Beach Babies in Hawaii

Description:

This resort features a tram to convey guests from one attraction or restaurant to another. If you would rather travel by the hotel's relaxing waterway, step onto one of the mahogany boats that will transport you to your destination. Frolic with the dolphins in the man-made lagoon while an entire tropical jungle flourishes just beyond a wooden fence. Other highlights include a luau, an 18-hole seaside putting green, a stadium tennis court with more than 400 seats and a world-class health spa.

Description:

View schools of tropical fish and exotic sea creatures in their natural habitat. This glass-bottomed vessel, Marian, takes adventurers out to the coral reefs just off the shore of Kailua. Tours depart daily on the hour starting at 10:30am. The charter company's office is located in a little hut on the King Kamehameha property, near the pool and across from the hula complex. Private cruise reservations are also available for groups fewer than 24 people.

Description:

This white sand beach is the stuff of movies, photo shoots and imagination. They stretch as far as the eye can see. The sand is sugar-fine, warm and clean. The waves are deep blue in the distance, foamy when they hit the shore. Among the Big Island's white sand spots, this one stands out and is regularly ranked among the top beaches in the world. The half-mile strip also has great facilities like a paved walkway leading from the parking lot, which is a rarity in Hawaii!

Description:

Here's a good way to introduce a little culture into your spring break while still having a good time. Enjoy a delectable Polynesian buffet, live music and hula dancing. Each event begins with a shell lei greeting. The buffet offers such local favorites as kalua pork, poi and pineapple upside-down cake. The Polynesian revue spotlights musicians and dancers, as well as specialty performers. A gorgeous oceanfront location makes this luau especially appealing.

Description:

Located inside the Hilton Waikoloa Village, this dolphin habitat draws visitors from up and down the big island of Hawaii. Dolphin Quest offers a variety of programs and encounters for everyone from children to couples. Guests and visitors have the chance to learn about these extraordinary creatures through fun and educational programs. See their website for more information.

Description:

This resort features a tram to convey guests from one attraction or restaurant to another. If you would rather travel by the hotel's relaxing waterway, step onto one of the mahogany boats that will transport you to your destination. Frolic with the dolphins in the man-made lagoon while an entire tropical jungle flourishes just beyond a wooden fence. Other highlights include a luau, an 18-hole seaside putting green, a stadium tennis court with more than 400 seats and a world-class health spa.

Description:

Get a fuss-free view of Hawaii's underwater world on this deep-sea tour. View tropical fish, sea turtles and coral kingdoms while you dive to depths of as much as 100 feet. No gear or training is necessary—just call to book one of its daily tours. Atlantis also facilitates snorkel, whale watching and helicopter tours.

Description:

This resort features a tram to convey guests from one attraction or restaurant to another. If you would rather travel by the hotel's relaxing waterway, step onto one of the mahogany boats that will transport you to your destination. Frolic with the dolphins in the man-made lagoon while an entire tropical jungle flourishes just beyond a wooden fence. Other highlights include a luau, an 18-hole seaside putting green, a stadium tennis court with more than 400 seats and a world-class health spa.

Description:

This was the site of important Hawaiian settlements before arrival of European explorers. It includes coastal areas, three large fishponds, a house site and other archeological remnants. Resources include fishponds, kahua (house site platforms), ki'i pöhaku (petroglyphs), hölua (stone slide) and heiau (religious site).

Because the park is still relatively undeveloped, there are very few facilities available within the park. There is a chemical toilet located at Kaloko Pond and at Ai'opio, there is also a composting toilet located along the trail leading from the south end of the park to Honokohau Beach.

Visitors can hike along the coast through the park and enjoy other activities such as: picnicking, fishing, snorkeling, swimming, bird-watching, and surfing. Other activities enjoyed in the park include backpacking, sea kayaking, SCUBA diving and viewing wildlife.

Kaloko-Honoköhau is located at the base of Hualälai Volcano, along the Kona coast of the island of Hawai'i. It is three miles north of Kailua-Kona and three miles south of Kea hole-Kona International Airport, along Highway 19 (the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway). There is no park sign or visitor center (yet) in this newly established park, so a trip to the park headquarters may be helpful to get your bearings.

Description:

Kekaha Kai State Park encompasses over 1,500 acres of beach, dune and wilderness areas on the leeward side of the Big Island north of Kailua-Kona. This park is divided into two sections: Mahai'ula and Kua Bay.

The Mahai'ula section is the more developed of the two sections of the park. It offers a sandy beach and dunes, picnic area with tables and restrooms. In addition to unpaved road access between the two sections, a 4.5 mile hike along the Ala Kahakai Trail, an historic coastal trail, leads to the Kua Bay portion of the park. Halfway along this trail, a hike to the summit of Pu'u Ku'ili, a 342-foot high cinder cone, offers excellent coastline views. Kua Bay, at the north end of the park offers beach access and beach related activities.

Both sections of this park provide swimming, water play and snorkeling during calm conditions.

Kekaha Kai lies on the leeward side of the Big Island north of Kailua-Kona. Visitors can access the site from Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway.

Description:

Learn about Hawaii's history while falling a little bit in love with the state's favorite creatures. The husband-and-wife duo that runs these tours take very small groups (about five people) out to sea in a motor-powered raft. The journey travels the Kona coast, visiting Kealakekua Bay Marine Preserve for snorkeling. April is the last (and warmest) month of the humpback whale season. Pilot whales, sperm whales and gleeful dolphins can be spotted year-round.