Live the High Life: 5 Easy Ways to Burn Through Your Dosh While in Hawaii

Live the High Life: 5 Easy Ways to Burn Through Your Dosh While in Hawaii

Money. Everyone has an opinion on it and all of us want more of it. 

But, the what-ifs are getting pretty old now. Life is too short, the number on your paycheck is finally as long as your arm and you want to start living it up! 

So, why not just get on with it?

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You work hard for a living and deserve everything life has to offer. What is money for, anyway, except to spend it? Be daring, not dull and there couldn’t be an easier place than Hawaii to flash that cash.

Jason Belfort, eat your heart out, baby. Not even the feds will catch on to what you’re doing here! 

Here are five easy ways to blow all of your money today in Hawaii and guarantee yourself a penniless tomorrow.

Sleep Well

Hawaii is well known for its celebs, so you’d be right in thinking that there’s no shortage of amazing places to stay. But, what if you’re the one percent of the population who has more money than sense?

Well, you’d properly book a month at the St Regis in Princeville. With rooms bigger than your three-bed condo and overlooking Hanalei Bay, prices start at $360 per night, and come on, if it’s good enough for Alicia Keys, then it’s good enough for anyone!

If you’d prefer to rub shoulders with the cooler brand of A-lister or two, then it’s The Kahala Hotel and Resort that you need. The perfect retreat for your Lindsey Lohan or Kayne West, this place is the nuts. Boasted guests include Bill Clinton, Tiger Woods and Snoop Dogg, all very well-known celebs who love to blow that dough.

Eat Out Often

Why spend your valuable free time slaving over a hot stove, when you can eat out all day? And hey, you’re helping the local economy right?

Hawaii’s culinary scene has never been more ‘in.’  With an excess of fresh, seasonal ingredients from local farmers and fishermen, plus the islands’ rising local chef talent, Hawaii is a gluttonous paradise.   

From delicately spiced poke (raw marinated ahi tuna) to regional melting pot dishes inspired by Filipino and Portuguese home recipes, there are dozens of Hawaiian restaurants that will very easily eat away a month’s wage (so to speak). Just don’t forget to get your PA to make that very important reservation ahead of time.

Check out the Beach House in Poipu, a lavish spot south on Kauai. The best time to get down there is around 5.30 pm, so that you catch the soft ocean waves with a minimal audience. Voted Hale Aina Best Restaurant Award winner, sixteen years in a row, the Beach House is fine dining at its most extreme.

For Asian-fusion excellence, Alan Wong’s is the place to go. One of the inventors of Hawaii Regional Cuisine, Chef Wong creates remarkable flavors in dishes that you won’t be able to pronounce.

All this fragrant mastery doesn’t come cheap and (shock horror) there’s no ocean view (the restaurant is on the third floor of an office building).  But, who cares, you’re here for food, not the view! 

What to Do

What can you NOT do would be a simpler answer!

Whether you’re a beach bum or an adrenalin junkie; if you have the cash, then Hawaii has the stash.

Why not rent a yacht and sail around the islands with your own personal crew leading the way?

If you have a do or die attitude and I don’t blame you for that at this point, then why not try out one of the many extreme sports that Hawaii has to offer? Give zip-lining a go, brave an ATV tour or learn how to kayak and surf in the clearest ocean that you can find.

Scrap that.

Commandeer a helicopter and soar over the dramatic Na Pali coastline and the secluded beaches of Kauai’s north shore, a favored hangout of Jennifer Aniston, don’t you know…

If you’re feeling active, there’re plenty of hiking trails around Kokee State Park that lead down into its 3,500-feet deep gorges. Why walk, though, when you can pay someone (like me) to give you a piggy back ride instead? Sweat and Prada? No, thank you. 

If all that sport sounds too much to bear, then why not buy yourself a tour company and get them to chauffeur you around all day.

Visit Waimea Canyon, Wailea River and Fern Grotto on an adventure day trip. Make your first stop the Spouting Horn blowhole, followed by panoramic views of the exciting red and green majestic canyon. Then, as you sail down the Wailea River solo, have a go at hula dancing.  It won’t be for you, but it will keep you amused while you sail. 

Spa It Up 

Forget all this talk about actually doing something.  You’re here to blow your lot and you damn well plan on doing that!

In Hawaii, you don’t even have to lift a finger and $200 of your well-earned money will be gone. Poof!

The best place to ‘lose’ your money is at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. Forget what you THINK you know about spas, because this is the real deal.

The 28,000-square-foot Spa mixes tropical gardens with cool interior areas, yet still keeps its distinctly Hawaiian feel.

