Have you ever seen a giant sea turtle sunning himself within touching distance? You feel bliss at the sight of dolphins leaping in the wild? You had such a juicy pineapple that made you groan with pleasure? The last time you saw a spectacular sunset and swim at the beach that looks like it was taken from the "Guide to the Good Life".
All this and much more you will find in Hawaii. Group of distant islands in the Pacific which is about twenty-hour flight from Israel and is the object of the dreams of many.
Not long ago I returned from a trip of three weeks to this remarkable archipelago and I was left with strong impressions. I visited four of the eight major islands, enjoying every moment.
Come and walk with me in the magical realm of the Kingdom of Hawaii, ready?
Oahu: The Gathering Island
The Island of Oahu, where the capital, Honolulu is located, reached via a ten-hour flight from Newark - We landed straight into the "Aloha" atmosphere (which is the blessing of peace and love), with an intoxicating sense of freedom. We were on the other side of the world!
Upon arrival to Honolulu, we visited one of the world-famous beaches - Waikiki. A beautiful lively beach with many hotels along it and nearby streets that are busy all day.
Surfing culture occupies a prominent place among locals and all the time you see men and women of all ages carrying surfboards in every size and colour on the way to catch another wave. Do not miss famous monument is the father of surfing, "Duke Kahanamoku", a native, who made surfing the most popular activity it is today.
Traditional hula dance is a mesmerizing dance that can be seen in many places in Waikiki and it is often accompanied by the traditional string instrument, the Ukelele.
Pearl Harbor, the bay where the Japanese bombed the U.S. Navy anchored there, is within a few minutes drive from Waikiki. At the visitor centre you can see a touching movie about that black day on December 7th 1941. You can also visit the monument located on the US Navy ship Arizona's remains which are buried with its sailors deep in the bay.
On the North side of the island are a number of beautiful beaches, lined with coconut and palm trees, that are more fit for surfing than for bathing because of the high waves. To our good fortune, at Waimea Bay beach we encountered groups of dolphins right near the coastline. It was very exciting to see them jumping for fun in the open sea. Sunset Beach with picturesque, turquoise water, is where some of the most important surfing competitions in the world are held and in the romantic Turtle Bay, we ended the day watching a spectacular sunset in front of the great ocean.
Kauai: The Garden Island
We arrived at the little, charming island, Kauai, in the North of the archipelago, within a short flight, 20 minutes from Honolulu. The wild mountains that kiss the clouds, provided an impressive and dramatic scenery for a number of famous movies filmed here, including the movie Jurassic Park.
The Island is full ofÿ tropical vegetation, waterfalls and rivers, which justifies its nickname "The Garden Island". On the other side of the island you can see the impressive Waimea Canyon, which left us open-mouthed for several minutes.
Maui: The Valley Island
On the beautiful, popular island of Maui, we began a fascinating journey to the West via a steep and narrow road between the mountains, part of which was in the clouds. More than once, a rainbow was seen, that completed the euphoric picture in front of us.
Later we stopped to look at the huge cliffs that descend into the ocean and we visited beaches in the Napili and Kaanapali areas that are tropical and extremely photogenic.
In the South-West was a chain of wonderful beaches that seemed to never end, and at the end of the road there was a rocky and black beach that was made from lava that hardened, a reminder of the volcano that erupted here many years ago. We felt like we were walking on the moon.
Next was, Ia'o Valley, a green and beautiful place. located between several high mountain ridges.
"The Road to Hana" is considered one of the world's most beautiful drives. After visiting the North Island surfers' town, Pa'ia, we began our journey East along the coast, 109 kilometers that, at its end is the city Hana. The drive was rich with vegetation of wild tropical jungle, flowers, fruit trees such as banana and mango, numerous waterfalls and spectacular ocean views. In the South, the landscape changes completely to that of the desert, shades of brown and black rule. Visiting the winery and tasting local wines was a refreshing end to the journey in this part of the island and completion of the circle around it.
The Big Island of Hawaii
The highlight of this amazing and multicoloured island is the volcano that has been active continuously since 1983. As soon as we left the airport, we immediately felt the oppressive heat and intense volcanic fog ("vog"), and the ground for miles is rocky and black. We spent a pleasant few days in the Western side of the island. In Kona, there is a nice promenade and a farmers' market. You can lounge around on beautiful beaches with crystal clear water and white sand like flour and snorkle in Kahalu'u Bay.
