USA Guide
Hawaii
With their fiery volcanoes, palm-fringed beaches, verdant valleys, glorious rainbows, and awesome cliffs, the islands of Hawaii boast some of the most spectacularly beautiful scenery on earth. Despite their isolation, two thousand miles out in the Pacific, they belong very definitely to the United States. Pulling in 7.5 million tourists per year, including honeymooners from all over the world, frequent fliers cashing in their mileage, and 1.5 million Japanese, the fiftieth state can seem at times like a gigantic theme park.
Honolulu, on Oahu, is by far the largest city in Hawaii, while Waikiki, its resort annex, is the main tourist center. Three other islands attract sizeable numbers of visitors: Hawaii itself, which is also known as the Big Island in a vain attempt to avoid confusion, Maui, and Kauai. All the islands share a similar topography and climate. Ocean winds shed their rain on their northeast, windward coasts, keeping them wet and green; the southwest, leeward (or "Kona") coasts can be almost barren, and so make ideal locations for big resorts. While temperatures remain consistent all year at between 70°F and 85°F, rainfall is heaviest from December to March, which nonetheless remains the most popular time to visit. Although a visit to Hawaii doesn't have to cost a fortune – budget facilities do exist – the one major expense you can't avoid, except possibly on Oahu, is car rental.
Highlights
1 Waikiki Beach, Oahu Learn to surf, or just sip a cocktail, on the world's most famous beach.
2 Pearl Harbor, Oahu View a reminder of December 7, 1941 – the "date that will live in infamy" – by visiting the sunken USS Arizona.
3 Kilauea Eruption, Big Island The Big Island gets bigger day by day, thanks to the spectacular eruption of its youngest volcano, Kilauea.
4 Lahaina, Maui This early nineteenth century whaling port ranks among the most historic towns in Hawaii.
5 Kalalau Trail, Kauai Admire the magnificent Na Pali coastline of Kauai from one of the world's greatest hiking trails.
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