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You Should Be In Waikiki
by Laura RomanoYou Should Be In Waikiki
The
stunning azure blues and emerald greens of Oahu welcome visitors to the island
and proclaim the natural beauty of this lush, luxuriant land. First-time
visitors can expect to be impressed by the rolling mountain ranges that meet the
crashing sea in a display of long-present tenacity, as well as the island locals
who greet each visitor with a special brand of island hospitality called the
"Aloha Way."
It is a magical place, and there is plenty to do on Oahu
that will keep you wrapped up in its splendor. In fact, one could have a very
full vacation and never leave Waikiki Beach. The famous beach boasts fine,
powdery white sand and excellent surfing waves. It's a treat to watch the
surfers dotting the horizon, floating on their boards as they wait for the
premium wave. The beach itself is always busy, with sunbathers staking out the
shore and swimmers bobbing in the water. For those wishing to stay dry while
exploring the sea, there are catamaran rides and canoe rides available for an
afternoon or evening cruise. Or, for the more adventurous, there are several
places along the beach that offer surfing lessons, which cost about $35 for a
two-hour period.
Indeed, surfing lessons are very popular on Waikiki
Beach and, according to locals, those who take lessons range in age from 12 to
80-something. The instructors claim that anyone can learn how to surf in two
hours, and that women catch on to the sport especially quickly. The first hour
is a period of on-shore instruction where students practice the best technique
of getting on top of the board in the proper position to ride the wave. When a
level of comfort is reached, the instructor takes the students to shallow water
for additional practice before tackling the giant waves that make the beach
famous.
Waikiki has no shortage of places to stay, but the best are the
family-owned Outrigger and Ohana hotels. These resorts offer a range of travel
packages and special programs that make vacationing in Hawaii an affordable
option, with rates starting as low as $69 per night. Many of Ohana's properties
have a kitchenette in each room, allowing guests to make their own meals. Each
hotel is located close to beaches, shopping, dining and nightlife. There are
many different properties to choose from, ranging in price from budget to
luxury. While both Outrigger and Ohana are owned by the same company, the
Outrigger brand indicates a full-service, more deluxe property, while the Ohana
(which means "family") brand is more budget-priced for family travel.
To
read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this
link:
http://jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/globe02/Hawaii02/oahu/waikiki/waikiki.html
Laura
Romano, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at
www.jetsettersmagazine.com
To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at
www.jetstreams.com
and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at
www.beachbooker.com
About the Author
Laura Romano, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers
Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
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Hilton Hawaiian Village – The Heart of Mana
by Carolyn
Proctor
Hilton Hawaiian Village – The Heart of Mana
Hanging
purple orchids and the perfumes of plumeria, moonflower and jade vine surround
you.
Parrots, red and blue macaws, exotic ducks, flamingos, swans (both
black and white), crested cranes, and tropical penguins add their calls of
greeting.
There is only one place this magical and you are here: the
Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa on Waikiki Beach, the ageless
heart of Hawaii.
Everything you could possibly want is here. World-class
restaurants, exotic shopping, pearlescent beaches, and a variety of
entertainments in a tropical setting.
The hotel check-in area (you could
hardly call it a lobby) is "outside." Soft breezes flow along with your view
past the desk to palms, 10,000 square-foot Super Pool and lush island greenery.
We are heralded with the famous "aloha spirit": an honest smile and warm
Hawaiian greeting.
Our room is on the 27th floor of the new Kalia Tower,
considered the business executive tower and the only one with a concierge. Our
balcony opens to a wide expanse. Between the Ali`i Tower on the left and the
Rainbow Tower on the right lies a tropical movie-set vision of the Village's
Super Pool and the wide expanse of beach and Pacific Ocean beyond. Below, the
entire roof of one low building looks like a traditional Hawaiian quilt
pattern.
Each tower has a different price range and theme. Paula Abdul
and The Lakers have stayed in the Ali`i Tower. Elvis stayed there when it was
called the Ocean Tower and threw 45s vinyls off the balcony to quiet the
screaming women on the beach. The sides of the Rainbow Tower are the largest
murals in the world: each rainbow mosaic contains more than 8,000 hand-painted
and baked ceramic tiles. This is a commanding work of art that you can see from
your plane as you fly in and out of Honolulu. Hawaiian legend holds that a
rainbow is the path a god uses to come to earth, and more rainbows occur in
Hawaii than anywhere else in the world. An appropriate theme for this amazing
tile art.
Carolyn
Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent – Read Jetsetters Magazine at
www.jetsettersmagazine.com
To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at
www.jetstreams.com
and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at
www.beachbooker.com
Read Jetsetters Magazine at
www.jetsettersmagazine.com
To read this entire feature FREE with photos click
here:
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/hilton/waikiki/village.html
About the Author:
Carolyn Proctor, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers
Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
Leave Your email next to the
logo for FREE e travel newsletter.
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