Starting Over in Honolulu, Hawaii

The home of the most famous naval facility in the world, Honolulu, Hawaii is a popular tourist destination. Relocating to Honolulu may require a big wallet or picking up some extra work.

Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii and the seat of Honolulu County. The city's name means "protected harbor." Considered a cosmopolitan city, Honolulu is located on the southern coast of Oahu near the Koolau mountain range and an extinct volcano. Some famous people are natives, including Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler and golfer Michelle Wie. Honolulu is a major U.S. city with an estimated population of 377,379 residents in 2005. The average age of Hilo's citizenry is 42.7 years with 17.7% of people over the age of 65. The Asian community is dominant with
58.6% of the population. White Non-Hispanic residents accounted for 17.5%, only 6.3% were Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islanders. The average household size was 2.5 people with 45% of city homes occupied by married-couple families. Poverty affected 12% of Honolulu residents.

All income brackets for Honolulu residents were higher than the U.S. The median income of households was $50,793, about $4,500 above the national average. Per Capita income was $27,661, compared with $25,035 for the average U.S. worker. Social Security benefits were paid out to 32% of city households. Tourism related jobs were top of the list for both men and women in the accommodation and food services industry. The largest single employer is the government with various military installations, including the famous Pearl Harbor. The unemployment rate has been low, just 2.8% for Honolulu County in January of 2005. Honolulu is the Aloha state's center of business, culture, and politics. The sugar industry was once powerful before the fall of Hawaii's monarchy and annexation to the United States. Commercial development is taking root where agricultural fields and plantations have closed. Housing prices neared the half-million mark by 2005 with an average home value of $481,000. There is an upside for people relocating to Honolulu. The city has very affordable property taxes with an average of $1,197 for homes with mortgages. Median monthly housing costs for mortgaged owners was $1,817, while renters were paying $920 a month for their living space.

Hawaii is the only state with a single, unified school system. With a student to teacher ratio of nearly 17 to 1, the average funding per pupil was $7,455 in 2003. Among those 16 to 19 years old in Honolulu, a mere 1% were dropouts according to U.S. Census data in 2005. The total school enrollment for the city was 82,000. Meanwhile, college and graduate school enrollment totals over 30,000 students annually. In 2005, 34.7% of Honolulu people over 25 reported having a bachelor's degree or higher. Major Colleges and Universities in the city include the University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Pacific University, and Brigham Young University-Hawaii

The roots of Hawaii's monarchy remain in Honolulu with the Iolani Palace. It is the only royal palace in the United States. After relocating into Honolulu, the American government ousted Hawaii's rulers in the last half of the 20th century. Years later, Hawaii was made the country's 50th state. In recent years, the U.S. has attempted to make amends by acknowledging the Hawaiian sovereignty. Lawmakers want the U.S. government to recognize Native Hawaiians as it does American Indians and Native Alaskans. Among other tourist destinations in Honolulu that act as a symbol of the Hawaiian culture is city's capitol building which resembles a volcano. Pearl Harbor is a major tourist point, with the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri Memorial, and the National Cemetery of the Pacific.

The beautiful beaches of Waikiki lend to Honolulu's popularity, as does a semitropical climate. Temperatures remain warm yearlong, while summer trade winds help to provide relief. Seasonal weather changes in Honolulu are the least noticeable of any U.S. city. The average temperature for August is 81.4 degrees with a yearly average of 77.2. January is the coldest month at 73 degrees. The average annual precipitation in Honolulu is one of the lowest in the islands at 22 inches. Waikiki attracts people who like sailing, snorkeling, surfing, scuba diving, kayaking, or outrigger canoeing. Game fishing for marlin and tuna are also popular during the spring and summer.

Traveling To and Around Hawaii, A First-Time Visitor's Primer

Six different islands in Hawaii are open to tourism. Most first-timers planning a trip to one or more than one island have numerous questions relating to where exactly to go and how exactly to get there. This primer will answer those questions.

All interisland flights are through Hawaiian Airlines, Aloha Airlines, or Island Air. Best prices will usually be through the website or through your mainland flight company.

