What about a massage in Hawaii?

Aloha Hawaii travelers,
For all those who are ready for their Summer Vacation in Hawaii and already wonder what to do first after their arrival on the islands. Here is what Pua and Keoki, your editors from Best Hawaii Vacations and retired licensed Hawaii massage therapists, recommend. Let's say you stay at an oceanfront hotel, there is nothing which can beat a first dip into the clear warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Next best thing to begin your Hawaii vacation to melt away your Mainland tension and allow you to enjoy our island atmosphere is to get a massage from an experienced licensed massage therapist. We already talked about in former posts that Hawaii healing vacations - see our related article links in the bottom of this post - are more and more in demand. Life on the Mainland is too busy, and people have a hard time to slow down. Travelers come to the islands to relax and let go. What better way is there than a therapeutic massage?! Make your massage appointment ahead of your arrival time, so it's a fixed 'date' in your vacation schedule.

Most everybody who had a massage before knows that there are lots of different massage techniques like: Swedish Massage, Shiatsu (Acupressure), Trigger Point Therapy, Reiki, Cranio-Sacral Therapy and last but not least, the popular Hawaiian style Lomi Lomi Massage. Every Lomi Lomi Practitioner does it in the unique style of his or her kumu (teachers).

Like the European massage, Lomilomi, the traditional Hawaiian massage, uses kneading and gliding strokes for increasing circulation, soothing nerves and loosening tight muscles. Any experienced massage therapist treats the whole person with paying close attention to the body and mind connection. Lomilomi practitioners go one step further including the spirit into the Lomilomi treatment through prayer, chants and aloha.

As a therapeutic massage at one of the Hawaiian hotel spas starts at $120/hr and ocean front cabana massages are available from $160/hr., we are well aware that a lot of you think you cannot afford this luxury treatment. Here are a few tips from us.

How to get your best massage in Hawaii for the most affordable rate:

1. Hawaii hotel spa and massage packages

Quite a number of hotels in Hawaii offer packages with their room rate, which can include special golf rates or special massage rates. So before you book your hotel, find out whether they are offering a Spa Vacation Package. If you you plan of having 2 or 3 massages anyway, why not get them at the best price with your package.

2. Book your massage at your vacation rental with a local therapist

When you stay at a private vacation rental, check the Yellow Pages in the area, talk to your hosts and locals which massage therapists are experienced and what kind of treatment they offer (you don't want to be disappointed afterwards). Most licensed massage therapists offer out-call service at a very reasonable rate compared to Hawaii hotel spas. Make sure with your hosts that they agree with having a therapist bring his/her table for a massage to your rental home.

3. How to save the most on a massage in Hawaii?

Of course, you guessed it. Do just the same as above but take your rental car and drive to the massage therapist's office. You will be amazed how Hawaiian massage therapists create an atmosphere of utmost relaxation for their clients, locals or vacationers. The only negative part with this arrangement, you have to drive back to your hotel or vacation rental. Why not combine the town visit with getting some groceries, Hawaiian fruits or Hawaiian gift shopping done?!

Well, I am nearly done with today's post, which was a lot of fun as we are so closely connected with the topic of getting massages in Hawaii. As we love to share Hawaii vacation tips with you, we figured to include the following spas which About.com lists as the best in Hawaii

Best Spas in Hawaii by About.com

SpaHalekulani, Halekulani, Honolulu
Spa Suites at Kahala Mandarin Oriental, Honolulu
Hualalai Sports Club and Spa, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Ka’upulehu-Kona
Spa Grande at Grand Wailea Resort, Maui
The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Wailea, Maui
Spa Moana, Hyatt Regency Maui, Lahaina
Spa Kea Lani at The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui, Wailea, Maui

Surprisingly, this list does not include one of our fine spas from the Kohala Coast. OK I cannot resist naming at least two of our favorite spa choices for the Big Island, which are actually both at the Mauna Lani Beach Resort: Mauna Lani Spa at Mauna Lani Beach Hotel and Bungalows and Spa Without Walls at Fairmont Orchid. Check them out when you are on the Kohala Coast and let us know what you think and what you liked best.

As usual, we ask all of our Hawaii blog visitors to leave a comment about spas and massage in Hawaii. Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations Kohala Coast Spas

Spas and Massage in Hawaii Related Articles

Hawaii Big Island Healing Vacation
Hawaiian Healing
5 Best Things to Do on Hawaii Vacation
5 Top Secret Travel Tips for Best Hawaii Vacation

Tags: Best of Hawaii, Hawaii Healing, Hawaii Healing Vacation

What about a massage in Hawaii?

Aloha Hawaii travelers,
For all those who are ready for their Summer Vacation in Hawaii and already wonder what to do first after their arrival on the islands. Here is what Pua and Keoki, your editors from Best Hawaii Vacations and retired licensed Hawaii massage therapists, recommend. Let's say you stay at an oceanfront hotel, there is nothing which can beat a first dip into the clear warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Next best thing to begin your Hawaii vacation to melt away your Mainland tension and allow you to enjoy our island atmosphere is to get a massage from an experienced licensed massage therapist. We already talked about in former posts that Hawaii healing vacations - see our related article links in the bottom of this post - are more and more in demand. Life on the Mainland is too busy, and people have a hard time to slow down. Travelers come to the islands to relax and let go. What better way is there than a therapeutic massage?! Make your massage appointment ahead of your arrival time, so it's a fixed 'date' in your vacation schedule.

Most everybody who had a massage before knows that there are lots of different massage techniques like: Swedish Massage, Shiatsu (Acupressure), Trigger Point Therapy, Reiki, Cranio-Sacral Therapy and last but not least, the popular Hawaiian style Lomi Lomi Massage. Every Lomi Lomi Practitioner does it in the unique style of his or her kumu (teachers).

Like the European massage, Lomilomi, the traditional Hawaiian massage, uses kneading and gliding strokes for increasing circulation, soothing nerves and loosening tight muscles. Any experienced massage therapist treats the whole person with paying close attention to the body and mind connection. Lomilomi practitioners go one step further including the spirit into the Lomilomi treatment through prayer, chants and aloha.

As a therapeutic massage at one of the Hawaiian hotel spas starts at $120/hr and ocean front cabana massages are available from $160/hr., we are well aware that a lot of you think you cannot afford this luxury treatment. Here are a few tips from us.

How to get your best massage in Hawaii for the most affordable rate:

1. Hawaii hotel spa and massage packages

Quite a number of hotels in Hawaii offer packages with their room rate, which can include special golf rates or special massage rates. So before you book your hotel, find out whether they are offering a Spa Vacation Package. If you you plan of having 2 or 3 massages anyway, why not get them at the best price with your package.

