Hawaii Travel Guide
Honolulu
A third of the state population is gathered in Honolulu, the state capital. And what a population it is? In Honolulu, East truly does meet West. The ethnic make-up of the city is a genuine melting pot where most children are born with mixed ancestry. On the streets of Honolulu it is possible to see Filipinos, Chinese, Japanese, Native Hawaiians, Caucasians and all conceivable mixtures in between. Coupled with great beaches, lush scenery and gorgeous weather this rich cultural diversity makes Honolulu a dream destination for travellers everywhere.
What To Do and Where To Go
Essentially Honolulu falls into three distinct parts. There is the downtown area, which is the older part of the city. Waikiki is the beach area and big attraction. Pearl Harbour is the largest part of the city, much of which is still devoted to naval and military bases.
Downtown
A fascinating area to tour around. The architectural mix symbolises the diversity of Hawaii's past.
Iolani Palace is the only Royal Palace in the USA. It was the official residence of the royal family - King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani - for only a short time, 1882 to 1891, prior to the overthrow of the monarchy. Subsequently it became the state capital and then a termite-ridden ruin. More recently a complete restoration has been undertaken and the Palace opened as a museum in 1978.
The Bishop Museum is internationally important as one of the finest Polynesian anthropological museums. The Hawaiian Hall - occupying three floors - is dedicated to a cultural history of the islands. There is also a Polynesian Hall with artefacts from other Pacific Island chains. The Museum also houses a large natural history section which focuses on Polynesian flora and fauna.
Smaller but no less exceptional is the Honolulu Academy of Arts which features art from Europe, Asia, America and the Pacific. The collections feature pieces dating from Ancient Egypt to the present day.
Also worth a look is the Foster Botanical Gardens, the Mission Houses Museum and Nuuana Pali Lookout. This gives panoramic views from atop a 300-metre cliff.
Waikiki
This is the Beach. Waikiki is one of the world's most famous stretches of sand and Hawaii's most important resort spot. Ironically, the sand is imported from another island. Really that is all there is to Waikiki just the sheer pleasure and enjoyment of being on the beach, in the sun, in the sea and having fun. It is possible to undertake just about any water sport imaginable here. Any tourist worth his salt in Waikiki should try the one water sport synonymous with Hawaii, Surfing.
Also in the Waikiki area is the imposing mass of Diamond Head. This 800 foot high extinct volcano sits at the end of the beach and gives a great view of the city.
Pearl Harbour
This is the site of the Japanese attack in 1941 and the USS Arizona Memorial is Hawaii's most visited attraction. The memorial lies directly above the Arizona, which still lies in the water beneath.
Due to the enduring strategic importance of Pearl Harbour, much of it is still given up to military use.
Outside Honolulu
There are many other attractions on the Island of Oahu chief amongst them is the Polynesian Cultural Centre. This is a kind of cultural theme park that is owned and run by Mormons. It consists of 'villages' each one of which depicts life in one of the Pacific Island chains. Samoa, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga, the Marquesas and Hawaii are all featured. This is Hawaii's second most visited attraction but many consider it a touch expensive, especially for a 'non-profit' enterprise.
Eating, Drinking, Sleeping
The ethnic mix of Honolulu means every type of food is available. Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Macdonalds, Haute Cuisine and of course, local. There are many fine restaurants all serving this diversity of menus. Try if possible the 'Pacific Rim' style which blends and borrows from all the ethnic food influences. The famed Hawaiian meal is the 'luau'. This is used for family celebrations and consists of steaming the food in a pit of hot coals over a long period.
In much the same way that a visitor should try surfing the same is true of the cocktails. Hawaii is home of the exotic drink and most beachside bars will mix a mai tai quicker than you can say Harvey Wallbanger.
Waikiki is where the bulk of the hotels are. All the expected chains are represented and prices vary dependent on sea views and proximity to the ocean. Prices range from hostels and budget hotels right up to the priciest penthouse suites.
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