Makena Cove
Remote and rich with scenery, Makena Cove tops the list for sunset weddings. A sheltered area with craggy rocks and tall palms with swaying leaves, the backdrop for photos is a bride’s wish and dream. The foamy water laps upon the shore with a myriad of blues to drink in while watching the ceremony. Kaholoowe and Molokini dot the horizon and the sunset provides the dramatic landscape to match the romantic occasion. It’s a joy for all visiting, with a few caveats. The site has limited parking and no restroom facilities. Also, multiple weddings are usually taking place, but most of the time, all are intimate groups each focused on their own wedding.

If you are looking for accommodations for your wedding party, or a place to stay on your scouting mission, check out Luana Kai - Kihei Maui Condos. Make your reservation now to enjoy the private and peaceful luxury of your own 1, 2 or 3 bedroom condo at Luana Kai Resort. Warm, inviting and friendly… It’s Always a Great Day at Luana Kai.

Sugarman’s Estate (Honua Kai Lani) Whether daytime or nighttime, weddings at Sugarman’s Estate (Honua Kai Lanai) are outdoors, seaside. Sugarman’s Estate is another Makena destination. The beautiful lawn is level and overlooks the ocean. The beach area is minimal and good for pictures and the estate offers a house on site. Weddings up to 250 in attendance are possible here and there are plentiful areas for capturing photos.

Olowalu Plantation House
Grand banyan trees and lawns, vast ocean views, a wraparound lanai and a lovely home in which to get ready on the big day, the historic Olowalu Plantation House is another great spot for weddings with up to 200 guests. The estate in Lahaina offers a reflection of the culture and charm of the town.

Grand Wailea Seaside Chapel
While an indoor wedding at any of Maui’s fine resorts is guaranteed to be an incredible affair, an option for a spiritual, religious or romantic ceremony is possible at the Seaside Chapel on site at Grand Wailea. Bright sunlight warming a path, tranquil gardens and a lanai overlooking the beach by day and tiki torches at night are wedding options. Maui is home to many Catholic and Episcopal churches that meet the wishes of brides wanting a wedding near the sea. Incredible architectural interiors and nature’s beauty outdoors surpass expectations of couples seeking an idyllic Maui wedding. Another advantage for a wedding here are the many Wailea vacation rentals. You and your quest can stay nearby and have your pick for a wide selection of rentals that will suite most needs; From modest studios to grand villas.

Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens
The Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens at Iao Valley State Park in the mountains of Maui serve as another ideal wedding site for couples who want nature and culture, plus an affordable site (it’s free). Picnic tables, a Japanese temple and tea house, ancient house, Portuguese gardens, native Hawaiian plants—the wedding site is embraced by bare elegance. Moreover, the ponds, streams and serenity make this a great pick for an island wedding on Maui.

Ironwoods Beach
Ironwoods Beach in Kapalua is another stunning site for sunset weddings. Molokai serves as a distant backdrop and the wedding site also offers a remote spot with lava cliffs. Grand waves crash against the rugged terrain and Makaluapuna Point are highlights of this dramatic landscape.

It would be simple to say that any wedding on Maui will have all the grandeur that necessitates no additional décor. However, it would be more accurate to say that the sights are numerous and can offer gardens, waterfalls, mountains, sea, Hawaiian foliage and far-reaching views; moreover a Maui wedding can happen at any budget.

The island of Maui is one of Hawaii’s most exciting visitor destinations with great beaches and lots of fun activities. For those going on a Valley Isle vacation, here are some examples of excellent beachfront condominium rentals available from Hawaiianbeachrentals.com. They are a leader in the vacation rental market.

Check out Maui Vacations Hawaii for more Maui info. Or if you are interested in making Hawaii home, look at these Maui homes for sale.

Maalaea Ocean Front is a two-bedroom, two-bathroom Asian themed condominium in Maalaea with ocean views, hot tub, and pool. Located on the third floor, the condo features a private elevator that brings you to this first-class condo with expansive bay views though 30 feet of continuous windows. This 1,550 square foot condo also has an expansive lanai.

During the winter months keep an eye out for whales offshore as they are often seen in Maalaea Bay, and on clear days you can also see the islands of Kahoolawe and the offshore islet of Molokini as well as 10,000 foot Haleakala Volcano.

Located just 40 feet from the ocean and a huge white sand beach, this luxurious condo is also near many fine restaurants along the waterfront and at Maalaea Harbor.

