporate into our daily lives, it will take an effort and a bit of time for consumers to make the adjustment from plastic to paper…or to use re-usable bags.  There are a lot of folks who have purchased re-usable cloth bags, myself included, who just haven’t gotten into the habit of always taking it with them.  It does very little good, sitting at home.

My kids have gotten into the habit of using it selectively.  They have been using Target’s re-usable bags for a couple of years now simply because Target gives shoppers 5 cents off for each bag used.  A simple little thing, but its enough to at least make my kids keep the Target bags in their car!

I will admit, I re-use those non-biodegradable plastic bags frequently, but do get annoyed when I see how many end up as litter.  Not only is it an eye-sore, but they also hurt wildlife, especially sea-life.

I no longer buy 6-packs, but for years, I got in the habit to cut up those plastic retainers so that sea-birds and turtles would not get caught in them.  It took an extra 15-seconds or so to dispose of it with this added step versus just pitching it into the trash.  There are a lot of little things we can do to help the environment and just as importantly, reduce litter.

Don’t stop there!

Do you have a favorite beach? hiking trail? picnic area? waterfall?  Have you ever taken a moment to pick up and properly dispose of someone else’s trash that was left behind?  Why not?  I have picked up bags (yep, those non-biodegradable plastic bags) full of trash that thoughtless fishermen have left behind at my favorite fishing spots and taken them to the nearest trash can or landfill site.

Yes, it took a few minutes to do.  But, it left the place looking a lot better than it did when I got there.  Obviously, what would be better is if people didn’t leave their trash behind in the first place!   I have no control over that.  What I do have control over is picking up and properly disposing of at least a little bit each time I go!  So do you.

It seems that there have been more shark sightings recently than is normal.   On Sunday, April 29, a 10-12 foot Tiger-shark sighting  a couple hundred yards off shore caused the closing of Ala Moana Beach until Monday morning.  Yes, Ala Moana!  Keep in mind, “a couple of hundred yards” would put the shark “outside” of the reef, so it posed more of a risk for surfers than typical beach goers using Ala Moana Beach.

A little over a week ago, a 10-12 foot Tiger-shark was spotted off Kaimana Beach, near that Natatorium at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki.  And, last Wednesday, there was an unconfirmed report of a shark sighting off Waikiki Beach.

Two weeks ago, a 8-9 foot Tiger-shark was seen swimming near Kalama Beach, near Kailua, on the windward side of the island.

This would be a good time to review some of the…

Common-Sense Tips to Avoiding Shark Attacks.

• Avoid swimming/surfing at dawn and dusk…low light conditions often precede shark attacks.
• Avoid swimming/surfing alone.
• Don’t go swimming with bleeding wounds or open cuts, for obvious reasons.
• Don’t wear shiny jewelry, as it attracts sharks attention.
• Avoid murky water, many shark attacks are investigatory bites from sharks trying to identify their potential quarry.
• Avoid  areas where streams/rivers enter the ocean, especially after heavy rains. (Often murky water conditions.)

While the odds of a shark attack remain low, following these tips can help you lower the odds even more.

Since January, there have been several shark sightings and beach closures around the state.

• January 12:  A 15-foot Great-White shark spotted off of Yokohama Bay on Oahu’s northshore
• January 25: Life guards close the beach after spotting an 11-foot Tiger shark at Kamaole Beach Park III, on Maui.
• February 14: Life guards close Makena Beach after spotting a 10-12 foot shark just 30-45′ from shore.
• April 3: Officials close Ke’e and Haena Beaches, Kauai, after a shark was spotted in the area.
• April 4: Officials close a 2-mile stretch of beach on Oahu’s north shore after a surfer suffered a shark bite to his foot, at a popular area known as “Leftovers”, which is also one of the “shark-iest” beaches in the US.  (Jupiter, FL was #1, Leftovers was #2)

So, while the number of shark sightings seem to be frequent, there really is no cause for alarm.  Part of what causes this increase in shark sightings is the fact that we have more people looking for them.  At any rate, heed the precautions listed above and enjoy a day at the beach!

Punaluu

In an earlier post, I talked about my favorite place on the Big Island, South Point.  In it, I mentioned Papakolea, the green-sand beach.  I thought I should probably make you aware of a much more  accessible black-sand beach.  (If you remember, reaching Papakolea required a 2.5 mile hike each way or a 4-wheel drive vehicle to get there.)

Punaluu Beach State Park is located about 20 miles from South Point, toward Hilo.   You simply take a short drive off of Mamalahoa Highway, between the towns of Naalehu and Pahala, and you can just about drive onto the beach.  Do not attempt to do so, as this is also a favorite resting spot of the Hawaiian green sea turtle, a protected species.

Punaluu is a great spot to take a break from the long drive between Hilo and Kailua-Kona.  There is a protected inlet located behind the picnic pavilions that usually provides a calm, shallow, sandy bottomed area that’s just great for the little ones.  (My granddaughter was a year old when we took her there and she was as happy as can be walking around this safe haven.)

There are other black sand beaches on the Big Island, specifically on the eastern shores, south of Hilo.  This is a very lightly visited area of the Big Island, simply because it requires veering off of Mamalahoa Highway on the around-the-island drive that many undertake to make in a day…a big mistake.  (See Drive Around the Big Island posts #2 of 3.)

You take Highway 130 South at Kea’au, go down to the town of Pahoa and can take Highway 130 to the beach or take one of the many side roads that all end up at the water’s edge.  Be sure to pick up a map.

Punaluu remains my favorite black sand beach, although except for the kiddie area, its really not the best swimming beach.  But, it is a great spot to observe the many sea turtles that frequent the area, except for mating season when they head to the islands of the French Frigate Shoals, part of the Hawaiian Island Archipelago, where 90% of the green sea turtles lay their eggs.

If you are a regular follower of my blog, you know that as a general rule, Hawaii resorts reviews are not my thing.   However, I must admit, I just came across an article in WestsideToday.com, a California e-magazine, that I thought I would refer people to who might be interested in some of the resorts on Maui.

Maui Resorts Review

In this resorts review, the author, Pearson Brown, stayed at and gives his reactions to:

• Fairmont Kea Lani, in south Maui
• Makena Beach and Golf Resort (formerly the Maui Prince), also in south Maui
• Napili Kai Beach Resort, in west Maui

Although more noted for its golf and tennis packages, Mr. Brown manages to not focus his review of the Makena Beach and Golf Resort on these athletic endeavors, but rather on those amenities that everyone in the family could enjoy.  He traveled with a close friend and his pre-school aged son, so does take the time to mention some kid-focused activities available at these resorts, as well.

Beyond the resorts review…

More than just a resorts review, this article also reviews a handful of attractions that anyone who visits Maui might enjoy visiting as well.  Links to previous blog posts here have been given for further information, and links are also provided for those I haven’t.

Mixed in with the resorts review are some observations about the Maui Theatre’s Ulalena  and the Grand Luau at Honua’ula (www.honuaula-luau.com) at the Grand Wailea resort.  He makes stops at Surfing Goat Dairy (www.surfinggoatdairy.com), Ali’i Kula Lavender Gardens, and the Maui Ocean Center, the Hawaiian Aquarium, (www.mauioceancenter.com), making this more than your typical resorts review, and reminding you that even in Hawaii, its more than just the beaches.

So, if your travel plans involve finding a nice resort on Maui, I think you will find the resorts review provided in  “A Near Escape To Maui” (WestsideToday.com) of  interest.  But, even if you don’t plan on staying at a resort, you may still find the author’s take on some of the activities worth your read.