2. Book your massage at your vacation rental with a local therapist

When you stay at a private vacation rental, check the Yellow Pages in the area, talk to your hosts and locals which massage therapists are experienced and what kind of treatment they offer (you don't want to be disappointed afterwards). Most licensed massage therapists offer out-call service at a very reasonable rate compared to Hawaii hotel spas. Make sure with your hosts that they agree with having a therapist bring his/her table for a massage to your rental home.

3. How to save the most on a massage in Hawaii?

Of course, you guessed it. Do just the same as above but take your rental car and drive to the massage therapist's office. You will be amazed how Hawaiian massage therapists create an atmosphere of utmost relaxation for their clients, locals or vacationers. The only negative part with this arrangement, you have to drive back to your hotel or vacation rental. Why not combine the town visit with getting some groceries, Hawaiian fruits or Hawaiian gift shopping done?!

Well, I am nearly done with today's post, which was a lot of fun as we are so closely connected with the topic of getting massages in Hawaii. As we love to share Hawaii vacation tips with you, we figured to include the following spas which About.com lists as the best in Hawaii

Best Spas in Hawaii by About.com

SpaHalekulani, Halekulani, Honolulu
Spa Suites at Kahala Mandarin Oriental, Honolulu
Hualalai Sports Club and Spa, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Ka’upulehu-Kona
Spa Grande at Grand Wailea Resort, Maui
The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Wailea, Maui
Spa Moana, Hyatt Regency Maui, Lahaina
Spa Kea Lani at The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui, Wailea, Maui

Surprisingly, this list does not include one of our fine spas from the Kohala Coast. OK I cannot resist naming at least two of our favorite spa choices for the Big Island, which are actually both at the Mauna Lani Beach Resort: Mauna Lani Spa at Mauna Lani Beach Hotel and Bungalows and Spa Without Walls at Fairmont Orchid. Check them out when you are on the Kohala Coast and let us know what you think and what you liked best.

As usual, we ask all of our Hawaii blog visitors to leave a comment about spas and massage in Hawaii. Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations Kohala Coast Spas

Spas and Massage in Hawaii Related Articles

Hawaii Big Island Healing Vacation
Hawaiian Healing
5 Best Things to Do on Hawaii Vacation
5 Top Secret Travel Tips for Best Hawaii Vacation

Tags: Best of Hawaii, Hawaii Healing, Hawaii Healing Vacation

Color Mixed Brushes

Brush set for Adobe Illustrator by celithralia . "The colors shown are the base colors for the brushes. You can change the line color at any time to experiment with different color hues. Bolder color choices seem to work best. You can always drag the brush icon out onto the main board and edit the colors, then create a new brush if you want a specific color combination." Download

Business masterclasses for illustrators

The Association of Illustrators (AOI) has announced a business management course aimed at illustrators setting up on their own. The 11-session course starts on September 3; the AOI is offering a discount on the course cost for those who book by July 31.
Through a series of practical workshops, the courses aims to equip illustrators for self-employed life. Workshop themes include self-promotion; bigger markets for profit; copyright, licensing and contracts; pricing your work; persuasion and negotiation; portfolios and agents; money management; keeping abreast of technology; and tax and bookkeeping.
Read more Digital Arts Online

CupCake Price List

coming soon

Fondant Cake Price List

Cakes Fondant Cake Cupcake

FONDANT CAKE
Chocolate Cake/ Butter Cake ( RM90 /per kg )
Carrot Cake/ Fruit Cake ( RM105 /per kg )

MINI FONDANT (TYPE 1)
Chocolate Cake/ Butter Cake ( RM60 / 4 pieces )
Carrot Cake/ Fruit Cake ( RM75 / 4 pieces )
* minimum order 4 pieces
* size 4' x 4' ( per pcs )

MINI FONDANT (TYPE 2)
Chocolate Cake/ Butter Cake ( RM55 / 4 pieces )
Carrot Cake/ Fruit Cake ( RM60 / 4 pieces )
* minimum order 4 pieces
* size 3' x 3' ( per pcs )

MINI FONDANT (TYPE 3)
Chocolate Cake/ Butter Cake ( RM115 / 9 pieces )
Carrot Cake/ Fruit Cake ( RM140 / 9 pieces
* minimum order 9 pieces
* size 2.5' x 2.5' ( per pcs )

CUPCAKE FONDANT ( SOUFFLE CUP )
Chocolate Cake/ Butter Cake ( RM60 / 16 cups )
Carrot Cake/ Fruit Cake ( RM75 / 16 cups )
* minimum order 16 cup
* cup size : M only

Note :
* Price above for simple design with gumpaste flower.
* For custom design/ novelty cake, please contact for more details.

* Harga yang tertera hanya untuk kek fondant dengan hiasan biasa yang diserikan dengan bunga gumpaste.
* Harga berbeza untuk rekaan kek yang istimewa. Sila email untuk keterangan lanjut.
* Sebarang idea dari pelanggan juga amat dialu-alukan.

Fondant Cake with royal icing decoration suitable for Wedding Cake/ Hantaran gift. Mini Fondant / Miniature, suitable for doorgift in wedding day/ event/ annual dinner and as hantaran.

Kek Fondant dengan hiasan Royal Aising sesuai dijadikan sebagai kek perkahwinan dan kek hantaran. Mini Fondant juga sesuai diberikan sebagai cenderahati pada tetamu di majlis perkahwinan, majlis ulangtahun, makan malam dan juga sebagai hantaran perkahwinan.

Hawaii Summer Vacation 2008

Aloha to all our Hawaii vacation blog visitors,

Spring is finally everywhere on the Mainland with blooms and blossoms everywhere. So it's about time to plan the summer vacation for the family, which the kids (and you!) have been waiting for all year. Can we blame them?! Hey, two long months July and August no school but enjoying all the summer fun in the sun like swimming, biking, hiking and basking in the sun all day long. Whether you will take the kids to Hawaii this summer, depends on several factors. Here are a few thoughts by the editors of Best Hawaii Vacation blog.

With the Summer Vacation 2008 approaching fast, the big question is how Hawaii will be able to keep up its top ranking as best vacation destination. July and August have always been in the past our second highest season after extremely busy winter months, when they snow birds flock to sunny Hawaii with its warm weather all year round. Not that July and August are necessarily the best time to visit Hawaii.

When we wrote the above post, we made our point clear that to visit Hawaii during the biggest travel time of the year, July and August, means higher travel expenses for you, for air fares to Hawaii, car rentals and even hotels on the islands. Additionally, those two summer months are the hottest months of the year, not just on the Mainland but in Hawaii as well.

