When you think of double-decker buses, you usually have images of London and New York City. Gray Line has just finished adding a fleet of colorful, open-top, double-decker buses to their Honolulu offerings. The AlohaBus currently run two of three-lines on an unlimited, on-off basis.
You get unlimited use of the Waikiki – Honolulu Day loop, Pearl Harbor Express, and their night loop for dining and entertainment. (Pearl Harbor Express is operated on a Coach Bus and not the AlohaBus).
You purchase a 24-hour, 48-hour or 72-hour pass and set your own schedule as you get on and off any of their stops at your leisure. Tickets cost $39, $49, and $59 respectively for adults and $14, $19, and $24 for children.
They currently offer a web special of $10 off adult tickets plus you can get one free child ticket for each adult ticket purchased!That brings prices down where the double-decker AlohaBus becomes a very reasonable alternative to renting a car, fighting traffic, looking for parking, and paying parking fees.
To get these special prices, simply log into their website and purchase your tickets, print out your confirmation email, and redeem them on any AlohaBus. Or, if you don’t have a printer, simply make note of your reservation number and along with a proper id, you can pick up your tickets at their service center in Waikiki.
There are no seats on the lower-level of the AlohaBus, but fortunately, it doesn’t rain that often in Honolulu. But, in the event of rain, they do offer ponchos.
One of the features of the new double-decker AlohaBus is that each seat is fitted with GPS-activated narration provided in English, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin), Korean and Spanish, featuring fun and unique stories and facts
If nothing else, children will love the added fun of taking in the sights of Waikiki and Honolulu from the unique vantage point of an open-air, roof-level seat of a colorful, double-decker AlohaBus!
As announced months ago, United/Continental Airlines begin direct service between Hilo and Los Angeles this month. Flights are now available to fly direct between the two cities!
So, there is now one more option available for outer-island visitors looking to avoid the crowds at Honolulu-International (HNL). And especially for those visitors who are primarily interested in visiting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to catch the latest action there. Prices are not exactly bargains at a round-trip fare of $796.90 (again, I just did a quick check and it may be possible to find lower fares).
At the time they announced their intentions to connect LA and Hilo, United/Continental Airlines also indicated that they would offer direct flights between Hilo and San Francisco. However, that has not yet happened and is apparently not available yet…I checked as far out as the end of this month.
Saturday, June 4, 2011, is the American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day! In recognition, a recent post in The National Parks of the Pacific blog highlighted the only National Trail in Hawaii, Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail on the Big Island of Hawaii. This 175-mile trail runs from near the northern tip of the island, along the coast of Kona, around Ka Lae (South Point) and then back up along the coast till it reaches the border of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
Along the way, it passes thru three of the four National Park sites on the island; Puukohola National Historic Site (near Kawaihae Harbor), often overlooked Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park (not far from the Kailua-Kona Airport), and the much more well-known and visited Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (Place of Refuge) at Honauna.
Some special events have been scheduled for the day, including a one-hour guided tour at Puuhonua o Honaunau, from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Call (808) 328-2326 Ext.1241 for information.
There will be two 45-minutes-to-an-hour guided walks in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, at the summit of Kilauea Volcano. This is a short 1/2 mile, wheel-chair accessible, paved path. No, you won’t be seeing any lava activity on this short walk. Call for information (808) 985-6000.
From 9:30 am till 11:00 am, at the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, hike with a park ranger from the park headquarters through lava fields along the coastline to see ancient fishponds, native birds, sea turtles and other sights. You will also get to see one of the better preserved examples of petroglyphs.
For the more physically fit and those looking for more of a work out, the Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park are sponsoring a 5-mile hike leaving from Punaluu State Park, a black sand beach, along the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail. The turn-around point is Kamehame, another black sand beach that is a primary nesting site for honu ‘ea (hawksbill turtles). There is a fee for this hike, $50 for Friends members and $65 for non-members. Students (K-12 and college with valid student ID) are half-price. Call (808) 985-7373 or visit www.fhvnp.org to register.
