TRAVEL-TOHAWAII.NET

Many people who plan to travel to Hawaii often only think about Oahu, the central island that makes up the Hawaiian Islands because that is where Honolulu, the state capital, as well as Waikiki, the most popular tourist center in Hawaii, are located. However, you may want to consider some other of the beautiful islands, such as Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii (the Big Island), in Hawaii that also offer a fun and somewhat more relaxing vacation. Although Oahu has much to offer, more that 90% of Hawaii’s population is centered on Oahu, making the island much more crowded and busy that the other islands. If you wish to get away from the bustling city life and traffic, the other Hawaiian Islands would be your ideal Hawaii vacation.

Famous for its breathtaking Napali Coastline and the Iao Needle, Kauai is a lush, green island filled with great attractions. Some places to check out in Kauai include Princeville Ranch, Fern Grotto, Blue Dolphin Charters, and much more. There are also many businesses that offer helicopter and sailing tours that will take you throughout the island so you can see the natural beauty of Kauai. Some of the fun activities that can be found in Maui include the Maui Ocean Center, Pacific Whale Foundation, Maui Tropical Plantation, and Haleakala National Park. Maui also offers hiking, biking, sailing, and kayaking tours that allow you to explore the Maui’s breathtaking landscapes.

• Leave a comment... (0)

Honolulu has many places of interest for tourists. Here is a look at what these are:

Iolani Palace – This is Honolulu most important historical monument and it served as the residence of the last monarch of the Hawaiian kingdom. The Palace highlights Hawaiian culture. There a tours for tourists as well educational tours for children. The palace also serves as a venue for concerts and for traditional Hawaiian quilting lasses. The Palace Shop here is a must to visit for curios as well as interesting data-to-day useable items.

Honolulu Zoo – This zoo is located in Kapiolani Park, which is an excellent picnic spot. The zoo features the regular zoo animals and has educational programs specially directed at children. Details on special events can be gathered from the zoo schedule posted for public information at the zoo entrance.

Waikiki Aquarium in Honolulu – This is a small aquarium and it features unique Hawaiian life visitors can see the local aquatic varieties here as well as some exotic corals found in the reefs surrounding the island’s waters.

USS Arizona Memorial – This is the site in which the USS Arizona was sunk during the during the Japanese Pearl Harbor attack There is a boat shuttle that visitors can take from the visitor’s center to see the site’s wreckage.

USS Missouri Memorial – This memorial is also known as Mighty Mo. This battleship is the last that the U.S navy built and the memorial is the place where last of the Japanese surrendered, thus bringing World War II to an end.

Wakiki Beach – This is Honolulu’s most famous beach. Located in the Wakiki area, which is Honolulu’s premier shopping and entertainment venue. This beach provides plenty of excitement in the form of water sport, lie swimming, diving, snorkeling, fishing, surfing and much more. The beach is pristine and just right for sunbathing and beach volley. Visitors can take Catamaran and Outrigger Rides here.

Kapiolani Park – This Park is Honolulu’s oldest park. Built by King Kalakaua in the 1876, it was named after Queen Kapiolani. The park has beautiful vista and garden. It is the venue for international music concerts and art shows.

Kakaako Waterfront Park – This is a small seclude park, a bit of the hilly side, but one which offers spectacular views of the ocean. It is located right next to the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center. The park has no beach, but there are steps which lead to a sheltered section of ocean water, beyond which the waters can get rough.

Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center – This centre is just the right place to bring your kids. It holds lots of interactive programs which educate children and inculcate a sense of Hawaiian culture and tradition into them, while also making them aware of how to perceive their environment.

• Leave a comment... (0)

Those seeking beach locations which get them deep into surfing, should come to Honolulu beaches. Honolulu beaches are just right for beginners as well as for professional looking for serious excitement with the waves.

Surfing is a very exciting water sport, in which you eye a rideable and attempt to move towards it. Once the wave have come to a its full strength, you jump on your surf board and then ride on the face of the wave, but at the same time you don’t get into the breaking part of the wave.   Being a professional and good surer depends on how well you are able to spot a wave, and rid it without getting into its breaking part.

