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Kauai is one of the most beautiful places on earth. People agree about this. A first trip here can feel like an exercise in cataloguing places to come back to and spend more time: Waimea Canyon, Kalalau Trail, the hidden and possibly unnamed beaches around Kapa’a on the east coast. However long you have to visit won’t be long enough, but save at least one day for the signature Na Pali coast.
Image by Clark Little
It’s no secret that we here at ISLANDS are big fans of water and some of us have been known to catch a wave or two. So when I met Clark Little at the Maui Photo Festival I was intrigued by the images he was creating. Clark grew up surfing Oahu’s North shore and now spends his days bobbing in the waves creating stunning shorebreak images like the one pictured above. His first book, The Shorebreak Art of Clark Little, will be released November 15. Clark recently sent me a sneak peek and I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy.
See Maui's Upcountry from above on a five-line tour at Piholo Ranch Zipline. Photo by: Adrienne Egolf
Anyone who’s ever explored Maui’s Upcountry knows there’s more to the island than beaches and waves. But how best to experience this Western-flavored throwback to Maui’s cowboy days? Here are four of our favorite ways to see Upcountry.
1. Soar on a zipline. Fear not: Piiholo Ranch Zipline is safe for even the faintest of heart. In fact, this birds-eye-view tour won’t surge your adrenaline so much as take your breath away. Be sure to book the five-line tour, the only option that includes the property’s prize experience, the 1/2-mile line (that’s about 50 seconds of flying time).
2. Ride a bike. Watching the sunrise at Haleakala then coasting downhill on a bike for 26 miles is something of a Maui tradition. Which is why there is a plethora of tour operators that offer the experience. Haleakala Bike Company gives you a bit more freedom than the other companies, letting you ride and stop at your own peace. Don’t miss the macadamia nut pancakes at the Kula Lodge and be sure to dress warm for the summit.
3. Gaze at the stars. Haleakala may be the House of the Sun, but one of the best times to visit is after dark. Join Stargazers Maui to take in the endless night sky with a computerized telescope and a knowing guide. The tour includes dinner, hot chocolate and down coats.
4. Tour a farm. You’ll smell the lovely Ali’i Lavendar Farm before you see it. Thankfully, the same is not true for the Maui Surfing Goat Dairy. That said, you’ll probably see the Dairy’s products on a few menus before you meet the goats in person. Both properties offer day tours — and plenty of take-home-worthy goodies.
One of my favorite restaurants is Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine. James Beard Award winning chef, Roy Yamaguchi, opened the first Roy’s in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1988, and now he has restaurants all over the world. Here’s a seared ahi with lilikoi-shrimp salsa recipe from Roy’s:
Bringing a goat back to the mainland from Maui may not be feasible (I considered it!) but with Surfing Goat Dairy’s new Name Your Own Goat program you can adopt your own kid. For $25 name one of the dairy’s newest and get a photo of your new family member. Who wouldn’t want one of these guys in their family tree? Stop by their shop and adopt today!
Father Damien's grave on Molokai, Hawaii. Photo by: Adrienne Egolf
On Oct. 11, 2009, more than 550 Hawaiians trekked to Rome to bear firsthand witness to the canonization of Father Damien, one of Molokai’s most beloved historical figures. Whether you want to pay respects to Hawaii’s first saint or experience a slice of island life that most travelers never see, there’s no better time than now to visit what is often called the Most Hawaiian Island. Here are our best tips to help you plan your trip to Molokai.
If you subscribe to ISLANDS magazine, you’ve seen our latest “Best of the World” list — the 14 best islands for family vacations. I loved putting this article together based on my own family travels (our boys still talk about Green Turtle Cay in the Bahamas - see the Green Turtle Club trip video) as well as input from ISLANDS’ editors and contributors, including veteran travel writer Tony Perrottet. Below you’ll find this free excerpt from the November 2009 issue of ISLANDS, on sale at newsstands now, of “The Best Family Islands.” We showcase island resorts from the British Virgin Islands to Bora Bora that offer authentic travel experiences for the entire family. If the article doesn’t appear in your browser, click this link to go directly to the article in our Scribd archive.
Good news for a Friday afternoon! I just received the official dates for the 2010 Maui Photo Festival and Workshops. Mark your calendars for August 25-29, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa! Hope to see you there!
Hanakapi'ai Beach on Kauai's west coast. By Matthew Miller
Included in our 2010 Wish List coming out in the December issue, the Garden Isle gushes with greenery. Wild coastlines and bright waterfalls may remind you of dreams you’ve had. The weather is great in fall and visitor numbers thin, but Kauai is beautiful year-round. Below are some tips to help you plan your trip to this dreamy Hawaiian island. (more…)
Me with contest winner Tracie Dux
There are so many things I want to say about the Maui Photo Festival and Workshops, I don’t even know where to begin. Randy Jay Braun’s sunset hula shot was an amazing experience. Eight dancers, most of whom had been dancing since they were keiki (children) posed and danced among a paparazzi-like swarm of photographers for nearly two hours. We were then treated to a movie showing just how Clark Little captures his amazing wave images and a wonderful presentation of travel photographs by Andy Katz.
As the attendees headed off to get some sleep, the hard part of my job began: the photo contest judging. We had nearly 1,000 amazing entries to choose from and the judging went until the wee hours of the morning! We picked winners for several categories including: best hula shot, best aerial, best portrait, and (my personal favorite!) best ISLANDS Magazine cover.
Sunday morning capped off the event with a slide show of beautiful images created during the week and the awards ceremony. There were so many great prizes — camera bags from Lowepro, copies of Adobe Photoshop, and printers from Epson to name just a few. Tracie Dux took home the prize for Best ISLANDS cover with her aerial image of the Maui coastline (taken during the Blue Hawaiian Helicopter excursion).
When it was all said and done, nobody said goodbye. Instead, “A hui ho,” which means “until we meet again,” at the 2010 Maui Photo Festival and Workshops which will be held next October at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa. I’ll be there. Will you?
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