Its now been 28 years since Mt. Kilauea started erupting on the Big Island of Hawaii. Its east rift zone started erupting January 3rd 1983, and is still active today. Its presence is still strong having devastating two homes just last year in Kalapana Gardens. In 1990, Mt. Kilauea did its worst damage by destroying 104 homes in the same area.

Since January 1983, Kilauea has produced powerful and beautiful eruptions.

Within a week of the initial eruption, there were 200 ft spurts coming out of the cracks of the east rift zone. Hawaii consists of mostly shield volcanoes, which are named after their shield shaped craters, and fluid flows. Although not as explosive as volcanoes like Mt. St Helen’s, their slow moving lava flows are just as destructive. Kilauea’s first lava fountain was known as the Pu’u'O’o vent, erupting every 3-4weeks for 3 years, and destroying 16 homes in the Royal Gardens Subdivision. In 1986 a new vent was formed called Kupaianaha. The quiet effusion made lava ponds and caused lava tubes to flow lava all the way to the ocean. In 1990 Mt. Kilauea did its worst damaged when it buried the town of Kalapana. The destructive lava flows destroyed churches, homes and stores in the ancient Hawaiian village.

Kalapana, once known for it’s magnificent black sand beaches and treasured historical sites, has now been consumed by Kilauea, though some residents still live in the area, some without electricity or running water. Some of the residents believe they were spared by Pele, the Goddess of Fire, others believe it was sheer luck. Even just last year two more homes were destroyed in the area. Scientists do not know when Kilauea will stop erupting but most believe activity will never cease during our existence. That makes Big Island one of the most unique places in the world. It’s land mass is literally still growing, and has one of the longest lasting active volcanoes on record.

Hardened Lava Field with No Trespassing sign near Kalapana

January 2011 marks the 2nd annual “Volcano Awareness Month” on the Big Island. Hiking, group discussions, teacher workshops, and various other programs will be conducted all month to better understand and respect volcanoes. Come participate and see one of Hawaii’s most amazing attractions. Join Discover Hawaii Tours and witness the awe inspiring magic of Kilauea. See the evening lava flow at the Kalapana viewing area, where lava meets the ocean. It is an absolute must see when visiting Hawaii.

Read more: January 3rd 2011 Marked the 28th Anniversary of Mt. Kilauea Current Eruption

Those who travel to Hawaii know the best sites to visit. There is Pearl Harbor, known for the tragic attacks of December 7, 1941 and its many Memorials; Oahu’s North Shore, home to many of the most well-known big wave surf spots and host to a number of surf competitions; Maui’s Hana Highway, recognized as one of the best drives in the entire country where the scenery is never ending; and Mount Kilauea, the world’s most active volcano, which has been erupting continuously since January 3, 1983 and continuously adds to the size of Hawaii’s youngest island.
There are also many sites to see that are off the beaten path and hidden gems that play a significant role in Hawaii’s robust culture and diverse landscape.

Byodo-in Temple, a must see while on Oahu.

Take, for instance, the Byodo-In Temple. Located at the base of the Ko’olau Mountains in the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, the non-denominational Buddhist temple was constructed to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. A scale replica of a 950-year old temple located in Uji, Japan, Hawaii’s version is built entirely without nails and welcomes all to worship, meditate, and admire its beauty. There is a nine-foot tall Lotus Buddha known as Amida that welcomes visitors, as well as a three-ton brass peace bell located at the outside entrance. The statue is thought to be the largest hand carved Buddha outside of Japan.
The original Byodo-In Temple is located in the Japanese city of Uji and is used jointly by the Jodo Shi and Tendai sects. Built in 998 as a rural villa for use by the most powerful members of the Fujiwara clan, a family of Japanese regents who found power during the Heian period, the villa underwent conversion to a Buddhist temple in 1052. The Japanese version of the Byodo-In’s most famous building is the Phoenix Hall, constructed in 1053 and the only remaining original building, as additional building were burnt down during the civil war in 1336.
The Hawaiian Temple’s grounds are a lush landscape, tucked in the mountains and home to Japanese Koi fish that swim through the rivers and ponds and wild peacocks that roam the grounds. Many weddings, meetings and worships take place at the temple, which sees a great number of visitors from around the world from all faiths participating in its traditions.
The Byodo-In Temple is a Hawaii State Landmark that has been used in a number of television shows including Hawaii 5-0, Lost, and Magnum P.I., in which it was featured as a recurring part of the plot.

