Blog Archives

ALOHA ~ Welcome to Hawaii

11/29/2017

Hawaii - The Aloha State

Geography
There are eight (8) main islands in the Hawaiian archipelago, not all of which may be visited.
North to south they are:

Niihau - The Forbidden Isle
Kauai - The Garden Isle
Oahu - The Gathering Place
Molokai - The Friendly Isle
Lanai - The Pineapple Isle
Maui - The Valley Isle
Kahoolawe - The Target Isle
Hawaii - The Big Island

Hawaii Quick Facts

"The Aloha State"
In the Pacific Ocean (1,300 miles north of the equator)
Hawaii Standard Time (
137 total islands stretching over 1,500 miles to the northwest from the Big Island
1.4 million permanent residents (2016 estimated)
8.9 million visitors in 2016
50th US state (1959)
Honolulu on the island of Oahu is the capital of Hawaii
3 active volcanoes (Hualalai, Mauna Loa and Kilauea) all on the Big Island
It snows in Hawaii on the Big Island peaks of Mauna Kea (13,802 ft) and Mauna Loa (13,679 ft)
There are no land or sea snakes and no rabies in Hawaii
Hawaiians consume about 7 million cans of SPAM each year
Humpback whales winter in Hawaii for mating and calving (and summer in Alaska to eat)

Getting There
You can fly or cruise to the Hawaiian Islands. Either way, Hawaii is one of those destinations for which the more effort it takes to reach the more you will be rewarded once you get there!

Flying

Approximate Non-Stop Gate-to-Gate Times from the Mainland to Honolulu (HNL)

West Coast: 6 hours
North Central: 9.5 hours
South Central: 8.5 hours
Northeast: Approximately 11.5 hours
Southeast: 10h 15m

Returning to the US Mainland

Unless your destination is the US west coast most flights to the mainland happen in the evening or overnight (like flying to Europe from the US)
Subtract approximately 30 minutes from your flying time due to more favorable prevailing winds

Cruise Ships from California

5-6 days at sea each way
15 to 18-nights total round trip

Which island is the best? - It all depends on what you are looking to enjoy.

Hawaii has something for everyone. Here is what you'll find on each island regardless of which one(s) you choose to explore.

People welcoming you with the warm, embracing spirit of aloha
Secluded, quiet places to have all to yourself
Accommodations ranging from ultra-luxe to low-key and inexpensive
Countless waterfalls and rainbows
Amazing beaches and every imaginable water sport or recreational activity
Tropical vegetation and stunning, vibrant flowers
Exceptional hiking
Hawaiian Luaus
Great food, especially fresh seafood
Spectacular sunrises and sunsets
Countless boat, land and aerial tours as well as independent sightseeing options
Sea Life: Hawaiian green sea turtle, dolphins, flying fish, monk seals
Filming locations for famous movies and television shows
Golf, golf and more golf

Here is a summary of the four top-visited islands:

Urban/Big City - Oahu with Honolulu and Pearl Harbor (most expensive)
Resort Beachy - Maui (expensive)
Laid-back Island Vibe - Kauai (less expensive)
Volcanoes and Cowboys - The Big Island (less expensive)

Kauai - The Garden Isle

Kauai is laid back, non-commercial and unspoiled (and at times primitive)
Only 67,000 residents (2016)
Building ordinances state nothing may be taller than a coconut tree
North shore is lush and tropical due to daily rains
Mount Wai'ale'ale is one of the wettest spots on Earth with over 400 inches of rain per year
Excellent beaches, hiking and snorkeling
Waimea Canyon - The Grand Canyon of the Pacific
Na Pali (Cliffs) - 2nd Highest Sea Cliffs in the World
- 17 miles of emerald cliffs dominating Kauai's northwest coast with peaks at 4,000 ft and sea caves at their base
- Best viewed by boat or you may hike the treacherous 11 miles one way from Haena State Park on the north shore
Only navigable rivers in Hawaii
Taro and coffee farms (Home of Kauai Coffee)

Oahu - The Gathering Place

Honolulu - The capital and largest city with 404,000 people (2017 estimate)
- Glamorous Waikiki Beach
- Pearl Harbor
- High-end, big modern city with high-rise buildings, abundant shopping, dining and nightlife choices
Pineapple farms
Polynesian Cultural Center
Diamond Head - Extinct volcanic mountain and crater
Endless options for museums, historical, cultural sites and temples
Famous North Shore surfing beaches

