the hawaiian islands
° Hawaii ° Kauai ° Maui ° Oahu° Holidays in Hawaii ° Hilton Hawaiian Village
° Dawn Patrol ° The Seahorse Farm ° Our Environment
The state of Hawaii is comprised of hundreds of islands spread throughout the Pacific with the most-known and most visited being Hawaii (The Big Island . . . and still growing through lava flow from Mauna Kea), Kauai, Maui, Oahi and the smaller Molokai (once a leper colony), Lanai and Ni'ihau.
There's much to do, or you can opt for sitting poolside and watching the light change. I have been to the various islands more than six times and my daughter's first plane ride was from San Francisco to Maui for her seventh birthday. It is a fantastic place for children because of the swimming, walking, beach activities, great food, and the safety of the Islands in general . . . although you do have to watch out for undertows in the ocean AND in some of the bays.
Kauai
Kauai is the island I most remember after visits because of its perfumed air. Fragrances from jasmine, pikaki, plumeria and flowers I don't recognize waft on tropical breezes. From the cliffs rising from the Napali Coast to the vast chasms of Waimea Canyon, Kauai touches the senses as a tropical island is expected to do. Plunging ravines. Cascading waterfalls. Unforgettable cliffs, canyons, beaches, and bays.
Take time to hike or mountain bike through Waimea Canyon for stunning views of the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific," or take a sightseeing flight in a small plane or helicopter along the 3,000-foot cliffs of the Napali coast. I've never done this, but as Kauai is one of the oldest islands in the Hawaiian chain, it has dramatic vistas (Note: If you have only the time or budget for one helicopter tour, save it for a flight over Kilauea on the Big Island of Hawaii. Try kayaking down the Wailua River (Kauai has the only navigable rivers in Hawaii). Like all of the islands, Kauai is rich in history from the time of Captain Cook's arrival in Waimea in 1778 to the early sugar plantations. Kauai also has many small towns with big historical significance. A statue of Cook stands in the town in his honor. Waimea Town was honored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of the Dozen Distinctive Destinations in 2006.
Maui
Watch a humpback whale breach the sea as they winter in Hawaii's warm waters. Voted “Best Pacific Island,” by readers of Conde Naste Traveler for more than a dozen years, Maui will exceed your expectations.
From the summit of Haleakala Crater to the shore of Big Beach in Makena, Maui exudes exhilarating outdoor sights, activities, and entertainment for every visitor. Favorite outings were watching the sunrise atop the 10,000-foot Haleakala Crater and driving the Hana highway. Our favorite town is Lahaina, which was an old whaling village during the 19th century and which houses a Whalers Village Museum.
In the 1800s, Lahaina was a major whaling port and fishing town, thanks to the calm harbor and its location on the whale migration routes. Also known as Lele, which means “Land of Relentless Sun,” the weather was a major draw for immigrants as well. However, the bawdy sailors had to share the immigration limelight with the missionaries that were also attracted to the area. This brought about a battle of virtues – the missionaries had many virtues and the sailors had none. Eventually, with the construction of missionary schools, the introduction of the missionaries of the printing press on the island and the construction of a prison for sailors in 1853, the missionaries won out and tamed the nautical culture.
Located next to Hawaii's last remaining working sugar factory in the historic plantation town of Puunene, Maui, the award-winning Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum is a marvelous repository of information and exhibits about one of the most significant and influential periods in Maui's history.
In 1838 King Kamehameha III invited Spanish-Mexican vaqueros from California to teach Hawaiians how to manage wild herds. These "horseback riding paniolo" (Hawaiian cowboys) have been wrangling cattle in Hawaii’s cool upland plains ever since in Makawao and Upcountry Maui. They hold an annual Makawao Rodeo in July. Because the islands are quite small, it's an easy drive to enjoy the Rodeo and festivities.
Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude