One of the benefits of staying in a vacation rental is the ability to prepare your own island inspired meals from local produce. Farmer’s markets are the best way to get your hands on fresh vegetables and sample some exotic fruits. The department of agriculture’s web site lists the schedules for all the markets in the state. Most rental accommodations also list this information in their information booklets.

Mangosteen and Rambuttan - two of many interesting fruits found at a farmers market

The rambuttan (spiky thing) is like a lychee, a very sweet fruit with a thick flesh similar in taste to a grape. Mangosteen’s are rare and fetch a premium. Their taste is exceptional and unique - worth a try.

Not everybody selling at these markets are farmers, some are just resellers who may get their items from neighboring islands and other vendors. The best produce is from the organic farmers who also service the community. They’re fairly easy to spot.

Make sure you’re on time. Locals are known to go crazy and snap up the best items quickly. Expect some very pushy soccer moms. It’s not customary to barter on prices.

Sometimes, gentlemen, you have to go beyond chocolates and flowers. 2500 miles beyond, to a little island in the Pacific called Maui. In our guide to Hawaii’s best island we gave Maui highest honors as Hawaii’s most romantic island. The sweet smelling air, miles of beaches, and dreamy sunsets are enough to cement any relationship.

With the weak economy can you afford a romantic getaway? You’ll be surprised at some of the amazing deals on offer. A prime example is the aptly name Love Nest by the Sea, a beautifully remodeled Maui vacation rental on sugar beach.

Another Mission Accomplished thanks to Love Nest by the Sea

Normally renting for $200+ per night, the owners of the Love Nest are offering terrific recession discounts with prices as low as $120/night. Taking into account tax savings, that’s more than $600 if you stay for a week, enough to cover the cost of an airplane ticket!

The Box Jellyfish is a beautiful and delicate creature, but also one of the most venomous animals in the world. There are many species of Box Jellyfish. In Hawaii the species Carybdea alata is most common. These are smaller and less venomous than some of their deadly cousins like the Sea Wasp of Australia, but the sting is still excruciatingly painful and can bring even the most reputation-savvy surfer to tears. Although the stings are more dangerous than Portuguese-man-of-war stings, no one has died from a sting in Hawaii.

Jellyfish are delicate creatures. Their venom must kill struggling prey quickly.

The jellyfish are most common around the western shores of Oahu. They exhibit an interesting and predictable behavior. About 10 days after a full moon they come to shore to spawn. Then they disappear. No one knows where they go. So, avoiding the jellyfish is easy and tourist beaches will post signs when the swarm arrives. Even more interesting than the jellyfish’s breeding habit is the behavior of swimmers, who often chose to ignore the warnings and continue to swim. On a single day in July 2004, over 350 stings were recorded on the beaches of Oahu. This is a testament to the allure of Hawaii’s beaches on a warm summer’s day.

Treatment for jellyfish stings is dousing them with white vinegar. One has to be very careful not to rub the sting which further disperses and lodges the poison. Tentacles must be carefully picked off with a stick. See our Hawaii health guide for more information about staying safe on your holiday.