There are many reasons people travel to Hawaii. Some may go for the weather, some may go for the beauty and some may go for the beaches. Actually, there are SO many reasons people go to Hawaii, we can't begin to list them here!
What we can list here are the top ten reasons people visited Hawaii as compiled by the Hawaii Visitors Bureau. They are...
1. The Thrilling Sites and Scenic Beauty - You will never run out of places to go and things to do in Hawaii.
2. The Great Weather - The weather in Hawaii stays just about the same the whole year-round. The high temperatures usually range in the mid-eighties and the low temperatures usually range in the mid-seventies. The trade winds tend to keep the temperature very comfortable.
3. The Famous "Aloha Spirit" - You will not find many friendlier places than Hawaii. The people are very nice and they will make you feel right at home.
4. Some of the Best Beaches Anywhere - Each year, travel magazines conduct surveys about what are the most popular beaches in America. The hands-down winner every single year is always some beach on the Hawaiian Islands.
5. Other Islands You Can Visit - Travelers love going to Hawaii because of the close proximity of the other islands. You can stay on one island and take a day trip to Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui or the Big Island. Each island has a different style and personality.
6. Water sports - If you can imagine any kind of water sport, Hawaii probably has it. From whale-watching to big-game fishing, from wind-surfing to boogie-boarding, from catamarans to kayaking, Hawaii has it all.
7. Great Dining and Entertainment - Hawaii is famous for it's international cuisine. With all it's restaurants, you can find just about any kind of culinary experience you desire. Along with it's great dining, Hawaii has some of the best entertainment in the Pacific. Whether you tastes run toward night clubs or whether you would like to enjoy a traditional luau, you can find it on Hawaii.
8. Relaxation and Rejuvenation - Hawaii is one of the most laid-back spots in the world. There is something about the atmosphere that just causes you to relax and unwind. You will feel all the cares of the world just melt away during your vacation to Hawaii.
9. The Diverse Culture - Hawaii is the 50th state to join the United States but the culture is still old-world. There are the native dances, there are the legends and traditions and there is the music. When you visit Hawaii, you will still be in the United States but you will feel worlds apart from the hurry-up lifestyle of the mainland.
10. Variety of Accommodations - Do you want a budget hotel or do you want a luxury priced hotel with all the pampering? Do you want a privately owned condominium or a large family home? Whatever you accommodations requirements, you will find it in Hawaii.
There you have it! Ten reasons why people like to visit Hawaii. You want to know a little secret? You really don't need a reason to visit Hawaii. Just go and experience, first-hand, the "Aloha Spirit" you won't experience anywhere in the world!
Top Ten Benefits of a Hawaii Vacation
Hawaii Wedding
The scent of plumeria and jasmine fills the air. The trade winds gently blowing through your hair makes you feel at one with the essence of Hawaii. There is nothing like a Hawaii wedding and it is an experience you will never forget.
Hawaii is the land of romance and it is filled with that unseen force that can be felt by those people who travel to that mystic destination. It is called the spirit of aloha and it means love, kindness and compassion. Just as love, kindness and compassion make up the spirit of aloha, they are also the basis of a lasting relationship that is symbolized by the Hawaii wedding ceremony.
There are so many scenarios that could describe the perfect Hawaii wedding that we couldn't begin to list them here. One couple might take their vows on a private cruise with the dolphins following across the bow. One couple might take their vows at a secluded, private waterfall. One couple might like a sunset wedding followed by a candlelit alfresco dinner right on the beach. You are only limited by your imagination when it comes to planning the perfect Hawaii wedding.
Are you having trouble deciding what you would like to do for your Hawaii wedding? There is plenty of help on any of the Hawaiian Islands. There are wedding coordinators, wedding planners, wedding photographers and much, much more. Since a Hawaii wedding is one of the most popular weddings in the world, you can rest assured that there is always someone who can help you with your wedding planning.
Before you take off for your Hawaii wedding, there are a few rules you must keep in mind. You have to be 18 years old to be married in Hawaii. You have to appear before a license agent to fill out a form and pay a $60 fee in cash. The good news is that there are no blood tests required and there is not citizenship or residence requirement to be married in a Hawaii wedding. Once all the requirements are met, the license is good for 30 days. You can call 808-586-4545 to get the location of the nearest licensing agent to where you are staying.
