Discover Hawaii Tours Blog

One of the most scenic views on the entire island of Oahu, the Nu’uanu Pali Lookout is an absolute must on any Hawaiian Vacation. Tucked in the cliffs of the Ko’olau Mountain Range, pali is the Hawaiian word for cliffs. From the lookout, a panoramic view of Windward Oahu overlooks the towns of Kailua and Kaneohe. The Pali Highway (State Highway 61) connects Honolulu to windward Oahu.

Scenic View from above Pali Lookout

The Pali is famous for the strong trade winds that blow through the pass, seemingly at all times. Coupled with the tunnels of the highway, it forms a natural wind tunnel of sorts.

There are many legends and beliefs surrounding this fabled overpass and its surrounding mountains. Two large stones near the back of Nu’uanu valley are said to represent a pair of goddesses who were guardians of the passage. Travelers have been know to leave offerings of flowers or bark cloth to ensure a safe trip. Many parents have been known to bury the umbilical cords of newborns under the stones, as a protection against evil. It is also widely believed that pork should never be carried over Nu’uanu Pali. Many motorists have reported their cars mysteriously stopping and not starting again until the pork was removed from the car. This is the responsibility of Pele and her contest with Kamapua’a, a half man, half hog God that is forbidden from passing to her side of the island in his hog form.

The Nu’uanu Pali was also the site of the Battle of Nu’uanu, one of the bloodiest battles in Hawaiian History. During this battle, King Kamehameha I conquered the island of Oahu, bringing it under his rule. The battle took place in 1795 after Kamehameha conquered the islands of Maui and Molokai. Along with an army of 10,000 soldiers, Kamehameha forced the defenders of Nu’uanu Valley up the mountain and trapped more than 400 soldiers. The defenders were driven off the cliff to their deaths 1,000 feet below. When the first road was built over the mountain range, workers came across more than 800 skulls, believed to be the remains of the warriors that fell to their deaths during the battle.

For the best chance to see the Pali Lookout and many of the other scenic and historic landmarks on Oahu, join us on a Circle Island Tour today.

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!

The world famous Road to Hana features some of the most spectacular ocean views that would be very difficult to find at any other place in the world. With many scenic outlooks, hidden waterfalls, and many unknown locations located throughout, the Hana highway is a very popular destination to travel and see on a Hawaiian vacation.

Aerial View of Road to Hana

Lost on most that visit Maui is the original use for the highway and the town of Hana. Around 1850, George Wilfong started the first sugar can mill in Hana near the Ka-’uiki Hill. This began the sugar plantation boom on Maui and over the next 30 years, six separate plantations would open and operate. The large number of plantations called for a need of a road for workers to travel to and from their work days. This need was realized in 1926 when the Hana Highway was completed, making it possible for cars and trucks to travel from Hana to Kahului. By 1940, Hana was a bustling town with a population of over 3,500 residents. Life was good both in town and at the sugar plantations. However, in 1946, the last of the plantations near Hana closed and many families were unable to find work and moved to the other side of the island, where new plantations had began to open.

The Road to Hana was built by hand with picks and shovels. Volcanic rock crushed into a fine mixture was used as the road’s first surface material, and the road wasn’t fully paved until 1982. The road was eventually widened and resurfaced in the 1990s to better suit the many cars and buses that travel over the road daily. In August of 2000, as part of the country wide Millennium Legacy Trails campaign, the highway circling Maui was selected from nominations by Governors of states as one of fifty-two roads located throughout the country that reflect the unique spirit of the areas they represent.

While traveling along the Road to Hana, there are plenty of opportunities for pictures, visiting black sand beaches,and visiting authentic Hawaiian vendors. Join Discover Hawaii Tours on a trip to Maui and a drive around the beautiful Road to Hana. We look forward to seeing you on tour!