Enjoy relaxing by the quiet stream in the open-air Waiea (Water of Life) garden or relish one of the many lap pools and whirlpools, all arranged amidst the wonderfully lush greenery.

Massages and body treatments are enjoyed outdoors in the exotic hales, mega secluded for privacy. Bliss.

There are, of course, loads of others that could become your sanctuary. The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort is one of those, ranked 2nd in the most exclusive “Spas of America Top 100 Spas of 2015.”

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Shop till Your Credit Card Drops

Don’t bother walking the mall, move past the tourist traps and find the little hidden boutiques throughout Hawaii.

O’ahu may be famous for its white sand and paradise views, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find the hotbed of creative talent that is popping up all over.

Mono and Fishcake (great names huh?) are the ones to try first, but here’s a sneaky list, if you just can’t be bothered to search them all out for yourself. I don’t blame you, I mean, time is money right?

So there you have it. Burn baby burn has a whole new meaning now, right?

The post Live the High Life: 5 Easy Ways to Burn Through Your Dosh While in Hawaii appeared first on Live Your Aloha Hawaii Tours & Activities.

source http://www.liveyouraloha.com/pupule/live-high-life-5-easy-ways-burn-dosh-hawaii/

Olliver_Test

Polynesian Cultural Center

$119starting at

$119starting at

• Ali'i Dinner Show (Ha: Breath of Life)
• Go Native Activities
• Canoe Pageant

Book Now

Pricing may vary due to package selected

Chief's Luau

$90starting at

$90starting at

• Cheif Sielu's Show
  (the original world champion fire-knife dancer and Polynesian comedian)
• Best rated luau in the state
• Award winning firedancers

Book Now

Pricing may vary due to package selected

Germaine's Luau

$96starting at

$96starting at

• Dance Act
  (dances from the islands of Samoa, Tahiti, New Zealand, and Hawaii)
• Samoan Fire Knife Dance
• Hula Dance

Book Now

Pricing may vary due to package selected

The post Olliver_Test appeared first on Live Your Aloha Hawaii Tours & Activities.

source http://www.liveyouraloha.com/olliver_test/

How to Avoid Kids While on Vacation in Hawaii

How to Avoid Kids While on Vacation in Hawaii

Let’s be honest here. Having a seven-year-old dive bomb into the pool or shout to his mommy that he “needs a wee” is not what romantic dreams are made of.

I get it. Sometimes you just need to get away from it all and forget that there are even small humans living on this Earth.

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I’ve Googled the hell out of this subject, mainly in the middle of the night, while I’ve sat on my youngest kids’ floor, trying to coax her back to sleep.

There is no definitive list, but I’ve managed to dig out a few gems during my most desperate hours.

As a generally nice lady, I’ll share them with you, as long as you promise not to be one of THOSE couples who just sit and suck face all day by the pool. Promise?

Who

There are only two types of people that want to stay in an adult only resort: honeymooners and parents.

Where better to enjoy multiple romantic nights, sipping a cocktail that you don’t feel like downing and nibbling on a cake that you don’t have to share.

You don’t have to play or even like golf to enjoy some of these top notch resorts I’ve found. All you need is:

–    Money

–    A relaxing attitude

–    No kids.

I’m taking it that money is no real issue, as hey, we can all dream.  If I had babysitters I, myself would be on the first plane outta here to meet you.

What

Without kids, you’re free! You could do anything!

Like sports fishing. Imagine this…..

A comfortable 34 ft. long, twin powered vessel built for only six people. Four and a half hours to just, fish.

The captain divides the fish according to the wants and needs of the parties and numerous fishing techniques are used at different times, depending on the day: trolling, jigging or baiting. Whatever it takes to get hooked up!

They provide everything from fishing gear and beverages, and best of all, it’s for over eighteens only.

Honeymooners, this one is for you.

Kauai Tubing adventures will take you through lush jungles, while you float down a historic waterway of the plantation ditches.

The tour begins with a four-wheel-drive adventure through Lihue Plantation lands, deep in the Kauai’s pristine interior.

Expect endless vistas and amazing photo opportunities along the way.

The experienced guide is always with you, happy to share stories and facts about Kauai itself.

Once you disembark the vehicle, you then jump on your large inflatable tube, don a tubing adventure headlamp and make your way down a gentle flow of water.

This is NO way as scary as it sounds. The mazes are fascinating and, it turns out, where engineered circa 1870.

At the end, a romantic picnic is waiting for you, with the optional choice of a quick dip in a natural swimming hole. And the best bit? No kid ever could hold on to the raft for that long. Bliss!

To honeymooners and couples alike, having a drink while on vacation is a must.

I give you Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand.

Yes, it screams Hawaii, yes it’s stereotypical and yes it’s a bit cheesy, but who cares?

Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand is the essence of everything Hawaii. Well known among the GLBTQ crowd as the place that puts the A in Aloha, this place takes off every night after 9pm. Be there or be square!

The real reason I mentioned this place was for the Catamaran. I know, weird mix, but they offer an experience like no other.

If drinking and dancing really aren’t your thing, (why the hell not?) then what about a pleasant horse ride?

Hit the trails on horseback and ride through Kualoa’s untouched landscape. 

Experience the beauty and wonder of a 150-year-old working cattle ranch on a horseback ride through some of Hollywood’s most popular movies and T.V. shows.

This one-hour tour takes you for a ride through the Southern half of Kualoa, with views of the renowned Mokoli’I island and the 800-year-old Hawaiian fishpond. 

Are you sold? You should be!! And guess what? The minimum age is ten years old!

Now, I challenge you not to find this cool…. 

The Kona Undersea Adventure tour takes places in an Atlantis submarine (featured on the National Geographic channel.)

The Atlantis Kona dive site is home to many Hawaiian fish, coral and turtles. Totally safe and dry, this eye-popping experience will submerge you in the natural coral reef and its marine life.

Atlantis has a spacious air-conditioned interior, large view ports and comfortable seating if you just want to chill. If you haven’t been to the bottom of the ocean before, this tour is a must do!

And, of course, because I’d never let you down, children must be 36 inches or taller and be physically capable of getting up and down the ladder by themselves.

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Where

Finding the perfect motel is no easy thing.  But, it’s fine, I’ve got you covered.

For luxury beyond your wildest dreams, take a look at Grand Wailea. With a private balcony or patio, 55” HDTV, WIFI on tap and walk-in showers, this place is the real deal.

And, the most important thing? Their Hibiscus Pool is adults only, not one kid in sight.

For relaxation; try the Four Seasons. Perched on the golden edge of Wailea Beach, the Four Seasons hosts seventy-five suites, that all important adults-only pool and a restaurant fit for a king. Where do I sign?

If you’re thinking of channeling your inner Adam and Eve, then check out this site for the full list of camping spots in O’ahu. Stars and seclusion are up for grabs here, but um…remember the walls are leaf thin. That’s all I’m saying!

When

Anytime the kids are at school. Check out this site here for term dates. Avoid the main breaks, like fall, Christmas and spring, for the perfect adult’s only vacation.

The post How to Avoid Kids While on Vacation in Hawaii appeared first on Live Your Aloha Hawaii Tours & Activities.

source http://www.liveyouraloha.com/culture/avoid-kids-vacation-hawaii/

Break da Mouth Without Breaking the Bank: Maui’s Best Cheap Eats

Break da Mouth Without Breaking the Bank:

Maui’s Best Cheap Eats

There’s nothing insignificant about swinging plane tickets to Maui, particularly if your heart got gracious for once and you bought seats for your parents, partner or hell, little sister.

But, plane tickets to the island are just one part of the equation.

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Like, one really, really, really small piece of the pricey pie that is vacationing on the Valley Isle.

Couple in a rental car, bar bills, bail money and the obligatory Hawaiian activities and chances are you’ll be deadbeat broke by the time you come crawling home with a sunburn.

While I can’t necessarily help you with accommodations—corporate hotel rates, squatting laws, my parents in the other bedroom, all that—I can assist you with keeping that opu happy while you’re visiting our one-of-a-kind island.

Here are Maui’s best cheap eats and why you should line up at these places like us broke-ass locals:

Coconut’s Fish Café, Kihei

Ten years ago (let’s be real: two), I would have laughed if someone suggested I dine at a place that doesn’t serve alcohol, or even—gasp—allows you to bring your own bottle.

But, even my boozy genes kicked back in a beach chair long enough for me to enjoy my first experience at this stellar Kihei gem.

The views here are a tad shoddy (for Hawaii)—the café is tucked into one of the busier strip malls on the island and what views you have are mostly of cars in a parking lot. But, the food is epic enough to excuse the dearth of both vistas and libations.

Super fresh island fish, like ono and mahi mahi, are grilled to perfection and nestled into corn tortillas so toasty and delish that I swear they were handcrafted by Aztec gods.

But, it’s the toppings that take these babies from standard fare to something exquisite: Locally grown tomatoes, mango salsa and the best coleslaw west of the Rockies give these tacos depth and nuance (seriously). Meanwhile, the upbeat staff is fast and efficient.

Which is a good thing—if you’re anything like me, I bet you’re just dying to get to the bars.

Mulligans on the Blue, Wailea

Speaking of bars: Mulligans on the Blue one is one of the most rocking and rolling taverns on the island.