Oahu is the hub of Hawaii transportation. Most mainland and International flights will fly into the Honolulu International Airport (HNL). Travelers heading on to another island may have to deplane and get on an interisland flight to reach their final destination. The airport is located on the outskirts of Honolulu, about a 20 minute drive to Waikiki, and about a 45 minute drive to the North Shore. There are no ferries from Oahu to any other island.

Maui has three airports. The major airport is Kahalui Airport (OGG) which allows direct flights from the West coast of the U.S. mainland. The drive from the airport to Kihei or Wailea is less than half an hour, but can take an hour to Lahaina or Kaanapali. Much closer to the Lahaina area is Kapalua Airport (JHM) but you can only fly there from Honolulu. Hana (HNM) also has an airport if you don't want to drive, but you'll be taking a very small plane. Check with Pacific Wings. You can normally find day ferries from Maui to Lanai and Molokai.

The Big Island (named Hawaii, but called the Big Island to avoid confusion) has two airports, Hilo International Airport (ITO), and Keahole Airport (KOA). These two airports are a 2.5 hour drive from each other. Hilo is closest to Honokaa, Kapoho, and Volcano. Keahole is in Kailua-Kona which is closest to all of Kona, Puako, Kohala, Waikoloa, and Waimea. There are direct flights from the mainland only to Keahole. There are no ferries from the Big Island to any other island.

Kauai has one airport, Lihue Airport (LIH), in Lihue, and you can find direct flights from the mainland on some carriers. Lihue is about halfway to everything on the island - but a bit closer to Poipu than Princeville. There are no ferrys from Kauai to any other island.

Molokai has one airport, Molokai Airport (MKK) in central Molokai. You will probably have to take a small airplane in, usually no bigger than a 20 seater. Island Air will fly you in from Honolulu or Kahului. Small commercial boats will ferry you from Maui to Molokai.

Lanai has one airport, Lanai Airport (LNY), near Lanai City. Lanai airport also only accepts small airplanes. Island Air will fly you in from Honolulu. Small commercial boats will ferry you from Maui to Molokai.

By 2007 Hawaii Super Ferry should be operating between all the islands and will hopefully revolutionize our current expensive and inefficient interisland travel systems. Until then, book your flight online and early.

Vacation With Kids in Hawaii

You think Hawaii is for romantic vacations only? Think again. Hawaii is actually a great place for a family vacation, especially the main Island of Oahu and the Waikiki Beach area. There are many cool and fun things to do, nature and marine life to see, and great places for rest and relaxation. More than likely, your greatest worry is going to be how to squeeze in so many great places into your short vacation time...

Here are some cool places that you can enjoy with your kids:

Atlantis Submarine

This popular adventure takes you more than 100 feet below the surface for a 45 minutes underwater tour of Marine life in Waikiki. The submarine passes by coral riffs, sunken shipwrecks and airplanes, sea turtles, and countless fish and other sea creatures. The 64-passenger submarine is air-conditioned and has large view ports and comfortable seating.

Bishop Museum

The new Science Adventure Center feature Over 16,000 square feet of interactive exhibits and high-tech displays that let kids discover the volcanoes, oceans and diverse environment of Hawaii and the Pacific. Other exhibits of the museum include live hula performances, planetarium shows, garden tours, dramatic storytelling, Hawai'i Sports Hall of Fame and exciting traveling exhibits in the Castle Memorial Building.

Cirque Hawaii

Cirque Hawaii is a multi million dollar state of the art theatrical extravaganza in the heart of Waikiki. The show is an exotic blend of strength, balance, humor, skill, beauty and grace, and features aerial, dance and acrobatic acts, including Trapeze, Flying Silk, Skip Rope, Bungee, Clown, and Polynesian Warriors. This awe-inspiring 1 hour and 15 minutes show is a great entertainment for the whole family, and can be combined with dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Dole Plantation

Dole Plantation is a popular Hawaii attraction. It has "The world's largest maze" (2001 Guinness Book of World Records), two-mile, 20-minute "Pineapple Express" train ride, and a Plantation Garden tour.

Hawaii's Children's Discovery Center

The Hawaii Children's Discovery Center is a world-class interactive center. Kids are invited to explore, experiment and play with interactive exhibits, using their senses of touch, sight, hearing, and smell to better understand themselves and the world around them.

Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park

Hawaii's only water park offers many fun rides and adventures, including inner tube rides, free-fall six stories down speed slides, mega wavepool, body surf or inner tube ride on 2 to 4 foot waves, tube cruise down an 800-foot long continuous river, interactive children's playground filled with waterfalls, mini-slides and water cannons, multi-level activity pool with seven family slides, lily pad walks and other water attractions.

Honolulu Zoo

The Honolulu Zoo features over 1,230 animals in specially designed habitats. You can get a glimpse of the endangered nene which is the Hawai'i state bird, visit the African Savanna, native Hawaiian forest birds, Pacific Islands and the Children's Zoo. The zoo also features family programs such as Twilight tours, Snooze in the Zoo, Breakfast with a keeper, birthday Parties, and day camps.

Luau

A luau is a Hawaiian party and feast. Most Luaus feature native Hawaiian food and entertainment, such as Hawaiian music and hula dancing. Many Luaus greet you with the traditional lei, and feature the traditional imu ceremony, in which the roast Kalua Pig will be dug up from the rock-filled underground oven (imu) where it has been slow-roasting all day. Dinner buffet usually includes multi-course Polynesian delicacies as well as American favorites. After dinner it's show time - a Polynesian revue featuring songs and dances from Hawaii and other Polynesian islands.

Polynesian Cultural Center

This popular attraction is located about an hour from Waikiki. This 42-acre open-air park has seven native villages that are designed to immerse the visitors in the Hawaiian and other South Pacific cultures. Natives will be demonstrating the arts of dancing with fire, making jewelry from plants, and climbing 50-foot trees in bare feet. There are also native arts and crafts demonstrations such as carving tiki statues, canoe pageant, reenactment of war dances and wedding ceremonies, an IMAX theater, an authentic luau and a Polynesian night show.

Sea Life Park

Sea Life Park is a world-class marine attraction located 15 miles from Waikiki on Oahu's beautiful and scenic Makapuu Point. The park features a 300,000-gallon aquarium, housing sea lions, dolphins, sharks, stingrays, turtles and other marine mammals in a variety of entertaining and educational attractions such as dolphins dancing, sea lions singing, and penguins performing. Other attractions are the Sea Lion Feeding Pool, Sea Turtle Lagoon, Sea Bird Sanctuary, Hawaiian Reef Exhibit and Pirate's Lagoon. There are also some interactive programs for swimming with dolphins and snorkeling by the stingray's side.

Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay

Hanauma Bay is located along the East Oahu coastline, and is a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park. This bay, which is all that remains from an ancient volcano, is one of Hawaii's favorite places for snorkeling, scuba diving, or swimming among turtles and tropical fish. There are over 450 species of colorful tropical fish in Hanauma Bay, many of them are indigenous to Hawaii.

Waikiki Aquarium

This great family attraction features an amazing variety of marine life from the tropical Pacific and Hawaii. It has a wonderful collection of bright and colorful exotic tropical fish, as well as sharks, living corals, endangered Hawaiian monk seals, graceful sea jellies, and many more unique and fascinating marine creatures.

Waikiki Beach

Waikiki Beach is one of the best known beaches in the world. It is usually crowded but is a very nice area for swimming, surfing, snorkeling, surfboarding, sun tanning, sand castle building, and outrigger canoe riding.

Waikiki Trolley

The Waikiki Trolley is a popular means of transportation in Oahu, and is fun and convenient. The Trolley's four lines routes cover almost all tourist attractions and stops at most major shopping malls in Oahu.

For more details and photo gallery please visit the Kids Vacations section of our web site.

Hawaii Limited Liability Company - How an Operating Agreement Can Avoid Hawaii's Statutory Rules

Under Hawaii's Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, there are default rules that become applicable should your Hawaii limited liability company fail to have a Hawaii operating agreement in effect. Some of those default rules may prevent the company from taking significant action due to strict unanimity requirements, especially if the company has a large membership. This is why it is important to have an operating agreement that will have rules tailored to your needs rather than be subject to Hawaii's default rules.

For example, Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 428-404(c) specifically provides that certain matters of a limited liability company's business require the consent of all the members. Some of those matters include the following:

(1) amendments to the operating agreement;
(2) amendments to the articles of organization;
(3) admission of a new member;
(4) making interim distributions;
(5) use of the company's property to redeem an interest subject to a charging order;
(6) compromising among members, an obligation of a member to make a contribution or return money or other property paid or distributed in violation of this chapter;
(7) merging the company with another entity;
(8) consent to dissolve the company; and
(9) selling, leasing, exchanging, or otherwise disposing of all, or substantially all, of the company's property with or without goodwill.

