NOTICE

This site is no longer being maintained.

Our main website at www.polynesianhostel.com has been updated and all of our blog posts have been moved to our new website.  Future blog posts will now be posted on our new website at www.polynesianhostel.com.

Please visit www.polynesianhostel.com to learn more about our hostel and to read our future blog posts.  On the main page, just look for the link across the top of the screen that says “Blog”.

Mahalo and looking forward to reading your comments on the new site.  Cheers!

A few hiking tips for Hawaii

Always hike with another person. If you are hiking alone, take a cell phone with you. You never know when you might need it. Some hiking spots in Hawaii are in remote areas and it might be hours before you see another hiker.

Start your hikes early in the morning in order to avoid the afternoon heat. And take plenty of water with you too. It’s recommended two liters of water per person per day. Be sure to drink some water at least every half hour so you don’t get dehydrated.

Never drink the water from the streams or lakes unless the water has been boiled or chemically treated. There’s a bacteria called Leptospirosis that can cause flu-like symptoms about 2 to 14 days after infection. It can damage your liver and even cause death. This type of bacteria can even enter your body through cuts and scratches on your skin, through your nose, mouth, and eyes.

Be prepared for the rainstorms. They come in at surprising speeds. Check the weather forecast before you head out and try to avoid hiking altogether if it is raining. Even if it’s not raining, be sure to take proper raingear with you just in case.

Take bug spray with you. Mosquitoes can be thick even on the breezy beaches.

Let someone know where you’re going to be hiking and when you expect to be back.

Plan to finish your hike well before the sun sets. Sunsets in Hawaii are quite early due to our closeness to the Equator. It’s usually around 6pm in the winter and 7pm in the summer. If you think you’ll be on the trail while the sun is setting, be sure and take a working flashlight with you and extra batteries.

Waikiki’s Historic Timeline

Waikiki means “spouting water” in the Hawaiian language, which references the rivers and springs that flowed into the area.

Following is a timeline tracing Waikiki from its rural days of first being discovered to its current urban state of hotels and tourists flocking the area.

1450 – Waikiki was established as the governmental center of Oahu.

1778 – Hawaiian islands were first discovered by European explorers.

1830 – Foreign visitors began visiting Waikiki.

Mid-late 1800’s – Waikiki served as a vacation retreat for Hawaii’s royalty.

1901 – Building of Waikiki’s first hotel, The Moana Hotel.

1907 – Planned for tourism development, widening streets and building bridges.

1927 – Building of the Honolulu Zoo and the Natatorium War Memorial.

1927 – Opening of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel.

1934 – Hawaii music gains popularity.

1941 – Bombing of Pearl Harbor; Waikiki became a place of rest and recreation for soldiers and sailors.

1940’s & 1950’s – Tourism continued to thrive; airlines began offering regular flights from the west coast.

The High Season Begins

By Joe Flanagan

It’s December.  The holidays are near.  The hotels are full.  And so are the hostels.

It’s that time of year when the travel season begins to peak here in Hawaii.  Winter storms are bringing snow, ice, and freezing temperatures to much of the nation.  And travelers are escaping that cold weather to make their way to the tropics of Hawaii where they’ll be soaking up the sun, enjoying the beaches, and getting a tan.

The north shore of Oahu has been busy in recent weeks with the surf competitions.  Waikiki saw a surge of activity this past weekend with the Honolulu Marathon, parade and concerts.  And Pearl Harbor held a ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary of the attacks that launched the U.S. into World War II.

But this is only the beginning. The holiday season is coming.  There will be more parades, Christmas tree lightings, Santa visits, holiday performances, and fireworks shows.  As we move into 2014, February brings us the Great Aloha Run.  And in March, all the bars and restaurants will be celebrating St. Patricks day along with a parade heading down the main beach road.

Many, if not all, of the hotels and hostels will be at their maximum capacity during this winter season.  You’ll be lucky to find a place to stay last minute.  If you don’t already have reservations somewhere, be sure you make them as soon as possible.

As we move into this busy time of year, our staff here at the Polynesian Hostel will be making your stay as enjoyable as possible.  We’ll have barbeques, beach picnics, ping-pong tournaments, kayaking trips, hiking trips, and tours to other parts of the island.  We can make recommendations on what to see, where to go, and what to do.

Hawaii is an awesome place to visit and we hope you enjoy your stay here.  Let us know what we can do for you.  Have a fabulous time in paradise.  Aloha!

Things a Traveler is Thankful For

By Joe Flanagan

In the spirit of the upcoming Thanksgiving Holiday, I thought I’d compose a list of things us travelers are thankful for.  Feel free to comment on this post and add in what you’re thankful for too.

• Moving sidewalks at the airport
• Ability to print boarding passes at home or your hostel
• GPS’s and Google maps to help you find your way
• Bus drivers who wait a few seconds longer before leaving the bus stop
• ATM’s and Credit Cards to make your money more accessible
• The Internet, booking engines, hostel websites, travel blogs, and Skype
• Small electronic devices such as iPhones and Tablets to make us more mobile
• Free wireless internet at airports
• Frequent flyer miles for free travel and nice upgrades
• Translation apps and software to make communication easier
• Free breakfasts at hostels
• New friends we meet in our travels
• Care packages that our family sends us
• Good health and our physical ability to travel new places and experience new things

Thanks for reading, and let us know what you’re thankful for, and have a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday.

Happy Halloween

Welcome To Our New Blog

Aloha and welcome to the Polynesian Hostel Blog.

We hope to bring you some great stories, fill you in on what’s going on here at the hostel, and the many things to enjoy in Waikiki and the rest of the island.  Feel free to browse around the blog.  There’s plenty of links giving you loads of information to make your stay here more enjoyable.  Be sure and sign the guestbook too and let us know how we’re doing.