{"id":1214,"date":"2009-08-20T08:58:38","date_gmt":"2009-08-20T13:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/?p=1214"},"modified":"2016-12-17T02:43:12","modified_gmt":"2016-12-17T08:43:12","slug":"hula-lessons-cheap-eats-and-other-ways-to-enjoy-a-hawaii-vacation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2009\/08\/hula-lessons-cheap-eats-and-other-ways-to-enjoy-a-hawaii-vacation\/","title":{"rendered":"Hula lessons, cheap eats and other ways to enjoy a Hawaii vacation"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Hawaii<\/em><\/em>

(Courtesy: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) \/ Tor Johnson)<\/p><\/div>\n

By Lena Katz<\/em><\/p>\n

Six months ago a certain guy from Hawaii introduced the \u201cYes, we can!\u201d mantra to the American public, and now we\u2019re reprising it right in time for the end of summer. After too many months of denying yourself all things fun and sunshiney, the question as August rolls around is, “Can I somehow manage a Hawaii vacation<\/strong><\/a> after all, even on a shoestring budget?\u201d And my answer is \u2026YES YOU CAN\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2026get a cheap meal in the islands<\/strong>
\nIn Oahu, Haili’s Backyard Luau<\/a>, the new lunch wagon at Ward Centers, serves the same great Hawaiian plate lunches<\/strong> that were popular at former neighborhood fave Haili’s Hawaiian Foods for more than 50 years.\u00a0 The Makai Market food court at Ala Moana Center<\/a> offers everything from Japanese noodles and Korean BBQ<\/strong> to Hawaiian plate lunch and deli sandwiches. Diamond Head Market & Grill<\/a> is especially well known for bakery items like the signature blueberry cream cheese scones<\/strong>, but later in the day it offers gourmet plate lunches, sandwiches, wraps, and desserts.<\/p>\n


\nIf you’re in Maui for your Hawaii vacation, it may seem like a near-impossible challenge to dine on the cheap, but actually all you\u2019ve got to do is get out of the resorts and into town. At strip malls along South Kihei Road, you can get great Asian fare at Sala Thai<\/strong> and bangin’ breakfasts at Kihei Cafe<\/strong>. For my money, little Wailuku is home to the best Vietnamese food on the island: Saigon Caf\u00e9<\/strong>, a gourmet experience for about what you\u2019d pay at Applebee\u2019s back home.<\/p>\n

The search gets even more intense in Kauai, but once again, the strip malls save you — this time with Kauai Pasta<\/strong>, a down-low favorite of locals and visitors. King & I Thai<\/strong> is good for a Kapa\u2019a pad Thai fix.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Hawaii<\/strong><\/strong>

The Mai Tai Bar at the Royal Hawaiian Resort<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2026get great mai tais under $10<\/strong>
\nThe “scratch” mai tai at The Mai Tai Bar at The Royal Hawaiian<\/strong><\/a> is the classic, and comes in right at $10. It\u2019s the original mai tai recipe made with fresh-squeezed pineapple and orange juice, orange Curacao, Bacardi superior, orgeat and a float of whaler’s dark rum.<\/p>\n

The Mai Tai Bar<\/a> at Ala Moana Center is a hit with locals and tourists — even those who\u2019d rather have a mai tai-tini than any of the mai tais on the menu.\u00a0 It\u2019s got one of Honolulu\u2019s winning pau hana (happy hours). Locals also suggest La Mariana’s on Oahu — one of the last Tiki Bars, and known for its mai tais.\u00a0 \u201cTotally kitsch place, but wonderful,\u201d is the word on the street.
\nOn other islands, the Marriott Kauai<\/strong> and Buzz\u2019s Wharf in Maui<\/strong> are fan favorites. Finally, shouts to the Royal Kona Resort<\/a> on the Big Island<\/strong> for hosting the first annual Don the Beachcomber World\u2019s Best Mai Tai Competition<\/strong> this very week — August 22nd to be exact. I hope it becomes a tradition.<\/p>\n