An operating agreement can be used to override such default rules so that only a majority of the members' consent is required for the aforementioned matters rather than unanimity. If you have three or more members, you probably need an agreement because obtaining unanimity is easier said than done. Furthermore, each Hawaii limited liability company's situation may be different, so the agreement should be carefully crafted to each circumstance.

Finally, it should be noted that despite the flexibility that an operating agreement can provide for your company, Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 428-103(b) places some limitations on what the agreement can do. An operating agreement may not:

(1) unreasonably restrict a right to information or access to records;
(2) eliminate the duty of loyalty;
(3) unreasonably reduce the duty of care; and
(4) eliminate the obligation of good faith and fair dealing, but the operating agreement may determine the standards by which the performance of the obligation is to be measured, if the standards are not manifestly unreasonable.

However, even with respect to the aforementioned provisions, the agreement can set limitations and standards.

Therefore, you should seek consultation with a Hawaii attorney experienced in corporate law so that you can obtain an operating agreement that is structured for your company's needs.

Exploring Hawaii on a Budget

Hawaii is a state known for its tropical beauty and romantic setting, but one thing that it is not known for is being an inexpensive vacation choice. Fear not however, for there are still a number of ways you can save money and make the vacation of a lifetime an affordable one too. Here are some tips on exploring Hawaii on a Budget.

Your first consideration aside from airfare will be lodging on the islands. While you have the usual hotel choices, national chains and local dishes, many people are now in rent over traditional hotel room. budget travelers should be aware that with the much larger space, more comfort and book holidays, rather than in person, these are the cheapest housing for rent. This is especially true for large groups and families.

Once you arrive in Hawaii, always remember to bring the tourist brochures are located at airports, pick-up car rental, hotel lobbies andtourist shops. There are discounts and freebies in these brochures and there's a good chance more than few of them are going to be for things you'd enjoy seeing.

Another tool that can prove to be really worthwhile is one of those coupon books that you can get from entertainment.com for about $25. The businesses listed are all reputable and well established and the discounts are real. It doesn't take long to save far more than the book set you back to begin with. It may also be worth looking into the Go Hawaii cards. With those you can buy a certain number of days on whichever island you want for you and the family, then simply go and enjoy anything listed as qualifying on the card, as many times as you'd like for that set number of days. A family of four can save up to $200.00 a day on a pretty big selection of events and activities all over the islands.

Easily some of the most spectacularly things to experience in Hawaii just happen to also be the most affordable. Nature enthusiasts will thrill at the chance to take day hikes into the tropical rainforests or even camping at places like Haleakala National Park on Maui. In many cases the hikes are free or, in the case of camping at Haleakala, for a very small park fee.

If the water is more your style, then head to Hanauma Bay on Oahu. For the meager entrance fee of $5 and the cost of cheap snorkels (or you can rent), you and your family can enjoy the best snorkeling in the islands, all in a beautiful bay, in fact, a crater of an extinct volcano.

Finally, before committing to Hawaii, you must head to your favorite bookseller and purchase a budget travel guide to Hawaii. Although this article is a good start, professional guides can provide a wealth of suggestions for exploring Hawaii on a budget can not cover here.

Top Eight Things to Do on the Big Island (Hawaii)

There are a lot of great things about taking a trip to Hawaii, the biggest island in the Hawaiian chain. One of the best things about its size is that it offers a broad range of different things to do; there's something to suit everyone's tastes. Here is a sample of what we think are the best things to do on the Big Island.

Snorkel

It's hard to believe the variety of sea life in the warm waters off of the sandy beaches until you get in yourself. Reef fish of all varieties swim around incredible coral formations. You'll see puffer fish, pencil fish, rainbows and many more. You'll also see turtles, anemones and, if you're really lucky, a dolphin or two. Make sure you buy cheap snorkeling gear at a chain store, otherwise you might get taken for an extra buck or two.

