subject: Say Aloha to Hawaii [print this page] Say Aloha to Hawaii Say Aloha to Hawaii
To many, Hawaii is a paradise with white sand, sweeping waves and a lei around your neck. With amazing surf, lush forests, traditional hula dancers and an active volcano or two it's certainly got a lot to explore. Big Island is home to the Volcanoes National Park, Oahu is a surfer's paradise, and Maui is great for spotting humpback whales and turtles whilst Kauai has an air of untouched natural beauty, so where do you start?
Everyone knows Hawaii, and the island of Oahu in particular, is famed for the surf and many international competitions take place off Oahu's north shore. It is home to some of the best known surf spots in the world such as Pipeline, Backdoor and Off the Wall. You may even recognise some spots from the surfer movie Blue Crush. But fear not beginners, if you have no previous experience there are opportunities to learn, so find a surf school and start practising your paddle.
Big Island is made up of five shield volcanoes all overlapping one another. One is extinct and another dormant but the final three are all still active, especially Kilauea which has been erupting continuously since 1983. Because of this the island is constantly growing as the layers of lava cool after hitting the sea. The Volcanoes National Park on Big Island is the result of millions of years of volcanic activity and it has two volcanoes within its boundaries, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. You can hike through the Thurston Lava Tuba and climb higher for an uninterrupted view of a canopy of stars on Hawaii's biggest island.
Kauai is home to lush green mountains, cascading waterfall and vast ranches. Visit the Nounou Mountain and bask on some of the Hawaiian Islands best beaches before taking to the water to spot leaping dolphins and whales. Kauai is home to the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, at over 3,500 feet deep and 10 miles long, though smaller than it's Arizona counterpart, it's still a rather impressive canyon. Verdant and green, Kauai is nicknamed the Garden Isle for its stunning natural beauty, and does not fail to impress. Maui is also great for nature lovers with an underwater volcanic crater and the opportunity to swim alongside sea turtles. There is also a chance to see massive humpback whales off the coast or if you want to stay a little closer to the beach, the snorkelling is great.
So whether it's the hot volcanic nature, the lush green landscapes or crashing waves, holidays to Hawaii have something for everyone.
