Check out who decided to ring in the new year relaxing under the sun and who hit the fresh powder on the ski slopes …” (via nydailynews.com ) by ROSANNE SALVATORE AND JOANNA SLOAME

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to see the 37 celebrities + pictures – From Aspen to St. Barts: Celebs vacation in style

Providing us with invaluable guidance were chef Vernon Wong, former board chairman of the Kona-Kohala Chefs de Cuisine; Eric Lelinski, executive chef, Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa; and James Lightner, hospitality division chairman for the University of Hawaii Center West Hawaii.

Note that some of the restaurants are hard to find. Always call for hours and directions. ” (via  latimes.com) by Rosemary McClure

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read the rest of 20 cheap eats on Hawaii’s Big Island, then click on each picture to get info.

Adam Sandler’s new movie “Just Go For It “opens Feb. 2011.

A man enlists the help of a woman and her kids to land the woman of his dreams.

Staring Jennifer Aniston, Nicole Kidman, Adam Sandler, Brooklyn Decker (Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model- now actress) and Heidi Montag.

Filmed in Kauai and Maui Hawaii and  California.

Fly into Hawaiian Adventure starting from $348 RT…
This season holds some of the Hawaii’s most impressive events. From whale watching to awe-inspiring surf conditions.

SURF TIME ON OAHU..

Winter on the North Shore brings giant swells to the island’s coastline. Find the perfect wave on the seven-mile stretch of Oahu beaches. Visit the legendary Waimea Bay and the historic town of Haleiwa.

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KAUAI BY AIR

See the dramatic scenery of the “Garden Isle” in its entirety from above. Enjoy the views of the reefs and shores of the Napali Coast. Witness the enormity of Waimea Canyon and the countless waterfalls of the Olokele Valley. Whether you choose to fly by helicopter, airplane or hang glider, the bird’s eye tour of Kauai is not to be missed.

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WHALE WATCH ON MAUI

December to May is the right time to witness the humpback whale migration. Just like you, these marine giants are looking for warmer climates. The Auau Channel that runs between Maui, Molokai and Lanai, is the most popular place for these humpbacks. Enjoy this spectacular sight right from Maui’s shores!

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COFFEE COUNTRY ON THE BIG ISLAND

Take a break from the daily grind and visit the coffee fields of Kona. This area of the Big Island offers the perfect climate and rich soil for coffee beans to grow. Explore the fields, tour the mills and sip a delicious cup. Numerous farm tours are given year round.

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for details or to book – Winter Travel Deals to Hawaii From Hawaiian Airlines

-Roundtrip Fares Starting From Las Vegas – Honolulu – $653.. Los Angeles – Honolulu – $418.. Oakland – Honolulu  - $462.. Phoenix – Honolulu – $452.. Portland – Honolulu – $326.. Sacramento – Honolulu – $598.. San Diego – Honolulu – $628.. San Francisco – Honolulu – $538..

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for Hawaiian Airlines- specials page

• Offer is valid for stays booked and completed between May 18, 2010 and December 31, 2010.
• Guests must be Starwood Preferred Guests in order to receive these exclusive rates. Not an SPG member? Enroll now at SPG.com.
• Advance reservations are required and must be made online or by calling 866-716-8141 and requesting Rate Plan SPG50SPC.
• On Oahu, the 35% dining discount applies to Pikake Terrace at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani; Kai Market and RumFire at the Sheraton Waikiki; Banyan Grill at the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa; Surf Lanai, Mai Tai Bar and the Aha Aina Luau at The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort. With our “Stay at One, Dine at All” program, the 35% discount applies to all listed outlets when charged to your room, regardless of the Starwood property you are staying at in Waikiki.
• On Kauai, the 35% dining discount applies to lunch at Oasis and dinner at Shells at the Sheraton Kauai; dinner at Nanea Restaurant & Bar at The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas.
• On Maui, the daily breakfast for two at the Sheraton Maui will be at Keka’a Terrace; at The Westin Maui it will be at Ono Bar & Grill; at The Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas it will be at Ocean Pool Bar & Grill.
• On the Big Island, the daily breakfast for two will be at Kai.

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for more info or to book it.

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Book by August 1 by 6:00 p.m. CST to take advantage of these offers throughout Hawaii!

Your total discount will be based on the cost of your vacation package.

• Save $250 on vacations $4,600 or more
• Save $200 on vacations $3500 – $4,599
• Save $100 on vacations $2,500 – $3,499
• Save $50 on vacations $1,500 – $2,499

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here for Save up to $250 on United Hawaii vacations

1) UP AND DOWN…

Where…

Upcountry and the North Shore…

What…

The lion’s share of visitors prefer their sunshine to come with a guarantee, which means that there’s greater room for the rest of us on the more fertile side of the island…

Do

Start your day with a drive up Olinda Road, which runs up the side of the Haleakala volcano, through ranch country, past lines of fragrant eucalyptus trees and into some beautiful pine woods.

Near the end of the line you’ll find the trailhead for the Waihou Spring Trail; the moderate, mile-long hike through thick forest is popular with exercising locals, and far from the madding crowd.

If the surf’s up, you’ll want to head back down the hill to to the overlook at Hookipa Beach; there’s no place better in Maui to watch surf culture in action — it’s also one of the most beautiful oceanfront settings on this side of the island. The nearby town of Pa’ia is famous worldwide for its beach bum / hippie vibe; these days, it can be just as touristy as West Maui.

Eat

Some of the best produce in the state comes from Maui’s Upcountry; Market Fresh Bistro in Makawao is one of the best showcases for what’s good and local. Easily one of Maui’s most appealing restaurants right now, it’s a simple affair, helmed by Bronx native Justin Pardo and his stylish sister Olivia. The quality of everything — from freshly-caught mongchong to succulent local tomatoes — is truly memorable; come for breakfast or lunch every day.

