http://blog.going2oahu.comQuick Bloghttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/15/hawaii-word-search.aspx


I found a Hawaii Word Search that I thought you might enjoy. The word list is below, but you'll need to visit the site in order to to play it:

Aloha - how we greet and treat each other
Beach - this one should be obvious!
Coconuts - the tree of life in the Pacific
David - King Kalakaua, the last King of Hawaii
Emma - Queen, married to Kamehameha IV
Flower - pua in Hawaiian, found everywhere!
Guava - tropical fruit
Hawaii - also obvious?
Ilima - the official flower of the island of Oahu
Jellyfish - an ocean critter you don't want to tangle!
Kona - a place name meaning leeward; also the coffee
Lilikoi - tropical fruit; passion fruit in English
Mango - another tropical fruit!
Nuuanu - lovely valley "behind" Honolulu; means cool height
Ohana - family and extended family; belonging; inclusive
Palace - Iolani Palace is the only one in the U.S.
Queen - Liliuokalani, Hawaii's last Queen was the one we had in mind, though there were others
Rainbow - magical or scientific, we see many of these
Surfing - sport of kings, Hawaii is its birthplace
Taro - also Kalo; major staple of the ancient Hawaiian diet
Ukulele - "jumping flea"; brought to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants in 1879
View - far too many to pick just one!
Waikiki - the world famous beach and area second in density only to Manhattan (in the U.S.)
Xerox - the Hawaiian word for Xerox (or photocopy) is pepa kope, an excellent example of transliteration
Year - the Hawaiian word for year is makahiki
Zoo - Honolulu has one, and a great Web site, too!


]]>Hawaiialoha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-15T18:35:27Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/15/home-makeover-video-contest-seems-like-fun.aspx

I love searching for contests and sweepstakes on the Internet.

Today while searching the phrase "video sweepstakes" on Google, I stumbled across something a little different that I wanted to share - a video contest where Renuzit is actually giving away a $20,000 Home Make-Over to one lucky family. On the Renuzit TriScents website, there is a semi-finalist video gallery where surfers can view the videos and stories of all of the semi-finalists. In these documentary style videos, family members explain why their house needs a Renuzit makeover. You help choose the wining family by voting, as often as once per day, through the June 7th deadline to determine who will win the home makeover. If that finalist wins they will get to have Tanya Memme come out and make-over their home with a $20,000 budget!

My favorite video was the one with the family of five, a mother and four daughters. The acting was, er... not so good of course, but you could tell that the mother and the girls were really nice people that rehearsed extra hard for the role. They would go from room to room in their house finding locations to place a Renuzits Tri-Scents. I think it was just really cute and I love the way they go from room to room. You’d definitely need some heavy duty air freshening action to stop some of their problems!



Here is a picture of the entry I just described.

If you want to watch the video, you just need to click on the picture and register to vote. It's amazing what you can stumble across on the Internet without even trying.



]]>aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-15T18:27:45Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/15/why-do-you-blog.aspx
Calling all Hawaii bloggers! Marcie wants to hear from you:

"My name is Marcie Stoddard and I am currently a graduate student here at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. I am currently working on my masters in communication and am completing my research methodology class. I am conducting a small research to look at user generated content through blogs and what motivates Hawaii residents to blog. If you could answer the following question to the best of your ability and the best of your knowledge. If you like you can also express any background information about yourself.

Why do you blog?

Thank you for your time. If you have any questions you can contact me at mstoddar@hawaii.edu

So why do you blog? Please answer Marcie, but leave me a summary in the comment box!

Aloha ~

Ali



]]>blogHawaiiBloggerBloggingaloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-15T17:47:18Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/15/gasoline-prices-stink-but-flights-and-rental-car-prices-smell-rosy.aspx

Now here's something to consider very seriously when making summer travel plans... Because of the outrageous gasoline prices coupled with airline price wars, it is now cheaper to fly to your destination and rent a car than it is to drive to your destination. It didn't use to be that way, but it sure is that way now!

