Travel Gal Returns to the island of Molokai

I am returning to the Hawaiian Island of Molokai after 5 years, this time my Mother and sisters are joining me.  I am planning an “Experience Molokai” on a 4 day excursion.   We will stay at Hotel Molokai (a genuine luxury hideaway) from all things mainstream - which is styled after a Polynesian village and located on Kamiloloa beach.  It is a tiny oceanfront resort complete with a bar and restaurant - by the way, it’s the only place to get draft beer on the island!  The hotel is “community minded” as they offer a Polynesian show every Friday night as well as host a community party once a year - this year its on January 24th - we will be there.

When visiting Molokai you will experience authentic Hawaii with unspoiled coastlines, serene seascapes, untamed wilderness and no building taller then a cocoanut tree.  In the central town of Kaunakakai, absent of traffic lights and virtually unchanged since the early 1900’s.

This charming paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) town is also the island’s main harbor, where some locals still fish for their dinner. Stroll down to Kaunakakai Harbor to the end of the state’s longest pier, extending well past the reef - just you, the local fisherman and the sound of local boats slowly jetting out of the harbor.

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Helpful Tips for Travel to the Hawaiian Islands

Here are a few tips to ensure a great trip to Hawaii:

*  Reconfirm your flight, seat assignment and frequent-flyer number with the airline 24 hours before departure;

* You must present legal photo identification upon check-in in order to receive you boarding pass.  Passengers without boarding passes will not be allowed through the security checkpoint;

*  You should consider using the curbside porter service to expedite check-in, if available;

*  You should keep check-in bags fit and trim, and under the airlines’ maximum weight allowance. Call the airline for weight and quantity restrictions;

*  Excess luggage may trigger additional fees from the airlines, and in some cases, may not be allowed on the plane at all;

* Be sure to pack photo film in carry-on bags. The equipment that screens check-in luggage can be hazardous to undeveloped film;

* Do not pack food and beverages into check-in luggage;

* Do not bring gifts pre-wrapped.  The baggage screeners may need to examine them;

*  Upon check out of your hotel, be sure to check with the Hotel Concierge or Front Desk how much time you should give yourself to drive to the airport.  Allow sufficient time to drop off your car;

* Upon your return flight to the U.S. Mainland, plan on sending your check-in luggage through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) baggage inspection station before you head for the ticket counter. USDA regulates the export of flowers, fruit and other plant materials from Hawaii.

Bringing Fruit Home
USDA regulations do not allow un-inspected fruits, flowers and other plant material to leave Hawaii. But if you would really like to take some home, the easiest way is to place an order in advance from one of the several companies that will select, pack, and deliver produce to the airport. These pre-ordered products (including pineapples, papaya, onions, macadamia nuts and protea flowers) are pre-inspected and cleared for shipment out of state.

For more travel tips and information contact

The Travel Gal at 800 644-6659 or

call Teresa@Luxuryhideaways.net

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Things You Gotta Try while on the Island of Molokai

Visit the main town of Kaunakakai stop by Kanemitsu Bakery’s “Hot Bread Run,” a local favorite from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m., Wednesday through Sunday only. Go to the back door of the bakery down the alley, knock on the door and order your favorite treats, including fresh Molokai Bread smothered with choices of butter, cinnamon, cream cheese, raspberry and blueberry jam or have the works (everything) guava, cream cheese, cinnamon, apples and more.

NOTE: A few years ago I participated in a midnight breadrun on Molokai - its fantastic but also the best kept secret in the islands. This is the first time I’ve seen the Molokai Breadrun mentioned in print. Also I have met very few kaamaiana that have participated in it. Truly not to be missed!

Enjoy the music at Hotel Molokai’s Ocean side Restaurant every Friday afternoon from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. That’s when Molokai’s kupuna (elders, pronounced koo-POO-nah) gather to sing and play Hawaiian music Molokai style. Cocktails and pupu (hors doeuvres, pronounced poo-poo) served ocean side.

Stock up on food at Misaki’s Store in Kaunakakai, especially if you’re arriving on Sunday morning before 11 a.m. In the afternoon, Molokai’s grocery stores all close for the rest of the day. Molokai Wine and Spirits is open daily until 10 p.m., selling some of the finest wines and beers. They also offer snacks, ice cream, ice and non-alcoholic beverages.

Attend a church service. Known as an island of prayer, Molokai has more than 23 churches representing numerous denominations. Many of them offer services twice a day as well as evening services. The Molokai Dispatch newspaper publishes a guide to church services, hours and locations.

Go on a guided hike to discover the heart of Molokai.

Watch Moana’s Hula Halau (school, pronounced HAH-low) practice their art at the Mitchell Pauole Community Center on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Although Molokai is known as the birthplace of hula, you won’t find any commercial hula shows on the island, and this is the best way to experience this traditional dance.

