Hawaii Vacation Gifts by Double Brush-Hawaiian Gifts & Blog

NOT All Natural Soaps Are Natural

Natural Soap is a misused and abused term. There are all kinds of different bar soaps and novelty soaps, but I will be concentrating on what goes in glycerin soap or glycerine soap.

There are many glycerin soaps that are advertised and labeled as natural soap, but the ingredients are shockingly un-natural. The following are a few of the most dangerous soap ingredients found in numerous bath soaps and novelty soaps -- and shampoos and lotions.

Propylene Glycol - Derived from petroleum products, this substance is commonly used in antifreeze, de-icers, latex paint and laundry detergent. It can cause irritation of nasal passages and if ingested, can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate and
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - Is a harsh detergent and chemical foaming agent known to be a skin irritant.

Tetrasodium Etidronate - An irritant to the skin and mucous membranes, especially for people with eczema.

For a list of harmful bath and body ingredients, read Hidden Dangers Lurking in Your Beauty Products. Also read a longer scarier list: Toxic Cosmetic Ingredients Directory.

When we started to make natural soap at our company Double Brush, we sought out the best glycerine soap formula. I hope you will agree that we found the best natural glycerin soap base.

Our complete glycerine soap ingredient listing:

Saponified vegetable oils of coconut, palm, castor, and safflower
20% Kosher Glycerine ( of vegetable origin)
Purified Water
Sorbitol (from berries, moisturizer)
Sorbitan oleate (emulsifier)
Soybean protein (conditioner)
Titanium dioxide (common cosmetic mineral whitener used in opaque colored soap)
Optional - the highest quality of fragrance oils, FDA approved colors, body safe glitter or mica.

NO animal testing or animal products
NO Detergents
NO Sulfates
NO Surfactants
NO Alcohol
NO Sugar solutions

Our 100% pure glycerine soap formula is:

Hypo-allergenic

Non-comedogenic (our soap won't cause skin breakouts because our soap does not clog the pores of your skin. Besides rinsing off your skin well, it does not leave a soap film in your tub or basin.)

Excellent soap lather in all types of water

So mild that it is safe for infant use and babies ( but should be ordered without scent and color.)

As a consumer the only way you can protect yourself and your family is by reading the ingredient listing for all of your bath and body products. The same way so you read the ingredients labels on food because you care about what you put in your body, you also have to read the ingredient labels on the cosmetics and health care items you put on your skin or hair.

How to Grow a Hawaiian Pineapple Plant -- Indoors or Out

Did you know that it is quite easy to grow your own Hawaiian pineapple plant? Pineapple plants are not grown from a seed or plant cutting, but rather from the green spikey crown at the top of every pineapple fruit!

If you live in Hawaii growing a pineapple plant is as easy as literally throwing the pineapple crown onto some dirt in your yard and making sure it gets rained on everyday (easy to do if you live in Hilo, Hawaii where it rains a lot!), or watering it by hand. Of course if you take the time to bury it in the ground a few inches and fertilize it, your pineapple plant will probably do much better. We have planted dozens of pineapples the lazy way and nice way, and they have both bore sweet juicy pineapple fruit after two years -- yes, it takes that long for a delicious ready to eat fruit to appear.

If you do not live in a tropical zone or do not have a yard to grow things in, you can grow a pineapple plant in a pot as a houseplant. I already researched online for you and this is the best directions I found for growing a pineapple plant indoors.

If you do not have fresh Hawaiian pineapples at your local supermarket, you can order fresh pineapple fruit with crowns online. Ship them to yourself or to someone else as a delicious gift that may end up being the gift that keeps on giving!

Costco Hawaii Store -- Highest Sales in the Nation

It may sound unbelievable but it is true, the Hawaii Costco store at Iwilei on Oahu has the highest sales volume out of all of the 512 Costco warehouse stores in the nation. Costco Hawaii has been at the #1 spot for almost 2 years now with $300 million dollars in sales last year -- more than double the $129 million annual average sales volume of a Costco store.

The first Hawaii Costco store opened in Salt Lake in 1988, and in 2002 moved to their current Iwilei location. There are also Costco stores in Hawaii Kai and Waipio on Oahu, Kona on the Big Island, Kahului on Maui, and Lihue on Kauai. A fourth Oahu store is scheduled to open in Kapolei next year.

Read more details about Costco's Iwilei Store Top Outlet in Chain.

