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Hula is Honolulu’s native dance. This dance is performed to the accompaniment of a song or a chant, which is known as ‘Mele’. Hula is a very interesting dance form, which interests people from all over the world because of its beautiful and intricate routines. The movements of this dance do not tell the complete story. Instead they bring out the key aspects of a story.

 Hula dance style broadly divided into two categories – one is knon as the ‘kahikoand’ and the other is the ‘Auana’. The ‘kahikoand’ is the traditional form of Hula, performed to the accompaniment of chant and traditional instruments. It is the way the Hula was done before it was influenced by western styles. Before the coming in of western influences into the Hawaiian Islands, the Hula was performed for amusement or during family events. It was also performed to entertain tribal chief and in such occasions, it was a serious matter as the chief had to be flattered. It was done as a way to honor them as well.   In the 19the and the 20^th century, the Hula came to include some western dance styles. This form of Hula is the ‘Auana’ and it is performed to the accompaniment of western musical instruments like the guitar and the double bass. Western missionary’s felt the Hula dance to be heathen and so many changes we brought into it. Through western influences this dance evolved to include different musical instruments for its songs. The costumes worn also changed, but the dance movements indicate events or happenings just as before.  

When performing Hula, there are certain costumes that have to be worn. The men wear long or short pants, skirts, or a malo, while the women wear skirts or dresses. The dance is done usually with bare feet.  The traditional instrument used in the Hula is the Pahu, which is about two to three feet tall and is made either from coconut or breadfruit tree. An instrument used along with the pahu is the puniu, which is made out of coconut shell with skin from the kala fish stretched across it. Other traditional instruments includes ipu heke, ipu heke, pu’ili , ‘ili’ili, and kala’au. Today, these traditional instruments have been replaced with modrn instruments such as the guitar and ukulele. The rhythmic patterns of the traditional instruments correspond to the foot movements of the dancers.

Those interested in learning hula should go to schools that teach this dance form. In Hawaii, such schools are called h?lau. The person who teaches hula is known as the kumu hula. Many of the motions used in this dance signify the movement of nature.

The hula is a very interesting dance form that interests people from all over the world. Festivals are conducted to celebrate it. Two important such festivals are Merrie Monarch Festival which is held in the Hilo. This is a one-week cultural event in which a Hula competition is held. The other is the World Invitational Hula Festival, which is held every year in the the Waikiki Shell during the month of November.  

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Honolulu has a number of exquisite hotels which offer excellent guest comfort, convenience and service quality. Here is a look some of the best in Honolulu hotels.

The Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort and Spa – This resort hotel is located in the Wakiki area. It offers guests all necessary comforts and amenities. View for guest rooms over the ocean and surrounding city are is magnificent.

Hyatt Regency Waikiki Resort and Spa offers excellent cuisine through its many restaurants. Restaurants here are ‘The Colony’, ‘Ciao Mein’, ‘Mushshi’, ‘The Terrace Grill’, “The Elegant Dive’, and ‘Hyatt on the Beach’. Each of these restaurants specializes in a specific type of cuisine and this means guests staying here have the chance to taste interesting food varieties.

One of the best features of this hotel is the Na Ho’ola Spa, which provides massages, facials, body wraps and other spa treatments. Skin care products are available here and the staff will also give tips on how you can create your own spa at home.

Sheraton Moana Surfrider Waikiki – This hotel is also located in the Wakiki area. It is pretty close to the Wakiki beach and is also know as ‘The First Lady of Waikiki’, because of certain distinct interior features. It offers guests all necessary facilities for a comfortable stay. Many people use this hotel as a venue of holding their wedding, and guests staying here can notice such activities. This hotel has a lovely pool area which is just right to relax during the afternoons. Guests can dine at the Beachside Cafe, the Snack Bar, the Banyan Grill, or the Beach Bar

Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki – This hotel situated in Wakiki, is like a small city as it has everything ranging from restaurant, shops, beaches and even a spa. An interesting activity here is taking a shuttle boat from the Port Hilton Dock to a submarine that goes underwater. A guide on board will inform all about the underwater marine life and its ecosystem. This Hilton Hotel is the venue for several cultural activities, through which you can learn more about Hawaiian culture. Some such activities include coconut Frond Weaving Demonstration, coconut Frond Weaving Demonstration, Lei Making Demonstrations and much more.

Honolulu Halekulani - This hotel is located on the Wakiki beach and has been servicing guests for the past 100 years. It was started in 1971 and over the past decades it has won award for excellence in service and hospitality. Halekulani in Hawaiian means “House Befitting Heaven”, and this is the kind of feeling guests have hen they stay here. It includes all comforts and facilities for guests. The hotel offers means for shopping and dining. There is a swimming pool and fitness center here for guest convenience.

Kahala Hotel & Resort – This hotel is situated in the famous Wakiki area in Honolulu.  This hotel is the base for celebrities and political figures who visit Honolulu. It includes world-class suites, rooms, restaurants and spa. An interesting feature here is the hotel’s private lagoon, which has its own resident dolphins that are a great treat to watch.

