I recently blogged about the times in 2013 when you should be on higher alert to the presence of Portuguese man-o-war and box jellyfish while enjoying the beaches of Hawaii.  And, while I’m on the subject of beaches, I would like to point out a great resource to help both newcomers and kama’ainas alike in finding some beaches to enjoy is the City & County of Honolulu’s map which plots public access points to get to the shore on Oahu.  It includes all the popular, well known sites, but also includes some tucked-away places that you may not be aware of.

The map includes swimming, as well as fishing, access points and while it is not necessarily all-inclusive, it is a pretty comprehensive list.

By clicking on the location, it will pull up additional information about that particular site such as, does it have bathrooms? showers? and what type of shoreline will be found there.

For example, this is the information given for Sand Island State Recreation Area.

State-wide Ban of Non-Biodegradable plastic bags

In 2009, Kauai was the first county to pass a law banning non-biodegradable plastic bags at the checkout.  The law went into effect on January 11, 2011.

In 2010, Maui County, which covers Maui, Lanai, and Molokai, passed a plastic bags ban law which went into effect on January 1, 2011.

In January, Hawaii County passed a no non-biodegradable plastic bags bill which goes into effect in January 2014.

On April 25, 2012, the Honolulu City Council approved a plan that will ban the distribution of both non-recyclable paper and non-biodegradable plastic bags from distribution at store and restaurant checkouts.  All that awaits making Hawaii the first state to ban non-biodegradable plastic bags and non-recyclable paper trash is Mayor Carlisle’s signature, giving Honolulu businesses until July 15, 2015, to make the change.

Let’s hope he signs it and puts Hawaii in a leadership position for the rest of the country to follow.

UPDATE:   On May 17, 2012, Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle signed the plastic-bag ban bill…the last Hawaii county to implement such a ban.  On July 1, 2015, when the new law takes effect, Hawaii will become the first state to ban plastic bags at checkout counters .

New Habits Take Time

As with most change we try to incorporate into our daily lives, it will take an effort and a bit of time for consumers to make the adjustment from plastic to paper…or to use re-usable bags.  There are a lot of folks who have purchased re-usable cloth bags, myself included, who just haven’t gotten into the habit of always taking it with them.  It does very little good, sitting at home.

My kids have gotten into the habit of using it selectively.  They have been using Target’s re-usable bags for a couple of years now simply because Target gives shoppers 5 cents off for each bag used.  A simple little thing, but its enough to at least make my kids use their Target bags whenever they shop there!

I will admit, I re-use those non-biodegradable plastic bags frequently, but do get annoyed when I see how many end up as litter.  Not only is it an eye-sore, but they also hurt wildlife, especially sea-life.

I no longer buy 6-packs, but for years, I got in the habit to cut up those plastic retainers so that sea-birds and turtles would not get caught in them.  It took an extra 15-seconds or so to dispose of it with this added step versus just pitching it into the trash.  There are a lot of little things we can do to help the environment and just as importantly, reduce litter.

Don’t stop there!

Do you have a favorite beach? hiking trail? picnic area? waterfall?  Have you ever taken a moment to pick up and properly dispose of someone else’s trash that was left behind?  Why not?  I have picked up bags (yep, those non-biodegradable plastic bags) full of trash that thoughtless fishermen have left behind at my favorite fishing spots and taken them to the nearest trash can or landfill site.

Yes, it took a few minutes to do.  But, it left the place looking a lot better than it did when I got there.  Obviously, it would be better if people didn’t leave their trash behind in the first place!   I have no control over that.  What I do have control over is picking up and properly disposing of at least a little bit each time I go!  So do you.

Recently, the City & County of Honolulu has eliminated picking up trash at some public beaches with private rights-of-ways.  While this move will save the C & C of Honolulu about $700,000 annually, it also means those beaches and their access points will mostly likely become trash ridden within weeks.   If only, we could get everyone to live responsibly and not litter…unfortunately, I don’t see that happening any time soon.

Hawaii’s leadership in banning non-biodegradable plastic bags is a step in the right direction.

Akaka Falls Entry Fee

The latest fee resulting from the economic hard times is the Department of Natural Resources’ new $5 per car entry fee at Akaka Falls State Park on the Big Island (higher rates apply to commercial tours and buses).  So, yet another free attraction will now generate some badly needed revenue from visitors to the state.

For those who may not be familiar, Akaka Falls is located a few miles north of Hilo, off of Highway 19 between Honomu and Hakalau.  Also in the area is the often overlooked, Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens at Onomea Bay.