\u2026learn how to hula<\/strong>
\nThe Big Island is host of Merrie Monarch Festival<\/strong> (March-April), Na Mea Hawaii<\/strong> (January) and several other big hula festivals. And Molokai, as the widely acknowledged \u201cbirthplace of hula,\u201d hosts the famous\u00a0 Moloka\u2019I Ka Hula Piko annually.\u00a0 However, to actually learn a bit of the dance yourself during your Hawaii vacation, start with an easy, tourist-friendly class like the ones that take place every Thursday (4-5 p.m.) at the Royal Hawaiian Center<\/strong> in Honolulu or those that Lori Higa teaches Tuesdays and Thursdays at Aqua Hotel Molokai<\/strong><\/a>. Also look for lei-making classes in those and similar venues.\u00a0 The Aston Ka\u2019anapali Shores<\/strong><\/a> on Maui has a great kids\u2019 program that offers hula classes as well as ukulele lessons and Hawaiian crafts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u2026speak Pidgin<\/strong>
\nPuzzled bythe local lingo? Pick up a copy of \u201dPeppo’s Pidgin To Da Max” and you\u2019ll soon learn all the catch phrases from \u201cHowzit brah?\u201d (\u201cWhat\u2019s up, man?\u201d)\u201d to \u201cLike beef?\u201d (One you don\u2019t want to hear; it means, \u201cDo you want to fight?\u201d) to \u201cHana Hou!\u201d (\u201cOne more time!\u201d)<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Hawaii<\/strong><\/strong>

Ke Iki Beach on Oahu's north shore (Courtesy: Hawaii Tourism Japan (HTJ))<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2026have the beach all to yourself (or almost)<\/strong>
\nBelieve it or not, this one\u2019s pretty easy, even on the most populous island. Oahu’s North Shore has Ke Iki Beach in Haleiwa<\/strong>, while the Eastern Shore is home to the famous \u201cFrom Here to Eternity\u201d Beach<\/strong>, located below the Halona Blowhole parking lot.
\nLanai is such a quiet little island, you can often have even the most popular attractions to yourself — for example, the protected marine preserve at Hulopo\u2019e Bay<\/strong>, where you\u2019re more likely to be snorkeling beside spinner dolphins and sea turtles than tons of tourists. The tour buses don\u2019t make it here; it\u2019s just the lucky Four Seasons Lanai<\/strong> guests and a few day trippers arrived by boat.<\/p>\n

A similar situation exists at the Aqua Hotel<\/strong>: Kaimiloloa Beach fronts the property and is a public area, but so few people make it to Molokai, those who find themselves at this hotel or on the beach will often feel like it\u2019s their own private photo op.<\/p>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Hawaii<\/strong><\/strong>

Helumoa Playground at the Sheraton Waikiki<\/p><\/div>\n

\u2026keep your kids busy while you get a li\u2019l snooze time<\/strong>
\nRelax by the Helumoa Playground, AKA \u201cThe Superpool,\u201d<\/strong> at the Sheraton Waikiki<\/strong><\/a>, and let the activity coordinators chase your kiddies down the 15-foot water slide, through the interactive fountain play area<\/strong>, into the floaty toy area and over to the ponds for the koi fish feeding<\/strong>. Meanwhile, you can dip your toes but nothing else in the water, while remaining peacefully supine on a water chaise lounge.
\nSpeaking of cool pools\u2026the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea<\/strong><\/a> just unveiled the spectacular $9 million Serenity Pool, a saltwater infinity-edged pool elevated above the main pool<\/strong>. This grownup water playground features customized poolside spa treatments, underwater music and a custom cocktail menu\u2026but only for those 21 and over. Drop off little ones at Kids for All Seasons<\/strong> beforehand, for a full day of professionally supervised outdoor-indoor activities.<\/p>\n

So with all that inspirationand happy feelings going ’round, the question is no longer “Can we take a Hawaii vacation?” But instead\u2026”How soon can we get there?”<\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/strong><\/h3>\n