HAWAII
Travel Guides
|
The Hawaiian Islands are one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. They embody the public’s imagination/dream of the South-Seas, including flower-wreathed beauties, lush and tropical vegetation, and endless sandy and deserted beaches.
Without destroying any imagination there are still some areas fulfilling these expectations but with the growing tourism over the last decades hotel monstrosities took over beautiful remote beaches and were transforming areas like Waikiki (Oahu), Kaanapali and Wailea (Maui) or Poipu (Kaui) into over-developed resorts. Coming to Hawai’i you have the choice between a variety of islands offering lush rain forests, active and non-active volcanoes, thousands of hiking and bike trails, and long stretches of beaches. And as if that would not be enough, calm waters or several floor high waves, breathtaking underwater worlds, and world class golfing. Hawai’i is an archipelago consisting of eight main islands that are surrounded by over 100 smaller usually uninhabited ones. Hawai’i and is the northernmost island group of Polynesia and its sub region OceaniaAustralia but belongs to the United States since 1959. |
The islands’ geographical layout looks like the first quadrant of a circle formed from the exposed volcano peaks of an underwater mountain range called ‘Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain’. Many visitors do not know that thousands of years ago there were more peaks sticking out of the water continuing the range to the northwest. Nowadays they are not visible anymore since the seamount chain is decreasing every year sinking back into the ocean. Taking a closer look on the islands layout you will discover that the younger islands like Maui and Big Island are much bigger than the older ones, which means that in a millennium Ni’hau or Kaua’i might shrink and finally disappear underseas as well.
The youngest and most southern island is Big Island, originally named ‘Island of Hawai’i’ by Polynesians, which usually confuses foreigners and leads to their assumption that the state of Hawai’i consists only of one island. Anyways, Big Island is the archipelago’s largest island with five volcanoes. Except of Mauna Kea and Kohala, Hualalai, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea are still active. Mauna Kea is the highest point on the island with 13,796 ft (~ 4205m). If you would measure Mauna Kea from the sea floor up to its peak it even would be the world’s tallest mountain!
Compared to the other islands Big Island is still very remote and despite some areas barely tapped. It offers a great diversion varying from lush tropics to meager lava flows with small, lovely villages, amazing beaches, and a quite big hippie community.
Northwest of Big Island is Maui the second largest island, nicknamed ‘Valley Isle’ due to its many large valleys that are carved into the mountain ranges and the narrow stretch of land between the volcanoes. Maui is slightly older than Big Island and its non-active volcano Haleakala is the island’s highest point with 10.023 ft (~ 3,055m). Maui is well known for its bustley but still bearable tourism and a growing agriculture. Here you will find the most beautiful beaches and in my opinion even the best snorkeling spots in the state, pitoresque villages and towns, and a scenic and diverse landscape.
Three other ‘main’ islands circle Maui: Kaho’olawe (aka Target Isle) in the southwest, Lana’i (aka Pineapple Isle) in the west and Moloka’i (aka Friendly Isle) in the northwest.
Kaho’olawe is very dry and lacks freshwater and didn’t belong to the state until 1994. Before its incorporation it was occupied by the military. The Navy used the smallest of all main islands as training ground and bombing range during World War II and later for live-fire trainings. Long lasting protests finally forced the military to turn over the island to the state. Today Kaho’olawe is only used by native Hawaiians for spiritual purposes; there are no permanent residents on the island.
Lana’i formerly known for its pineapple and sugar cane industry turned in recent years towards tourism as well, though restricted. The two only hotel resorts owned by the Four Seasons Group are located on the island making a stay on remote Lana’i pretty expensive except you decide for one of the few B&Bs. But still … this island sucks the money out of your pocket.
Moloka’i on the other hand abandoned all commercialization, including resorts, golf courses etc to successfully protect its pristine landscape, history and Hawaiian tradition. Next to a breathtaking nature you will find secluded beaches with great snorkeling and only a few condos where you can spend your vacation.
Northwest of Maui and its surrounding islands follows Oahu with the largest resident population. Oahu includes the Hawaiian State Capitol Honolulu and also the largest tourist area on all islands Waikiki. For me Waikiki is one and the same with overdeveloped hotel ghettos in areas like Miami Beach, Cancun, and several Spanish beach towns standing out with crowds of people squeezing themselves next to each other at the beach, in restaurants, on the streets and in bars.