Consider a typical family vacation where the family jumps in the minivan for a thousand mile drive (each way) to Walt Disney World. That round trip 2000 miles will cost you $400 - $500 in gasoline, just gasoline, without factoring in the extra costs for food, convenience items, and a hotel at the halfway point.

Now consider the alternative. One way flights to popular tourist destinations like Orlando are still only $100 from most parts of the USA. Why not fly to MCO and rent a car from Advantage at the airport? You'll save hundreds of dollars on the trip, and you'll be on Space Mountain in a flash! I like Advantage rental cars because they always seem to have my Sebring convertible available - love the Sebring when in Florida!

Are you planning a family vacation this year? Are you driving or flying? Drop me a comment with your plans for a dream vacation!

Aloha ~

Ali


]]>rentalVacationaloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-15T17:37:35Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/15/hawaiis-state-song--hawaii-ponoi.aspx

Hawai`i Pono`i
Written by King David Kalakaua
Music by Prof. Henry Berger, the Royal Bandmaster

Hawaii ponoi Nana i kou, moi
Kalani Alii, ke Alii.
Makua lani e Kamehameha e
Na kaua e pale Me ka i he.

(translation)

Hawaii's own true sons, be loyal to your chief
Your country's liege and lord, the Alii
Father above us all, Kamehameha
Who guarded in the war with his ihe


]]>SongMusicTraditionHawaiiHistoryaloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-15T17:07:21Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/15/where-will-you-go-on-summer-vacation.aspx

Ahhhhhhh summertime....

School is out and now it's time to plan my summer vacation!!

I know what you're thinking.... Why would a girl that lives in paradise want to go on vacation? Well the fact is that even I want something different from time to time. My island is very small, and all islanders long for the occasional escape to the mainland.

I think my favorite vacation of all time was my two weeks in Tokyo last year. We saw all the sights, (Tokyo Tower, Asakusa Shrine, etc.) but my favorite part of the trip was our three days in Tokyo Disneyland.  In Japan, they call Tokyo Disneyland the "Kingdom of Dreams and Magic" and it really stands up to it's reputation. Tokyo Disneyland is amazing and I hope to go back soon!!

Where do you want to go on vacation??

Many of you will probably come here to Honolulu for a week or so - it's the most popular vacation destination in the world. If you decide to come to our little island of Oahu, make sure you leave enough time in your schedule to visit  Maui or even a neighboring country like New Zealand. If you're looking for the best airfares right now, you might want to check out dialaflight.com. They're know here on the island for their bargain flights to New Zealand. but they're also known for a full service webste with great finds on car rentals, hotels, cruises and the like. Wherever you decide to go, enjoy your summer vacation. Please drop me a comment with your travel plans.

Aloha ~


]]>HonoluluHawaiiTokyoVacationDisneylandaloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-15T17:02:16Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/14/hawaiian-wisdom-e-noho-iho-i-ke-opu-weuweu-mai-hookiekie-2.aspxE noho iho i ke opu weuweu, mai ho`oki`eki`e =  Remain among the clumps of grass and do not elevate yourself

Don't show off. Don't get puffed up and big-headed. Be ha`aha`a (humble), which does not mean timid, submissive, and spineless. An inner self-confidence which gives rise to quiet strength is far more admirable than self-importance, arrogance, and egotism.

E noho iho i ke opu weuweu, mai ho`oki`eki`e.

]]>Hawaiian WisdomHawaiian Phrasesaloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-14T16:37:28Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/14/dressing-up-our-wahiawa-rental-home.aspx
Well... I told you that mom has been on a home improvement kick of late. She has been studying home interior design and is working on our rental home in Wahiawa. Our current tennants are moving out and mom found a store called Select Blinds that sells all kinds of vertical blinds, discount mini blinds, wood blinds and such.

I LOVE their fabric vertical blinds the best! They make the apartment so cozy that they make me want to lay down and take a nap.

Aloha ~

Ali


]]>aloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-14T16:33:39Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/14/hawaiian-wisdom--aohe-lokomaikai-i-nele-i-ke-pânai.aspx

`A`ohe lokomaika`i i nele i ke pâna`i = No kind deed has ever lacked its reward.

