“The ancient Hawaiians were not inventive. They did not seek new tools or new weapons…but they were imaginative and told many a wonderful tale of gods and goblins and men.” W.D. Westervelt (1913)
When a place becomes as popular as the Hawaiian islands, there is usually something other than mere natural beauty to explain the reasons why, an elusive quality, a combination of scents, sights and emotions that make people feel like they might actually be walking on paradise on Earth. Hawaii vacation rentals lets you have the opportunity to see Hawaii in comfort with a variety of locations and amenities to choose from.
In the case of Hawaii, this can be attributed to the combination of Polynesian culture, a welcoming and spiritual people, beautiful music, and breathtaking natural beauty aided by a fabulous climate and, as Westervelt said, after compiling many beautiful Hawaiian legends, a great imagination.
Photo by jenschapter3
Most Hawaii visitors are concentrated on the four larger and more touristy islands of Oahu, Maui, Hawaii or the Big Island and Kauai. However the islands of Lanai and Molokai, for example, have much beauty and many pleasures to offer, and they will give you a better glimpse of the real Hawaii, as their population tends to be mostly made up of native Hawaiians.
Being an American state, Hawaii also offers all the comforts and amenities of the modern world, the major hotel chains can be found on several locations across most of the islands and numerous world famous brands have stores there, for example on Honolulu´s Rodeo Drive-style Kalakaua Avenue, where you can find everything from Dior to Max Mara and Gucci.
Getting there
Flights to Hawaii abound from the West Coast of the US, and they take about 5 hours (LA to Maui, for example). There are direct flights from China and Japan to Oahu as well. A cruise, for example out of San Diego, will take about 4 days to reach Hawaii, and it will generally include stopovers on the four main islands.
There is limited ferry service between some of the islands: Two daily services between Lahaina harbor on Maui and Kaunakakai Harbor on Molokai and five daily departures from Maui to the smaller island of Lanai.
Things you should do in Hawaii, no matter what
- Explore a little to find your own personal deserted beach (there is always one nearby)
- Put a beautiful flower on your hair, and take some of those very lifelike imitations home from a souvenir shop
- Take a surfing lesson
- Go to a Luau (traditional Hawaiian celebration with Hawaiian food, dance and music), preferably at the Polynesian Cultural Center
- Go stargazing on the beach
- Listen to IZ´ version of Somewhere over the rainbow live on Waikiki beach, and get an IZ CD!
- Have some fresh Hawaiian pineapple and try a mangosteen
- Get a tatoo; a traditional Polynesian art for a reason
- Get a Hawaiian dress, a hula skirt and top, a Hawaiian shirt and Hawaiian outfits for children
- Take a volcano tour
- See a rainbow (chances are, you´ll see many; Hilo is always a safe bet for rain)
- Visit one of the beautiful waterfalls
- Swim with sea turtles
- Try a Hula Girl cocktail
Overview of the islands
OAHU
Home to the state´s capital Honolulu, Oahu is the Hawaiian island that attracts the most visitors. It´s hard to beat the popular beach of Waikiki and the surrounding shopping and dining areas for Hawaiian style glamour and nightlife. Oahu is also home to some favorite tourist spots such as Pearl Harbor, which offers exciting tours for all ages, the Polynesian Cultural Center, and the fabulous seascapes of its North Shore. Besides great sunset concerts on the beach, where you can hear some beautiful Hawaiian music, and relaxing barefoot bars, Waikiki is also a great place to surf (if you´re into crowds) and to get your first surfing lessons. Also Oahu is a premier destination for wreck diving with lot of interesting dive sites.
Halona Blowhole in Oahu by Tyler Huston
MAUI
Maui is best known as a perfect honeymoon spot. It´s just a relaxing and unassuming paradise with white sand beaches, crystal clear waters and spectacular coral reefs. While you can find the world´s top resorts lining the Kaana´pali coast not far from the capital of Lahaina, Maui bosts all the comforts of Oahu, without the tall buildings and the traffic.
Photo from mauicharter
Snorkeling at Coral Gardens is a must and so is watching the sunset from a hammock set between two tall palm trees on Kana´pali. Surfing enthusiasts also visit Maui year-round, and the most adventurous ones rave about the funky Banana Bungalow hostel.
BIG ISLAND
The Big Island´s two main gateways are Hilo and Kona. The towns located on opposite sides of the island concentrate airports and cruise ship stopovers. It is somehow perpetually raining in Hilo, but this also means you can see some of the best sunsets here. Though the town is really nothing special, there are majestic waterfalls nearby, and beautiful exotic marshes by the shore you can lose yourself into. It´s a great place to bike around, although some of the roads can be steep as you distance yourself from the coast.Kona on the other hand tends to be sunny. Around Kona, you can find Magic Sands beach (when rough surf will make the sands disappear and then come back), Kahaluu or Sea Turtle beach, where you can swim side by side with numerous sea turtles in crystalline waters and also Black Sands beach.
Photo by aprilandrandy
The whole island has been formed as a result of volcanic activity from 5 volcanoes, three of which are active. Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano in the world, and all of them provide opportunities for fascinating adventures. The views of lava flowing from Kilauea volcano into the sea are among the most spectacular.
