I took this photo while hiking in Kalaheo last week. It’s one of my favorite views on Kauai looking down to the south shore.
Speaking of views, I have a lot of my own and enjoy sharing them with others on travel sites and forums. To start the week off, I’m featuring some of these recent topics and conversations.
Airfares to Hawaii are escalating, Los Angeles Times. A good article about the subject we all know and dread. They noted Delta Airlines $110 Hawaii surcharge starting this week.
Beat of Hawaii Response:
Summer fares between the mainland and Hawaii haven’t changed appreciably. They have been in the $700+ range for the past 10 years.
Low season fares (mid-August and beyond), have gone up dramatically. We’ve seen about a 30% jump from last year to this year.
We’ll see what shakes out with Delta’s huge fuel surcharge.
Dangerous Travel: Killer Beaches 2008, Jaunted. While mentioning some of the world’s most deadly beaches, they point to two with which I’m very familiar with here in Hawaii: Hanakapiai (Kauai) and Papohaku (Molokai).
Beat of Hawaii Response: I expanded upon those two and added an additional beach that is extremely dangerous:
Polihale (Kauai) – I’ve only managed to get in the water there a few times in many years. We love this beach, but on most visits, we can’t get into the water.
Sandy Beach (Oahu) – I nearly bit the dust myself bodysurfing there once. It can be great, or deadly.
Further on Hanakapiai, I witnessed a drowning there when a young man swimming hit his head on a rock. Something I’ll never forget.
Do Your Homework Before Going On Vacation Or Customs Will Seize Your Goat, The Consumerist. With tongue in cheek they helped remind us that there are Customs rules in effect when traveling internationally. The last thing we want is to have our goat confiscated.
Beat of Hawaii Response:
I joked back with the author and mentioned that our pet Mule wants nothing to do with travel. Further, we had a recent experience entering Australia wherein all luggage was X-rayed and food items were carefully scrutinized. With some quick talking, luckily none was taken.
It’s not a bird, it’s a gecko, Hawaii Magazine. Derek mentions a letter from a reader about the mysterious chirping sounds in the islands. Hawaii Magazine mentioned it is created by geckos, a “sticky-footed lizard.”
Beat of Hawaii Response:
Geckos are not lizards at all, but instead a 4-legged snake.
What side of the island (Kauai) to stay on?, Frommer’s Travel Talk. I commented in relation to seasonal ocean swells.
Beat of Hawaii Response:
We have summer ocean swells on the south shores (on all of the Hawaiian islands). In summer, the north shores change from major surf spots to wonderfully safe swimming beaches. The seasonal shift is happening right now. In summer, Hanalei Bay is one of the worlds best swimming beaches.
