Father Damien's Leper Colony. Now This Is a Tour Not Everyone Has an Opportunity to See!

One thing is certain; if you live long enough you're going to get old! There is no question that your world slows up a bit and some lifestyle changes are essential.

The following are the 9 worthwhile things to do in Hawaii in no specific order of importance:

Things to know about the Maui Zipline Tours before you make a booking:Do you have any health or medical problems?Generally speaking if you are in good health taking a zipline tour will not be an issue.

So you're trying to decide where to have your wedding. Keep this in mind. Of the top twenty locations in the United States to have your wedding, only Austin Texas provides a better price value than Hawaii.

In past times there were two ways for visitors to discover one of Hawaii’s most unique experiences, Kalaupapa National Historical Park, the former leprosy colony, intentionally hidden from the outside world on Kalaupapa Peninsula on the small island of Molokai.

The Hawaiians were masters of a self-sustaining and self-replicating ecosystem in ways that could only be envied by modern-day environmentalists. No where can this be seen and demonstrated better than in their use of the Hawaiian fishponds that were built throughout the islands of Hawaii between 1000 and 800 years ago.

Mauna Loa, the world's largest mountain and volcano, is about 600,000-1,000,000 years old. Although not erupting as frequently as its younger neighbor Kilauea, it is also one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

Although it is obviously impossible to predict the weather for any particular Big Island beach on any given day in the future, it is possible to provide you with a generalization for usual weather patterns as they exist on the Big Island at different parts of the year.

Every island in Hawaii is blessed with beautiful beaches which are found on all the shorelines. Every beach, much like a fingerprint, is entirely different.

There has been much discussion in recent years regarding pollution of the planet and particularly the pollution that is caused directly by humans. There is much evidence for this claim and it is undeniably true that with the excessive burning of fossil fuels found within our earths crust that we are, at least to some degree, effecting the global weather.

Tom Barefoot’s Tours has been really happy to help young adults, their parents and grandparents to vacation together in Hawaii. We all know that multigenerational travel is a growing trend, but our staff experiences special gratification by bringing several generations together and helping them to select just the right activities and tours.

The health of coral reefs is more important than most people realize. Not only are coral reefs essential to healthy coastlines but also to healthy coastal economies, literally supporting thousands of businesses.

In recent years there has been considerable news in Hawaii, the mainland and also internationally regarding the lava flows that are covering the Puna and adjacent districts of the Big Island.

Just about everyone that knows anything about Maui has heard the name Haleakala. The “House of the Sun” has the highest peak on Maui (10,000+ ft.

A few decades ago a small group of activists in Hawaii decided that it was time to revive the Hawaiian language, for Hawaiians to relearn their native language and Hawaiian to be included in traditional schools.

Full-Face snorkel masks are in the news in Hawaii. This is a new innovation in snorkel masks that has become increasingly popular since its inception and availability to the public in 2014.

Having the envious mission of customizing experiences in Hawaii for clients and guests, wedding and special event planners know that each beach on each Hawaiian island is very different, visually and in the feelings and spirit that they communicate.

Of the eight major islands in Hawaii, six of them have airports: Big Island, Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Molokai and Lanai. You are likely aware of the major airports on each island such as Honolulu International Airport, Lihue Airport, Kahului Airport and Kona International Airport but there are a number of much small commuter type airports that are interspersed among the islands.

This is a story of failure. This is also a story of success. Whether the balance tips in favor of success or failure is a subjective decision and you can decide.

Adventure travel is one of the most popular segments of the travel industry. In recent years there has been tremendous global growth in adventure travel.

Nothing will bring shivers down your spine faster than the site of an 8 inch centipede (in Hawaii, they can actually reach a foot in length). When you see one it is always startling as they are seemingly there for a moment and then they are gone.

Of the various types of volcanoes found on the Earth, the least destructive of them are the Shield Volcanoes such as the ones found in Hawaii. These volcanoes are primarily made of basalt, which in its fluid state is less viscous or sticky and as an analogy it flows more like water than like honey.

