Oahu’s Hawaiian Electric Top Player in US Solar Energy

Posted on June 11, 2011 by Blogger in Paradise

Outpacing its neighboring islands as well as over 200 other utility companies nationwide, Oahu and the Hawaiian Electric Company recently claimed third place in a new study by the Solar Electric Power Association.

HECO trails close behind New Jersey and California utilities in the released results, which measured the amount of solar energy per customer installed in 2010.

SEPA 2010 Solar Installation Rankings

SEPA 2010 Solar Installation Top 10

The study ranked utility companies, not cities or states, or islands.

But that didn’t stop the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative from securing 12th place among 230 companies. Hawaii proves that it continues to remain a leader in sustainable solar energy in the United States.

“Hawaiian Electric has developed creative business models appropriate for its environment that bring the benefits of solar power to its operations, its customer and our society,” said Julia Hamm, president and chief executive officer of SEPA, to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Hawaiian Electric installed 33.16 watts capacity per customer. New Jersey’s Public Service Electric & Gas Co. installed 35.19 watts and California’s Silicon Valley Power installed 39.95 watts.

Kauai’s Island Utility Cooperative, however, leads the entire nation at second place in cumulative amount of solar energy added over the years. KIUO came in 2nd with 101 kilowatts per person, following Southern California Edison with 199 kilowatts.

“We congratulate Hawaiian Electric Co. for again proving itself as one of the solar power leaders in the electric utility industry,” said Hamm.

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How to enjoy the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards Festival, FREE!

Posted on May 17, 2011 by Blogger in Paradise

The Na Hoku Hanohano Awards Festival is Hawaii’s most popular music awards ceremony and often compared to the Grammy Awards. But if you’re living across the world and won’t be flying in to Honolulu anytime soon, you can still take a ‘vacation’ to Hawaii and experience the Na Hoku ceremony absolutely free!Mountain Apple Company Na Hoku Hanohano Awards

How? KFVE will host a free live internet stream of the Na Hoku Awards Ceremony, including performances, on May 29, 2011. How’s that for one of the best Hawaii tours that doesn’t cost you anything? Also, if you live in Hawaii and don’t own a TV, this is a perfect way to attend the ceremony and watch Hawaii’s great musicians perform live.

But what if the performance–broadcasting at 7 p.m., Hawaii Time Zone–happens when you’re just arriving to work in the morning? Or what if you just can’t wait to hear the nominees perform their music?

Simple: listen to free, high-quality streaming music online.

Enter the Mountain Apple Company, Hawaii’s most well-known Hawaiian music record label. Over a dozen of their artists have been nominated for awards this year, and the Mountain Apple Company is streaming every nominated album on their website, free of charge.

Kainani Kahaunaele, a female vocalist/musician/songwriter who recently released her second album, Ohai Ula, has been nominated for Na Hoku Awards, including:

Kainani Kahaunaele Na Hoku

  • Album of the year
  • Female Vocalist of the Year
  • Hawaiian Album of the Year
  • Hawaiian Language Performance
  • Song of the Year for “Eia Ke Aloha”
  • 2 haku mele (composer) nominations for the songs “Ohai Ula” and “Puaala.”
  • Entertainer of the Year

Check out the full, complete list of Na Hokus nominees here.

Take advantage of these two free resources, they might not last once the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards are over!

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Have You Signed Up for the Plumeria Travel Club?

Posted on May 13, 2011 by Blogger in Paradise

Subscribe today and receive exclusive travel deals on Hawaii tours and more!

The Plumeria Travel Club is on a mission to sav you time and money on your Hawaii vacation. That means special discounts, promotional offers, and travel tips!

And best of all, it’s absolutely free! Click here to sign up.

Sign up for the Plumeria Travel Club

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3 Tips for Taking Timeless Hawaii Vacation Photos

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Blogger in Paradise

We know you’ll be bringing your camera with you on all your Hawaii travels, so here’s three great photography tips on how you can improve your photos for timeless, unique images. And even if you’re not doing any fun Hawaii activities anytime soon, you can still apply this advice to your daily life–and be extra prepared for your vacation in Hawaii.

Camera photo by BigTallGuy on Flickr

1. Be ready.
Do you plan to use your DSLR during your entire Hawaiian vacation, or bring it along “when I feel like it”? If a bulky camera doesn’t inspire you to take photos, consider point-and-shoot or micro 4/3 system cameras, like the Olympus Pen and Panasonic Lumix. If you love your camera, you’ll be more ready to take lots of photo.

2. Be comfortable.
Unique moments happen fast, and you need to be comfortable with your camera to be able to capture these passing moments in time. Use a shooting mode you can handle. If you don’t know how to shoot in full manual mode, try aperture priority instead. Don’t waste time fumbling around with settings. Know your camera well so you don’t miss that timeless shot!

3. Be different.
Are all the other tourists crowding in the same spot to take a photo? Separate yourself and look high, look low, test out different perspectives for a one-of-a-kind photo. You’ll be glad you took an extra step for a unique image to remember Hawaii by.

Want more tips? Read more great travel photography tips here. Photo by BigTallGuy on Flickr.

