The best of the United States, yet almost its own country, the 50th state is comprised of 6 major islands.
O'ahu(597 sq miles )... Home to Waikiki, Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, and great north shore surfing. It hosts the islands only freeways. Honolulu is the 9th largest city in the USA. This is where most arrive and depart for airlines and ship cruises.
Maui ( 727 sq miles) ...Has some of the best beaches in the world, and now also a very active airport. Cruise ships now start 7 day cruises from Maui harbor as an option to Honolulu sailings.
West side is warm and dry while the north and eastern shores are rain forests. the famous drive to Hana is a thrill to drive as it clings to sheer jungle cliffs. Haleakala Volcano rises to over 10,000 feet and is a great site to watch a sunrise. Tours take bicycles down from this summit for the "Maui down hill"
Molikini, an off shore seamount ,offers the best snorkeling while Wailea offers the best beachs and weather. Napili bay on the north west coast offers luxury resorts golf and great beach snorkeling.
Moloka'i (260 sq miles)... Friendly, peaceful, and quiet, A farming and ranch community.. Very few visitor services and hotels. The north shore is as rugged as in Kauai.
Lana'i ( 141 sq miles)...is small, and largely undeveloped except for a few luxury resorts, and golf courses.
"The Big Island ", Hawaii, ( 4028 sq miles)... Home to Kona and Volcanoes National Park; Mauna Kea Obseratory at almost 14,000 ft high towers above all , Capt Cook bay offers the best snorkel site in the entire state , Place of Refuge national park is a cultural must see.
Distances here are huge... towns over 100 miles apart; It has 11 climates from arctic to rainforest. It will always say "rain" in the forcast for Hawaii because with these many climates it will rain somewhere on the island every day.The west side is dry and warm while rain and clouds hover over the stormy east or windward side many days.
The gold coast of the Kohala region is home to some of the most striking resorts in the state. Hilo is old hawaii of a long ago plantation era and is quaint and folksy and also the rainiest city in the USA.. with over 140 inches a year . Hawaii has fewer sandy beaches but as a result has clearer and warmer waters for diving, swimming and snorkeling.
Kaua'i ( 552 sq miles).... Most northern of the 6 Kauai is home to jagged sea cliffs and gaining a name as an active getaway from resorts and tourists. Called the "Garden Island," it is lush and moist with frequent rain which in parts falls over 400 inches a year.
Its Waimea canyon is the " grand canyon of the pacific" and a natural wonder as is the north shore. Kauai has cooler ocean waters and can get stormy It is home to several world class golf and family resorts.
What is the weather like
Hawaii is warm year-round and most popular during the winter months, when surfing conditions are optimal and whales travel offshore.
There are really only two seasons winter and summer and the temp. varies only about 10 to 15 degrees between them.The northern islands catch more rain and are slightly cooler than than the more southern ones. In winter temps. of 65f to 70f are the lows and highs reach 80f to 85f. Winter can be very dry with more rain falling in the April to July period. Summer lows are 72 to 79 and highs 86 to 91 possible. Humidity can vairy from 40 to 80%. The entire island chain is in the trade wind belt and these 15-20 mph breezes keep the humidty down. Because many islands like Hawaii and Maui have large mountains, you can expect the temp. to drop at about 3 F per 1000 ft you are above the beach. Thus on Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa it gets below 32 much of the time
Expect rain on the eastern slopes much of the time, and come prepared, but also be ready for long days of sunshine on the western side. This is a place of micro-climates where one can pick the exact weather one wants. most of the time.
The sun is stronger here than any place in the US...since the islands sit only 1140 miles north of the equator. Our time zone is 5 or 6 hours behind Eastern Standard Time and 2 to 3 hours behind pacific time.. In Hawaii we do not use daylight savings time.
Remember that Hawaii is the most remote locations on Earth (in terms of proximity to other land masses), and almost the same distance from the continental US as it is from the East Coast to the West Coast.
Getting to Hawaii...fly or cruise ship or both.
Most persons arrive by air and there are international direct flights to Honolulu,Kona, and Maui from the west and central US. Foreign carriers come non-stop from Australia and Japan..flight times are between 5.5 and 9 hours from the Mainland. Many travlers choose to break their trip in the west coast for a day.
There has been an increase in the number of cruise ships that are now sailing to the islands from Seattle, San Francisco,Los Angeles and San Diego. This gives the travler the option of flying one way and sailing home or around the islands on trips of between 7 and 16 days. Since interisland travel is by air, it is very expensive and flights of 75 miles can cost more than a $1 per mile, many first time visitors take advantage of the 7 day cruise ships which visit all the islands for a day. This option gives the first-time visitor a taste of Hawaii and saves huge air fare costs in the process.