Fish

Hawaii is the avid angler's dream. There are no regulations in the waters of the Pacific off of the Big Island's coast, and you can catch dozens of different Fish. Barracuda, sharks and marlin are the most exciting. If you hook a big marlin, but surely you cancel your plans for the next three days. It could be a whole day, both on the ground ... and to recover the other two!

Surf

This is Hawaii, which means, of course, surfing. Banyans, and Ke'ei Kahalu are three of the best spots. You are less likely to see all points of local surfers who can beat the best waves in some of 's Hawaiia real downer.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

This is definitely a don't-miss. We've touched on it lightly in another article and will go into more detail in a shorter one, but the most popular destination in the state can't be left off of a "top things to do" list!

World Botanical Gardens

These botanical gardens are perfect for the person who loves natural flora and fauna. They feature a long hiking trail through various cultivated gardens, containing hundreds of species of native and non native tropical plants. You'll also see dozens of varieties of tropical birds and butterflies. It's a good idea to have a bird guide book with you so you can match names to your photographs later!

Pacific Tsunami Museum

Dedicated to the two tsunamis which have ravaged the east coast of the Island in the last 100 years, this is a great place for those who love science and also like to feel a little rush of fear. It might be best to save this visit for the last days of your vacation!

Black Sand Beaches

These are common, cool, and even a little bit creepy. It's hard to believe that anything that color could actually feel like sand, but it does!

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park

If you wanted to escape a death sentence a century ago, this is the place you would flee to. Today, it's a historic monument off of one of the best snorkeling areas to be found on the Big Island.

Hawaii Snorkeling Tips Part III - Reef Etiquette

Coming to my island for a vacation? There are three things I always recommend the first-time visitor do. First, get in the air. Secondly--go to a luau. Finally, I advise people of every age to get in the water and go snorkeling. You will find your mind going back to that experience over and over through the years much more so than many of your other travel experiences. Part I of this series discuses Snorkeling Gear; Part II of this series will discuss Snorkeling Technique and Part III will cover Snorkeling Safety; Part V of the series will cover snorkel spots on the Big Island.

Now, let's talk a moment about snorkeling etiquette and protecting the reef and the animals who live there.

Please do not feed the fish, it disrupts their natural feeding habits and you may be injured. Reef fish are territorial and do occasionally "nip" but you should not chase, harass or touch them (this includes octopi). The oils on your fingers will injure their skin and they may carry diseases which they can pass to you on your hands. For photographing reef fish, whether snorkeling or scuba diving, simply find a feeding spot (usually a boulder or dead coral head teeming with algae, and wait calmly and silently nearby. They will slowly begin to check you out and if you can remain still long enough, eventually surround you leading to excellent photos and a very memorable experience.

Snorkeling etiquette calls for protecting not only the reef animals, but also the fragile corals growing on the reef. Corals, actually colonies of very small animals, take hundreds of years to form the structures visible today; they feed, shelter and provide habitats for other reef animals. Coral reefs also protect the lagoons and shoreline from waves and sand erosion. Corals are at the very root of Hawai'ian history and culture; the Hawaiian creation chant places the origin of life in the sea, beginning with a coral polyp.

Simply touching corals to see what they feel like can cause the death of an entire colony. Oils from your skin can disturb the delicate mucous membranes which protect the animals from disease. Please don't walk upon or stand on coral, as this can kill the living coral polyps which, as the builders of the entire reef structure, are the very foundation of the reef ecosystem. Sunscreen washing off your body can kill coral; wear a t-shirt and a swim cap for UV protection and put your sunscreen on AFTER you come out of the water.

Called Honu by Hawaii's natives, the Hawaiian Green Sea turtle is beautiful, serene and seeming wise. Though they have swum the oceans for over 200 million years, peacefully feeding on algae and invertebrates, this highly successful product of amphibian evolution is in grave danger. Loss of habitat, hunting and molestation by humans has conspired to push the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle to the very verge of extinction.

Protected now by state and federal law, the population of once millions of individuals has been decimated to just a few hundred thousand; although they are making a comeback, Hawaii's honu are still very much endangered.

Do not approach basking turtles closely, never touch or pick them up. Harassing turtles carries a stiff fine and in any case, touching the turtle is a good way to get a raging salmonella infection. If honu are swimming near where you are, do not approach or chase them; always swim to the side of them, never above (as a predatory shark would) nor below them (so they won't feel that their soft belly is at risk).

