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LUAU & HAWAII THEME WEDDING RESOURCES

Tips and Suggestions for
Easily Hosting a Luau Anywhere
Hawaiian Theme
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Fun Hawaii Theme Party Games
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Hawaii Theme
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The Lords Prayer
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Cruizin' Hawaii in comfort and style!!!

We LOVE our 2001 PT Cruiser and enjoy site seeing around beautiful Oahu in our dream machine! You too can cruise Hawaii in style and comfort by renting a PT Cruiser or whatever your dream car is when you visit the Hawaiian Islands. Below are photos we have taken around the island of Oahu while cruising in our PT Cruiser as well as driving suggestions if you would like to cruise while visiting the Hawaiian Islands! If all the photos do not show up just reload the page and they all should appear.

 If part of your dream Hawaiian vacation is to cruise paradise in a cool ride most island car rental companies offer convertibles, and Budget as well as Thrifty car rental companies offer a limited rental stock of PT Cruisers. There are also exotic car rentals available offering additional sweet rides like the Lamborghini Diablo, Mercedes 500SL, Ferrari Testarossa, Dodge Viper, Lotus Elan, BMW 325I, Ferrari 328, Corvette, Porsche 993, Camaro Z-28, SS Camaro Special Edition, and even Harley Davidson Motorcycles so you can live out your ultimate fantasy of cruising in paradise!!! You are limited only by your imagination and budget.

Each of the Hawaiian Islands is very beautiful and unique. There are many side roads that lead to roadside parks, waterfalls, rainforest, and remote beaches. Keep in mind you can not get lost beyond hope on any of the islands in Hawaii. There are lots of little known hidden gems in the islands. Take the time to explore all the nooks and crannies on each of the Hawaiian islands you visit. Be respectful of private property by not picking farmers fruits and vegetables as well as stay out of areas that say "Kapu" which means forbidden in Hawaiian. When driving, please watch for wildlife that may cross the road, especially at night. There are usually signs that mark frequent animal crossing locations. It’s a good idea to pick up a few soft drinks and snacks for your driving adventures because you just never know where your adventure will take you, or if you will be near a store or restaurant. Be sure to fill up your gas tank before starting any driving adventure. There are many public rest stops with bathrooms around the islands. It is a good idea to have your own supply of tissue in case they run out. Visit our Island Specific Activity Suggestions for details on all island activities mentioned on this page.

OAHU SOUTH SHORE CIRCLE ISLAND DRIVE takes you through the ritzy multi-million dollar homes in the Diamond Head area, past Hanauma Bay, the Blow Hole, Sandy Beach, Makapu'u Beach, and Pali lookout. Driving instructions: From Waikiki head down Kalakaua Avenue going past Kapiolani Park. Turn right onto Diamond Head Road. Near the end of this road there will be a sign directing you to turn left to get to Route 72 East and Hanauma Bay. Stay on Route 72 for several miles, there will be a sign on the right at the Hanauma Bay's entrance. If you would like to stop at the Bay there   are parking and admission fees. Continue on Route 72. Where Route 72 connects with Route 61 take a left. This will turn into the Pali Highway. Take the Pali Lookout turn off shortly after you get on the highway. The lookout offers information on plaques about an historic battle that took place in the Nuuanu Valley as well as a breathtaking view of the Windward coastline. Once you get back on H1 East just follow the signs back to Waikiki. It takes approx. 4 hours to drive a car around the south shore including stops for site seeing.

OAHU - TANTALUS DRIVE is a great place to explore by car. Enjoy a winding scenic cruise through a neighborhood filled with multi million dollar homes and views to match. There are many beautiful trees and flowers along this road and part of the ride goes through lush green rain forest that opens to breathtaking panoramic views of Diamond Head, Waikiki, Punchbowl crater, and Honolulu. There are lots of great photo opportunities! It takes approx. 2 hrs for this scenic drive with all the stops. Driving instructions: From Waikiki get on Ala Wai Blvd., turn right on McCully Street and head towards the mountains. You will cross a bridge over the H1 Lunalilo Freeway, after the bridge turn left onto Wilder Avenue. Drive northwest and turn right on Makiki Street, at the 1st set of lights. Follow Makiki Street up until you come to a Y and then take Round Top Drive the rest of the way. You will end up going past the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl and will come out into the business/historic district of Honolulu. You will see many rest area’s and trail markers along the drive. If you enjoy hiking stop and explore the lush rainforest on excellent marked state hiking trails along Round Top drive.