Lahaina Shores Beach Resort #312 is located on the west side of Maui in the beautiful Lahaina area. This lovely 550-square-foot studio unit sleep 3 and you can also enjoy the swimming pool and Jacuzzi as well as BBQ grills and high speed internet access.

The unit has a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, and large living room. The bedroom offers a queen-size bed as well as a twin size bed. The private lanai balcony has great views of the West Maui Mountains.

Located in Lahaina Town’s only beachfront condo hotel, this unit just two blocks from the excitement of downtown with its myriad restaurants, shops, art galleries, and nightlife. At Lahaina Harbor you can depart on boat trips to fish, dive, watch for whales or just enjoy a sunset cruise.

Villa De Opulence I is located in Kihei in south Maui and features three bedrooms that sleep six along with three bathrooms. You also have access to a pool and great ocean views in this beachfront condo.

Villa De Opulence I may be rented as a separate condo or with three adjacent condos as one 12 bedroom beachfront villa mini resort. Each of the four units has its own kitchen as well as a dining area and living room. Other nice features include wrap-around lanais and a fully equipped laundry area as well as an outdoor shower for rinsing off after a swim at the beach.

Sugar Cove Unit 5A in Spreckelsville on Maui’s north shore provides great ocean views from the, beach front apartment with three bedrooms that sleep six along with three bathrooms and one half bath. Guests also have access to the community pool. It is just a short five minute drive to the great shopping and restaurants in Kahului and Paia towns and a one minute walk to the beach. High speed wireless internet access is also provided.

The 2,300-square-foot Sugar Cove unit features upper level bedrooms, each with its own bathroom, and a ground level fully-equipped kitchen along with nice dining and living room areas as well as an ample front lanai. An entertainment center provides TV, DVDs, and music, and guests also have laundry facilities.

The Royal Ilima at the Wailea Beach Villas on Maui’s south side provides an ultimate Maui vacation experience. The townhouse sleeps 6 in its 3 bedrooms with three baths and one half bath, and there is also a pool and a hot tub.

The ocean views from Royal Ilima are fabulous, and the spacious, uncrowded beach area features sun umbrellas, lounge chairs, and all of the amenities necessary for a relaxing pool-side, beach-side vacation on Wailea Beach in the heart of the elegant Wailea Resort. The unit is furnished and equipped like an upscale hotel suite.

The floor to ceiling windows and screen doors create a wonderful open- air experience and each room has it own air conditioning. The marble floors, lofty ceilings, mahogany finishes and Italian furnishings add to the elegant yet tropical ambiance. Also enjoy a fully equipped kitchen, two swimming pools, a spa and a fitness center in this gated Maui paradise.

Mulligan’s on the Blue in Wailea is an Irish pub serving an eclectic mix of pupu and dinner items and Hawaiian live music. This spot is fascinating, as it manages to meld Irish, Hawaiian and comfort food favorites into the menu. The music is Hawaiian, Irish, Jazz and more so check their website for music and dinner specials. Both indoors and outside overlooking the beach, Mulligan’s is a lovely spot for couples.

For great places to stay near the action, check out these Wailea vacation rentals.

Stella Blues in Kihei is family-owned and somewhat of an institution among the locals. Home style cooking, an abundance of vegetarian options and a good variety of mixed drinks are part of this community’s beloved place. The family members are big fans of the Grateful Dead and this translates into the casual, inviting atmosphere making this a laid-back spot to enjoy live music. A happy hour, food and drink specials and lots of live music (no cover on occasional evenings) that is varied will keep you coming back during your stay. Families, solo travelers and groups will feel comfortable here.

Maui Brewing Co. offers handcrafted ales and lagers, live music (often with no cover charge) and drink specials. This place offers a neat atmosphere—clean and sort of an industrial look, with the brewery on-site, yet still evoking a welcome feel. Some neat stuff on tap, including a coconut porter and a lot of brews with an island take at this restaurant in Lahaina. A plus is their commitment to sustainability and community.

Take a look at these Great Vacation Deals!

South Shore Tiki Lounge is a cliché done right. Looks like a typical island spot but has the goods to make you want to stick around and enjoy the mix of DJs, live music and variety of calendar events, plus happy hour. Add to that dancing, occasional fashion shows and ladies’ nights, with a very good range of musical genres played here, you’ll be feeling like a local in no time. The local island plates, with tons of good eats, including plenty of vegetarian items, make this another Kihei local favorite.