Not that you would want to, but if you did want to enter into a world of confusion, just bring up the concept of climatic zones in Hawaii. As you are well aware, the planet has a multitude of different climates.

More than just helping visitors to enjoy Hawaii’s attractions on land, on water and under water, and in the air, Tom Barefoot’s Tours is committed to preserving and protecting nature’s bounty in the state.

Well, it's not necessarily the most sought-after or desirable list to find yourself on, but Hawaii finds itself at the very top of the list of states in the union with the most endangered species.

At Tom Barefoot’s Tours, we consider ourselves stewards of corals in Hawaii as well as the state’s tropical fish. The reasons are deeper and well-beyond simply business self-interest since Tom Barefoot’s Tours offers so many snorkeling, scuba, snuba and other tours in Hawaii’s waters that depend on the health of coral.

January 15, 2016 was a date that people will remember. Surfing history was in the making. The place was the surf break of Jaws on the North Shore of Maui.

Oahu will have the strictest single-use plastics ban in the state based on a controversial bill passed recently by the Honolulu City Council. Faced with the daunting prospect of getting rid of huge stocks of plastics containers, many food industry leaders opposed the measure.

The water temperatures on beaches in Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island attract visitors any time of year.

One of the most amazing experiences a visitor could have on a visit to Hawaii would be to go on an ocean swim with wild Manta Rays. Actually, the only Hawaiian island that operates this type of tour on a daily basis is the Big Island and these tours are offered off the Kona Coastline.

Sea turtles ('honu' in Hawaiian) are one of the most interesting forms of sea life to be found in the waters of Hawaii These sea turtles, which are primarily the 'Pacific Green Turtles' are found on all the Hawaiian Islands and in fact are directly related to species of turtles that are found throughout the entire planet.

Questions about sharks and shark attacks are some of the most frequently asked questions people ask regarding their upcoming trips to Hawaii. Although the minds image of such horrific attacks are prominent in ones imagination the reality is that these happen very infrequently and in fact they actually happen less frequently over the course of a year worldwide than do deaths associated with taking 'Selfies'.

Have you ever seen a beach with green sand? Well you have a chance to do so if you are going to bevisiting the Big Island. Actually you are going to have to really want to see it because it is located off the main road and down a very bumpy dirt road which leads to 'South Point' which is the very furthest point south on the Big Island as well as being the very furthest point south in Hawaii and for that matter the very furthest point south in the United States.

Just as reliable as Old Faithful at Yellowstone Park, the mysterious Box Jellyfish of Hawaii will arrive on its shores between 8 and 12 days after each full moon.

Goats, just like pigs, were not endemic to Hawaii, and were brought in by humans presumably to provide a source of food. Each in tern rapidly turned wild when allowed or encouraged to roam and the consequence today is that the land of Hawaii is rapidly being ravaged and destroyed by both animals.

Honolua Bay is roughly half of the Honolua-Mokule’ia Bay Marine life Conservation District. (See article on MLCDs) Most of the Bay is usually quite well protected unless winter swells roll straight in and conditions can change rapidly.

This is a question that comes up quite regularly with regard to helicopter tours on Maui. Obviously weather can be very different on alternate days but in what ways will it really affect your flight.

Anyone who wants to enjoy Big Island Activities and Big Island Tours certainly prefers to be blessed with a day of perfect Hawaiian weather. On most days in Hawaii, the weather cooperates beautifully, but sometimes can be unpredictable.

When you come to Hawaii you almost certainly will attend the famous Hawaiian feast called a luau. This is a celebratory feast of epic proportions in which hundreds of people gather together to essentially eat, drink and be merry.

Maui County (which includes the islands of Maui, Lanai and Molokai) has a unique geography that allows the activity industry to offer a unique set of Maui activities and Maui tours.

Generally speaking, you could not be on a better island to enjoy great weather than Kauai.  Consequently, enjoying Kauai activities and Kauai tours is as good as it gets as well.

Everybody knows that biking down the slopes of Haleakala is a big industry on Maui, but do you know how it began. I do, and it has been a curiosity to see how it has adjusted, morphed and grown over the course of years.

