HAWAII’S STILL THE ULTIMATE ISLAND GETAWAY
Imagine a land where the extraordinary is ordinary — daily rainbows, endless waterfalls, same-day surfing and snow skiing and championship golf bordering water hazards known as the Pacific Ocean.
In short . . . imagine Hawaii.
Surrounded by the world’s largest body of water, Hawaii is earth’s most geographically isolated land mass. Situated in the midst of the Pacific Ocean, it is 2,500 miles from the nearest continent.
By U. S. standards, Hawaii’s history is one-of-a-kind, setting this state much further from the mainland than its distance in miles.
Captain James Cook discovered the islands in 1778, first setting foot on Kauai. To this day, Pele, the goddess of volcanoes, remains a revered legend on the Big Island. And Oahu’s Iolani Palace is the only royal residence on American soil (King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani lived there until the monarchy was toppled in 1893).
The lineage of the locals, steeped in Oriental, Western and Polynesian heritage, is routinely reflected in activities common to the islands — activities such as hula, ukulele music and luaus. But while there is continuity of tradition, always accompanied by the spirit of aloha throughout Hawaii, its four principal islands are distinctively different.
Oahu: The Gathering Place
No other American city offers Honolulu’s versatility to hike inside a dormant volcano (Diamond Head), visit a World War II landmark (U.S.S Arizona Memorial), surf the world’s biggest waves (Banzai Pipeline) and dine in a five-star restaurant — in one day.
Though its best known attraction is Waikiki Beach, there is more going on in Oahu than the application of sunscreen. It’s called action.
A true “gathering place,” the island lives up to its moniker, sporting more hotels, more restaurants and more major attractions than each of its neighboring islands.
Oahu is where favorite spots spill over.
If watching the sun set over Diamond Head from the city’s highest perch is a desire, Sheraton Waikiki’s Hanohano Room is a must-stop for its signature drink, Hanohano Blue.
Should a top-notch body escape be on the agenda, book the Lomi Lomi treatment at Waikiki Plantation Spa. Located atop the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, this age-old massage dates to Hawaiian healers.
And if the goal is to escape the frenzy of Waikiki, the Ihilani Resort & Spa might be the ticket. Located on the sunny western shore of the island, this getaway is described as “the perfect setting to do absolutely nothing or positively everything.”
Hawaii: The Big Island
At 4,028 square miles, the island of Hawaii is twice as large as the other Hawaiian islands combined. And with the constant volcanic activity of Kilauea, it continues to add shoreline — making the 800,000-year-old Big Island even bigger with each lava spill into the sea.
If a visit to Waikiki translates to action, then adventure is synonymous with the Big Island. Whether it’s horseback riding in Waimea, snow skiing on Mauna Kea, kayaking off Kona or golfing everywhere . . . it’s available. And if an athletic endeavor of any sort is too strenuous, a lazy alternative might be found atop an air mattress in a sheltered lagoon.
Hawaii is an island of superlatives — it is home to the world’s most active volcano, the setting of 11 of earth’s 13 climatic regions (excluding the Arctic and the Sahara) and noted as the Golf Capital of the Hawaiian Islands (18 golf courses).
It is a study in contrasts.
Hilo, the island’s largest town, takes one back to a quieter, more tranquil time. Situated on the Big Island’s eastern coast, the no-rush-hour kind of burb appears untouched by the fast-paced lifestyle of the 21st century.
On the opposite end of the activity spectrum is Hilton Waikoloa Village. Showcasing 1,300 rooms, two championship golf courses, a spa and tennis center and the renowned Dolphin Quest on 62 acres, the resort is a destination in itself.
Maui: The Valley Island
Walking along this island’s Wailea shore on an early winter morning when the air is still and the ocean calm is prime time for whale watching, a long-time Maui staple. The immense mammal began shaping the island two centuries ago, when Lahaina became the lusty port of the Yankee whaling fleet in the early 19th century.
Today’s Lahaina reflects this colorful past. Much of the town has been designated a historic district. The survivors — former grog shops in weathered wood buildings along Front Street — now house boutiques, art galleries and seafood restaurants.
On the far edge of the island is Hana. Referred to as the “other side” (indicative of its remoteness), it sits on Maui’s western end. The town is easily reached by air (helicopter transport past roaring waterfalls and intermittent rainbows is beyond memorable) or after negotiating an arduous 56-mile road that winds around 600 curves and crosses 54 one-lane bridges.