We live in Hilo and it is a 3 hour drive to the Kona Costco store on the other side of the island, so we do not shop there. I figured the cost in gas, time (all day trip), and carbon emissions would outweigh any dollar savings.

Is there a Costco store near your home and do you shop there?

Best Hawaii Blog or Best Hawaiian Blog

Several Hawaii blogs and Hawaiian blogs claim to be the best Hawaii blog or best Hawaiian blog, but I would be perfectly happy just to have a good blog from Hawaii.

In my opinion, a good blog has all original content and is interesting or useful to the reader in some way. A good blog also needs to have frequent posts. I post 5-7 times per week, but I am striving to post daily.

I consider a good blogger to be responsive to her readers. I send a thank you email to first time commenters, and respond to comments that appear on my blog post to keep the conversation going.

Currently I have only a handful of readers, but they read my blog regularly and leave comments. Also many have become my friends, which has been a pleasant added bonus! This makes me keep trying to do better, and most importantly, not to give up.

As I am still fairly new to blogging (it's only been about 3 months), please share comments about what you consider to be a good blog or blogger.

Secret Meaning of a Hawaiian Flower Worn Behind the Ear

When in Hawaii and you see a lovely lady with a beautiful flower worn behind her ear, there may be more going on than meets the eye -- if you know the secret local code. She may be signaling to everyone around her that she is married or single, but how will you know? By reading further I will share the Hawaii secret sign with all my blog readers.

If you wear a flower behind your left ear, it means you are married, taken, have a significant other, or maybe you just don't want anyone bothering you! If you wear a flower behind your right ear, it means you are single, available, and approachable.

How to remember which ear means what? You would wear your wedding ring on your left hand, so a flower behind your left ear means you are off the market! If you are single, wear a flower behind your right ear and a smile on your face.

For some added fun at your next luau party, pass out authentic fresh Hawaiian orchid blossoms direct from the Big Island where they are grown, to your guests. Beside people wearing flowers behind their ears to show their marital status, our fresh orchid flowers look great in drinks, topped on cakes and pupu platters, as table decorations, and you can also string them together to sew your own flower leis.

Please share with us via a comment, will you be wearing a flower behind your right ear, or wearing a flower behind your left ear?

Indiana Jones Filming a Few Miles Away From Our Hawaii Home

The fourth and final? "Indiana Jones" movie wraps up today with its Big Island Hawaii shooting schedule. I was excited when I found out that they were filming in Keaau, the area where we live. I fantasized about at least getting a glimpse of something somewhere. However, they were filming on private property owned by the Shipman Estate under heavy guard and secrecy. So close and yet so far away...

The location scouts for the movie were told to look for a "big scary waterfall and great jungle roads" -- we have a lot of those on the east side of the Big Island! Still, the scouts checked out 14 or 15 other countries and states first before finding a few locations on Hawaii Island that could not be matched anywhere else. The Big Island will stand in for a South American rainforest in the movie.

Besides the big name stars like Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, John Hurt, and Shia LeBeouf, the other big star will be the Big Island. For people who have never been here, they will be amazed.

The yet untitled movie is scheduled to be released next year in May.

For more information read our related post Indiana Jones begins filming on the Big Island.

Want to know where Harrison Ford stayed and what he ate on the Big Island?

Win an Awesome Hawaiian Prize Package

Win an awesome Hawaiian prize package worth over $60.00 and filled with Hawaiian treats such as macadamia nut chocolate covered candies, macadamia nut pancake mix, and a battery operated hula dancer!

All you have to do is subscribe to the blog Go Visit Hawaii for a chance to win this prize drawing. Even if you don't win the prize, you win by having an informative and well written blog about Hawaii delivered straight to you.

This is one of my most favorite blogs and Sheila the blogger is absolutely wonderful!!

Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano New Eruption Site

Our local Hawaii television news did a story on Kilauea Volcano today with some absolutely breathtaking video by air of the new eruption site. It is the first time lava has been seen flowing eastward of Pu'u 'O'o Crater in the last 15 years. The last eruption in this area was in 1990 and ended up destroying much of the town of Kalapana. Many people's homes were burned and their property covered under several feet of lava. (So technically you still own your property if you can find it, but you can't live there anymore or sell it -- as if there would be any buyers). Experts are monitoring the new lava flow and do not believe that this flow will take the same path.

View the Kilauea volcano eruption highlights and read the news story here.

This new eruption site at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is inaccessible by land, but you can reserve a helicopter tour and view it by air.

Check out the Kilauea Lava Flow Webcam.

