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?

As of today, United Airlines and Continental Airlines are ONE!  It will likely take till the end of next year before all components of their operation are unified, but their airplanes should start to show off their new “United/Continental Globe” look, soon.

Since United and Continental represent a significant percentage of passenger seats from the mainland to Hawaii, this merger will result in higher fares we will all have to pay more to fly back and forth.  As if Hawaii’s tourist-reliant economy is not already suffering from the on-going recession (I don’t really care that the government says that we are “officially” NOT in a recession, nor do I think that most hotel/restaurant/service unemployed workers in Hawaii care), higher airfares will simply add to these woes.  To be fair, I should also include restaurant/hotel management/owners to that list.

The advantage to United/Continental are obvious.  Consolidation of operational services will result in savings.  The elimination of redundant flights will result in savings.  The removal of a competitor in a market will permit higher fares.

Notice, none of these merger benefits result in better service or lower fares as a result of these improved efficiencies.  In most businesses, operational savings often result in lower prices to the consumer, but the airlines operate under a completely different set of rules.

The existence of, and continued growth of, Southwest Airlines shows that the flying public is quickly reaching their limit of higher fares and add-on fees.  Southwest Airlines’ latest advertising campaign highlighting their “Bags Fly Free” policy makes a great point that by the time you ticket a family of four for a vacation, you end up paying for a 5th ticket by the time you add in all the add on fees the airlines seem intent on charging us.

AOL published an article regarding both these issues today:

http://news.travel.aol.com/2010/08/13/airline-fees-on-the-rise-again/

The one change I would love to see is making the costs of tickets transparent and easily comparable.  Right now, when you go to a ticketing website and find a fare, what you see is not often what you end up with!   I know I have gotten excited about finding a low fare, only to have that excitement smothered by the time I see the final price after they have added on all the fees and airport security and landing fees, etc.

If they know these fees apply to a particular routing and there is no option for NOT paying them to fly, then isn’t that really part of the cost of the ticket?  Does it really matter, other than being a technically different part of the cost?  When I click to select a flight based on the fare offered, I don’t want to have to go through another step, let alone 2 or 3, in order to see what the final cost of that ticket will actually be.

I would like to see travel websites and airline websites show the actual ticket cost up front, including all fees and charges.  I would also like them to post all the “optional” add-on fees in an easy to read, even easier to find, chart…baggage charges, seat selection charges, blanket/pillow use fees, etc., similar to the one that the AOL article uses.

What do you think?

World Class or Street Fare and Everything In-Between

It wasn’t that long ago that Hawaii was considered a waste land when it came to “good eats”, but that has changed and even the fussiest of connoisseurs will find dishes that will satisfy their pallets.  As for me, I personally am drawn to the more everyday dishes that can be found throughout the islands.

Some local favorites are well-known, such as King’s Hawaiian Bread which can be found in most grocery stores throughout the US.  Most tourists have heard of kahlua pig and the greater majority eventually get to try some at one of the many commercial luau’s.  And, of course, there’s the always popular, “poi”, which has been most aptly described as being a “paste-like dish”,  in appearance, consistency, and taste.  Even many of the locals add sugar when they eat it.

The beauty of Hawaii is the variety of food that are so readily available.  Food Courts have become standard fare at every major mall across the country.  Unfortunately, so have the vendors…the usual fast food chains, Chinese take-out, and occasionally a local or regional surprise or two.  My favorite food court doesn’t quite fit this standard mold and sits in a non-plus setting of the Ala Moana Shopping Center.  It doesn’t matter what you or those you are with are in the mood for, everyone will find something that will appeal to them.

Whether I’m in the mood for Chinese, Hawaiian, Japanese, a slice of pizza or a hotdog…they offer it.  And, for the most part, very tasty fare at that.   Its popularity with the locals attest to that.  It’s hard to beat the combination of variety and prices offered and I never miss an opportunity to eat there.

