Please Come To My Islands
 

I know times are tough for many of good folks. However, do try hard to visit Hawaii soon.

We depend on tourist dollars, but we give you so much for your hard earned greenbacks (we also take visa and mastercard): great people, beaches, surf, babes, mountains, animals, babes, flowers, food.... . Did i mention buffed up bods? Seriously, we welcome folks of all types with warm smiles, gentle breezes, clean water and air, and tasty food and drink.

Not convinced? Well, take a look at all the superb things you can enjoy here. Warning: I am in some of the photos. Shield the animals and young children.

http://picasaweb.google.com/Degas188...omeToMyIslands

March and July 2009!

Here we come for the gazillionth time!

I love your comments, especially about the airline food. Good job.
Wish I was there.

Lord willing, we'll be there in October or November 2009, if my brother-in-law doesn't postpone his wedding again. :-)

Lee Ann

I feel blessed to live here.

We lived there on military orders for 4 & 1/2 years..loved every minutre of it. We had a townhouse in Wailuna with beautiful ginger, birds of paaradise and other flowers.. I used to just love to open teh curtains in teh am and look at all my flowers.

Our lanai looked south to USS Arizona and Pearl HArbor and West at night to the Wainae
mountains and spectacular sunsets.
Most of all I miss Aloha spirit...mainland people need Aloha

We're hoping for November.

Jar mainlanders don't have time for Aloha lol

We'll be there on Saturday!

degas ~ you are such a tease. I was looking through those pix to see the "islands." I am very disappointed :D

degas
Did not know you live in Hawaii. We have rented a house for the month of Feb in Oahu and purchased our airline tickets!

Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise, we will be there with bells on. :-)

Hi degas,

I live on the east coast, and I visit the Caribbean periodically, but I've never been to Hawaii. I know a few people who travel to Hawaii from here, and I've often wondered why - it's so far, when the Caribbean islands are only a few hours away. Can you fill me in on the difference?

We'll be there in August, albeit briefly.. unless another airline goes under, in which case we will be "stuck" in Hawaii for 4 weeks rather than touring the mainland. I'm sure there are far worse places to be stuck than Hawaii though!

We'll be there late June (Kauai, BI and 1 day on Oahu). 36 more days. We miss the beaches, the breeze, the plumeria scent, the people, the Aloha...and the food. I can't get enough of Hawaii.

Just got back from Kauai and I noticed it was very quiet on the island. We've been to the Hawaiian islands 10 times from the East Coast and we'll do our best to keep coming back.

Just got back Tuesday from 2 weeks on Maui. Our first trip to Hawaii (chose it over Europe this year--spending our $$ in the US). Loved it. The people are so friendly, the flowers so beautiful, and the waters so blue. And I'm now addicted to ahi burgers. We're already planning our return.

smetz, the pictures of Hawaii may appear to look similar but Hawaii cannot compare to the Caribbean. The food is better, the people are friendlier, you feel like you are in a different land yet it is still a part of the USA. And the aloha spirit still exists. You won't find the aloha spirit in the Caribbean.

Didn't make it in April thanks to ATA but plan to be there in October.

It is an annual trip for us. We own a timeshare on Kauai and love the island.

Aloha Spirit - its real and you will enjoy it!

Have not been too much to the Caribbean, but the landscape in Hawaii seems much more dramtic to me. What do others think?

I've never been to Hawaii, but I know about Aloha Spirit.

For some time, I was walking to work. Every morning I met the same girl who'd say hello.

I tried to figure out who she is, maybe I was working with her, or lived in the same building, going in my memory through all possibilities.

One morning I stopped her, and asked, how does she know me. She said, she doesn't. She came to SF from Hawaii, and there all people greet each other.

What a wounderful lesson in camaraderie it was for me :)

smetz- Don't think all islands in Caribbean have beach hawkers but when we took the kids there we were constantly being bothered when we were on the beaches, by people trying to sell us shell jewelry (same junk we sell in Hawaii at the Int. Marketplace), asking to braid daughter's hair, etc.. It was not relaxing at all.

I've done my part for this year--just back a week ago today and was already missing it without your gorgeous pictures.

