Hawaii Travel Tips & Travel Guide

Honeymoons are the embodiment of adventure and romance. I've found a brand new way to put some spice into yours, and it won't cost you a cent. What my husband Barry and I only stumbled upon in Hawaii, you can plan.

People are always doing romantic things on the Big Island. Lolling on the beach. Drinking pina coladas. Going on sunset sails. Boring. Check out these Hawaii travel tips while doing what Barry and I did: finalize your house purchase right on your honeymoon? For busy people, it's ideal, combining exotic relaxation with a cutthroat business deal. Your escrow honeymoon combines the thrill of deep-sea diving and volcano watching without the physical danger.

1. Test the strength of your relationship early. We really took this one to heart by getting married and buying a house in the same year. But our escrow honeymoon shifted our marriage into hyper drive.

   On our first morning in Hawaii, we frantically rushed around the 662-person metropolis of Paauilo (I'd like to buy a consonant, please). We were looking for a FedEx office, because we couldn't authorize a bank draw via telephone.

   In this tiny town, we experienced the rapturous marital oneness that later comes only from changing diapers or scooping out the cat box. If you go, check out the farm at Keolamauloa Keolamauloa, and tour the Hawaiian Vanilla Company.

2. Learn how to fight while hiking Kilauea. Many newlyweds labor under the impression that they're happy, and therefore never learn how to fight properly. "You were the one who wanted a house." "Well, you were the one who suggested this stupid hike around an active volcano."

   "No, I don't have to do this conference call with the broker. I guess you really didn't want this house after all." These sweet nothings will waft back and forth throughout the strenuous ten-mile loop.

   If you go, stay at Volcano House to work up some steam. The Kilauea Loops hike takes six hours (eight hours if you're arguing). Save yourself pain and singeing; check in advance for eruptions.

3. Find out his real priorities-on horseback, no less. Picture this: you're riding through the gorgeous Waipio Valley, soft breezes blowing from your lips into his ear (which isn't easy on separate horses), when he calls the broker to make sure that the 5.78 percent mortgage rate is locked in.

   If you go, stay in the Birds Eye Room at the Waipio Wayside Inn. Rent horses at the Na'Alapa Stables.

4. See how your mate operates under pressure. Nothing gives you a better idea of how he will react when you ding the car than watching him during the Macadamia Nut Festival. Yes, he'll be sobbing into his Go Phone because the house deposit you just wired was $23.11 short.

   If you go, get a Go Phone for local calling at Walmart. The Macadamia Nut Festival is held in Nani Mau Gardens.

5. Get a handle on your future finances. You'll know right from the start where your cash will be going. You won't be buying little luxuries like food, nosiree. Half of your take-home will be paying for this magnificent honeymoon, so make it a good one. Stay upcountry at the enchanting Holualoa Inn, like Barry and me.

   The other half of your paycheck will go into your new house. If you go, make reservations at the Holualoa Inn. Eat at Huggo's and pick up some Kona coffee.

6. Let adversity bring you closer. An escrow honeymoon relieves you of the drudgery of talking about that blonde in the bikini he ogled at Onekahakaha Beach Park, or whether you love him enough to try skin diving. You'll have really significant things to discuss, like putting all of your rainy day money into your new house, or the jellyfish he just stepped on.

If you go, be sure to pick up your Jellyfish Squish remedy at the 76 Store. Check out the Nautilus Dive Shop. Both are in Hilo.

If you survive our Hawaii travel advice, you're ready to move on to being overextended newlyweds.