Odds are that you will have ample opportunities to try “Spam musubi” and “Loco-Moco”, both iconic foods unique to Hawaii.  It should be noted that, contrary to what many think, “Spam” is not made in Hawaii, but rather in Minnesota.  However, Hawaii leads the world in per capita consumption of this somewhat mysterious meat.  A love affair that can be traced back to the rations of World War II.   (I will say that if you compare the ingredients with the more popular hot dog, you might re-think your lowly opinion of Spam.)  You can even attend the annual Spam Jam, held in Waikiki around the end of April each year.

Loco-Moco is a dish consisting of rice topped traditionally with a hamburger patty, fried egg, and brown gravy.  Currently, there are a myriad of iterations of this favorite dish, cholesterol not withstanding.  Some places give you options as to what type of meat you’d prefer, some add macaroni salad as a side, but the rice, egg, and gravy are pretty much mainstays to the dish.  In other words, a lot of food for the money and a fitting meal for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

I also have a soft spot for Chinatown.  Whether I’m just wanting some manapua, char siu, roast duck, almond cookies, or something more substantial, the quality of food available there is pretty consistent.  It has to be, after all that’s where many of the recent arrivals and locals get their food daily.  Having said that, it should be noted that everyone has their favorite place to go when they want some manapua or char siu, which often times is not in the confines of Chinatown.

Legends restaurant is hard to beat for their dim sum…and I admit to having a passion for these little plates of delicacies.   The novelty and the chance to try something different by simply pointing out a tasty looking dish from a passing cart is hard to beat.  If you go, go with an adventurous mind and revel in new tastes and flavors that come with not knowing exactly what it is you’re pointing at!

The only danger is forgetting that each finger-point adds to the bill that can sometimes surprise you at checkout time.  Of course, you can get yourself somewhat prepared by simply counting the dishes piled on the table in front of you as your eyes add to your bill.

What’s your favorite eating establishment?  Is there a must-have dish for you?

What do you think about the continuing controversy of this Waikiki landmark? It appears that the International Marketplace’s days are numbered, as the Queen Emma Foundation (owner’s of the property) continue to review proposals from multiple land developers.

International Market Place, A Waikiki Icon

Do you think Waikiki really needs another “upscale” shopping mall?  Admittedly, the International Marketplace has grown long in the tooth and some of the kiosks and buildings are showing their age.  Maybe I’m just feeling too nostalgic these days, after years of watching so many of my old haunts disappear.

Map of the International Marketplace

Best guess, it will be well into 2011 before anything concrete can be anticipated.  So, at least for now, the International Marketplace will continue on, business as usual.  I, for one, will miss watching my daughters bargain-hunt for that perfect dress to take home.

Target date for some sort of decision has been set as the end of summer by the foundation.

What are your feelings?

Update: The days are numbered for this Waikiki landmark, as the International Marketplace will likely be razed before the end of 2013.  In its place, an upscale mall which will forever change the landscape as one of the oldest parts of this vacation destination disappears.

Update: Well, the wait is over and the International Marketplace is a thing of the past…at least  the original International Marketplace.  Removal of the old Marketplace began the first of 2014 and construction of the upscale mall began a few months later.  Check out a more recent post at http://www.myhawaiifoodfun.com/oahu/aloha-oi-international-marketplace/.

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.

Prices were accurate as of  May 17, 2011.

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!

First planting of Cacao beans in 1850

Chocolate from Hawaii began with the introduction of cacao beans to Hawaii happened in 1850, when German physician William Hillebrand brought the first plant to Foster Botanical Garden in Honolulu.   The first commercial crop of cacao beans was planted in Hilo in the early 1890’s.  World War I brought a shortage of chocolate and with higher prices, efforts were undertaken to expand the growing efforts.  The end of World War I, also brought back normal chocolate supplies and with it, declining prices for chocolate, and the end of chocolate from Hawaii.

No further attempt was made to commercially grow this crop until 1986, when once again, interest in growing cacao in Hawaii resurfaced.  By 1992, the first crop was planted at Hodge Farm in Keauhou.  In 1997, Hodge Farm bought by Bob and Pam Cooper and a processing plant was added to the orchard and Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory was born.

