It’s fairly safe to say that Hawaii is one of the closest places to a heaven on earth. It’s a place of paradise, simplicity and serenity. It’s the place we all dream of vacationing to. We dream of endless white beaches, water clear enough you can see as far down as the bottom, locals with a certain sort of endearing charm and waves that would make a surfer of any calibre drool in anticipation. Hawaii is a destination of constant return, with many holiday-goers visiting the Island multiple times – they just don’t want to leave! Check out these 5 reasons you should visit Hawaii.
5 reasons you should visit Hawaii:Â The weather
It’s a tropical place, man; think flip flops and Hawaiian shirts all year around because it is so warm. People in the rest of the US travel to Hawaii to get away from the cold and snow, so there’s really no off-peak season for Hawaii. It’s a holiday all year round! The water is always swimmable, warm and crystal clear. February through to July sees average temperatures around 63 – 67º F, which may not seem like your perfect summer weather but keep in mind humidity is higher and it doesn’t look like rain for days!
The people
The locals of Hawaii are well known for their outstanding hospitality and kindness. Hawaii has a multi-ethnic community, with influences from Polynesia, Japan, China, the Philippines and Caucasian settlers from all parts of the world. Consequently there are many customs, religions and beliefs that the locals hold. Always make sure to be respectful in places of worship and if you get the chance to visit the home of a local, ensure that you take off your shoes before entering!
The islands
Hawaii has a chain of six islands in total, each of which has something unique to offer. The largest, Hawaii Island, is home to two different climates – so here is the place to be if you want stunning beaches with white snow capped mountains AND rainforests. It also hosts the largest underwater mountain in the world and the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in Kilauea, which is home to some of the most active volcanoes in the world. Oahu Island is the state capital and where the majority of the population reside. Many tourists flock to Oahu for the famous Waikiki beach. There is also the area of Pearl Harbor, now a Museum. Kauai Island hosts the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’ and the islands of Molokai, Lanai and Maui have some of the best beaches in the world on them, untouched and pristine. Perfect for a romantic getaway!
The surfing
Hawaii is arguably THE place to be when it comes to surfing. It has hosted many a surfing competition and is home to some of the greatest waves in the world. Hawaii is the birthing place of big wave surfing, so it’s natural for tourists to travel to Hawaii in search of only the biggest and best waves (hint: they are sporadic but winter; November to February is better.) The best island and beaches for catching waves are on Oahu’s western shore beaches, and Waimea Bay on Oahu’s legendary North Shore. You can learn to surf on many of the Islands, but the best place is Waikiki where instructors come by the dozen. Hop on a long board and hang ten.
The beaches
There’s an abundance of beaches in Hawaii – there’s six islands to choose from and each of them have different beaches to offer. Hawaii is famous for white-sand beaches, but it is not uncommon for sand to be green, black or red because of the volcanoes in the region. As pretty and unique as the sand is, don’t try to take it home as sand is not a renewable source, this sand cannot be remade. Waikiki beach is one of the most famous in the world, but venture out to smaller beaches for those untouched and crystal blue waters that you’ve been anticipating. Visit Punalu’u on Big Island for outstanding black sand beaches. Lanikai in Oahu is the place for romantic pristine beaches – perfect for sunset walks and Lahaina Beach on the island of Maui is famous for traditional Hawaiian wedding ceremonies.