By Therese Eley, Director of Member Services
When we were discussing our theme for this month’s newsletter, I immediately offered to write the feature article on this one. My partner, Chris, and I will be heading to Hawaii in a few short weeks to spend Christmas there with my family. So of course I’ve been putting my MSR skills to good use researching all the fabulous things we can do while we are there – and scouting out the best value, of course – MSR habits can sure come in handy!
Now Hawaii is a destination that many of us are already pretty familiar with – it is our most popular destination among Discovery Club Members – but have you done all of the best things to do in Hawaii? Check out our list of Top 10 Things to do in Hawaii and brush up on some of your Hawaii Trivia while you’re at it!
Some Hawaiian Trivia:
- Hawaii is the newest American state, moving up from its territorial status in 1959.
- It is the only state consisting entirely of islands and the only state located outside of North America
- It is home to the worlds tallest mountain: Mauna Kea rises out of the ocean 13,796 ft, though it extends a further 19,704 ft down to the ocean floor, making it taller than Mt. Everest.
- Because the Hawaiian islands rose up out of the ocean as the result of volcanic activity, all life that exists there today originally had to come from somewhere else, courtesy either of the wind carrying it there, birds dropping it there, or the waves drifting it there (including its human population, which originally arrived from various parts of Polynesia)
- Prior to 1893, Hawaii was ruled as a kingdom, after all of the populated islands were united under the rule of King Kamehameha in 1810.
- Oahu is the most densely populated island, and its major city, Honolulu, is the state capital. The Big Island of Hawai’i and Maui are the next most populous islands, and accordingly these are the three most popular tourist destinations, with Kaua’i and Lana’i gaining in popularity as more exclusive, quiet retreats.
- With a warm temperate climate year round, it really has only 2 main seasons: the dry season (May-October) and the wet season (October to April). Temperatures typically hover around 31ºC (high 80sºF) in summer and around 28ºC (low to mid- 80sºF) in the winter – making it a very popular Christmas destination for North Americans.
Top 10 Things to do in Hawaii
1. See it from the sky! Hawaii boasts some of the most spectacular coastal and topographical scenery. From lush green canyons to soaring mountains, active volcanoes, plunging waterfalls and shear coastal cliffs. There are several companies that offer either airplane or helicopter aerial tours, and I highly recommend you do this at least once. It’s a great way to truly witness the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands.
2. Take a tour to Kauai’s Waimea Canyon, hailed as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific by Mark Twain. The canyon is a mile wide, 10 miles long, and 3,600 ft deep and offers jaw-dropping spectacles of nature.
3. Kahuwa Falls on Molokai- The island of Molokai is home to one of Hawaii’s most splendid natural wonders, the Kahiwa Falls. These amazing waterfalls are the tallest in the entire state of Hawaii and tower 1,750 feet above the ground.
4. Bike Maui’s Haleakala Volcano – There are many tour companies that offer a trip up to the top of this dormant volcano, almost 3000 ft above sea level, where you can watch the sun rise over maui, illuminating this amazing geological wonder. You can actually go right up to explore the crater! Then hop on a bike and leisurely roll all the way down to the bottom of the mountain (either as part of a tour or self-guided).
5. Golf on any of Hawaii’s world class courses – lush green fairways with swaying palm trees and flowering vegetation, overlooking the perfect azure ocean… can you think of a better place to play golf? There are more than 80 courses on 6 islands, so if golf is your passion, there are definitely plenty of opportunities for you to indulge!
6. Shop and Dine Waikiki – from artist galleries and boutique shops to large shopping malls, Waikiki is a shoppers heaven! And when you’ve shopped up an appetite, there is a plethora of dining option to satisfy – from casual to fine dining, offering everything from local fare to virtually any ethnic flavours you could imagine.
7. Snorkel Molokini – Molokini, located several miles off the coast of Maui is the most popular snorkeling site in all of Hawaii. This sunken volcanic crater tenderly embraces its calm clear waters, making it an ideal home for several species of colourful tropical fish and even sea turtles. If snorkeling isn’t your thing, there’s no need for you to miss out on this natural wonder… there are glass bottom boat tours that can give you the same visual experience, while remaining much drier!
8. Visit the Oahu Polynesian Cultural Centre – located about one hour’s scenic drive from Waikiki, this is the top paid Hawaiian attraction for a reason.Visitors will get an opportunity to tour a series of seven villages depicting the lives of tribes found on Tonga, Samoa, Hawaii and Tahiti, just to name a few. Choose your method of transportation: by foot, via tram or even by canoe!
9. Pearl Harbor – One of the most popular landmarks in Hawaii, Pearl Harbor is the largest natural harbour in the state and also the only naval base in the United States to have the distinction to be recognized as a National Historical Landmark. Many guests of the Hawaiian islands often find themselves gravitating to the USS Arizona Memorial to pay their respects to the victims of the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. This special memorial spans the actual submerged wreckage of the ship Arizona, which was struck on that fateful day.
10. Take in a Hawaiian Luau – No visit to the Hawaiian Islands is complete without experiencing an authentic Hawaiian Luau. Feast on succulent Polynesian fare while you enjoy an exhilarating spectacle of exotic music, grass skirted hula dancers and face-painted fire dancers, showcasing the cultures and traditions of the Polynesian people.
