Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The Kauai Tree Tunnel




Walter Duncan McBryde, a Scotchman who began cattle ranching in South Kauai, planted these Eucalyptus Trees over 150 years ago. The trees once formed a beautiful canopy over the highway before two hurricanes damaged the tops of the trees. Today they form a lush corridor on the way to Po'ipu.
Directions:
Take Highway 50 east from Kalaheo. Turn right on Highway 520, Maluhia Road. The Tree Tunnel lines the first section of the road on the way to Po'ipu.

http://www.funjet.com/index.asp?pLCode=330460563T

Saturday, February 19, 2011

So where does Waikiki Beach’s sand come from?


We’ve heard countless stories and urban legends about sand being shipped over from all over the world to replenish Waikiki’s famous stretch of beaches. It turns out  most of Waikiki’s sand comes from …Hawaii!

Even more interesting? The majority of Waikiki sand actually comes from just offshore.


Erosion and rising sea levels have swallowed a foot of Waikiki Beach annually since 1985. This phenomenon, while accelerated in the last few decades, is nothing new. Reports from the 1920s and 1930s reveal that sand was brought in from Manhattan Beach, California, via ship and barge, to Waikiki Beach. Importation of sand into Hawaii ceased in the 1970s.
 
Recently, sand has been pumped from neutral areas of the ocean floor some 2,000 feet off Waikiki to fill in the shrinking beach.

Before that, Waikiki’s sand was trucked from various points around Hawaii including Oahu's North Shore—in particular, Waimea Bay Beach and a sand bar off the town of Kahuku—and Papohaku Beach on Molokai.

While it’s true that some sand is brought into Hawaii from places like Australia, Polynesia and even China, it serves more utilitarian purposes—namely construction and filling sand traps on Hawaii’s golf courses.

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Do I really need travel insurance?


Purchasing travel insurance won't whisk you out of a blizzard or speed up the line at the ticket counter, but it will keep your wallet intact. I recommend a comprehensive plan for any traveler because you really can't predict what could happen on a trip, I hear so many stories from people who purchase it for one reason but end up using it for another.

Typically priced at 5-7% of the total trip cost, comprehensive insurance plans offer a spectrum of benefits under which cancellation-related claims can be filed: trip cancellation, travel delay, missed connection, lost baggage.

Another perk to buying insurance: Insurance companies have 24-hour assistance hotlines that will be able to walk you through a flight cancellation, or any other travel emergency.

Call me or email me for a free  travel insurance quote!
rtrimper@thewaytogotravel
www.thewaytogotravel.com