A string of islands stretching northwest of Hawaii named Papahanaumokuakea National Park has been recognized by the UN as a World Heritage Site.  This is one of 26  World Heritage Sites and the first one in the USA.

Papahanaumokuakea covers an area of nearly 140,000 square miles which is 100 times larger than Yosemite National Park.  Over half of America’s coral reefs are in this park in which 7000 marine species live.

Want to learn more?  Check out these links:

• Papahanaumokuakea National Park
• Wikipedia on Papahanaumokuakea

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Here is an interesting photo gallery set of photos showing lava getting closer to a house and finally consuming it.  Kilauea has been erupting lava since 1983.

to see the photos use this link…

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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (True Books, National Parks)

Just read a new article with information on going for a volcano vacation in Hawaii.   Some facts given in the article:

• the worlds most active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea, are at Volcanoes National Park
• view the live lava flows and be sure to hike the lava tube in the rain forest
• Mauna Kea, the highest point in Hawaii at 13,796 ft. has been dormant for 3,500 years

The article talks about many other Big Island attractions, but one that caught my curiosity are the Puu Loa Petroglyphs.

check the article out with this link…

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The Division of  State Parks in Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources has launched a new online camping and lodging reservation and permit system.  The can be found on the state’s official website at – http://www.ehawaii.gov.

Users can check availability at all State Park locations, make reservations, and submit credit card payments through the state’s secure payment system.  This new online system offers more convenience for campers to make reservations.

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Why not save some money on your eating when you visit Hawaii’s Big Island ?  LA Times put out an interesting photo montage giving 20 links to places to eat on the Big Island that offer lower cost meals.  Here is the list:

1. 
   

   Manago Hotel – http://www.managohotel.com/  is historical
   

2. 
   

   Island Lava Java Bistro & Grill – inexpensie healthful food

3. 
   

   Kona Brewing Co. – http://www.konabrewingco.com/

4. 
   

   Merriman’s Market Cafe – specializes in Mediterranean

5. 
   

   Ultimate Burger – serves grass fed beef

6. 
   

   Quinn’s Almost by the Sea – crispy fried fish-and-chips plate
   

7. 
   

   Huggo’s On the Rocks – http://www.huggos.com/all/rocksdefault.htm

8. 
   

   Kings? Grille – http://www.waikoloabeachgolf.com/ – try breakfast

9. 
   

   Island Fish & Chips – salmon burger

10. 
    

    Café Pesto – http://www.cafepesto.com/

11. 
    

    Luana Lounge at Fairmont Orchid – don’t miss the chocolate beignets

12. 
    

    Kohala Coffee Mill & Tropical Dreams – coffee and ice cream

13. 
    

    Bamboo Restaurant & Bar – http://www.bamboorestaurant.info/

14. 
    

    Pine Tree Café – oriental

15. 
    

    Hawaiian Style Café

16. 
    

    Huli Sue’s Barbecue & Grill – great service, ambience and barbecue

17. 
    

    Hilo Bay Café – European-Pacific Rim Cusine

18. 
    

    Nori?s Saimin & Snacks – try Hawaiian-style noodle soup

19. 
    

    Tex Drive-In – http://www.texdrivein.com/

20. 
    

    Naung Mai Thai Kitchen – authentic Thai

    
    

To see the montage on the LA Times article use this link

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A new agreement between NASA and Hawaii to collaborate in a assortment of pursuits relating small satellite development, advanced aviation, space exploration, education and science.  This continues a legacy of almost 50 years where Hawai has been involved with leading programs in broadband satellite communications, space-based environmental monitoring, deep-space surveillance,and astronomy.

Read more at …

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Mauna Kea gets a rare spring dusting of snow.  See this web cam video showing the snow at the observatory of Mauna Kea. Link to see video …

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The following article is just a brief guide to help you in choosing the best car rental available in the area that you want. Just read quickly through and I will point you in the right direction.

The reason I wrote this article is that if you accessed car rental websites directly you will find the same confusing content. They all claim to offer the best deals and value for money. How then do you tell the difference. I will briefly highlight to you the things that you need to bear in mind when renting a car and some of the implications of choosing to rent.

