The Hawaiian Islands

"The Most Beautiful Islands in the World."

The Hawaii of your imagination still exists.
And it's available right now.
In Hawaii.

For most of us, Hawaii begins to weave her spell with some little glimmer of awareness. A friend describes a sunset off Waikiki. We hear the twang of a steel guitar. Or we open a magazine and there it is... Golden beaches and golden people. Sun, sand, sea , and surf... And somewhere between the blue skies and the palm trees... we're hooked.

The Hawaiian Islands are one of the most beautiful places on earth. The weather is friendly. The temperature ranges from 60-90 degrees all year long. It's a little warmer in summer, and a little cooler in winter, but every day is a beach day for somebody.

The environment is friendly. The physical beauty of Hawaii is almost unparalleled. Majestic mountains were created millions of years ago by volcanic activity that thrust these islands three miles from the ocean floor. Wave action across endless eons of time created coral reefs, and then battered and broke them to create miles of white sand beach. Our position at the center of the Pacific ensured that almost every plant and animal who would find a home here would come as an invited guest.

There are no strangers in Paradise. Perhaps the most beautiful part of Hawaii is the genuine warmth of our people. We call it the spirit of Aloha. It has allowed a melting pot of cultures from all over the world to find common ground, and a new home, in this most gentle of places.

The Price is Right

The best thing about your Hawaiian vacation is that it can be designed to fit your budget. All of the best things about Hawaii are free including the ocean, the beaches, and the sun.

Accommodations range from deluxe resorts to quiet little bed and breakfasts. Cars can be rented by the day or the week. Special package rates are offered in most major newspapers every week. And now is the best time to travel. Call your travel agent today !

You Won't Find Hawaii Sitting in a Hotel Room

The Hawaii of your imagination is somewhere outside. You'll find it on the endless miles of beaches that ring our islands. Maybe you'll find it on one of the sixty-seven golf courses. Or maybe, you'll want to take a little excursion down the "heavenly road to Hana."

The main thing to remember is that the best way to enjoy your Hawaiian vacation is to get active. Rent a car. Better yet, rent a convertible. Put the top down... and explore. Hike the trails. Visit the museums and historical sites. Find a new and 'undiscovered' beach. Let your hair down and have fun. It really doesn't get any better than this.

The islands have a special place for you, but it's up to you to discover it.

Action! Adventure!

If you're the kind of person for whom having fun is, well... HAVING FUN!... then you're coming to the right place. No matter what your sport may be, Hawaii is the action-adventure capital of the world.

SWIMMING - The 'lei' of beaches that surround our islands give you access to the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean. With the added buoyancy of warm salt water, this is a perfect spot for either challenging the surf in the open ocean, or just paddling around in a sheltered lagoon.
GOLF - With over 67 golf courses (at last count) that range from championship-level challenges to duffers delights, how can you go wrong? And with that many courses, it's sure that there will be a major course within 15 minutes of where you're staying.
SURFING - For the true aficionado, the biggest waves in the world are available on Oahu's North Shore. And for the dabbler, almost any spot on the leeward side of the islands will offer one to three foot rollers. Boards and instruction for the beginner can be arranged at most of the major resorts, and some public beaches.
TENNIS- Hundreds of courts. Some public and some very private. Most of them are open from dawn to late evening.
SPORTFISHING - The Pacific Blue Marlin record was set in Kona, but if a four hour battle with an 1100 pounder is not your style, we can guarantee you that 20 minutes with a 75 pound mahimahi will make your trip worthwhile.
SNORKELING - Almost every beach on the leeward coasts will be sheltered enough for both safe swimming and for coral reefs to develop. If there's a reef, then there's an abundance of sea-life. Equipment can be bought or rented almost everywhere.
SCUBA - Lessons and day trips are available for everyone from beginner to "old salts."
SUBMARINES - For those of us who want to go under water and don't want to get wet, this is a great alternative.
HIKING - There are dozens and dozens of trails. You can hike a mountain ridge that looks down on both sides of an island. Across lava fields that look like the landscapes of the moon to a deserted beach. Or follow a stream bed through a tropical rainforest to its source at a secluded waterfall. Climb Diamond Head. Rainforest to desert. Mountain hikes or beach walks. Whatever you're looking for, there are maps and hiking guides available at local bookstores that not only describe the trails, but rate them as to degree of difficulty.
WHEELS - There are designated bike paths on all the islands, and bike lanes are a feature of most of the highways. You can take bike tours (downhill) from the 10,000 foot summit of Mt. Haleakala on Maui.
PLUS... you might want to rent a motor scooter, a motorcycle, rollerblades, or a Ferrari. You might even think about four-wheeling the back roads, or touring with your family in a vintage car.
WINDSURFING - Equipment can be rented at most of the major resorts, and there are even trainers for the uninitiated.
WAVE ACTION - Kayaks, waterbikes, boogey boards, and outrigger canoes are just some of the activities available. If athleticism is not your style, you might want to consider the challenges of an air mattress in the shelter of a lagoon.
BEACH VOLLEYBALL - There are usually pick up games on the more popular public beaches, or it's generally a feature at the beachfront hotels.
THE LIST IS ENDLESS - Pick your sport. Talk to your travel agent, and design a trip that you'll remember for the rest of your life.