L and L Hawaiian Plate Lunch Spreading Nationwide

If you like local Hawaiian plate lunches and thought you could only get them in Hawaii, that is not true anymore. What started out in 1976 as L and L Drive-Inn on Oahu, has turned into a nationwide franchise called L and L Hawaiian Barbeque. There are now over 200 locations in the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New York, Oregon, Utah, Texas, and Washington.

What is a Hawaiian plate lunch? It is pretty much starch and meat. The typical plate lunch features two scoops of white rice, a scoop of macaroni or potato salad, and a generous serving of meat such as: barbeque beef, barbeque chicken, short ribs, fried shrimp, mahi mahi fish, or chicken katsu (Japanese style breaded and deep fried chicken cut into strips). If you choose more than one meat choice, it is called a mix plate, combination plate, or combo plate.

L and L company officials credit a new awareness of Asian and American fusion cuisine for the company's success in new markets. L and L is known for their generous portions, low prices and tasty food.

L and L menu options vary by location but they also serve a Hawaiian lau lau and kalua pig plate (no poi though which is not surprising -- there has been a poi shortage here in the islands for decades!), saimin (noodles in broth), a variety of musubi (meat on a block of rice with a strip of nori seaweed), beef curry stew, and Loco Moco (hamburger patty over rice smothered in brown gravy and topped with an egg, usually sunny side up).

Some locations offer healthier (less fattening) plates which includes brown rice and tossed salad, and a choice of ahi, mahi, salmon patty, or garlic shrimp as the main entree.

To find a location near you, visit their site L and L Hawaiian Barbeque.

Tex's Famous Malasadas from Honoka'a Hawaii

Yesterday we had to go to an appointment in Waimea (Kamuela) which meant a beautiful scenic drive up the Big Island's Hamakua coast. It was a gorgeous sunny day with a clear view of Mount Haleakala on the neighboring island of Maui.

After my appointment in Waimea we looked forward to our treat, a stop at Tex Drive In in Honokaa Town to take home a box of hot malasadas. I say "treat" because it is definitely not a diet friendly snack or dessert.

If you have never heard of a malasada, it is a puffy donut without a hole that is deep-fried, rolled in sugar and best eaten while hot. Malasadas are a Portuguese snack introduced by the Portuguese workers imported to Hawaii to work in the cane and pineapple fields over a century ago.

The Tex's malasadas are eagerly devoured by locals and visitors alike with over 60,000 malasadas being sold every month! You can order them plain or with fillings. They used to offer a dozen different fillings years ago, but have now narrowed it down to: bavarian creme, chocolate creme, strawberry, and waia'wi (strawberry guava).

Tex Drive In is located conveniently on Highway 19 and you cannot miss it. The restaurant and property was renovated a few years ago and now boasts a drive thru window if you are in a hurry, indoor and outdoor eating areas, a small tropical garden that you can stroll in, clean restrooms, and new plant and gift shop. Also a fine view of Haleakala on clear days.

Tex Drive In does sell local fare such as plate lunches, burgers, and saimin which are okay, being what I consider just average local food. It is the malasadas that bring people back time and time again.

If you would like to try your hand at making your own malasadas, use this Hawaiian Malasada Recipe.

Move to Hawaii and Live to be Really Old

The fastest growing segment of the U.S. population are not baby boomers or seniors. It is the senior, senior -- or the so called "old, old" -- people 85 years and older. In 2005 they topped 5 million people, and by the year 2050 it is expected to be 20 million!

Compared to all of the other states, Hawaii saw the largest spurt of the 85+ seniors; from 1990 to 2005 their population grew 1.23 percent to nearly 28,000 people.

Information from National Geographic Magazine June 2007 issue.

This really amazes me because I know some of these ancient people, and they eat as much junk food as teenagers -- however they also take handfuls of medication.

Do you know anyone 85 years or older? What are they like?

See our related post
Want to Live Longer? Move to Hawaii.

Secret Golf Clubs on the Big Island -- Millionaires Only

Up until four years ago, it used to be that all of the private golf clubs in Hawaii were located on the island of Oahu (plus one on Maui), and they all had limited nonresident membership.

Today all of that has changed, but it still remains a secret to most local people, especially those living on the other Hawaiian islands.

Now, the new trend is to build designer golf courses with expensive house lots, and market them to the ultra rich. The following 4 new Hawaii private golf clubs on the Big Island will give you an idea of just how much money we are talking about.