Thankfully, the island has more to offer which you will experience as soon you are leaving the Honolulu area towards the east, north or west. Beautiful mountain ranges, secluded beaches and sleepy towns are awaiting those being able to escape Waikiki.
Another remote and pristine island is Kaua’i that contains the most beautiful and scenic coastline and highest numbers of hens and roosters I have ever seen. Besides, mile long stretches of red dirt that will stay on your clothes forever – I am serious! Kaua’i completes the archipelago in the north and is besides Na Pali coastline famous for the Waimea Canyon in the west that is also called the ‘small Grand Canyon’. It is the oldest ‘main’ island of the Hawaiian archipelago (if you do not count the no longer visible islands) and carries the nickname ‘Garden Isle’. As soon you saw the Na Pali coast and Mount Wai’ale’ale with its many waterfalls you know why it lives up its nickname.
Comparing Kaua’i’s highest point with Big Island and Maui you will discover that Kawaikini volcano is pretty small/low with only 5,243 ft (1598m). As I mentioned before the older islands are getting smaller over the millennia declining and sinking deeper into the water until they disappear.
And finally the last island: Ni’hau. This island is located southwest of Kaua’i and is a privately owned. It was purchased in 1894 from King Kamehameha V with 350 native Hawaiians and 20,000 sheep. The original owner Elizabeth Sinclar passed the ownership to her descendants who closed the island to most visitors and even relatives in the early 20th century.
Today the island is open to the family’s relatives again and offers some but little tours to the public. With the tours the owners are gaining income next to the island’s other source of capital, a small Navy installation for special operation units. The island has about 130 inhabitants supporting themselves with fishing and farming since no accommodations or other tourism is allowed. Furthermore, any source of media like radio or TV is forbidden on Ni’hau but rent and meat are free on the other hand. The major spoken language is Hawaiian. BTW the islands nickname is the ‘Forbidden Island’ – not surprising!
The youngest and most southern island is Big Island, originally named ‘Island of Hawai’i’ by Polynesians, which usually confuses foreigners and leads to their assumption that the state of Hawai’i consists only of one island. Anyways, Big Island is the archipelago’s largest island with five volcanoes. Except of Mauna Kea and Kohala, Hualalai, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea are still active. Mauna Kea is the highest point on the island with 13,796 ft (~ 4205m). If you would measure Mauna Kea from the sea floor up to its peak it even would be the world’s tallest mountain!
Compared to the other islands Big Island is still very remote and despite some areas barely tapped. It offers a great diversion varying from lush tropics to meager lava flows with small, lovely villages, amazing beaches, and a quite big hippie community.
Northwest of Big Island is Maui the second largest island, nicknamed ‘Valley Isle’ due to its many large valleys that are carved into the mountain ranges and the narrow stretch of land between the volcanoes. Maui is slightly older than Big Island and its non-active volcano Haleakala is the island’s highest point with 10.023 ft (~ 3,055m). Maui is well known for its bustley but still bearable tourism and a growing agriculture. Here you will find the most beautiful beaches and in my opinion even the best snorkeling spots in the state, pitoresque villages and towns, and a scenic and diverse landscape.
Three other ‘main’ islands circle Maui: Kaho’olawe (aka Target Isle) in the southwest, Lana’i (aka Pineapple Isle) in the west and Moloka’i (aka Friendly Isle) in the northwest.
Kaho’olawe is very dry and lacks freshwater and didn’t belong to the state until 1994. Before its incorporation it was occupied by the military. The Navy used the smallest of all main islands as training ground and bombing range during World War II and later for live-fire trainings. Long lasting protests finally forced the military to turn over the island to the state. Today Kaho’olawe is only used by native Hawaiians for spiritual purposes; there are no permanent residents on the island.
Lana’i formerly known for its pineapple and sugar cane industry turned in recent years towards tourism as well, though restricted. The two only hotel resorts owned by the Four Seasons Group are located on the island making a stay on remote Lana’i pretty expensive except you decide for one of the few B&Bs. But still … this island sucks the money out of your pocket.
Moloka’i on the other hand abandoned all commercialization, including resorts, golf courses etc to successfully protect its pristine landscape, history and Hawaiian tradition. Next to a breathtaking nature you will find secluded beaches with great snorkeling and only a few condos where you can spend your vacation.