Visitors to the Big Island are always concerned about how the volcanic activity will effect their Big Island Activities and Big Island Tours. Although it is impossible to predict nature, we are providing you here with a chronicle of past volcanic events in hopes that this will give you an over view of one of the most continuous dramatic geologic events in recent years.

One of the reasons you are undoubtedly coming to Maui is because of the great weather here.  Another reason you are probably coming to Maui is to enjoy some of the great Maui activities and Maui tours we have here.

One of the biggest concerns visitors to Oahu have is how the weather might effect the Oahu activities and Oahu tours they reserve.  Some people think they should wait until the day before an event (or even the day of the event) to make reservations to assure themselves of having the best weather possible.

This is an extremely personal call since each type of boat is very different. Keep in mind that you will be going to see the very same areas but the issue being discussed is simply regarding the type of vessel you will be taking.

Plant life in Hawaii works hand in hand with the geology of these islands to not only keep expanding the Hawaii footprint with new land being made by the volcanoes but nature also does its best to regenerate this barren rock into beautiful forests.

Like Dorothy would say in the Wizard of Oz,'we're not in Kansas anymore'. That is the way that all visitors should view their relationship with the beautiful oceans that surround Hawaii.

Newcomers to Hawaii are often completely perplexed by Hawaiian words and are simply just stumped to the point that they can't even possibly make a guess as to how to pronounce a word.

There are many fish that can be caught in the waters off Hawaii but one of the favorites for sport fisherman and gourmet chefs alike is the Mahi Mahi. These fish are fun to catch and fun to eat.

So why is Maui considered the world's Mecca for windsurfing? It's true that there are many places on the planet that windsurfing is possible and many places where it is continuously enjoyed.

If you'd like to see what one of the original Hawaiian inhabitants looks like, take a look at the photo of the Monk Seal below! The original human Hawaiians arrived in Hawaii from the South Pacific Islands about 1600 years ago, the Monk Seal arrived in Hawaii about 4 million years ago.

Everyone’s favorite things to see and do on Oahu probably include snorkeling and mingling with sealife in the turquoise waters of Hanauma Bay and strolling down the long beautiful arc of sand at Kailua Beach.

The glider rides are fantastic! They are fun and they are very different. As far as seeing large portions of Oahu from the air...........this won't be in the cards.

A few decades ago a small group of activists in Hawaii decided that it was time to revive the Hawaiian language, for Hawaiians to relearn their native language and Hawaiian to be included in traditional schools.

No one should be surprised that Paradise has a housing shortage, especially on Oahu which has about 40% of future housing needs. According to recent projections, Hawaii will need an additional 65,000 housing units statewide by 2025.

On Hawaii's Big Island protests by Native Hawaiians have flared for years against the construction of an 18-story telescope atop the volcano Mauna Kea.

When I first came to Hawaii in the early 70's and worked in a major hotel I was surprised at the number of tourists who would call housekeeping to come and remove a gecko they may have found on their wall or on their window screen.

The simple answer is......there are certain things you have to do at least once! You're coming all the way to Hawaii, would you not go to a luau? Would you not jump in the ocean? So yes, you'll have to go see the sunrise or you'll feel you missed out.

If you are concerned about sharks in Hawaii, you have good precedent to be concerned. Over the past couple of centuries of history regarding shark attacks there has been plenty of evidence confirming attacks have taken place and people have lost their lives.

Well this is the question every angler wants to know. As usual, as every fisherman will tell you, your fishing 'juju' always depends on the 'day' and yes, 'luck', 'karma' and 'having your good deeds rewarded'.

Stand Up Paddling (SUP) is perhaps the single best exercise available to you in Hawaii to provide you with optimal physical conditioning. You may want to give this a try while you are here to see what all the rage is about as SUP has gone 'off the charts' in its popularity.

Most people will overlook the value of taking a helicopter flight of Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island when they first arrive on the island.

Sandalwood has always been one of the most enjoyable fragrances to be used in spa treatments the world over. Its likability is almost universal.

We all know that Hawaii is a very unique place. In addition to its volcanic origin and diversity of beauty and attractions, the islands attract visitors because of their geographic isolation.

