As we visit the bucket list of a lot of my friends again, I thought that we would talk about some of the things that people always think about when going to Hawaii, and some of the things that maybe you don't think about when going to Hawaii. There are activities and places to visit that you can only see and do in Hawaii. It is a unique place that used to be a whole other country and has its own history, culture, nationality groups, and immigrant history. It has been Polynesian, British, Royally Hawaiian, American and more. There are families that landed on these shores and called it home from so many countries, many of them Asian and other island nations. It is a melting pot of its own various ingredients, which makes it a unique and beautiful place with different cuisine, activities, social customs, clothing, rituals, holidays, lingo, sometimes money, and in general; lifestyle. This time, I would like to explore some of the parts of Hawaii that are very Hawaiian.
Let's start with the luau. This is one of the most widely shared parts of Hawaiian culture. You can get tickets for a luau from a service, your hotel, the internet; and just anywhere. There are public luaus all over. This is one of the ways that the good people of Hawaii let us outsiders into their world and teach us just a little bit of what they're all about. The food, the performers, the costumes, and the inclusion tends to make a luau a can't miss experience.
Like the lei, the Hawaiian shirt is one of those things that is very Hawaiian. You might think that you can buy one at your local Walmart, but in fact, it is an art form. It can be a truly meaningful experience to have a local help you pick out a shirt that's pattern truly suits you. Hilo Hattie is just the best known of the retailers of Hawaiian shirts. There are so many places that you can go and have a great experience shopping for a Hawaiian shirt.
At one point, starting with King Kamehameha, Hawaii was ruled by royalty. Iolani Palace was their home. Now you can take a tour of this lavish palace and learn quite a bit about the royals who once ruled the island nation. History is always a must see and learn, and Hawaii has a unique history.
I don't think there's anyone who doesn't know at least something about Pearl Harbor. The American Naval Base there became known world wide the minute that the Japanese attacked in 1941. Today, you can visit the base and take a tour of several of the more historic sites, like the Arizona Memorial. Many people visit these sites to pay tribute to family members, so always, always be respectful of all of your surroundings when on this base. Also, make reservations as far ahead of time as you possibly can. There may be background checks necessary before you can go, as has been the case with many military installations since 9/11. There are several ways to schedule a tour, from services to agents to hotels and so on.
There are things that we all think about along other shorelines, but tend to forget all about when we get to Hawaii. There are volcanoes, and outrigger canoes, and surfing. For all of you lighthouse lovers out there, Hawaii has tons of them. A lot of them are called minor lights and they all look alike, but there are some truly unique and beautiful lighthouses around the islands. Even if you go to see the minor lights, you will see some amazing scenery along the coastlines of the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaii is one of the best places in the world to investigate the many sides of the volcano. One of the staples of visiting a land of volcanoes such as Hawaii is to take a tour, walk, or hike through a cave that includes lava tubes. Kazumura Cave and lava tubes, and Hana Lava Tubes are a couple of the better known spots. There are lists of them online, so you can pick one that fits your trip. I do have to say that it's probably a good idea to take a tour. I remember my mom going on a walk in a lava tube and breaking her ankle. Always be safe, do what the guides tell you, and if there's a handrail; use it.
Lava islands have cliffs. Tropical areas have warm seas. Put these two together, and you find a lot of people cliff diving. Now, I would never, because it seems ridiculous to me; but I would go and watch. There are tons of places known for their cliff diving. You can find them online, from a service, in your hotel and other ways.
I'm a waterfall hunter, and Hawaii is one of the best spots in the world for that activity. They have waterfalls in that paradise that range from 20 feet to 1,500 feet high. They come in groups, singles, plunges, chutes, cascades, blocks and so on. You can hike to them, swim under them, jump off them, fly over them, and on the Road to Hana in Maui, you can drive to by bunch of them. Hawaii is home to the Hana Highway Drive which is one of the most famous waterfall drives in the world. Bring your camera no matter how you visit waterfalls in Hawaii. It would be a shame to go home without pictures.
Hiking. Hawaii is temperate, and everyone wants to get outside and see the natural splendor that is the islands. Hiking is something that you can do on trails all over the place. You can hike up a mountain or volcano. You can hike on the beach. You can hike to waterfalls. You can hike Waimea Canyon. You can hike in a desert. You can hike all you want. There are about a hundred books on hiking in Hawaii, but it's probably easier to get some advice from a tour service or your hotel. You can set out on your own if you take a good map, or you can take a guide with you. Some trails are intense and some not, just like any other location.
There's something for everyone in Hawaii. Not everyone wants to or even can hike and jump off of cliffs. The great news is that Hawaii has breathtaking scenic drives. Most islands have at least one mapped out amazing drive. They run through canyons and deserts, along coastlines with waterfalls, through plantations and rainforests, and even up and down mountainous volcanoes. If you don't want to put the miles on your feet, there's a drive that will leave you breathless instead.
As I've said before, there is a lot to talk about when it comes to Hawaii. Today, I took a few random activities and wrote about them. It is unimaginable how much there is to see and do in what appears to be a tiny set of islands in the middle of the massive Pacific Ocean. The truth is that I'm giving you a lifetime of options, so as you read, I hope you're making a shorter more reasonable list if you intend to visit Hawaii. I hope that I'm giving good ideas and some solid information so that you can design a trip to Hawaii that suits you. Enjoy!
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