Despite of it, July and August have always been the months in Hawaii when we are used to welcome families with kids for their Hawaii vacation. This is the time when the kids are on vacation and a lot of families have no other choices. And to tell you the truth, the heat factor does not matter much. I have never seen a kid complain about the heat in Hawaii. They can hang out in the ocean for hours a day till they fall asleep at dinner at night!

OK, let's get to the basics. Is a Hawaii Vacation still affordable and how much does it cost? Remember our recent post where we questioned AAA's quote for Hawaii vacation costs of $793 a day for food and lodging alone for 2 adults?! We don't argue that Hawaii is the most expensive state to vacation in. Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, any traveler from the Mainland has to get on a plane to Hawaii.

Round trip air tickets for Hawaii Summer Vacation don't come cheap these days but as mentioned in previous articles they have never been in the past. But...you can save big money on your accommodation, first when you stay at a fully equipped vacation home and second when you book your Hawaii vacation in summer but for September or October.

I know that a lot of parents are hesitant to take the kids out of school during regular school time but I also know that there are fall breaks and since those are different from state to state, this might be your best chance for a great family vacation in fall. For all those, who still want to book a Hawaii summer vacation 2008, here are two links which offered Hawaii Vacation Package Deals for Summer: Shermans Travel with Hawaii hotel discount rates for Oahu, Maui and Big Island starting at $83/nt. for Waikiki hotel and Hawaiian Airlines with more vacation deals. I also noticed when cruising those links that quite a number of Hawaii hotels advertised 20 - 30% off for June. Admitted, those LAST MINUTE Hawaii Specials are always a privilege for those travelers who have a flexible working schedule.

Let us know where you will spend your summer vacation in Hawaii and if it's not Hawaii, where will it be. If you have any feedback on round trip rates from the Mainland to Hawaii, please, share with our blog visitors. They appreciate it! Looking forward to hearing from you.
Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations June 2008
p.s.
Our today's Hawaiian post girl is Amber from Wahine Style.com.

More Hawaii Vacation Tips

Ever tried Huli Huli chicken in Hawaii?
Where to buy fresh fruits in Hawaii?
Hawaii Resort Fees an Issue for your Vacation?
How to Search our Hawaii Vacation Blog?
Biggest Waves in Hawaii - Where and When?
Best Hawaii Books to prepare Vacation?
What to know about Hawaii Vacations with Kids?

Tags: best of Hawaii, Hawaii summer vacation 2008

Hawaii Summer Vacation 2008

Aloha to all our Hawaii vacation blog visitors,

Spring is finally everywhere on the Mainland with blooms and blossoms everywhere. So it's about time to plan the summer vacation for the family, which the kids (and you!) have been waiting for all year. Can we blame them?! Hey, two long months July and August no school but enjoying all the summer fun in the sun like swimming, biking, hiking and basking in the sun all day long. Whether you will take the kids to Hawaii this summer, depends on several factors. Here are a few thoughts by the editors of Best Hawaii Vacation blog.

With the Summer Vacation 2008 approaching fast, the big question is how Hawaii will be able to keep up its top ranking as best vacation destination. July and August have always been in the past our second highest season after extremely busy winter months, when they snow birds flock to sunny Hawaii with its warm weather all year round. Not that July and August are necessarily the best time to visit Hawaii.

When we wrote the above post, we made our point clear that to visit Hawaii during the biggest travel time of the year, July and August, means higher travel expenses for you, for air fares to Hawaii, car rentals and even hotels on the islands. Additionally, those two summer months are the hottest months of the year, not just on the Mainland but in Hawaii as well.

Despite of it, July and August have always been the months in Hawaii when we are used to welcome families with kids for their Hawaii vacation. This is the time when the kids are on vacation and a lot of families have no other choices. And to tell you the truth, the heat factor does not matter much. I have never seen a kid complain about the heat in Hawaii. They can hang out in the ocean for hours a day till they fall asleep at dinner at night!

OK, let's get to the basics. Is a Hawaii Vacation still affordable and how much does it cost? Remember our recent post where we questioned AAA's quote for Hawaii vacation costs of $793 a day for food and lodging alone for 2 adults?! We don't argue that Hawaii is the most expensive state to vacation in. Located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, any traveler from the Mainland has to get on a plane to Hawaii.

Round trip air tickets for Hawaii Summer Vacation don't come cheap these days but as mentioned in previous articles they have never been in the past. But...you can save big money on your accommodation, first when you stay at a fully equipped vacation home and second when you book your Hawaii vacation in summer but for September or October.

I know that a lot of parents are hesitant to take the kids out of school during regular school time but I also know that there are fall breaks and since those are different from state to state, this might be your best chance for a great family vacation in fall. For all those, who still want to book a Hawaii summer vacation 2008, here are two links which offered Hawaii Vacation Package Deals for Summer: Shermans Travel with Hawaii hotel discount rates for Oahu, Maui and Big Island starting at $83/nt. for Waikiki hotel and Hawaiian Airlines with more vacation deals. I also noticed when cruising those links that quite a number of Hawaii hotels advertised 20 - 30% off for June. Admitted, those LAST MINUTE Hawaii Specials are always a privilege for those travelers who have a flexible working schedule.

Let us know where you will spend your summer vacation in Hawaii and if it's not Hawaii, where will it be. If you have any feedback on round trip rates from the Mainland to Hawaii, please, share with our blog visitors. They appreciate it! Looking forward to hearing from you.
Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations June 2008
p.s.
Our today's Hawaiian post girl is Amber from Wahine Style.com.

More Hawaii Vacation Tips

Ever tried Huli Huli chicken in Hawaii?
Where to buy fresh fruits in Hawaii?
Hawaii Resort Fees an Issue for your Vacation?
How to Search our Hawaii Vacation Blog?
Biggest Waves in Hawaii - Where and When?
Best Hawaii Books to prepare Vacation?
What to know about Hawaii Vacations with Kids?

Tags: best of Hawaii, Hawaii summer vacation 2008

Elastic

by Silvionix

Outlining Strokes

There are different cases when designers need to convert strokes to filled objects. Outlining strokes in a vector logos may prevent print problems with uneducated clients. In Adobe Illustrator strokes are measured in points and usually when you scale an object (up or down) , the stroke weight stays the same but the rest of the artwork gets unproportionally distorted. By outlining the strokes before you hand in the logo file to the client you can be sure that if he desides to scale the logo, the strokes' visual weight will always match the rest of the logo.

Menu command : Object>Path>Outline Stroke

Spacecraft Custom Shapes for Adobe Photoshop

A collection of custom vector spacecraft shapes for Adobe Photoshop by retoucher07030. Those are just outlines but I'm pretty sure someone will find them useful. Note if you're a CS3 user you can export and use the shapes is Illustrator (select + copy in Photoshop and paste in Illustrator) Download link

Ever tried Huli Huli chicken on your Hawaii Vacation?