Fun Hawaii Tours delivers unique photo opportunities on every outing. Not sure what things to do in Hawaii? Don’t miss out on these fun activities on sale now!

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Photo ID now required for Ford Island Entry

Posted on May 2, 2011 by Blogger in Paradise

HONOLULU, HI—All visitors traveling to Ford Island are now required to provide valid photo identification as of Sunday, May 1, 2011.

Lieutenant Antonio Gonzalez & Lieutenant Commander Mark Kern of Joint Base Pearl Harbor have notified us that the Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection level has been raised to BRAVO level as of 1130 hours, Sunday May 1st. Attractions on Ford Island include the USS Missouri and Pacific Aviation Museum. Entry into Pearl Harbor Visitor’s Center is not affected by these changes.

All shuttles will be stopped at the Ford Island Bridge gate and sentries will board shuttles to check for ID’s and inspect cargo areas before allowing entry. Many of Discover Hawaii Tours’ customers will potentially be affected when touring the Pacific Aviation Museum and USS Missouri.

Please notify the appropriate parties about this urgent notice. We are updating our websites to reflect the new requirement for photo identification at Ford Island.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Any updates will be posted to this blog as soon as possible.

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Things to do in Hawaii: A Day on Oahu

Posted on April 22, 2011 by Blogger in Paradise

Welcome to paradise. At least one-eighth of it, anyway. Hawaii is home to eight main islands, including Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. Oahu is the most populated island and offers an endless list of Hawaii activities. Here’s one way for you to enjoy a day on Oahu.

Swim at world-famous North Shore beaches
Start your day with a drive north along Kamehameha Highway toward Haleiwa and famous beaches like Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach and Pipeline. Pass the pineapple fields of Dole Plantation before the final stretch toward the North Shore. Sunset Beach is popular year-round and offers free parking and restrooms just across the street.

Ice Cold Coconut Water Fresh in Waimanalo

Eat shave ice after your trip to the beach
A tradition for every beach-bound resident, pick up some shave ice in Haleiwa for a delightful refreshment after your swim in the ocean. Customize your shave ice with flavors like vanilla, lilikoi, piña colada, strawberry and so much more! Aoki’s and Matsumoto’s are the most popular spots in Haleiwa Town.

Don’t forget the local shrimp trucks
Kahuku is famous for its mouthwatering shrimp plates. You’ll find garlic butter shrimp on every menu along this part of Kamehameha Highway, and for good reason—you’ll be raving about it for weeks.

Drive along the Windward side of Oahu…
Discover the quiet beauty of Oahu’s east coast, where laid-back towns like Waimanalo and Kailua offer a taste of local daily life for visitors. Pristine waters are just a few steps from the highway, so be to sure to stop often and dip your feet in the water. Some of the best locations are near Kualoa Ranch and Heeia State Park. A relaxing drive along some of the most beautiful beach towns awaits you!

…And stop along the highway for fresh local food
Food stands along Kamehameha Highway are plentiful: ice cold coconut, freshly smoked meats, locally papaya, and much more. It’s a great way to enjoy the many flavors of Hawaii. Take your pick, or try them all!

Stop at scenic points along the South Shore
Hanauma Bay, Halona Blowhole, Sandy Beach Park—all offer stunning views of Oahu’s prestigious ocean landscapes. If you have extra time and energy, consider a short hike along a paved path to Oahu’s most eastern tip, Makapu’u Point. On a clear day you can see neighbor island Molokai from here!

Rest back at the hotel…Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head
You’ve had a long day seeing Oahu’s best sights around the island. Waikiki offers escapes for relaxation at cafes like Honolulu Coffee Company in the Moana Surfrider Hotel, and world-class shopping at local and international retailers.

….And enjoy a beautiful sunset on Waikiki Beach.
The view is extraordinary from anywhere along Waikiki. Grab a bench at the edge of the sand, or walk along Magic Island for a majestic experience at dusk. Calming waves, gentle tradewinds and swaying palms will have you wishing for your Hawaii vacation to never end. This is truly paradise.

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How to Make Your Vacation Green

Posted on April 20, 2011 by Blogger in Paradise

Green travel tips

Making your Hawaiian eco-vacation green is surprisingly easy and affordable. With these simple tips you will reduce your carbon footprint on these beautiful islands.

  1. Turn off the air conditioning, television and lights when leaving your hotel room.
  2. Re-use sheets and towels during your hotel stay. This will save water and reduce energy and chemical usage.
  3. Say no to plastic bags when you go shopping. Instead, bring a canvas bag from home or buy one here in Hawaii. Not only will say no to single-use plastic bags, but your canvas bag can double as a beach bag.
  4. Bring your own bottle. By simply bringing a re-usable water bottle, you will not only save money by not buying bottled water, but you will ease the impact our oceans and landfills continue to suffer from the onslaught of plastic bottles.
  5. Instead of renting a car, take a bus tour of the island. Not only will you emit less carbon dioxide, but you will save on gas, which here in Honolulu is selling for a whopping $4.38 a gallon!
  6. Last but not least, be sure to visit the new Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, Hawaii’s first Green museum with Fun Hawaii Tours!
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