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!
Hawaii Islands
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."
