Hawaii came in as the second-happiest state in the U.S. in the Gallup Organization’s Well-Being Index, which looked at factors like job satisfaction, emotional and physical health and healthy habits.

There’s no need to state the obvious as to why, but Utah–the leader–is a headscratcher. Utah, really? Utah before luaus, waterfalls and golden sands? No offense to Utah, but I’d rather be surfing, parasailing, tubing in a lazy river, dolphin watching, heck, eating Spam, in a Hawaii vacation rental. Wouldn’t you?

Now it’s time for you Utah folks to sound off.

What is your secret to happiness? Share on Twitter @checkincheckout.

Tonight’s tomfoolery–MJ, the Gosselins and Gaga oh my!–will have all of us thankful for that extra hour of sleep, but in some places, daylight savings time isn’t practiced.

In territories and states like Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Hawaii and Arizona, residents don’t need to turn their clocks back. If you’re spending Halloween in a Hawaii vacation rental, your location’s tropical latitude ensures plenty of daylight in whatever season.

Lucky Hawaiians.

What is it like to be spoiled with so much sun?

If the American dream is a two-story Georgian with a white-picket fence, then the Hawaiian dream is a beachside bungalow with a thatched roof.

Don Ho and Hollywood did a damn good job of selling the Polynesian paradise–who wouldn’t want to be greeted by a pretty girl with a lei and a mai tai? But visions of tiki bars and flowery shirts make us forget that wait, people actually live there. Full time.

In Honolulu, the city council will consider this week whether to allow new b&b licenses to be issued following a 20-year freeze, according to the Honolulu Advertiser. It seems that lots of Hawaii vacation rental owners were listing their properties illegally, and the residents were not happy about it.  As many as 1,900 homes were operating without permits, the newspaper reported.

In a state whose financial health depends on a steady stream of tourists, the practice isn’t a surprise, but something’s got to give for the local taxpayers who argue that their communities are being disrupted by noisy transients.

And now you have the podium. Honolulu landlords, how do you feel about the issue? Locals, what’s a resolution that everyone can live with, while still allowing for revenue to be pumped into the Hawaiian economy? Talk to me on Twitter @ checkincheckout.

The Old Hawaii aesthetic–rooms with ricketty rattan loungers and tiki-themed bathrooms–is beloved by those looking to celebrate island life, but not everyone cares for a palm tree print on the shower curtain.

The listing above, one of several Waikiki condo rentals available, is Honolulu’s answer to the dingy, outdated hotels with its modern decor and amenities. Hello, split-system air conditioning, granite counter tops, full stainless steel kitchen.

The landmark Ilikai Condominium Hotel, seen in the opener to legendary series “Hawaii 5-0,” peeps out to Ala Moana Beach Park and is close to the Hilton Hawaiian Village (because surely, what is a visit to paradise without a taste of pig fired on a spit, lovely hula girls and fire dancers?). It has the look and feel of a condo you might see in an interior decorating magazine, thanks to the microfiber couches, high headboards and soothing tones of brown and cornflower.

But then you look outside and remember that you’ve come to heaven on earth. Call it Haute Hawaii.

This beauty, one of many tempting Hawaii vacation rentals on our site, goes on my bucket list.

Blame it on my mama, but I tend to look at the cost first before even pondering any purchase. Why flirt with hurt if you can’t afford it? But with the way fares are going, come next August, I might be able to swing this trip to this Big Island two-bedroom, two-bath condo for just $899 a week.

The property owner describes the setting as 1880s Hawaiian village complete with lush landscaping, multiple barbecue grills to host your own luau and thatched huts. The kids won’t be bored–like they could be in this tropical oasis–with all the extracurriculars like lei and jewelry making, canoe crafting, plus a sarong demonstration to properly tie one for yourself. Because a tropical outfit isn’t complete without an orchid in your hair and a bright-colored sarong.

On Aloha Tuesdays, the host offers complimentary PUPUS (snacks), live entertainment and hula lessons. The units have indoor kitchens and are conveniently located near a grocery store and Walmart just in case Junior runs out of Pull-Ups.

Now, let’s just pray that the fares continue their downward trend. I can hear the ukuleles now …

When was the last time you saw a rainbow?

For me, it was 2002 during my honeymoon in Co. Kerry, Ireland. (Cue cheesy, tin-whistle soundtrack here, preferably with a strapping Colin Ferrell emerging from the bog in nothing but a kilt.) Fantasy aside, the image was spectacular: An afternoon shower misting into that green grass grazed by–what else–sheep and dotted with cottages. Above, that perfect arch of ROYGBIV. And damnit, the camera failed to get an image worthy of the memory, but oh well. At least I was there.

On MSN’s feature of the world’s best places to see the most gorgeous waterfalls and rainbows, Ireland misses placement, so you’ll have to head to Jamaica, Norway, Brazil, Zimbabwe, India, Vietnam, New Zealand, Venezuela, Canada and closer to home, Hawaii, Oregon or California to capture Mother Nature at her most heavenly.