Anyone who observes their beauty and grace underwater easily understands why the Hawai'ians base their word for "peace", "honua", on their name for the green sea turtle, "honu".

Although harder for the snorkeler to approach, but certainly no less in danger of molestation are the marine mammals: dolphin, seals and whales. In general, it is illegal, dangerous and generally a bad idea to approach marine mammals within 100 yards; 300 yards for females with calves. Dolphins and seals, in particular, may choose to approach you-just remember, this ain't "Flipper"-these are wild animals and they bite. Hard. If approached, remain calm (absolutely entranced, of course, but calm); do not approach any young animals and do not reach out to them as they may interpret this as aggression on your part and possibly bite. Male seals may exhibit dominant behavior and have been know to *ahem* mount swimmers. Avoid these unpleasantries by observing and enjoying these animals from a distance. About whales...uh, wait a minute...if there is anybody out there crazy enough to swim out into the open ocean and harass a 60,000 pound animal with a mouth twice the size of a king-size bed, nothing I say is going to stop them...just use some common sense, OK? Leave them alone-besides...it's the law.

And now a word about sharks--two words, actually: "Don't Worry". There's good news and bad news about sharks in Hawaii--first the bad news: if you are in water deeper than your knees, you are probably within 200 yards of a shark. The good news? You will never know it. The truth is that you are not likely to see or encounter a shark...period. Tens of millions of people swim Hawaii every year without seeing so much as a dorsal fin break the water. Don't worry--you are not what they eat (so you won't attract them) and generally, they are more afraid of you than you are of them. To dispel visitor's apprehensions about sharks, the Hawaiian Tourism Bureau used to advertise that tourists were more likely to get hit on the head by a falling coconut than bitten by a shark...but they decided THAT was not a real cheery statistic to crow about, either. In reality, there are only about three shark bites a year in Hawaii-which is amazing considering there are hundreds of thousands of people in the water, all day, every day of the year.

Having said that, bear in mind that all sharks demand respect and there are several things you can do to make yourself generally safer in any shark encounter. Number one safety tip is: avoid them. Sharks are stealth hunters and in any conditions where they are obscured in the water, they will hunt. Therefore--do not go into the water until at least an hour after dawn, be out of the water by about 4 pm; do not enter the water if it is murky; avoid stream mouths. Obey beach closures; obey warnings from the Lifeguards. Little sharks don't get to be big sharks unless they pay strict attention to avoiding whoever is bigger than they are--small sharks generally will glide silently away from you without you ever having known they were there. Big sharks are different. They may approach you.

The most common conventional wisdom you hear is: if you are being stalked or approached, swim purposefully, not panicked, away from the shark at an angle. Do not swim at high speed straight from him, it will trigger his predator-prey response and he'll chase you. Do not splash excessively; this sounds like a dying fish (i.e., dinner) to sharks. Remember that the larger sharks eat sea turtles...to a shark hunting below you, your outline paddling on a surfboard or boogie board, looks remarkably like a sea turtle. When you approach the water, seeing three or four sea turtles sunning themselves on the beach is normal; seeing twenty or thirty indicates that something very large and hungry is hunting the water nearby. The presence of dolphin nearby is no guarantee there are not also sharks nearby.

There are hundreds of bits of advice for surviving shark attacks from hundreds of shark experts and attack survivors from all over the world-I will not pass these on to you for two reasons. First and foremost, I am a not a shark expert; secondly, I have never needed any of them because I have followed these sensible rules for years and have never, not once, seen a shark while snorkeling. I'm out there 4 or five days a week, year round. You won't see one either. Relax and enjoy your snorkeling...as I said...don't worry.

Finally--many people ask "What's the etiquette for, um--er--answering nature's call?" Easy--for wet stuff, just swim a bit away from people and let go, maybe maintaining forward momentum so as not to create a "cloud". No, this isn't why the ocean is salty. For solid stuff, get your partner and both of you swim in and get out, visit the rest room. No exceptions for that.

Part I of this series discuses Snorkeling Gear; Part II of this series will discuss Snorkeling Technique; Part IV of the series covers Snorkeling Safety; Part V will cover Big Island Snorkel Spots and Part VI discusses Big Island Wilderness Snorkeling Spots.