Read more: Byodo- In Temple: A Hidden Oahu Gem

Surf fans again have reason to head north. The big waves are here for 2010. Though they aren’t expected to stay long, the first round of waves have hit the north facing shores of Maui, Molokai, and Oahu. With faces expected to reach between 25 and 35 feet from Tuesday November 2^nd through Thursday November 4^th, surfers in paradise will no doubt be out in full force.

Catching Waves at Waimea Bay

It is best advised to leave the surfing and swimming to the seasoned and expert surfers during high surf advisories, though we do recommend visiting Oahu’s Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay along the  North Shore to witness these massive waves.  In December, The Quicksilver Big Wave Invitational in Memory of Eddie Aikau will hit Waimea Bay. 28 surfers are invited each December with the hope of competing in this classic event. The event requires face heights of 30 feet in order

With the big waves, comes the high surf warning and deadly currents. The advisory is in effect for the western shores of Oahu as well as Ni’ihau and Molokai, and the Big Island’s north shores. The National Weather Service in Honolulu will continue to closely monitor the surf conditions and make changes accordingly and as they deem appropriate for the waters.

Sunset Beach Shore Break

Be sure to join us on one of our Circle Island Tours exploring the island of Oahu, for your chance to see the North Shore and these impressive waves.

Read more: Surf’s Up Hawaii

We are very excited to announce the launch of our brand new site balivacationpackage.com. In our continued efforts to provide our award winning service to our highly valued guests around the world, we now offer you this exciting web-page. Consider checking it out and remember, with Discover Hawaii you are getting  more than just a vacation package. All tours come standard with the backing of over fifteen years worth of dedicated US based service and a friendly touch of Aloha.

Bali's Tanah Lot Temple

Our new site, balivacationpackage.com, offers a number of tours, and hotel and tour packages to various regions on the Indonesian island. The country is absolutely beautiful and there are a great number of temples, resorts, beaches, and exciting things to do and see.

This a very exciting time, and tourism to Bali is increasing with each month and year. No matter what your travel preferences are, Bali is sure to offer a destination with your name on it. For the younger traveler, Sanur is filled with wonderful restaurants, beach front bars, long stretches of beaches for a variety of water sports, museums, and a thriving nightlife. Seasoned travelers may prefer the region of Nusa Dua, a gated sanctuary designed for relaxation at one of the many beachfront resorts, museums, or a round of golf on a state of the art golf course.

We invite you to visit our brand new website and encourage a visit to this beautiful island. Warm weather, beautiful beaches, distinctive temples, and a unique culture will fill your time and offer a new appreciation for one of the fastest growing destinations in the world.

Read more: Discover BALI Tours

Have you ever wondered what beautiful tropical island is considered the most beautiful and tropical of them all? Well, according to the over 25,000 readers of The Conde Nast Traveler who recently cast ballots, Maui wins the distinction for the 16^th consecutive year. On top of that, it was also named the best pacific island for the 20^th year in a row.

Road to Hana Eco Adventure Deluxe

If you have ever been to Maui it’s easy to see why readers have continually ranked the “Magic Isle” as the world’s best island. The scenic natural beauty and absolutely perfect climate are truly unmatched. Living next-door on the number nine ranked island of Oahu, I am grateful to have had an opportunity to see Maui for myself. The Road To Hana Eco Adventure tour I took a few months ago with Discover Hawaii Tours was all I need to agree with the readers of the The Conde Nast Traveler on this one. Each stop we made was more amazing than the next. From the white sands of Ho’okipa Beach Park to the cascading waters of the Wailua falls, it’s easy to see why Maui has topped this list for sixteen years straight. It was a good choice going with Discover Hawaii Tours since it turns out they offer tours of the entire island. Many of the other tour providers I researched only went half-way and I can’t imagine having not had a chance to see some of the last few stops.

After reading the article I am going to have to make some time to take advantage of Hawaii’s other top ranked attractions. The Big Island of Hawaii came in as the number eight ranked island in the world, followed by the Pineapple Island of Lanai at fourteen. Honolulu was ranked as the number six city in the world on the same survey. The readers of The Conde Nast Traveler continued to praise Hawaii by ranking Hawaiian Airlines the number three airline in North America. Having flown with Hawaiian on that Maui tour I mentioned, I can agree that their service is top notch.

It seems the moral to this story suggests that if you are lucky enough to find yourself in Hawaii take advantage of the many world class locations and see as much as you can.

Read more: 2010 Conde Nast Traveler Readers Poll Continues High Ranks For Hawaii