Most everybody living in Hawaii knows how to make a tasty banana bread. I have my own recipes too but have you ever tried Huli Huli chicken on your Hawaii vacation or even just heard about it? Huli huli means in Hawaiian 'turn - turn' and that is what the Hawaiians do. The chicken halves are turned repeatedly over the fire from mesquite coals. Just driving by a Huli Huli chicken barbeque stand and smell of the flavorful meat is a mouth watering experience and temptation, which hardly any Hawaii visitor can resist.

Let me tell you what makes the huli huli chicken so special. It's not just the way how it is cooked but more so the very unique BBQ sauce the Hawaiians use for its preparation. Ingredients like pure Hawaiian brown sugar, soy sauce (locally known as "shoyu"), ketchup, garlic and fresh ginger gives it its distinct flavor. When I checked online Huli-Huli Sauce recipes, I noticed they varied quite a bit in addition to the basic ingredients. Some used pine-apple juice or lime juice, sesame oil, Hawaiian sea salt. So don't ask me which recipe is the best. I guess they all taste excellent.

When you are in Hawaii on vacation, ask the locals or the concierge of your hotel where you can find Huli Huli chicken in the area. Locals will know which parking lot the huli huli chickens are prepared and on what days they are served. There is no better way to get a 'bite of Hawaii' than enjoying one of those Hawaiian huli huli chickens after a sightseeing tour, swimming in the ocean or a tough hike through one of our spectacular valleys. Make sure you know where you can find this Hawaiian delicacy after you worked up an appetite.

Your best chances when visiting the Big Island are Church Row parking lot in Waimea, the parking lot in Kawaihae next to the Blue Dolphin Restaurant (there is also a great fruit stand with delicious strawberry papayas and apple-bananas), the Texaco Station parking lot in Honokaa and parking lot in Kealakekua next to Bank of Hawaii.

When visiting the other islands, here is another good tip besides asking the locals. The Hawaiians also use the popular huli huli chickens for fundraising events. Scan the newspaper on weekends for Huli Huli benefits. Otherwise, we invite everybody who knows a place on Kauai, Maui or Oahu where they found Hawaii's own version of barbecued chicken, please, let our Best Hawaii vacation blog visitors know. Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations
p.s.
Last but not least, if you can't visit Hawaii sooner or later this year but would like to try to make your own Huli Huli chicken at home, Maui4You sells you the BBQ sauce for it.

Tags: best of Hawaii, Hawaii vacation tip

Ever tried Huli Huli chicken on your Hawaii Vacation?

Most everybody living in Hawaii knows how to make a tasty banana bread. I have my own recipes too but have you ever tried Huli Huli chicken on your Hawaii vacation or even just heard about it? Huli huli means in Hawaiian 'turn - turn' and that is what the Hawaiians do. The chicken halves are turned repeatedly over the fire from mesquite coals. Just driving by a Huli Huli chicken barbeque stand and smell of the flavorful meat is a mouth watering experience and temptation, which hardly any Hawaii visitor can resist.

Let me tell you what makes the huli huli chicken so special. It's not just the way how it is cooked but more so the very unique BBQ sauce the Hawaiians use for its preparation. Ingredients like pure Hawaiian brown sugar, soy sauce (locally known as "shoyu"), ketchup, garlic and fresh ginger gives it its distinct flavor. When I checked online Huli-Huli Sauce recipes, I noticed they varied quite a bit in addition to the basic ingredients. Some used pine-apple juice or lime juice, sesame oil, Hawaiian sea salt. So don't ask me which recipe is the best. I guess they all taste excellent.

When you are in Hawaii on vacation, ask the locals or the concierge of your hotel where you can find Huli Huli chicken in the area. Locals will know which parking lot the huli huli chickens are prepared and on what days they are served. There is no better way to get a 'bite of Hawaii' than enjoying one of those Hawaiian huli huli chickens after a sightseeing tour, swimming in the ocean or a tough hike through one of our spectacular valleys. Make sure you know where you can find this Hawaiian delicacy after you worked up an appetite.

Your best chances when visiting the Big Island are Church Row parking lot in Waimea, the parking lot in Kawaihae next to the Blue Dolphin Restaurant (there is also a great fruit stand with delicious strawberry papayas and apple-bananas), the Texaco Station parking lot in Honokaa and parking lot in Kealakekua next to Bank of Hawaii.

When visiting the other islands, here is another good tip besides asking the locals. The Hawaiians also use the popular huli huli chickens for fundraising events. Scan the newspaper on weekends for Huli Huli benefits. Otherwise, we invite everybody who knows a place on Kauai, Maui or Oahu where they found Hawaii's own version of barbecued chicken, please, let our Best Hawaii vacation blog visitors know. Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations
p.s.
Last but not least, if you can't visit Hawaii sooner or later this year but would like to try to make your own Huli Huli chicken at home, Maui4You sells you the BBQ sauce for it.

Tags: best of Hawaii, Hawaii vacation tip

Scaling and transforming in Adobe Illustrator

Scatter rubbish brushes for Adobe Illustrator

The pack contains 8 scatter brushes:

1 bubbles brush
3 rain brushes for background rain both light and dark, one for visible raindrops
4 night sky brushes for nebulas, for dense groups of small stars, for twinkling stars and for fireflies
Thanks to maddama DownloadNote: The brushes were made for working with mid-to-high resolution images. If the effects come too big you'll have to expand them, select the whole lot and resize it with the transform tool.

Note2: If you want to make your scatter effect more subtle and less expressive, select the curve and lower the opacity value. Window>Transparency

Big Island Secret Beach

After our fun interview with the guys from Beat of Hawaii and some great recommendations for your Kauai vacation, it's Big Island lovers turn again. Welcome back to Joanne Sala from California who joined our Best Hawaii Vacation articles with another wonderful story of her visit to Kiholo Bay when on Big Island vacation. In case, you missed her entertaining Big Island horseback riding adventure in Waipio Valley, it's not too late. It's a fun post. Great photos of Waipio Valley too! Well, let's get things started with Joanne's

Off the beaten Path - The Big Island's Kiholo Bay

"The Big Island has wonderfully uncrowded beaches compared to Oahu and Maui, but if you really want to be guaranteed absolute solitude on Hawaii’s killer Kohala Coast, I adore Kiholo Bay. Once part of a Hawaiian fishpond built by King Kamehameha in 1820, the brilliant turquoise waters of the bay are an unusual mixture of salt and fresh water. Be warned: green sea turtles are everywhere. You can look, but don’t touch!