At Hilton Waikoloa Village you can watch dolphins training, a day of real fun. From Kona area we drove North to the city Waimea. The landscape began to become greener and greener. We stopped to look at the breathtaking beauty of Waipi'o Valley. It is painted in shades of Valley Green, caressing the sea and is a beautiful picture postcard. From there to the city of Hilo, that is in the East of the island and is surrounded by tropical forest, waterfalls and never-ending green. From here, the way to the icing on the cake was very short. In the National Volcano Park, we spent twenty-four hours. The scene of the smoking volcano is literally breathtaking and makes you think how small we are compared to the power of nature.
At night we went back in total darkness to see the red glow of the burning lava, which seemed hypnotic and surreal. The next day we walked along the Kilauea Iki crater that once was a giant lava lake - it dried only in 1959. The rest of the park is mainly lava fields and on its beach you can see the road that is blocked by lava to this day.
Punalu'u beach is unique in that is has black sand. We were happy to find a giant sea turtle sunbathing on the beach. From there we went to the small town Nahalu'u, which is the southernmost city in the U.S. Finally, we visited a historic park, a reconstruction of an ancient city of refuge with the Hawaiian ways of life. Here, too, ended our intense and fascinating journey.
In conclusion, Hawaii is a pearl in the Pacific Ocean in which nature is alive and kicking in every direction. It has a rich variety of animals and plants, some unique, beaches, breathtaking landscapes, fascinating culture. It's easy to tour the country because it is part of the U.S. and everyone will find what he wants. So do not hesitate if you have ever dreamed to visit this paradise, Hawaii will welcome you with Aloha.
Tips for the Traveller in Hawaii
All this and much more you will find in Hawaii. Group of distant islands in the Pacific which is about twenty-hour flight from Israel and is the object of the dreams of many.
Not long ago I returned from a trip of three weeks to this remarkable archipelago and I was left with strong impressions. I visited four of the eight major islands, enjoying every moment.
Come and walk with me in the magical realm of the Kingdom of Hawaii, ready?
Oahu: The Gathering Island
The Island of Oahu, where the capital, Honolulu is located, reached via a ten-hour flight from Newark - We landed straight into the "Aloha" atmosphere (which is the blessing of peace and love), with an intoxicating sense of freedom. We were on the other side of the world!
Upon arrival to Honolulu, we visited one of the world-famous beaches - Waikiki. A beautiful lively beach with many hotels along it and nearby streets that are busy all day.
Surfing culture occupies a prominent place among locals and all the time you see men and women of all ages carrying surfboards in every size and colour on the way to catch another wave. Do not miss famous monument is the father of surfing, "Duke Kahanamoku", a native, who made surfing the most popular activity it is today.
Traditional hula dance is a mesmerizing dance that can be seen in many places in Waikiki and it is often accompanied by the traditional string instrument, the Ukelele.
Pearl Harbor, the bay where the Japanese bombed the U.S. Navy anchored there, is within a few minutes drive from Waikiki. At the visitor centre you can see a touching movie about that black day on December 7th 1941. You can also visit the monument located on the US Navy ship Arizona's remains which are buried with its sailors deep in the bay.
On the North side of the island are a number of beautiful beaches, lined with coconut and palm trees, that are more fit for surfing than for bathing because of the high waves. To our good fortune, at Waimea Bay beach we encountered groups of dolphins right near the coastline. It was very exciting to see them jumping for fun in the open sea. Sunset Beach with picturesque, turquoise water, is where some of the most important surfing competitions in the world are held and in the romantic Turtle Bay, we ended the day watching a spectacular sunset in front of the great ocean.
Kauai: The Garden Island
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| Dramatic Lookout at Kaua'i |
The Island is full ofÿ tropical vegetation, waterfalls and rivers, which justifies its nickname "The Garden Island". On the other side of the island you can see the impressive Waimea Canyon, which left us open-mouthed for several minutes.
Maui: The Valley Island
On the beautiful, popular island of Maui, we began a fascinating journey to the West via a steep and narrow road between the mountains, part of which was in the clouds. More than once, a rainbow was seen, that completed the euphoric picture in front of us.
Later we stopped to look at the huge cliffs that descend into the ocean and we visited beaches in the Napili and Kaanapali areas that are tropical and extremely photogenic.
In the South-West was a chain of wonderful beaches that seemed to never end, and at the end of the road there was a rocky and black beach that was made from lava that hardened, a reminder of the volcano that erupted here many years ago. We felt like we were walking on the moon.
Next was, Ia'o Valley, a green and beautiful place. located between several high mountain ridges.