I lived there, too, for a year once long ago--my daughter was born at Tripler. I fell in love with it at first sight and have been back several times (the islands, not Tripler).

Just 2 weeks and we'll be there. We were stationed there for 6 yrs about 20 yrs. ago.
I want to do some hiring and getting away from the "big city"..any ideas? Where can you see orchids and antheiums?? growing? Yes, the Aloha Spirit is alive and gets in your "soul".

The Hawaiian islands are truly our national treasure! One of our favorite places to visit. My sister is going this October, with her family, for her first visit. She will love it.

It is hard to describe the difference between Hawaii and the Caribbean islands, smetz, because so much of what makes Hawaii wonderful is the welcoming attitude of its people. Besides being drop dead gorgeous, of course.

I hope to get there this year, too. We love Hawaii.

19 days !!!

Remember no lava rock souvenirs.

I would love to book a trip to Hawaii this year...but the average fare from Northern CA right now is $900! I'm hoping it comes down next year.

Margy

Margy I did a quick look on kayak for a week in Sept, Oct and Nov and found AA and US Airways r/t from SFO to HNL at $625 and Hawaiian at $640.
With fuel prices going thru the roof that maybe as good as it gets.

Ouch, those airline prices. The fare on my usual route to Kona has just about doubled, for a late September trip. I am really having second thoughts about another trip to Hawaii this year. Sadly.

Anyone seen the latest AAA most expensive vacation destination had Honolulu as #1.
Maybe I can get a job with them as they only did an average cost for the hotels they were able to rate.
At $700 plus a day not including airfare I think it's safe to say they never crossed the street.

Good point about across the street. If you go to the most expensive places, even India can be super costly. Averages need to be applied. Hawaii is not the most expensive place. If you play your cards right, it can be pretty inexpensive.

As a budget traveler I thought it would be pretty costly as well. I have a trip planned for November. I got 3 award tickets on CO, a reservation for 9 nights at the Royal Grove averaging under $80 per day w/tax and a rental car at just over $200 for the entire time (free miles of course). So far this is coming in as budget in my book. I can't wait to go. With the way air travel is going this might be my only opportunity for a long time.

Smetz, I am with you. I live in Florida and have never had the desire to go to Hawaii. The long flight and expense just do not make sense when there are so many choices in the Caribbean only a couple of hours away. I am sure Hawaii is amazing but its not for me.

I am probably in the minority but Hawaii isn't at the top of my list due to the amount of tourists and commercialism. It isn't an easy trip for us either.

I don't dispute the beauty as it is stunning and I'm sure locals know where to go to get away from the hoards of visitors. If I knew that I would probably buy a ticket. But I didn't think Hawaii needed more people visiting their islands.

Great pics, degas.

:)

My wife and I (and possible baby) are headed to Oahu and Maui in October.

It's not hard to find places away from the touristy areas. Beach cottage on the ocean, and stay in a smaller town - the aloha spirit is addictive. Flying with Skymiles and counting the days. And you don't have to worry about the food or the water - it's great!

Definitely not an easy trip from the east coast, but I think it's worth it!

trvlgrl we get into the Grove November 4 for roughly two weeks your schedule fall in that time.
Beachgrl the westside of Kauai is not bad at all the longest beach on the island Kekaha and Waimea Canyon and if you want more quiet go out to Polihale Beach the road maybe a little rough but it's a great beach.

hulajake - We check in on the 19th and leave on the 27th (Thanksgiving day).

We'll have to work on our timing if we're ever going to get this romance off the ground. LOL
If you've never stayed at the Grove maybe the Fong's will have a potluck while you're there. I think Wed evening the men get out their guitars and ukeleles and play in the lobby.
Check sunsetonthebeach for the movie schedule probably in Oct they haven't been real good about updating very far in advance.

hulajake - Like ships passing in the night, I know. Thanks for the website. I'll definitely check it out. We happen to be there when the new Harry Potter movie opens so I'll be taking my nephews to see it one evening.

Enjoyed your photos, Degas. My kids think your picture of the gecko is great. My son even said it was too cute to be real. (They also said it is much better than the photo on Wikipedia.)

Some day we'll go to Hawaii, but not soon. We just spent our time bolstering the economy of Southern California last week.