Hawaii

Hawaii – the perfect South Sea idyll? The 50th U.S. state is a blend of European, Asian and Polynesian cultures against a backdrop of turquoise ocean, black and white beaches, tropical forests and volcanoes. Garlands of flowers and hula dancing are part of everyday folklore.

Nowadays, of course, these endearing details are laid on for the tourists, but the archipelago is fascinating in spite of that - or because of it? - for honeymooners as well as surfers. The capital Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, is among the most popular destinations. Colorful and noisy Waikiki (part of Honolulu), where most tourists disport themselves, is just as representative of Hawaii as the quiet Waimea Canyon on Kauai, or the Na Pali Coast with the highest (surfing) waves.

The archipelago was formed over a so-called "hot spot", where liquid rock breaks through the Earth’s crust, producing volcanoes. Some are harmless enough, like those in the Haleakala or Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Walkers are guaranteed a unique experience of nature.

Haleakala National Park

The center of the National Park is the 2.5-mile wide and 7.5-mile long Haleakala Crater, the largest dormant volcanic crater in the world. It last erupted in 1790. Haleakala has enjoyed national park status since 1916, but it has only been a National Park in its own right since 1961. It has now been added to the United Nations directory of international biosphere reserves. This National Park in the southeast of Maui presents a volcanic lunar landscape, with its own ecosystem of rare plants and birds, some of them found only on Maui.

If we are to believe the advertisements for the island of Maui, there is nowhere else on Earth that offers such spectacular sunrises as Haleakala. The area of the National Park drops more than 9,800 feet over a distance of 7 miles to the sea, ranging from a sub-alpine zone which can even experience frost, to subtropical rainforest.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1916, stretches from the coast to the summit of the highest shield volcano on earth, 13,700-foot Mauna Loa. Lava fields, volcanic craters and cinder cones make up the picture; in many places, steam emerges, giving the impression that an eruption could be imminent. The National Park, recognized as an international biosphere reserve, is the result of 70 million years of volcanic activity and evolution.

As you can experience such volcanic activity first hand, the Park is one of the most awe-inspiring in the U.S. Kilauea, the most active volcano on Earth, provides a fantastic insight into the origins of the Hawaiian islands, as well as a fabulous view of the primeval landscape.

Na Pali Coast

The Na Pali Coast is the most photographed coastline in the Pacific – the embodiment of everyone's holiday dream in the cold winter months. This is where the highest waves in all Hawaii crash into the land. In winter, they can reach 30 feet, in summer only 3-6 feet. Along the Na Pali Coast is the famous Kalalau Trail, running high up into the cliffs and offering spectacular views.

The Na Pali Coast has been used as a backdrop by many film directors. Both Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jurassic Park and its sequel were filmed here. The unique panorama of this rocky coast and of the whole island make this possible. To the West of Hanalei are the most beautiful beaches and the most awe-inspiring stretches of coastline on the island of Kauai, only accessible on foot, by boat or by helicopter. In palm-fringed bays like Lumahai Beach or Haena Beach, you can enjoy the roar of the surf or snorkel in the cool water.

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park is a temple complex built by Polynesians in the 17th century – the only more or less complete shrine in Hawaii. The name Pu'uhonua o Honaunau means 'Place of rescue and refuge of Honaunau'. Until the early 19th century, it was a place of escape for Hawaiians who had broken the laws of the time. If a condemned man could escape to this sacred place, he would be blessed by the priests. Wounded and defeated warriors were also safe from their enemies in this place of asylum.

The National Historic Park was founded in 1961 and covers Pu'uhonua, a collection of archaeological sites, and a number of reconstructed villages. Three temples, carvings and a restored complex provide the visitor with an impression of tribal life and religious activities.

Polynesian Cultural Center

A large number of tourists visit the Polynesian Cultural Center – a mixture of open-air museum and pleasure park – each year. The cultures of the Polynesians are brought alive in seven replica South Sea villages. The 42-acre exhibition site is covered by richly adorned New Zealand Maori houses or Hawaiian grass huts. The villages are mainly occupied by inhabitants of the respective islands who display their traditional crafts, cultivation methods and dances.

The Polynesian Cultural Center, situated on the northeast coast of Oahu at Laie, opened in 1963. Students, among others from the Fiji Islands, from Samoa and Tahiti, try to bring visitors closer to the Polynesian culture. The excursions, theater performances and all-night entertainment have a rather ‘show-like' character.

