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

In its continued attempt to become as green as possible, the state of Hawaii will receive 119 Chevrolet Equinox fuel-cell cars from General Motors. As part of a strategical deployment called Project Driveway, GM is dedicating nearly a 10^th of its production line to Hawaii, in part because Oahu-based Hawaii Gas has come up with a unique plan to distribute hydrogen to gas stations through its existing 1,000-mile pipeline.

New Fuel Cell Car, Debuting in Hawaii Soon

Hawaii Gas produces 7,000 kilograms of hydrogen everyday, which is enough to refuel 7,000 cars on a regular basis. GM has invested $1.5 billion in fuel cells and has been trying to concentrate its hydrogen car program in regions with widely available refueling.

Oahu could deliver an unmatched driving experience, along with Iceland, which is another contender for a hydrogen network, though it may be focusing more on electric battery cars.

Around the turn of the century, fuel-cell cars were believed to be imminent and early predictions placed 40,000 Mercedes-branded cars would be on the road by 2004, but that was overreached.

The hydrogen infrastructure is still evolving, which is why the Hawaii plan is exciting, and according to Jeff Kissel, CEO of Hawaii Gas, the company’s hydrogen business is the result of a happy accident.  The company produces synthetic methane gas from leftover naptha, a byproduct of gasoline refining. The gas is pipelined, with hydrogen added to increase efficiency and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. Hydrogen can be separated from the gas stream and routed to gas stations along the pipeline corridor, and though the Hawaii is developing a hydrogen-enabling fund, targeted at $10 million, it is essentially paying for this out of pocket and it is not subsidized in any way.

It is believed that there is a future for hydrogen here and it can be delivered at the same cost as gasoline, which is expensive in Hawaii. Though hydrogen is more expensive than gasoline, it is also more energy dense, meaning the cost of driving would be approximately equal in the company’s plan. By placing six stations on the island of Oahu, nobody will be more than 10 minutes from a hydrogen filling station; eventually, 12 to 24 stations are planned.

One reason that GM made its car commitment is that the Department of Defense is actively involved in attempting to “green” themselves and has made a substantial commitment to take them. The military is taking an active interest in fuel cells and recently purchased two 300-kilowatt stationary fuel cell power plants.

The Chevy Equinox has a range of 300 miles on hydrogen and the latest fuel cell designs reduce weight by about 220 pounds. GM is focused on creating a “production-intent” design that it plans to have ready for manufacturing by 2015.

Read more: New Hydrogen Stations and Fuel Cell Cars

Hawaii is most known for its beautiful weather, perfect beaches, big wave surfing, and its all around beauty. One often overlooked element of Hawaii and its culture is the diverse cuisine and unique delicacies. Many different foods are grown, produced, and prepared throughout the islands, and are all important to the customs and way of life here in Hawaii.

Locally grown crops have played an important part in Hawaii’s growth and economy for decades. Fields of pineapple, macadamia nuts, and coffee are seen on many of our North Shore and Circle Island Tours, and our Big Island Volcano Tour.

A closer look at local food production:

Pineapple – It is unknown when the pineapple was introduced into Hawaiian culture; however, large scale planting of the fruit began around 1850. James Dole established a plantation near Wahiawa on Oahu around 1900 and production escalated and eventually spread to other islands. Today, the remaining pineapple producers in Hawaii are Dole and Maui Land and Pineapple Company.

North Shore Pineapple Field

Coffee – First introduced to the islands through King Kamehameha’s Spanish Advisor in 1813, coffee remains a very big part of Hawaii’s exports. Unique soil and weather patterns combine to make Kona Coffee some of the most sought after coffee in the world. Hawaii is the sole U.S. provider of coffee in the world and most of the coffee comes from a 20 mile stretch of over 700 small coffee farms along the Kona coast of the Big Island on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa, though there are small quantities produced on the islands of Kauai and Maui.

