Find Out Why Hawaii Makes A Great Island & Beach Holiday

Over 8-million visitors will have Hawaii on their vacation schedule this year. The average stay in the Island State ranges from 9 to 10 days and the visitors there will spend over $14-billion for their vacation with many choosing to spend time on more than one of the Hawaiian Islands.

There are many reasons why Hawaii is a great place as an island and beach holiday location. Here is a look at why so many people select Hawaii as their dream holiday destination.

Weather

Probably the number one reason travellers flock to Hawaii is that the odds are in their favour that they will have sunny skies and warm temperatures at any time of the year. Summer is typically the dry season with winter being the wet season. Although there is rain, the sun shines virtually every day and temperatures remain fairly constant throughout the year.

People

As tourism is big business in Hawaii, expect to be treated kindly by those who live and work there. While some other vacation destinations are not always as welcoming to visitors as they could be, Hawaii sets the standard of being extremely tourist friendly. They actually call it the Aloha Spirit and expect to experience it wherever you go in Hawaii.

Culture

Hawaiians originated from Polynesia however, due to the island location, many different cultures have joined and blended in Hawaii. This includes Chinese, Japanese, Hispanic/Latinos, Filipinos and many more. The food, music, and language all intertwine to create a giant melting pot of different ways to experience the surroundings when visiting Hawaii.

History

Polynesian settlers arrived in Hawaii well over a thousand years before Columbus arrived in the New World. Then in 1778 Hawaii was ‘discovered’ by Captain James Cook. It was in 1795 when all the Hawaiian Islands were united by King Kamehameha. Missionaries arrived from New England in 1820. Hawaii has a vast and rich history to explore.

Beaches

Hawaii has over 400 named beaches – covering well over 750 miles of shoreline. Each of these beaches is open to the public and you will find some covered in white sand, others feature yellow sand, with some black sand beaches, red sand beaches, and even a green sand beach. Not all have lifeguards, but all offer great tanning opportunities.

Volcanoes

Volcanic action is actually responsible for the formation of the Hawaiian Islands. Each of them was formed by a single hot spot on the ocean floor. There are tours of volcanoes past and present on the islands of Kauai, Oahu, Maui and the most well-known of all, Kilauea located on the ‘big island’ of Hawaii which has been erupting since 1983.

Ocean

You can’t talk about the beaches without mentioning the water that laps up to the shoreline. Watersports provide many different attractions for visitors to Hawaii. They include surfing, boogie boarding, windsurfing, scuba diving, snorkelling, and snuba. You can also ride the waves in sailing gear, watch whales, go deep sea fishing and much more.

Food

We mentioned how the cultural mix of Hawaiian has enhanced the food and you won’t be disappointed as the traditional foods of the native cultures are front and centre. If you enjoy trying different things, you’ll find offerings to tease and please your palate wherever you go… including restaurants, luaus and even at the dinner table of your hotel or resort.

Shopping

Aside from a vast selection of souvenirs and regular retail outlets that you are familiar with at home, Hawaii also features high-end brands. If you are a fan of Gucci, Chanel, Coach, Hugo Boss, Yves Saint Laurent, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, Bottega Veneta and the like, you will be able to find the best from the best designer shops in the world.

Geography

What truly makes the Hawaiian Islands a major attraction is that no two islands are the same. Kaua’i features lush, green vegetation, sea cliffs, and the Waimea Canyon. Oaku has Diamond Head, the North Shore, and Hanauma Bay. Maui features the ‘Ioa Valley, the Hana Coast where the Big Island has volcanic landscapes, waterfalls, tropical forests and more.