Hawaii
Aloha and welcome to Hawaii, a group of islands located 2,500 miles off the coast of mainland USA, known for its beautiful beaches, amazing jungles, stunning waterfalls, excellent diving and world-class waves! It consists of 8 main islands and a number of atolls which stretch across 1,500 miles!
The Big Island of Hawai’i
You can climb one of the most active volcanoes in the world, Kilauea, which, alongside 4 other volcanoes, forms the Big Island of Hawai’i. Kilauea is between 210,000 and 280,000 years old and its crater is thought to be the home of Pele, Hawaii’s goddess of fire. You can hike up to the top of this volcano if you dare or walk inside it through the Thurston Lava Tube which is a 450 ft long tunnel created from molten lava. It was last active on the 20th December 2020, let’s see when it erupts again!
Maui
On Maui, you can drive the Road to Hana. One of the most scenic drives in Hawaii with something breathtaking to see at every one of its 600 twists and turns. Be prepared for beautiful cliff faces, stunning waterfalls and wonderful views across the ocean.
Maui is also known as one of the world’s prime breeding spots for humpback whales. Go on a whale watching tour with a local conservation group between November and May and you are pretty much guaranteed a sighting of these incredible creatures.
Oahu
Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve in Oahu is a pristine marine ecosystem which is looked after by volunteers. It is one of the best places in Hawaii to go snorkelling with its undisturbed coral, thriving marine life and turquoise blue waters. You can also go down to this spectacular bay to learn about marine life and how to preserve and future-proof marine parks against climate change.
Now you can’t go to Hawaii without having a go at learning how to surf. The beaches on Oahu are known as some of the best places to catch a wave in Hawaii, and, if you don’t fancy it yourself, you can always sit back and relax on the beach while watching the pros!
Oahu is also home to the Pearl Harbour National Monument which commemorates the events of the attack on Pearl Harbour on 7th December 1941 which killed over 2,400 Americans and sank 12 ships. The site also includes the USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Utah Memorial. It is a very fascinating place to visit to find out more about its devastating history during World War Two.
Kauai
Na Pali Coast State Wilderness Park on Kauai Island is known for its towering Pali, or sea cliffs, which are thought to be over 5 million years old and is punctuated by narrow valleys, streams and cascading waterfalls. To take in the incredible scenery, you can either paddle board and sail along this coast or walk along the Kalalau Trail, which is a steep footpath running through the park. It’s a must do if you ever find yourself in Hawaii!
Finally, you have to go to a Luau, a Hawaiian banquet, to learn about Hawaiian traditions. There will be lots of dancing, a Kalua Pig (cooked in an underground oven) and Lomi Lomi salmon (some raw, marinated fish) to eat and maybe some fire dancing if you’re lucky.