The 30-minute walk to the beach off of Highway 19 at mile marker 81 (no public facilities either), practically guarantees you’ll have this gorgeous piece of paradise to yourself. The first time we visited we got sunburned on the hike down, so wear protective sun gear and tennis shoes—not flip flops—for this adventure. The walk takes every bit of a long, hot 30 minutes and is slow-going, especially when you’re carrying water, snacks and beach accoutrements on your back. Once you reach the bay, you’ll be overwhelmed by its beauty. You’ll also have a little more walking to do over coarse black sand and lava rocks.

At the northern end of Kiholo Bay you’ll find the famous fish pond, which is basically a shallow, partially walled five-acre lagoon that lies next to a sand spit approximately a quarter mile long. We waded across the water, waist-deep, to the sand spit where there are a few palm trees to provide shade, and of course, a gorgeous swath of soft white sand for settling in for a picnic or short siesta. Swimming along the pond’s enclosed walls is a delight, especially when the turtles are out for a romp. We used our snorkel gear, but it was challenging as the water is slightly murky (and cold)! due to the mixture of fresh and saltwater.

The second time we visited to the bay, the tide was too high to reach the sand spit, so we hiked north along the bay’s maze of black lava fields and found some large flat rocks at the ocean’s edge on which to sun ourselves. We kept cool by jumping into the ocean and swimming near the shoreline, ever alert for those beautiful prehistoric creatures.

I recommend consulting the latest copy of "Hawaii Revealed" before going to Kiholo. This thorough and well-researched guidebook to the island provides extremely accurate directions on how to find the footpath from the highway to the beach and gives an interesting overview of the fish pond’s history and information on how to get to nearby Queen’s Bath."

Once again a great Big Island story, Joanne. Lot's of mahalos. We are certain that all those who were not lucky yet watching the green sea turtles in Hawaii will pack the backpacks and head out for Kiholo Bay.

We love your Hawaii stories, Joanne. Hope more will come our way for publishing on Best Hawaii Vacation blog. As everybody knows 'Word-of-mouth' is the best advertising. So, all those Hawaii lovers who have a great Hawaii story to share, please, contact us. Sorry no advertising but we will publish your Hawaii article with a short bio and link to your blog or website URL and include you in our Hawaii Blog Authors category. Short stories are accepted too. Hawaii photos are most welcome! Share your Hawaiian story with our blog visitors and Hawaii lovers.
Much mahalo, Pua Hawaii Vacations
p.s
Kiholo Bay is on the sunny West Coast, Kona Kohala Coast, of Hawaii Big Island. See our Big Island map.

Big Island Vacation Related Articles

Best Big Island Restaurant
Best Big Island Beach
Best Rates Big Island Spring Vacation 2008
Get a Taste of your Big Island Vacation with Big Island Photos
How to have a great Big Island Vacation and Save Money
Big Island Trip Report 1
Big Island Trip Report 2
When to Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Tags: Best of Hawaii, Big Island vacation, Hawaii Tips

Big Island Secret Beach

After our fun interview with the guys from Beat of Hawaii and some great recommendations for your Kauai vacation, it's Big Island lovers turn again. Welcome back to Joanne Sala from California who joined our Best Hawaii Vacation articles with another wonderful story of her visit to Kiholo Bay when on Big Island vacation. In case, you missed her entertaining Big Island horseback riding adventure in Waipio Valley, it's not too late. It's a fun post. Great photos of Waipio Valley too! Well, let's get things started with Joanne's

Off the beaten Path - The Big Island's Kiholo Bay

"The Big Island has wonderfully uncrowded beaches compared to Oahu and Maui, but if you really want to be guaranteed absolute solitude on Hawaii’s killer Kohala Coast, I adore Kiholo Bay. Once part of a Hawaiian fishpond built by King Kamehameha in 1820, the brilliant turquoise waters of the bay are an unusual mixture of salt and fresh water. Be warned: green sea turtles are everywhere. You can look, but don’t touch!

The 30-minute walk to the beach off of Highway 19 at mile marker 81 (no public facilities either), practically guarantees you’ll have this gorgeous piece of paradise to yourself. The first time we visited we got sunburned on the hike down, so wear protective sun gear and tennis shoes—not flip flops—for this adventure. The walk takes every bit of a long, hot 30 minutes and is slow-going, especially when you’re carrying water, snacks and beach accoutrements on your back. Once you reach the bay, you’ll be overwhelmed by its beauty. You’ll also have a little more walking to do over coarse black sand and lava rocks.

At the northern end of Kiholo Bay you’ll find the famous fish pond, which is basically a shallow, partially walled five-acre lagoon that lies next to a sand spit approximately a quarter mile long. We waded across the water, waist-deep, to the sand spit where there are a few palm trees to provide shade, and of course, a gorgeous swath of soft white sand for settling in for a picnic or short siesta. Swimming along the pond’s enclosed walls is a delight, especially when the turtles are out for a romp. We used our snorkel gear, but it was challenging as the water is slightly murky (and cold)! due to the mixture of fresh and saltwater.

The second time we visited to the bay, the tide was too high to reach the sand spit, so we hiked north along the bay’s maze of black lava fields and found some large flat rocks at the ocean’s edge on which to sun ourselves. We kept cool by jumping into the ocean and swimming near the shoreline, ever alert for those beautiful prehistoric creatures.

I recommend consulting the latest copy of "Hawaii Revealed" before going to Kiholo. This thorough and well-researched guidebook to the island provides extremely accurate directions on how to find the footpath from the highway to the beach and gives an interesting overview of the fish pond’s history and information on how to get to nearby Queen’s Bath."

Once again a great Big Island story, Joanne. Lot's of mahalos. We are certain that all those who were not lucky yet watching the green sea turtles in Hawaii will pack the backpacks and head out for Kiholo Bay.

We love your Hawaii stories, Joanne. Hope more will come our way for publishing on Best Hawaii Vacation blog. As everybody knows 'Word-of-mouth' is the best advertising. So, all those Hawaii lovers who have a great Hawaii story to share, please, contact us. Sorry no advertising but we will publish your Hawaii article with a short bio and link to your blog or website URL and include you in our Hawaii Blog Authors category. Short stories are accepted too. Hawaii photos are most welcome! Share your Hawaiian story with our blog visitors and Hawaii lovers.
Much mahalo, Pua Hawaii Vacations
p.s
Kiholo Bay is on the sunny West Coast, Kona Kohala Coast, of Hawaii Big Island. See our Big Island map.

Big Island Vacation Related Articles

Best Big Island Restaurant
Best Big Island Beach
Best Rates Big Island Spring Vacation 2008
Get a Taste of your Big Island Vacation with Big Island Photos
How to have a great Big Island Vacation and Save Money
Big Island Trip Report 1
Big Island Trip Report 2
When to Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Tags: Best of Hawaii, Big Island vacation, Hawaii Tips

Illustrating Fashion Tutorial

Another great digital art publication from Computer Arts Magazine's website. This tutorial might be of use to beginner digital illustrators and fashion designers...