Northwest of Maui and its surrounding islands follows Oahu with the largest resident population. Oahu includes the Hawaiian State Capitol Honolulu and also the largest tourist area on all islands Waikiki. For me Waikiki is one and the same with overdeveloped hotel ghettos in areas like Miami Beach, Cancun, and several Spanish beach towns standing out with crowds of people squeezing themselves next to each other at the beach, in restaurants, on the streets and in bars.
Thankfully, the island has more to offer which you will experience as soon you are leaving the Honolulu area towards the east, north or west. Beautiful mountain ranges, secluded beaches and sleepy towns are awaiting those being able to escape Waikiki.
Another remote and pristine island is Kaua’i that contains the most beautiful and scenic coastline and highest numbers of hens and roosters I have ever seen. Besides, mile long stretches of red dirt that will stay on your clothes forever – I am serious! Kaua’i completes the archipelago in the north and is besides Na Pali coastline famous for the Waimea Canyon in the west that is also called the ‘small Grand Canyon’. It is the oldest ‘main’ island of the Hawaiian archipelago (if you do not count the no longer visible islands) and carries the nickname ‘Garden Isle’. As soon you saw the Na Pali coast and Mount Wai’ale’ale with its many waterfalls you know why it lives up its nickname.
Comparing Kaua’i’s highest point with Big Island and Maui you will discover that Kawaikini volcano is pretty small/low with only 5,243 ft (1598m). As I mentioned before the older islands are getting smaller over the millennia declining and sinking deeper into the water until they disappear.
And finally the last island: Ni’hau. This island is located southwest of Kaua’i and is a privately owned. It was purchased in 1894 from King Kamehameha V with 350 native Hawaiians and 20,000 sheep. The original owner Elizabeth Sinclar passed the ownership to her descendants who closed the island to most visitors and even relatives in the early 20th century.
Today the island is open to the family’s relatives again and offers some but little tours to the public. With the tours the owners are gaining income next to the island’s other source of capital, a small Navy installation for special operation units. The island has about 130 inhabitants supporting themselves with fishing and farming since no accommodations or other tourism is allowed. Furthermore, any source of media like radio or TV is forbidden on Ni’hau but rent and meat are free on the other hand. The major spoken language is Hawaiian. BTW the islands nickname is the ‘Forbidden Island’ – not surprising!
Best time to travel
The archipelago’s temperature is pleasant and stable all year round making Hawai’i a perfect full year destination. One reason is only a slight variation from day and night and furthermore the islands’ location in a narrow latitude band.
In general you can say that most rainfall takes place on the windward side (the east and north sides of each island). In comparison the leeward side (coastal area in the south and west) generates more sun and tends to be dry. The average temperatures at sea level are 85-90 °F (29-32 °C) during summer and 79-83 °F (26-28 °C) during winter. In the higher elevations the temperatures are lower and Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea on Big Island might even carry snow during winter. The same might apply for Haleakala on Maui.
Beach lovers also take advantage of the islands’ location since the water temperatures range between 77 °F (25 °C) in winter and up to 83 °F (28 °C) in summer, making a beach day very enjoyable.
Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Well there are some factors that might have an influence on paradise, such as trade winds, rainfall, storms and even hurricanes.
Usually you will only experience a nice breeze during your stay but in particular on Maui the breeze can turn into violent trade winds that could speed up to 80 - 100mph (160 km/h) or more around Kauai and Maui. Fortunately, this only happens every 8 – 12 years.
The mentioned rainfall mostly takes place on the windward sides in areas like Hilo (Big Island), Hana (Maui), North Shore (Oahu) or Hanalei (Kauai). But these showers can be a nice relief from the hot and dry leeward side in the south and west.
Bigger storms are only taking place six to seven times per year usually from October through March and are accompanied by heavy rain and strong winds. These storms are called Kona storms since they develop from the Kona direction.
When worse comes worse it might happen that a hurricane originated from Mexico hits the islands. This happens rarely and only during the North Pacific hurricane season between June and November. It is more likely that tropical storms occur which is similar to a Kona storm. They usually happen from July to December.
Finally, I recommend visiting the islands in late spring to early summer since it is a kind of shoulder season. The prices for airfare and accommodations are usually lower and much more important: there are fewer visitors on the islands except Waikiki. Although I have been several times to Hawai’i I cannot tell or estimate when Oahu is less frequented.
In the following I will introduce you to Oahu, Kaua’i, Mau’i, and Big Island, if you have further questions about the smaller islands please do not hesitate to contact me under info (at) travelin-mate.com