Hawaii
The islands of Hawaii are the most visited Pacific Islands archipelago. The Hawaiian Islands lie in the northern hemisphere while most of the other south sea island resort destinations like Tahiti and the Cook islands lie in the southern hemisphere. This means their peak holiday periods differ as their seasons are opposite. As most people know, Hawaii is now one of the states of America. Getting there is easy as regular flights crossing the pacific nearly all call into Honolulu which is the capital. The islands have a fantastic reputation as a holiday destination and have the most spectacular scenery of any of the volcanic pacific islands. There are five main islands in the group and some of the destinations are legend in certain parts of the world. Hawaii is the home of surfing and the sport was invented the early Hawaian islanders and made famous by by Duke Kahanamoku at Waikiki Beach. Many of the local surf breaks are famous around the world and produce waves where the size and quality is legendary.
There are five main islands where tourists visit when they come to Hawaii. All international air services land at Honolulu international airport which is situated on the island of Oahu. Oahu is also, by far, the most populous of the Hawaiian Islands. It is the most popular of the islands for tourists with the Pearl Harbour memorial where you can visit the site where America's pacific Fleet was destroyed at the opening of the war in the pacific. Places like Sunset beach, Waikiki beach and Banzai pipeline are all icons of the Oahu tourist scene. Maui is located in a central position in the group and the west coast is largely protected from the ocean swells. It is a favorite place for tourists to visit and places like Lahania and its local whale watching area is very popular. It is common to see two or three cruise ships anchored off the shore here. Along the eastern shore is the famous Hana Highway which winds around the coast giving spectacular views of the coast line. Maui is popular with surfers and many golfers also come here for their annual holidays to stay in one of the many golfing resorts. Kaui and Molokai are the least visited of the Hawaiian Islands and both provide a quiet, less commercial holiday.
The largest island in the chain is the island of Hawaii, or the "Big Island" as it is locally known. It is the home of the Volcanoes National Park and is one of the few places on earth where you can see an active volcano in action. Helicopter rides are very popular to fly over the volcanoes and observe the molten lave spewing from the crater. Like the other islands there are fantastic surfing beaches and much to see and do. Mauna Loa is the largest volcano on the island and if you count the mass of the mountain that lies under the surface of the ocean, it is by far the biggest mountain in the world. it is still active and the island of Hawaii is still growing in size as lava flows reach the sea. Mauna Loa is often snow covered at its peak. It reaches an elevation of 4169 meters above sea level.
Generally speaking, the islands of Hawaii have the most spectacular scenery anywhere in the world. The mountain sides are covered with dense rain forests and there are sheer cliffs and fantastic valleys. The coastal plains are fertile and this is where most of the population lives. The entire region is like a movie set for a fantastic adventure epic and many films, like Jurrasic park have been filmed on local locations. Everyone who comes to Hawaii for a holiday, is always looking to come back and explore this fantastic destination a little bit more.