"Follow Cybèle as she develops a sketch for a spring 2008 accessories collection into a completed fashion illustration. When working on a fashion assignment, it’s important to dress the characters not in what is being worn at the time you create it, but what will be worn when the illustration is published and afterwards. So it’s essential for fashion illustrators to keep up to date with the current and upcoming fashion collections and street trends..."

Click on the images below to see full size screenshots. Download tutorial (pdf)

Hawaii Vacation Travel Tips

When searching the web for Hawaii vacation information, you have probably noticed that more and more Hawaii blogs show up in Google search results. The Hawaii blog community is steadily growing. We reported recently about the big variety of Hawaii theme related stories and posts one can find these days when searching for Hawaii vacation.

Today we'd like to introduce one of the new Hawaii travel blogs. The 'new kid on the block' is Beat of Hawaii, which we actually mentioned in our recent post What does a Hawaii vacation cost? and hopefully triggered your curiosity about it. Within a short period of their blog existence, Beat of Hawaii got acknowledged by Arthur Frommer, the Arthur Frommer from 'Frommer's Budget Travel' or 'Frommer's Hawaii'. That alone makes this blog stand out among Hawaii blogs.

The editors of Beat of Hawaii, Jeff and Rob, post about Hawaii travel tips, deals, events and culture. Their post topics are chosen carefully, well researched and presented in a way they attract the attention of Hawaii travelers and Hawaii blogging fellows. Their commitment, unique approach and Hawaii Travel Tips definitely got our attention. Ever since their start-up we have been following their blogging project closely and decided to have a little interview with the guys from Beat of Hawaii, currently living on the garden island of Kauai. Don't miss what Kauai Vacation Tips they have for visitors.

Best Hawaii Vacation:
"What was the reason to start a Hawaii blog about travel tips? What is your connection to the travel, vacation or tourist industry generally?"

Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff: I’ve been active on many travel forums over the years, and decided it was time to start my own site. In addition to writing about Hawaii, I also wanted to write about the travel industry. Travel has been a part of my life for decades. When I had my own international technology consulting company, I traveled around the world 4 times a year. I also managed travel for 30 of my consultants.

Rob: I felt it was a great opportunity for us to write about Hawaii since we live here full-time. We know what’s happening and have an insider’s perspective. Many years ago I worked in the travel industry for United Airlines. Otherwise, I’ve been an avid traveler. I started young. When I was a kid I was always planning our family vacations and writing away for travel brochures. I still remember writing to the Hawaii Visitor Bureau in grade school and the two-color brochure they mailed me (perhaps a sign of things to come!. My favorite place to hang out as a kid was the airport to watch planes come and go.

Best Hawaii Vacation:
"What blog message do you want to accomplish by writing posts about Hawaii travel?"

Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff: Hawaii is affordable and within everyone’s reach. I want readers to feel that they are better informed consumers after reading our articles.

Rob: There’s a lot of Aloha in our state and we hope that message comes through in our writing.

Best Hawaii Vacation:
As the new 'kid on the block', is there anything you would like to change or improve within the Hawaii blog community? What do you like? What don't you like?"

Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff/Rob: Even though we’re new to the blogosphere, we’re not new to technology. It’s been exciting for us to participate in this new medium. We both appreciated the warm welcome you gave us Pua when we first started Beat of Hawaii. That’s what we like best: feeling part of a community. The only thing we don’t like happened recently. Another Hawaii blog placed one of our articles on their website, in its entrity, without permission or giving us credit.

Best Hawaii Vacation:
"We all made a decision when moving to a certain Hawaiian island. What made you choose Kauai over the other islands?"

Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff: I started coming to Kauai in 1974 and bought a condo here in the ‘90’s for business. As time went on, I was spending more time on Kauai than my home in California. About 8 years ago I sold the condo and bought a home in Kalaheo. I always found Kauai to be comfortable and a good fit for me.

Rob: My very first trip to Hawaii was in 1989. I remember a few minutes after arriving on Kauai, I felt this immediate connection. Perhaps it was a feeling of coming home since my family’s history on Kauai goes back to the 1850’s. I moved here full time five years ago.

Best Hawaii Vacation:
"As Kauai residents, what do you recommend as the 3 Best things to do on a Kauai vacation?"
Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff: Hike in Waimea Canyon/Kokee Park; Swim in the Ocean; Take a boat trip of Na Pali CoastRob: Visit Kauai Museum; Check out one of the gardens (National Botanical, Limahuli or Na Aina Kai); Hike to top of Sleeping Giant

Best Hawaii Vacation:
"Which beach do you consider the best Kauai beach?"

Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff: Hanalei in Summer for its beauty. From April to October we’re there twice a week to swim miles.

Rob: Salt Pond Beach. Great for swimming. It’s also has Hawaii’s only natural salt ponds.

Best Hawaii Vacation:
"Which Kauai restaurant is your favorite restaurant and why?"
Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff: I’m not the best guy to ask. I bake my own bread, roast my own coffee and have been cooking for years. So far I haven’t found The restaurant to recommend on Kauai. I’m still searching.

Rob: My favorite is Lihue Barbecue Inn on Kress Street (not to be confused with Garden Island Barbecue on Rice Street). It’s a local place to eat, not elegant, but we always feel welcomed the moment we walk in. Their lunch specials are a good value. The same family has owned Barbecue Inn since the 1930’s.

Best Hawaii Vacation:
"What should tourists know when visiting Kauai on their Hawaii vacation?"

Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff: If you’re here longer than a week, I think it’s a good idea to split your stay between a North and South shore accommodation. This will reduce the amount of driving time and give you more chance to enjoy Kauai.

Rob: Slow down and relax.

Much mahalos, Rob and Jeff. It was fun 'talking' to you. Our best Hawaii vacation blog visitors are looking forward to reading more of your Hawaii Travel Tips at 'Beat of Hawaii'.
Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacation
p.s.
For your Big Island vacation, read our recent post about the Best Big Island Restaurant.

Related Articles

Hawaii Resort Fees
Best Hawaii Books
Vacation with Kids in Hawaii
Why rent a Vacation Rental in Hawaii?

Tags: Best of Hawaii, Kauai Vacation Tips

Hawaii Vacation Travel Tips

When searching the web for Hawaii vacation information, you have probably noticed that more and more Hawaii blogs show up in Google search results. The Hawaii blog community is steadily growing. We reported recently about the big variety of Hawaii theme related stories and posts one can find these days when searching for Hawaii vacation.

