Our friend Cherie just won the Kutoa Community Impact Award 2012 for her work encouraging Hawaii voluntourism! Cherie runs the Hale Hookipa Inn, a Maui bed and breakfast in upcountry Makawao, and a great place to stay on your trip to Haleakala National Park.
Our friend Cherie Attix, who owns and operates the Hale Hookipa Inn Bed and Breakfast in Makawao, Maui, has gotten her real estate license and now has listings of homes for sale on Maui. She has lived on Maui for years and owned more than one home there, so she has a unique perspective on the Maui real estate market.
Hawaii has been my home for over thirty-five years: upcountry Maui is where I live, garden, work and play. Maui is an island of spectacular views, lush gardens, friendly people, great restaurants, organic gardens, cultural events, art galas, walks on the beach, swims, surfs, paddles in the ocean, and beautiful homes for sale!
Cherie is especially valuable as a Hawaii real estate agent with an eye toward improving historic properties in Hawaii. If you’re a home improvement specialist looking to flip a property in Hawaii, Cherie is the perfect Maui real estate agent for your needs.
Having owned a number of properties on Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii, my personal attention has been on restoration of Hawaiian heritage homes. Two of my homes, built in 1924 and 1939, have been a rewarding challenge to restore to their former charm. I love design, and my mind is often busy remodeling, restoring, and bringing light into the Hawaiian homes that I visit.
Cherie also runs Volunteer Vacations in Hawaii, so while you’re staying at her B&B and looking for Maui real estate, you could donate some time to volunteer while you’re there, and earn a discount on your stay at the bed and breakfast, while also earning a small donation for the organization for which you volunteer!
Times are tough for farmers these days, but Kona coffee farmers are being especially hard hit by lack of demand. In times like these, people buy Folgers instead of organic Kona coffee beans, and that is taking a toll gourmet coffee farmers everywhere. You can help even if you’re just buying a present for the coffee lover in your life. Maybe you’d just like to have a special cup for a special occasion. Or maybe you just haven’t thought about it.
On the big Island of Hawaii, Kona Comfort Coffee is buckling down during these hard times, offering Kona coffee discounts for first time buyers and on green coffee beans you can roast yourself (best way to get it fresh). You can sign up for regular shipments and never be without this gourmet certified organic Kona coffee again. It’s easy to order, the coffee is delicious, the farmers are American, the product is American, no synthetic pesticides ever get anywhere near the farm, and the time is now!
If you’re a regular organic and fair trade coffee buyer, please consider buying American coffee. It doesn’t get much more fair trade than that! And if your budget allows, check out the very rare peaberry Kona coffee beans. It just doesn’t get much better!
Save 15% on a September 2010 stay at this historic old plantation home (photo circa 1924)–the Hale Hookipa Inn, a Maui Bed and Breakfast in upcountry Maui, Hawaii, near Haleakala National Park and Maui’s famous north-shore beaches. Volunteer on Vacation while on Maui and get another 5% off, plus 5% donated to the cause for which you volunteer!
I’ve been doing a little meta housekeeping with the information on my sites lately, and one way I make sure that I’m actually getting the information out there that I want to get out there is Wordle. Of course, after that last post, a guest post about Kauai by Chris Gamby of Conservation Hawaii, Kauai became more prominent in the word cloud.
Just to be clear, though, this site is about Hawaii–the entire state, and we have posts about Maui, the Big Island, Oahu, and even Lanai and Molokai. Someday we’re hoping someone will write us about Kahoolawe (a former target range for the Navy) or Niihau (the Forbidden Isle and military and Republican stronghold). Heck, I’d like to hear from some geologists about Loihi, the new Hawaiian Island that will break through the surface of the ocean in about 18,000 years.
Since we lived on Maui, we do tend to be a little Maui-centric. Our friend Cherie writes a great Maui blog (but she writes about all the islands she visits), and our friend Klaus owns Paradise Maui and works as a Maui wedding coordinator. Our friend Ellen has a solar powered Hana Maui Vacation rental. If you visit our big site about all kinds of Hawaii Stuff, you’ll see traces of our Maui-centrism, as you will also on Supak.com, where we still get a lot of visitors to Eco Maui (for the ecologically gifted) and Econo Maui (for the financially challenged).