Sea Life Park

Watching dancing dolphins and performing penguins and listening to the barking of seals in the Sea Life Park – the only oceanarium in Hawaii – are all possible. Here, the underwater world of the Pacific comes alive. Visitors can also wonder at the marine life of the archipelago in several aquariums. The park, approximately 18 miles from Waikiki, is surrounded by the impressive Koolau Mountain Range and the breathtaking Makapuu beach.

One of the main attractions of the 62-acre Sea Life Park is an immense whirlpool in which sharks, turtles and fish of all colors thrive between the reefs. Visitors are able to touch the sea creatures in various dolphin and animal shows or simply study their life and behavior. Furthermore, there is a Whale museum and a haven for wild animals.

Lahaina

Lahaina is not known as the 'jewel in the Maui crown” for nothing. This lively yet quaint town is best enjoyed on a leisurely stroll past the colonial-style façades and the colorfully decorated shops. Many whale-watching tours start in Lahaina Harbor – the last testimony to the former whaling industry. Historic museums, cafés and galleries entice you in to while away the time.

On the main thoroughfare, Front Street, you will discover historical houses dating from the 20th century and even a Hard Rock Café. One of the most famous buildings in the town is the Pioneer Inn next to the harbor. This wooden house, constructed in 1901, was for a long time the only hotel on the island, and had a legendary reputation for heavy alcohol consumption. A giant Banyan tree planted in 1873, and now one of the largest in Hawaii, can be found next to the hotel. A visit to the Wo Hing Temple will transport you back to the 1900s, when Chinese workers toiled on Maui sugar cane plantations.

Hana Road

The Hana Road between Kahului and Hana on the Maui northeast coast is the most scenic road in the whole of Hawaii. The 37-mile long road appears to be deceptively short, but you need to allow three to four hours. It winds through evergreen forests, small villages and taro fields, then snakes along the coast over countless one-way bridges, under which valleys and gorges are deeply carved. Each bend in the Hana Road conceals a view of solitary bays and steep crags in the rugged coastline.

Time seems to stand still in the Huelo village, with its small Kaulanapueo Church situated on this road. There are many turnoffs to small parks and botanical gardens along the way, such as the Pua'a Ka'a or Wai'anapanapa State Parks, which are worth visiting. Again and again, waterfalls tumble over flower-covered rock faces. Many places also offer the opportunity to go swimmng, such as at the Puohokamoa Falls, near which there is a cold mountain pool.

Honolulu

It is true that the 'protected bay' of Honolulu has, since the 18th century, developed into a commercial and cultural center for the Hawaiian islands. The people have, however, remained true to their motto 'Take it easy'. In addition to the University of Hawaii, numerous museums and galleries, the State Capitol is well worth seeing. The Aloha Tower is Honolulu’s best known landmark and offers stunning views over the harbor. The most magnificent building in the town is the Iolani Palace in which the last Hawaiian Queen also resided. Last but not least, the odor of smokehouses and spices in Chinatown gives the former slum district a nostalgic flair.

Waikiki, a district of Honolulu, has advanced as a tourist magnet due to its now-legendary beach. Visitors flock to Kalakaua Avenue. As well as the numerous shopping centers, such as the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, the international marketplace, with its many small shops, is an attractive place for a stroll.

Waimea Canyon

In the west, the garden island of Kauai spreads from north to south towards to Waimea Canyon, which Mark Twain described, with some exaggeration, as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific". The red-brown mountains, with their jagged rocks and steep valleys, span over 12 miles. Numerous waterfalls cascade thousands of feet down over the surrounding rock faces. The Waimea Canyon is the heart of the State Park of the same name (Phone: 808-274-3444, http://www.hawai.gov/dlnr/dsp/kauai.html), a protected area covering 1,865 acres.

The State Park can either be discovered on foot on a nature trail or – somewhat more pleasantly – by one of the many helicopters which circle the width of the canyon like tiny insects. From Waimea, the road climbs slowly up from sea level into the rocky countryside. You will also get your first impressions of Waimea Canyon on this route. There are numerous viewpoints offering a view of the gorge with its colorful cliffs and dense vegetation.

© Berlitz Publishing/Apa Publications GmbH & Co KG, Singapore Branch, Singapore