Everybody associates sugarcane with Hawaiian agriculture, but there has been a huge shift in recent decades. Kona coffee and other coffee crops are surging in Hawaii while sugarcane has all but died out. Sugarcane was part of the Hawaiian landscape early (approximately 600 A.D.) and it became a cash crop gradually. Sugar plantations played a key role in all the islands’ economy and much of the labor force was imported from other countries, including China, Japan, Philippines, and Korea. Sugar mills became large employers, including the first, the Old Sugar Mill of Koloa (today, the building is a National Historic Landmark) and Waialua Sugar Company. Today, Waialua Sugar Mill is home to shops, eateries, a bandstand and farmers’ marke

Hawaiian cash crops go hand in hand, so alongside sugarcane was pineapple. Some notable names of individuals furthering pineapples as a major cash crop include Francisco de Paula Marin, who advised King Kamehameha, James Drummond Dole (certainly the last name is familiar to everyone) and Captain John Kidwell who tested an array of pineapple before selecting Smooth Cayenne. Additional Hawaiian cash crops include macadamia nuts, papayas, bananas, ginger root and taro.

While the vigor of most Hawaiian cash crops has waned, an increasingly robust one is coffee. From Brazil to the Manoa Valley of Oahu, coffee found its way to Kona, via American missionary Reverend Samuel Ruggles. After a rich history of triumphs and setbacks of weather, financial and ownership issues, Kona coffee has found a new and stronger foothold today.

More than 500 estate and commercial Kona coffee farms continue to produce the annual crop, with many of them from two to three acres in a Kona Coffee Belt, an expanse of 30 miles. Interestingly, many of the Kona coffee farmers are fifth generation descendants of Kona coffee farmers. Notably, Hawaii is the nation’s only producer of commercially-grown coffee.

Arabica is the most prevalent grown throughout the Kona region. The climate, low elevations and period of growth for the coffee cherry are some factors that make these gourmet coffee beans supreme. Coffee drinkers will appreciate the elements that combine to give premium Kona coffee its unique flavor—aroma, body, acidity and bitterness (balance based on the roast) and finish and aftertaste.

Depending on level and interest, both locals and visitors can explore a multitude of Kona coffee farms and coffeehouses, even a bed & breakfast inn. The range of Hawaii tours available is diverse, from tastings and tours of award-winning Kona coffee farms (for both the coffee and the cupping) to a great place for a hearty breakfast on the way to see the volcano to sustainable farms producing additional crops such as macadamia nuts, lilikoi, bananas, mango, papaya, coconut, passion fruit, dragon fruit, white pineapple, avocado and much more. Similar to visiting vineyards, guests of Kona coffee farms will enjoy tours and tastings; plus, it’s an excellent opportunity to buy the coffee on-site and have it shipped home.

Trilogy has the privileged distinction of being the only company with permission to bring guests to Hulopoe Beach Park and Marine Preserve, which has received national acclaim among those recognized as America’s Best Beach. Vast tide pools are protected by volcanic rock in Hulopoe Bay’s warm and inviting waters, perfect for the quantity of marine life that resides here, plus the humpback whales that venture through in the winter. Snorkelers will discover hermit crabs, sea stars, opihi (limpet) and acrobatic spinner dolphins, some of the sea life among the reefs.

Once a remote ancient fishing village, Kaunolu is another site Trilogy guests will snorkel and find an abundance of marine life plus Hawaii’s largest schools of spinner dolphins. Today, Kaunolu is a National Historic Landmark. Warriors would exhibit profound bravery by taking a jump off Kehekili’s Leap, a 60-foot cliff into the waters of Kaunolu Bay. This historic site is exquisite and a worthwhile experience with Trilogy.

Molokini is known for its crescent shape and the fact that it is a popular snorkeling destination. Trilogy takes guests to this island off the South Maui coast, with its vibrant and colorful reefs. Molokini is a State Marine Life and Bird Conservation District. Miles of clear waters abound Molokini’s reefs, with a depth of 35 feet, the sea life is in excellent proximity for snorkelers to explore.

Trilogy will make the experience complete as you explore lava rock formations, coral and marine life, with all the necessities and luxuries taken care of for you.

I know I generally write about Internet business with a Hawaii theme, but I’ve been wanting to move to Diamond Head, and I came across this fabulous beach home that I wish I could afford!

America’s Coolest Beach Homes

Of course I thought this one was the best because it’s in a place I actually want to live.

• Selling Services - Property management marketed through their Kauai vacation rental website.