There. That ought to change that word cloud a little!
Today’s guest post is from Chris Gamby of Conservation Hawai’i.
The lush greenery, storied history, and uncrowded beaches make The Garden Isle many vacationers favorite island in Hawaii. While Kauai does have a laid back attitude and many sleepy towns, there are still some must-dos if you visit. Check out the list below for some activities and locations not to be missed on your Hawaiian get-away.
Each island has many air tour operators that fly over spectacular scenery and offer different aerial views that are breathtaking, few however compare to taking a helicopter tour of the Na Pali Coast on Kauai. The 22-miles of the Na Pali Coast take you back in time. Some tours hover near caves in the volcanic cliffs that are said to have bones of ancient Hawaiians, sweep past giant archways cut into the jagged coastline, and lose you in a true wonder of the world. A Kauai helicopter tour is often the highlight of many visitors stay.
Kauai’s sunny south shore is a vacationers paradise. With many great Poipu resorts, condos and Kauai vacation rentals, Poipu was made for the tourist. Poipu Beach park is often on top 10 list for best beaches in the world. In the winter time you can sit for hours watching whales frolic just off shore and enjoy the seasonally calm waters. In the summer, the protected beaches offer great swimming and snorkeling, and just plain old soaking up the sun. Make sure to grab a spot on one of the sea walls or beaches at sun down, sunsets are one of a kind, almost every night. The “Spouting Horn”, Kauai’s famous blow hole, is a fun distraction, one that the kids love. With the Grand Hyatt Resort, Poipu Bay golf course and the new Kukuiula Village shopping and dining spot, the south side has it’s share of upscale adult playgrounds as well.
The north shore of Kauai is like a lost world within a lost world; the lush setting of taro fields and rivers, backdrops of towering mountains and waterfalls, transport you from crowded mind chatter and daily life, to giddiness and wonder. Many travelers base camp in Princeville. While Hanalei has many vacation homes and Hawaii villa rentals, there are not a whole lot of resort or condo offerings, so finding an affordable headquarters in Princeville is a much easier task. Similar to Poipu, Hanalei Bay, a large crescent bay with white sand beaches, is often found on top of lists of best beaches. During the summer months the bay is calm and pristine and is great for a morning jog and dip in the water. During the winter, large swells attract world class surfers. Among Pipeline and Sunset Beach on Oahu, the point at Hanalei is one of the premier surf spots in the world. Further down the road are the wet caves, which local legend claims that the fire goddess Pele dug herself. At the end of the road is Ke’e beach, which boast unbeatable snorkeling and also hosts the trail head for the Kalalau trail. Travelers from around the world come to Kauai just to make the 11 mile trek to Kalalau.
Limahuli Garden was selected by the American Horticultural Society as the best natural botanical garden in the United States. Nestled into a tropical valley, the Limahuli Garden and Preserve is surrounded by Makana Mountain and overlooks the Pacific Ocean. The garden cultivates a lot of kalo (taro), which is an important cultural food crop. Behind the garden sits the preserve where conservationists and biologists are working to preserve the species native to this habitat.
Gaining popularity over the past few years on Kauai, and a fun way to relax and catch some sights, are the Kauai movie tours. Many hit and blockbuster movies and famous TV shows have been filmed, at least somewhat, on Kauai. Hop on one of the buses or 4wd vans and visit locations for movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park, South Pacific, Blue Hawaii, Tropic Thunder, Six Days Seven Nights, Gilligan’s Island, Fantasy Island and others. Along the lines of movies, a Kauai outdoor movie theater travels around the island and shows hit movies under the stars, often free of
charge.