So far, Rainbow Falls outside of Hilo has been kept off the list of places sporting this $5 parking fee being charged at more and more sites.  Just another sign of the economic hardships that have befallen the state budget.  The good thing about it is that the state legislature has at least deemed it unnecessary, not to mention politically correct, to not extend this fee to state residents.  Hawaii residents, who must show their id, are exempt from this new fee.

Pali Lookout, Oahu, too!

Earlier this year, the Pali Lookout had a parking fee added to non-resident visitors on Oahu.  I guess this is just a sign of things to come.  Unfortunately, as with just about all “new” fees, even a return to better economic times are unlikely to see the end to these latest revenue sources.

Anyone care to guess what will be next?  Can you foresee parking meters at the beach parks?  Many municipalities on the mainland already charge parking at popular beach locations.  Then, again, virtually all of the states bordering the east coast also require a saltwater fishing license, in addition to separate freshwater fishing licenses.  And, it wasn’t any more popular there than it would be to start charging such a fee in Hawaii.

Let’s hope it never gets to that point.  Its hard enough to find anything you can do for free in the islands, without having to pay for beach related activities.  For now, tourists will have to pay this additional fee to enjoy Akaka Falls, one of the many natural resources that make Hawaii the popular destination it is.

Is it worth it?  If you love rain forests and waterfalls…absolutely!  While I’m not a big fan of this new fee, I would not be deterred by it either.  I’m not sure whether its seeing Akaka Falls itself or the walk through the giant bamboo and other trees that line the walkway, but its always relaxing and refreshing to do so.

I have to admit, the Hawaii Magazine is one of my favorite magazines. My only complaint with it is that it only brings me a glimpse of Hawaii six times a year! I wish it was a monthly publication, but six times a year is better than not at all.

I find their articles well researched, well written and their photos invigorating! Whether they are sharing the latest eateries that they have uncovered or sharing the results of a readers’ poll on our favorite eateries, places to go, beaches to hang out at, its all a welcome escape from my day to day routine.

So, here’s your chance to have a little sunshine delivered to your door bi-monthly for only $20/year. Subscribe now to Hawaii Magazine.

Its especially nice when you are able to revisit some of your personal favorite destinations, whether its the Hamura Saimin stand in Lihue, an up close and personal tour of the H.N. Greenwell Store in Kona (you can almost smell the Sweet Bread being baked), or some great photos of Kilauea’s red hot flow to the ocean. Of course, you don’t have to be a fanatical lover of Hawaii to appreciate the magazine.

They have photo contests amongst their readership and the winning photos are amazing; every bit as good as the magazine’s own pics. They conduct polls for things like favorite beaches and favorite hideaway destinations. They took that helicopter tour that you passed up on, the cruise you didn’t take, and the hike you weren’t up for, and share the photos to make you regret not having gone. (There’s always next time.)

You will really appreciate it when the weather turns to freezing outside this winter. I even sent gift subscriptions to my family…have to admit, easiest Christmas shopping I’ve ever done. So, make sure you get your own taste of the islands delivered to your door and subscribe now.

The Royal Hawaiian Center

It may come as a surprise to many that  the Royal Hawaiian Center is owned by the Kamehameha Schools.  It is a great source of revenue that helps to keep the school operating and providing educational opportunities for students of Hawaiian descent.  All that most people know, or care about, is that it provides excellent shopping and eating opportunities in the heart of Waikiki.

The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, built in 1979,  completed major renovation in 2011, after having loss much of its luster…and most of its prestigious anchor stores.  The transformation from Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center to Royal Hawaiian Center began around 2005..

The end result is a return to its spot as a premiere shopping destination in Honolulu and the return of high-end flagship stores, such as Cartier, Hermes, Fendi, Juicy Couture, Rolex and Salvatore Ferragamo.  Among the over 100 stores and restaurants are 11 restaurants including the Cheesecake Factory, Senor Frog’s Restaurant & Bar, and Beijing Chinese Seafood Restaurant.

Many of the shops are locally owned and operated and feature locally designed and crafted merchandise.   While you’ll find your usual offerings, there are a few things that are definitely not to be found in your typical shopping center.  How many shopping centers do you know that have a shooting club?  Yes, on Level 4 of Building A, you will find the Royal Hawaiian Shooting Club.

The Royal Hawaiian Center sits on land that goes back to the days before King Kamehameha took control.

Among the many Hawaiian heritage activities offered, you can hear the fascinating story about the land’s history at the Kualani Heritage Room located in the Royal Grove.  (You can also learn why its called the Royal Grove.)  Three short films tell the story of Helumoa, as well as the history of the Kamehameha royal family, Princess Pauahi, and her lasting legacy, Kamehameha Schools.

