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Hidden deep within the natural beauty of the Hawaiian Islands is the spirit of a very special people. In Hawaii you become ONE with nature... |
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Aloha, e komo mai (Welcome!)
The hauntingly beautiful sounds of the Hawaiian guitar, the sweet fragrance of flowers everywhere, the warmth of the people, the blissful air, and the never-ending ocean creates a euphoria like no place on earth. Glimmering white beaches, sun, sand, sea, and surf.....what else can you ask for? The Hawaiian Islands are one of the most beautiful places on earth. The weather in Hawaii is heavenly where the temperature ranges from 70-80 degrees year round. "Waikiki beckons with gorgeous white sand, dependable Hawaiian
sunshine, first class dinning,
international shopping, and exciting nightlife. Over a century ago,
Robert Luis Stevenson wrote:'If
anyone desires such old fashioned things as beautiful scenery, quiet,
pure air, clear water, heavenly It is still magic today. The beautiful San Souci beach under the cliffs of Diamond Head. Waikiki Beach itself is not one of continuous crescent of sand, but a series of beaches, some natural and others manmade, each with it own ambience and habitués. Lahaina is still the center of action of Maui, but the narrow dusty streets Herman Melville walked are now brightly lined with art galleries, shops, restaurants and night spots. This is also one of the best places to watch Hawaii's biggest visitors, the humpback whales, as they sing and cavort in the Molokai Channel--although the best way to see the whales is to take a boat ride out to join them at sea. Today, the once ribald capital of the Sandwich Islands has been turned into a living museum, and you can spend hours hiking through a century and a half of Hawaiian history.
When visitors first see Kaanapali Beach, with its beautiful views of the Pacific and Neighbor Islands of Molokai and Lanai, they can understand why these were dubbed the Islands of Paradise, and why the name stuck for so long. The views make the Pacific seem more like a large lake than the largest body of water in the world. The sunsets make wonderful transitions from sun-filled days to fun-filled nights as the sun sinks over Lanai. Kauai, the Garden Isle, is a lush emerald paradise in the middle of the Pacific. Many claim it the most beautiful of all the Hawaiian Islands. Some of the most awesome spots look out on the Waimea Canyon, which Mark Twain, with his sense of modest description, called the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific." Part of the Kokee State Park, it is a mile wide, over ten miles long, and almost 4000 feet deep. One of the most popular pastimes at the lookouts is watching the shadows of clouds as they cross the chasm's walls. It is also one of the best places for hiking and offers more than 10 hiking individual hiking trails. There is an overwhelming feeling of peaceful beauty of Hanalei Bay. The bay itself is a long crescent of sandy beach etched into the half-moon base of the intricately carved mountains. It stretches from Kolokolo Point and its Lumahai Beach, where Mitzi Gaynor vowed to "Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair' to Puu Poa Point, where Rossano Brazzi sang" Some Enchanting Evening." Most visitors recognize it as the setting for the movie "South Pacific".
The "state" of Hawaii is comprised of eight major islands, which are called the High Islands. With an array of sea, land and sporting activities from which to choose, visitors will enjoy hiking through rainforests, biking along mountain ranges and swimming in the azure blue waters of the Pacific. Kilauea, Hawaii's most spectacular attraction is known for its fiery eruptions, mountains of red hot glowing lava and violent outbursts. Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park is a fascinating place to go hiking. Two of the world's rare live volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, lie within its 350 square miles The first people to set foot on Hawaii were probably Polynesian fishermen,
or perhaps defeated
warriors whose canoes were drawn hopelessly northward into unfamiliar
waters. They arrived by a
combination of extraordinary good luck and an uncanny ability to sail
and navigate without Original settlers of Polynesia migrated through South-East Asia and Indonesia across Melanesia, before settling the Polynesian islands from 1000 BC to 500 AD. Hawaii was one of the last island groups to be settled. Archaeological evidence indicates the first Polynesians arrived in Hawaii from the Marquesas between 500 and 700 AD. The first wave of Tahitians arrived in Hawaii in about 1000 AD conquering and subjugating the Marquesans, forcing them to build temples, irrigation ditches and fishponds. The menehunelegends of a tribe of little people may well refer to the Marquesans for the word ‘menehune’ is very similar to the Tahitian word for ‘outcast’.
