Jaunted

Deep Sea Fishing / Fishing / Big Island / Hawaii Travel / Events / → All Tags

If You Are Wishing You Were Fishing, Head To The Kona Coast

You’ve done a good job sharing your travel plans this summer. Since one of the best travel deals has been to Hawaii, we’re thinking that you’ll need something to do when you arrive. If the Big Island is in your travel plans, and it should be, then you might want to take the time to check out the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament—t’s their fiftieth anniversary.

The deal is, anglers from around the globe gather on the Kona Coast to head out in search of some huge fish. The biggest and the baddest is usually the Pacific blue marlin, and hooking one of these big guys will definitely provide an afternoon of excitement and exercise. You should probably skip the beer on this fishing trip and ensure that the cooler is stocked with Red Bull.

Things run throughout the week of July 20 and the tournament is open to 50 teams. Even if you don’t want to join a team and compete, you’ll definitely be able to cheer on the teams as they return from their three-hour tours. Best of all, if you’re in the right place at the right time, you’ll be able to snag a picture with a 600-pound fish and Miss Hawaii Billfish 2009. That's a way better picture for Facebook than you holding a Pina Colada with an little umbrella in it.

Related Stories:
·Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament [Official Site]
·Crazy Kiwi Man Teaches Us How To Deep Sea 'Heli-Fish' [Jaunted]
·Fishing coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Official Site]

Adventure Travel / Big Island Travel / Hawaii Travel / Snorkeling / → All Tags

Nightswimming With Manta Rays in Hawaii

Much like we found something to do in Las Vegas during the day, we have a suggestion for exploring Hawaii at night.

If you’re on the Big Island of Hawaii and somehow find yourself tired with the usual surf and sand activities, then you may want to check out some of the island’s undersea offerings once the sun goes down.

Join one of the many guides off the Kona coast and get down with the manta rays. No need to fear these big critters as they don’t have any teeth or barbs--maybe they're even friendly? There are plenty of opportunities for both snorkelers and divers, so there’s really no excuse to dive in after hours.

Once the sun sets, you’ll meet your guide and review the do's and don'ts. Most of the tours offer up a midnight plankton snack for the rays as well as underwater lighting to get their attention. All you do is float, watch, and try to stay calm as the rays “fly” past you. Depending on your guide, it should set you back about $100 a person.

Related Stories:
·Manta Ray Dives Hawaii [Official Site]
·Jack's Diving Locker [Official Site]
·Big Island Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: TANAKA Juuyoh]

Fall Festivals / Fall Travel / Coffee / Hawaii Travel / → All Tags

Get Your Caffeine Buzz on the Big Island

Hawaii's oldest food festival kicks off on November 7 and runs through November 16 in celebration of the island's famed crop. The Kona Coffee Cultural Festival, as the name implies, also attempts to reveal more about the community and its heritage in addition to just serving up tasty beverages.

The International Lantern Parade starts things off on Friday evening. Groups take to Alii Drive dressed in ethnic costumes. On Sunday, practice your coffee picking abilities in a timed competition. Both experts and novices are welcome as you compete for prizes, including cash.

On Thursday, November 13, head over to the Keauhou Beach Resort to witness the final round of the Gevalia Kona Coffee Cupping Competition. Growers from up and down the coast eagerly anticipate who will be honored with the award for finest coffee. Finally, if your caffeine high is still going strong, wrap things up on the final festival weekend with the Kamehameha Schools Kona Coffee Grand Parade. Try you best to sit still as floats, costumes and even Miss Kona Coffee march through town.

Related Stories:
· Kona Coffee Cultural Festival [Official Site]
· Fall Festivals coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: lrargerich]

Hawaii Surf Schools / Hawaii Travel / Surfing / Big Island / → All Tags

Surfing in Hawaii :: Lifeguards by Your Side

When you're new to riding the wild waves of Hawaii, it's smart to at least consider your safety. (Nothing ruins a trip faster than a hospital stay!) And we can't think of a much safer way to start surfing than with a crew of trained and certified Hawaiian lifeguards.

Hawaii Lifeguard Surf Instructors specialize in two-hour beginner lessons that run three times a day. The school provides everything riders need to take on the waves, from board to rash guard. It's the safest way to test the waves and waters. And once you've learned the fundamentals safely, you'll be riding the Pipe in no time.

Related Stories:
· Hawaii Lifeguard Surf Instructors [Official Site]
· Hawaii Surf Schools coverage [Jaunted]

Celeb Travel / Leonardo DiCaprio / Hawaii / → All Tags

Leonardo DiCaprio Takes a Respectable Vacation in Hawaii

Remember the days of the Pussy Patrol?  When Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and their lesser-known accomplices terrorized the ladies of the world with their decadent, no-limit ways?  Those days are long gone, as the boys' most recent vacation shows.  They went to Hawaii and hung out on the beach...along with various girlfriends, fiancees, and buns in the ovens.  The increased estrogen only means fancier digs.  Here are two of the Big Island's best hotels, conveniently located directly next to each other in Kona-Kailua.

Kona Village Resort - This all-inclusive resort is one of the oldest hotels in Hawaii, and it charms the pants off everyone who goes there (accordingly, it's a very popular honeymoon spot).  The guest rooms are all freestanding bungalows scattered about the property, making it ideal for privacy.  The beach  is excellent for snorkeling, with a reef that's home to turtles, octupii, all kinds of fish, and somewhat terrifyingly, moray eels.

Four Seasons Hualalai - This is the much more refined of the two hotels.  Well, mostly.  It's the hotel Whitney Houston stayed at seven years ago when she tried to smuggle pot back onto the mainland.  Drug addicts notwithstanding, the hotel has a very elegant feel, and provides little details like water bottles for car trips and cakes on birthdays.  The beach isn't as good at this hotel, so they've provided the "King's Pond," an enclosed salt water pool with the full array of marine life.  It's pretty cool, and perfect for more sedate snorkelers.

Related Stories:

Hualalai Reviews [TripAdvisor]