The University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources is deeply involved in the researching of identifying the ideal cacao plants that will do well in Hawaii.  So far, they have identified 11 varieties of cacao trees that possess traits favorable for growing in Hawaii.  The University of Hawaii rarely receives enough credit for the role it plays in helping to assess and cultivate produce that will do well for Hawaiian growers.

They have been instrumental in developing pineapples that are both appealing and hardy enough to thrive and survive shipping.  The same can be said of the papaya’s that are commonly found in Hawaii’s grocers and farmers’ markets.  What people don’t always fully appreciate is that the end product found in their grocer’s produce section may not be the best available, but rather a compromise between taste, color, and hardiness!

Chocolate from Hawaii Still In Its Infancy

Still in its infancy, there are currently just a handful of growers with a total of 50-to-100 acres growing the cacao trees.  A familiar name holds the lead role with 13,000 plants on 20 acres in Waialua, Oahu, is Dole Company.  Based on the University of Hawaii’s reports, the Agricultural Department estimates that there is potential of between 315 and 3000 acres that could be put into cacao production.

The problem facing Hawaii cacao farmers is the same that faced Hawaii coffee growers…low-cost competition from overseas.  The chocolate farmers may have the same solution as the coffee growers and that is to position themselves as a premium product which demands a premium price.  And, while they are a long way from establishing that market position, they are making strides towards it.

Chocolate from Hawaii…A Premium Product

Another step that would increase the money they can receive for their efforts is processing the cacao beans into “chocolate from Hawaii”.  Dried cacao seeds sell in the neighborhood of $2.47/lb.  Processed chocolate, on the other hand, retails for upwards of $40/lb.  Kaua’i farmer Koa Kahili began planting cacao seven years ago and harvesting his trees four years ago. Kahili’s Garden Island Chocolate sells for $8 to $9 per 2-ounce bar, that’s $64-72/lb!   “They sell out faster than I can make them,” he said.

The only major chocolate processing factory in Hawaii is the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory.  Since purchasing Hodge Farm , the Cooper’s have invested $1 million in the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory and have the capability to process up to 100,000 pounds of seeds annually.

A unique feature of chocolate from Hawaii is that just about every other chocolate in the world is made up of a blending of cacao from multiple regions.  Chocolate from Hawaii is made of 100% Hawaii grown cacao beans!

And, while the state Agricultural Department believes that opening another processing factory in Honolulu would help to foster the growth of this industry, Dole Company does not believe it would be economically feasible unless there is at least 300 acres of cacao.  This is not the first time that an attempt has been made to foster chocolate from Hawaii.

One earlier effort was made by former Chicago advertising executive Jim Walsh, who obtained backing from Hershey Chocolate Co. and moved to Hawaii in 1986 with a goal to establish the first commercial cacao farm in America.  But after years of work with varieties of cacao and initial success producing chocolate from Hawaii in 1994, crop losses led Walsh’s Hawaiian Vintage Chocolate Co. to substitute foreign-grown cocoa beans for Hawaii-grown beans in the late 1990s, and passed off the product as being chocolate from Hawaii.

A state Agriculture Department investigation led to the disclosure, which somewhat tarnished the image of chocolate from Hawaii, similar to what Kona coffee had to contend with.  Initial crop failures are a common occurrence in the history of Hawaii, from pineapple, to sugar cane, to tobacco, and coffee, so it should be no surprise that cacao faces the same initial setbacks.

Ultimately, finding suitable land to grow the cacao trees and willing people to invest the effort to grow them will determine the success or failure of the chocolate from Hawaii industry to thrive.  Whether it remains a cottage industry or becomes a major crop in Hawaii remains to be seen.  For the present, Hawaii will have to settle for being the only state in the United States to grow cacao beans commercially.  At any rate, chocolate from Hawaii is probably here to stay.

Hilo…lots of rain also means waterfalls

As promised in an earlier post, this post will discuss the Big Island town of Hilo, which retains the look and feel of downtown from 100 years ago, including many of the original buildings.