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The History of Hula Dancing

Hula is a dance form accompanied by chant or song. It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The chant or song is called a mele. The hula dramatizes or comments on the mele.

There are many styles of hula. They are commonly divided into two broad categories: Ancient hula, as performed before Western encounters with Hawaii, is called kahiko. It is accompanied by chant and traditional instruments. Hula as it evolved under Western influence, in the 19th and 20th centuries, is called auana. It is accompanied by song and Western-influenced musical instruments such as the guitar, the ukulele, and the double bass.

Terminology for two main additional categories is beginning to enter the hula lexicon: “Monarchy” includes many hula which were composed and choreographed during the 19th century. During that time the influx of Western culture created significant changes in the formal Hawaiian arts, including hula. “Ai Kahiko“, meaning “in the ancient style” are those hula written in the 20th and 21st centuries that follow the stylistic protocols of the ancient hula kahiko.

Hula is taught in schools called halau. The teacher of hula is the kumu hula, where kumu means source of knowledge. Hula dancing is a complex art form, and there are many hand motions used to signify aspects of nature, such as the basic Hula and Coconut Tree motions, or the basic leg steps, such as the Kaholo, Ka’o, and Ami.

There are other dances that come from other Polynesian islands such as Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga and Aotearoa (New Zealand); however, the hula is unique to the Hawaiian Islands.

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Visit Lahaina Court House for a glimpse into the Kingdom of Hawai‘i

Are you planning on a visit to Hawaii? I am sure you will want to experience the beautiful Maui beaches, drive up to Haleakala Crater, watch the World Class Windsurfers practice at Hookipa Beach & cool down with a cup of shave ice.

Please save a few minutes to tour the Lahaina Court & Custom House, located in the heart of Lahaina nestled in between the Banyan Tree and Lahaina Harbor. The Lahaina Court House has served in an official capacity since 1860. The building oversaw the change from Kingdom of Hawai‘i to government by the United States and was once used as a Courtroom, Police Station and jail. Lahaina Courthouse now officially welcomes visitors to West Maui.

The 2nd floor of the Courthouse functions as a Museum, featuring a large wall display box with a real treasure for the people of Hawaii: the 1890s Hawaiian Flag. This is the same flag that flew over the Court & Custom House when Hawai‘i officially became a U.S. Territory.

Arthur Waal Sr., Lahaina’s Assistant Postmaster at the time, was ordered to lower the flag of the Hawaiian Kingdom and raise the Stars & Stripes during a poignant ceremony on August 12, 1898.  Read about his family discovering & returning the flag to us just a few years ago! I am sure it’ll give you “chicken skin” (goose bumps) to contemplate what life was like when the flag you are viewing graced the flagpole & blew in the wind.

Contact the Travel Gal when planning your Hawaiian holiday.

Your Friend in the Islands!

Teresa@LuxuryHideaways.net or call me at 800 644-6659

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Hawaii - Travel Tips For You!

Aloha and Mahalo!

Friendly smiles, beautiful flowers and gentle breezes greet you from the moment you arrive in Hawaii.

The Islands of Aloha are a wonderful destination for your next holiday or it is also a great stopover destination to consider for your onward or return flight home from the South Pacific.

Relax for a few days on the renowned Waikiki beach with its abundance of night life, beach activities and fine shopping. Or consider a 30 minute island hop over to the #1 island in the World - Maui, (Maui No Ka Oi) where the rich and famous vacation with its international golf courses, white sand beaches and breathtaking vistas. Of course, you don’t need to be rich and famous to visit my island home. It is very laid back, easy going and there are plenty of things to do on the cheap - after all - the beach is free!

Hawaii Climate & Weather: As the islands are located in the tropics, temperatures remain fairly stable year-round. The temperature of the islands is also influenced by several winds. Trade winds from the east and northeast keep the air balmy most of the year, while the kona - a leeward wind - may bring sticky weather during summer and storms in winter. Winter trade winds bring frequent rains to many areas but in spring and summer, showers are fairly uncommon.

Summer (Apr-Nov) 75-84 and Winter (Dec-Mar) 64-77

Lets begin planning your Hawaiian Holiday now!

See you in paradise!

The Travel Gal - Your Friend in the Islands!

800 644-6659 or Teresa@Luxuryhideaways.net

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A Guide to Maui - My Island Home

Secluded from the rest of the world, the Islands of Hawaii warmly welcome everyone visiting her shores. With a climate perfect for beach going, cooled by trade winds and infused with the scent of tropical flowers like plumeria, gardenia & tuberose, Hawaii is America’s vacation paradise and where I am blessed to call home.

