Because of the rise in wellness tourism business owners on the Big Island of Hawaii have got together to promote a travel initiative that they collectively hope will prove so successful that it will eventually be adopted by the rest of the state.

The Hawaii Island Wellness Travel Association, composed of 120 business owners and holistic professionals, has set up a meeting with both the Big Island Visitors Bureau and Hawaii County officials to take the initiative further at which they hope to agree marketing strategies, develop effective packaging and adopt a set of rules for health and wellness travel to Hawaii, which they regard as a booming business.

As recently as 2005 almost $50,000 was set aside by Hawaii Tourism Authority to be used to quantify how well wellness tourism could be developed in the archipelago. A leading research company was approached to produce a comprehensive study of the health and wellness tourism market for the state of Hawaii. However, significant progress stalled once the report had been produced, and only now, some two years later, is the idea being re-launched.

One of the most vociferous proponents and advocates of wellness tourism Lew Whitney, co-founder of the Kokolulu Farm and Qigong Center based in North Kohala said: “We’ve been trying for years to persuade the Hawaii Tourism Authority that this (wellness) offers a great opportunity for the whole state of Hawaii and not just the Big Island.” Over the last nine years the Center has offered a range of cancer retreats and meditative healing programs and Whitney admits that it has been a struggle getting the message across to tourism chiefs. However, Whitney highlights that the Center, located on the northern tip of the Big Island, has been successfully trading for almost 10 years, and with little promotional help from the Hawaii Tourism Authority has managed to remain in business, albeit with the help of some charitable contributions.

Indeed, leading research group Mintel produced a comprehensive Market Research document which looked at wellness tourism being offered throughout the world in places as far flung as Japan, Hungary, India, Austria and Thailand. It concluded, amongst other things that markets were expanding as more and more people, of all ages, made their vacation choices based on health and wellness travel demonstrating that that the sector had a bright future.

As more people take to using alternative and natural remedies, tying wellness into hotel deals in Hawaii could herald a bold new initiative that in the long run may well add an extra string to the already well developed tourism bow for the state.

The third in our four-part series of Hawaii vacations covers the “Big Island”, as the island of Hawaii is most often referred to.

As the natives (and longtime residents) like to say, there are only two seasons on the Big Island Hawaii: “summer,” between May and October, and “winter,” from October to April. The weather varies dramatically, though,–in terms of precipitation–from west to east. Hilo, on the east, or
“wet” side of Big Island, is the wettest city in the United States.

Big Island Hawaii’s “Kona” coast, (the dry west side), is the most popular destination. It offers accommodations and activities catering to the pure pursuit of FUN! Snorkeling, diving, kayaking and deep-sea fishing being the most popular.

The island is also famous for its volcanoes. Kilauea is the most active volcano in the world. At times you can Watch lava flowing across the landscape at Volcanoes National Park. On the days when the volcano is not erupting, you can explore its unique “lavascape”, with its vents spewing steam, its giant chasms and lava craters. Standing at just over 5,000 feet, Kilauea is not Big
Island’s tallest volcano, but it is certainly the most active.

For an aerial view of the Big Island, be sure to check out Blue Hawaiian or Tropical Helicopters in Hilo. Dedicated pilots will whisk you away and provide loads of nformation during the flight, including a literal “over-the-top” view of Kilauea Volcano!

And, for those wanting a water experience, trek over to Kona Boy Kayaks, past the 113 mile marker on Highway 11, and get the thrill of Big Island Hawaii–in a big way! There you can rent a kayak or go on a guided trip. Paddle atop the waves, skirting awesome cliffs and waterfalls, or snorkel and swim in a calm, protected cove — your choice. Perhaps you’ll see a few spinner dolphins as you paddle across Captain Cook monument.

Speaking of dolphins, the Hilton Waikola Village on the Big Island, has a program called Dolphin Quest. There, in the lagoon, kids and teenagers, and a few adults, can have the opportunity to swim with the several Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphins. This program is nearly always full.
Reservations must be made at least 60 days in advance.

You can go even further by discovering the undersea world’s creatures and their habitat by visiting Atlantis Submarines, also in Kona. And there is also world class sports fishing off the Kona coast.

This area is known as the marlin capital of the world. Big game fish, including giant blue marlin and other Pacific billfish, tuna and swordfish are abundant in the waters off the coast. Hundreds of charter fishing boats operate out of the Kailua-Kona area where you can charter a boat with friends or join one of the daily shared charters.

The highest point on the isand is Mauna Kea, at 13,796 feet above sea level. Both the neighboring Maunu Loa and Mauau Kea and have some of the clearest air in the world. As a result, more than two dozen of the world’s finest telescopes are located there. Tours of the University of Hawaii Telescope are available every weekend.

There are many beaches on the Big Island. Pauoa Beach, at the Fairmont Orchid Hotel in the Mauna Lani Resort, is infused by natural freshwater springs that move beneath the ocean’s surface. It’s located on Hawaii’s Kohala Coast, on the northwest side of the island.