Due to these ties to “old Hawaii”, the Royal Hawaiian Center is dedicated to preserving and sharing cultural activities including free lessons for lomi-lomi massage and healing, hula dancing (shows held at 6:00pm Tues thru Sat), ukelele playing, lei making, the art of Hawaiian quilt-making and how to use a sarong/pareo.

And, on the first and third Thursdays of the month, the Royal Hawaiian Band plays from 1:00-2:00 pm at the Royal Grove.

So, if you’re staying anywhere in Waikiki, it would be well worth your time to look into what’s on the schedule at the Royal Hawaiian Center during your stay.  You will find it interesting, educational, and entertaining, not to mention free.

Christmas Car Rentals

While it may seem a bit early to be thinking about Christmas, you should know that the car rental companies have already reported that there are NO rentals available for the week of Christmas, except on the island of Oahu.  So, if you are planning an outer-island Christmas vacation, you may not be able to find a rental car!

Of course, you might get lucky and someone may cancel their reservations for the same type and time that you were hoping to get.  But, short of that happening, you may want to re-think your vacation destination or timing.

Add-On Taxes and Fees

If you have never rented a car in Hawaii before, or if its been a while since you’ve done so, this seems to be an appropriate time to mention the litany of add-on fees and taxes that you will face when its time to pay up.  Fortunately, most car rental companies include these additional charges in your final estimate.  So, don’t base your expenses on the base car rental rates.

Here are fees you can expect to face:

• Concession Recoupment Fee (11.11%)
• Vehicle Reg. & Weight Tax ($0.45/day)
• Sales Tax 4.166% (Oahu 4.712%)
• Hawaii State Road Tax ($3.00/day)
• Customer Facility Charge ($4.50/day)

If you’ve been adding it up, that’s an extra $7.95/day plus 15.276% in taxes (15.822% on Oahu).  The disparity between Oahu and the outer islands tax rate is the Rail Tax to offset the cost of building the controversial, on again-off again, rail transportation system planned for Honolulu.

[The current status of which is “on-hold” by order of the Federal Appellate Court until such time as the City & County of Honolulu provides additional details on historical sites that might be affected by the rail system.  But, that’s a whole ‘nudder topic!]

Reserve Early To Avoid Being Wheel-less!

This shortage of rental cars will not only cause headaches in just securing a rental vehicle for your vacation, but you should also not expect to see any real bargains in car rental rates, either.   You can anticipate that a full-size car, SUV, or mini-van will cost $99/day and up…plus those add-on fees/taxes, mentioned earlier.

So, consider yourself forewarned and best of luck in securing your rental car!

Kona Coffee

While Kona Coffee is recognized throughout the world as an exceptionally smooth drink, Hawaii offers more than just the famous Kona Coffee. In the last 20 years, more and more growers have turned to coffee to replace pineapple and sugar cane as cash crops. Hawaii has the unique growing conditions that coffee plants thrive in. Coffee was introduced to Hawaii on the island of Kauai, but was wiped out by disease there.

Everyone who drinks coffee has heard of Kona Coffee, coffee that has been grown in a belt approximately 1 mile wide and 30 miles long, primarily on the slopes of Hualalai, one of 5 volcanoes that make up the Big Island of Hawaii. Grown between 800′ and 2500′ elevation with temperatures that never dip below 55F, but cooler nights to slow the ripening process of coffee cherries.

Photo courtesy of:  Tor Johnson/Hawaii Tourism Authority

The slower the coffee cherry takes to mature, the larger the bean and higher its water content, all of which adds to the flavor. Another benefit of this location is the cloud cover that moves in almost every afternoon, preventing it from getting too much sun. Coffee plants do not do well if it gets too much sun, which can burn its leaves and hurt the plant. (In other areas, coffee farms actually plant larger shade trees throughout the farms to provide shade and shelter from the afternoon sun.)

A final ingredient that makes Kona an ideal growing area for coffee is the excellent drainage that the lava provides. Along with the afternoon clouds, you also get some rain, but both the drainage and the slopes that are found in this area assure that the plants don’t sit in too much water.

Not Just From Kona Any More

So, what Mother Nature has provided is the ideal growing conditions for coffee plants to thrive. Many of these same elements can be found in other areas throughout the islands and coffee is now being grown on just about every island. There are also other areas of the Big Island that grow coffee including the up and coming Kau District, where Kau Coffee is gaining its own reputation as an excellent coffee.