The site itself is easy to navigate and there is great information about the properties including detailed descriptions and very nice photos. The problem with the site is its booking system which was not only slow and clunky, but a bit confusing to use. It was manageable, however, by improving this system they could up their conversion rate and therefore bookings. I’m guessing their current booking engine creates a lot of phone orders as well. So an improvement with this part of the site would reduce staff costs also.

The one thing that makes this site successful are the photos, floor plans and virtual tours. The photos are amazing and make me want to stay in their properties. If you don’t believe me, check out these pictures of their Donohugh home! The floor plans are a nice touch and something that most other vacation rentals sites don’t offer.

In order to improve on this onine business, I think that TPC needs to expand beyond Poipu Resort. The cost of the website, SEO and staff needed to fulfill customer services isn’t being leveraged to its full potential. By offering vacation rentals in other areas of Kauai, TPC could increase their take without increasing their overhead. This would lead to greater profitability and a brighter future for the company.

Likes:
Photos make me want to take a vacation. Floor plans are a nice touch.

Dislikes:
Booking system should be upgraded.

Conclusion:
The Parrish Collection has a nicely done site, but it’s the content that really stands out. Improving the bookings system and leveraging what they have by breaking out of the Poipu market will help them reach their full potential.

• Selling Services - Direct sales bypass booking agencies.

The site is done very nicely and there’s a lot of information to help make a buying decision including video, photos, description and customer reviews and rating from TripAdvisor displayed directly on the site. I really like this last feature because it gives you the opportunity to see unbiased remarks about what others have experienced. From the reviews you can tell Safari Helicopters is a reputable company selling a good Kauai helicopter and Big Island helicopter tours.

The one place the site fell short was in the booking system. Not that it was bad, but it could definitely be improved which would lead to higher conversion and more sales.

Likes:
The site design and information on the site is great. I also really like the TripAdvisor ratings displayed directly on the site.

Dislikes:
Booking system could be simplified. What about more ratings from other websites like Yelp?

Conclusion:
Overall this looks like a profitable business model. I’m sure the online bookings are worth more to Safari Helicopters then other sources, like activity desks, so improving their SEO would be beneficial and only bring more money into the business.

1. Cost Per Click (CPC) - They use Google Adsense for their contextual advertising. It also looks like they have some internal CPC going when they link out to other websites.
2. Affiliate Model - They use multiple affiliate programs for at least hotels.

Uptakes use of information from multiple sources makes it a winner in my book. You can also see that with a lot of traffic, their CPC and Affiliate models could be very lucrative. After surpassing 1 million monthly visitors in less then a year after their launch in May 2008, they’re well on their way to becoming a profitable company.

Likes:
You already I know I like their data aggregation. Having information from multiple sources makes a site very useful and this is definitely going to pull in the traffic. And once you have a lot of website traffic, making money becomes a whole lot easier.

Dislikes:
It appears they have the ability to include an affiliate model in their Hawaii activities section, however they’re not taking advantage of this yet. I think Uptake understands this and I’m sure we’ll see them monetizing this part of their website in the future.

Conclusion:
Overall this is a great site and the reviews make it useful for planning a Hawaii vacation. If you take a look at Uptake over SEMrush, you’ll see their Google traffic is worth $2.3 M / month alone. If they can figure out how to monetize this to the fullest, they have a very sustainable vacation website.

1. Cost Per Click (CPC) - They use Google Adsense for their contextual advertising.
2. Affiliate Model - They use multiple affiliate programs to provide accommodations, car rentals, travel insurance, vacation packages, cruises and activities.

Overall, the site has a nice theme and is easy to navigate. I appreciate the simple straight forward navigation and everything is just one click away. The buttons to “book” and “learn more” are also easy to see which leads to high conversion ratios.

Likes:
Besides easy navigation, I like that Hawaii Destinations has tried to incorporate many different things that Hawaii visitors might want for their vacations. They have an informative golf and wedding sections which is great content for visitors. Travel insurance is something that I don’t see offered by a lot of Hawaii vacation sites, and this is thoughtful.

Dislikes:
In order to become more popular, I think Hawaii Destinations needs to continue on its goal of providing “quality information”. While the golf and wedding sections are great, they are certainly not everything somebody visiting Hawaii is looking for. More information on beaches, sightseeing, activities, etc would really go along way in improving their traffic.

Conclusion:
Hawaii Destinations has made a great start in the competitive Hawaii travel website market. With their multiple monetization models (that could be successful with more traffic) and low overhead, this could be a sustainable business model if they continue to develop more useful content.