Taro – No other form of food may represent Hawaii more than the taro plant. Though it is grown in many tropical climates worldwide it is most widely used in Hawaii and early Hawaiians were known to consume large quantities of taro that had been ground into a paste known as Poi. When raw, the plant is inedible and considered toxic, but when cooked or steeped in water, the root is harmless after it has been cooked.

Coffee Tree in Kona

Macadamia Nuts – Introduced to Hawaii from Australia in 1882, the macadamia nut tree was originally raised because of its beauty. A very versatile nut in cooking, there are over 700 farms and 8 processing plants, mostly on Hawaii’s Big Island, that is responsible for 90% of the world’s supply. Used in many foods including candies, breads, coffee, spreads, and cooking oil, macadamia nuts contain a high level of good fats and have been found to reduce cholesterol.

Sugarcane – Though it is not as big in Hawaiian agriculture as it once was, sugar continues to grow in Hawaii. As early as 1802, people on the island of Lanai were using stone rollers to crush the sweet juice from the sugarcane in 1834, the first sugar plantation went up on Kauai after King Kamehameha granted the use of 980 acres to Ladd & Company for growing and harvesting. The booming industry once employed 1 in 12 people and brought in about $150 million each year, but has since seen its prevalence fall as Hawaii has since concentrated its economic ventures elsewhere.

Read more: Hawaiian Agriculture

On June 4, 2010, the USS Missouri Battleship celebrated another achievement in its long and illustrious history. Though this did not take place in battle and there was nothing fired from the deck, it is still quite an accomplishment.

As Rachel Chmiel boarded the great battleship, she was met with gifts and celebration as the 4-millionth guest to visit the deck of the retired war vessel. With ties to Oahu and the daughter of a Navy man, she certainly understood the magnitude of the battleship and all of the glory that she carries. Various attractions from Pearl Harbor and around Oahu provided gifts to help Rachel celebrate her achievement that she will forever share with the Mighty Mo.

The Mighty Mo and all Her Glory

On the heels of a major preservation effort, the proud Missouri is still going strong and attracting an average of about 1400 visitors each day. The memorial recently announced that, in order to keep up with the demands of visitors, they will be extending its hours by 90 minutes each day. New opening time will be 7:30am and closing at 5:00pm, with the operating hours remaining in effect until Labor Day at the least.
With the busy summer season, we have seen a great increase in visitors to the islands and Pearl Harbor remains as a top attraction. Book your tour today for your chance to see the USS Missouri, the USS Arizona Memorial, or any other attractions that Pearl Harbor or Oahu has to offer. See you on tour!

Read more: 4 Million at Mighty Mo

With summer approaching, it means the time of year that everyone loves.

School is out, baseball season is in full swing, backyard (or beach) bar-b-ques are frequent, and it’s time to plan the annual family vacation.
This year, why not plan a trip to paradise, and take in the history and beauty of the Hawaiian Islands? The weather is perfect, the ocean is pristine and crystal clear, you can never really run out of new things to experience, and hotels and flights are as affordable as they have been in recent years. With attractive hotel rates in Hawaii being lower than those of major mainland cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, and San Francisco, vacationing in Hawaii is becoming more and more wallet friendly.
The island of Oahu is home to many terrific places that are waiting for you to visit. Destinations such as Pearl Harbor, the North Shore, and the Polynesian Cultural Center are must see locations that offer plenty to do and see. You may also board a plane for a short flight to one of the outer islands. The Kilauea Volcano of Big Island and the Road to Hana on Maui are two of the possible choices that will allow you to get away from Honolulu for the day, and enjoy once in a lifetime experiences.
In visiting Hawaii, you will be greeted by friendly faces and a welcoming attitude that has been passed down through many generations. Everyone in Hawaii lives by the aloha spirit and we look forward to sharing our aloha spirit with you, so before booking a flight to Miami, New York, or San Francisco, consider a trip to Hawaii and the many wonderful features that paradise has.

Read more: Experience Hawaii with Sunshine and the Aloha Spirit