Hawaiians are known for their generosity, hospitality, and warm sharing. This giving nature is grounded in the principle of reciprocity. When given, the Hawaiian will give back in equal measure or more, be it a gift or a smile.

`A`ohe lokomaika`i i nele i ke pâna`i.

Aloha ~

Ali
]]>LanguageHawaiiPhrasesaloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-14T15:30:37Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/14/hawaians-conserve-gasoline-by-researching-car-loans-online.aspxA while back I blogged about Hawaii's rising fuel costs, particularly how the locals have discovered that online pharmacies are the fuel-friendly alternative to traffic congested retail pharmacies. Expensive gasoline is making Hawaiians conscious of all their discretionary driving, and the Internet exodus is spreading quickly to groceries, clothing, even automobile loans!

Seeking a car loan at your local bank or credit union is no longer necessary - in fact it can be a little wasteful in these trying times. If you're trying to get approved for a new or used car loan, basiccarloans.com is a neat website with a quick and easy application process. You can do it all at home, and without an application fee.

Hawaiians unite! We can beat the rising fuel costs with a little creativity and ingenuity. If you have other suggestions for conserving gasoline, please leave me a comment.

Aloha ~

Ali

]]>HawaiiHawaiianaloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-14T15:21:02Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/14/best-beaches-in-oahu--lanikai-beach.aspxLiving on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu allows me to enjoy hanging out at all of our great beaches. Whether it's just to lie down and enjoy the sun, or catch a few waves on my surfboard, there are a few beaches that have become my favorites. Over the next few weeks, I thought I would blog about some area beaches - hope it helps you in finding your favorite!

Lanikai Beach is my favorite swimming beach, and it was actually rated as America's best beach by Dr. Beach in 1996. The clear turquoise blue waters, soft sandy beach, and gently swaying palm trees take all your worries away. Lanikai Beach is truly Aloha, reminding you that this is what Hawaii is really about. This beach is located just a few miles from Kailua town on the leeward side of the island.

BTW, this is probably the safest beach to take little kids to due to the gently lapping waves.


]]>BeachHawaiiOahuAlohaLanakaialoha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-14T14:02:40Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/14/honolulu-pharmacy-or-online-pharmacy.aspx

With gas prices at record highs, are you taking extraordinary measures to cut down on your fuel expenses? Perhaps you're walking to work or not letting your car idle anymore? Maybe you've begun carpooling or consolidated your family down to one vehicle??

Here in Honolulu, my family has always used City Pharmacy on Palani Avenue as our regular hometown pharmacy. It's reasonably close to our home, stocked well with anything and everything we could possibly need, and we know the owners and staff on a first name basis. Although City Pharmacy is close to home, Honolulu traffic means that this round trip journey is now a 2-3 gallon adventure - too much in these days of higher fuel costs.

As much as we love our local pharmacy, it makes sense to cut corners where we can. After some googling about the problem, we found that ordering online prescriptions is becoming the norm rather than the exception - people are turning to the Internet for their prescription needs because of increasing gasoline prices. The online pharmacy we chose shipped right to our door - efficient, inexpensive, and fast.

Would you consider an online pharmacy to combat rising fuel costs? If you can't decide which online pharmacy to try out, try eDrugstore.md which has become the Internet's leading online pharmacy. They have US licensed pharmacists and physicians and they have a strict policy to distribute only FDA-approved prescription medications.

Good luck in your efforts to beat the rising fuel costs. If you have any other fuel saving suggestions, please leave me a comment!

Aloha ~

Ali




]]>HonoluluPrescriptionsHawaiiPharmacyaloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-14T13:47:45Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/13/honolulu-zoo-is-fun-and-inexpensive-attraction.aspx
Wanted to remind my readers about the Honolulu Zoo - it's a real inexpensive and fun outing for families (we go almost every month). Little children will enjoy seeing the elephants, crocodiles, exotic birds, Galapagos tortoises, and Komodo dragons.

Most important.. you can bring in a picnic lunch.

