Hawaiian Marketplace

Everyone have their own honeymoon dream destinations. But if you ask each one of them to list their top three choices, chances are, a Hawaii honeymoon will be on that list. Always. That’s because the things that Hawaii can offer is so diverse and exciting and oftentimes breathtaking that they are best experienced with someone, preferably your special someone who can make the most boring day something to write about in your memory book. But picture this: all the great, great things Hawaii can offer plus your better half – how can you go wrong?! So, here are some of the things we recommend you do for your honeymoon in the islands:

Hold hands and stroll along the beach

Cliché, perhaps, but there is no way you can go to Hawaii for your honeymoon and not do this. There is a long list of the world’s best beaches that are in Hawaii and regardless which island or islands you are going to, there is always to be that one perfect beach for you and your spouse. So go for a walk, take a dip in the water, enjoy some cocktails – do all of these while holding hands and the bond you will have and the new memories you will make will last you a lifetime.

Some of the favourites are Hanauma Bay in Oahu, Hapuna Beach State Park in Big Island, Hulopoe Beach in Lanai; and Lanikai Beach, Oahu.

Swim under a waterfall

Aside from the beaches, Hawaii is also home to a number of the world’s best waterfalls. Check out the Heleleikeoha Falls, also known as Blue Angel Fall or Blue Pool, in the eastern side of Maui. Take a deep in the Blue Pool where you have the water falling on you on one side and the ocean on the other. The view is unarguably one of the most amazing sights you will ever see in your life.

Watch the Sunset

Hawaii is also a favorite setting for sunset weddings – and, as the case may be, for post-wedding celebrations such as your honeymoon. With their virtually pollution-free skies, exotic forests, beautiful white sand beaches and endless clear blue waters, there is no other place that can give a more perfect sunset than Hawaii. Make sure you drive towards the western side of the islands way before the sun starts to set to give yourselves time to look for a perfect spot where you both can enjoy the magic as the sky changes its color from blue to deep orange to red just before dark. Hanalei Beach is a favourite setting for this romantic activity.

Rent a boat to Molokini

Molokini is a partially sunken volcanic crater just off the coast of Maui. It is a beautiful sanctuary for marine life. It is one of the world’s top ten diving spots. Its semi-circle shape protects the waves and ocean currents from reaching this are, hence has become a sanctuary for marine life. The reef area inside the crescent shape has clear views of up to 150 feet, housing some 250 special of bright tropical fish.

Hike and enjoy breathtaking views from above

There are many hiking trails in Hawaii. One that you should not miss with your loved one is a hike to the Diamond Head. It is a fairly easy hike of less than 3 kilometers. You would not mind the sun shining down on you an the stairs you have to climb within that one and a half hour hike especially when you reach the peak and see the impressive view of the entire west side of the island from Waikiki to Koki Head, Honolulu and the ocean.

Hawaii is a beautiful archipelago set in the middle of the Pacific, the world’s largest ocean. People wanting to visit these islands, therefore, have two options when they want to travel to Hawaii. The wealthier among us have the option of taking an ocean liner on a cruise to Hawaii. But those of us on lower budgets – or those who want to spend all their vacation in Hawaii itself rather than on the high seas – prefer to travel by air and catch one of many flights into Hawaii.

Flights into Hawaii from overseas touch down at one of Hawaii’s three international airports. The most important of these is Honolulu International Airport on Oahu, which shares facilities with the nearby Hickam Air Force Base. The second international airport that flights into Hawaii may touch down in is Hilo International Airport on the Big Island, and the third is Kona International Airport in Keahole, which is also located on the Big Island.

Hawaii has other airports that act as terminals for domestic (inter-island) flights. Travelers to Hawaii wishing to visit or stay on one of the other islands in Hawaii will probably catch a flight to one of the international airports, then catch an island-hopping flight to one of the domestic terminals.

The terminals for domestic inter-island flights in Hawaii are located in Maui (Kahului Airport), Kauai (Lihue Airport), Lanai (Lanai Airport) and Molokai (Molokai Airport). Several smaller airports within Hawaii are also able to act as terminals for flights using smaller, propeller-driven aircraft. These “commuter aircraft” flights take off and land at Lanai Airport on Lanai; Hana Airport and Kapalua Airport on Maui; Waimea-Kohala Airport on the Big Island of Hawaii; and Molokai Airport and Kalaupapa Airport on Molokai. Tourists have plenty of flights to choose from for travelling between islands in Hawaii!