Stay

Just steps from Hookipa Beach, Mama’s Fish House has been called the “Mauiest Restaurant on Maui”; it certainly is an experience. The family-owned seafood palace on a pretty, secluded beach near Pa’ia is more than a seductive setting in which to eat really pricey (and really fresh) local fish, it’s also home to 12 fantastic guest accommodations that offer a chance to feel like part of the back-of-house team at one of Maui’s most popular addresses. Rates are reasonable, the beach in front of the restaurant is all yours every morning, before the restaurant opens up. With kitchenettes (and sometimes full kitchens) in every room, it’s possible to spend a long, relaxed week here without breaking the bank on dining out (from $175; mamasfishhouse.com).

2) STAY LOCAL

Where

Central Maui

What

Dramatically located on a hillside at the mouth of the lush ‘Iao Valley, historic Wailuku is the seat of county government, yet a sleepy town of about 13,000 that sees relatively few tourists. Later for them — this is where to find some of Maui’s tastiest food.
Do

The island may be famed for its sunny weather, but just minutes from the desert-like climate of beachy Kihei is the ‘Iao Valley, the second-wettest place in the state (the first is on Kauai).

Wailuku’s quiet Main Street runs straight into the valley, the burial ground of many important Hawaiian chiefs, the site of a very important battle in the 1700s and today, a place that’s considered sacred. Take a hike at ‘Iao Valley State Park, then stop in at the heritage gardens in Kepaniwai Park, featuring pavilions and gardens from the many and diverse groups that contributed to what we know today as Hawaiian culture.

Of course, the best way to learn about a culture is to eat the food, and no place on Maui offers as quick a crash course as Wailuku, overloaded with excellent local dives. Make sense of the scene by signing up for Tour da Food, a personalized experience with long-time resident Bonnie Friedman, who has been studying Hawaiian cuisine for nearly 30 years. She’ll take up to 4 people — that’s as many as she can fit into her white Toyota sedan — for a wild ride around the backstreets of Wailuku, showing you where to find the best cheap ahi poke, the tastiest spam musubi and Maui’s best shave ice (from $280 for two, includes all food; [808] 242-8383, tourdafoodmaui.com).

Eat

Still hungry? While Friedman’s tours are impressively immersive, you won’t come close to exhausting the possibilities around town while under her wing. Our top recommendations in Wailuku are two of our top recommendations island-wide; number one being the simpleGeste Shrimp Truck, Maui’s answer to the more-famous trucks that clog Oahu’s North Shore. Foodies across the state know that Geste’s scampi platter beats any of Oahu’s touristy trucks hands-down for quality and taste; we agree. Find the truck on the harbor side of Kahului Beach Road, Tuesdays through Saturdays from late morning onwards.

Stay

Once Maui’s premier resort area, Wailuku town now barely registers on most tourist itineraries. There are still a few great places to stay, however — we recommend the historic Old Wailuku Inn, a friendly bed & breakfast-style operation on the south side of town.

3) END OF THE LINE

Where

West Maui

What

Experience the best of both worlds — one of the island’s top resorts, along with some of its most appealing backcountry.

Do

Most of Maui’s major resorts are situated in order to maximize days of sunshine and accessibility to the beaches; this means that most of Maui’s major resorts are set in very dry, sometimes almost desert-like environments.

Unless, of course, you like flying halfway around the world just to sit on a beach for a week. In which case, mazel tov. For the rest of us, there is Kapalua. Down the end of the line where the dry climate gives way to rainy pine forests, Kapalua is a 23,000-acre planned community that features miles of beautiful hiking trails, from pleasant coastal walks to challenging mountain hikes.

From Kapalua, you can drive the Kahekili Highway (State Route 340) all the way back to Wailuku. Only the tough need apply, though; the road narrows to (sometimes barely) one lane for nearly a dozen miles. About midway, you’ll see Kahakuloa, one of Maui’s niftiest little villages and home to the little green roadside stand that houses Julia’s Best Banana Bread, a legendary stop across the street from the historic St. Francis Xavier Mission. Julia is there every day, from 9:00am until she sells out.

Eat

Dining in touristy West Maui takes some effort to do right; the area is crammed with average resort restaurants, memorable mostly for their steep prices. Anyone staying on this side of the island should plan to make the commute into Lahaina, just a 15-minute-drive from Kapalua. It’s easily the most touristy town on Maui, but it has plenty to offer the hungry beyond, say, the local branch of the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Start things off at the rooftop Mai Tai Lounge for top cocktails and pupus. Those in the know insist that this is the home of Maui’s best mai tai (839 Front Street; [808] 661-5288).

Stay

The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua is easily the best of Maui’s small group of true luxury resorts; a $180 million renovation completed in 2008 (oh, look, just in time for the crash!) has pushed it right past the more cramped Four Seasons. In addition to the spectacular, spacious setting (it has 52 acres of land in the Kapalua community, much of that open space), the Ritz makes a concerted effort to ensure a sense of place, retaining a cultural advisor that programs events designed to lure in the locals that offer a crash course in Hawaiiana for the well-heeled visitors from the mainland. ” (via  nypost.com) by DAVID LANDSEL

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here read the rest of 3 insider itineraries on Maui

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Guide to Costa Del Sol, Beach House Rentals, Europe’s Beaches, Six Sexy Slipaways,

World’s Best Secret Beaches, Best Mayan Riviera Beaches »

Hawaiian Beaches, 21 Hottest Caribbean Escapes, Nude Beaches,

Mexico’s Beach Resorts, 21 Sexiest Beach Bars, + many more  ” (via travelchannel.com )

Pointswizard.com Spin: Click here to read more about- Best Beach Vacations update