Parasailing wasn't introduced as an activity in Hawaii until the early 1980's. It was popular from the start but it was operated in a completely different manner in those days.

An important part of the job of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) is to overcome preconceived notions about Hawaii that discourage tourism. Tourism is too important (21% of the state’s economy) for Hawaii’s image as a vacation destination to be mainly a place where mom and dad or grandma go, although their importance for Hawaii's tourism cannot be overstated.

An important part of the job of the Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) is to overcome preconceived notions about Hawaii that discourage tourism. Tourism is too important (21% of the state’s economy) for Hawaii’s image as a vacation destination to be mainly a place where mom and dad or grandma go, although their importance for Hawaii's tourism cannot be overstated.

As is true of most life forms who find themselves introduced to the Hawaiian Islands, wild or feral pigs like it here, they thrive here and they are multiplying in great numbers here.

Perhaps the ultimate symbol of Hawaiian culture known throughout the world is the Hawaiian flower lei. For decades Hawaiian visitors have been greeted at the airport with the gift of a flower lei placed ceremoniously around their neck and shoulders accompanied by a kiss.

Of all the aspects of Hawaiian culture that are known in mainland America and other countries perhaps the one most notable icon is the Hula Skirt. Everyone has seen the cheesy or 'camp' car dashboard attachment of a hula girl with skirt that moves side by side as the car moves and turns with the traffic.

The next Hawaiian island is being formed right now and is expected to make its debut on the world stage in (perhaps) tens of thousands of years. The island already even has a name, Lo'ihi.

Could there be any doubt that dolphins love to have a good time. Being animals at the top tier of intelligence in the animal kingdom the dolphin often spends its spare time simply frolicking and having fun.

The very largest of the Marlins are the Blue Marlins and of all the possible trophy fish found anywhere in the world, this is the prize! Yes, they are found in large numbers throughout the islands of Hawaii but they, and related species, are found throughout the tropical and subtropical oceans of the world.

Possibly the most colorful bark found on any tree in the world can be found in Hawaii and it is referred to as the Rainbow Eucalyptus. Originally coming from the Philippines this beautiful tree can now be seen in various places in Hawaii and is most famously found on the Hana Highway where a beautiful stand of trees can be seen just off the roadside.

The islands of Hawaii are one of the largest resort destinations in the United States and this is not because of their spectacular beauty alone but also of course because of the fabulous weather found here.

Many life forms have in various ways found their way over vast distances to the Hawaiian Islands and then have evolved and adapted to the conditions they found here.

The Big Island is located south of the Tropic of Cancer. The sun's rays, this close to the equator are much more intense than many Hawaii visitors are used to.

Water temperature is a constant concern for people coming to visit Hawaii. This is one of the most asked questions we receive from Hawaii visitors prior to their arrival.

The mongoose was deliberately brought from India to the islands of Oahu, Maui and Molokai in 1883 to assist with the rat problem that existed in the sugar plantations.

In most places chickens are in cages but in Hawaii there is a large population of feral chickens who live in the wild. This is true of all islands but to a larger extent on the island of Kauai where it is speculated that large quantities of birds were loosed from their cages during both hurricanes Iwa and Iniki and have been wandering in the wild ever since.

Since day one the islands of Hawaii have been a magnet for all sorts of life forms that could make the long journey from anywhere else on the planet to the islands.

Tours & activities account for about 10% of global travel spending annually. Increasingly travelers are seeking out activities and tours that exactly fit the experiences that they want, their values, physical capabilities, and other personal needs and preferences.

Tours & activities account for about 10% of global travel spending annually. Increasingly travelers around the world and in Hawaii are seeking out activities and tours that exactly fit the experiences that they want, their values, physical capabilities, and other personal needs and preferences.

The ancient art of fire dancing that shows up in the history of luaus began hundreds of years ago by the people of Polynesia. Although it’s not possible to pin-point exactly where in the 4,000 square miles of Polynesia fire dancing began, it is believed that the Maori people of New Zealand actually were the first pioneers in the long evolution of the fire dance from its origins with “poi.

