Hawaii Hopes for Economic Revival in Wake of Obama Visit (Shave-Ice business booming)

Fox News ^ | 1/2/2010 | Steve Centanni

[Rome2000]

Thanks for the suggestions, one thing I definitely won’t be doing is buying “shaved ice” and stand around looking gay eating it.

[Ezekiel]

Go. You’ll have a fantastic time. I recently lived there for a couple of years, and had a refreshing, extended vacation there last summer. It’s very easy to ID and avoid the run-down, depressed Demoncrat plantation type neighborhoods, so don’t worry about those. If your wife loves jewelry, budget that in now... you won’t be too concerned about the cost of a hamburger. :)

I’ve been in and out of the airports numerous times. They are all very low-stress. Even going through Honolulu airport is a fairly pleasant experience - nothing like the mainland.

[ArchAngel1983]

"Just out of curiousity I looked up the Four Seasons where Queen Nancy is staying, and I didn’t see a room cheaper than $1K per night, with I think the suites going for $4K. Guess I won’t be going that route."

You're always welcomed here in North Carolina. The Outer Banks offer a great vacation opportunity and at a fair price.

[TXBlair]

Oh yeah, the airports! The one in Kona is awesome. Baggage claim is open-air. You are outside getting your luggage off the carousels. Covered, yes, but outside. So cool.

The two hotels I’ve stayed in were similar. You just walked right in off the street (Waikiki) or the grounds (Kona). No doors, just lovely, open lobbies. It really does create a relaxed atmosphere. (I’m sure there were retractable doors/walls, don’t panic, but everything was open during the day and evening.)

I’m jealous of you!!! :)

[RCFlyer]

My family and I lived in Hawaii from 1996 to 2004; travelled almost every paved and dirt road in Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island. Lived on Oahu and visited the other three islands four or five times each, camping sometimes. Only had one incident in Hawaii in eight years, but then I’ve had one incident here in Colorado Springs in five years. And my four years in Wash D.C. showed me I could get an incident walking through the south-side any day (actually had a policeman warn us to “get out of here, now”, and it was 4 pm!).

Hawaii is spectacular. If you go, buy a copy of the “Revealed” series of Hawaii Island books, for example:
“Oahu Reveled”, by Andrew Doughty, Wizard Publications, Inc. They are the best at showing the off-beat fun and somewhat exotic sites, and well as the standard; great maps and insights to make your time profitable. Every beach is explained so know the best for snorkeling, or nude bathing or whatever.

Remember, never leave valuables in your car (especially at parking for tourist sites…you’ll see lots of broken window glass around), and don’t surf western Oahu. And “haole” is not a bad term, just means non-Hawaiian; we referred to ourselves that way when appropriate. Keep a low profile and orally appreciate the beauty to the people there and you will connect with a couple of locals for a few minutes; it will give you a nice memory.

I wonder if some of the bad behavior by the few bad guys isn’t also an attempt to isolate Hawaii. If so, why let them get away with it?

[neefer]

Hawaii? Nah! I’ll take a foot of fresh powder on a snowboard in Whistler over a crowded beach with a bunch of half naked fat tourists.

[surrey]

You will love Hawaii. We’ve been there about 6 or 7 times and plan to go back in March. We particularly love Maui but we took the whole family to the Marriott, at Ko Olina ,and it couldn’t have been more perfect.

My sons are surfers and think that the locals aren’t very friendly but hey, the place is wonderful. Expensive but wonderful. Stay away from Waikiki.....awful!

[GnuHere]

Good to know! I have actually thought how nice it would be to rent a beach house there. (The vacations in my head are a lot cheaper than actually going anywhere...)

[combat_boots]

The Pali highway, the snorkeling and the museum/cultural center are interesting. Also, fresh pineapple.

Other than that, after a few days, you end up driving in circles and looking for sea life.

All that said, every American should see the Arizona memorial. Every single American.

[Just A Nobody]

gets a much-needed rest

A rest from what -- his vacations?

The Vacations:

Valentine’s in Chicago: February 13-15, 2009

Date Night in NYC: May 30, 2009 -- Cost to taxpayers: $ALOT

Overseas Trip #1: June 2009 Michelle, her mom and the girls fly to Paris and then to London for Sasha’s 8th birthday. Just a vacation for them.
Meanwhile, Barry conducts his world apology tour.

Overseas Trip #2: July 2009 the family travels to Russia. Arrive in Italy (G-8 Summit and apology for USA) July 8th.
And Ghana -- Some work for him and little for her this trip.

Yellowstone and Grand Canyon: August 14-17, 2009

Martha’s Vineyard: August 23-30, 2009

Camp David: September 2-7, 2009
Their stay for Labor Day weekend was Obama's 10th visit. With Obama's return Sunday, he has logged all or part of 26 days at Camp David, White House officials say.
As of Labor Day, “restless” Obama had spent 11.3% of his time at Camp David. He had taken 50 some flights on Air Force One

Copenhagen, Denmark: September 30, 2009

Visit to Tokyo: Nov. 12-13, 2009

Oslo, Norway: December 10, 2009

Copenhagen, Denmark: December 18, 2009 for Climate Change Conference

[2rightsleftcoast]

Now I really am going to be sick. Amazing. How many people has he been taking on these trips that we are paying for?

[americanmother]

My son was stationed there. I visited several times. I was so shocked by the amount of material,films and books that were being spread to the natives about how they should hate the white Christians.
I really felt the hate for us.
I love the beautiful Island.

[dangerdoc]

“Good grief. I’ve never been there and was thinking about going”

I lived on Oahu as a child. My brother was born there. I have stopped there many times coming and going in the Navy.

Save your money. The locals are not friendly, the beaches are commercial and everything is too expensive.

[garjog]

Every American should go to Oahu to see the Pearl Harbor Memorial. Next year the remodeling will be done.

http://www.pearlharboroahu.com/

Yeah, Hawaii is expensive. Our travel agent says that you get what you pay for. But, you can find nice places for a reasonable price.

I suggest that you pick one island and stay there for your whole trip. Moving around a lot limits the effect of a relaxing vacation. And, there is so much to do and enjoy in one spot.

If you want to be close to Wiakiki, book at the Miramar Hotel for $85 (if you get one of their internet specials).

This hotel is nice, clean and everything is in good shape. It is only three blocks from the beach. You can find cheaper places but check out Trip Adviser for guest comments before you book one of the cheaper places.

Also, you might consider skipping the rental car, take the bus down town from the airport (25 minutes), then use the free downtown trolley or city buses to get around. You can take a bus around the whole island. That would save money. Find the lower priced places to eat away from the main drag.

Go to the army museum. Wander into the five star hotels and take part in their free activities, craft or music lessons, listen to free Hawaiian music or even use their beaches. Shaved ice is really good -- nothing like the "snow cones" on the mainland.

[CaliforniaCon]

RE: “Okinawa & Hawaii are very similar in their anti-white attitude. If the general public only knew the half of it...”

****************

And if you think those two spots are bad, don’t ever consider a trip to Guam — know several different families who had horrible experiences when they lived there.

One cousin’s teenage son was tied up and stuffed in some big box or other by his ‘classmates’ just because he was not a native. Right after graduation, the son fled for the mainland and never looked back. It was awful.