Hokuli'a
Initiation Fee: Valued at $150,000 (equity): membership is included in purchase of homesite
Annual Dues: TBD
Real Estate: Lots start at $1.8 million

Ke'Olu Course (Four Seasons Hualalai)
Initiation Fee: $175,000 (thirty-year refundable deposit)
Annual Dues: $19,500
Real Estate: Options range from villas (starting at $2 million) to single-family homes ($4 million to $25 million)

Kuki'o
Initiation Fee: $250,000 (equity membership)
Annual Dues: $20,000
Real Estate: Lots start at $2 million

Nanea Golf Club
Initiation Fee: Said to be $250,000
Annual Dues: Unknown
Real Estate: None

Do you think this is a good or bad trend for Hawaii?

Information obtained from Travel and Leisure Golf Magazine March/April 2007 issue

Discover the Truth About Kauai

We all know that Hawaii is beautiful, but on a chain of islands in the middle of the Pacific, it is also a fragile environment that deserves everyone's respect and care.

In our Hawaii blog we tell you about the wonderful things to do and see in Hawaii, but you can also trust us to tell you the not so pretty truth about what is going on in Hawaii as well.

I saw this news story You Tube Video Shows Kauai in Bad Light on our Hawaii local news last night. (They use a video system called Internet Broadcasting which doesn't work with my mac and browsers.)

The video shows an accurate portrayal of the problems going on in Kauai, while it is still being marketed as paradise. Traffic gridlock, rampant over-development, historic Hawaiian cultural sites being paved over, and an aged infrastructure that cannot handle all of the activity -- for example fecal matter has polluted many of the beaches making them unsafe and unsightly.

I went to YouTube.com for myself to check it out. I was impressed that in one month's time this 5 minute video has already been viewed over 18,000 times!

Sadly a video like this could be made for all the islands, especially the Big Island -- where I live, and Maui.

Go to youtube.com and type in "discover kauai" to see for yourself, especially if you are planning to vacation there.

What fruit prevents jet lag?

Want an all natural way to prevent jet lag? Next time you fly to Hawaii or elsewhere, eat some cherries. The cherry fruit is one of the richest known sources of natural melatonin. Melatonin has been proven to hasten sleep and ease jet lag.

According to Russel J. Reiter, PhD, a nutrition researcher at the University of Texas Health and Science Center and one of the world’s leading authorities on melatonin, try eating dried cherries one hour before desired sleep time on the plane. After arrival, consume cherries one hour before desired sleep each night for at least three consecutive evenings.

Dried cherries are the most convenient to take on your trip. One serving is a 1/2 cup of dried cherries, 1 cup frozen cherries or cherry juice, or 2 tablespoons cherry juice concentrate.

For more information visit Choose Cherries.

Indiana Jones begins filming on the Big Island

There hasn't been this much excitement in my sleepy little town of Hilo since Waterworld (Kevin Costner) 14 years ago, and Planet of the Apes (Tim Burton) 6 years ago!

The fourth and last installment of the Indiana Jones movie series by Steven Spielberg has begun production on the Hamakua Coast north of Hilo town. The rich lush landscape of east Hawaii island will substitute for a South American rainforest.

Harrison Ford 65 years young, is doing his own stunts during the filming. His co-stars include Cate Blanchett, John Hurt and Shia LaBeouf. They will be shooting on the Big Island for the next three weeks before moving off island to the next location.

For more information read today's article in The Honolulu Advertiser.

Want to Live Longer? Move to Hawaii

Hawaii rates number one when it comes to the state leading the nation in life expectancy.

The top 5 states for the highest life expectancy in years:

1. Hawaii 81.3
2. Minnesota 80.3
3. Connecticut 79.9
4. North Dakota 79.9
5. Vermont 79.6

The bottom or worst 5 states for the lowest life expectancy in years:

45. Tennessee 75.2
46. West Virginia 75.1
47. Alabama 74.6
48. Louisiana 74.2
49. Mississippi 74.2
50. ?

This is according to the report by the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research July 11, 2007.

For more information and reasons why Hawaii ranked first, read Hawaii's Life Expectany Highest in Nation.

Win a Free Trip to Hawaii Sweepstakes Drawing Contest

For up to date Hawaii contest listings, see our Hawaii Sweepstakes Blog category.

After slogging through pages of search engine results with Hawaii drawings, Hawaii sweepstakes, free trip to Hawaii, Hawaii contests and more as search terms, I actually found two contests that are not pau (finished) or look suspect -- a suspicious looking site that probably is just trying to get your personal information.

