Water Sports in Hawaii
Ah, Hawaii. The perfect vacation spot for a magical getaway in a tropical paradise. There are few vacation destinations that offer as many attractions as Hawaii. The island of Oahu boasts huge cities with lots of shopping as well some cultural activities nestled amongst the North Shore surfing villages. The island also is home to the memorial at Pearl Harbor, which is on the top of the list of must see for Oahu.
There are ample opportunities for playing golf as well. All of the islands have golf courses. They range from world championship golf courses to quiet laid back courses that have little or no greens fees.
But really, Hawaii is all about the water sports. The state is an island surrounded by the Pacific Ocean that is home to some of the world's best and largest waves. In fact, surfing was invented here in the islands. Oahu and Maui are the most known for surfing, particularly the North Shore of both islands, but you can really expect to see some pretty great waves just about anywhere in Hawaii. If you're a beginner, you should stick to the beginner friendly waves like Waikiki Beach on Oahu and Lahaina in Maui. The big waves on the North Shore of the islands should be left to the experts.
Diving and Snorkeling are another popular pastime for vacationers in Hawaii. There are some world famous dive spots like the Molokini crater located off the coast of Maui. You can expect to see a wide variety of sea creatures here, such as sharks, sea turtles, rays, and tons of different tropical fish. This is a great spot for snorkeling, as well as scuba diving. If you're anxious to try scuba, but don't think that you are quite ready; you could try a combination of the two called snuba. This is similar to scuba in that you have an air supply; however, it's attached to the boat and it floats above you. With scuba, however, you have to carry your air supply with you in a tank on your back. This is a good compromise if you want to get a feel for breathing underwater, but aren't quite ready to make the scuba commitment.
Maui in particular is great for windsurfing and kite boarding. Kite boarding is similar to windsurfing or wake boarding, but throw in the fact that you need to be able to fly a kite, and the sport suddenly becomes difficult to master.
Hawaiians have been kayaking since ancient times. If kayaking is your thing, Hawaii is the place to be. All of the islands have something different to offer. On Oahu, Kailua Bay is a popular kayaking spot, where you can paddle over to an uninhabited island for some respite from the very busy Waikiki Beach. On Maui Kealakekua Bay is a great place for kayaking. These waters are responsible for the downfall of Captain Cook. Molokai offers some great kayaking for the more experienced paddlers. Whatever you water sport pleasure, Hawaii is sure to please.
Hawaiian Vacation for Golfers
Hawaii is a popular destination for many vacationers. It's no wonder with its gorgeous palm trees, and white sandy beaches. The vast array of water sports such as surfing, kayaking and snorkeling attract many vacationers yearly. But Hawaii is also a great place for golf. The big island of Hawaii has over 20 golf courses. The Four seasons Hualalai Course was designed by world famous golf pro Jack Nicklaus. The Mauna Kea Golf Course has been said to be the best on the island. While taking a break from a round of golf, guests at this hotel can relax at one of the most gorgeous beaches on the island.
The crescent shaped bay boasts white sandy beaches and is perfect for swimming and snorkeling. There are also a couple of noteworthy golf courses located in Hilo. Make sure to bring an umbrella. We play rain or shine here, as Hilo is known as the rainiest city in the world.
Lanai is known as the rich man's paradise of Hawaii. So, it's not surprising that there are some great golfing opportunities here. Lanai is home to not one, but two, world class championship golf courses. The experience at Koele, designed by Greg Norman, is set amongst the backside of Hawaiian mountains, making for a challenging and unique setting. The challenge at Manele is located at another world renowned resort and was also designed by Jack Nicklaus. It's amazing that he has time to play golf, with all that designing he's been doing. Another place to play golf in Lanai is located in Lanai city, the Cavendish Golf Course. It's a local favorite and is open to the public. This course has 9-holes and does not have a green's fee (bonus).
Maui offers as many or more places to play golf as the big island of Hawaii. The island offers beautiful vistas that make for the perfect backdrop for golfing. Kapalua and Wailea are the most well known places to play. There are also some championship golf courses located in the resort area of Ka'anapali. This resort area was once a sugar plantation, converted into a resort area by its owners.
Lanai as well, is not lacking in golf courses. There are nine great golf courses here. Half were designed by either Jack Nicklaus or Robert Trent Jones. The Princeville courses have made a name for themselves as some of the most challenging golf courses in the world. Princeville is a resort community located on the North Shore of the island. While taking a break here, golfers can enjoy world class beaches, as well as fine dinning and exquisite shopping.
Let's not forget about the island of Oahu. Oahu is home to several 18-hole golf courses all located fairly closely to Honolulu. The Ala Wai Golf Course and the Ewa Villages Golf course are actually located in the Wakiki Beach Area. Here golfers should take a break to catch a wave on famous Wakiki Beach. Turtle Bay Beach Resort is located on the North Shore of Oahu. It's home to 2 spectacular golf courses, one of which, was designed by Arnold Palmer and the other by George Fazio. The resort itself is located on a great beach complete with a reef for snorkeling.
