Read up

If you haven't already scoped this out, we're going to spotlight it for you now: content. 3DHawaii.com is partnered with Hawaii Magazine and local writers to bring you the real flavor of this island paradise. You'll find the stories embedded in the introduction pages to each island, and among the drop-down themed travel features (HM gave us great fodder for our Off the Beaten Track features -- if getting away from the city is your thing, have a look).

Just do it

Some people come to Hawaii, stretch out on the beach and call it a vacation. That's fine, it counts -- after all, this place is all about the laid-back vibe. But if you're in the mood to really see the island, experience the marine world up close, get immersed in Pacific Islander culture at a luau, have a look at 3DHawaii.com's activities. We feature new ones every week on the Activities & Attractions themed travel feature, or you can pick from the litter by clicking Activities/Attractions in the left-hand navigation. Best part is you can book them right there, without venturing off to another site.

Hail to the firefighters

It's weird, but even after many months of working on 3DHawaii.com, seeing its underbelly and playing with its features morning and night, it's still got a "wow" factor for us –- actually flying around the islands to check out resorts and mountains and beaches (oh my!). Now we're Day 6 into the launch (a media push is coming later this week, be sure to check our news site for all the mentions), and we're cornily feeling that anticipation right before the big party: Doing our makeup, straightening our ties, checking ourselves out in the mirror. We're ready for things to Blow Up.

Our scrappy team is ironing out the remaining bugs and putting out those last fires. (Not that more won't crop up as we go...) In particular, props go to Ben Scheib and Douglas Ching, our programmers who dogmatically chip away at a Mount Everest of tasks, even as the rest of us keep adding rocks. And Jessica Pang is the glue keeping us all together, testing the site and coordinating work between the Team Vision and the Team Vision Virtual crews. Pulling off miracles daily is their business. Hmm, we may have to come up with nicknames...

IN PHOTO: Jessica Pang, foreground, and Ben Scheib, background right, hard at work in the Team Vision/Team Vision Virtual offices.