This is to make sure you are aware of all the pertinent and minor details. A standard lease form is a long document that you are usually lazy to read through? After reading the first few lines you are ready to sign because everything sounds good in those first lines. That would amount to a serious error in judgement. Signing this legal document means you agree to everything that is written in it.

The agents of the car hire will normally rush you though the document as well. There are various penalty clauses that are included in this document that you need to be aware of. You do not want to return a car and find that you have violated something in your agreement because you did not read right up to the end. The lease agreements are not standard and will differ from agency to agency. Just because you have rented a car does not mean you are familiar with the lease documents. You can make use of the following car hire information for some good deals:rent a cheap car in randburg, small 4×4 to rent, car renting, pretoria

You should always try and avoid having to choose a car rental agency when you have arrived at your destination. It should be done in advance and when there is still time to compare and choose.

We look at Hawaii in this installment of our cruise holidays guide…

A wish come true is the only way a great deal of people can describe going on a Hawaiian cruise. There is nothing more exhilarating than traveling the ocean blue in search of the tropical islands of Hawaii and her sister islands. And it’s such a paradise, too! Golden sunsets, sun-drenched sands and palm trees swaying in the warm gentle breeze await all who take a Hawaiian cruise.

For American and Canadian citizens, Hawaii cruises depart from numerous seaports along the west coast of North America. While many ports along the coastline have Hawaiian cruises, Seattle, San Diego, and Vancouver are the prime area’s for departure locations.

Taking around fifteen to eighteen days to complete, Hawaiian cruises usually visit a few islands around Hawaii, as well as Hawaii itself. But you can always pay for a one-way trip to Hawaii on a cruise ship and then fly to your next destination from her international airport.

If you are looking for a longer vacation, most companies can extend the trip to 25-30 days, and perhaps even more. These extended cruises are an excellent choice for those wishing to experience a more intense adventure in Hawaii and also for those who would like the opportunity to spend some time on the other islands of Maui, Lanai, Oahu and Kauai.

Even if you are the more restless type who does not enjoy lazing around in front of a pool simply taking in the sun, Hawaiian cruises can offer on land adventures to satisfy you. Explore the dormant volcanoes in the small Kilauea crater or become more adventurous and find the amazing Mauna Kea. If you don’t fancy the hike you can always do a Circle of Fire tour by helicopter.

And if you want to learn more about Hawaii’s impact on the world, visit her sugar or pineapple plantations. Don’t forget you still have plenty of ocean to explore; from snorkeling to surfing to taking an underwater adventure in a submarine; your Hawaiian cruise can offer a little bit of everything!

hawaii jobs

Hawaii. KNown for its sunny skies, snady beaches and of course the live volcanoes. Just as much as Hawaii is famous for its sandy beaches, so is it famous for its volcanoes. And Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is just the place to visit if you want to see some of the most popular live volcanoes. Offering visitors a unique look into the lives of people in Hawaii this park showcases some of the most sought after places in Hawaii.

Hawaii volcanoes national park is open daily and throughout the day, and has activities lined up such that anyone will be able to enjoy the visit there. The Kilauea visiting centre has information about the park and also shows a movie throughout the day about the park. The Jaggar Museum at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a museum on volcanology and also has some spectacular views of the summit. There is also camping allowed in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park for free, and only an entrance fee to the park is charged. Although the park is open all year round it is important to do your own research into the place before visiting to find out more about when certain places are open or not. Hikers can find easy tips online about hiking trails ionside the Hawaii volcanoes national park. Always make sure you are up to date on safety tips on hiking. Therefore always stay on the marked trails, take and drink plenty of water and wear the appropriate clothing and shoes. Also be careful when walking near thin or cracked surfaces.

Accommodation within the hawaii volcanoes national park is easy to find. There are many places within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that offer comfortable and luxurious lodging for a fair price. The Volcano house is best known in the park and offers visitors all luxury and comfort they may need. The Volcano house has 42 rooms, a gift shop, a dining room, lounge and a snack bar. There are also ten camper cabins run by Volcano House within the premises of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park that are available for lodging.

All in all, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a must see for all those planning a trip to the beautiful isles of Hawaii!.