The sun slowly sets into the sparkling Pacific Ocean as you and your fiancé participate in the ceremony of a beautiful Hawaii wedding. The smell of the sweet fragrance of tropical flowers wafts lightly through the air. The sounds of romantic Hawaiian music flows gently with the winds. Vows are made, promises are rendered and you have just participated in something you will never forget...a Hawaii wedding!
Hawaii Weather
Hawaii is located on the edge of the tropics which means it has two main temperatures...warm and warmer. In fact, the temperature only varies about 15 degrees all year-round and the water temperature stays a comfortable 74 degrees. You can be reasonably sure what the Hawaii weather is going to be like on any given day.
April through November is the warmer and drier time of the year. The Hawaii weather temperatures typically range from 75 degrees to 88 degrees. December through March are a little cooler and temperatures typically range from 68 degrees to 80 degrees. As strange as it may seem, Hawaii and Alaska are the only two states in the United States that have never hit 100 degrees.
Hawaii weather is famous for it's trade winds that come blowing in from the east. The trade winds flow into the mountains and flow upward. This causes the release of moisture so Eastern Hawaii and Northern Hawaii are always cooler and more moist. Western Hawaii and Southern Hawaii are typically drier.
Are you worried about a little rain in your Hawaii weather forecast? Well, it is usually raining somewhere in Hawaii every day BUT you can always drive to where the sun is shining, too! The rain showers only last a couple of minutes and they are normally pretty light.
Because of the consistent Hawaii weather, Hawaii typically has two tourist seasons. The summer tourist season is July and August. The next busy tourist season is from December to March. A lot of people like to get out of the winter in Canada and the United States to go to Hawaii for prime whale-watching season. In fact, you better make your reservations one year in advance if you are going to Hawaii during Christmas or any time in February. It gets VERY booked up during those periods.
Hawaii is a travel spot that has some of the most pleasant and consistent weather in the world. When we say "consistent" we don't mean Hawaii weather is very dull. In fact, you can travel to the different Hawaiian Islands and experience 11 of the world's 13 recognized climate zones. They only climate zones you won't experience somewhere on the Hawaiian Islands is the Artic Zone and the Saharan Zone.
So, Hawaii weather is rarely an excuse for a bad vacation. From the snow at the top of Haleakala to the wettest spot on earth at Mt. Wai'ale'ale on Kauai, from the rain forests of Koa to the beautiful weather on Kaanapali Beach on Maui, most people can find just the kind of Hawaii weather that pleases them the most.
Tips on Saving Money on a Hawaii Vacation Package
You are going to Hawaii! The big decision has finally been made and now it is time to do some planning. You start up the computer, go on the internet and start your research. But wait! There are too many choices. How do you know which Hawaii vacation package offer is legitimate and which one is not? How do you know which resort is the best? How do you know where to get the lowest airline tickets? It can all be very confusing but there is hope.
If you want to get the best value for your accommodations, you will want to stay in a privately owned condominium. These are condos that are rented out by the condo owners or a property management company. You just can't find a better rate than the condo owners offer! These condos are worth upwards of a million dollars, they are somebody's investment and they will be well-cared-for.
How do you find these condos? You go into the search engines and search words like "Hawaii property management" or "Hawaii privately owned condo." That will give you enough information to find those great accommodation deals. There are plenty of privately owned condos on all the Hawaiian Islands so you won't need to worry about finding one of them. Now that you have your accommodations for your Hawaii vacation package, let's take a look at airline tickets.
Airline tickets are available all over the internet at various prices. Your first step should probably be to call a travel agent and get a quote for airline tickets and a rental car. Don't let them add accommodations to your quote...we already have those. Your travel agent will get you a quote that you can compare to internet rates. Most travel agents will have better air rates than the internet unless one of the airlines is running an internet special.
To see if there are any good specials on the internet, I would suggest going to an online source like http://www.sidestep.com. Sidestep compares the rates for several different online websites and comes up with the best rates. It can save you a lot of time in finding the best rates for your Hawaii vacation package.
