HI

We wrapped up our travels in Hawaii with aquatic life, and I stumbled upon some great tips for choosing a whale-watching tour no matter where you are. First and foremost, please remember you are getting the lucky opportunity to spot these creatures in their natural environment and you should never do anything to put them in jeopardy. Before making the pick, ask yourself if the tour operators are putting the animal first and not making any promises (i.e., money-back guarantee) that could cause them to take unnecessary risks. In addition to doing your research (and asking for recommendations), consider the following questions:

• Why are they doing this? Check the training of the crew members – you're there to learn and it's important to know about their training, study, research participation, and length of experience observing whales before you set sail.
• How much time do they dedicate? You'll want to book a trip that brings the whale watching front and center. It's a good sign when the company actually works in whale research year-round and makes that the primary focus of their business – and not just making it a seasonal alternative to a diving or cruise business.

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To finish up our week in Hawaii, let's check out some of the species that call it home. Winter is a great time to go whale watching — in fact, many people consider February to be the peak season on the islands — and their waters are home to 23 species of marine mammals including the humpback whale and several types of dolphins. Aquatic Surfari's Wild Side Specialty Tours, offer daily morning wildlife charters to look for whales combined with dolphin and turtle encounters and reef snorkels to maximize your adventure. They also offer additional afternoon sails this season, which can be a bit better for less boat traffic. While onboard, you'll not only see how they collect data on whales (and other marine life), you can participate in the process and know that a portion of your cost goes towards whale conservation and research.

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Oahu-based Hawaii Fi-Do trains assistance dogs to offer physical, psychological, and therapeutic support for people who face the daily challenges of life with a disability (other than blindness) and is the only facility of its type on the island. Dogs are individually trained for two years to do work or perform necessary tasks – all pups get basic obedience and socialization lessons along with personalized training to perform such tasks as opening and closing doors, finding the phone, pulling a manual wheelchair, and even to alert their handlers and respond to different sounds.

Along with providing companion dogs to people who need them, Hawaii Fi-Do also offers a special S.T.A.R. (student teaching animal responsibility) program training and using at risk youth to work with the dogs and educate the public about the roles and rights of service dogs as well as a "Read to Willie Program," the first and only reading program in the state where reluctant young readers are motivated to read to certified therapy dogs.

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The cuteness continues on to Cocojor! This shop gets its name from the owner's two American Staffordshire Terriers (Sierra's Coco Chanel and Heir Jordan of Noah's Ark) and offers up authentic island apparel. Among their alohawear are dresses, shirts, and vests made in Hawaii . . . and made for doggies! The main location in Honolulu is worth a stop to pick up something to bring back for your pet or, if you're just dreaming of this vacation, their fashions can be found across the country.

Also, thanks to a tip from karisaamy check out Birken & Bailey’s Boutique in Paia if your travels take you to Maui. Named after the shop dogs (and, yes, the two Pekingese are usually available for photos), the store stocks variety of collars, carriers, and cookies alongside locally designed souvenirs.

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While getting into the state is half the battle, once you arrive the Kahala Hotel is the best stomping (and sniffing ground) for your pooch. With 345 rooms and suites that are all open to dogs, the resort offers a Pampered Paws program ($150 per pet) modeled after the similar one launched at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles. In addition to a luxe doggy bed and cute bowl, they offer freshly baked treats with your pet's name inscribed on top and a list of Hawaiian commands to teach your pooch – including noho (sit), olelo (speak), hele mai (come), and naue lima (shake hands). He may never want to leave!

Click here to share your own tips with PetSugar's Out and About travel group – and stay tuned as our week of Hawaii continues!

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Welcome to Hawaii! Off the bat, I want to mention that the Aloha State has a special quarantine law designed to protect resident people and pets from potentially serious health problems associated with the introduction and spread of rabies. All dogs and cats, regardless of age, must comply with Hawaii’s pet import requirements. This makes it impossible to bring your doggie or kitty for a last-minute family vacay – you'll need at least four months of preparation, including rabies vaccinations and a blood test that requires waiting 120 days after a successful test result before entering the state. If you do arrive or relocate on the islands before this time period ends, you'll not only have to give up your pet, but you'll also have to pay boarding fees of $224 for five days or less (plus $17.80 each additional day after that) and relinquish your pet to the quarantine station on Oahu where you can visit during afternoon hours but cannot take animals outside of their outdoor kennel enclosures. To learn more about Hawaii's laws, read more