Hawaii has its own domestic airlines. One is Hawaiian Airlines, which makes flights within Hawaii as well as international flights to and from many different destinations, including eight cities in the continental USA; Sydney, Australia; Pago Pago, Samoa and Papeete, Tahiti. The other Hawaiian carrier offering flights within Hawaii and to the mainland USA is Aloha Airlines.

Airline companies/carriers offering flights to Hawaii from the mainland USA include American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, ATA Airlines, Northwest Airlines and United Airlines. Flights to Hawaii are shorter than you think: a flight from Los Angeles to Hawaii takes 5.75 hours, and flights from Atlanta to Hawaii take 8 hours. Visitors to Hawaii who are citizens of the USA do not need a passport to board their flights to Hawaii, as Hawaii is, of course, part of the USA.

A number of international carriers also make flights into Hawaii, including Japan Airlines, Air Canada, Continental Airlines, Pacific (Virgin) Blue and Qantas.

All the usual boarding and in-flight safety procedures will need to be taken when traveling to Hawaii. Allow time for pre-boarding security checks when making your travel plans. If you have to wait for your flight to or within Hawaii, relax and remember the vacation in paradise that is to come.

Many people, mainland Americans and foreign tourists alike, travel to Hawaii to partake in a tropical island paradise. When you think of Hawaii, you should think of Hawaiian beaches, Hawaiian flowers, Hawaiian dining, and… Hawaiian jewelry! Although Hawaiian jewelry isn’t as synonymous with a Hawaiian experience as other aspects of Hawaiian life, the unique Hawaiian culture is responsible for many distinctive and beautiful pieces of jewelry.

If you’re more of a culturist and prefer to pass by the “tourist trap” kind of jewelry, you may be interested to know that these pieces of Hawaiian jewelry are not made just to sell souvenirs to passing-by tourists. Hawaii has a long history of working with gold and designing jewelry to reflect the beautiful flora life for which Hawaii is so well known.

Traders and settlers from Europe and America taught the native Hawaiians how to work with gold and craft jewelry, and the Hawaiians have been incorporating emblems of their culture, such as the plumeria flower, into gold Hawaiian jewelry ever since.

Was your wife or sweetheart impressed with the beautiful Hawaiian flora, such as the indigenous bird of paradise flower or the striking gold orchid? There are Hawaiian jewelry makers who set out to capture the Hawaiian flora with earrings, necklaces, rings, watches, anklets, and bracelets made in gold and silver and inlaid with beautiful jewels to capture the vibrant colors of Hawaiian flowers.

Or perhaps you want a piece of Hawaiian jewelry for each memory of your stay in the Hawaiian Islands. Grab a floral Hawaiian jewelry piece to remember the flowers, a sea life Hawaiian jewelry piece with a charm of a dolphin or a sea turtle to remember the beach, and a palm tree Hawaiian jewelry piece to remember relaxing under the coconut trees.

If you want a truly all-encompassing piece of Hawaiian jewelry to capture your Hawaiian memories, buy a Black Tahitian Pearl necklace, ring, or pair of earrings and think of the Hawaiian ocean every time you look upon the shiny, black pearl.

If you’re planning on holding a wedding or a honeymoon in Hawaii, your bride- or groom-to-be would certainly love a Hawaiian wedding ring. The bands of these pieces of Hawaiian jewelry are typically engraved with Hawaiian cultural symbols and designs and topped with the gem of your choice. For the full Hawaiian jewelry experience, select the Black Tahiti pearl to represent your new journey in life which began under the sunny skies of Hawaii.

From Hawaiian-made jewelry that seem to appeal directly to the tourist by capturing an “essence” of Hawaiian life, such as a sandal-charm necklace that represents a casual, laid back Hawaiian lifestyle, to Hawaiian jewelry pieces with designs unique to Hawaiian customs and traditions, there’s bound to be a piece or two of Hawaiian jewelry that appeals to the jewelry-lover in your life.

If you’re planning to spend some time in Hawaii, you could just stay in a beach side hotel and wander down to the beach or to the shops throughout your entire stay. But if you want to get a taste of what Hawaii is really like, you need to get out of the just one place and take a good look around. You could go by bicycle (puff, puff – lots of mountainous country in Hawaii) but for ease and simplicity, it’s best to see Hawaii by rental car.

The idea of hiring a rental car in Hawaii might seem a little daunting at first. But visitors from the USA and Canada need to remember that Hawaii only looks like a foreign country. Hawaii is, as every grade school child knows, the fiftieth state of the USA, so the road rules are the same (visitors from Britain, Australia and New Zealand, take note: they drive their cars, rental and otherwise, on the right hand side of the road here in Hawaii).

