BUS 449 Post 5: Hawaii

Warm, tranquil waters, breathtaking, natural beauty – there is only one place this could be: Hawaii! The six beautiful islands offer distinct experiences for visitors of all ages. In this post I will tell you a little bit about each island and hopefully help you with the difficult decision on which one to go to.

Kauai is the oldest and northernmost island of the six. Outdoor adventures and romantic getaways are only part of what the incredibly beautiful piece of land has to offer. Some great, suggested activities include: the beaches of the Coconut Coast, the Waimea Canyon, "The Grand Canyon of the Pacific" and the towering cliffs of the Napali Coast, which are only a short boat ride away.

Oahu is the state capital of Hawaii and where most of the Hawaiian population resides. There you can find both, natural and cultural wonders. There are many historical memorials and museums to explore, fantastic mountain views, big waves for the surf lovers, and plenty of entertainment. This is the island I visited in 2010 when I went to Hawaii for the first time. I am saying for the first time, because I am most definitely planning on going back sometime soon. I went with my mom and a friend of ours. We stayed in a hotel just across the street from the main beach in Waikiki. It was my first time going somewhere tropical and I was truly amazed.The nature was incredibly beautiful, I had never seen anything like it: palm trees everywhere, cocouts, brightly colored fishies, coral reefs... all this left me speechless.

Hiking in the rainforest.

One of the days we were there, we went whale watching. A boat took us to Oahu's southern seas and we saw the majestic kohola (humpback) whale. From December to May, they go to the warm Hawaiian waters to breed and give birth to new calves.

On the boat when we went whale watching.

The next day, we rented a car, a red convertible, and drove around the whole Oahu Island. Half way through our adventure, we stopped at a food truck on the side of the road and had some delicious sea food for lunch. Driving around and passing by magnificent beaches with the wind blowing in our hair was amazing: it felt like we were in paradise!

The third island is Molokai. With half of its inhabitants being of Native Hawaiian ancestry, the island has preserved its connection to the past. Some interesting things to see are: the main town and seaport, Kaunakakai, the Kalaupapa National Historical Park, and one of the largest white sand beaches in Hawaii, Papohaku Beach.

Another unique island in the island chain is Lanai. There you can find opulent resorts for the perfect getaway. Treat yourselves well in luxury and privacy on your romantic escapade. Highlights of the island include: Hulopoe Bay, Lanai City, the rock formations at Keahiakawelo, and the Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods) landscape.

The second largest island is Maui. Some say that the island has some of the best beaches in the world. Whale watching takes place every winter in Lahaina, a historic hot spot. The Haleakala National Park is the scenic home to Maui’s highest peak and Hana is famous for its spectacular scenery.

The last island is the Hawaii Island (the Big Island). This one is larger than all the other islands combined and it offers lots of sandy beaches to snowcapped mountains. There you can see waterfalls, rainforests, botanical gardens, check out Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes and much more.
            Well, I hope this was helpful. I personally, would love to see all of the islands J The nature, the customs and culture of the Hawaiian people, the weather are out of this world. There is no place like Hawaii!

Sources: http://www.gohawaii.com/

The view from our hotel room.

This is how bright and colorful the fish there really are.
Photo: http://virtualenglishclassroom.blox.pl/html