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Archive for the ‘Accommodations’ Category

Hawaii Transient Accommodation Tax Increase..

Starting July 1, 2010, the Transient Accommodations Tax increases to 9.25%. This tax is in addition to the General Excise Tax of 4%. Thus, as of July 1, 2010, gross rental income from transient vacation rentals will be subject to a 13.25% tax.

The definition of transient accommodations, taken verbatim from the Transient Accommodations tax form instructions, issued by the State of Hawaii Tax office, follows:

The transient accommodations tax is levied on the gross rental or gross rental proceeds derived from furnishing transient accommodations. For periods ending before July 1, 2009, the rate is 7.25%; for periods beginning after June 30, 2009 and ending before July 1, 2010, the rate is 8.25%; and for periods beginning after June 30, 2010, the rate is 9.25%.
A “transient accommodation” is an apartment, house, condominium, beach house, hotel room or suite, or similar living accommodation furnished to a transient person for less than 180 consecutive days in exchange for payment in cash, goods, or services.
“Gross rental or gross rental proceeds” includes amounts paid to you in the form of cash, goods, or services as compensation for furnishing a transient accommodation without any deductions for costs incurred in the operation of the transient accommodation.

Kauai Ocean Film Festival

Oddly enough one of the key ingredients to life on Earth is often treated with indifference even contempt, the Ocean.  The Ocean Film Festival to be held in Hanalei on Kauai on Saturday July 24th 2010 from 7PM to 10PM seeks to alter that attitude by bringing awareness of the Ocean through the eyes of film makers from around The World.

The films range from documentaries to short films, films about sports, oddities & wonders, adventure & exploration, films exploring cultural connections to the Oceans, the Ocean as a vital resource for food, the Ocean’s untapped potential as a source of energy without the need to drill into its floor unleashing billions of gallons of oil to freely find its way to shore, but the very motion of the Ocean itself.

This is a perfect opportunity to enjoy Hanalei Bay.  Spend a week at a Hanalei vacation rental for the convenience of the Kauai Ocean Film Festival event.

Vacation on Hanalei Bay

Hanalei Bay in my opinion is among the top beaches in the world.  It is the largest bay on the north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii. The town of Hanalei is at the mid-point of the bay.

Hanalei Bay consists of nearly two miles of beach, surrounded by mountains. In the summer, the bay is like glass, offering excellent mooring for sailboats, stand up paddle boarding and swimming. The Princeville community overlooks from the northeast entrance to the bay of Hanalei river, 22°12′52″N 159°29′52″W / 22.21444°N 159.49778°W / 22.21444; -159.49778Coordinates: 22°12′52″N 159°29′52″W / 22.21444°N 159.49778°W / 22.21444; -159.49778. During the winter the surf becomes large and is a favorite surf location.

The Hanalei Pier was first built in 1892 to help Hanalei farmers move their taro crops to market. The covered pier’s location near the mouth of the Hanalei River and Black Pot beach has long been a favorite family gathering place for fishing, picnicking, swimming, and playing.  Hanalei Bay Sunset

On April 5, 1824, King Kamehameha II’s royal yacht, Pride of Hawaii, sank near the mouth of the Waiʻoli River, 22°12′14″N 159°30′37″W / 22.20389°N 159.51028°W / 22.20389; -159.51028 (Waioli River mouth), on the southwest corner of the bay after its crew struck a five-foot deep reef a hundred yards offshore. It is believed the captain and crew were drunk at the time. A large section of the ship’s hull washed ashore in 1844 in a winter storm surge, but most of this historic wreck remains buried in silt in the bay. In 1995-2000, archaeologists from the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History excavated the wreck and recovered more than 1,200 artifacts. During this excavation, a 40 foot section of the stern was discovered, documented, and then re-buried where it was discovered.[1]

Japanese author Haruki Murakami wrote a short story entitled “Hanalei Bay” set in the area. The story is included in the collection Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman.

This is why Hanalei vacation rentals have become so popular over the years.  You’ll find a variety of accommodations in Kauai at price ranges that fit every budget.  So whether you come alone for business, with family, or friends Allure Kauai Vacation Rentals have a perfect place for you.

Spend your Summer vacation in a Kauai vacation home rental…

Getting to Kauai can be expensive, because of its remote location, but once you are on the island, there are plenty of things to do that is worth every cent. In fact, some activities do not cost a lot of money. Make your vacation one that will last for a lifetime. Most activities allow (or require) you to make reservations beforehand, which is a good way to plan for your trip and ensure that you will be able to do the activities you want to do on Kauai. So call your Kauai concierge to reserve your spot now.

Tubing
Tubing is a great way to cool off from the hot Kauai sun and get an up-close tour of Kauai’s dense rain forest. You will float along canals and through several tunnels as you take in the scenic ride. It is family-friendly, though kids must be at least 5 to participate. Kauai Backcountry Adventures takes reservations in advance for your tubing experience online or over the phone. Lunch is provided during the activity, and you will have a chance to jump off the tube and swim. Because of its popularity, you should reserve your tubing excursion at least four weeks in advance. Expect to pay about $100 per person.

