The 50th State has just obtained an important blogger, a critical chronicler of its foibles and trends. In www.beatofhawaii.com, two recent transplants to the Islands are uncovering all the secrets, disclosing the less attractive developments, showing the shady side of travel to and within our own tropical paradise.

Wanna know what it's like to take the new Super Ferry from island to island? Beat of Hawaii shows a video of the ungainly ship pitching and heaving in high seas, and then attaches a "Barf-o-Meter" to record the degree of seasickness aboard. It also points out that on a recent sailing to Maui, only 45 passengers booked onto a vessel capable of carrying several hundred.

Wanna learn the impact that the bankruptcy of ATA and Aloha Airlines has had on airfares to Hawaii? Beat of Hawaii ventures an estimate. Wanna hear the predictions of insiders about the next Hawaiian Airline to go belly-up? It's all in Beat of Hawaii.

I don't agree with all their conclusions. But it's fun to read this new site, an example of the valuable insights and advice that honest blogging can bring to travel.

Labels: blog, hawaii