Each June, Hawaii gears up for a fantastic celebration of their greatest ruler, King Kamehameha. The great monarch led the unification of the Hawaiian Islands under one rule, creating the Kingdom of Hawaii. Long remembered for the “Law of the Splintered Paddle”, which protects human rights of non-combatants in times of battle, Kamehameha was a very ambitious ruler who has been honored and celebrated in many ways since his death in 1819.
The first Kamehameha day occurred in 1872 after the King’s great grandson, Kamehameha V, established the order in the previous year. June 11 brings a parade and a block party through Downtown Honolulu and Waikiki, complete with food, games, and music, with a ceremonial lei ceremony draping his statues on not only Oahu and Big Island, but a statue located in Washington DC in the company of federal officials. A 2-day hula competition also takes place in Honolulu at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center.
Many of our tours visit King Kamehameha’s statue located in downtown Honolulu near the Iolani Palace. To see this and many more Hawaii landmarks, join us on one of our fantastic island tours.

Returning to television this fall will be a new take on a long-time favorite. CBS has recently announced that they have given the green light for ‘Hawaii 5-0’ as part of their fall lineup. Though the characters remain the same, the story will have a different premise and promises to be edgier and more action packed than the original that ran from 1968 to 1980.

The show will star Alex O’Loughlin as Steve McGarrett and “Lost” cast member Daniel Dae Kim as Chin Ho Kelly. The pilot was shot in early March at many locations around the island including Punchbowl Cemetery and at many locations in Downtown Honolulu. Filming has since resumed and many of our tours have witnessed the sets and glimpses of the actors.
The original show was filmed in a studio built in Diamond Head, with on-location filming taking place at sights such as Iolani Palace and Waikiki Beach. Starring Jack Lord and James MacArthur, the showed used many locals as extras due to the lack of a film industry in Hawaii at the time. Though Jack Lord’s character Steve McGarrett was the protagonist and his character was the lead of the show, his catch phrase “Book ‘em Dan-O” is what has long been remembered as time has gone on.

This new version of the cop-drama will be filming throughout the summer on Oahu and there will be opportunities to see many of the locations used in this, and many other shows and movies, by joining us on one of our circle island tours. These tours also feature many famous locations for surfing, historical sights, and beautiful views.

With Memorial Day weekend upon us, what better way to celebrate than with family, friends, baseball, and barbecues. It is also important to remember what the meaning of the holiday is and salute the brave soldiers that have served our country both presently and over the many years through our countries history.
History lives on at Pearl Harbor everyday with remembrance and tradition; and perhaps the most storied and touching tradition that lives on with the USS Arizona is the burial of the surviving crew members. Crew members who were assigned to the Arizona on December 7, 1941 have the right to have their remains cremated and interred inside the remains of the battleship. Those who were crew members before the fateful date, have the right to have their ashes scattered over the ship, also in a private ceremony. Accordingly, any survivor of the Pearl Harbor attacks can have their ashes scattered over the location in the harbor where their ship was located during the attack.
This tradition began on April 12, 1982 when retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Stanley M. Teslow was returned to his ship, becoming the first survivor to return. This tradition has since continued, and as of 2006, 28 surviving crew members have chosen to return to the ship on which they once served.
The process to return the survivor’s remains to the ship is a private ceremony for the families, consisting of a two-bell ceremony from the Fleet Reserve Association, a rifle salute from the U.S. Navy or Marine Corps, and a benediction with the echo of Taps being played across the harbor. These services are conducted inside the memorial and consist of an invocation, a funeral ceremony, and a flag presentation to the family. As the ceremony concludes, the urn with the remains of the sailor are presented to divers, who swim the urn into the open barbette of gun turret number four and proceed to a large opening where the urn is placed and slides into the ship.
Though these ceremonies are entirely private and restricted to family, you can discover Pearl Harbor on one of our tours. We offer many tour options and give you the best chance to see Pearl Harbor and tours are available from Big Island, Maui, and Kauai, as well as Oahu. We look forward to sharing Pearl Harbor with you and showing you our beautiful island.

The world’s most active volcano just keeps going, and for the foreseeable future, it is showing no signs of letting up. May 21, 2010 is another event and milestone in the eruption of Kilauea. Since January 3, 1983, and for the 10,000th consecutive day, the summit of Kilauea has kept scientists busy collecting information and data about the volcano’s internal workings.