The Island of Maui, also known as the land of the rainbows is incredibly beautiful and diverse. There are four topographical areas of Maui:
1. There is the soft, white sandy stretches of beach and the crashing waves which everyone expects when they visit Hawaii. You will find beach parks & sections where there is no one else on the beach. Your biggest decision will be “how big of a wave do I want to play in today?” or “how much of a breeze do I need to cool off?“ “Or if I’m snorkeling or scuba diving today, which coral reef should I go explore?”

So, after a day or two at the beach, when your skin needs a rest from the accumulating sunburn, jump in your car and explore the other sides of Maui.

2. While on island you must take a drive up the slopes of Haleakala - which means ‘House of the Sun’ in Hawaiian. The terrain is all rolling hills with cows, horses, and every shade of green imaginable.
Spend a few hours in Makawao, which is an old cowboy town; if you arrive early enough, you’ll be able to enjoy a Komodo Bakery donut on a stick - worth the drive in itself. I’ve seen people line up at the door just to enjoy one of their famous cream puffs.

3. The crater of Haleakala appears to be like the surface of the moon. Haleakala Highway is one of the fastest ascending road in the world. Take a jacket and long pants - it is cold up there! See the Silver-swords in bloom, located only on the crater’s edge. There are day hikes into the crater or get up at about 2:00am to drive up in the dark and see the sun rise out of the ocean - it is a spectacular sight! Haleakala houses one of the top Observatories in the U.S.

4. The tiny town of Hana is situated on the east side of Maui in a tropical rain forest. Plan your holiday so you can spend your last few days in Hana and really relax. There are no golf courses and very few televisions or radio in Hana. However, you will find black sand beach, bamboo rainforest, guavas & banana trees, 53 one way bridges and too many waterfalls to count!

Are you ready to pack a bag, grab your sunscreen and join us?

Contact me for more island vacation ideas, lodging & activities at 800 644-6659.

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Thank you for all of your assistance with our Maui weddingmoon!

Aloha Teresa -

I was just thinking of you yesterday. You really came through for us last Friday when we were turned around due to the fire on the road while trying to make it to our return flight after the wedding on Maui. We missed getting through to the airport by about 10 cars and the fire was right there by us.

It saved us a tremendous amount of time and stress to fly directly from the small Kapalua Airport to Kahului Airport. Some people on our flight did the long drive and said it was tedious and one lane in parts. We really appreciate your extra effort in putting that all together and changing our flights within an hour. Great job! It really helps to have a “Travel Agent friend on Maui”! [Read more]

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Hawaii on a Budget - Affordable Activities on the island of Maui

This is the 5th article in a series on how to vacation in Hawaii on a budget. I’ve been living it for 20 years so am sure I can add a few more ideas!

Maui - The perennial favorite island of many, Maui is Hawaii’s second largest island. Maui is named after the ancient god that raised the Hawaiian Islands up from the ocean. Although developed, there is plenty of room to get away from it all, with beaches and forests that are nearly as pristine as the Hawaii of old.

• Drive the Road to Hana and experience for than 600 hairpin curves as you gaze out on vistas that are far too distracting for any driver. On the way, stop to walk up to waterfalls or shop at roadside stands.

• The Red Sand Beach of Kaihalulu is both beautiful and, on occasion, au natural, so take care of taking the children. But while we are at it, all 81 of Maui’s beaches are free, so enjoy!

• Be sure to stop at the Lahaina Whaling Museum in Lahaina. If you are there on Friday, it’s Art Night on Front Street, sponsored by the Lahaina Arts Society.

• Walk on a black sand beach at Wainapanapa State Park.

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Hawaii on a Budget - Yes! Hawaii can still be affordable!

Here’s a great secret - you don’t have to spend a fortune to spend time in Hawaii. Don’t get me wrong - if you want to stay at first class properties, fly in the front of the plane and eat at some of the world’s finest restaurants, Hawaii will certainly afford you the opportunity. However, it is also possible to visit Hawaii, see the sites, eat well and experience the Islands up close and personal without breaking the bank.

Airfares are a real trick, but here’s the trick - don’t buy a published fare! Any good Travel Agent (like me) will know how to purchase your ticket through a tour operator holding contracts with the airlines flying to Hawaii. Purchase a ticket with an online site and, chances are, you will pay hundreds of dollars more than the fellow sitting next to you on the plane.

In addition, remember that most of Hawaii has many, many budget-friendly accommodations. In fact, one of the suggestions we will make that applies to each of the islands below is to ask your travel agent about condominiums and smaller lodges and inns. Many of these establishments are perfectly well located, charming and offer a real opportunity to meet the locals in a way that the larger hotels and resorts do not.

The one quality that every island has in abundance is its scenery and the easy accessibility to the scenery via a rental car. Self exploration by automobile is one of the most exciting and least expensive ways to enjoy the islands.

Stay tuned for free/affordable activities while visiting my islands of aloha! Or better yet, email Teresa@Luxuryhideaways.net or call me at 800 644-6659 and hele on over here to the sunshine and palmtrees!

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