You can put together a fantastic Hawaii vacation package with just a little research. The time and effort you put into research can save you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars.
Hawaii Islands
When people think about Hawaii, they tend to think of it as one destination. It is, however, six major islands. While all of the islands have many things in common, they also have their own unique personalities.
Kauai is the oldest Hawaii island and it is full of unspoiled nature. It is 522 square miles and it has a population of 58,303. The highest spot on Kauai is Kawaikini and it is 5,243 feet in height. The average temperature on Kauai is 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. There are 9 golf courses on Kauai and it has 90 miles of coastline. Kauai is the only Hawaii island that has navigable rivers and the largest, Wilua River, is 12 miles long.
Maui! Who hasn't heard of Maui? Maui is the most popular Hawaii island of all the islands and, if you have been there, you know why. Maui is a tropical paradise whose unparalleled beauty and splendor leave it's visitors wanting to come back again and again. Maui has 727 square miles of unspoiled beauty and it has a population of 117,644. It's highest point is the famous Haleakala and it rises 10,023 feet above sea level. Maui have 9 golf courses and 120 miles of pristine beaches. Maui has won MANY awards from travel magazines and it continually ranks as the most popular island vacation spot in the world. Maui was voted "The Best" vacation spot in the world by readers of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure magazines. Kaanapali Beach on Maui has consistently been named the most popular beach in the United States. D.T. Fleming Beach and Kapalua Beach have been rated two of the top beaches in the world. If you have ever been to Maui, you will know why!
Molokai is one of the more laid-back Hawaii islands. It takes you back to a simpler time and you won't find a single traffic light on Molokai. It just doesn't have them! You, also, will not find any buildings which are taller than a coconut tree. Again, they just don't have them. Molokai is very small and it is only 38 miles long and 10 miles wide. Molokai is famous as the island where Father Damien set out to minister to those people who had been exiled to the island. They were exiled because they had Hansen's Disease, also referred to as Leprosy.
Lanai is a small Hawaii island which is 141 square miles in size with a population of 3,193. It's highest elevation is 3,366 feet and it has a coastline of 47 miles. The average temperature ranges from 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Lanai is famous for having one of the country's best sporting clay ranges. This facility also has a 12-station archery range. Kaiolohia Bay, sometimes called Shipwreck Beach, is a great spot for whale-watching from November until April. It is called Shipwreck Beach because there are the remains of a ship dating back to World War II at the beach.
Oahu is the most settled Hawaii island of all the islands. Oahu is 597 square miles in size and it has a population of 876,151. There are 36 golf courses on Oahu and it has 112 miles of coastline. The average temperature, just like all the Hawaii islands, is 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Oahu has the "world's best known beach" in Honolulu. Waikiki Beach is one of the world's most popular beaches but it is certainly not the only beach on Oahu. Oahu has many beaches and a lot of them are so isolated that you won't see another person anywhere around you. There are far too many things to see and do on Oahu to list them all here. The more popular sites are Pearl Harbor, the North Shore, Maunalua Bay; along with smaller towns like Kahaluu, Waikane, Kaaawa, Kahana, Punaluu and Hauula.
Big Island Hawaii is the newest island and it is currently the only island with volcanic activity. Many people take helicopter tours of the island just to see the volcanic eruptions and the flow of lava. Big Island Hawaii has 4,028 square miles of beautiful landscape which makes it larger than all the other Hawaii islands put together. It has a population of 148,677 and it has 266 miles of coastline. The highest point on Big Island Maui is 13,796 on Mauna Kea and the island has 17 golf courses. The terrain is lush and green on the Northern side and dry and sunny to the South. Big Island Hawaii is the site of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is the state's most popular attraction.
It's hard to sum up each Hawaii island with just a few words. They all have their own characteristics, ambience and culture. People have their own opinions about which island is the best but they all agree...Hawaii is the land of Aloha!
Big Island Hawaii
According to Polynesian legend, the goddess Pele gave birth to the islands of Hawaii. The Big Island of Hawaii is her latest creation. Big Island Hawaii is larger than all of the other Hawaiian Islands put together and it continues to grow each day.