Aloha ~

Ali


]]>HonoluluHawaiiAlohazooaloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-13T12:01:54Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/13/my-first-paintball-experience-at-hawaii-allstar-paintball-games.aspxOMG my friends just took me to play paintball for the first time!! We went to this place called Hawaii All-Star Paintball Games, a place I never even new existed and we played for 2 hours - it was crazy!! When we went, we were placed in a game with about 40 high schol band members (I guess their band director was taking them on a reward trip or something). My friends and I were on the same team and we hunted them band geeks down!!

The main object of the game is to capture the other team's flag (we did!!) while protecting your own. While you are trying to capture a flag, you also try to eliminate the other team's players by tagging them with a paintball. We played three games - the longest one took 45 minutes. What a blast!

Comment me if you want specific directions - basically it's about five minutes from the Honolulu airport and maybe twenty minutes from Waikiki. Their play park has a Hyperball field, a Mound / Barricade field, and a bunker field. The Hyperball and Sup-Air inflatable fields are modeled after tournament fields on the mainland. We played with a tippmann x7 package on the Hyperball field, and will try out the other fields and eqiuipment on a return visit.

So heres what I say... If you're on the Island of Oahu and you want a little excitement, and if you want to try something a little outrageous - go play paintball for a couple hours. It's crazy fun!





]]>PaintballOahuHawaiiEntertainmentaloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-14T06:19:42Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/13/what-is-a-waikiki--the-hawaiian-meaning-of-waikiki.aspx


In Hawaiian, “Waikiki” translates to “spouting fresh water” for streams and springs that once fed the wetlands in the area. Historically, the Waikiki area has long been a place for leisure. Popular for fishing, surfing and outrigger canoeing with ancient Hawaiians and later in the 1800’s, a retreat for Hawaiian royalty and a playground for celebrities and the wealthy.

Have you been to Waikiki??? It's one of the most popular travel destinations in the world!! Book cheap flights and Honolulu hotels for the vacation of a lifetime.







]]>HonoluluHawaiiHawaiianAlohaWaikikialoha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-13T10:23:30Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/13/my-first-car-loan--look-for-me-on-oahus-h3.aspx

I'm excited because I just bought a new car - it's a 2008 Mazda3 and I love it!! I looked for the right car for about 4 months and there were times when I thought the Civic or Focus may have been better choices. After reading hundreds of user reviews and after several test drives however, I chose the Mazda 3 I touring in Black. The hardest decision I had to make after deciding to get the Mazda3 was which color I wanted - gray or black! I am EXTREMELY happy with my car and the compliments keep pouring in from my friends and family.

Now here's the other cool part - I filled out an application online from a company that promises bad credit car loans. It's not that I have bad credit mind you - it's just that I have no credit experience because of my age. I was approved on the spot and now I have a car loan - pretty cool for a 20 year old college student!!! I didn't have to stand in line at a local bank, I didn't have to fear rejection in front of a bank manager, I didn't have to wait hours and hours for approval. I just filed out a very short car loan application on the Internet, took about 30 seconds, and I was approved on the spot. Don't you just love technology?? It was too easy, and I am too happy! So look for me on Oahu,s H-3 - I'll be the hottie with the big grin.

Aloha !

Ali



]]>HonoluluMazdaOahuHawaiicar loanaloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-14T06:13:11Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/13/buckle-up-in-honolulu.aspx

Tourists and locals beware!

Honolulu's "Click It or Ticket" campaign has officially begun, and Honolulu police mean business. According to the Honolulu Advertiser, "within 30 minutes of launching this year's Click It or Ticket campaign, Honolulu police issued tickets yesterday to two women."

All four counties kicked off their seat-belt campaigns yesterday. Roving patrols will be set up at key intersections around the state with checkpoints and message boards, police said.

"The data still shows that seat belts save lives," said Brennon Morioka, state Department of Transportation director. "Last year 40 percent of the fatalities weren't wearing seat belts."






]]>HonoluluHawaiiSeatbeltsPolicealoha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-13T10:25:17Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/13/blogging-for-bucks--blogging-buys-the-gasoline-in-paradise-2.aspx


Aloha!

I wanted to talk with you today about income versus expenses here in paradise...

