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Hawaiian
Vacations
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With
all that the Hawaiian Islands have to offer, it can be difficult to
decide which island to go to, and what to do once you get there. A good
way to take some of the stress out of planning a trip to these
wonderful islands is to book a vacation package. When planning a
vacation, it can be difficult to decide what activities to participate
in. A vacation package can take some of the stress out of this. Many
times with your package, activities can be included with the price.
Many Hawaii resorts have a concierge service that would be happy to
help plan activities ahead of time. Another nice thing about booking
activities through the hotel is that they often times offer discounts
to many of the areas most popular attractions.
Now that you have decided that you want to book a vacation how do you
decide which Island to go to? Each island is beautiful and offers
unique adventures for your enjoyment. Let's explore the different
islands and see which one is right for you.
Kauai Of the eight islands, Kauai offers the most relaxed setting. This
island is also known as the Garden Island. Kauai is world famous for
its many beaches and wonderful golf courses. Other activities include
boat tours, helicopter tours, snorkeling, scuba diving and surfing. If
you have a rental car, be sure to take a drive into the Waimea Canyon.
This drive offers spectacular views of the canyon and the Napali Coast
at the north end of the island. This canyon features Mount
Wai-'ale-'ale, which is the rainiest place on Earth, which has more
than 350 rainy days per year. Don't let this discourage you because
this is a breathtaking drive with spectacular views. Give yourself
about 3 hours to drive and view. If you plan to hike, give yourself
more time. The 3 distinct vacation areas of Kauai are Wailua/Kapaa,
Poipu and Princeville. Wialua/Kapaa is the area with the most shopping
and restaurants, while Poipu is famous for its beaches and golf
courses. If you are looking for luxury, Princeville offers upscale
resort accommodations. With all there is to do on this island you will
want to plan many more Kauai vacations for years to come.
Maui Maui also known as the Magic Isle, is a beautiful island, known
for its white sand beaches and crystal clear water. It is easy to see
why humpback whales make this a part of their annual migratory route.
Maui offers something for everyone. Here you can enjoy sunbathing,
snorkeling and just plain snoozing under a palm tree. Once you are done
relaxing, Maui offers great shopping, sightseeing and dining. Maui's 3
distinct vacation areas are Kaanapali, Kihei and Wailea. You will find
some of the best Maui Resorts in these towns. Kannapali features some
of the best shopping golf and magnificent shoreline. This town also
offers great dining and a free whaling museum. Kihei is known by
travelers who don't want to break the bank. This town offers beach
after beach along miles of pristine shoreline. The great thing about
this town is when you leave your resort or hotel; many beaches are
right across the street from where you are staying. Other activities
include bird watching, fine dining and shopping. Wailea is known for
world class resorts, acclaimed beaches spectacular golf courses and
first class dining. This city is also home of the annual Wendy's
Champions Skins Game that brings big name golfers from around the
world. This town is truly paradise where surfers swimmers and
snorkelers can truly enjoy themselves.
Hawaii (The Big Island) The Big Island of Hawaii (also known as Kona)
is one of the best honeymoon destinations on the planet. This island
offers white sand and black sand beaches. While Mt. Kilauea is probably
the most famous volcano, the 13,679 ft Mauna Loa is the worlds largest.
Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984 and covers about half of the island. To
get more information about Hawaii's volcanoes be sure to visit Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park. The Big Island also offers many golf resorts
outdoor activities and festivals. The most popular vacation
destinations seem to be along the western coast of the island. These
areas are known as Kailua-Kona and Waikoloa. Here you will find many
shops, fine dining and Resort hotels. If you are looking to save a
little cash, choose Kailua-Kona over Waikoloa.
The Hawaiian Islands offer some of the best views in the world. Over
the years many movies and TV shows have been filmed on these famous
Islands. These islands are also the getaway choice of celebrities and
sports icons. Whichever island you choose for your next getaway, you
will not be disappointed. These islands offer so much to see and do,
they will keep you coming back for years to come.
Adventure ?
For anyone who's after a bit of adventure in paradise, Haleakala
National Park in Maui, Hawaii, is truly the perfect destination. A
dormant volcano which last erupted in 1790, the breathtaking Haleakala
now draws 1,450,000 visitors each year.
The very name 'Haleakala,' which means 'house of the sun,' comes from a
local legend which claims that the demigod Maui imprisoned the sun at
this majestic site in order to lengthen the day; and any visitor who
has witnessed the spectacular sunrise or sunset from the volcano's
summit might very well agree that there is some truth to the legend.
There are two areas within the park: the summit region and the coastal
area of Kipahulu. The main attraction in the summit region is
undoubtedly Haleakala Crater, which measures seven miles across, two
miles wide, and is 2,600 feet deep - the peak being Maui's highest
point and the third highest in the state of Hawaii. The adventurous can
choose to take a hike down into the crater via one of two trails - the
Halemau'u and the Sliding Sands; or take any of the various other
trails, which range greatly in their length and which wind through and
around various parts of the park.
Apart from being a prime hiking spot, Haleakala is also rated one of
the 'top' sites in the United States for amateur astronomy. A countless
number of people bring their binoculars and telescopes at all times of
the day to gain stunning views of the stars and planets.
Another famous attraction on the summit is Hosmer Grove, which is a
forest of 'alien' trees such as sugi from Japan and deodar from the
Himalayas. The park is currently home to a number of endangered
species, many of which do not exist anywhere else in the world. It's
also likely that visitors will come across flocks of Nene, a breed of
geese which are endemic to Hawaii.
While a section of the Kipahulu region is closed to the public for
reasons of preserving native plant and animal species, guests can
access several regions which hold pools full of rare, native freshwater
fish as well as trails to the majestic Waimoku Falls. While in the
beautiful coastal region, visitors might catch a glimpse of whales,
turtle, dolphins and sea birds off-shore.
If you're planning a visit to Haleakala National Park, a fantastic
option would be to stay in Maui's Wailea region which boasts some of
America's most beautiful beaches. And while the drive to Haleakala
National Park requires a couple of hours, it would undoubtedly be one
of the most scenic you've ever experienced. What's more, Wailea has a
number of absolutely amazing hotels situated right along the sparkling
ocean, such as the luxurious Waldorf Astoria Grand Wailea Resort.
So if you're looking for an experience to remember, Haleakala National
Park will surely provide you with just that. The various ecosystems
ranging from lush tropical cliff-sides to arid, yet stunning volcanic
mountainsides, along with the fantastic hiking opportunities will leave
any nature enthusiast fulfilled with memories of a lifetime.
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