Also know as "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific”, Waimea Canyon is the largest canyon in the entire Pacific. 10 miles long and 1 mile wide in spots, Waimea Canyon is more than 3,500 ft deep. Great hikes of all different difficultly levels and lengths can be had, not to mention heart stopping scenic overlooks that have you within inches of precipitous cliffs that drop away thousands of feet. Waterfalls pour into the canyon, only to vaporize before the can reach the valley floor below. The canyon is located in Koke’e State Park. You can camp in Koke’e park and hike through the Alakai swamp. The canyon and its surroundings truly are some of the most amazing natural wonders on earth.
The Plantation rail is 2.5 miles long and gives passengers a tour of Kauai’s agricultural history. This attractions lets the rider experience the recreation of days when steam powered trains moved and harvested sugar cane from the field mill to the wharf for shipment. The Plantation Railway runs through the grounds of the Kilohana Estate and adjoining 70 acre plantation. Lastly, once the ride is over, riders are able to purchase products grown on the plantation or taste some of Kauai’s unique food items from the 16,000 square foot courtyard/galleria/restaurant.
Offering an abundance of sites to dive, divers ranging in experience from beginner to advanced will definitely find a dive that best suites them. There are boat dives, night dives and other such dive tours that offer plenty of sea life to discover. Visitors can rent all the dive gear and equipment on sight and even get certification (certification is not required to dive). Beginners will enjoy north and south shore sites such as Hanalei, Kee Beach and Poipu Beach while more advanced divers can venture out to areas like cave exploration and lava tube exploration.
As mentioned above, Kauai is home to some of the most beautiful and diverse beaches in the world. The family friendly Lydgate, Poipu and Salt Pond Beach parks are great for everyone; beautiful and safe, they fit the bill for fun in the sun. If you need to get away - just journey out to Polihale State Beach Park. The longest beach in Hawaii is often deserted, serene and overwhelming (but in a good way). You can discover Secret Beach, Larsens, or Mahaulepu. You can try to soak in the grandeur of Hanalei Bay, watch surfers up close at Kealia, have picture perfect moments at Lumahai, or learn to surf at Kalapaki. Whatever your beach going need, Kauai can fill it.
Kauai is full of all sorts of adventure. If your desire is to sit around and drink Mai Tais, Kauai. If you want to venture out on world-class hikes, Kauai. If you want to fly like an eagle, see a little green in a lot of blue, Kauai. If you want to feel small (but in a good way), Kauai.
The Supak family has been posting photographs to our computer backgrounds and free desktop wallpaper sites since 1996. We have created and cataloged hundreds of wallpaper pictures in our online photography libraries and computer backgrounds blog.
“We are living in an interminable succession of absurdities imposed by the myopic logic of short-term thinking.”—Jacques-Yves Cousteau
From a small site about organic gardening beginning in 1994, Supak.com evolved into a photography site when we started posting our first pictures to be downloaded as free computer wallpaper. When we moved to Hawaii in 1998, the free desktop wallpaper pictures of Hawaii really started filling our servers. And environmentalism and politics started to mean something to us, as can be reflected in the many other subjects covered through the Supak.com home page, from organic gardening to The Simpsons.
After 13 years of work, we have compiled a large photography collection featuring free wallpaper photographs including Robin’s abstract photography, Scott’s Hollwood Downside Up photography series from Los Angeles, Pokemon wallpaper, Simpsons wallpaper, and photographs from all over the world, including Hawaii, California, Los Angeles, New York upstate, New York city, Maine, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, South Dakota, Chicago, Italy and much more. The Supak’s photography collection has been continued in the last few years at their computer backgrounds blog, where they continue to post photographs from all over the world, including works from other photographers and underwater photography.
Supak.com is the parent company of Bald Mountain Press, which has been helping very small businesses get higher search engine ranks since 1996. Freedom of the press goes only to those who own one. We have been using ours to help stop the succession of absurdities since we first figured out how.
For more information about Supak.com, contact Scott Supak, scott@supak.com, Bald Mountain Press
My friend Klaus gets good press about his Maui weddings business at Paradise Maui. Recently, he got a mention for his Maui weddings in my favorite Hawaiian newspaper, the Maui Weekly.