While most of you know that I am a student at Hawaii University (Go Warriors!!) and a *very* amateur surfer (ha-ha), you probably don't know that my Internet hobby is my only source of income. My dad taught me the ropes when I was 14 and set me on this pathway to self-independence. Now, I work from my Honolulu home about two hours per day on the Internet (Xomba articles, this travel blog, and my cruise website), and the sponsor and affiliate payments from these activities generates all of my income. I have a very comfy life here in Paradise without having to work in fast food or retail like my friends at school.

With gasoline prices soaring on the island, I started hunting for an additional source of income to handle the new expenses. In walks PayPerPost, an incredible new self-service marketplace where I get paid to blog about different websites, products, and services. PayPerPost allows me the opportunity to earn money online, at my own pace, from the comfort of my own home, talking to nice readers like you! It's fun and a great source of extra income!

Just wanted to share...

I'm heading back to campus for my next to last day of finals - looking forward to the Summer off and more chances to blog about the island.

Aloha nui ~






]]>HonoluluPayPerPostonlineHawaiiBloggingaloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-13T09:17:42Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/05/13/keiki-water-festival.aspxThe 2nd Annual Keiki Water Festival, an educational event that is sponsored by Honolulu's Department of Environmental Services is slated for tomorrow from 8:30 a.m. to noon on the campus of Kalihi Waena Elementary School. About 400 fourth and fifth graders and their teachers will be greeted by guides from Kamehameha Middle School and Kappa Epsilon Betta, a fraternity at the University of Hawaii. I volunteered for the festival last year, and I learned a lot about the environment that I did not know - it was lots of fun.

According to Mayor Mufi Hannemann. "We learn some of life's most important lessons when we're young. The festival is an annual event that encourages students to learn more about water and water-related careers through hands-on activities with their teachers and water professionals,"





]]>HonoluluPacific OceanHawaiiEnvironmentaloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-13T10:30:26Zhttp://blog.going2oahu.com/2008/04/05/things-you-should-know-about-royal-carribean-cruise-lines.aspxThe Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is one of the major cruise lines traveling around the world. Primary destinations include the Bahamas, Caribbean, Europe, Bermuda, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Panama Canal. Special cruise packages are available for couples, families, and seniors.

The Royal Caribbean cruise ships offer unique onboard activities. They feature onboard rock climbing walls and ice skating rinks. One of the exclusive features of the cruise line is its retractable glass-roofed solariums. You can also watch Broadway style shows or listen to bands. If you prefer to hear yourself, karaoke is available.

The dining venues and cuisine is world-class. You can partake of wellness activities from massages to fitness classes. You can try your hand with Lady Lucky at an onboard casino. Or you can take dance lessons or enter a belly flop contest. The activities appear endless so you will never run out of things to do.

The Caribbean cruise includes a stop at a private island. Other land activities include kayaking and river tubing. You can sign up for an adventure tour that includes mountain biking, horseback riding, or hiking in the rain forest. Not the adventurous sort? Not to worry. You can sign up for the cuisine tour and taste the local foods and beverages in unique settings.

Don't forget the beaches and water activities. You can take scuba lessons and explore the incredible underwater worlds at various ports. You can walk on some of the most exotic beaches in the world. You can go whitewater rafting or deep-sea fishing. You can even go on other boats including glass-bottom boat tours or sunset cruises.

With supervised activities specifically for children, the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is family-friendly. Activities are available for children as young as six months old. Children over three can be left with staff trained to supervise children. The Adventure Ocean Youth Program includes activities that are both educational and fun.

With more than 170 destinations and 35 departure ports available, the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line is an excellent choice for new as well as veteran travelers. Perfect for couples, singles, and families, you can select from a variety of activities that will please everyone. Pick a destination that you have always wanted to visit and an unforgettable cruise is guaranteed.



About the author
Visit www.cruisesimply.com to see the most popular options for Caribbean cruises.

]]>Royal CarribeanCruise LineCarribean CruiseCruise Shipaloha@going2oahu.com (Going2Oahu Admin)2008-05-14T03:44:36Z