Here is a handy tool, we found a website that has a free official Hawaii Visitors Guide.  The website is, www.gohawaii.com, and the link to visitors guide is, http://www.gohawaii.com/about_hawaii/visitor_guide.  This guide will help you plan your next visit to Hawaii, from what to do, where to stay, and events. Also a great website to visit for maps and information is, www.alternative-hawaii.com.  This website provides you with a maps, acommodations, activities, calendar of events, restaurants, and more for each of Hawaii’s six Islands.

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The Hula Girls…

Hy’s Steak House

One of the best known steak houses in Hawaii, Hy’s Steak House provides the food and atmosphere of fine dining.  For imformation and locations go to, http://www.hyshawaii.com

Tiki’s Grill and Bar

Located on the second floor of the Waikiki Beach Hotel, Tiki’s Grill and Bar offers the flavors of Hawaii and casual American.  For more info, visit their darling website at, http://www.tikisgrill.com/postIndex/postindex.htm

Holokai Grill

Located at the Waikiki Beach Walk, this 152 seat restaurant offers a carefree dining experience, along with live contemparary Hawaiian entertainment.  For info on Holokai Grill go to, http://www.holokaigrill.com

 Sansei Seafood & Sushi Bar

With 4 grat locatins to serve you, Sansei Seafood and Sushi Bar is one of America’s best sushi restaurants.  Visit their website at, http://www.sanseihawaii.com

Chai’s Island Bistro

Honolulu Magazine’s winner of the Best New Restaurant in 2000.  Chai’s Island Bistro offers Pacific Rim Cusine, and Hawaii’s hottest nightly entertainment.  http://www.chaisislandbistro.com

We hope you like our suggestions!

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If you are visiting Kauai, you have to go to Puka Dog!  It could be the most unique and delicious hot dog you have ever eaten. In Hawaiian, puka means hole, and Puka Dog makes their buns special, with a whole right down the middle.  Next the pour in some of their delicious relishes (special hawaiian recepies), or just your usual condiments if you choose.  And finally they slide in a premium polish dog. 

Their relishes are, mango relish, pineapple relish, papaya relish, coconut relish, banana relish, guava relish and star fruit relish.

Their is also a Puka Dog location in Oahu.

For more information on Puka Dog, for pictures, locations and the menu, go to http://www.pukadog.com

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Edmund Hillary was born on July 20, 1919.  As he grew, he was smaller than his peers and was very shy, so he took much joy in his books and his daydreams of an adventurous life.  He obtained an interest for climbing at age 16 during a school trip to Mt. Ruapehu.  In 1939 Hillary reached the summit of Mt. Oliver in the Southern Alps, this was his first major climb. 

Hillary went on to participate in many expeditions.  He was was part of a British reconnaissance expedition to Everest in 1951.  In 1952 he was a part of a team that attempted Cho Oyu, they failed due to lack of route on the Nepal side.  And in 1953 Sir Edmund Hillary successfully climbed to the top of the summit of Mt. Everest.

 After Everest, Hillary climbed 10 other peaks in the Himalayas, reached the South Pole as part of the Commonweath Trans-Antarctic Expedition, and had many more accomplishment throughout his life.

 On January 11, 2008 Sir Edmund Hillary died from heart failure at the Auckland City Hospital, he was 88. 

The example led by this man will surely live on, it has been said that “We will not see his kind again”.  He will be missed. 

For the complete Biography of Sir Edmund Hillary go to, http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/hil0bio-1 or  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmund_Hillary.

For news on Hillary’s death and obituary go to, 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/01/11/whillary611.xml

Your stay will include private, luxurious accommodations and delicious, health-inspired cuisine prepared by your own private chef. The island’s best guides and instructors will take you hiking, snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving, zip-lining or any other adventure you choose. Come home to an in-room massage or tone your body with a personal trainer. Whatever you select, your activities are meticulously planned so that you enjoy seamless transitions throughout your stay. Pure Kauai helps you experience the “Garden Island” in a way no one else can.

 To set up your itinerary and get a quote, click here, type in the special ITA # which is 1175422. Then you can proceed by clicking on “Preferred Destinations”. There you will see a link that says “Escape to Kauai”.

Hope you have amazing time in Kauai!  We would love to see your pictures, so when you get back email us (contact us tab) and let us know how your trip was.

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Experience all of the enchanting beauty and adventure of the Hawaiian islands, but at the end of the day, board your luxurious floating resort and enjoy a deck party, incredible cuisine, and entertainment into the night.

The Hula Girls have partnered with Gulliver’s Travel to get you the best vacations possible! Just click here to see all that we have to offer. Type in this special ITA # 1175422.  Then proceed by clicking on “Preferred Cruises”.