Walking on the soft white sand of a beautiful beach in Hawaii is what we all dream about. Are we aware how truly amazing this exercise is for us however?

The accolades are endless regarding the beauty of the Na Pali Coastline on the North Shore of Kauai. Why do so many people think this is the most beautiful piece of coast line they have ever seen? It is because this is the most beautiful piece of coastline they have ever seen.

So many of the things we observe about whales and their behavior are a mystery to us. Explanations about many topics regarding whales are simply conjecture or best case likelihoods but in reality are only good guesses.

Humpback whales are found in every ocean in the world. Their Latin name, Megaptera novaeangliae ("big wing of New England") refers to giant pectoral fins which can grow up to 16 feet long.

Every Hawaiian island is different and they all have special activities that are unusual and well suited for that particular island.  There are special Maui activities and Maui tours that fit the bill for this island as well.

In the following list provided by Tom Barefoot's Tours, you will see the most popular categories of Kauai activities and Kauai tours based upon popularity.

Maui has snorkel spots all around the island. There are plenty of places where you will find both fish and coral formations. What you may not find so easily is good access to your snorkel location, and a safe place to snorkel.

Yes there are literally hundreds of Oahu activities and Oahu tours that are available on the island.  What many people don't realize is that Oahu has some really unique tours that you simply wouldn't expect.

As we do on each of the islands, we will give you a ranking here of the 10 most popular Maui activities and Maui tours.  This is important information for you, particularly on Maui, because, the activities that are most popular are also the ones that book up first.

Kauai Tours and Kauai Activities are very different than those found on the other Hawaiian islands.  The primary reason for this has to do with the geography of the island of Kauai.

The Big Island delivers primordial experiences, and these experiences translate easily into Big Island tours and Big Island activities as you will shortly see.

Since the mid nineteen hundreds the highest mountains on the Big Island and Maui have been the homes of some of the most expensive and sophisticated observatories on the planet.

Horses became important in Hawaii, and in Kauai, as a result of the introduction of cattle to the islands. In 1793, Captain George Vancouver brought the first cattle to the Big Island.

Hawaii is lucky enough to have three islands where you can take a submarine ride. Atlantis Submarines operates from Waikiki Beach on Oahu, from Kailua-Kona on the Big Island and from Lahaina on Maui! If you haven't taken one of these adventures you are missing out and here is why.

Where ever you come from you are most certainly familiar with the mosquito. Perhaps unpleasantly familiar. Not only do they cause bites and itchy welts on the skin but they can occasionally be a carrier of various diseases such as Malaria, Dengue Fever or Zika.

So, most people will determine which month they will visit Hawaii based upon vacations and time off work, time off from school or weather conditions in their local regions.

First of all, let's define a breach. A breach is often considered to have occurred when a whale launches above the ocean's surface with over 40% of its body completely out of the water.

Diamond Head Crater is perhaps the most recognized geologic formation in the Hawaiian Islands. With the most recognized beach in Hawaii at its base (Waikiki Beach) it is no wonder that Diamond head is such an iconic feature.

Each of the Hawaiian Islands of Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island, will generally have a couple of companies that will offer a 'doors off' flight.

There is no question that of all the helicopters flown in Hawaii, the A-Star helicopter and its newer cousin, the ECO-Star, are the aircraft of choice used by most helicopter touring companies on Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island.

The chances of swimming with dolphins while you're on Maui are less then they are on the islands of Oahu or Hawaii. The big reason why it is not likely that you will actually be able to get into the water and swim with dolphins on Maui is that in order to do so on a regular basis, you need to be able to predict exactly where they will be.

There is something exciting about seeing a shipwreck. It's intriguing and somehow mysterious. The huge tanker that is wrecked on the eastern coast of Lanai makes a visit there all that more exciting.

People are always curious to know about the dangerous creatures we have here in Hawaii like poisonous snakes and poisonous insects. There are of course no poisonous snakes in Hawaii but the fact is that considering the quantities of species that live in Hawaii we actually have relatively few animals or insects that can do you significant harm.