Today we'd like to introduce one of the new Hawaii travel blogs. The 'new kid on the block' is Beat of Hawaii, which we actually mentioned in our recent post What does a Hawaii vacation cost? and hopefully triggered your curiosity about it. Within a short period of their blog existence, Beat of Hawaii got acknowledged by Arthur Frommer, the Arthur Frommer from 'Frommer's Budget Travel' or 'Frommer's Hawaii'. That alone makes this blog stand out among Hawaii blogs.

The editors of Beat of Hawaii, Jeff and Rob, post about Hawaii travel tips, deals, events and culture. Their post topics are chosen carefully, well researched and presented in a way they attract the attention of Hawaii travelers and Hawaii blogging fellows. Their commitment, unique approach and Hawaii Travel Tips definitely got our attention. Ever since their start-up we have been following their blogging project closely and decided to have a little interview with the guys from Beat of Hawaii, currently living on the garden island of Kauai. Don't miss what Kauai Vacation Tips they have for visitors.

Best Hawaii Vacation:
"What was the reason to start a Hawaii blog about travel tips? What is your connection to the travel, vacation or tourist industry generally?"

Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff: I’ve been active on many travel forums over the years, and decided it was time to start my own site. In addition to writing about Hawaii, I also wanted to write about the travel industry. Travel has been a part of my life for decades. When I had my own international technology consulting company, I traveled around the world 4 times a year. I also managed travel for 30 of my consultants.

Rob: I felt it was a great opportunity for us to write about Hawaii since we live here full-time. We know what’s happening and have an insider’s perspective. Many years ago I worked in the travel industry for United Airlines. Otherwise, I’ve been an avid traveler. I started young. When I was a kid I was always planning our family vacations and writing away for travel brochures. I still remember writing to the Hawaii Visitor Bureau in grade school and the two-color brochure they mailed me (perhaps a sign of things to come!. My favorite place to hang out as a kid was the airport to watch planes come and go.

Best Hawaii Vacation:
"What blog message do you want to accomplish by writing posts about Hawaii travel?"

Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff: Hawaii is affordable and within everyone’s reach. I want readers to feel that they are better informed consumers after reading our articles.

Rob: There’s a lot of Aloha in our state and we hope that message comes through in our writing.

Best Hawaii Vacation:
As the new 'kid on the block', is there anything you would like to change or improve within the Hawaii blog community? What do you like? What don't you like?"

Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff/Rob: Even though we’re new to the blogosphere, we’re not new to technology. It’s been exciting for us to participate in this new medium. We both appreciated the warm welcome you gave us Pua when we first started Beat of Hawaii. That’s what we like best: feeling part of a community. The only thing we don’t like happened recently. Another Hawaii blog placed one of our articles on their website, in its entrity, without permission or giving us credit.

Best Hawaii Vacation:
"We all made a decision when moving to a certain Hawaiian island. What made you choose Kauai over the other islands?"

Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff: I started coming to Kauai in 1974 and bought a condo here in the ‘90’s for business. As time went on, I was spending more time on Kauai than my home in California. About 8 years ago I sold the condo and bought a home in Kalaheo. I always found Kauai to be comfortable and a good fit for me.

Rob: My very first trip to Hawaii was in 1989. I remember a few minutes after arriving on Kauai, I felt this immediate connection. Perhaps it was a feeling of coming home since my family’s history on Kauai goes back to the 1850’s. I moved here full time five years ago.

Best Hawaii Vacation:
"As Kauai residents, what do you recommend as the 3 Best things to do on a Kauai vacation?"
Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff: Hike in Waimea Canyon/Kokee Park; Swim in the Ocean; Take a boat trip of Na Pali CoastRob: Visit Kauai Museum; Check out one of the gardens (National Botanical, Limahuli or Na Aina Kai); Hike to top of Sleeping Giant

Best Hawaii Vacation:
"Which beach do you consider the best Kauai beach?"

Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff: Hanalei in Summer for its beauty. From April to October we’re there twice a week to swim miles.

Rob: Salt Pond Beach. Great for swimming. It’s also has Hawaii’s only natural salt ponds.

Best Hawaii Vacation:
"Which Kauai restaurant is your favorite restaurant and why?"
Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff: I’m not the best guy to ask. I bake my own bread, roast my own coffee and have been cooking for years. So far I haven’t found The restaurant to recommend on Kauai. I’m still searching.

Rob: My favorite is Lihue Barbecue Inn on Kress Street (not to be confused with Garden Island Barbecue on Rice Street). It’s a local place to eat, not elegant, but we always feel welcomed the moment we walk in. Their lunch specials are a good value. The same family has owned Barbecue Inn since the 1930’s.

Best Hawaii Vacation:
"What should tourists know when visiting Kauai on their Hawaii vacation?"

Beat of Hawaii:

Jeff: If you’re here longer than a week, I think it’s a good idea to split your stay between a North and South shore accommodation. This will reduce the amount of driving time and give you more chance to enjoy Kauai.

Rob: Slow down and relax.

Much mahalos, Rob and Jeff. It was fun 'talking' to you. Our best Hawaii vacation blog visitors are looking forward to reading more of your Hawaii Travel Tips at 'Beat of Hawaii'.
Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacation
p.s.
For your Big Island vacation, read our recent post about the Best Big Island Restaurant.

Related Articles

Hawaii Resort Fees
Best Hawaii Books
Vacation with Kids in Hawaii
Why rent a Vacation Rental in Hawaii?

Tags: Best of Hawaii, Kauai Vacation Tips

Lima (vector, photography and brushes)

Photomanipulation by whisperingsmith

Selamat Hari Guru!

Kek Sponge Coklat (1kg+) = RM55

Kek Hari Guru ni order dari Kak Nor (opismet), untuk diberi pada cikgu tadika sekolah anaknya.
Kak Nor request Kek Sponge, topping coklat fudge dan hiasan bunga rose. Pagi ni kek dah selamat diberi pada cikgu :)

...dan x lupa, diucapkan Selamat Hari Guru pada semua cikgu tadika, cikgu sekolah dan pensyarah (cikgu gak kan ni?) di seluruh Malaysia, moga jasa kalian diberkati-Nya.

Chocolate Ball Stick

Last nite cuba buat chocolate ball dalam version stick. Dapat idea dari Bakerella.com, cute btul cake stick yang dihasilkan, siap masuk dalam Martha show.

Bahan asas yang digunakan ialah kek. So, kalau ada balance kek yang x habis, jangan buang terus, boleh dibuat chocolate ball. 1st time ni banyak try and error jek, gabung2kan resepi yang pernah dilihat dr internet dan kelas.