It is true that once you publish something on the internet it stays up forever in cyberspace because many of the page results that turned up were from 2002 to recently finished this year! And these completed contests are listed on the first page of results, yikes!

The first "Trip to Hawaii!!" Sweepstakes is sponsored by Hilo Hattie (a well known and reputable Hawaiian clothing and souvenirs chain store), and United Airlines.

This is the Hawaii sweepstakes prize:

The sweepstakes prize will include the following; round-trip for two to Hawaii on United Airlines coach class from any point it serves in the Continental U.S. or Japan. Some flight restrictions and block out dates may apply. This prize will be awarded and the winner will be notified by certified mail. Travel must be completed before 12/15/08 (No extensions will be allowed). The winner will also receive $250 gift certificate valid towards Hilo Hattie labeled garments at our any of our Hilo Hattie Hawaii or mainland store locations. Approximate Retail Value of the prizes is $2,500.

Enter online from now till December 31, 2007, one entry per person per day.
Hilo Hattie Official Rules and link to contest entry form.

The next contest is from Quiksilver (retail surfboard and clothing store) to celebrate the grand opening of their 100th store location which will be in Waikiki! I had no idea that they had grew to be such a large corporation with world wide locations.

The Grand Prize Drawing includes:

Round trip airfare for two to Honolulu, Hawaii
5 night hotel stay
Surf lessons
Quiksilver goodie bag and $300 gift certificate
Attend the Big Wave Invitational
Attend the Grand Opening of the 100th Quiksilver Store

The contest deadline is at the end of this month (July 31, 2007) so better get a move on!
Quiksilver "Win a Trip to Hawaii" official contest form and rules.

Even though these are reputable companies, I would suggest using a free email account or an email address that you can dump in case it gets too full of spam.

If you know of any other current free trip to Hawaii contests or sweepstakes, please share it with everyone by leaving a comment:)

Most Popular Hawaiian Names

Many people both children and adults have Hawaiian names, but they are usually not given as a first name, but as a middle name. I grew up in Hawaii always knowing and accepting that people had Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, and other ethnic names as a middle name. It was common practice to pass on a grandparent's name as a middle name for a child, I have my grandmother's Chinese name. What I did not know was that what I took for granted as a Hawaii custom, actually started out as a Hawaiian law!

Old Hawaiians coined a new name for each child, with careful thought of its meaning. Children could be named after relatives, but names were not copied from other families. Surnames did not exist. In 1860 Kamehameha IV signed the Act to Regulate Names. Hawaiians were to take their father's given name as a surname, and all children born henceforth were to receive a Christian, i.e. English, given name. Hawaiian names were transferred into middle names. The law was not repealed until 1967

Today you do not have to be Hawaiian to have a Hawaiian name. People who live in Hawaii, or live elsewhere but love Hawaii give Hawaiian names to their children as first or middle names. People also legally change their name to a Hawaiian name or insist on being called by a Hawaiian nick name.

Some Hawaiian people feel that you should only have a Hawaiian name if all or part of your ethnicity is Hawaiian, but I feel that if you choose a Hawaiian name with love and respect for the Hawaiian culture and Hawaii that it is okay because you are doing it for the right reasons.

In a small survey of 3,750 people, the current most popular Hawaiian names are:

Top Female Hawaiian Names

Leilani
Malia
Noelani
Mahealani
Ku'uipo
Alana
Keikilani

Top Male Hawaiian Names

Kalani
Kai
Kekoa
Kainoa
Ikaika
Kaimana
Keoni
Makana
Nainoa

All of this information was obtained from Wikipedia, which I felt provided the best information on this subject. For more information and a longer list of popular Hawaiian names with their Hawaiian meaning, visit their page titled Hawaiian Name.

Also see yesterday's related post Most Popular Baby Names in Hawaii are not Hawaiian.

Most Popular Baby Names in Hawaii are not Hawaiian

The most popular baby names given by parents in Hawaii, will probably come as a surprise to you. Based on the Socical Security Administration's records for the year 2006, the top 5 girl baby names and boy baby names are as follows:

Top 5 Female Baby Names in Hawaii

1. Isabella
2. Emma
3. Madison
4. Hailey
5. Ava

Top 5 Male Baby Names in Hawaii
1. Noah
2. Joshua
3. Ethan
4. Dylan
5. Elijah

To find out what the most popular baby names in your state are, or popular names by birth year (beginning in 1980) and other birth name related information, visit Social Security Online.