Coffee is also grown on all the other major islands; Kauai, Maui, and Oahu. While Kona still is the name that comes to mind most often when people think of Hawaiian coffee, there are more choices than ever.

A final note on buying coffee from Hawaii. Several years ago, the state of Hawaii passed legislation requiring retailers to label their products as either pure (100%) or as a blend (10%). If you’re buying a blended Hawaiian coffee, you should know that you’re buying the “idea” of Hawaiian coffee, since 90% of it is coming from sources outside of Hawaii.

So, while it does cost more to buy 100% Hawaiian Coffee, whether that’s Kona, Kau, or whatever, spend the extra money and buy the 100% product. Worse case scenario, you can go home and make your own 50/50 blend if you want to stretch your coffee dollars. Not only will you be getting a better coffee, but your 50/50 blend will work out cheaper than the 10% blend would have cost you!

However, if you are buying coffee as gifts to take back to others, your dollar will obviously go further buying one of the many blends.

The Restoration and Protection of Hawaii’s Many Islets

I recently stumbled across a website that I found very enlightening and interesting.  If you are concerned about the environment at all, and the protection of Hawaiian wildlife, flora and fauna in particular, I think you might also find this website of interest.  It is run by the Offshore Islet Restoration Committee and includes pictures and brief descriptions of many of the endemic (found only in Hawaii) and indigenous (native to Hawaii, but also found elsewhere), as well as some of the problematic invasive (introduced) species of plants and animals.

For example, did you know that the common Lantana was introduced to Hawaii in 1858 as an ornamental shrub because of its colorful flowers?  I still find it hard to believe that people on the mainland “buy” lantana to take home and plant as part of their landscaping.

You may be as surprised as I was at the number of islets there are just surrounding the 8 major islands:

• Big Island…4 islets
• Maui…13 islets, including Molokini
• Kahoolawe…2 islets
• Lanai…5 islets
• Molokai….9 islets
• Oahu…16 islets, counting North and South Mokulua separately
• Kauai…1 islet
• Niihau…2 islets

These islets act as micro-ecosystems due to their isolation.  It is this isolation that allows for more success in controlling invasive species compared to other sites that are hard to control.  There are plants and animals that have been identified to inhabit some of these islets that are found nowhere else in Hawaii, and in many cases, the world.

The website also describes some of the efforts underway to restore and preserve the many islets that surround the major Hawaiian islands.  The following was copied from their website @www.hawaiioirc.org:

INTRODUCTION TO THE ISLETS

“Hawaii’s offshore islets are the last refuge for many rare coastal species and hold the hope for becoming a safe haven for many more. Many islets are relatively isolated from the threats that plague Hawaii’s native species, over 470 of which are listed as threatened, endangered or candidate species under the Endangered Species Act. Because of this isolation, many offshore islets in Hawaii still harbor rich coastal resources, including 22 species of seabirds in the largest Hawaii seabird colonies outside of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. Five new species were first described from Hawaii offshore islets. Eight threatened and endangered species are currently found on the islets and 8 additional federal species of concern are present. The islets are home to large numbers of endemic (i.e., species found only in Hawaii) plants, insects, birds, and marine creatures. See the ‘Species’ section of this website for more information. Twelve islets are federally designated critical habitat for endangered plants and are considered essential to the recovery of these species. The ‘Islets’ section of this website includes information on the 43 largest and most biologically important islets.”  From www.hawaiioirc.org

And, I also wanted to share this list of conservation efforts you can take to minimize your impact on this fragile environment.

ISLET ETIQUETTE

Visitors to offshore islets can help conserve these fragile coastal areas by observing the following rules of ‘islet etiquette’:

• Obey all posted signs

• Leave pets at home and don’t release unwanted pets into the wild

• Stay away from all seabirds and bird nesting areas; many birds nest in burrows and it’s easy to crush the burrows by accident

• Check your clothes and gear (especially shoes and socks) before you come to the islets and remove any seeds or insects

• Pack out everything that you pack in

• Don’t damage the plants

• Remember that camping and campfires are not allowed

From www.hawaiioirc.org

Share the Awareness

While living in paradise is a wonderful thing, it also comes with some responsibilities to preserve the very things that make it paradise.  Just as we’ve become environmentally conscious when it comes to treading lightly on the reefs, protecting whales, dolphins, and turtles, there are hundreds of lesser known species of plants and animals that also need protection.  Unfortunately, the very fact that they are endangered or threatened means that we don’t come into contact with them often, so we are less conscious of their existence or need for protection.

Hopefully, you’ll share this article and help to spread the word and raise awareness that these species need our protection even more.