Kualoa Beach Park, Oahu

OAHU NORTH SHORE CIRCLE ISLAND DRIVE is a connection of Highways that cross to create a circle of roads around most of Oahu. Explore the more remote parts of the island where you can see the Hawaii you've dreamed about and seen in the movies and on TV. The beautiful mountain range used as back drops in movies Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, and Mighty Joe Young is located on the north side of Oahu in the Kualoa area. There are miles and miles of pineapple fields on the north shore and you are able to get a close up look at pineapples growing in roadside fields and at the Dole Pineapple Plantation. The north shore is surfers’ paradise, especially in the winter time when waves can reach a 40 foot face. Check out some of the famous north shore surfing beaches like Waimea Bay, Bonsai Pipeline, Haliewa, and Sunset which were immortalized in Beach Boys tunes and other surfing songs. Driving Directions from Waikiki: to get on the freeway go all the way down Kapahulu Avenue (next to the Zoo). Follow the signs to and get on H1 West. Stay on H1 until the H2 junction. Continue on H2, it will turn into Route 99. This is where you will find the Dole Pineapple Plantation. At the next junction take Route 83. You can either drive through the town of Haleiwa (there are stores, restaurants, and gas stations) or take the by-pass. If you are in this area on the weekends and are hungry for lunch or dinner take a drive through Haleiwa and keep a nose out for the mouth watering smell of Huli-Huli chicken for sale by a roadside vendor. (Huli means turn) You can’t miss it; the smell will actually make your mouth water. This is the best chicken we have ever tasted! The chickens are rotisserie style cooked over a open pit of kiawe, a mesquite wood, which gives it a very yummy flavor. It’s $7 a chicken and you can ask them to cut it up for you into finger size food. It is finger licking good! After your snack continue on Route 83 for the next 35-40 miles. You will pass many scenic stops ideal for picture taking. Once  you enter the town of Kaneohe you will come to a junction with Route 61. Turn right onto the Pali Highway. Take the Pali Lookout turn off shortly after you get on the highway. The lookout offers information on plaques about an historic battle that took place in the Nuuanu Valley as well as a breathtaking view of the Windward coastline. Once you get back on H1 East just follow the signs back to Waikiki. It takes approx. 6 hours to drive a car around the Island including stops for site seeing.

KAUAI LIHUE-KEKAHA SOUTH SHORE DRIVE has an amazing scenic stop, Waimea Canyon, which is known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. For the clearest views of the canyon we recommend doing this drive in the morning and making the canyon your first stop. About 11am clouds begin to build up in the Canyon obstructing the spectacular views. Other great stops in this immediate area are Barking Sands Beach, Russian Fort ruins, Menehune Fishponds and ditch, and tropical gardens. Driving Directions: From Lihue head south on highway 50. To get to Waimea Canyon turn right at intersection of route 550 which leads into Kokee State Park which has lookouts with amazing views of the canyon and marked hiking trails into the canyon. To get to the Poipu area stops take highway 520 to view the tree tunnel then head into Poipu to view Shipwreck Beach, Botanical Gardens, Spouting Horn, and great snorkel spots.

KAUAI LIHUE-LUMAHAI NORTH SHORE DRIVE will take you to waterfalls, unique wet and dry caves, wildlife refuge, a green sand beach, guava plantation and other public gardens, as well as beautiful mountain and ocean scenic views. Driving Directions: From Lihue head north on highway 50. Highway 50 will turn into highway 56. There are two beautiful waterfalls in this area that are easy to get to. Both are located off highway 56, one on route 583 and the other on route 580. There are several great hiking trails that take you along the Na Pali cost line or to a rarely visited waterfall in a remote valley that begin at the park located at the very end of highway 56.