Situated on Wailea Golf Course and offering oh-my-gawd views of the outlying islands, this local favorite has it all: Live entertainment that’s anything but pedestrian, awesome bartenders and enough Irish soul to wake up your drinking prowess.

And, while it may be located in poshy-posh Wailea, there’s nothing spendy about their kick ass happy hour.

Fish and chips, Cajun-seared ahi, mac and cheese with crisp bacon, even Shepherd’s pie—this is the place to fuel up on cheap eats while drinking cold beers.

Get your grind on and then stay for a spell: Mulligans gets rowdy after that sun-sets-with-a-green-flash-thing you tourists love to natter on about.

Foodland, Kihei, Wailuku, Kahului, Pukalani, & Lahaina

Grabbing eats from a grocery store sound sorta lame for your I’m-on-a-vacation-dammit spirit?

Think again, princess: Foodland carries some of the freshest Hawaiian cuisine on Maui, turning a pricey lunch into an economical buffet of wholesome choices.

One of your best bets? Their ultra-fresh poke bowls, which are served on a bed of hot rice and come in an array of splendid flavors.

Also impressive? Their SPAM musubi—a salty, scrumptious Hawaiian staple—and croissant sandwiches made fresh at their deli.

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Aloha Mixed Plate, Lahaina

With Fleetwood’s, Longhi’s and Kimo’s, Lahaina’s world-renowned Front Street is famous for its assortment of fabulous restaurants.

But, most of the top spots cost a pretty penny, leaving you with less loot to spend on hula skirts and sunblock.

Cozy on up to Aloha Mixed Plate instead. This bright, cheery place might serve meals on paper plates, but what they dish out is nothing short of fantastic.

Make like a pro and go for their Kalbi ribs with rice and mac salad; there’s enough protein here to last you half a lifetime.

Carbs more your thang? Their Chow Funn is greasy goodness at its best, with great thanks to its generous heaps of garlic sauce.

Get lost in the view as you ladle up—the views here are worth every double shift you worked to get your butt to the island.

Tasty Crust, Wailuku

The name might bring to mind an entry in Urban Dictionary and the surrounding environs are sketchy as hell, but this fifty-plus year establishment has soared through economic downfalls for a reason: The food is quick, cheap and does the job right, kinda like a Waikiki hooker.

Sidle up to the old school bar for breakfast, where the inspiration behind the café’s name is evidenced in banana hot cakes so divine you won’t give a f*** what they’re doing to your arteries.

Koho’s Bar & Grill, Kahului

If you’re in Kahului for a spell (as we say in Hawaii, “poor ting!”), put your fancy-pants tastes behind you and snag a table at Koho’s Bar & Grill.

As iconic of a fixture on Maui as nearby Tasty Crust, this place prolly opened before Hawaii was named the 50^th state and, by the looks of it, some of the staff has been around that long too. (That’s commitment!)

All that aside, this kinda-divey, perpetually-dim tavern has a special place in many-a-Mauian’s heart, because of its tacky décor and inexpensive bites.

Teriyaki hamburgers pair well with cold Coronas, while their taco salads haven’t a damn healthy thing about them (and I say that with fondness).

Come for their Happy Hour for blast-from-the-past prices—and to enjoy the 70s feel of their laidback, neon-lit lounge.

Leoda’s Kitchen & Pie Shop, Olowalu

Photo by FrolicHawaii.com

True, true—your health nut of a g-friend would probably have a panic attack of Lovato proportions, if she found out you were indulging in pie for breakfast.

But, if not now, when? This is your vacation, Clark Griswold.

Indulge that sweet tooth at a sweet-ass price at Leoda’s Kitchen & Pie Shop, a dope little bakery off Honoapi’ilani on the way to Lahaina.

The pies are absorbable enough to lure in your bae, and come in an array of miraculous flavors like Mac Nut Chocolate Praline, Olowalu Lime, and Banana Cream.

Searching for something less saccharine? Try one of their savory handheld pies, such as a flaky crust brimming with Hamakua mushrooms, shallots, and Parm, or Kula corn studded with cojita cheese, lime zest, cilantro, and chives.

Best part yet? Nothing costs more than $15. Which means you can afford a forty-ouncer on the beach at sunset. I mean, that’s why you made this Hawaii trip, amiright?

Now, you can eat cheap and save mo’ cash for those shitty souvenirs everyone back home is waiting for!! Aloha!!

The post Break da Mouth Without Breaking the Bank: Maui’s Best Cheap Eats appeared first on Live Your Aloha Hawaii Tours & Activities.

source http://www.liveyouraloha.com/food/break-da-mouth-without-breaking-bank-mauis-best-cheap-eats/