Aloha, and welcome to the first installment in our Weekly Website series.
Ever since launching our own website in Sept. ’07, there has really been one blog that has set the bar for us in terms of content, community, and contribution to the space on the web that is devoted to all things Hawaii. It seems only fitting that this site be the first in our new series.
Go Visit Hawaii – Hawaii Travel Guide
Go Visit Hawaii is, without question, the site I recommend the most when people ask me about visiting Hawaii. The driving force behind GVH is editor and Hawaii blogger Sheila Beal, who’s been sharing the Aloha spirit online for over two years now. A repeat Trip Coach at Budget Travel and always providing so much helpful information, new readers are often surprised to learn that she doesn’t actually live in Hawaii. She had us fooled at first, too.
Features
One of the first things you notice about Go Visit Hawaii when browsing through the site is that it covers such a wide range of information, yet does so in a way that’s very easy to navigate. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can start by looking at one of the different Hawaii Vacation Guides, which are broken down by the four major islands. Not sure which one(s) are right for you, browse them all and find out. Still can’t decide? Maybe a few (or a lot) of photos will help. Those that know us know that we love photos from Hawaii.
Once you have an island or two in mind, say Maui, for example, there are sub-categories for what to see and do, where to eat, and even deals that are out there from time to time. Once you find every thing you need to know about your islands of choice, head over to the popular General Hawaii category. There you’ll find interesting things about Hawaii that even repeat visitors like ourselves didn’t know at first.
Community
Any blogger will tell you that a blog with tons of content and maybe the best writers in the world won’t mean much without readership and community. Well, Go Visit Hawaii has one of the friendliest and active communities that I’ve enjoyed participating in, whether Hawaii-related or not. At the time of this post, there have been over 2,500 responses posted on topics at GVH, which for a blog that is 2 years old is very respectable. The different folks and Hawaii fans that I have met at GVH come from all over the place, whether from the islands themselves to across the mainland and even the snowy neighbors to our north all share their feedback and experiences visiting Hawaii, it’s often been termed a “support group” for some of us.
And Sheila herself is very active in responses from her reader, which is very key to fostering such a successful community. As a fellow blogger, I respect that tremendously.
Favorite Posts
Since I’ve been reading Go Visit Hawaii for over a year now, I have come across so many great articles that it’s hard to remember them all. I only recently started sharing my favorites in an effort to keep track of what I read online, but I’d thought I’d share a few here that have stuck with me the most.
- Hula Pie! Oh My!
- Checklist of What to Pack for your Best Hawaiian Vacation
- Six Strategies for Packing Light
- Haleakala Sunrise Tips
- Ka’anapali – A Great Base for a Maui Vacation
- Where to Stay on Maui for the Best Weather
- 8 Great Rainy Day Things to Do on Maui
So, if you haven’t discovered Go Visit Hawaii yet, I hope you find this review helpful. After browsing through the site, we have a feeling that you’ll find the information you’re looking for and will be joining in the discussions before you know it.
If you have thoughts on this review or on Go Visit Hawaii, please feel free to share them with us here. Also, be sure to stay tuned next week for another edition of Weekly Websites.
Mahalo.
The Weekly Website Series here at our blog showcases various websites and blogs that we like to frequent, as well as recommend to others. There are so many Maui and Hawaii focused sites out there, it might seem a little intimidating at first. By featuring sites that we us ourselves and have found very helpful and engaging, we hope to introduce others to the very best out there.
To follow along with future editions of our Weekly Website Series, be sure to subscribe to our blog feed to get the latest posts and updates. We already have a bit of a queue, but if you haven’t seen one of your favorites yet, you can contact us or send me a note on Twitter.
Friday, December 19, 2008 at 12:48 pm
As Sheila’s husband, I can tell you that she puts her heart into making Go Visit Hawaii the best resource for travelers to Hawaii.
I can also tell you that she loves being part of the Hawaii blog community and loves the interaction with fellow Hawaii enthusiast like yourself.
Now excuse me, I need to get her a Kleenex, ‘cos you post made her day.
Friday, December 19, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Kris – Reading this literally made me well up. Oh my, I am just so honored! Mahalos many times over!
I love what you’re writing here. I get excited each time I see a new post pop up in my Google Reader for Kaanapali Dreamin. You rock!
With my gratitude,
Sheila
Friday, December 19, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Thanks Andy and Sheila for the comments. I can certainly appreciate how much time and effort Sheila puts into Go Visit Hawaii, and the service she provides to her readers.
I personally was a little late to the blogging scene. Coming from different web disciplines, it has taken me some time to adjust. From my reading and research on how to put together a successful blog, GVH touches on just about every aspect. From that vantage point, the web geek in me comes out every now and then and wishes I could do what Sheila does. I always like to have a model to follow when starting out with new things, and GVH has been a welcomed measuring stick to what I want to strive towards.
Back on the Hawaii front, I really believe that there are many readers out there who share the admiration and the gratitude for that little bit of Aloha that Go Visit Hawaii adds to their daily lives. Not to mention the connections with other Hawaii fans that it has created. I’m just fortunate to have a great vehicle here on our website and blog to share that gratitude with our readers here, too.
Lastly, thanks for the note about subscribing to the blog here. I’ve been making a huge commitment over the recent weeks to post more often than I have in the past year, and it’s just another reminder of how much dedication this takes. The time and effort aside, it really is a blast!
Saturday, December 20, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Go Visit Hawaii is one of my favorite website / blog on Hawaii
Liza
Liza’s Eyeview and A Maui Blog