Hilo is known for being rainy all the time…it does get over 70″ of rain annually, which makes it the wettest city in the US.  What all this rain also brings is the lushness and greenery that people come to expect of a tropical paradise and in stark contrast to the much drier Kona side of the island, which is where all the resorts are.

Another benefit from all that rain are the waterfalls located on this side of the island.  Rainbow Falls is located about 5 minutes outside of downtown Hilo, along the Wailuku River.   Its easy to get to and the viewing area is a short 100 yards from the parking lot.

Rainbow Falls, 5 minutes away from downtown Hilo

If you head back to town and get on Bayfront Highway (aka Hwy 19), head north, and in about 10 miles, you will come to the turn off to 420′ Akaka Falls.

420′ Akaka Falls, Big Island

Back in Hilo, you may want to stop at Waialoa River State Park and see the 3rd statue of King Kamehameha the Great.  This statue was originally commissioned by the Princeville Corporation for placement at the Princeville Resort on Kauai.  Due to Kauai resident resistance, they ultimately gifted the statue to Hilo, which was his political center.

It seems that the residents of Kauai were upset because Kauai was the only island that was not conquered by King Kamehameha.   The king of Kauai, King Kaumualii, wanting to avoid all that comes from fighting what he could see would be a losing cause, came to terms with King Kamehameha and avoided all the unnecessary bloodshed.

(The most renown statue of King Kamehameha stands in Honolulu, across from Iolani Palace and the remaining statue stands in the town of Kapaa in the Kohala District of the Big Island.)

Any visitor to Hilo cannot help but notice the large park area located just south of the downtown area, fronting Hilo Bay.  At first, this seems like a waste of valuable land.  What visitors must understand is the reason this green area exists is because on April Fool’s day, 1946, a large tsunami hit Hilo and killed 146 people and destroyed 1300 homes!

And, if that wasn’t bad enough, 14 years later on May 19, 1960, another tsunami struck Hilo at 1:04 a.m. killing an additional 61 people.  It was agreed that they would not rebuild in that area and the green area was turned into a park dedicated to those who lost their lives.   There is an old style, city square type clock which stands in the park, forever stuck at 1:04 in memorial to them.

Cafe 100, located on Kilauea Ave, is considered to be the home of the popular “loco-moco”.  The original dish consisted of a bowl of rice, topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg, and a generous heaping of brown gravy…a nutritionist’s nightmare meal.  The current menu offers a lot of variations, replacing the hamburger patty with Portuguese sausage, Spam, etc.

Speaking of food, stop at the Big Island Candies factory.  Along with a line of mouth-watering chocolate-dipped scotch-bread cookies and brownies, they also offer some uniquely Hawaiian snacks, found nowhere else.  Care to try some chocolate-covered ika (dried squid)?  (I have to admit, the chocolate-covered ika was not one of my personal favorites.)

Retailer Hilo Hattie had its humble beginnings here in Hilo.  Today, they have outlets in Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, and Kailua-Kona, but there flagship store in Hilo has closed.  It may come as a surprise to you, but they also have stores in Orange County, California; Tempe, Arizona; Miami, Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada and Orlando, Florida!  The store got its name from an entertainer who went by that moniker and who sold the marketing rights to this fledgling attire manufacturer before passing away.  Other than that, she never had any financial ties to the store itself.

The Merrie Monarch Festival

Hilo is host to the annual Merrie Monarch (Hula) Festival, held in late April.  This competition sells out quickly every year, so if you’re planning a trip to the Big Island around that time of the year, make your reservations early.  And, even if you don’t plan on attending, but will be on the Big Island at that time, you should know that rooms and car rentals are hard to come by.  Tickets go on sale the day after Christmas.

Add the fact that the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park lies just 30 minutes away versus the almost 2-hour drive from Kailua-Kona, and you can start to appreciate that maybe Hilo deserves consideration as a destination point, rather than just another pit-stop on your around-the-island run.