Fall in love with this friendly, mellow, exotic US state
The US state of Hawaii offers eight breathtakingly beautiful 'main' islands, namely Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe and the Big Island. But there are a whole lot more. A remote Central Pacific volcanic archipelago, the Hawaiian islands are loved by millions for their rugged glory, a place of dramatic cliffs, huge waterfalls, tropical forests and wonderful, colourful beaches with their exotic gold, red, black and green sands.
Surfing, or 'heenalu', was invented thousands of years ago by the Polynesians who first settled Hawaii.
There's so much to do in Hawaii, covering everything from natural splendour to man-made luxury. Here are three of the most popular attractions.
-
The Polynesian Cultural Center - a Polynesian-themed adventure park with village tours, evening shows and cinematic experiences
-
Haleakalā National Park on the island of Maui - a stunning park with volcanic vistas
-
The Iolani Palace - the royal residence built by the last king of Hawaii
Add Hanauma Bay to your list of must-see attractions, a glorious sight on the south east coast of Oahu island. Plus, also on Oahu, the fascinating Hawaii State Museum of Natural and Cultural History.
Hawaii, an incredibly beautiful place, is scattered with State Parks and National Parks. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is the most spectacular, a place where the planet's primordial forces are still at work. Every Hawaiian island has its own unique character. Lanai, for example, is the 6th largest island, also called Pineapple Island because the entire island was once a pineapple plantation.
-
Visit Kauai – called the Garden Isle because of its incredibly lush tropical rainforest
-
Discover Oahu - home to the state capital, Honolulu
-
Fall head over heels with Molokai – often called 'the friendly island'
Visit all three then add the lovely Niihau, Maui, Kahoolawe and Big Island to your itinerary for the trip of a lifetime and a full flavour of this remarkable place, extraordinarily varied and always warmly welcoming.
The notorious Pearl Harbour is in Hawaii, where the Japanese forces attacked the US navy during WWII. The famous deep-water naval base is still the HQ of the US Pacific Fleet.
The remarkable Molokini Crater was formed about 150 thousand years ago. Now all that's left is a crescent-shaped, partially submerged crust of volcanic crater forming a tiny island in the Alalakeiki Channel between Maui and Kahoolawe. This is the state's only island marine sanctuary and a brilliant place for scuba diving in the balmy, incredibly clear turquoise waters, which are stuffed with astonishing sea life. If you love air travel you'll adore the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbour, set on Historic Ford Island. The museum occupies two huge aircraft hangars and includes the notorious Ford Island Control Tower, still bearing the scars of the legendary Japanese attack. It's so good it's been voted 'One of the Top 10 Aviation Attractions in the Nation' by TripAdvisor.
Love water parks? You'll get plenty of thrills and spills at Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii in the city of Kapolei on Oahu. A full 25 acres of fun with at least 25 crazy rides on tap, it's the state of Hawaii's only water park. The spray from Rainbow Falls in Hilo, an eighty foot waterfall with an impressive 100 ft diameter, delivers the most awesome rainbow colours, a truly magical effect and a unique photo opportunity. But water isn't always the islands' friend, as revealed by the excellent Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo which marks the devastating 1946 and 1960 tidal waves.