Hawaii for visitors with disabilities

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For travelers with disabilities, finding facilities and activities that can accommodate you can be challenging. Luckily there is a great resource for those looking to visit Hawaii that allows you to get the information you might have to search multiple sites for all in one place. You can search by island to get phone numbers and websites that can answer any questions that may arise.

Click here to be directed to this invaluable resource and begin planning your visit to the islands today!

The Aloha Diners Club

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Most of us know about the Entertainment Books that are local to each state. Often times current year books are sold out for Hawaii before the year is half over with locals and visitors looking to save some money in the islands. There is another option to save money on all islands…The Aloha Diners Club. It’s similar to the Entertainment books but there appears to be more options for neighbor island dining, activities and events. While it is cheaper than Entertainment at $19.95 compared to $35, there are fewer coupons the whole. The ones they do offer are good though and you can easily recoup your $20 and more with using just one coupon depending on where you want to go!

To check out their offerings to see if the Aloha Diners Club is something that would benefit you on your vacation, click here to go to their website. If you look on the left side, you’ll see they list coupon categories, click the category you want and list all and it will list the vendors coupons for every island.

A reminder we all should heed

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Whether you live in Hawaii or are visiting, many of us swim in natural pools and waterfalls. While this makes for what many of us consider the quintessential experience in paradise, it also needs to be mentioned that care should be exercised when swimming in streams and fresh water waterfalls/pools. Leptospirosis is a nasty bacterial disease that thrives in such environments and it’s not a fun experience. It’s typically caused by the urine of infected animals that have gone in the streams that feed these pools and waterfalls. You need to take care to not ingest the water, get it in your eyes, nose or open cuts. Symptoms can range from fever, chills, jaundice, vomiting, diarrhea and even be as severe as kidney failure if not treated.

If you want to know more about Leptospirosis, click here.

Remember the 3-1-1 rule for travel

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Whether you’re traveling to Hawaii or anywhere else by plane this summer travel season being aware of what is expected of you as a passenger will make yours (and others) travel easier. One of the biggest things is the 3-1-1 rule. Here’s what TSA’s website has to say regarding this new standard:

3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3 ounce bottle or less (by volume) ; 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3 oz. container size is a security measure.

Consolidate bottles into one bag and X-ray separately to speed screening.

Be prepared. Each time TSA searches a carry-on it slows down the line. Practicing 3-1-1 will ensure a faster and easier checkpoint experience.

3-1-1 is for short trips. If in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage.

Declare larger liquids. Medications, baby formula and food, breast milk, and juice are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint.

Come early and be patient. Heavy travel volumes and the enhanced security process may mean longer lines at security checkpoints.

TSA working with our partners. TSA works with airlines and airports to anticipate peak traffic and be ready for the traveling public.

Now don’t try and be crafty and grab your gallon zip top bags and fill it halfway to the quart level. Many a TSA agent will tell you this is a no go so just do it right the first time and avoid the hassle.

Also, with most airlines now nickel and diming charging for the privilege of your bag to accompany you not only in checked but some with carry ons as well, you need to check with your airline’s website about their policy on baggage now. Don’t forget that there are also heavy baggage fees as well. Don’t be surprised when you get to the airport if you have to end up shelling out close to an extra $100 in fees for a couple if you’re heavy packers or going away for more than 10 days.

For up to the minute info on air travel restrictions and policies, refer to the following websites:

www.tsa.gov

A list of most major airlines

Hawaii specific airlines: Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air and Go! Airlines

Pink Palace on hiatus…

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The Royal Hawaiian Hotel aka the “pink palace” on Waikiki Beach is closed for 7 months for $110 million renovations. The 400 employees have either transferred to other hotels or will take time off. It will be interesting to see the impact 582 less hotel rooms available in Waikiki will have. Under normal circumstances it may have driven the costs of hotel rooms up but seeing how the economy is tanking right now, people may luck out. Their website is refering people to Moana Surfrider (Westin), Sheraton Waikiki and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani.

It is scheduled to reopen January 1 to ring in 2009.

Ocean safety a must

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As word gets out of another drowning at Hanauma Bay and with the summer vacation season approaching, now is a good time to familiarize yourself with local beaches and their hazards. The Hawaii Lifeguard Association and SOEST has a great website full of real time information such as jellyfish alerts, weather and surf conditions, safety tips and island by island breakdowns of popular beaches.

This website is a must visit whether you’re a local or visitor. Awareness is the key to knowing what to do when you may find yourself in a changing situation while in the ocean. To visit this wonderful resource, click below and add it to your favorites!

Stay safe everyone!