As usual, you should use common sense when driving a rental car in Hawaii. You should make sure that all passengers in your rental car are using seatbelts, you need to keep to the road rules and show the common driving courtesies like letting others into busy traffic streams. You may be visiting Hawaii on holiday, but life goes on regardless, so if you’re driving your rental car in Hawaii during term time, remember to stop for school buses as usual.

Hawaii has a mild climate, but as always, you should drive your rental car according to the conditions. If you are driving a rental car in Hawaii during December to March, be aware that this is the rainy season, and the northeastern side of the islands can receive quite heavy rainfall. Hilo, on the northeastern side of the Big Island, is known as the rainiest city in the USA. Drive your rental car with care during Hawaii’s rainy season, and make adjustments to your speed and braking.

Where should you go on a driving tour of Hawaii? Well, ultimately, the choice is yours. Car rental is available on all the main islands of Hawaii (Big Island, Kauai, Maui, Moloka’i and Oahu).

Each island in the beautiful Hawaiian archipelago has its own attractions and advantages, but a visit to Big Island offers a wide range of driving experiences, not least of which is the volcanic national park where tourists and scientists alike are astounded by the lava flows on Mauna Loa. In most places that you drive your rental car throughout Hawaii’s Big Island, you will see landforms fashioned by the awesome power of volcanic activity.

Hawaii is also home to many endangered species. If you are visiting Hawaii to enjoy or study the rare species indigenous to these islands, you may wish to have this in mind when looking at your car rental options. One car rental company on Maui offers a range of vehicles powered only by biofuels.

Other car rental companies in Hawaii target other markets. For the ultimate experience in high living, how about seeing the amazing sights of Hawaii in a luxury rental car? Specialist car rental companies offer packages that can make your holiday or honeymoon in Hawaii that little bit extra special.

And as car rental companies throughout all Hawaii cater to all tastes and all budgets, there are plenty of lower-budget car rental companies about who offer a range of safe, sound vehicles that offer clients a pleasant driving experience in astounding surroundings.

You may have been attracted by the warm weather, the soothing beaches, or the beautiful flowers, but if you’re planning a trip to Hawaii, chances are you can’t wait to sample the food in Hawaiian restaurants!

Hawaii, as a true epitome of the cultural melting pot, has as many kinds of dining options as there is food in the world: American, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese, Mexican, and French cuisine are just the starting points. You can’t really say you’ve eaten food in Hawaii, though, until you try some more native Hawaiian cuisine!

Due to the fact that Hawaii is an island, seafood is a popular component of food served in Hawaiian dishes. Crab, sushi, fish, and shrimp are just a few of the seafood ingredients popularly served in the food in Hawaii. Have you ever tried fish tacos? Or seared wasabi ahi? When you go to dine on true cultural food in Hawaii, don’t forget to try some seafood!

Anyone who takes a look at the beautiful, bright Hawaiian landscape and sees the palm trees, pineapple trees, and papaya trees that help give Hawaii its vibrant colors should know that fruits and coconuts are another frequent component of food in Hawaii. Besides pineapples and papayas, bananas, mangos, grapes, oranges, and limes are among the most popular fruits made into dishes in Hawaii.

A perfect example of authentic food native to Hawaii is the food served at luaus. Fruit, seafood, and coconuts are resplendent, as well as chicken dishes like Chicken Adobo, Chicken Luau, and Huli-Huli Chicken; pork dishes like Kalua Pig; and beef dishes like Char Siu. No food experience in Hawaii is complete without poi, a purple smashed taro (a kind of potato) dish similar to the consistency of stew or porridge.

Are you having a Hawaiian-themed party, wedding, or barbeque? Or maybe you’re just nostalgic for the time you spent and the food you ate in Hawaii? Want to bring some Hawaiian food to your table? Check out some of the food from Hawaii that’s available for mail order at Hawaii.com.

Fresh from Hawaii, poi; pineapples; papayas; macadamia nuts, either on their own are dipped in caramel as the popular Hawaiian treat carmacs; organic Hawaiian honey; “divine” truffles; shortbread cookies; sauces and syrups made from food grown in Hawaii; chocolates; and gift baskets featuring many of these and more are just some of the food made in Hawaii that can arrive at your door within days!

If you’ve been to Hawaii and you loved the food and want to order some for your next party or you’re planning a Hawaiian vacation and can’t wait to try the dining available, rest assured that you’ll never be disappointed with food in Hawaii!