Lihue airport first with full body scanners

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Lihue airport installed the full body scanners and while we all know this is for our own safety, there have also been some interesting problems. The Star Advertiser reports that one passenger who went through was pulled aside and patted down after an “anomaly” was detected under his clothes…a few napkins in his pocket. It has also been reported that passengers were not made aware that they had the option of opting out of the scan to be wanded and patted down by a TSA member of the same sex. Please remember when you fly you do NOT have to go through the full body scanner if you are uncomfortable doing so and can opt for the old school wanding option. It is your right. To read more on the story, click here.

When will the jellyfish arrive?

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Box jellyfish can be quite a nuisance especially if you get stung while swimming. It seems that an influx can be predicted anywhere from 7-10 days after a full moon. It’s not at all uncommon to check the local papers and see that certain beaches have been closed due to being innundated by hundreds of jellyfish.

If you’re planning your vacation to the islands and are curious to see when might be the best time to avoid the water, there’s a great resource called 808Jellyfish.com. They give the 3 predicted days of influx per month along with the moon phases. The dates are based off of historical data and are predictions only. Please remember that these creatures are always a hazard and always present so be alert when swimming. If you have any questions about beach safety or certain beaches, go to the Ocean Safety website.

Getting married in Hawaii

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married Many people find that having a destination wedding is a great way to begin their new lives together. The ceremony can be in an exotic memorable place to share with family and friends and then there is no traveling to the honeymoon because you’re already there!

If you’re thinking of Hawaii as a destination for your future nuptuals, the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau has some great resources to get you started from picking the island that will give you the atmosphere you desire to the marriage license requirements.

Click here to go to the site and start planning your dream wedding today!

(Picture courtesy HVCB. Taken on Kauai at Gaylords Kilohana)

Kauai visitors help keep Kauai green

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recycle Often times visitors to the islands stay in private homes or condos. Many times visitors would like to know where to recycle while on island. If you’re staying on Kauai, here is a list of accepted recyclables and where you can drop them off. Often times you may find local kids there as well who are turning in their recyclables in exchage for money and we encourage you to politely ask them if they would like to take yours. The kids seem to get a kick out of getting a little extra pocket change!

Save in paradise with Ecoupons Hawaii

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Whether you live in the islands or are planning your vacation, make sure you check out EcouponsHawaii.com. There are savings of all kinds on every island from food to car rentals to retail and much more. Oahu seems to offer the best food coupons. We like to use the U-Top-It restaurant coupons for the Big Island. Every little bit of savings helps so head on over and see if there are some coupons you’re interested in!

Travel tips to get you through the airport

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With the holiday travel season almost upon us, now would be a good time to brush up on ways to get you through security quickly. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or haven’t flown for a while, these tips are good to remember not just now but any time of year.

Click here for these helpful tips.

Planning a wedding on Maui?

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So you’ve said yes to the proposal and now you’re considering a destination wedding on Maui. You’re not alone. Many celebs have tied the knot there as well like Woody Harrelson, Pat Benetar, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Anna Farris and others. If you’re looking for a resource to start making phone calls for your big day, here’s a great one. Maui No Ka Oi magazine has a list of businesses that can help make your day as special as you’ve dreamed it would be! Congratulations!

Luggage lowpoints

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When we travel we tend to take for granted that our luggage will 1) make it to our destination 2) arrive in the same condition as the last time we saw it and 3) still have all of the things attached to it like locks, wheels, etc. Sadly this is not always the case. We’ve had cases where our luggage was stuck in Atlanta and missed not one, not two but three flights to get home! We’ve had TSA approved locks cut off, scratches and rips in our suitcases and wheels crushed making the suitcase basically unusable.

Magellans has a great article on what to do if your luggage is lost, if you need to file a claim and tips for luggage safety. Click here to read the article.

New security regulations for your flight

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A new security regulation just went into effect this week where part of the security screening process involves making sure that the name on your airline ticket matches EXACTLY to that on your government issued photo id (drivers license/state ID). This is to compare the info to their no fly list. While they say that the use of a middle initial/name that appears on your ID but not on your ticket won’t effect the process, I would suggest in any future reservations you make the reservation under the name as it appears on your drivers license, middle initial/name and all to avoid any confusion and possible delays. In August, the 2nd part of this new security measure will go into effect where you will need to enter your birthday and gender when booking your flight.

To read more about this in detail, click here.

Prepare for the unexpected

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No one likes to think that something bad will happen on vacation but unfortunately it can happen. Do yourself a favor and keep an emergency number list with your travel papers and a copy in your rental glove compartment so if something comes up you know exactly who to contact. Some numbers I always make sure I have on hand are travel related like the 800 numbers to the airlines I’m using (including interisland) with my flight numbers as well as the rental car company and the rental/condo agencies for where we’re staying. If your flight gets delayed, you want to make sure you call ahead to the hotel and rental car company so they don’t give away your room or car to someone else. I’ve heard horror stories!

Also make sure you look up the number and addresses to the local police department and hospitals in any towns you are planning to visit. You never know if you may need them.

Finally, make sure you have the 800 numbers to your credit card companies of any cards you may take with you as well as the numbers to your travelers check companies. Make sure you have copies of your receipts with you in case your travelers checks are stolen and keep them separate from the checks. This will expedite the process should you need to replace them.

A little preparation can go a long way to make a not-so-ideal situation a little less stressful!

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