Discover Hawaii Tours Blog

Yesterday’s tsunami warning was triggered after one of world’s largest earthquakes. The 8.8 earthquake was in Chile around the same location of a 9.5 earthquake in 1960 which sent a tsunami to Hawaii devastating Hilo on the Big Island. Hawaii was under a Tsunami watch Friday evening after the quake and was soon upgraded to a warning shortly after midnight. The first waves were scheduled to arrive in Hilo at 11:19am and hit Honolulu later at 11:45am. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center provided excellent information and preparations for the approaching waves. Tsunami Warning Sirens sounded throughout all the islands multiple times during the morning, urging people to evacuate low lying costal areas. Those staying in high-rises had a vertical evacuation to the third floors and higher. Waikiki turned into a ghost town with the streets closed and beaches empty. Residents and visitors alike waited anxiously for the approaching tsunami traveling at over 500 mph (the speed of an airliner) uninterrupted towards the islands. Local supermarkets and gas stations filled with people scrambling to get last minute preparations for approaching tsunami. Everyone cooperated with one another and truly showed the “Aloha Spirit.”

Fortunately for everyone on the islands the tsunami’s impact was minimal. Hilo Bay saw the first sign of a tsunami when bay waters began receding and then shortly after surge back into the bay. The small surge continued for a couple hours throughout the islands. Waikiki saw the sea level rise by a couple feet and then recede. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cancelled the warning around 1:30 pm. Luckily there were no damages or lives lost reported in Hawaii. We can all learn from this warning and be more prepared in the future.

Here at Discover Hawaii Tours we cancelled all of our tours for the day and were kept busy happily rescheduling our guests’ tours and assisting them with their reservations. Thankfully the tsunami wasn’t as big as predicted. Our thoughts and prayers are with those dealing with the devastating earthquake in Chile.

Amount of time in hours for a tsunami to hit Hawaii from Chile

With over 1.6 million visitors annually the Pearl Harbor Memorial Visitor Center is in desperate need of repairs. The 29 year old visitor center is showing signs of the times and is slowly deteriorating. What originally began as an $8 million renovation in 2000 has increased to a $58 million construction program.

Recently there have been a lot of new and exciting things going on at Pearl Harbor including the USS Missouri Battleship being released from dry dock. The Mighty Mo is looking better than ever and is now open to the public. Beginning Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Pearl Harbor operations will begin in the new visitor center. The newly designed visitor center will preserve the panoramic views of Pearl Harbor and the Memorial while maximizing the use of the available space. However there are many more exciting improvements to the center which are scheduled for completion in December, 2010.

New renovations soon to be complete:

There will be three new museums designed to educate visitors about pre-war life in Hawaii and around the world. The focus of the new museums will feature 3 phases, “Road to War”, “Oahu 1941”, and “Attack and Aftermath.” There will be new gallery stets depicting competing Japanese and American world views, and differing political and cultural perspectives through graphics, audiovisual displays, and other interactive exhibits.

“Oahu 1941” will allow guests to see how civilian life in Hawaii before the war was through contemporary street scene graphics and historical photos, artifacts, and oral histories. Guest will also learn about the many harbors of Pu’uloa and its sacred meaning for the Hawaiian people. Other exhibits focus on the later arrival of service men and women away from home for the first time. Another display is about the emerging strategic importance of the most isolated group of islands in the world.

“Attack and Aftermath” This new and exciting exhibit will incorporate real salvage materials, artifacts, and photographs which allow visitors to experience Hawaii during the aftermath of the attack including military checkpoints. The centerpiece will be a scale model Japanese aircraft hanging directly over the entrance to the gallery.

A new education wing will provide a resource area that will be open to the public. Access to digitized documents, photos and oral histories will all be available. The new Education and Research Center will offer a resource area, a classroom, and a much needed video teleconference room.

Another much needed renovation will be the theaters. The movie is one of the most critical interpretive parts of any visit to the USS Arizona Memorial. During the renovation stages the movie theater will undergo extensive renovations including new carpet, seats, and audio video equipment to better serve visitors.

The famous USS Arizona anchor will also have a new location. Originally the gigantic anchor was positioned at the entrance to the visitor center. After the renovations the anchor’s new home will be on the lawn area next to the water’s edge.

