Hawaii

Many people dream of going to Hawaii and it is often a special trip planned to celebrate an anniversary or a honeymoon. But a trip to Hawaii shouldn’t be saved for only special occasions, as there is so much to see and do. First time visitors often see only the highlights and long to return to savor the beauty and adventure on each of the beautiful islands.

AAA Travel Agents Earn "Hawaii Specialist" Certification

AAA East Penn has over 35 travel agents throughout the five office locations who were recently certified as Destination Specialists for Hawaii. Our agents have gone through an extensive training session conducted by the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau. AAA specialists have knowledge of the geography, people, attractions, history and culture of Hawaii and can make recommendations on sightseeing, accommodations, and the new accessible flights from the East Coast.

Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays is now offering newly scheduled, non-stop flights from New York’s J.F.K. Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays’ flights will be like a "Hawaiian Air Cruise" with two free meals in both directions, free wine with dinners, two complimentary movies, children’s games, Hawaii video specials, Pacific Breeze tropical theme drink, Hawaiian music, hot towel service, beverages, and much more. Local travelers can still fly out of our local Lehigh Valley International Airport.

AAA and Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays would like members to keep in mind the following tips while planning a Hawaiian vacation. Free attractions not to be missed Oahu’s world-famous USS Arizona Memorial is built over the hull of the battleship Arizona, sunk during Japan’s attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The 90-minute tour includes a ride aboard a Navy-operated launch. Along Front Street in Maui’s Lahaina, Friday nights feature art demonstrations, gallery shows and autograph signings by local artisans.

On Hawaii’s Big Island, stand on the southernmost point in the United States, in the sleepy little town of Na’alehu, formed entirely on the island’s massive slopes of the dormant volcano, Mauna Loa. Visit turn-of-the-century plantation houses at Kilohana new Lihue, Kauai. The former estate of sugar magnate Gaylord Wilcox is now an enchanting attraction with shops, gardens and historical homes.

Molokai’s Big Wind Kite Factory in Maunaloa offers flying lessons and a factory tour. Visitors can watch the kite-making process with no strings attached.

Eco-adventurer’s paradise

Twenty-one of the world’s 22 climatic zones are found here, from tropical rain forests to snow-capped peaks.

A great way to appreciate the hidden beauty of the Islands is exploring its many hiking trails. Haleakala National Park on Maui, for example, is a mix of valleys, rain forests, gulches and the largest dormant volcano on earth.

One of nature’s most compelling sites is the humpback whale breaching from the ocean, viewable from virtually every coast in the Islands. Snorkelers and divers can explore calm reefs and come face-to-face with angelfish, parrotfish and manta rays. Favorite locations are Oahu’s protected Hanauma Bay, or more secluded spots like Maui’s Molokini Crater. Kayaking is another choice for experiencing the islands’ lava-lined coasts at sea level.

Hawaii offers something for everyone.

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Published in the January 2001 issue of the AAA Traveler.