Hawai’i lovers are beginning to flock back to the state. But there have been a few changes.
“Well, we straightened the famous Road to Hana,” a tourism representative from Maui told me on Wednesday. “You can do the trip in 30 minutes now.”
That, of course, did NOT happen; the famous road still has hundreds of curves and twists and turns and delightful ocean views and tumbling waterfalls. But there IS now a recommended code of conduct. In a new age of travel, Maui officials are asking folks to think a little more about others on the road. For example, if you see a line of 30 cars behind you, please pull over and let the faster drivers pass. Please do NOT park on the road to get that great Instagram photo you want to have to impress your friends freezing back home in Canada. And, if you see a pretty spot on the sign of the road and there’s no visitor sign or public information posted, it’s probably private land that you should avoid trampling on.
It’s pretty much common sense, but good to put out there.Folks heading to Maui also should know that you can’t dine inside a restaurant on the island unless you’re fully vaccinated. Outside is fine, but inside is reserved for those who have double vaccinations. For more information: https://www.mauinuistrong.info/.
You’ll also find a few more fees for some Maui parks, including Makena Beach and the striking Iao Valley, as well as a three per cent added hotels fee starting November 1.
Kapalua’s Bay Course on Maui has several holes on the Pacific Ocean. JIM BYERS PHOTO
But there’s also a lot of good news. The Ka’anapali Beach Hotel (a personal fave), The Westin Maui (also great), the Hyatt, the Sheraton Ka’anapali, the Wailea Beach Hotel and the marvellous Grand Wailea all have been renovated. Also, there were 191 restaurants on the island before the pandemic, and there are now 189. Food won’t be a problem.
The beaches and valleys and snorkelling trips and golf courses and whale watching tours are all still there, of course. There also are new sustainable or volunteer tourism opportunities, including getting rid of invasive species in Maui’s forests and helping to restore an ancient Hawai’ian fish pond in the Kihei area.
This idea of helping the environment and caring for the land is called “malama” in Hawai’i, and it’s become an important part of the tourism offering. A day by the pool is great, but visitors increasingly are looking for a deeper connection to the land, the people and the places they visit.
O’ahu has a number of programs that visitors can take part in. Hotels can hook guests up with non-profit organizations who are helping re-forest parts of the island, as well as rebuilding old fish ponds and other activities.
One new development on O’ahu is that visits to the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor are now entirely done by using the website. Try https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/233338/ticket/16. Walk-up tickets no longer are available.
Proof of vaccination is required for restaurants and many activities on O’ahu, so keep that in mind. To reach the O’ahu Safe Access program: https://www.oneoahu.org/safe-access-oahu
One of the great things about O’ahu is you get both town and country. Honolulu and Waikiki offer a downtown/city experience, but it’s easy to get to lovely, quiet countryside very quickly.
The quiet west coast of Oahu near Makaha. JIM BYERS PHOTO
One new development is that island officials are asking visitors to perhaps adjust their plans and visit the north shore, including popular towns like Haleiwa, on weekdays instead of weekends so things don’t get too crowded. It’s better for shop owners and residents, and you’ll have a more enjoyable time with fewer people around.
On the beautiful island of Kaua’i, sometimes called The Garden Isle, you’ll find new rules for visiting the fabulous north shore trails and beaches at Ha’ena State Park. If you want to drive, you’ll have to buy a permit for the park and a parking pass, which come in different time slots. However, if you take the shuttle from just west of Hanalei town there’s no parking charge (obviously) and you don’t need a separate park entry permit.
Ha’ena State Park is home to lovely Ke’e Beach, as well as the starting point for the famous Kalalau Trail, which snakes along the Na Pali coast and offers tremendous views and lonely, quiet beaches. The park also has a new boardwalk that skirts past fields of deep green taro leaves.
The Table at Kukui’ula is a new farm-to-table restaurant opening in the next couple days in Po’ipu Beach in southwest Kaua’i.
The Na Pali coast is an amazing feature on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The island also is offering visitors tips on how to get around the island. Visit getaroundkauai.com for information on ride sharing shuttles and other ways of getting around.
The big news on Hawai’I Big island is that the volcano at Kilauea erupted September 29. It’s under control, which means you can visit and get fairly close, or see the lava from a helicopter.
There also are volunteer re-forestation efforts taking place on the island, and improvements to the airport in Kona.
Hapuna Beach on Hawai’i Big Island. JIM BYERS PHOTO
Another great activity is to check out the Kona Sea Salt Farm on the sunny Kona Coast. There are tons of great hotels in Kona and in the city of Hilo, but another option is to rent a private home on the quiet northern area of the island, where you’ll find small, artsy towns such as Havi. Hawai’i Island Retreat is a luxurious wellness retreat on the north coast.