Maui - The Valley Isle

Endless emerald mountains and valleys from Maui's volcanic past
Haleakala Volcano Crater (10,023 ft summit) - Haleakala National Park
Haleakala sunrise bike tour
Paia - Windsurfing capital of the world
Molokini Crater - A crescent rises above the ocean's surface at this fascinating snorkel and dive site
Lahaina and Kaanapali Beach
Whale watching deluxe
The Road to Hana scenic drive
Mega-resorts and golf courses

Hawaii - The Big Island

Laid back, non-commercial and less expensive
50% larger than all the other main islands combined
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - See the lava flows of Kilauea as they flow into the sea and grow the island right before your eyes
Plant diversity - 8 of the world's 13 climate zones are present on Hawaii
Mauna Kea Summit (13,803 ft) - A place so terrific for star gazing that they build a huge observatory here. They also regularly get snow!
Black sand and green sand beaches
Coffee farms (home of Kona Coffee)
Vanilla farms
Top snorkeling and diving for its abundance of tropical fish diversity
Cattle ranches and rodeos
Home of the annual Iron Man competition

Bulkhead Seats: Myths and Truths

11/20/2017

Know the Facts Before You Book Your Next Flight

What is a bulkhead seat?
A bulkhead is an interior wall inside the airplane. For the sake of this conversation we are talking about the solid partition at the front of each passenger section that separates it from the area ahead of it. A bulkhead seat is in the first row of each section that faces the bulkhead partition which means you don't have a seat (or other passenger) immediately in front of you. Sounds ideal, but there are several considerations that many passengers overlook.

Benefits of No Seat in Front of You

There's no seat in front of you for your knees to hit and there may be room to cross your legs
Nobody in front of you to flop their seat back into your space
You don't have to worry about bumping and bothering the neighbor in front of you
Exceptions:
- Wide-body jets often have their bulkheads at the mid-cabin entrance doors so your legroom is abundant after boarding
- Delta Airlines has removed many of their bulkhead partitions between First and Coach which means the front row of Coach has access to the back of the First Class seat in front of them (no wall)

Bulkhead Downsides

No seat under-space in front of you
- Your carry-on items must go in the overhead bin for takeoff and landing (you can't hold them in your lap or place them on the floor)
- You may not be able stretch out your legs
You may not have a tray table
If you have a tray table it will be in your armrest so your seat may be narrower and your armrest will be immovable
You may not have a seat pocket in front of you to store your stuff (book, phone, chargers, etc.)

Our Recommendations

Use a airplane seat reference site like Seat Guru (seatguru.com) for terrific information about seat selection considerations (space, offset or missing windows, legroom restrictions, bothersome aspects like bathroom proximity, etc.)
Ask people who fly often for their input

TRAVEL
NEWS

ALOHA ~ Welcome to Hawaii

Hawaii - The Aloha State

Which island is the best? - It all depends on what you are looking to enjoy.

Bulkhead Seats: Myths and Truths

Know the Facts Before You Book Your Next Flight

Archives

Categories

The Hill Guys®: Matt and Brandon Hill
brandonmatt@hillguystravel.com
Call or text: (918) 771-9050 or (505) 466-6203
Toll-Free: (844) 876-0400 (calls only)
Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm Central / Closed weekends

TRAVEL​NEWS

ALOHA ~ Welcome to Hawaii

Hawaii - The Aloha State

Which island is the best? - It all depends on what you are looking to enjoy.

Bulkhead Seats: Myths and Truths

Know the Facts Before You Book Your Next Flight

Archives

Categories

The Hill Guys®: Matt and Brandon Hillbrandonmatt@hillguystravel.comCall or text: ​(918) 771-9050 or (505) 466-6203Toll-Free: (844) 876-0400 (calls only)Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm Central / Closed weekends

TRAVEL
NEWS

The Hill Guys®: Matt and Brandon Hill
brandonmatt@hillguystravel.com
Call or text: (918) 771-9050 or (505) 466-6203
Toll-Free: (844) 876-0400 (calls only)
Monday - Friday, 8am-5pm Central / Closed weekends