But whatever the means of arrival, rewards for the journey can be found in the understated indulgence of Hotel Hana-Maui and in the outdoor beauty of Oheo Gulch, a hiking spectacle where waterfalls spill into tiered pools that eventually lead to the sea.
At first glance, Maui seems a simple paradise, but beneath its wonders — wonders like those discovered at the end of the road to Hana — this valley island is the sophisticated sister to its siblings.
Maui is lavish in its diversity. Over 100 years ago, the island’s sugar cane fields were described as “rippling in the trade winds like an emerald sea.” While they still do, the view of this “emerald sea” is nowadays rivaled by the manicured greens of championship golf courses, including Kapalua’s Plantation Course, site of PGA Tour’s Mercedes Championship.
Furthering its cosmopolitan commitment is the island’s collection of grand resorts. Sprinkled liberally throughout Kapalua, Kaanapali and Wailea — the result is an unapologetically world-class Maui.
Kauai: The Garden Island
Mother Nature showered extraordinary gifts on Kauai. Nurtured by abundant rains, water spills from the interior’s forested wilderness and wends through valleys and canyons — sometimes moving lazily downstream and sometimes pouring thunderously over cliff tops. The result is a lush, luxuriant island getaway.
Dubbed the “Garden Isle,” Kauai showcases its flourishing terrain — the rugged Na Pali coast, the thickly-vegetated Fern Grotto and the 10-mile long, 3,500-ft. deep Waimea Canyon (nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific by Mark Twain).
These natural wonders have made Kauai a busy location for film and television production — Jurassic Park and Raiders of the Lost Ark are just two of the many movies filmed on the island.
Home to 43 white-sand beaches—more beach per mile of coastline than the other islands — Kauai is dedicated to preserving its unparalleled environment. To that end, no structure can be built more than 
four stories high, the approximate height of a mature coconut palm.
Among these height-restricted structures are Kauai’s noted resorts. Located in five major areas of the islands, the best known locales are Princeville, the Royal Coconut Coast and Poipu Beach.
As the oldest of Hawaii’s main islands, Kauai’s guiding principle has long been to offer more tradition than trend. And true to its goal, Kauai is an echo of an earlier era.
Hawaiian Islands
When viewed through the paradise prism, Hawaii isn’t really that different from other island getaways: the water is just a little bluer, the mountains a bit greener and the sand a touch softer.
DON’T MISS. . .
OAHU
Sunset on the Beach — Toes in the sand, it is possible to watch a movie on the beach. Starting around 7:30 p.m. on many Saturday and Sunday evenings, films are featured on an oversized 30-foot screen planted on Waikiki Beach.
HAWAII
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park — Take the opportunity to get a close-up, personal view of one of the world’s few active volcanoes (continually erupting since 1983), complete with molten lava flows, curling steam clouds, heated steam vents and vast lava fields.
MAUI
Day visit to Molokai — Take the ferry from Maui to Hawaii’s “Friendly Island.” The island’s tranquility is a product of a poignant chapter of its past. In the 1800s, victims of Hansen’s Disease (formerly known as leprosy) were isolated in Kalaupapa. Today it’s possible to take a three-mile mule ride to the historic village.
KAUAI
Mountain tubing experience — Tube rides down the Lihue Plantation irrigation ditch and tunnel system pass through some of the island’s most spectacular scenery.
IF YOU GO. . .
OAHU VISITORS BUREAU
www.visit-oahu.com
877-525-6248
BIG ISLAND VISITORS BUREAU
www.bigisland.org
800-648-2441
MAUI VISITORS BUREAU
www.visitmaui.com
800-525-6284
KAUAI VISITORS BUREAU
www.kauaidiscovery.com
800-262-1400
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
OAHU
Duke Kahanamoku’s Birthday Celebration (August)
Veterans Day Commemoration at Punchbowl (November)
HAWAII
Ukulele Festival (March)
Merrie Monarch Hula Festival (April)
Parker Ranch Roundup Rodeo (September)
MAUI
Mercedes-Benz PGA Championship (January)
Whale Day Celebration (February)
Kapalua Wine & Food Festival (July)
KAUAI
Koloa Plantation Days (July)
Eo e Emalani i Alakai Festival — annual re-creation of Queen Emma’s trek (October)
