A generally positive mixture of news has created speculation that the Kauai real estate market and the Garden Isle economy may finally be recovering strongly from the recession. According to a May 8, 2010 article in the Garden Island, “Foreclosures are on the rise and buyers are scooping up properties across the island, recent statistics show, but the two may not be correlated, said University of Hawaii-Manoa Associate Professor Economics Dr. Carl Bonham Friday.” The article by Coco Zickos went on to say that “While another wave of foreclosures descended upon the island, rising from around 600 in January to almost 1,000 in April, according to data from RealtyTrac, many of the foreclosures ‘probably haven’t gotten into the market yet,’ he said. ‘Very low home prices and incredibly low interest rates’ are likely reasons for the rise in residential sales, neither of which will ‘last forever,’ Bonham said.”

Kauai home prices may also begin to stabilize of the economy continues to recover, a possibility that may be moving towards reality, according to a May 15, 2010 article in the Garden Island. This piece noted that “Slipping back into a recession is unlikely, according to a recent report from First Hawaiian Bank. Apparently the recession is over, some economists say. ‘The prospects of a double-dip recession for us have diminished a lot,’ said University of Hawaii Associate Professor of Economics Dr. Carl Bonham. But ‘obviously there are still risks.’” The piece, also written by Coco Zickos, continued to say “Though no official date was announced in terms of when it was considered to be over, ‘Hawaii probably left the recession’ during the fall of 2009, Bonham said…During the first quarter of 2010, a net loss of 300 jobs was recorded on island, even though the ‘job count has been trending positively’ since January, Costa said.”

The rate of foreclosures in the Kauai real estate market mirrored the jump in foreclosures across the state of Hawaii, according to a May 13, 2010 article from the Honolulu Star Bulletin. This piece, composed by Gene Park, found that “There were 1,474 Hawaii properties that received foreclosure notices last month, according to RealtyTrac, an online foreclosure marketplace.”

Pearl Harbor is perhaps one of the most important historical sites on the islands. This place is a reminder of the bombing that occurred on December 7, 1941, which also marked a pivotal point within the United States’ history. Now, Pearl Harbor stands as a National Historic Landmark that millions of people visit a year.

While on vacation, visiting Pearl Harbor is a must. While here, you can learn about the history of this location. The exhibits within the visitors’ center show pictures of the era and displays items that relate to the time.

From Pearl Harbor you can also access the USS Arizona Memorial. To visit it, you must take a ferry trip across the harbor, available from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Memorial Center. This memorial is built over the sunken ship, in which hundreds of people lost their lives. Within the memorial is a wall with all the names of the fallen soldiers, and a section that allows visitors to see the top of the sunken ship

Pearl Harbor is a must-see while on vacation on Oahu. Here, you can learn about Pearl Harbor and its impact on the growth of its nation.

Hidden on Oahu’s southeastern coast is Hanauma Bay. This secluded beach area is not only known for its beautiful blue waters and wonderful sand, but some of the Hawaiian Islands’ best snorkeling. Those who enjoy spending time in the ocean should definitely check out this aquatic playground.

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is one of the state’s first Marine Life Conservation Districts. Because of this, tourists are encouraged to respect all the wildlife here and be mindful of their surroundings while spending a day here. As such, visitors must because not to disturb any of the coral reefs and be aware of not hitting any while exploring the ocean. Take care to not walk on the reef.

While here, be sure to bring some snorkeling gear, or you’ll miss out on a great treat. With the gear, you will be able to see tons of colorful fish and possibly even a sea turtle or two. There is also an abundance of parrotfish in this area.

There is plenty to see underwater at Hanauma Bay, so grab a pair of flippers and a snorkel mask to explore this place on your next vacation.

Diamond Head a cone shaped formation located on the dormant volcano that formed Oahu. It overlooks Waikiki Beach on the southern shores of the island, and is one of the first things that come to mind when people think about the Hawaiian Islands. In fact, this volcanic formation is a designated United States State Monument.

One of the things that Diamond Head is known for is its hiking trail. This hiking trail can last between one to two hours. While on this trail, you should wear comfortable shoes, a water bottle, and flashlights. While you will most likely be hiking during the day, you will need them as you travel through a tunnel that goes through Diamond Head.

The hike is of moderate difficulty as some sections of the hike require you to walk over unpaved paths. You will also have to climb a few flights of stairs. While here, you will also walk through a coastal artillery observation platform before reaching the peak. Once you’ve reached the peak, you will have a complete panoramic view of Oahu’s southern shore, which includes views of Waikiki all the way to Koko Head in the east.

Diamond Head is a great place for people to visit, regardless of if they like physical activity or not. The view at the top is worth the hike, and you won’t regret it once you’re there.

Located near Oahu’s North Shore is the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie. This is definitely the place to go for those interested in learning about the cultures that are scattered across the Pacific. The Polynesian Cultural Center is definitely the place to go if you want to learn while on your vacation.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is set up in a very unique way. In order to get around this center, you need to jump on one of the many canoes that ferry you around the center. While on the canoe, you can get off on any one of the Polynesian villages scattered around the center. There are six villages for you to choose from, these villages are Aotearoa (New Zealand), Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. By visiting each of these villages, you can learn about the lifestyles and traditions of each.

Once you’re done learning about the villages, you can stay for the luau held at night in the Polynesian Cultural Center. This is a night filled with tons of fun and food. You will see dancers, ranging from hula to Tahitian and even fire dancing while enjoying food native to the villages.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is a great place to visit while on vacation on Oahu. You’ll get the full island experience by visiting this fantastic center.

Waikiki was once a swampy marshland, but has developed into a hot destination for tourists all over the world. Waikiki Beach was made famous by countless movies and television shows, can be found on Oahu. With Diamond Head in the background and endless blue waves extending out into the horizon, the shores and sand of Waikiki invite you to join in on all land and sea activities found here.

There are a number of things you can access from Waikiki Beach. You can easily visit Diamond Head, or head to Ala Moana Shopping Center, the largest open-air shopping center. In Waikiki, you can visit the newly renovated Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center for luxury shopping. At night, you will also have access to a variety of clubs and fine dining.

During the day, Waikiki is a water wonderland. You’ll feel safe as every inch of Waikiki’s shores has lifeguards, and there is a police station near the shore. As for activities, you can of course swim and tan in the warm Hawaiian sun. Waikiki is also known for great surfing. Those who don’t know how to surf can find lessons offered along the shore.

Waikiki is the center of all tourist activity on Oahu, and you’ll always find something to do as you walk up and down the streets of this very famous strip.

Waikiki Beach
Polynesian Cultural Center
Diamond Head
Hanauma Bay
Pearl Harbor
USS Missouri
Dole Pineapple Plantation
Bvodo-In Temple
Honolulu Zoo
Sea Life Park
Shark Cage Diving
Historic Honolulu
Kualoa Ranch
Windsurfing
Bodysurfing
Chinaman’s Hat
Catamaran Cruises
Kitesurfing
Waterfall Tour
Plantation Village
Bishop Museum
Hili Hatties
Dolphin Excursions
Waikiki Aquarium
Chinatown
Waikiki Trolley
Iolani Palace
Biplane ride
Active Volcanos
Bike Oahu
Sky Diving
Surf Camp
Hanauma Bay
Manoa Falls
Maunawili Trail
Honolulu Sailing
Paradise Cove
Whale Watching
Snorkeling
Wave Runners
Kahana State Park
Atlantis Cruise
Surf School
Mountain bike tour