Recommend April 2011 - (Page 71)

natural attractions and another peek into the state’s past. A good way to dig a little deeper into Hawaiian history is to visit various landmarks in Honolulu. The ‘Ioiani Palace, completed in 1882, is a National Historic Landmark and a symbol of Hawaiian monarchy, beginning with beloved “Merrie Monarch” King Kalakaua, the last elected King of Hawai’i (a Merrie Monarch Festival takes place each year in Hilo, celebrating the king’s support of the arts). ‘Ioiani is the only royal palace in America; two floors are open to the public, with guided tours available Monday through Saturday. Across the street from the palace is Aliiolani Hale, home of the Hawaii State Supreme Court. Other stops in the city: Honolulu Hale, the official seat of the city government, and the Hawaii Theatre, a Vaudeville house and cinema listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places. Designed using a variety of architectural styles, the theater is still open for performances and offers guided tours on Tuesdays. The darker side of Oahu history came after these buildings were built, when Japanese forces attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941. The World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument allows access into the USS Arizona Memorial, the USS Oklahoma Memorial, the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park, and other sites that commemorate those who perished during the attack, with both guided and audio tours available daily. Clients can explore these landmarks on their own or book Discover Hawaii Tours’ WWII from Beginning to End day program, which starts at $60 pp and combines visits to various landmarks of the war with a tour of historic downtown Honolulu and even a drive along some of President Obama’s childhood homes and birthplace. For more active travelers, there’s the Mauka to Makai: Oahu Air, Land and Sea Adventure, priced at $120 pp, which packs a good dose of adrenaline in a day. Clients enjoy a guided hike and eco chat through the Ko’olau Mountain Range to find a waterfall, a zipline ride along treetops that reveals views of Kaneohe Bay and a kayaking excursion on Kailua Bay. There are plenty of nice hotels in Oahu, but the gorgeous North Shore location of Turtle Bay Resort is a big draw. Guests can rent mopeds and set off to explore the island on their own, snorkel by the resort’s shoreline or sign up for a guided eco-kayak tour. The resort also has an onsite helicopter tour outfitter that takes them over the island, as well as horseback rides along nearby beaches and forests. Another plus: accommodations include everything from ample guestrooms to 3- and 4-bedroom Ocean Villas. Golfers also have their choice of two championship courses; a Daily Unlimited Golf Challenge package is $174 pp per night. mahalo month The Hawaii Tourism Authority is inviting travel professionals to take advantage of its Mahalo Month program, which has more than 130 special offers and rates available to them through the end of May. n Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Hawaii: Mahalo to Condo-Hotels (September 2010) contact information Apple Vacations: applevacations.com Aqua Hotel Molokai: (866) 406-2782; aquaresorts.com Damien Tours: (808) 567-6171 Discover Hawaii Tours: (808) 690-9050; discoverhawaiitours.com Mahalo Month: mahalomonth.com Molokai Mule Ride: (800) 567-7550; muleride.com Turtle Bay Resort: 808.293.6000; turtlebayresort.com april 2011 71 http://www.recommend.com http://www.applevacations.com http://www.aquaresorts.com http://www.discoverhawaiitours.com http://www.mahalomonth.com http://www.muleride.com http://www.turtlebayresort.com http://americansafaricruises.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend April 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Hurtigruten's Trollfjord
Savoring Adventure on Small Ship Cruises
Turkey Beyond Istanbul
Stepping Out in Eastern Europe: Go Escorted
2011 Guide to The Caribbean, The Bahamas & Bermuda
Heading Down Under
India's New Gems
Show-Stoppers on Stage—and on the Plate
Two Sides of a Hawaiian Vacation
Little Palm Island & Ocean Key Resort, Florida
Key West Fun Pass
RIU Panama
Tea Time for Swingers

Recommend April 2011