Hawaii in the Winter
If you're thinking about planning a trip to Hawaii, you may be wondering when's the best time of year to visit. Well, anytime really. Hawaii really doesn't have an off season. The winter months of January and February seem to be the rainiest, but it's not the same kind of winter you would have in other parts of the United States. In fact the winter months may actually draw crowds during those so called rainy months. One reason is that the waves on the northern shores of the islands are much bigger during the winter. The North Shore of Oahu in particular is famous for those huge waves, sometimes coming in as high as thirty feet. These are some of the largest waves in the world.
On any given day on the North shore, you can expect to see world championship surfers, particularly at Waimiea Bay. The Banzai pipeline is another popular surfing spot for these amazing athletes. The pipeline is famous for its long tubes. But, don't be fooled by the lure of this gorgeous wave, the water underneath is shallow and full of coral reef. The waves at these famous hot spots are not for beginners. If you're just learning to surf, you should stick to the shallow waves at Wakiki Beach in Honolulu.
Another reason for the high number of winter tourists is whale watching. Whale watching season is generally from January to May, and is an especially popular activity during the winter months on the island of Maui. You can expect to see many different species of whales, including the humpback whale. They are typically found along the western shore of Maui. Ma'alaea Bay in particular is a great spot to catch a glimpse of the mother and baby whales. The shallow waters of the bay offer protection from possible shark attacks. You can see the whales, by simply taking a stroll along the beach, or there are many tour companies offering day trips to popular whale watching destinations. The island of Lanai also offers some whale watching opportunities, both on and off shore.
The humpback whale is the fifth largest of the whale family of mammals. The humpback is on the endangered species list due mostly to hunting of these animals in previous years. At one time hunting humpbacks was considered a great sport and it almost forced the species into extinction. Humpback whales can reach lengths of 45 feet and can weigh as much as 45 tons.
Another reason that Hawaii is such a popular vacation destination during the winter months is plain geography. Because the winter months are so cold and dreary back on the mainland, visitors flock to Hawaii for a much needed respite. What better way to escape a February snow storm than to sit on a tropical beach in paradise and sip on Mai tais. Whatever your reason for visiting Hawaii, all of the islands are waiting and are sure to please even the most frostbitten winter visitor.
Hawaii- A Brief History of Culture
The beginning of a Hawaiian kingdom started in 1809 after the fall of king Kamehameha. The new king moved to Honolulu to take control of the trade that was going on. Honolulu was the perfect place because it was centrally located. In the 1830's sugar plantations were established and Honolulu became a booming city, bars and brothels alike were opened. In 1845 Honolulu officially replaced Maui as the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Because of increasing western influence, Hawaii, and most importantly Pearl Harbor, officially became a US territory in 1898. There were several arguments, failed bills and lots of political red tape that kept Hawaii from becoming a U.S. state.
The gateway to allowing Hawaii to become an official state was tourism. Pan American Airlines flew the first passenger flights from the mainland to Hawaii in 1936. This led to mass tourism. After the attack on Pearl Harbor and the impact of the Korean War, it became appropriate to make Hawaii an official state. Hawaii was declared the 50th state on August 21, 1959.
In the 1970's the Hawaiian culture had a resurgence of pride and heritage awareness. The ancient Hawaiian language had all but disappeared and a huge westernization had spread across the state. In the seventies the original Hawaiian language was reintroduced back into preschools and became an important part of the heritage again Thanks to the Disney movie Lilo and Stitch we all know that "ohana" means family. Today the language is taught at the University of Hawaii as well.
The luau is also another important part of Hawaiian culture. Luaus have been with the culture for hundreds of years. The word "luau" really just means a party or a celebration. This is the way that friends and family honor each other on special occasions. Today there are two types of luaus. The first is like the original way, just a gathering of family and friends, and is the only authentic type. They are private, and unless you have local connections, it is unlikely that tourists would be invited to such an event. The second type of luau is commercial. It's the type that we tourists would frequent. They are heavily choreographed and can be quite entertaining. The luau usually has a buffet of some sort of roasted pig as the entrée accompanied by rice and of course pineapple. These luaus are also complete with hula dancers for the guys and Polynesian dancers for the ladies viewing pleasure. There is plenty of entertainment to go around, especially when you add an open bar to the mix.
The merry monarch festival was founded in 1971. It is a hula festival; in fact it is the largest hula festival in the world. It features thousands of dancers and honors the long time Hawaiian tradition of hula dancing. The festival takes place in March or April and draws huge crowds. It is located in Hilo on the big island of Hawaii and is a week-long cultural event.