The earliest Hawaiians had simple beliefs which were the result of
being in tune with the spirits of
nature. Offerings to their gods consisted mainly of praying and a sharing
of their harvest. The
Hawaiians had gods for all natural phenomena, consisting of the four
main gods: Ku, Lono, Kane, Temples erected in ancient Hawaii, called heiaus, were built in two basic styles using lava rock. One was a rectangular enclosure built directly on the ground, the other consisted of raised terraced platforms with rocks piled high. Many of these heiaus can still be found throughout the islands today and are considered sacred places.
The culture of Hawai'i people, along with that of the rest of the Polynesians is unique primarily due to isolation of the islands.
A scholar once wrote that the Hawaiian culture disappeared before it could be properly recorded. The only written glimpse of these islands was given to us by Captain Cook and his officers. More recently the Bishop Museum in Honolulu have pieced together the data of the Polynesian people to give us a fairly clear vision of the early Hawaiians. Life centered around the kapu, a complex set of rules. For instance women were not allowed to eat certain foods like pork and bananas. But they were not savages either as they developed a rich cultural heritage. They also practiced a conservation that is in some respects should be envied by the West. Food was plentiful as the Hawaiians practiced closed fishing seasons and managed their natural resources. They lived simply and generally in harmony with nature.
The population of Hawaii is 1,200,000 with most people residing on Oahu. The 1990 US census put Oahu’s population at 836,231. Honolulu accounts for 377,059 people. The population is 24% Japanese, 24% Caucasian, 18% part-Hawaiian (less than 1% pure Hawaiian), 11% Filipino, 6% Chinese and 2% Black, with numerous other Pacific and Asian minorities. Approximately 14% of Oahu’s residents are members of the armed forces or their dependents. The population of the Big Island was 120,317 in 1990. Hilo has about a third of the island’s population, but the Big Island’s demographics are changing rapidly. The Big Island’s ethnic breakdown is 26% part-Hawaiian, 25% Caucasian, 22% Japanese, 12% mixed non-Hawaiian and 10% Filipino. Full-blooded Hawaiians make up just 1% of the population. According to the 1990 US census, the population of Kauai is 50,947. People of part-Hawaiian ethnicity make up 24% of Kauai’s population, followed by Filipino (22%), Japanese (21%) and Caucasian (18%). Lanai’s population is 2,500 and has seen some dramatic rises and falls in its population. Most residents of Lanai live in Lanai City. The largest ethnic group is Filipino (51%), followed by Japanese (18%), Caucasian (11%) and part-Hawaiian (9.2%). Maui has a population of 88,100. Ethnically. 26% of the population is Caucasian. 18°% Japanese, 14% Filipino and 2% Hawaiian. About one-third of Maui’s residents consider themselves to be of ‘mixed blood’, with two-thirds of these having some Hawaiian ancestry. Molokai’s population is 7000 and Molokai is the most Hawaiian
of the islands outside of Ni'ihau.