Feast on a Fast Food Budget

The waves of immigration which gave us such cultural diversity also guaranteed that everybody who came to visit could eat like a king. While we're blessed with lots of fast-food outlets, the real joy of dining in Hawaii is in its endless variety.

Every culture who graced our shores brought with them their own brand of cuisine. From the Hawaiians... lau lau and poi. From the Portuguese... malasadas and pao doce. From the Japanese... sushi and tempura. So whether your tastes run to the traditional, like prime rib and seafood, or to the truly exotic like Thai, Indian, or Greek, there are dining experiences here that will be perfectly suited to your palate and your pocketbook.

Very Special Events!

The hospitality of Hawaii is legendary. The islands have been immortalized in song, print, film, radio, and television. Each year, millions of visitors come to these islands. Many to return again and again.

If you can plan your visit to coincide with one of our community events, then you're in for a very special treat.

The list ranges from First Night celebrations on New Years Eve to Aloha Festivals on all the islands in September. You can run a marathon, compete in the Oceanfest, enjoy an international hula competition, watch any of a hundred parades, whoop it up at a rodeo, or graze your way through any one of a dozen food festivals.

The list is really too numerous for us to talk about in depth here, but you might want to give us a call to ask about other events (see below for contact numbers).

Where to Stay

Where you stay really depends on what you want to experience. There are cabins on the beach, sumptuous villas, five star resorts.. . condominiums in Waikiki, bed and breakfasts near the volcanoes, and "grass huts" rimming the edge of a blue lagoon.

If you want nightlife and fast-paced action, head for Waikiki. It's the action capital of the Pacific. Lots of fun. An abundance of hotel rooms, nightclubs, discos, shopping... all the amenities of city living perched on one of the world's finest beaches. And if you want to experience a little of the "natural" Hawaii, the rest of Oahu will provide you with all the "getaway" you'll ever need.

If you're looking for an idyllic island paradise, and your idea of fun is to lay in the sun on a deserted stretch of white sand beach, then you might choose one of the neighbor islands... Kauai, with its pristine Na Pali coast, or Maui, and the old whaling port of Lahaina, or, for sheer contrast, the wide open spaces of The Big Island. The main thing is to match the destination to your own wants and needs. There's an island here that's custom-made for you.

Which Island First?

This may be the most perplexing question of all. Usually there's so much that we want to do on our holidays, and so little time in which to do it that we want to maximize the experience in any way we can. The following pages will give you a brief insight into what each island has to offer. Each has its own individual rhythm, features and attractions. It's up to you to decide.

Getting Around

Wherever you choose to start, it's easy to get around. There are direct flights from the mainland U.S. to most of the islands, but no matter where you fly in, the neighbor islands are a short 30 minute flight away. (Some more, some less.)

It's easy to plan a trip that includes more than one island, though it may prove difficult to fully discover what any of the islands has to offer in less than a week.

Again, unless you're thoroughly sedentary, we generally recommend that you rent a car. There are hundreds of beaches, towering volcanoes, rainforests, waterfalls, and miles and miles of lava flow waiting to be explored, but you'll need a car to get to most of them.

More Information

That's what we do! Look over the rest of these pages, and give us a call at 1-800-GO HAWAII (1-800-464-2924). Ask for our special publication, The Islands of Aloha. It has a lot more information on the history, culture, and romance of Hawaii, and it's free of charge.

If there's anything further that we can do to help, we're here to serve you, and to make your Hawaiian vacation the once in a lifetime experience that you can afford more than once.

Visit:

Phone numbers for Hawaii Visitors Bureau Sales & Marketing Offices