Hawaii has long been known for its two biggest industries… tourism and agriculture. As the big sugar and pineapple plantations have declined the small farms and the new generation of farmers look toward sustainability with Agritourism. Farm to table has always been a way of life in Hawaii and now it’s relevant nationwide and the cool thing to do when dining in Hawaii. Agritourism can be found on each of the Hawaiian Islands as many small farmers produce crops for local restaurants and often provide daily tours of their farms.

Here are just a few of the specialty farms that you can visit :

Hawaii Island:

Hamakua Mushroom Farm provides tours on Tuesday and Thursday that show  how the mushrooms are uniquely cultivated. Visit http://hamakuamushrooms.com/ for more info.

Greenwell Farms produces Kona coffee for more information on tours and tastings visit http://www.greenwellfarms.com/

Big Island Bees boasts 3,800 hives housing 190 million bees  and you can sample their organic honey and peruse their museum. For more information visit https://bigislandbees.com/

Maui:

Upcountry Maui is home to many small farms and you can easily experience three private farms on the Kula Backyard Farm Tour. You will receive hands-on experience at: Aina Lani Farm (Maui Fresh Herbs), Tambra Gardens’ Kula Beans Coffee Farm, and The Greenleaf Organic Farm. Guests will learn about Maui’s agricultural history, meet a beekeeper and sample honey, citrus, avocado, clove, spices, micro-greens, edible flowers, organic veggies & herbs and coffee. For more information visit http://mauicountryfarmtours.com/

Oahu:

Kohana Rum is a distillery that produces small-batches of farm to bottle rum that is made with native Hawaiian sugar cane.  For more information visit http://www.kohanarum.com/home/

Kauai:

Steelgrass Chocolate Farm offers a botanical garden, lunch tour that take guests all the way through the process of making chocolate, from the cocoa pod to processed bars. For more information visit http://steelgrass.org/

The Kauai Golf Trail offers you saving of 15% off standard greens fee at four of Kauai’s finest golf courses. For $475 including tax you can choose to play three rounds at either the Ocean Course at Hokuala, Puakea Golf Course, Princeville Makai Golf Club and Poipu Bay Golf Course.

Rounds must be played at three different courses. Packages can be purchased from any of the participating courses, either in person, or by calling one of the courses and mentioning the Kaua‘i Golf Trail Card. Cards can then be picked up at any of the courses on the first day of play. There are no restrictions on the day or time Kaua‘i Golf rounds are played. Package customers simply need to call ahead and book their tee times. Rounds are non-transferable and must be used within 30 days of purchase. Additionally, cardholders receive a 10% merchandise discount on regular-priced items on the day of play. A round at Puakea also includes a $30 golf shop credit, which can be used for merchandise, rental clubs or green fees.

For more information call any of the participating courses:

Poipu Bay Golf Course, 800.858.6300

Ocean Course at Hokuala, 800.634.6400

Princeville Makai Golf Club, 808.826.1912

Puakea Golf Course, 866.773.5554

Or log on to … Link to: http://www.golfkauaihawaii.com/kauai-golf-trail-card/

If you are planning to escape the cold this holiday season there is lots of celebrating to enjoy. Here are just a few of the holiday festivities…

On Maui experience a white Christmas through December 24^th at the Queen Kaahumanu Center every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, where you will be able to experience a real-life snowfall. The interactive experience begins at 6:30 p.m. each evening and lasts about two hours.

On Kauai visit the Historic County Building to see the 20th Annual Festival of Lights through December 24^th.   For families with little ones, be sure to visit the Festival on Christmas Eve, where children will have the opportunity to visit with Mrs. Clause and Santa himself.

On Oahu the annual Honolulu City Lights runs through December 30^th. Honolulu Hale and the grounds of the Civic Center will be transformed with light displays, decorated trees and wreaths for visitors to enjoy.

If you’re in Hawaii on New Year’s Eve, head to Poipu Beach Park on Kauai or the Sheraton Waikiki on Oahu to ring in the New Year. At Poipu Beach Park, a free, ocean-side event is open to the public from 5:30-9:00 p.m. to celebrate the successes of 2016 and future prosperity of 2017. The event includes food trucks, live entertainment, movies in the park and activities for children, concluded by a fireworks display before guests head out to their midnight destinations.

At the Sheraton Waikiki, countdown 2017 at “Interstellar,” a New Year’s Eve celebration with four DJ’s and live entertainment featured at three of the hotel’s venues (RumFire, Helumoa Pool and the Infinity Edge Pool), all of which provide ample viewing opportunities to witness Waikiki’s evenings midnight fireworks display.

Link to: http://media.gohawaii.com/statewide/press-room/news-releases/what-s-new-in-the-hawaiian-islands-holidays-2016/

We are not talking about a plane or a helicopter or parasailing for that matter.. though they are wonderful ways to enjoy Hawaii. We mean Ziplining… an activity that is quickly becoming one of the “must-do” adventures in Hawaii. Zipline courses are easy to find on the four major Hawaiian Islands – Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island. It’s the perfect way to see Hawaii’s diverse terrain. So jump into this thrilling activity and see Hawaii’s waterfalls, rainforests, pineapple fields and panoramic vistas from an aerial perspective. Ziplining is an adrenaline rush followed by an awe-inspiring view of the natural tropical beauty that makes Hawaii one of the worlds most desired vacation spots. Here are just a few of the companies that will help you take your Hawaii vacation to new heights.

• Outfitters Kauai– outfitterskauai.com
• Go Zip Oahu– gozipoahu.com
• Kapalua Ziplines on Maui – http://www.kapaluaziplines.com
• Kohala Zipline on Hawaii Island – https://www.kohalazipline.com/hawaii-zipline-tour-kohala-canopy/

Many people have Hawaiʻi on their bucket list of travel destinations! There are many reasons why Hawaiʻi is at the top of that list. Hawaiʻi is the most isolated inhabited place on the face of the earth. That’s why you’re planning to visit right, to get away from it all? You’ll rack up the miles because Hawaiʻi is 2,390 miles from California; 3,850 miles from Japan; 4,899 miles from New York City, 4,900 miles from China; and 5,280 miles from the Philippines.

Hawaiʻi is the only US state made up entirely of islands. You knew that already. But did you know Hawaiʻi is also the southernmost state in the U.S. and the longest island chain in the world, spanning 1,523 miles (2,451km).

You’ll need to know that Hawaiʻi has its own time zone (Hawaiian Standard Time). Hawaiʻi is also one of two states that doesn’t follow Daylight Savings Time. FYI Arizona is the other.

Bet you didn’t know that Hawaiʻi is the only state with a royal palace… that’s right Iolani Palace is located on Oahu. You can visit this National Historic Landmark in downtown Honolulu. The palace was built in 1882 by the last King of Hawaii, King David Kalākaua.

And that’s just a few of the facts unique to Hawaiʻi!

For everything you need to know about Hawaiʻi log on to http://www.gohawaii.com