Getting around Hawaii
Rental cars are all available but with many restrictions on some islands. On the Big Island many roads are prohibited. Another restriction on rental 4x4's is that thay can't be taken off the paved road. It is more important that a visitor ask of his selected rental firm what restrictions and limits they impose. To save some money, it is wise to rent a 4x4 only for the day or days you will actualy need it rather than for a a longer period. Also, on many islands gas stations are few and far between. Keep your tank full. In addition, on many islands all the police cars are un-marked private cars that can sport a blue light when needed.
Speed limits are between 35 to 55 with seatbelt laws enforced strictly. Roads, except in Ohau, are 2 lane and very slow. Expect rush hours to be between 2 to 6 when hotels change shifts and many workers are on the road. Expect to average 35 miles per hour when driving to place of interest and few passing lanes.
Public transport is not well developed and taxi fares are high... Most visitors choose a rental car or stay put at a resort much of the time.
Remember you are on vacation...it is not a death march.. take travel by car in small steps and enjoy what you see rather than seeing what you can enjoy.
why Hawaii is the American Tahiti
Just why the Hawiian islands are so interesting is a function of their location in the mid-Pacific...more than 2200 miles in any direction is nothing......no other land mass. It is bathed by the trans-equatorial currents which ensure clean pure seas and healthy life. The flowers and fruit bloom year round and the local produce is far reaching from corn to starfruit. March to May will see many native trees in full bloom and on the higher elevations wildflowers carpet the ground.
Situated over 1600 miles south of Midway Island, the "Big Island" of Hawaii is really part of Polynesia. Indeed , the Kona and Kohala coasts sit at about the same latitude north of the equator as Papeetee, in Tahiti, sits south!
Water sports/nature and the outdooors:
Hawaii in reality is the American Tahiti... with fish and corals and diving in pure waters heated by the sun to to between 70 and 80 degrees with visability underwater that often exceeds 100 to 200 feet. Beaches are clean and not subject to sand fleas and pests.
This is the home to some of the finest big game fishing on earth...it is Jurassic park of the sea. Maui and the Big Island are home to the finest diving and snorkeling of all the islands in the chain. Places like Kalakeaua Bay, or Capt Cook, offer the finest snorkeling in the entire chain and it is a mecca for watersports of every kind.
In some islands there are mountains rising to over 13000 feet wiith snow and alpine conditions. The National Park service has many fine parks and offers naturalist porgrams jist like on the mainland usa. If you have a golden eagel pass bring it. Many parks offer camping but it is hard to get. Beach camping is on most palces forbidden and in bad taste.
There are many companies that offer guided back-packing and hiking trips for one to more days. Pack trips and hunting trips are also very popular in the mountainous regions. Because much land is private, it is prudent to employ a guide who has secured permission to access hidden gems off-limits to independent travelers.
The hike to the volcano on Hawaii is often closed by the park service for safety reasons. Always consult a ranger before planning and embarking on your adventure. You can't walk right up to the lava as in days past, but it is still pumping 500,000 cubic yards of magma a day into the sea. You can see this up close, and safely, from the air.
The islands of Hawaii and Maui have recently started to offer cave exploring adventures and guided trips with naturalists.
The islands of Kauai, Maui and Hawaii are best seen from the air as 80% of the gems cant be seen from a road or trail. Consider an air tour as an outstanding way to discover what and where the things are that are important to you.
Customs and manners:
You'll want to pick up some of the language, along with the macadamia nuts and Kona coffee that inevitably leave with every visitor. Everyone knows "aloha", but you might want to learn a few more phrases so you can fit in with the kama'ainas (locals). However, be cognizant of the fact that you are a visitor - the locals all know a visitor and resent those trying to be Hawaiian over night. The islanders and locals will welcome you for just being you, and will appreciate genuine interest in and respect for their culture... Don't try too hard...
A visitor should be kind and considerate to those he meets. Don't assume you are the locals best buddy untill one actually accepts you. Treat the service staff with respect, because wages are low and the cost of living is high. Most persons here work 2 or more jobs to make a basic living. When it is their day off they like to get away from it all at their own beaches and hangouts. You will be deeply respected if you give the locals space . Avoid the get me, gimmie' and oh'boy, way. Treat others here as though you were a guest in their home rather than they are your servant.
Where to stay:
The range of hotels ranges from world class resorts to mom and pop B&B's. Condos are one of the best ways to enjoy the islands as visitors can prepare local foods in their condo kitchens, and still enjoy going out to dinner. The savings can be huge. Many major hotels with fantastic water parks and pool areas offer non-guests day passes that are very inexpensive. Thus a visitor can stay at economy lodging and enjoy the 5 star recreation options on days that they choose. As many days are spent in exploring the island, why pay for services you won't use that day?
Prices
The highest prices directly relate to school holidays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter and Summer . October, earily November, and May can be the best to avoid crowds and high costs. Most condos book Saturday to Sunday for the best deals. While you can shop prices online, most hotel concierges can beat them as they know local vendors and have relations with them that a visitor could never achieve... They are the hidden jewel of Hawaii...