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Honolulu’s beautiful beaches are major spots for tourists from all over the world. The lovely beach waters of Honolulu are ideal for activities like swimming, snorkeling, surfing, and diving.  There are many lovely beach areas in Honolulu. Here is a look at what these are:

§  Waikiki Beach – This is Honolulu’s most famous beach. It offers opportunities ranging from beaching volley to snorkeling to diving.

§  Ala Moana Beach – This beach is close to the main Waikiki area and a little towards Honolulu’s downtown area. It is more of a quiet beach, with opportunities for beach activities, swimming and snorkeling, but it is not good for surfing.

§  Kapiolani Beach – This beach forms part of the Kapiolani Park. Located at the end of the Wakiki area, this beach is also referred to as Queens Beach.

§  Kuhio Beach – This beach is popular during the evening times, when it comes alive with hula concerts and shows. It is the best beach in Honolulu to come with kids and particularly if you are inexperienced at swimming, but would like to try swimming in beach waters.

§  Queens beach – This beach is situated between the Kuhio and Kapiolani Beaches. It is popular place for bodyboarding.

§  Sans Suuci Beach – This beach is also known as the Kaimana Beach and it is close to the Wakiki area. It is a quiet beach and there are many shopping and entertainment vicinities located close by. .

§  Fort DeRussy Beach Park – This is a long beautiful sandy beach, situated just between Beachwalk and Ala Moana Blvd, in which you can enjoy a lot of beach activities and war sports.

§  Kahanamoku Beach – This is a small beach located just before the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It a fairly quiet beach, with the waves falling in gently. It is just right for bringing kids and for those who prefer a place with smaller wave.

Honolulu beaches are just great for all type of water sports and beach activities. You can swim in the ocean waters else sunbathe on the sands or play beach volley. Those of the adventurous nature might venture into surfing, body boarding or deep sea diving.

While beach activities are all fun and excitement, it is also important to be aware that you should not swim alone. Honolulu’s beach waters are definitely much calmer than the beaches of the North Shore, but you should judge the waves before venturing out into the sea. Jellyfish sometime come into Honolulu beaches and postings are put up, when this happens, so be sure to watch for these. Those who take up activities such as deep sea diving or snorkeling, should ensure that the have all necessary equipment with them. If possible taking a guide when them on such trips is a good measure.

Honolulu Beaches, especially the Kuhio beach, are often the venue for music concerts,   movie and much more such entertainment. Watch out for information on such kind of events, so that you can be part of such fun and excitement when it happens.

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Honolulu is the capital city of Hawaii. In the Hawaiian language Honolulu means – ‘A place of shelter’ and this is the kind of feeling that people get when they visit this beautiful island located in the Pacific Ocean. In the year 1845, King Kamehameha III made Honolulu the capital city of his Kingdom.  It was during his reign that Honolulu started changing, with modern influences coming into it.   During the 19^th and early 20^th century Honolulu became a major centre of commerce and trade, for the islands surrounding it. This feature of the city continued even though Honolulu faced a considerable amount of political turbulence during that period in the form of overthrow of the monarchy and the incident on Pearl Harbor.  Today, Honolulu is the largest city in Hawaii, having an airport and a number of seaports.  Honolulu is divided into many distinct neighborhoods and districts. Here is a look into the major ones:  

§  Downtown Honolulu – This is the seat of Honolulu’s government and its finance and commercial interests. The tallest building in Hawaii, ‘The Aloha Tower’, is situated here.

 §  Honolulu Arts District – This area serves as the base for many arts and cultural institutions.  §  Capitol District – This area has many of Honolulu’s historical buildings such as Iolani Palace, Honolulu Hale, Statue of King KamehamehaI and much more.  

§  Waikiki – This area is a famous tourist place. It has many shops, hotels, beaches and entertainment venues that are of interest to tourists.

§  Pauoa District – This is an upper class district. Most significant aspect here is the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

§  Manoa – This is a residential neighborhood and also the base of the University of Hawaii.

 One of the most interesting aspects of Honolulu is its music and dance form. Honolulu is the center of Hawaiian music, which is a collection of various traditional styles and modern styles such as rock, hip hop. Hawaiian music has influenced music in the United States in a big way. For example, it introduced the use of the steel guitar, which in turn contributed to U.S country music to the introduction of the steel guitar. The Hula dance, which is a special aspect of Honolulu, is renowned worldwide for its usual dance patterns and luscious style.  

Honolulu is a major tourist centre because of its beautiful beaches. The many beaches here offer plenty of opportunity for water sports such as swimming, surfing, snorkeling, diving and much more. Various water sport competitions are held here every year, in specific beach venues, brings people from all over the world to Honolulu. Honolulu has many world class star hotels, restaurants, shopping areas and entertainment venues that cater to an international crowd.  This feature combined with its traditional elements makes it the perfect holiday venue for relaxation and enjoyment.

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