Bike Through Waimea Canyon
Book a trip to bike through Waimea Canyon. The scenic canyon views are second only to the Grand Canyon, and the ride is almost all downhill, so you do not have to be in tip-top shape to finish the ride. The tour, given by Outfitters Kauai, is 12 miles long and includes frequent stops for photos and brief talks about the history of the area. Expect to get up early; check in is 6 a.m., but coffee and fresh muffins are served immediately. The colors in the canyon at dawn are the most vibrant of the day. Expect to pay between $80 and $100 for adults and $70 to $80 for children ages 12 through 14. Children younger than 12 are not permitted.

Surf’s Up
Surfing is a popular activity for visitors to Kauai. Even if you have never stepped on a board, you will have fun learning the basics and getting up on some small, beginner waves. Kayak Kauai offers 90-minute surf lessons with certified instructors in Hanalei, Kauai’s most famous surf town and surfing beach. The company guarantees that you will stand up on a wave in your first lesson. They use different surfboards for appropriate skill levels: foam boards for beginners and fiberglass boards for more experienced surfers. The lessons are offered daily at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Expect to pay about $50 per person; save a few bucks by booking in advance.

Napali Boat Tours
The spectacular cliffs of the Na Pali coast are off limits to most visitors – unless they dare to hike the wilderness on narrow and slippery trails. Coastal boat tours provide a way to see these amazing cliffs up close, and enjoy a sometimes rough and ready adventure at the same time. Explore sea caves, watch sparkling waterfalls, and marvel at how tenaciously plants can cling to inhospitable rock. You’ll see an enormous change in landscape, from the dark, rich green of Ke‘e Beach, where rainfall measures nearly 125 inches a year, to the reds and browns of Polihale on the west side, where it’s only 20 inches. During winter (November till March), if seas off Na Pali are too rough and currents too strong, tours may cruise Kauai’s south shore to Kipu Kai, where humpback whales frequent Hawaii’s warm waters from December to April, as well as pods of spinner dolphins.

Hawaii: One of the most popular vacation destinations in the world…

Are you interested in taking a trip with your friends, a family vacation, or a romantic getaway? If so, have you decided where you would like to travel to? If you have yet to choose a destination for your next trip, you are advised to discover Hawaii. After a close examination, you will likely see exactly why Hawaii is considered one of the most popular vacation destinations, in the entire world.

As you may already know, Hawaii is composed of a number of islands. Six of those islands are considered popular vacation destinations. Those islands include the Hawaiian islands of Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Lanai, Molokai, and Hawaii’s Big Island. In fact, the choice that you have, as to where you want to visit, is one of the reasons why Hawaii vacations are so highly sought after. In fact, you don’t even really have to choose just one island. Over the past few years, the popularity of inter-island vacations has skyrocketed. This popularity has lead to the addition of more inter-island flights, as well as affordable prices.

In addition to having a wide variety of different choices, island wise, the beaches are also one of the reasons why Hawaii is considered one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. Hawaii is most well-known for its beautiful beaches, many of which have white sandy beaches and clear waters. With Hawaii being a collection of islands, no matter where you travel, you are almost always given the opportunity to enjoy those beaches. In fact, in addition to the views that come along with them, the beach activities that you can enjoy are another one of the many of many reasons why Hawaii vacations come so highly recommended. Those activities include, but are not limited to, fishing, swimming, boating, scuba diving, and surfing.

Hawaii is also a popular vacation destination because of the wide range of overnight accommodations. As previously mentioned, the beaches are what often lure vacationers in. That is why beachfront vacation rentals are so popular in Hawaii. These rentals often include Hawaii beachfront vacation homes and beachfront vacation villas. If you are looking for something a little bit more affordable, you may enjoy a stay at a beachfront hotel or resort. Although Hawaii beaches are part of the attraction, there is also a chance that you may like to stay inland, at a more centralized location. If so, you can also find hotels, resorts, villas, and vacation homes that are not located along the beach, but inland.

The costs of Hawaii vacations are another reason why they are so popular; they can be affordable. Of course, it is always possible to schedule an expensive Hawaii vacation, but it is also possible to make affordable reservations. The cost of a Hawaii vacation will all depend on the reservations that you are interested in making. For instance, if you are looking to book a stay at a vacation villa, you should expect to pay more for your vacation than you would if you wanted to stay at a vacation hotel or resort. The cost of a vacation will also depend on how you make your reservations. If you would like to save the most money, you may want to think about booking your Hawaii vacation reservations through an online travel website or with the purchase of a Hawaii vacation package.

With all of the benefits, you can easily see why Hawaii is known as one of the most popular vacation destinations, in the entire world. If you are interested in taking a Hawaii trip, you will need to start making your vacation reservations. As previously mentioned, these reservations can easily be made online, through an online travel website. For the largest selection of overnight accommodations, you may want to use a Hawaii travel website. These websites are online travel websites that deal specifically with Hawaii vacations.