See our related post Most Popular Hawaiian Names.

Living in Paradise -- Hawaii's Hidden Treasures

Whether you have just moved to Hawaii or have lived here all of your life, read this topical guide on what it is like to live and work -- okay, I know most people don't want to work in Paradise -- guide.

Living in Paradise, Hawaii's Hidden Treasures 2007 is a special issue published by The Honolulu Advertiser, one of the main newspapers in Hawaii. It covers everything from the mundane -- recycling, storage, utilities, banking, satellite city halls -- to fun stuff like shopping, hiking, going to the beach, eating out and places to see. All of the information only pertains to the island of Oahu.

Before the internet arrived, I remember paying for an issue like this. Luckily I can now give you the link to get all this information for free! Living in Paradise Guide.

Get Out of the Heat Wave -- Come stay in Hawaii 50% off!

The heat wave across the mainland United States is not predicted to go away anytime soon. If you can afford it and have the time, come cool off and chill out by visiting the Big Island of Hawaii. DestinationVillas.com, an online directory of vacation rental by owner homes, announced that it would celebrate the Top 10 Resort Award by offering 3 free nights on any 7-night July stay at select Hawaii vacation rental property listings.

This listing looks like a particularly great deal:

Hawaii Vista Waikoloa Rentals from only $889.00 for 7 nights accommodations -- plus the additional 3 nights free so ten nights total!

Use our handy Kayak search box in our blog's side bar to conveniently check out the top online airline deals all at one time.

I found out about this Hawaii vacation deal from a blog I like to read called Go Visit Hawaii. For more information visit her post Big Island Vacation Rental Sale.

Easy Hawaiian Papaya Salsa Recipe

Anyone can make my super easy healthy Hawaiian papaya salsa recipe. I made this up the other night and served it with grilled ahi steaks. It came out so wonderfully that I wanted to share my creation with the world!

This Hawaiian papaya salsa taste sweet, hot, spicy and fresh all at the same time! You can prepare it an hour in advance, but it is best to eat all of it with your meal, by the next day it turns watery.

Ingredients:
1 ripe Hawaiian Papaya seeded and diced
1/4 cup of your favorite fresh prepared salsa
1/2 cup green bell pepper finely chopped

Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl. Wait a few minutes for the flavors to blend, then it is ready. I told you it was super easy!

If fresh papayas from Hawaii are not available in your area, or you would like to send papayas as a gift to someone, we can ship them fresh to your doorstep via UPS! Send Fresh Hawaiian Papayas to the mainland!

Hawaii Superferry Cost Often More than Flying

The long anticipated arrival of the Hawaii Superferry has not even started service yet, but prices have already gone up 30.8 percent due to a tacked on fuel surcharge.

The Superferry marketing execs are trying to push the total new experience of traveling by water, and being able to bring your own vehicle or bulky items, but unless you are planning on staying on a different island for a week, it is probably cheaper, and a whole lot faster to travel by air.

Read more info on the Hawaii Superferry's fuel surcharge.

Visit the Hawaii Superferry Site for reservations and complete information.

Read our previous post on the Hawaii Superferry Service.

Lava Returns to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

After a break of 12 days, lava was once again visible at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. People have been anxiously awaiting the return of Madame Pele, the sacred fire goddess who makes her home in Kilauea Volcano.

Yesterday, a new flow was seen at the bottom of Pu'u O'o crater. The view is anything but clear yet, as it is mostly obscured by volcanic fumes.

For complete daily updates on the Kilauea Volcano visit US Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

Our Hawaii blog or Hawaiian blog has a New Home

Aloha Everyone!

Hawaii Vacation Gifts is a Hawaii travel blog, Hawaii vacation blog, and a Big Island blog. We live and blog from the east side of the Big Island on Hawaii.

To our readers who followed us from our old blog host wordpress.com, and to people reading our blog for the first time at our new blog host typepad.com, a sincere mahalo, or thank you in Hawaiian. We hope you enjoy our Hawaii blog or Hawaiian blog with all original content posted almost daily.

I liked wordpress because it worked well and was free, but after a month of blogging I realized I wanted to do so much more with my blog. For example there were only a few templates and widgets to choose from at wordpress.com, whereas I could do more customization at typepad.

Please leave me a comment as to how you like our new look, our new header, and soon, our new url will be HawaiiVacationGift.com without the plural -- HawaiiVacationGifts goes to our web site.