Join us on one of many great tours to Pearl Harbor. We have many exciting day tours to Pearl Harbor that are sure to meet the needs of any visitor.

See it all on our Day at Pearl Harbor Tour!

• USS Arizona Memorial
• Admission to the USS Missouri Battleship

• Pacific Aviation Museum
• USS Bowfin Submarine Tour
• Historic Honolulu City Driving Tour
• Daily Waikiki hotel pickups (approx 6:15am; returns approx 4:15pm)

Spend a half day on our WWII From Beginning to End Tour

• USS Arizona Memorial
• Admission to the USS Missouri Battleship

• USS Oklahoma Memorial
• Historic Honolulu City Driving Tour
• Daily Waikiki hotel pickups (approx 6:00am & 8:40am; returns approx 1:30pm & 3:35pm)

Check out Pearl Harbor and still have time for shopping at a Flea Market

• USS Arizona Memorial
• Aloha Stadium Flea Market
• Daily Waikiki hotel pickups (approx 6:25am & returns approx 11:30am)

Enjoy a morning at Pearl Harbor and still have time for more!

• USS Arizona Memorial
• Historic Honolulu city Tour
• Daily Waikiki hotel pickups (approx 6:00am & 8:40am; returns approx 10:45am & 1:00pm)

Hawaii’s extreme natural beauty and warm tropical weather creates idealistic conditions to hike and explore the islands. Many people often over look a few basic safety precautions which can ultimately save lives. During the month of January, Oahu saw two separate fatalities involving inexperienced hikers. Safety for our guests is one of the top priorities here at Discover Hawaii Tours; all of our hiking and eco guides are CPR and First Aid certified. Hiking with a certified guide is one of the best ways to ensure a safe adventure, however if you find yourself hiking in

Hawaii you should remember the following hiking tips:

Hiking trails are not paved sidewalks. Pay special attention to where your feet go.

Often forest floors can be muddy and uneven, proper shoes or boots should be worn

Trails do not often have clearly marked street signs. Stay with your guide or learn to carry and use a map

Don’t hike alone, be sure to hike with a buddy or group for safety

Don’t take unnecessary risks. Be safe

Hiking is one of the best ways to explore the Hawaiian Islands, and it’s also a great way to stay in shape too. Discover Hawaii Tours offers guided hikes to hidden waterfalls and to the tops of volcanic craters. While on tour, many guests get the chance to observe many native plants and birds. On your next Hawaiian vacation be sure to join Discover Hawaii Tours on our either our 16B Hidden Waterfall Eco-Adventure Tour or our 15A Diamond Head Guided Eco-Hike. Remember, safety first!

Over 12,000 dedicated “Lost” fans packed Waikiki’s famous white sandy beach Saturday night to be among the lucky few who got a chance to watch the first episode of Lost’s sixth and final season. Waikiki felt more like Hollywood complete with a red carpet, screaming fans, and stars (not including the ones above our heads). A thirty foot screen at the end of Waikiki Beach set the back drop for one of ABCs most watched television series. The rest of the world will have to wait until Tuesday, February 2, 2010, three days later to watch this action packed episode.

Like most “Lost” fans, many people are anxiously awaiting the new season in hopes that many of their unanswered questions will finally have closure. You could feel the anticipation in the air moments before the episode illuminated the screen. Even after the episode concluded screaming fans still wanted more. Not to worry for those who were unable to attend the premiere, you still have more chances to experience “Lost.” Being that almost every episode was filmed on the island of Oahu; Discover Hawaii Tours can take you to many of the different film locations. If you want to see the lush tropical rainforests join our new 16B Hidden Waterfall Eco-Adventure Tour to get the full jungle experience where our guides can point out real film locations from the series. For those who prefer to sit back and relax our 10A Discover the North Shore Tour will take you by some of the most beautiful beaches around, including the beach where “Lost’s” infamous plane wreck washed up. Not to be missed is the fascinating Japanese Byodo-In Temple which we stop at on our North Shore/Cultural Center Tour and on our Pearl Harbor/Cultural Center Tour.

Make the most out of Lost’s final season by touring some of the film locations on your next Hawaiian vacation.