MAUI THE ROAD TO HANA is a 53-mile one way driving adventure down a winding ocean cliff highway that takes you through tropical rain forest, past several waterfalls, and lots of beautiful scenic views. There are many photo opportunities of scenic overlooks, waterfalls, exotic flowers, and tropical fruit trees. Continue past the town of Hana for beautiful views of mountain ranch land and ocean cliffs. There is a wonderful hiking trail to seven waterfall pools at Ohe'o Gulch in Haleakala National Park at Kipahulu where you can even swim in waterfall pools. One of the waterfalls falls 400 feet! If you are staying in the Lahaina or Kahului area we recommend starting your driving adventure no later than 9am. It is about a 3-4 hour driving adventure from the Kahului Airport to Ohe'o Gulch, you can then hike for 2-3 hours, and/or then drive 3-4 hours back. Directions: from the Kahului Airport follow highway 37 going Southeast. Turn left onto highway 365. Turn right onto highway 36 and follow to it to Hana.

MAUI DRIVE TO UPCOUNTRY MAUI AND THE TOP OF HALEAKALA: The dormant volcano Mt. Haleakala reaches 10,300 feet above sea level at the summit where you can look into it’s three-mile-deep chasm and enjoy spectacular views above airplanes and the clouds. Sunrise or sunset views are spectacular from the summit. There are several marked hiking trails on Haleakala where you can get a closer look at many rare plants and animals that make it their home. As you ascend the winding road up the volcano you will feel the change in air pressure in your ears, feeling compressed. Just yawn to relieve the pressure. Because the air also gets thinner as you ascend this is not an adventure recommended for people with heart or breathing problems. As you travel up Haleakala Highway you will pass through what is known as Up Country Maui and an old an old cowboy town called Makawao where you can still see hitchin’ posts and a few cowboys among many unique restaurants and shops. The Tedeschi Winery is located in this area and gives tours by appointment. There is also wine tasting and a museum at King Kalakaua’s Cottage in Kula. In this area along highway 37 and 377 you will find several public gardens, flower & produce farms, restaurants, and shops. It takes about one hour to reach the summit of Haleakala when leaving from Kahului, 1-½ hours from Kihei, and 2 hours from Lahaina. When visiting the summit bring warm clothes to put on because it is COLD at the up there! Directions: from the Kahului Airport follow highway 37, Haleakala Highway, going Southeast.

BIG ISLAND HILO-VOLCANO: There are many beautiful orchids and other flowers growing in this lush Rainforest area. There are great side stops at Macadamia Nut Farms, Botanical Gardens, Black Sand Beaches, Lava Tree Forest, and scenic spots along this drive to Volcanoes National Park. It is interesting to check out the areas that were devastated by lava flows over the last 18 years. You can also enjoy an entire day exploring Volcanoes National Park. Driving Instructions: Head south on Highway 11 for 30 miles, takes approximately 1 hour one way without stops.

BIG ISLAND HILO-WAIPIO VALLEY: This beautiful drive takes you past many roadside waterfalls, beach parks, botanical gardens, breath taking coastal and mountain views, and ends at the Waipio Valley lookout. Driving Instructions: Head north on Highway 11 for 52 miles, takes approximately 1 ½ hours one way without stops.

BIG ISLAND KONA-SOUTH POINT: Take a drive to Ka Lae the southern most point in the United States of America, the next landfall is 7500 miles away! This wild coastline has extensive archaeological sites, and is believed to be the site of the first Polynesian landings in 300 A.D. or earlier. The rocky point at Ka Lae is an overhang, and many local fishermen literally risk their lives climbing down a rope ladder to their boats anchored many feet below. Driving Directions: from Kona head south on Highway 11 for 66 miles, takes approximately 1 ½ hours one way without stops.