Anyone who ever lived on Maui knows that the Maui Weekly is a treasure trove of information, especially if you’re trying to live there on a shoestring budget. We once got a Maui cruiser Cadillac for $600 from someone who was leaving the island and put an ad in the Weekly. It was falling apart, but it ran for the year we needed it to, and then we junked it. A lot cheaper than renting!
Anyway, I digress. Klaus recently added green Maui weddings as an option (mentioned in this post a while back) and that apparently caught the eye of the editors of the Maui Weekly website, so they gave him a one page blurb, which is very nice coming from a site like theirs.
Klaus’s Hawaiian weddings packages handle everything you need for a beautiful wedding ceremony on Maui, whether you want a beach wedding, a mountain wedding, or a waterfall wedding. You pick the place, and Klaus’s people take care of every detail. Here’s an example of what makes Klaus’s Hawaiian weddings green:
The shade of green can be whatever you wish from pale to dark, from simply wanting a seasonal low food miles organic wedding breakfast to ensuring that all aspects sourced are as Eco friendly as possible. From fair trade flowers to carbon neutral travel, vegan wedding cakes to horse drawn carriages, we can help you with your dream. Far from restricting your celebration, greening up your day will add to its uniqueness and start you off with dainty footprints on the earth.
Of course, you’re going to want to keep up the theme of your green wedding for the honeymoon. I suggest a secluded, romantic, solar powered Hana Maui vacation rental that is close to Hamoa Beach, which is consistently voted one of the top 10 beaches in the world. After a few days there, I suggest you put a little back by volunteering in Hawaii, which will earn you a 5% discount on your stay at the Hale Hookipa Inn, a Maui bed and breakfast in Makawao, on the slopes of Mount Haleakala. Another 5% is donated to the cause for which you volunteer.
Put that all together and you’ve managed to get yourselves married while doing a little good for the islands while you’re at it.
My friend Cherie, who runs the Hale Hookipa Inn, a Maui bed and breakfast, sent me some underwater photography from her friend Mike Eilers, an avid scuba diver and snorkeler. Here’s a great shot of a Sea Turtle off the coast of Maui. You can see more of these underwater pictures at our Hawaii Stuff site, or at our computer backgrounds photography blog where I just put up this post about Mike’s great underwater photography.
Since weddings are big affairs that cost a bundle and use tons of resources while creating a huge carbon footprint, many brides and grooms are opting for a green wedding. There are all kinds of things you can do to make your wedding green, ranging from the simple and obvious, like recycling (which you should be doing anyway), to having a small, private wedding and then going to visit the relatives afterward (meaning less total miles traveled and you still get to see everyone who’s giving a gift).
It is with this small, private wedding that I would like to suggest that you have your wedding and your honeymoon in the same place. Bam, you just saved a whole bunch of fuel there. And what better place for wedding and honeymoon than Maui?
But you knew I was going to say that.
Well, my friend Klaus from Paradise Maui now has a green Maui wedding package. But that’s just the beginning. You’re going to need an ecologically sensitive place to spend your honeymoon, and I can’t think of anything more romantic than a solar powered vacation rental house in Hana, Maui.
Or, if you’d like to spend your honeymoon in an organic bed and breakfast on the slopes of Mount Haleakala in Makawao, you could do some good and save yourself some money by volunteering for one of the environmental organizations on Maui. Volunteers get a 5% discount on their stay at the Hale Hookipa Inn B&B, and another 5% donated to the organization for which they volunteer!
If you are going to have some friends and family in Hawaii for the wedding, we suggest you make your reception as green as possible by having organic food. Hire a Maui organic caterer. Sustainable food is one of the best ways to lessen your impact on the earth.
For more ideas on green Hawaii weddings, check out this article on green weddings in the Honolulu Advertiser.
Of course, suggestions are always welcome.
Get free blog up and running in minutes with Blogsome | Theme designs available here