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Couples seeking the ultimate privacy will especially enjoy the Regency Club, offering exclusive service and accommodations on the six highest floors of the 40-story Diamond Head Tower. Complimentary amenities here include concierge services, continental breakfast, afternoon snacks and refreshments and evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Also included are passes to the 24-hour fitness center and Spa and limousine service within the Waikiki area. Guest rooms in the Regency Club have marble bathrooms, bathrobes, slippers, upgraded bathroom amenities, two telephones, a clock radio with cassette, as well as turndown service. International newspapers are also available.

To get this deal, Click Here. Type in the special ITA # which is, 1175422.  You can then proceed by clicking on “Sunshine for Sale”.

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The Hula Girls…

We have a fun Christmas Eve tradition at our house and it just happens to be a little bit Hawaiian.  Every year on Christmas Eve, our family gathers together.  We exchange gifts, have a silly Christmas progam, and eat a very un-traditional Christmas Dinner.  Every year we have Hawaiian Haystacks.  If you have never tried a Hawaiian Haystack, you MUST at least once.  They are delicious and simple.  You’ll be pleasantly surprised!  Our mother insists that we use all the ingredients (even if there is something we don’t like) especially the maraschino cherry on top!

HAWAIIAN HAYSTACKS

(In this order)

Chow Mein Noodles (hard crunchy kind that you buy in the bags…it’s the hay)

Rice (white or brown…whatever you like)

Chicken (you can use chunks or strips)

Cream of Chicken Soup ( pour over the noodles, rice, and chicken)

Shredded Cheddar Cheese (sprinkle over the top)

Celery (diced)

Tomatoes (diced)

Pineapple (cubes or crushed)

Peanuts

Coconut (shredded)

Maraschino Cherry (Top it Off)!

* Everyone makes their own.  Put out plates and all the ingredients.  We even have a few vegitarians.  They skip the chicken and use Cream of Mushroom Soup instead!

Enjoy!!

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The Hula Girls….

The Hawaiian words used as a Christmas greeting have changed sixteen times from 1876 to 1903.  “Merry Christmas” was first stated with the words, Ka Nupepe Ku’oko’a, the greeting today is Mele Kalikimaka.  Here are the lyrics to the song “Mele Kalikimaka”.

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say

On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day

That’s the island greeting that we send to you

From the land where palm trees sway

Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright

The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night

Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii’s way

To say “Merry Christmas to you.”

Hawaii also has their own way of telling the traditional story Twas the Night Before Christmas, and have their own words to The 12 Days of Christmas.

You know your celebrating Christmas in Hawaii when………..

• The only snow you see is in a cone shaped cup covered in syrup.

• Santa arrives on the beach in a canoe.

• Silent night is played on the ukelele.

• It’s macadamia nut candy instead of fruitcake.

• You leave your slippers and sandals at the door, not your snow boots.

• Sushi and passion orange juice are left out for Santa.

For more ways to know you are celebrating Christmas in Hawaii go to , http://www.melekalikimaka.com/customs2.htm.

If you are visiting Hawaii during the Christmas Season, make sure that you don’t miss the Honolulu Lights. Events are held throughout the month of December.  You can find out about all of these events on the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau’s Calendar of events webpage, http://www.calendar.gohawaii.com.

For other interesting Christmas in hawaii facts, go to http://www.melekalikimaka.com

Mele Kalikimaka!

The Hula Girls…

I looked up the term in Roget’s Thesaurus and found the following:  Big enchilada, big gun, boss, chief, head honcho, influential person, leader, person in charge, top dog, VIP, big cheese.  These are the terms we associate with the Kahuna, but I still wanted to find the origin of the word/term Kahuna.  I did a little research and found an amazing article on a website called Aloha International.  The article is written by Serge Kahili King.  There is a small summary of the Kahuna below; written by Serge; to view the entire article go to http://www.huna.org/html/kahuna.html

Brief Historical Survey of Kahunas

• They were experts of old Hawaii, experts in religion, health, crafts, science, psychology, and magic

• “Kahuna” was a title, like M.D. or Ph.D., and additional descriptive words were used to designate the field of expertise.

• Just as the modern use of the word “doctor”by itself is generally taken to mean a medical doctor, so the use of “kahuna” by itself generally designated a priest or healer

• They underwent intensive and extensive training before being recognized as experts in their field, either by their teacher or by the community.

• Some Kahunas were experts in many fields.

• They were attuned to the spiritual side of their expertise as well as to the material side.

• They could be male or female.

• Under the Monarchy the term “Kahuna” began to be used for foreigners who were recognized experts in their fields, especially for ministers and health professionals.

So what have we learned??? Kahunas were well-respected, well-learned, men and women.  I was personally very surprised to find out that women were also Kahunas!!  We have to give “props” to the ancient Hawaiian culture for recognizing women as intelligent leaders!!  Pretty amazing for the 1800’s!

Aloha and Mahalo!

The Hula Girls….