Why Hawaii?

Aloha Everyone!  Today’s blog is about Why Hawaii?  Traveling to Hawaii is something that some people dream about.  So I’m going to give you a little teaser for each island to get you thinking about WHY you want to make your next vacation to Hawaii!  In upcoming blog posts, I will discuss each island in more detail to help you decide if island hopping is an option or not!?!

The beauty of the Hawaiian islands is that they have their own personality and characteristics that can only be found on each island.  I always say that there’s an island for everyone!  Maui is my favorite for obvious reasons!  Known as the Valley Isle, In my opinion, Maui has a little bit of all of the islands and that’s what makes this island so magical!  When people talk about the island they say “Maui no ka oi” which means Maui is the best!  Hiking out to some of the most beautiful waterfalls in the world and you’ll understand why Maui is nominated as one of the best islands year after year!

As we make our way around the island chain, our next stop is the Island of Hawaii or as most call it The Big Island!  The island gets its name because it is the biggest of all the islands and is growing on a daily basis due to Madame Pele- the goddess of fire!  The Big Island has so much to see and you should really experience the fury for yourself!  Hawaii Volcano National Park is one of the seven national parks in Hawaii and will not disappoint!  

Moving on to the most northern island in the chain…Kauai!  Known as The Garden Isle, the biggest attraction on the island is Waimea Canyon or what some refer to as The Grand Canyon of the Pacific!  One of the wettest spots in the world is located here called Mount Waialeale.  The natural beauty of Kauai is sensory overload!  Many movies have been filmed on Kauai for that simple fact…the endless beauty!  Off the coast of Kauai is another island called Niihau.  This island is known as the Forbidden Isle and for good reason!  The island is generally off-limits to all but relatives of the owners of the island, US Navy personnel, and government officials.  Back in the ’80s, tours to the island were popular for hunting and other activities.  For the most part, though, the island is pretty much isolated!  

The next island is Oahu and where our capital of Honolulu is located!  Known as The Gathering place, Oahu is the busiest of all the islands!  However, if you get away from all the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, you will definitely find some hidden gems!  One of them is the North Shore!  Some of the best beaches are here as well as the biggest surf at certain times of the year!  You cannot visit Oahu without paying respects to the fallen soldier at Pearl Harbor.  A must-visit for any traveler to the island!

The last four islands are harder to access but certainly cannot go without being mentioned!  The second island that is part of Maui County is Molokai!!  The island is called the Friendly Isle and is known for some of the tallest sea cliffs in the world!  If you can’t get to Molokai for a visit you can always take a helicopter ride from Maui with some of our amazing helicopter companies!  It’s an amazing way to see the island without having to travel there!  Molokai does have the least amount of residents of all the islands!  Also off the island of Maui and part of Maui county is the Pineapple Isle…Lanai!  There is a Four Seasons resort on this island and you’ll feel like you’ve arrived in another world!  Billionaire Larry Ellison bought 98% of the island back in 2012 and still owns the majority of the island.  Again, if you can’t get over to Lanai, Trilogy Excursions offers a day trip from Lahaina Harbor on Maui and offers a nice taste of the island!

The last island that is part of Maui County is Kahoolawe.  This island is the smallest of the eight major islands and is known as the Target Isle. During WWII and the decades after the island was used as a training ground and bombing range by the US Navy.  Thankfully after decades of protests, in 1990 the training exercises ended.  If you are up for a real adventure there’s a group called Save Kahoolawe that has 3-4 day programs that allow folks to help revitalize the island by planting native species of plants and other vegetation native to the island.  Helping with upkeep to the island and trying to get the island back to its original splendor can be very rewarding and like nothing you’ve ever experienced on a vacation!

Hopefully, now you’re trying to figure out how you can make your next vacation to one of these amazing islands happen!!  Hawaii is still part of the United States(I know that sounds funny but sometimes people forget) but when you arrive you’ll feel like you’re in another world!  Hawaii has amazing weather year-round which makes the islands popular at any time!  Always Aloha Travel is here to help make your island dreams come true!  Fill out the questionnaire or call us today!