"The Road to Hana" is considered one of the world's most beautiful drives. After visiting the North Island surfers' town, Pa'ia, we began our journey East along the coast, 109 kilometers that, at its end is the city Hana. The drive was rich with vegetation of wild tropical jungle, flowers, fruit trees such as banana and mango, numerous waterfalls and spectacular ocean views. In the South, the landscape changes completely to that of the desert, shades of brown and black rule. Visiting the winery and tasting local wines was a refreshing end to the journey in this part of the island and completion of the circle around it.
The Big Island of Hawaii
The highlight of this amazing and multicoloured island is the volcano that has been active continuously since 1983. As soon as we left the airport, we immediately felt the oppressive heat and intense volcanic fog ("vog"), and the ground for miles is rocky and black. We spent a pleasant few days in the Western side of the island. In Kona, there is a nice promenade and a farmers' market. You can lounge around on beautiful beaches with crystal clear water and white sand like flour and snorkle in Kahalu'u Bay.
At Hilton Waikoloa Village you can watch dolphins training, a day of real fun. From Kona area we drove North to the city Waimea. The landscape began to become greener and greener. We stopped to look at the breathtaking beauty of Waipi'o Valley. It is painted in shades of Valley Green, caressing the sea and is a beautiful picture postcard. From there to the city of Hilo, that is in the East of the island and is surrounded by tropical forest, waterfalls and never-ending green. From here, the way to the icing on the cake was very short. In the National Volcano Park, we spent twenty-four hours. The scene of the smoking volcano is literally breathtaking and makes you think how small we are compared to the power of nature.
At night we went back in total darkness to see the red glow of the burning lava, which seemed hypnotic and surreal. The next day we walked along the Kilauea Iki crater that once was a giant lava lake - it dried only in 1959. The rest of the park is mainly lava fields and on its beach you can see the road that is blocked by lava to this day.
Punalu'u beach is unique in that is has black sand. We were happy to find a giant sea turtle sunbathing on the beach. From there we went to the small town Nahalu'u, which is the southernmost city in the U.S. Finally, we visited a historic park, a reconstruction of an ancient city of refuge with the Hawaiian ways of life. Here, too, ended our intense and fascinating journey.
In conclusion, Hawaii is a pearl in the Pacific Ocean in which nature is alive and kicking in every direction. It has a rich variety of animals and plants, some unique, beaches, breathtaking landscapes, fascinating culture. It's easy to tour the country because it is part of the U.S. and everyone will find what he wants. So do not hesitate if you have ever dreamed to visit this paradise, Hawaii will welcome you with Aloha.
Tips for the Traveller in Hawaii
- Don't worry if you come to Hawaii without having done your homework. You can find plenty of free information, such as maps and weekly magazines on each island, and at the airports.
- Buses: In Oahu it is very easy to travel with buses almost everywhere and when you buy a ticket, it can be used for a transfer to another bus for up to two hours in between stops.
- Hawaii generally is very expensive. There are many activities you can do for free, for example public Hula shows (ask locals or check in the free magazines from the airport and in hotels). To see turtles and dolphins in the ocean, all you have to do is go to the right beaches according to the map. We saw them many times, even without planning. Many free events occur in the shopping centres. Snorkling is easy in the right place. You can buy cheap equipment and in fact almost everything in Walmart stores.
- Whales are very common in the Hawaiian archipelago but can only be seen in the right season, which is December to April (check with locals). You can see sperm whales and their young.
- All the prices in Hawaii are quoted without tax included. Do not be surprised if the cost seems higher than you first thought.
- Be aware of tourist traps. It is not necessary to use all the offers of organised tours and boat trips. You can find many ways to find the natural beauty of Hawaii without expensive 'help'. Watch out for timeshare deals disguised as deals on cheap or free attractions.
- Before you are tempted to buy shells and dried starfish from local shops, please ask the shop where they obtained them from. Some shops take illegally harvested shells which involved the death of a rare ocean creature.
- Hawaii is part of the USA, therefore you will find big shopping centres, big cars, American fast food, the US dollar and the expectation for tips.
- In the Hawaiian language, the letters K, W, U and H are very common. Please read place names carefully as sometimes these can be very similar or even the same in different locations.
- The ocean is, in some beaches, really wild with big, rough waves and strong currents. Please take care when entering the water.
Slang
The most common word you will here is "Aloha", which is used for hi, bye, welcome, love.
"Mahalo" is thank you. For the restrooms; "Wahine" means women and "Kane" means men.
The famous flower necklace is known as a "Lei". It is customary for the one who makes the Lei to give it away to someone else with aloha.
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