BIG ISLAND KONA-VOLCANO: The twisty coastal road makes for a fun and challenging drive. The views you are taken by are beautiful but the driver must be sure to keep their eyes on the road. Great side stops along the way -are Kona Coffee Farms, unique country stores, and scenic lookouts. Driving Instructions: From Kona head south on Highway 11 for 96 miles, takes approximately 2 ½ hours without stops.

BIG ISLAND KONA-WAIPIO VALLEY: The view of Mauna Kea, an dormant shield volcano, is amazing along this drive. You are able to see barren lava fields from eruptions over the last decade. You can also see fertile ranch lands with cattle grazing on the slopes of Mauna Kea and amazing looking cinder cones dotting the landscape. Great side stops along this drive are the Polynesian Village, Parker Ranch Visitor Center, and the Petroglyph Wall. This drive ends at the beautiful Waipio Valley scenic lookout. Driving Instructions: From Kona drive north on Highway 11 for 50 miles, takes approximately 1 hour without stops.

EAST MOLOKAI (AIRPORT - HALAWA VALLEY): This drive is wonderful because you are able to look around and see so much undeveloped land as well as beautiful coastal and mountain views. The people of Molokai are very friendly and will usually wave as you pass them in a car or as they are walking along the road. Great stops along the way are Kapuaiwa Grove, Ililiopae Heiau, Mile 20 Snorkel Spot, and working fish ponds. The road to Halawa Valley can get very narrow and needs to be driven cautiously. Before descending into the valley there is a great view of a large waterfall. There is a beach park located in the valley. Driving Instructions: From the Airport head east on Highway 450. It takes about 2 hours one way.

MOLOKAI DIRT ROAD ADVENTURES TO MOOMOMI AND HALE O LONO HARBOR: If navigated slowly and cautiously you can navigate these dirt roads in a rental vehicle. Both of these destinations are remote and many island visitors do not make the effort to explore them. These roads are not recommended if it is raining or recently rained Driving directions to Moomomi from the Airport: Head south-east on Highway 460 and turn north where it connects with highway 470. Continue on highway 470 then turn left onto Highway 480. At the end of 480 there is a dirt road that leads out to Moomomi Wildlife Preserve. There is a nice walking trail and picnic tables at the preserve. Driving Directions to Hale O Lono Harbor from the Airport: Head west on Highway 460 and follow the signs to Mauna Loa and Molokai Ranch. The dirt road leading to Hale O Lono Harbor will take you right past the entrance to the ranch.

We will soon be adding cruising suggestions for ALL of the Hawaiian island so keep checking back for new ideas!

Continue to browse our Hawaii web site to shop for island treasures, plan your dream Hawaiian vacation, learn more about Hawaii, or enjoy a mental vacation to the Hawaiian Islands!

We LOVE our 2001 PT Cruiser and highly recommend them to anyone considering one. They are classified as a sport van but drive more like a car rather than a van. PT Cruisers are reasonably priced for the quality and style they offer. PT Cruisers are fun to drive, easy to handle, very roomy, and look cool as heck! We noticed immediately that other drivers on the road treat us more courteously in our PT. Many people smile when they see our PT, we get lots of people pointing at the PT, and many strangers frequently approach us complementing our PT. All the attention is great for advertising our web site address which we have in vinyl on three of our windows! We do have to warn that if you do get a PT Cruiser a funny thing happens to you. Owners of PT Cruisers tend to become obsessed with their cars and enjoy spending their free time caring for it or riding in it. They are great!

	The seats fold down for added room and can even be removed for even more room.
The trunk shelf converts into a table which is awesome for beach side picnics!

Enhance your car with touches of Hawaii

Small Warrior Helmet	Large Warrior Helmet	Large Warrior Helmet
HAWAIIAN WARRIOR HELMET FOR YOUR REAR VIEW MIRROR These are known as Ikika warrior helmets in Hawaii and are ornaments used in the car and as home decoration. To view our selection of Hawaiian Warrior Helmets from Hawaii click here!