 |
Hawaiian Islands
 The Hawaiian Islands are big on
the Wow! Factor.
Whether you want surfing, sailing, shopping, hiking, trekking, or
sightseeing, you’ll find them all in Hawaii. On my recent trip I limited
myself to two islands, Oahu and Maui, leaving the Big Island (Hawaii)
for next time. I know there will be a next time.
The capital of Oahu is Honolulu, a sprawling city of nearly 1 million
people. If the name Honolulu doesn’t conjure up visions of glamour, then
Waikiki Beach, four miles of unbroken soft white sand, spectacular
hotels and all night shopping and entertainment, certainly will. The
city has everything from scores of designer shops (think of a designer
and there’s an outlet here bearing that name), to great swimming,
surfing and nightlife. Every little bar has a multi-talented piano
player and singer, the ambience is cool, and a pineapple chunk comes
with every drink you order! There are great clubs (try The Tube)
and restaurants that won’t disappoint. The cognoscenti spend the
cocktail hour in Honolulu’s only revolving restaurant, Top of Waikiki,
watching the sunset turn Diamond Head and the panorama of skyscrapers, a
soft glowing pink, before sampling the Pacific Rim inspired menu.
Parking is a problem almost everywhere on Oahu, so a chauffeur driven
car will save you a lot of time. The ultimate sightseeing trip, however,
is a helicopter flight, and Heli USA (www.heliusahawaii.com) will show you
the island in all its glory, the beaches, seas, craters, valleys and
mountains formed by volcanic surges - Jurassic Park seen from the air.
 Pearl Harbour is a name we are
all familiar with, and the Memorial erected in 1962 over the USS
Arizona, sunk when the Japanese bombed the harbour on December 7th,
1941 is estimated to receive over 3,000 visitors a day. Nearby is the
Battleship Missouri on which the Japanese signed the surrender
documents to end World War II, and the Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park,
both of which are worth a visit.
There’s older history, too, Hawaii being the only US State to have been
ruled by its own monarchy and Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu is open
to the public for guided tours.
In complete contrast is the former whaling colony, the island of Maui,
dominated by two towering volcanic peaks. In the smaller of the two
peaks lies the old town of Lahaina full of art galleries where you can
buy anything from a painting by Dali to a script signed by Marlon Brando
or a set of lyrics penned by John Lennon. References to Maui’s past can
be found all around Old Lahaina with its colonial architecture, old
wooden buildings and stone built prison. Clustered round the harbour are
small inns and fine restaurants, and sitting on the seawall is the
perfect way to watch the sunset before retiring to one of them.
Most people come to Maui for sport not shopping, for nature not
nightlife. There are no hotels or shops in the surfers paradise of Big
Beach where the waves are REALLY BIG and definitely not for beginners.
Go just beyond these waters however, to the quieter La Perouse Bay, for
perfect snorkelling and dolphins watching. Or, head for Haleakala
National Park, a spellbinding region centred round the world’s largest
dormant volcano where fantastic views of its 3000 feet deep crater can
be had (arrive early to watch the stunning sunrise, and wrap up well
because Haleakala has an alpine climate). To the north lies the long
sandy beaches of Kaanapali and Napili and golfers can head for the
championship courses around Kapalua.
 The sea around the island is
home to green turtles and dolphins and if you want to swim with these
delightful animals, the friendly and informative operators of the
Pacific Whale Foundation, all of whom are
qualified in Marine Sciences, will fix you up. This organization donates
all its profits to help save the oceans. You may have swum with dolphins
before, but green turtles……?
A perfect finish to the day is to take in a “luau” - an outdoor
Polynesian feast where the food is wrapped in banana leaves, surrounded
by heated stones and cooked in the earth. A hula and feast, The Old
Lahaina Luau is considered to be the best in Hawaii (www.oldlahainaluau.com)
.
Maui and Oahu offer a perfect pair of contrasting South Sea Islands.
Situated within the tropics (like the Caribbean), with virtually year
round temperatures at most of the tourist spots, between 70 and 85
degrees F. Hawaii has a climate to relish.
Enjoy, relax and hang loose is typical in these idyllic islands.
|
|