LANAI
From the fairy-tale lunar landscapes of the Garden of the gods to the majestic Sweetheart rock, every breathtaking sight in Lana´i also has a Hawaiian legend behind it to excite the imagination.
This smaller island is a relatively untrodden paradise, perfect for those trying to get away from the throngs of tourists ubiquitous on the bigger islands.
Snorkeling, superb golf greens, fabulous beaches and beautiful gardens make Lana´i a favorite for anyone interested in sampling a little bit of the real Hawaii.
The Four Seasons lodge at Koele, Lana´i. Photo by rickh710
KAUAI
Home to relaxing beaches and majestic geological wonders, Kauai is the oldest of the islands, and it is very rich in historical landmarks.
Waimea Canyon Photo by Geordie Mott
Waimea Canyon has been called “the Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” and a walk on the observation platforms will surely prove it worthy of the name. The mountainous Napali coast on the North Shore presents some of the island´s most unforgettable landscapes and the numerous sandy beaches in the vicinity will also please those more keen on tanning than hiking.
On the South Shore, Poipu beach is where all the best resorts, shopping and golfing can be found. It was once named “Best beach in America” by the prestigious Travel Channel.
MOLOKAI
Molokai combines sheer unspoiled beauty spreading across miles and miles of perfect shorelines, such as the paradisiacal Papohaku beach, also known as 3-mile beach, with the lure of the most deep-rooted Hawaiian traditions.
Polynesians are said to have settled in the marvelous Halawa Valley as early as 650 AD. The main natural attraction in Molokai, the Valley features two waterfalls and several beautiful beaches for swimming and fishing, as well as great hiking around the mountains.
North Shore, Molokai. Photo by Karen Chan 16
If you want an undisturbed paradise where the thrill of ancient Hawaii has been preserved through centuries, Molokai will surely dazzle you in many ways.
HAWAII HIGHLIGHTS SELECTION
NATURE: Volcanoes National Park
Comprising 333,000 acres, this UNESCO HERITAGE site features 150 miles of trails across craters, deserts and rainforests, a walk-in lava tube and two volcanoes which are still active today; Mauna Loa and Kilauea.
Kilauea is constantly erupting, and it produces hundreds of thousands of cubic yards of lava every day. The Nahuku lava tube is 500 years old, and it leads to a beautiful tropical rainforest.
There is even a hotel, fittingly called Volcano Hotel, within the premises, which features spectacular views of Halemaumau crater. Closed for renovations, it is set to reopen this summer (2012). Also consider reading about Hawaiian volcanoes here
CULTURE AND HERITAGE: Polynesian Cultural Center
The Polynesian Cultural Center in Oahu was created to provide a way for native Polynesian students to pay their way through college by sharing their culture. The impressive site includes a man-made river with canoe traffic that goes through the seven different villages, each representing a Polynesian people: Tonga, Tahiti, Marquesas, Aoteaora, Hawaii, Fiji and Samoa.
The most famous attraction at the Center is the Luau. Traditionally, A luau is a Hawaiian feast which may include serving kalua pig,
lomi salmon, opihi, haupia and other kinds of fish, beer and wine, accompanied by Hawaiian music and hula dancing. The name luau was taken from that of a dish commonly served at luaus: young taro tops with coconut milk and chicken or octopus legs.
The HO Breath of Life show is the top rated show at the PCC. It includes fire dancing and the musical and visual telling of a story from birth till the age of fatherhood in Polynesian culture. Interactive exhibits allow visitors to try their hand at canoeing, Samoan cooking, ukulele playing and many other traditional skills of the Polynesian peoples.
DINING: Michel´s Restaurant Waikiki
This French-Polynesian fusion restaurant with one of the best views on the Waikiki beach area is one of the oldest in Oahu. Opened in 1962, Michel´s is delivering a consistent mixture of excellent food, a commendable wine list and the best live Hawaiian jazz music in an unrivalled setting.
Casually strolling in, you may be able to hear a Grammy award winning slack guitar player strumming some delicious Hawaiian tunes, and you will possibly meet the restaurant´s friendly owner, who is frequently around and ready to share some of his fascinating life stories with his customers.
This photo of Michel’s At the Colony Surf is courtesy of TripAdvisor
NIGHTLIFE: Moose’s Lahaina
The Moose is one of the most traditional and happening pubs that make up Maui´s busy nightlife. The seafood snacks, such as fried calamari are fresh and delicious; just perfect to accompany some of the Moose´s delectable tropical drinks.
DJ´s spin tunes from all times that will make people glide onto the dancefloor until the wee hours of the morning. Even if you plan to go to a disco later, the MOOSE is the place to start the night around Lahaina. It is sure to be crowded and happening almost on any given night.
THE UNFORGETTABLE HAWAII
Hawaii can become quite addictive. If you go once, you are bound to return. From water sports to spiritual music, from cultural activities, deep-rooted in Polynesian tradition, to upscale shopping, whale-watching and snorkeling among coral reefs, the islands hold some kind of hidden treasure for every type of traveler and you will surely find your own.
Great info about Hawaii. Thanks for sharing!