Tag: Lanai

Snorkeling in Hawaii

Hawaii is a popular destination for water sports enthusiast, obviously because the entire state is surrounded by water. Each island offers different water and weather conditions, making each island experience completely unique. The water temperature in Hawaii varies only between about 72 to 80 degrees year round making water sports ideal the entire year long. You will see an amazing array of sea life while snorkeling in Hawaii such as, sea turtles, manta rays, moray eels, and dolphins.

The best thing about snorkeling is that it doesn’t require a lot of effort and it’s not particularly difficult. Most snorkeling tours will provide all of the necessary equipment, including a mask and snorkel, fins and usually some sort of floatation device. You simply put on your equipment and stick your face in the water, and prepare to be amazed by the sea life surrounding you in this paradise.

On the island of Oahu, Hanauma Bay offers the best snorkeling. It’s located on the southern shore of the island, and it’s a great place for beginners. The water is very shallow and in most cases you would be able to stand, however, you shouldn’t stand because you can damage the precious coral reef on the bottom of the ocean floor.

Maui offers several snorkeling options. There is black rock, and Kapalua. Another popular snorkeling site is the submerged volcanic crater called Molokini. There are many different options for getting to this destination. Tours leave daily from Ma’alaea and Lahaina Harbors. These are fun tours because they usually serve lunch and have some sort of open bar. I would recommend choosing a smaller boat because obviously it’s less crowed and a little more personal. This will also give you the best opportunity to really see the ocean life.

The best snorkeling of the island of Lana’i can be found at Hulopo’e Beach. This is not an offshore excursion, so the water will be fairly shallow perfect for children and novice swimmers alike. Here you will see a lava shelf that is home to some spectacular tropical fish. The beach access is a public park complete with a picnic area, so bring your lunch and settle in for the afternoon.

Moloka’i has over thirty miles of barrier reef offering some decent snorkeling, however, not the best in Hawaii. The best place to snorkel on the island of Moloka’i is on twenty mile beach. The reef is extremely shallow and can be rough at times so you should have a back up plan for snorkeling on one of the islands.

The big island of Hawaii offers the most variety in snorkeling options. Kahula Beach is another great spot for beginners. It’s an off beach reef so you can simply go ashore when you’ve had enough. The reef however is impressive enough to please even the most seasoned of reef aficionados. Kealakekua Bay is a popular off shore excursion; this will be a half day adventure complete with lunch and of course cocktails. So whether you are new to the snorkeling scene or you have seen it all, Hawaii will have something to offer you.

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Hawaiian Vacation for Golfers

Hawaii is a popular destination for many vacationers. It’s no wonder with its gorgeous palm trees, and white sandy beaches. The vast array of water sports such as surfing, kayaking and snorkeling attract many vacationers yearly. But Hawaii is also a great place for golf. The big island of Hawaii has over 20 golf courses. The Four seasons Hualalai Course was designed by world famous golf pro Jack Nichlaus. The Mauna Kea Golf Course has been said to be the best on the island. While taking a break from a round of golf, guests at this hotel can relax at one of the most gorgeous beaches on the island.

The crescent shaped bay boasts white sandy beaches and is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. There are also a couple of noteworthy golf courses located in Hilo. Make sure to bring an umbrella. We play rain or shine here, as Hilo is known as the rainiest city in the world.

Lanai is known as the rich man’s paradise of Hawaii. So, it’s not surprising that there are some great golfing opportunities here. Lanai is home to not one, but two, world class championship golf courses. The experience at Koele, which designed by Greg Norman is set amongst the backside of Hawaiian mountains, making for a challenging and unique setting. The challenge at Manele is located at another world renowned resort and was also designed by Jack Nicklas. It’s amazing that he has time to play golf, with all that designing he’s been doing. Another place to play golf in Lanai is located in Lanai city, the Cavendish Golf Course. It is a local favorite and is open to the public. This course has 9-holes and does not have greens fee (bonus).

Maui offers as many or more places to play golf as the big island of Hawaii. The island offers beautiful vistas that make for the perfect backdrop for golfing. Kapalua and Wailea are the most well known places to play. There are also some championship golf courses located in the resort area of Ka’anapali. This resort area was once a sugar plantation, converted into a resort area by its owners.

Lanai as well, is not lacking in golf courses. There are nine great golf courses here. Half were designed by either Jack Nickluas or Robert Trent Jones. The Princeville courses have made a name for themselves as some of the most challenging golf courses in the world. Princeville is a resort community located on the North Shore of the island. While taking a break here, golfers can enjoy world class beaches, as well as fine dinning and exquisite shopping.

Let’s not forget about the island of Oahu. Oahu is home to several 18-hole golf courses all located fairly close to Honolulu. The Ala Wai Golf Course and the Ewa Villages Golf course are actually located in the Wakiki Beach Area. Here golfers should take a break to catch a wave on famous Wakiki Beach. Turtle Bay Beach Resort is located on the North Shore of Oahu. It is home to 2 spectacular golf courses. One of which, was designed by Arnold Palmer and the other by George Fazio. The resort itself is located on a great beach complete with a reef for snorkeling.

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Hawaii- The Island of Lanai

Lanai is the smallest and perhaps most exclusive island in the chain of Hawaiian Islands. The beaches are just as gorgeous as the other islands and the palm trees offer the perfect backdrop for a romantic island getaway. When visiting Lanai you can get to the island either by plane or by a ferry. You can fly into Lanai from either Maui or Honolulu. There are no direct flights from the mainland so you should take some time to visit one of the other islands first. If you take a boat to Lanai, it will be from Maui and you may just get lucky enough to see some migrating whales along the way, particularly in the winter months. If you do not have a lot of time to visit Lanai, you could take a day trip from Maui.

Lanai is home to a famous dive site known as Cathedrals located near Pu’u Pele rock. The tropical fish and coral are abundant here. Hulop’e Beach is another popular destination on the island. Here you can usually see spinner dolphin and a variety of reef fish making this a great place for snorkeling. The beaches here are white sand and gorgeous. They make for a great place to relax and unwind. Shipwreck beach is a nice place to take a stroll. It’s relatively quiet; in fact you are likely to be alone on this stretch of beach. You may find remnants of sunken ships in the form of driftwood washed up along the shore here. As the name implies there are several shipwrecks located just off the shore.

The island of Lanai is also home to two championship golf courses. Manele, located at Manele Bay Hotel was actually designed by Jack Nicklaus and is set amongst a gorgeous tropical backdrop complete with palm trees and ocean cliffs. Greg Norman designed the second course which is the Experience at Koele. It has been rated the number one golf resort in the world by Conde Nast. The course lies beneath the mountains and offers spectacular views of the neighboring islands. Lanai is also home to the Cavendish Golf course that is a local nine-hole course. The course is open to the public and all are welcome. There are no greens fees here (impressive) however, donations are accepted.

Horseback riding is another popular activity on the island of Lanai. The only place to ride is at Koele. They offer a variety of different ride options including pony rides for the kids. One favorite ride is a trail ride that will take you on trails along the coast. This offers breathtaking views, and if you look closely, you may be able to se Moloka’i and Maui. This ride also includes a picnic lunch, which can make for a romantic afternoon.

One hiking destination not to be missed while in Lanai is the Koloiki Ridge Trail. The 5-mile hike begins at the Lodge at Koele and will take you up to the Munro Trail. The hike will offer some breath taking views of the valleys, as well as Moloka’i and Maui. The island of Lanai will offer a great variety of activities, or none at all if you wish. It’s the perfect island for pampering and relaxation.

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