One of Hawaii’s best beaches, Hapuna Beach, is a landscaped 62-acre beach park. Swimming and other water sports are best enjoyed in summer months during calm seas. Winter surf can be rough. The beach is located on the Kohala Coast on the northwest side. The Hapuna Golf Course, part of the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, extneds from the shoreline to 700 feet above sea level, offering
both challenge and beauty.

Honaunau Beach, part of the historic Pu’uhonua o Honaunao National Park, offers a full range of family activities. The sanctuary name means a “place of refuge.”

A snorkeler’s delight, Kahaluu Beach Park, is located on the Big Island’s west coast. Visitors can explore a colorful variety of more than 100 types of tropical fish and marine life including sea turtles. A large coral reef both protects the lagoon and is home to these animals. A fresh water spring feeds up to 10 million gallons per day into the lagoon.

Kaunaoa Beach, also known as Mauna Kea, is bordered by a coconut grove and protected by two black-lava points. This beach sit directly in front of the Mauna Kea Hotel. The rugged surf makes Kaunaoa a bodysurfer’s and boogie boarder’s delight.

Close by, the Mauna Kea Golf Course is carved out of the volcano’s black lava, and is considered one of the top courses in the United States. The dramatic views of the Pacific Ocean and its shoreline cliffs seem to add to the challenge of the course.

The South Point on the Big Island is believed to be where the first Polynesians arrived from the Marquesas Islands or Tahiti around 500 A.D. And the island that they found has been luring visitors back for centuries. Will you be one of them?

www.BeachTravelDeals.info bring you the flavours of a beach holiday in Hawaii. Enjoy our introduction to Hawaii Island Travel. The aboriginal culture of Hawaii is Polynesian. Hawaii represents the northernmost extension of the vast Polynesian triangle of the south and central Pacific Ocean. Local climates vary considerably on each island, grossly divisible into windward (Ko?olau) and leeward (Kona) areas based upon location relative to the higher mountains. Windward sides face cloud cover. This fact is utilized by the tourist industry, which concentrates resorts on sunny leeward coasts. Although hurricanes in Hawaii are a rare occurrence, all main islands have been affected by named hurricanes. The worst hurricane to hit Hawaii was Hurricane Iniki in 1992, which showed that Hawaii was indeed vulnerable to a direct hit. More videos at http

Have you recently decided that a Hawaii Big Island vacation is in your future? If so, have you started making your reservations yet? If you just recently made the decision to vacation on Big Island, there is a good chance that you have yet to start planning your vacation, as well as make your vacation reservations. If that is the case, you may want to take the time to familiarize yourself with all of your Hawaii Big Island vacation booking options. Doing so will help to ensure that you choose the booking method that best fits your needs.

One of the most popular methods of booking a vacation, including a Hawaii Big Island vacation, is with the assistance of a professional travel agent. Professional travel agents are individuals who specialize in helping vacationers plan their vacations, as well as book their reservations. Although you will still need to be in constant contact with your travel agent, there are many who feel that using a professional travel agent saves time. If you would like to familiarize yourself with popular Big Island activities, attractions, and overnight accommodations, without having to do any of the work, you may be able to benefit from the assistance of a professional travel agent. You can find these agents either online or in the back of your local phone book.

In addition to using the assistance of a professional travel agent, you can choose to book your own Hawaii Big Island vacation. You can book these reservations, a number of different ways with the internet. One of those ways is by booking your reservations directly. For instance, if you will be visiting Hawaii, there is a good chance that you will be in need of overnight accommodations and airline reservations, and maybe even a car rental. If you are interested in booking your reservations separately and directly, you can do so online. You will need to find an airline that services the Hawaii area and so on. After you have found what you need, whether it be a Hawaiian airline or a Big Island vacation rental, you will want to make your reservations online. The only downside to booking your Big Island vacation reservations independently and directly is that it could take a fairly large amount of time to find what you are looking for.

If you are looking for an easier way to use the internet, to book your Hawaii Big Island vacation, you may want to use an online travel website, particularly one that focuses on Hawaii vacations. What is nice about Hawaii travel websites is that they usually offer a number of overnight accommodations and travel arrangements online. For example, it is possible to book a stay at a Hawaii vacation rental, condo, vacation resort, or hotel through an online travel website. You should also be able to book your airline reservations or a car rental online as well. In addition to booking your reservations separately, from an online travel website, you should also be able to purchase a Big Island vacation package. A large number of online travel websites sell reservations that grouped together in vacation packages.

When making your Big Island vacation reservations, it is advised that you take your wants in your needs into consideration. For instance, if you are looking to have complete control over your vacation reservations, you may want to book your Big Island vacation reservations directly. If you are looking to eliminate the hassle of planning your own vacation, a travel agent can help. If you are looking to save money, an online travel website may be the way to go. Keeping in mind what you want and need to get out of your vacation is the best way to choose the vacation booking method that can do you most good.

Big Island Report
Citizens sought by police Here are the names of citizens sought by the Hawaii Police Department as of Friday, June 4, for outstanding warrants.

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