Punaluu State Park is located about 2-hours from the hotel area of Kailua-Kona. You take Highway 11, Mamalahoa Highway, south till you past Ka Lae (South Point) and the southernmost town in the U.S.A., Naalehu. You may want to stop at the Punaluu Bake Shop, which contrary to its name is located in Naalehu, to grab a bite to eat. There are no places to eat between Naalehu and Punaluu.
I will end with my usual cautions; remember the sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a cooler of drinks, snacks and sturdy, toe-covering shoes! This is not flip-flop friendly ground you will be trekking. You will thank me later.
The week long 2011 Merrie Monarch Festival came to a conclusion on Saturday evening, March 30th. And, after three nights of competition, the winner this year is…well, if you don’t already know, watch the video…
USAirways announced new higher fees for overweight luggage/baggage for anyone who purchased tickets after February 1, 2011 or travel after March 1st. For travel within the US/Canada/Latin America/Caribbean, you will be charged $90 for bags weighing 51 to 70 lbs each way. For bags weighing between 71 and 100 lbs, the fee is $175 each way. Overseas travelers face even higher fees.
These fees are in addition to the standard checked baggage fees of $25 for your first piece, $35 for your second piece, and $125 for your 3rd thru 9th checked bags. Prior to this change, your 3rd thru 9th bags would have cost an extra $100/bag. Again, these are fees for travel within the US/Canada/Latin America/Caribbean.
The over-sized bag fee is also raised to $175 per piece, each way.
There are exceptions to the checked baggage fees, including active duty military personnel and frequent fliers who have reached silver, gold, and higher status. For more information, check out their Frequently Asked Questions section of the USAirways website.
While USAirways is not a major carrier of traffic to Hawaii, the question is will other airlines increase their fees as well? If history shows us anything, its that they will see how the public reacts…then follow suit.
By the way, do you remember the “fuel surcharge”? As oil prices continue their rapid increases and with talk of gas hitting $5.00/gallon by the end of 2012, I would not be surprised to see that rear its ugly head once again. What do you think?
It is estimated that protection of these endangered animals has allowed the number of wintering humpbacks in Hawaiian waters to increase from an estimated 1000 back in 1978 to an estimated to 10-12,000 currently. That’s about 50-60% of the estimated total North Pacific Humpback count of 20,000.
The Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is still looking for a few more volunteers to participate in a whale count on Oahu, the Big Island and Kauai.
The annual count is held at numerous locations from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. on three Saturdays:
Jan. 26, Feb. 23 and March 30, 2013
Volunteers may register online at www.sanctuaryoceancount.org for locations on Oahu, Kauai, and the Big Island. Check to see if the location you’re interested in still has openings…many do.
Whether you’re an island resident or a tourist looking for something special to do while on vacation, you can be a big help in the conservation efforts of these gentle giants of the sea. Mahalo!
UPDATE 1/22/13): Great news! All slots for volunteer counters have been filled for this year’s whale count.
Tickets for the 2013 Merrie Monarch Festival, being held March 31st to April 6th, in Hilo, are available via the mail. You can apply for a maximum of 2 tickets to the 3-days of competition, Thurs (Apr 4th), Fri (Apr 5th), and Sat (Apr 6th). Tickets costs depend upon seat selection. You can purchase tickets to the Miss Aloha Hula competition held on Thursday night, or you can purchase 2-day tickets for the group competitions held on Friday and Saturday nights.
Most activities during the Festival week are free to the public; however this year, tickets are needed to attend the Wednesday Hōʻike and the three-day hula competition. This year tickets to the Wednesday night Ho’ike will cost $5.00 each and you can apply for up to 4 tickets. The Merrie Monarch Festival Committee is coordinating a special Ho’ike to salute the 50th Celebration of the Merrie Monarch Festival. We have invited some of the original dancers, first Kāne winners and special guests to grace the stage. You can find the application for the Ho’ike tickets by clicking the link above.