Kilauea is an active volcano on Big Island Hawaii that sends lava streaming into the ocean. As the lava hits the water and cools, more land is added to Big Island Hawaii. A nice after-effect of the active volcano are the thermal pools heated by the volcano at Ahalanui Beach Park near Pahoa.
The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is one of the oldest state parks in the United States. One of Kilauea's vents started erupting in 1983 and it has been spewing lava ever since. You can drive up to 300 feet below the rim of the crater and you can hike up even closer to the top of the volcano. The higher you go, the warmer your shoes will become.
Big Island Hawaii is 4,028 square miles in size and it has a population of 148,677. It has a fantastic 266 miles of coastline and it's highest elevation is at Mauna Kea at 13,796 feet. If you are a lover of the game of golf, you will love the 17 golf courses on the island. The average temperature is 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Another feature of Big Island Hawaii are the coffee plantations where the best coffee beans in the world are produced. Most of the plantations have centers where visitors can sample this fabulous coffee. If you are a coffee-lover, this is one treat you won't want to miss.
Hilo is the biggest city on Big Island Hawaii and it is the gateway to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Hilo also has Liliuokalani Gardens, which is the largest Japanese garden this side of Tokyo. They also have a Farmer's Market, Suisan Fish Market, Rainbow Falls and Akaka Falls.
Kailua-Kona is another of Big Island Hawaii's large towns. It is on the leeward side of the island and it gets plenty of sun. If you are a person who loves sport fishing, you will love Kailua-Kona. Nearby, you will find some of the world's best Marlin fishing. The town is also close to Kealakekua Bay where you will find many different varieties of fish, sea turtles and spinner dolphins. It is also the spot where Captain Cook died and it is marked with a historical marker.
If you are a historically-minded person, you will enjoy Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park. Here you will find fishponds, temple ruins, burial sites and petroglyphs. There is a temple located here with a rock wall 1,000 feet long, 10 feet high and 17 feet thick and you can tour the grounds.
There is so much to see and do on the Big Island Hawaii that you can never experience in one trip. Once you have visited this island, you will want to return again and again.
A Hawaii Vacation - Where Else Would You Go?
Where can you go to find excellent weather, outstanding beauty and that famous "Aloha Spirit?" Hawaii, of course!
When most people think of Hawaii, they think of some exotic island in a different part of the world. While that is true, Hawaii is still the 50th state to join the United States. When you take a Hawaii vacation, you can still speak to the native Hawaiians in English. You will still use American money and you don't need a passport. Hawaii is exotic, yet it is very familiar!
People who take a Hawaii vacation give it a 97% approval rating. What does that mean? It means, when people go to Hawaii, 97 out of 100 of them want to go back. There are not many vacation spots in the world that can make that claim. With an approval rating that high, Hawaii must be doing something right!
Did you know that Hawaii has one of the lowest crime rates of any vacation spot in the world? It has been rated as one of the safest spots in the United States so you can take a Hawaii vacation and feel safe and secure while you are there.
While some people think a Hawaii vacation is too expensive, it is really one of the best values in vacation travel. There are over 21,000 hotel rooms that are available for under $100 per night. They also have the lowest car rental rates in the country and you can enjoy a nice breakfast for under $3.
Too expensive? Some of the best things about a Hawaii vacation are absolutely free. You can sit on any number of beautiful beaches, just relax and forget all your troubles and cares. You can visit one of many beautiful waterfalls. Rainbows, swimming, snorkeling, hiking, rainforests...they are all free and they are yours to enjoy anytime you wish.
One thing you need to remember about taking a Hawaii vacation is that you will want to leave your pets at home. Hawaii has a 120-day quarantine requirement for most pets and a lot of plants are also restricted. If you have plans to take a pet on your Hawaii vacation, you will need to call the Animal Quarantine Station at 808-483-7151 to find out what will be required.
All in all, a Hawaii vacation is a vacation that you will never forget. You will find yourself dreaming of the time that you will be able to return to Hawaii and enjoy that "Aloha Spirit."