If you are someone interested in learning surfing, Honolulu beaches have instructors giving lessons to people wanting to try this sport. You can opt for private lesson, else be a part of a group. How quickly you pick up surfing depends on your enthusiasm and ability to learn it. Though your teacher will make it seem easy, you need to practice till you get it right. Remember that you are a novice. So you will have to be ready to learn with experience.

You can either buy surfing equipment else rent it from beach shops. The best option initially is to rent equipment because this way you will get an idea of what is best for you. Novice surfers mostly choose larger boards. Once you get used to surfing on the waves, you can choose you a boar that supports you style and action on the waves.

Honolulu beaches are really fun and exciting place for surfing be it for beginner or for professionals. The perfect spot here for beginner is the Waikiki Beach as the waves here are just below two feet in winter and about three feet in summer. Other famous surf sites here are Queen’s and Canoes.

However, it is important to be aware of surfing etiquette so that you and everyone else around you can have as much fund as possible. Usually novice surfers don’t know when a wave is coming or how to take a wave that they can handle. The result is that they get in the way of good surfers. This can put a real damper in surfing action for other surfers. Beginners should better follow their guide and venture out with their guide for sometime before venturing out alone on the waves. This makes them more experienced to handle different waves and it will ensure that others get their share of fun on the beach likewise.

• Leave a comment... (0)

Shopping in Honolulu can be a great experience, especially since here are so many specialty store, boutique, local stores out there, which gives shoppers a range of products and in short a complete shopping experience. Those seeking shops which sell local handicraft items or local products will find plenty of them in Honolulu, each offering a range of quality products at very reasonable prices.

Honolulu offers some very interesting places for tourist shopping. Here is look at what these are:

Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center – Located in Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki, this is a very popular shopping centre, featuring the best of consumer items ranging from fashion, apparel, jewelry, sport, shoes to accessories to craft shop and much more. In fact, shoppers can begin and complete their entire shopping experience here.

Ala Moana Center – Located in Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, this is a premier shopping centre which covers an extensive 50 acres. It includes the best of shops, specialty stores, restaurants, boutiques and much more. Shopping in this centre is a complete shopping experience because of the range of products, services and entertainment that is available here.

Island Treasures Antique Mall – Situated in Kuhio Avenue, in Wakiki, this mall includes lovely collectables and vintage items ranging from rhinestone jewelry to Hula nodder.

Robyn Buntin Galleries – Those looking for a place that sells them fine art work from Asia, the Pacific countries and Japan, will find this place to be just right. Interesting items here include Buddhist sculptures, Japanese woodblock prints, Chinese nephrite jade carvings and much more.

Hilo Hattie – Located on the North Nimitz Highway in Honolulu, this shop specializes in selling Hawaiian and island clothing. It’s perfect for tourists wanting souvenirs, Hawaiian shirts, sarongs, and jewelry.

Neiman Marcus – Located in Ala Moana Boulevard in Honolulu, this is a high fashion department store which gives you the best and trendiest apparel, fashion accessories, home decorations, shoes and electronics.

Aloha Flea Market – Located in Salt Lake Boulevard, Honolulu, this flea market is a must see for all those wanting to shop for a dime-a-dozen items. You can find unusual souvenirs, jewelry and many other interesting craft items here.  If you look around and check carefully into the items you purchase, you can get some pretty nifty stuff, at rock bottom prices.

Following Sea – Located in Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, this shop has a lot of handmade gifts and collectibles and some really exquisite pottery. This is the place to come to buy some traditional hand-made items which are more or less like collector’s items.

King Kalakaua Plaza – Located in Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki, this plaza offers everything that is upbeat, trendy, and modern for shoppers. Well known stores such as Nike Town, Banana Republic can be found here. There a re also many shops that specialize in local products. This plaza offers a good mix of local and international products.

Aloha Tower Marketplace – Located in Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, this marketplace features a large number of apparel stores, shops, restaurants, places of entertainment and bars. It is a happening place for young people.

• Leave a comment... (0)