Almost 50% of its people are Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian. Filipino is
the next largest ethnic group,
followed by the usual mixture
Oahu is the best known island, and is often called the "Gathering Place", it is the third-largest island with nearly 80% of the entire population of the Hawaiian islands. In Honolulu, you will find the center of commerce and industry and the celebrated Waikiki beach. Waikiki beach is the center of Hawaiian tourist activity offering beautiful scenic beachs, and the majestic Diamond Head rising majestically in the background. Waikiki offers a wide variety of hotels, restaurants, and fine shopping, all within an easy walking distance. MORE Maui is the second-largest in the chain, and is known as the "Valley Isle". Maui is the site of Haleakala National Park, an enormous dormant volcano. The port of Lahaina is a charming artistic community and boasts a Wyland gallery. On the opposite side of the island is the small town of Hana with beautiful jungles and lush vegetation. Maui was transformed by two volcanoes and consists of grasslands, tropical
rainforest, streams,
waterfalls, and white sandy beaches. Haleakala, the highest point of
the island, affords views of
Molokai, Lana'i, Kaho'lawe, and the Big Island. Rustic Hawaiian lifestyles
can be found at I'ao Whale watching is a favorite pastime in Maui. Humpback whales come
to give birth and nurture their
calves from November to April. Ma'alaea Bay is a popular spot for whale
watching in the winter.
Beachcombers will love Maui's crystal clear waters where you can enjoy
snorkeling, sailing, and windsurfing. Kauai (ka-Wa-ee) is the fourth-largest and the oldest geographically. Kauai has one of the wettest spots on Earth, and is referred to as the "Garden Isle". It is hard to find a day on Kauai with no clouds in the sky. All of that rain makes for one of the most beautiful islands in the Hawaiian chain. Because of its untouched appearance, many say it is the most beautiful one. Kauai has more rivers, streams, and waterfalls than any of the other islands. Kauai is the only island in Hawaii that does not allow a building to be built higher than a coconut tree (four stories.) MORE
Molokai is known as the "Friendly Isle". Imagine, no traffic lights, traffic, buses, shopping centers, fast-food chains, highrises, and virtually no crime. It is rural and rugged on this island and the most like the Old Hawaii. One of the most famous regions of Molokai is the Kalaupapa Peninsula. In the early modern history of Hawaii, Kalaupapa was designated as a leper colony. Back then there was very little there, except isolation, which was the main reason that location was chosen. Kalaupapa is still isolated, there's still no road to the area, just a mule trail. It is also one of the most beautiful locations in Hawaii. The peninsula juts out into the ocean for a distance of several miles, with the back of the peninsula being blocked from the rest of the island by some of the tallest sea cliffs in the world.
It is the youngest island in the archipelago, twice as large as any
of the other islands. Most of the
Island's western side is dry and expansive, scattered with ancient fishponds
and archaeological
treasures. The famous Kona Coffee is grown on the west coast, and the
Iron Man Triathalon is
Main Hawaii Menu | Hawaii Map | Maui | Kauai | Oahu | Big Island of Hawaii | Slide Show | Site Menu Oahu is the best known island, and is often called the "Gathering Place", it is the third-largest island with nearly 80% of the entire population of the Hawaiian islands. In Honolulu, you will find the center of commerce and industry and the celebrated Waikiki beach. Waikiki beach is the center of Hawaiian tourist activity offering beautiful scenic beachs, and the majestic Diamond Head rising majestically in the background. Waikiki offers a wide variety of hotels, restaurants, and fine shopping, all within an easy walking distance. MORE but don't miss the Hawaii Visuals HERE! Maui is the second-largest
in the chain, and is known as the "Valley Isle". Maui
is the site of Kauai (ka-Wa-ee) is the fourth-largest and the oldest geographically. Kauai has one of the wettest spots on Earth, and is referred to as the "Garden Isle". It is hard to find a day on Kauai with no clouds in the sky. All of that rain makes for one of the most beautiful islands in the Hawaiian chain. Because of its untouched appearance, many say it is the most beautiful one. Kauai has more rivers, streams, and waterfalls than any of the other islands. Kauai is the only island in Hawaii that does not allow a building to be built higher than a coconut tree (four stories.) MORE but don't miss the Hawaii Visuals HERE!
Hawaii or
"The Big Island" as it is known by the locals, is the
largest of the Hawaiian islands is. The "state" of Hawaii is comprised of eight major islands, which
are called the High Islands. With This web site has been sponsored by ISLANDS MULTIMEDIA
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