The Pacific Aviation Museum is set to welcome a new addition later this year. The museum has obtained a lease from the Navy for the old control tower that took damage during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941. Guests who have never even been to Hawaii before may recognize the iconic red and white tower from famous Hollywood films such as “Tora! Tora! Tora!” and “Pearl Harbor.” Situated on Ford Island just a short distance away from the museum, the tower has suffered deterioration over the years and is in dire need of restoration.

Pearl Harbor Ford Island WW II Airplane Control Tower

To accomplish this goal, $100 million is being raised as part of an effort to upgrade the museum and include a full restoration of the tower. An event to honor U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inoyue (D-HI) is planned for April 27 in Washington D.C. and will also serve as a fundraiser to help bring in some of the funds that are needed. Restoration plans include sandblasting and water-blasting the control tower’s old paint; rust-weakened portions will also receive new welding. Eventually the Pacific Aviation Museum hopes to construct an elevator to the crow’s nest atop the tower that will afford visitors a splendid view of Ford Island and Pearl Harbor.

Here at Discover Hawaii Tours we are excited to hear of the preservation of this important landmark. The experience at the Pacific Aviation Museum should be greatly improved with its addition to the facility. Guests who wish to visit Pearl Harbor and the museum should check out our Day at Pearl Harbor – Tour 2, which includes admissions to all of the sites at one low price. Join us for an unforgettable day as you see some of the most storied sites in American history.

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

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.

Aloha and welcome to our new series of 4 blogs showcasing the many free activities on the Hawaiian islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii the Big Island.  During a time when everyone is feeling the economic crunch in their pockets, relax and make the most out of your stay by checking out the following activities.  Oahu will be first island that will be showcased.

Oahu – “The Gathering Isle”

Chances are that if you visit Hawaii your stay will include a visit to the island of Oahu where the state capital Honolulu is located. Besides enjoying the free sunshine and beaches you may also like a list of our Top 10 Free Things to do on Oahu:

10. LEARN ABOUT THE DIFFERENT VARIETIES OF PINEAPPLE at the Pineapple Variety Garden in Dole Plantation located outside of Wahiawa.  Don’t forget to wet your taste buds with the world famous Dole Whip!

9. ASCEND TO THE TOP OF ALOHA TOWER, Honolulu Harbor’s famous clock tower, which at one time was the tallest building in Honolulu

8. TAKE ‘UKULELE OR HULA LESSONS at the Royal Hawaiian Center.

7. TAKE A STROLL THROUGH INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE, a bazaar of clothes, jewelry and souvenirs from the island’s colorful merchants set under the shade of a large banyan tree.

6. Make your friends and family envious as they watch you on a live streaming webcam from the Duke statue on the beach of Waikiki http://www.honolulu.gov/multimed/waikiki.asp

5. VIEW THE WORK OF LOCAL ARTISANS at the Art Mart along the fence of the Honolulu Zoo

4. CHEER AS THE HILTON HAWAIIAN VILLAGE BEACH RESORT & SPA’S HOSTED FIREWORKS EXPLODE into beautiful colors on Friday evenings in remembrance and celebration of King Kalākaua’s Jubilee

3. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN FOR HUMPBACK WHALES off Makapu‘u on O‘ahu’s South Shore or Ka‘ena Point on the northwest side of the island. 10,000 whales migrate to Hawai‘i between November and May.

2. WALK THROUGH CHINATOWN for a fascinating look at noodle factories, herbal shops, markets and gift shops

1. VIEW WORLD-CLASS SURFING COMPETITIONS during the winter months from November to March where waves can reach heights as high as 50 feet!!!

As we welcome 2010 it is a time of celebration and new beginnings. While most people make plans to lose that extra holiday weight or to stop bad habits, here at Discover Hawaii Tours we too are committed to resolutions for the upcoming year. As a growing company we are committed to providing excellent customer service that surpasses the industry’s standards. Enjoy our list of our Top 5 New Year’s Resolution for 2010.

1. Go Green! – Reducing the amount of resources used is our top priority. Our office staff is committed to reducing the amount of paper used by sending our guests emails instead of printed vouchers. We are also committed to recycling everything including our used oil for the busses, plastics, and papers.

2. Provide Superior Customer Service – We are constantly finding new and fun ways to offer our guests the best experiences on their vacations. Our “Mystery Shopper” program allows our guests to receive $20 off their tour. Mystery Shoppers just have to fill out a quick online survey after their tour to receive the discount. This is just one of the many ways Discover Hawaii Tours is committed to providing excellent customer service.

3. Expand to Eco and Cultural Tours – New for 2010 our Eco & Cultural Tours will share with you the “Real Hawaii.” Escape the crowds and explore the tranquility of the rainforest as our naturalist guides walk you through some of the most scenic terrain where a hidden waterfall awaits you. We also offer guided hikes to the top of an extinct volcanic crater, Diamond Head, where you can tower 765ft above the white sandy beaches of Waikiki.

4. Ongoing Tour Guide Training – All of our guides go through an extensive training program and are constantly being evaluated to ensure a professional tour every time. Greg, our newest tour guide supervisor, is committed to keeping his staff well trained and prepared for the upcoming year. We are committed to our tour guide training program and look forward to serving our guests needs.

5. Provide State-of-the-art Multimedia Experience – One of our newest and most anticipated departments of Discover Hawaii Tours is our Video/Media production team. Creating the most visually compelling and engaging videos are just some of the ways our Web Department interacts with our guests. Filming has already begun for our upcoming TV commercial and online testimonials. Who knows, while on tour you might get your big break and end up on camera!