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Fun in the sun! Sandy beaches, clear warm water, great snorkeling and diving, fantastic deep sea fishing, golfing and relaxing spa treatments. The Hawaiian Islands offers all of this and more. Whether you want a laid back, relaxed, do nothing but sun bathe on the beach or by the pool, to adventure excursions from swimming with sharks to whale watching. The weather is a balmy 80 and up year round. While it does rain a bit almost every day, it’s usually just for a few minutes and 10 minutes after the sun is out, you would never know it had just rained. January and February are rainier, especially on Kauai. These are the months for the big surfing waves also. The best whale watching is from October to April. The gray whales come to have their babies and enjoy the warm water before moving north to Alaska for the summer months.
Every island has luaus you can attend. These feasts are a lot of fun and give you an idea of true Hawaiian culture. The Kalua Puaa (roasted pig) is very good and tender. Poi should be tried, just so you can say you have. In my opinion, it is an acquired taste. The two most popular Luaus on Oahu are Germaine’s Luau and Paradise Cove. Paradise Cove is huge and has probably three times the number of people at that Germaine’s does. I liked their entertainment better, from the Hukilau (bringing in the nets of fish), to the Imu Ceremony (Imu is the underground oven for roasting the pig), to the Royal Court Procession and ending with the Hawaiian Review. Paradise Cove offers several different packages that have different seating, different type of lei greeting and number of free drinks included. You can purchase these options when you purchase your package or you can wait until you get there. Germaine’s Luau serves a fabulous Polynesian buffet with Kalua Puaa and a wide assortment of goodies. Their show is more down home and they have a much smaller crowd. It is very entertaining and you will enjoy the food and drinks. Just depends on if you are looking for more flash or a quieter type of entertainment. On Oahu, you can visit the Arizona Memorial, which is awe inspiring. You should plan on spending at least 3 hours here as there is a lot to see. You can speak to a Pearl Harbor survivor about their experience. Watch a movie on Pearl Harbor and then take a boat out to the memorial. When I was standing on that memorial, it was heart breaking to think of the over 11,000 men whose watery grave I was standing over. I will never forget it. This is the “ground 0” of World War II. The result of the attack at Pearl Harbor, was that the United States joined in World War II. The USS Missouri (the MIGHTY MO) Memorial is also located here.
To get the best of this, purchase the Explorer’s Tour. It is well worth the extra and the experience will be one you won’t soon forget. Get a real feel for what our boys went thru during World War II. There is also a submarine that you can tour, but I don’t remember it’s name, nor can I find it’s name anywhere. Hanauma Bay Park is a natural fish reserve. It is not only beautiful, but educational also. Visitors are required to watch an educational film on the preserve, reef, bay and marine life before going down to the beach. There is a $5.00 fee, per person 13 and older. A shuttle bus will take you down to the beach or bring you back up for an additional $1.00 each way. Arrive early if you are driving, to be assured of a parking spot. The park is closed on Tuesdays. The Polynesian Culture Center is interesting. They have different villages of the Polynesian people. There are demonstrations of dancing and craft making in each individual village. They will have a “canoe war”. When I was there, one of the warriors came up out of the water with a live fish in his mouth. He came over to our canoe and the fish got away from him and landed in my purse!! He would not pick it out, so I had to….didn’t like that slippery fish!! The center has a wonderful buffet dinner and ends your evening with a spectacular Polynesian review. This is a full day function and well worth the cost. Stay tuned for more on the Hawaiian Islands. |