With airfares to Hawaii so value-priced right now (Under $400 from Minneapolis on Northwest Airlines, wow!) , my choice would be Nanue Falls on the Big Island. The 1,200-foot waterfall is swathed in a lush rainforest on the Hamakua Coast. To get your heart even more aflutter, I found this Volcano Vacation rental for $100 a night. Close your eyes and smell the Hapu’u ferns, Lehua flowering Ohia trees and aromatic ginger. Imagine yourself lounging in a hammock on one of three lanais after frolicking through steaming craters on Hawaii Volcano National Park.

Need to shop around? Check out our other Hawaii vacation homes.

You’ll be happy that you did go chasing waterfalls.

We hope that Florida vacation home you booked for July is still in the works, but a new poll suggests that folks have canceled at least one of their planned trips.

A survey by AP-Gfk claims that 42 percent of Americans will be going on summer vacation, compared with 49 percent who said in a 2005 AP-Ipsos poll that they would be taking one. And most notable: While 43 percent of 30-49-year-olds will be vacationing, only 39 percent of 65 and older Americans plan to do so.

Can’t say I’m surprised.

The entitlement generation is used to Starbucks, Louis Vuitton purses and high-end denim. Personally, those are luxuries I can live without, but a vacation? No way.

If your company is teetering on the edge of layoffs or you’re living paycheck to paycheck, I can understand why you’d want to bypass the holiday in a Maui vacation rental, but an abbreviated excursion, even an extended weekend, can do wonders. Just choose carefully and don’t be stupid. If a road trip to Colorado is more feasible than a splashy European adventure, more power to you. And don’t rule out the savings and space benefits of renting a vacation home.

What’s the truth, though, America? We want to hear from you. Are you sticking by or scrapping your summer vacation? Leave a comment here or follow us (and speak to us) on Twitter @checkincheckout.

When any publication releases its “hit lists,” my first reaction is to scan for my city (Chicago), then shake my head in agreement or reach with pure disdain (like the time Forbes.com named the Windy City as one of the most miserable places to live in the U.S.–a link that was heavily circulated in my Facebook network, and by a New Yorker no less.).

This week, Prevention magazine got it right with its report on the 25 Best Walking Cities. Not only were the obvious on the list (San Francisco, New York and Chicago–yay!), but medium-sized towns earned spots, too (Minneapolis, Columbus, Rochester).

Because the “winners” always get play, I’d like to focus on the bottom five, and why you’d want to pack your New Balances while vacationing there. Oh, and that picture above, that’s Seattle, which ranked No. 7. Who wouldn’t want to walk along that copper-hued horizon?

25. Tuscon
Prevention loved its user-activated pedestrian lights. Find your Tuscon vacation home here.

24. Sacramento
Sac-town is lauded for participating in PARK(ing) Day, where the city temporarily transforms parking lots into green spaces. Find your Sacramento vacation rental here.

23. Austin
Along with a killer live music scene, Austin boasts 50 miles of scenic paths. Scope out our Austin vacation homes now.

22. New Orleans
Those wrought-iron fences, historic mansions and colorful locals are worth racking up your pedometers. Scan our New Orleans vacation homes.

21. Columbus
A city without at least 10 parks is shameful. Columbus has hundreds, including one that recreated the famous Seurat painting, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” Beat that.

Assuming you’ve been sensible and saved some shekels or–lucky duck–you’re getting back a nice tax return, you can still say aloha to that well-deserved vacation.

It’s called Nani Kai Hale.

This Hawaiian vacation condo goes on sale in May for $125 a night or $120 a night for stays at least two weeks or more. It’s doubtful you’ll be spending much time inside the fourth-floor unit seeing as to how it’s thisclose to Sugar Beach, which takes lovers on a five-mile stroll along the shimmery waters of Ma’alaea Bay. With the West Maui Mountains also touching the picture-perfect horizon, it’s one scene to be permanently imprinted in your memory.

At some point during your visit, you’ll want to hike to the Haleakala National Park, where a stretch of trails from the coastline weaves its way up to the summit of the dormant volcano that stuns in its raw, rugged beauty.

Like many Hawaii vacation rentals, this one has a full kitchen, plus gas grills to barbecue by the sea.

Remember not to blink, as you may miss the whales passing you by.

April in Maui.

Think you can’t swing it?

What about for $598 a week? The owner of this vacation condo at Maui Vista Resort tempts with a spring fling price that wouldn’t have possible a few seasons ago.

Yes, folks, the bargains are out there. And it only gets better: While April’s discount is 10 percent, May’s is 15 percent.

Pack your tennis racket for a match on one of six courts, then change into your swimsuit for the rest of the sun-soaked day on six miles of powdery sand. If you’re a pool person, go for a lap in all three.

The rest of week, sign up for surfing lessons, browse through trinkets at an outdoor market and order banana and macadamia nut waffles at the Village. Suddenly you’re a local.

As for your budget vacation home, four people will sleep comfortably–mom and dad on the queen bed and the kids on the sofa bed. A full kitchen saves mucho dinero on eating out and don’t forget the outdoor barbecue.

I’ll take my tuna seared with a side of mango salsa, please.