Blend kek, kemudian campurkan dengan biskut oreo (blend), susu pekat, cornflake (blend) dan kalau ada almond halus dan serbuk koko bole ditambah skali. Gaulkan semua dan bentukkan bulat. Sejukan sebentar supaya keras sket. Kemudian celupkan dalam coklat cair. Susu pekat tu bole alternate tukar dengan cream cheese ( resepi dari Bakerella.com ), tapi disebabkan cream cheese tade kat rumah, so just pakai susu pekat je semalam. Maybe next time leh try pakai cream cheese (mesti rasanya lagi sedap).

Kalau dihias dengan colorful rice lagi cantik, tapi memandangkan semalam xde, so, just letak apa yang ada. Bila dah buat ni, banyak idea yang muncul, next time leh buat better than this.

Best Big Island Restaurant

When answering questions about best Hawaii vacations, the question for the best restaurant on the Hawaiian island of your vacation choice comes right behind the question for the best beaches. Today we would like to introduce to Big Island visitors our favorite Big Island restaurant. Before we do that, please, be aware that the Big Island is really big and to drive to a special restaurant just for the food does not always make sense. In addition, tastes and food preferences vary - luckily - very much.

Here is one of our favorite Big Island restaurants. It's would probably be exaggerating a bit and unrealistic to call it the best Big Island restaurant. There are quite a few others which acclaim this title as well. However, let's stay with the one we would like to talk about today: the Bamboo Restaurant in Hawi, North Kohala. When you know the Big Island, you immediately notice this Big Island restaurant is a little big out of the way, namely in the northern tip of the island.

It makes sense that tourists staying on the Kohala Coast or upcountry in the Waimea area frequently choose the Bamboo Restaurant for its old style Hawaiian ambience, great food such, as differently prepared delicious Mahimahi, and accommodating and fast service. There are many more reasons why we love it and probably other guests agree with that. First of all, the fresh seafood in different styles is a big attraction to us. Another big plus is that at the Bamboo Restaurant in Hawi, guests can choose between full entrees (mostly over $30) and the petite portion of the same meal at under $20. We love that! This allows us to enjoy an appetizer before the main meal. I don't know any other Big Island restaurant which offers this great opportunity.

We talked about the Hawaiian ambience. Anybody who has been coming to Hawaii for a Big Island vacation, knows John Keawe the famous slackkey guitar player. Hawi is his hometown. He regularly plays at the Bamboo Restaurant. So make sure to check his calendar, when planning your special Big Island dinner at the Bamboo Restaurant. He plays twice a month at the Bamboo Restaurant at no extra fees for the guests. You might also have the chance to enjoy a gracefully danced hula by his wife Hope. So, all together this dinner night at the Bamboo Restaurant on the Big Island will be special: great food, special Hawaiian entertainment and hopefully the company of good friends. Oops, I nearly forgot, the Bamboo Mai Tais and Lilikoi Margaritas are awesome!

For those Big Island visitors who stay in Kona, and it's too hard to make it all the way for dinner to Hawi, we recommend to combine a visit to spectacular Pololu Valley Lookout - the walk down to the ocean is a moderate 30min hike - with an afterwards rewarding lunch at the Bamboo Restaurant. We promise you it will be an unforgettable Big Island experience.

Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

p.s.
Last but not least, in 2004 the Bamboo Restaurant won the Hawaii Hale Aina Award, the highest award in the state of Hawaii!

Read Frommer's Review of Bamboo Restaurant on the Big Island.

Read Fodor's Review of Bamboo Restaurant in Hawi.

Don't miss our post about the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa, Hawaii state fish? Yes or no.

Tags: Best of Big Island, Best Big Island restaurant

Best Big Island Restaurant

When answering questions about best Hawaii vacations, the question for the best restaurant on the Hawaiian island of your vacation choice comes right behind the question for the best beaches. Today we would like to introduce to Big Island visitors our favorite Big Island restaurant. Before we do that, please, be aware that the Big Island is really big and to drive to a special restaurant just for the food does not always make sense. In addition, tastes and food preferences vary - luckily - very much.

Here is one of our favorite Big Island restaurants. It's would probably be exaggerating a bit and unrealistic to call it the best Big Island restaurant. There are quite a few others which acclaim this title as well. However, let's stay with the one we would like to talk about today: the Bamboo Restaurant in Hawi, North Kohala. When you know the Big Island, you immediately notice this Big Island restaurant is a little big out of the way, namely in the northern tip of the island.

It makes sense that tourists staying on the Kohala Coast or upcountry in the Waimea area frequently choose the Bamboo Restaurant for its old style Hawaiian ambience, great food such, as differently prepared delicious Mahimahi, and accommodating and fast service. There are many more reasons why we love it and probably other guests agree with that. First of all, the fresh seafood in different styles is a big attraction to us. Another big plus is that at the Bamboo Restaurant in Hawi, guests can choose between full entrees (mostly over $30) and the petite portion of the same meal at under $20. We love that! This allows us to enjoy an appetizer before the main meal. I don't know any other Big Island restaurant which offers this great opportunity.

We talked about the Hawaiian ambience. Anybody who has been coming to Hawaii for a Big Island vacation, knows John Keawe the famous slackkey guitar player. Hawi is his hometown. He regularly plays at the Bamboo Restaurant. So make sure to check his calendar, when planning your special Big Island dinner at the Bamboo Restaurant. He plays twice a month at the Bamboo Restaurant at no extra fees for the guests. You might also have the chance to enjoy a gracefully danced hula by his wife Hope. So, all together this dinner night at the Bamboo Restaurant on the Big Island will be special: great food, special Hawaiian entertainment and hopefully the company of good friends. Oops, I nearly forgot, the Bamboo Mai Tais and Lilikoi Margaritas are awesome!

For those Big Island visitors who stay in Kona, and it's too hard to make it all the way for dinner to Hawi, we recommend to combine a visit to spectacular Pololu Valley Lookout - the walk down to the ocean is a moderate 30min hike - with an afterwards rewarding lunch at the Bamboo Restaurant. We promise you it will be an unforgettable Big Island experience.

Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

p.s.
Last but not least, in 2004 the Bamboo Restaurant won the Hawaii Hale Aina Award, the highest award in the state of Hawaii!

Read Frommer's Review of Bamboo Restaurant on the Big Island.

Read Fodor's Review of Bamboo Restaurant in Hawi.

Don't miss our post about the Humuhumunukunukuapuaa, Hawaii state fish? Yes or no.

Tags: Best of Big Island, Best Big Island restaurant

Mother's Day Cake - Alia

Another ordered from Alia for her mum on Mother’s Day. I got an inspiration from Kak Nina Cake and challenged myself to create many roses. I tried to get a red roses, but still don't get the real red, maybe need to try again next time .....and for the roses, I need to practice more :D

Chocolate/ Butter Cake with rose decoration

800gm = RM40

1kg+ = RM50

Cupcake - Purple set

This cupcake order by Alia for her fren's daughter. She ask me to design girly theme with purple color.