|
FAST FACTS
Honolulu: Capital of all the islands, Oahu is for
beachcombers, honeymooners and adventurers of all ages. It has clear
blue waters and pristine valleys, rainbows and waterfalls, quiet sandy
beaches, fiery sunsets and lovely flowers which perfume the air. It is
truly a jewel.
Honolulu, the capital, is set over five hills and surrounded by
beautiful white sandy beaches, attracting some seven million visitors
each year.
It offers plazas, parks with cascading waterfalls, five star
restaurants, nightclubs, world-class shopping, great art and
architecture, exquisite hotels and friendly people with old fashioned
aloha spirit.
A walking tour of the city must include the Aloha Tower and the
fascinating Hawai'i Maritime Centre, the Kawaiahao Church, the Mission
Houses Museum, the stately Iolani Palace and across the street, the
striking statue of King Kamehameha the Great.
A gourmet's paradise, the cuisine in Honolulu is a blend of the spices
of Asia and the Pacific with European styles and sauces.
Make a special visit to Chinatown where several buildings erected at the
turn of the century still remain intact. The architecture is reminiscent
of a bygone era. The Chinatown Historical Society offers walking tours
which include a stroll through the colorful arcades, past the exotic
herb shops, the famous open market and historical buildings.
There's so much to see and do on Oahu, from a family hike to Diamond
Head, a 760 foot peak, to a swim with 150 varieties of tropical fish in
Hanauma Bay.
Where else can you snorkel a crystal lagoon, climb a dormant volcano,
surf huge waves, kayak along a pristine tropical coastline, picnic on a
sandbar, soar in a glider over tidepools, scuba dive over sunken
airplanes, play golf at a championship course and sail into a
magnificent sunset?
A change of pace is to visit Dole Plantation three miles past Wahiawa.
Walk around the Pineapple Garden tasting the varieties of pineapple
grown there, or surf the waves on Ka'a'awa Beach on the windward side of
the island.
You can also enjoy a stroll through the Polynesian Cultural Centre and
enjoy Sea Life Park with its killer whales, dolphins and penguins.
Then there's the chance to take a nostalgic trip to Pearl Harbor where
you can step aboard the 'USS Bowfin', a real WW2 submarine.
Learn more about this compelling wartime saga by visiting the USS
Arizona Memorial Visitor Centre displaying WW2 naval history and see a
film about the sneak attack.
A visit to Hawai'i would be incomplete without a swim at famous Waikiki
beach with its inviting tropical ocean waters, or you can experience the
thrill of windsurfing at Kailua Beach where experienced windsurfers
offer lessons.
|
