Hawaiian Islands
Near perfect weather all year long, miles and miles of whit-sand beaches, unsurpassed natural beauty, countless recreational options (land and sea), world-class accommodations, and an unparalleled reputation for hospitality - these are just a few reasons to visit Hawaii.
Hawaii actually offers six ways to experience its beauty. On its six different islands. Oahu, Maui, the big island of Hawaii, Kauai, Molokai and Lanai. You will find six different experiences of Hawaiian culture.
There's the hustle and bustle of Honolulu on Oahu, the unspoiled botanical wonder of Kauai, the legendary beaches of Maui, the mesmerizing volcanoes of the Big Island and the unadulterated, sleepy Molokai and Lanai. No two islands are alike and all are worth visiting - which makes choosing just one or two islands all the more difficult.

Oahu
Like all the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu has always been known for its ambience and easy ways - at least out in the countryside. Yet, today, it contains sectors that hum and sparkle with kinetic activity.
One of these is down town Honolulu, which has blossomed into a modern metropolis that may well be the prettiest downtown in America.
The other sector is Waikiki, a miracle mile of sophisticated hotels, shops restaurants and clubs that appeal to visitors and residents alike. The climate and fine beaches that attracted the ancient Polynesians lure the modern visitor today.
Islanders played on the beaches long before Hawaii was open to the west and natives surfed offshore on boards so heavy not many modern surfers could carry them.
Oahu also offers interesting area to explore, ranging form modern theme parks to natural and historical sites. One is Pearl Harbor, where the United States entry into World War II was precipitated on Dec. 7, 1941, when it was attacked.

Maui
First there is the cloud, white above, but reflecting green underneath, the kind of reflection that helped lead Polynesians to islands all over the Pacific.
The tell-tale green is a sign of shallow water, such as a lagoon. Above the cloud, unseen from the distance, is the summit of a 10,000 foot dormant volcano the Hawaiians call Haleakala, The House of the Sun.
Then the island itself. Maui comes out of the sea like a piece of jade in a cerulean setting. It is an oddly shaped island dominated by the volcano and marked by deep valleys.
Along the slopes of the volcano. Haleakala, the land is seared and scarred. Inside the crater itself, largest of its kind in the world, the landscape is cinderstone contrasted by pockets of forest.
On the low slopes of Haleakala on the eastern coast of Maui, the land becomes something wet and wild - a long stretch of magnificent rain forests and vegetation so thick it is astonishing. This is the uplands of Kipahula Valley, a refuge for native Hawaiian plants and birds.

The Big Island of Hawaii
The southernmost point in the United States, some may be surprised to learn, is Ka Lae which is located on the youngest and biggest member of the archipelago once called the Sandwich Islands. The island, and the state of which it is a part, share the same name… Hawaii.
The last island in the chain to be formed, The Big Island is still growing. The island gets a little bigger every time the legendary Madame Pele, goddess of the volcanoes, sends lava cascading form Kilauea or Mauna Loa to add to the 266 miles of coastline.
Only 76 by 93 miles, this island boasts a fantastic variety of terrain, rising form sea level to two of the worlds tallest mountains. Mauna Kea peaks at 13,796 feet while the worlds most active volcano, Mauna Loa, crests at 13,680 feet, both rising more than 30,000 feet from the ocean floor.

Kauai
Kauai is an etching on the heart, an image in the mind. It is the scent of the flowers and the long stretch of valley and the freshness of a waterfall that arcs in the misty grace over dark black rocks. It is an island, but more than that; it is a geographical landfall. It is a landfall for lovers, for dreamers, and a refuge for those seeking a slower pace. As an island it is an anachronism.
It is the oldest inhabited island in the chain but in many ways it is the most youthful in spirit. It has the world's wettest spot in Nt. Waialeale, where rain falls at the rate of some 468 inches per year. But nearby, there are warm sunny and inviting beaches.
Kauai has a rugged coastline on the north but splendid harbors to the south. Most residences and developments are on the coast leaving the interior free for sugar plantations wild goats and pigs, and the beautiful gash in the land that is Waimea Canyon.

Molokai
Nicknamed the Friendly Isle, this small rectangular island is just 38 miles long and 10 miles wide, with a population of about 6,000. It is part of Maui County, which also includes the island of Lanai and Maui. Hunting, fishing, golfing and hiking are lures to many vacationers.
While the central and western portion of the island is mainly plantations, the eastern half is mountainous, well forested and has good hunting ground for deer and wild goat.
Hawlawa Valley at the east end of Molokai is almost a virgin jungle with a pair of beautiful waterfalls and a lovely lagoon beach.

Lanai
The world's largest pineapple plantation is on one of Hawaii's smallest island, Lanai. Some 15,000 acres of Lanai's 140 square miles are devoted to growing pineapple.
Legend has it that Lanai was occupied by evil spirits for 1.000 years after the Polynesians settled on the Hawaiian Islands.
Eventually Kaululaau, nephew of King Maui, was banished to Lanai where it was assumed he would die.
But Kaululaau was a fighter who routed spirits, making Lanai safe for human habitation.
Today, the island has nine churches, one of which is the Hawaiian Congregational Church, a tiny wood structure just outside Lanai - a church, with a fastidiously neat flower garden and a picket fence around it.
The no-charge nine-hole golf course offers an exceedingly challenging uphill last hole.
For more information about Hawaii vacations and how you can save money by using your frequent flyer miles to get to Hawaii, contact one of our very experienced agents.
Mahalo