All applications must be postmarked no earlier than December 26th (yesterday), so you still have a good chance to get tickets if you act quickly. Tickets for the Merrie Monarch hula competition sell out quickly, so if you want to attend, I would strongly suggest you print out, complete and mail your application today!
When people think of fishing in Hawaii, thoughts immediately go to giant Marlin or Mahimahi and while there is excellent deep sea fishing to be found on all the islands, not everyone can afford to spend the $150-300/day that chartering a boat will cost (per person). Adding insult to injury, in Hawaii, unlike many other places, the “catch” belongs to the boat, not the angler! So, if you had your sights set on Mahimahi steaks for dinner, the nearest restaurant or fish market would better serve you. So, check with your charter captain first to see what arrangements can be made on any fish you may catch.
Shore Fishing in Hawaii
This post, however, is on shore fishing in Hawaii. Many locals are avid shore fishermen and women and pursue their two most favorite fish, the Papio or Ulua (Jack or Giant Trevally) and the O’io (bonefish). Of course, there are also times and/or seasons for pursuing other island favorites such as the Aholehole, Kumu, Moano, Oama or Weke, Halalu or Akule, Moi, and whatever else may be running. There are even those who venture out at night, “torching” for “Tako” (aka octopus), both as for bait or to eat. (“Torching” in Hawaii can be compared to “gigging” on the mainland, where flounder are pursued in the shallows in a similar fashion except not from the comfort of a boat.)
Hawaii is the only coastal state left that does not require a salt-water recreational fishing license, at least not yet. That does not mean fishing in Hawaii does not involve a full set of rules and regulations covering what, when, where, and even how you can catch your fish. For example, some of the locals may not be aware of the 10″ minimum size requirement for Papio, or the 5″ minimum size for Aholehole, or the 11″ minimum size and closed seasons for Moi, as is evident by some of the youtube videos being posted.
More than just about anywhere else, fishing in Hawaii is a social gathering. As much or more attention is given to the “kaukau”, or food that will be brought than to the actual fishing. Lets just say, it would be fair to say that going fishing in Hawaii often involves packing the hibachi or full blown gas bbq grill along with the fishing gear. It can be as fully involved as tail-gating at your favorite football game.
Ulua or GT
Ulua, or Giant Trevally, is probably the #1 sought after fish and devotees join clubs and tournaments in pursuit of 100+ pound fish, a true trophy of a lifetime. On the eastern seaboard from the mid-Atlantic states into the Gulf region, “jacks” are considered trash fish! Nobody eats them, very few pursue them, and there are certainly no clubs or tournaments focused on them. For them to relate, they need to think in terms of red drum and striped bass and the passion that incites to appreciate the status of Uluas in Hawaii.
Their tackle is as specialized as it gets. King Mackerel fishing from an east coast pier is as close to GT fishing in Hawaii as it gets. It often involves the same anchor-line pole with a slide-bait technique, however, in Hawaii they don’t use a separate anchor line. They simply throw out and anchor their lines, then slide down the baited hooks, all on the same pole.
Where the real differences come in is, I have not heard of any King fisherman being pulled to his death off of the end of a pier by large waves, whereas this is unfortunately, a fairly regular occurrence with ulua fishing.
Safety is just one of the reasons for ulua fishing clubs and/or groups existing. Another reason for such club outings is it is a team effort landing one of these giant fish in the kind of terrain ulua fishing often involves. Fishing from a sandy beach is the exception, rather than the norm for Ulua fishing. Rocky shorelines, usually involving cliffs of 20′ or more, are more commonly the battleground for these pursuits.
And, if that’s not enough, these 100+ lb. fish are typically caught at night.
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This video shows the team work involved with landing an Ulua from a typical rocky shore.