The ongoing eruption and gas emissions have produced a predominant mix of sulfur dioxide mixed with volcanic ash at about 200 tons to 2,000 tons a day. In the 27 plus years of activity, scientists have witnessed and investigated many events, including the opening of a new vent in March 2008. Possibly more important than the activity and information that has been gathered, and due to a road closure at Crater Rim Drive, there has been an increase in forest birds near the Chain of Craters Road intersection. The road closure is part of 4 miles out of 62 total miles of paved road through the park. Hawaiian traditions are also seeing benefits from the road closure as specific laws protecting Pele’s home are respected. Lava that steams is land that is still forming and not to be touched, according to cultural anthropologist Keola Awong. Scientists have also noticed signs showing just how connected the summit is to vents in other parts of the island. Tiltmeters, tubes a few feet high that are secured in the ground, contain liquid with an air bubble inside. These tiltmeters record how the air bubble shifts as the ground beneath the machine shifts.

The closest views of the lava can be seen from Tour 33 our tour gets as close to the lava viewing as allowed by the Hawaii Civil Defense. Tours are available from Big Island, Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. This is the best lava viewing we have had for some time, take advantage of this once in a lifetime spectacle and join Discover Hawaii Tours on a magnificent tour that you will most certainly enjoy.

Those unfamiliar with the life of Princess Ka’iulani may be misled by the movie that opened on May 14, 2010.
The original title of the film, “Barbarian Princess”, provoked controversy in Hawaii from the beginning. Though the producers of the film have stated that the term is meant to be ironic, and is meant to draw in audiences who may not be familiar with the history of Hawaii, individuals in Hawaii have declared that it brought up painful memories of past discrimination of those from the islands, and the term ‘Barbarian Princess’ was one of many racist labels that were used to describe the highly educated Hawaiian Princess by pro-annexation groups before and during the time of the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy.
Hawaiian royalty has a long and storied tradition on the islands, and many of the Kings, Queens, and Princesses are still widely celebrated today. They are also recognized worldwide, with exception of the United States. Through many trials and tribulations, the Royal Kingdom of Hawaii was established between the years 1795 and 1810. Throughout its rule, the Kingdom saw many rulers, and with each new constitution, power was reduced in favor of an elected legislature that was increasingly dominated by the interests of American and European descent.
Princess Ka’iulani was the heir to the throne at the time that the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown and led a campaign to restore the Kingdom. Because of this she was portrayed as a “heathen-princess” in pro-Annexation skits and cartoons. Despite attempts to portray her as barbaric or savage, her popularity proved to be quite surprising as she traveled across the United States following her education in Victorian England.
Princess Ka’iulani was a very exquisite Royal Princess, who spoke eloquently in many different languages. Only 23 at the time of her death from illness, the “Peacock Princess”, known as this for her love of peacocks, continued to make public appearances until the time of her death at the urging of her father. Today, as with many former rulers, Princess Ka’iulani is celebrated in many books, videos, and musical tributes that take place in Hawaii. Princess Ka’iulani’s royal residence, the Iolani Palace, can be seen from many of our Oahu tours.

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.

With the recent activity of the Eyjafjallajökull Volcano in Iceland, it brings about the possibilities for us here in Hawaii. Though the volcanoes on most of the islands are dormant, there is activity from Kilauea, and recently, there has been an increased flow. The recent activity has set off small fires and small methane explosions as it makes its way through the brush and closer to the viewing area. There has been no structural damage but the Civil Defense has had to relocate some of their facilities.The U.S. Geological Survey has been monitoring the slow moving flow, and will continue to do so as it keeps advancing. For safety reasons, there is no close-up viewing of the flow, but there is a path over lava that is only a few months old that offers a great view. Members of the U.S. Geological Survey have said that the distant views of surface activity are available, especially at night. This activity for our Big Island Volcano Tour 33 means that we have had great views of the lava flow and the increased activity means that seats for our tours are filling fast, as this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.
As much as we are enjoying the views and flow from our Big Island Volcano and it is a thrill to see, we do understand the magnitude of what is happening in Iceland. We here at Discover Hawaii Tours hope that everyone that has been affected by this event makes it out safe and further damage is avoided.