Of course, the biggest reason shore fishing in Hawaii is, as I mentioned before, a social gathering and eating event. Just as important as what bait will be used is what food will be taken and prepared. Most Ulua outings involve an overnight stay, so food is required. But, even if its not going to be an overnight stay, there will be food! Shore fishing in Hawaii, combines the best of surf fishing and tail-gating and if actual fish are caught, all the better!
However, for every enthusiast that pursues a 100-pound ulua, there are dozens of fishermen and women who are just as happy pursuing the under 10-lb Papio (Jack Crevalle). They are commonly found in virtually all the Hawaiian waters and eagerly attack both bait and artificial lures presented to them. Their popularity is such that unlike any other state, there are size and catch limits for these fish.
While commonly eaten in Hawaii, catch & release fishing is becoming more common. This practice has been helped along not only by the locals awareness for conservation of this resource, but also due to the Ciguatera toxin that infects many of the ulua found in Hawaii. Eating an infected fish can cause mild to severe symptoms include gastrointestinal and neurological effects. That does not take away anything from the sport of catching these great fighters.
O’io or Bonefish Fishing in Hawaii
Fly-fishing for O’io (Bonefish), in Hawaii has only become a “sport” in the last 30-years or so. The majority of O’io are caught while bottom-fishing using either shrimp or ika (squid) as bait. And, again unlike Florida fishermen who treat Bonefish as a strictly catch and release fish, in Hawaii, the O’io is excellent for use in making fish cake, popular with the locals. Catch & Release fishing for O’io is also becoming more and more commonplace, especially with the fly fishermen, but there are many who still pursue them as a food source.
So, the next time you plan a trip to Hawaii, maybe you should check into the local fishing scene and see what’s “running” and see if you can’t get in a little shore fishing time and not have to budget as much as that off-shore fishing excursion would cost. I will say that there is a near-shore fishing charter that goes just outside of Waikiki and pursues many of these same fish, aimed at the younger family members and is more affordable than a big game charter would be. Fishing in Hawaii is not limited to chasing 800 lb. Marlin!
Commonly Caught Fish and Their Restrictions
This is by no means an all-inclusive listing, but simply the more commonly shore, hook-and-line caught fish you are likely to catch. For a more information on regulated areas and species, you can go to the state website: http://hawaii.gov/dlnr/dar/regulations.html and for the current list of limit and size restrictions, you can go to: http://www.fintalk.com/states/hi/min_sizes.html
Aholehole: No possession limit, min size of 5″ **FL
Moi: Closed season June – August. Limit of 15 per person/day, min size 11 in *FL
O’io/Bonefish: No possession limit, but minimum size of 14″ **FL
Papio/Ulua/Jack Crevalle: Limit of 20 per person of all species/day, min size of 10″ **FL
Weke/Oama: Limit of 50 oama (weke under 7″ **FL) per person/day, no limit above the min size of 7″ **FL
Kumu: No possession limit, minimum size 10″ **FL
Moano: No possession limit, minimum size 7″ **FL
**FL – Measure fork length, the straight-line distance from tip of snout to middle of trailing edge of tail.
As always, you are reminded that this information, while believed to be accurate at this time, is not guaranteed and you are encouraged to visit both websites listed above for the latest information. Fishing rules and regulations are constantly being changed, so what is in effect today may not be tomorrow. So, if you like the idea of fishing in Hawaii, be sure to check both websites out.
In invite you to visit my other blog, coastalfishingvideos.com, if you’re interested in seeing more about fishing Hawaiian style. In addition to videos of fishing in Hawaii, the site includes over 480 of the best east-coast, gulf-coast, and west coast surf-wade-pier-kayak fishing videos from around the internet. You will also find information on fishing rules, regulations, and licensing on all the coastal states (except Alaska), as well as a link to tide charts for coastal states. Happy fishing and tight lines!
The owner of this website, Randy Yanagawa, is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking My Hawaii Food Fun to Amazon properties including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com.
