The latest state to join the U.S in 1959, Hawaii has both a royal history and a diverse present that cements its “Aloha Magic” all over the world. Widely regarded as paradise by its many visitors, the state surely serves the looks and hospitality to prove it, giving visitors a Lei, a wreath of vibrant colored flowers, upon arrival as celebration. Luckily, flights have started to become more accessible to this collection of beautiful islands. With so many islands to choose from, there is no lack of activities, however, here are the top things to do in Hawaii.
Many appreciate the sandy coasts of the islands as ideal surf spots, coincidentally so did the ancient Hawaiians. Surfing, called He’e nalu—‘wave sliding’, is part of their culture, a form of art regarded as the sport of kings in the people’s appreciation of the waters around them. Some world famous surf spots on the islands include the North Shore, Pipeline, Waimea Bay on Oahu; ‘Jaws’, a.k.a. Pe’ahi on Maui; and Honolii Beach Park in Hilo, Hawaii.
The world famous island foods reflect a cultural connection between the people and the land, blending the tastes from the earliest Polynesians, native Hawaiians, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese immigrants to make something uniquely Hawaiian. From Kona coffee, Poke Bowls and rainbow shaved ice, there is always a delicious variety to be eaten on the islands. Hawaii stores a natural charm like no other, with black sand beaches, impressive biodiversity and mesmerizing lava flows, people from all over the world travel here to appreciate its beauty.
One of the most active volcanoes, Kilauea, constantly spits glowing red and yellow lava flows, with the oldest flows dating back to 275,000 years ago when the volcano was still underwater. Especially with it´s most recent eruption in May 2018, a helicopter ride over the volcano is definitely one of the top things to do in Hawaii. With lush valleys and rain forests, there is never enough nature on the islands and is best seen when leaving the urban areas like Honolulu and Hilo, though those big cities are beautiful in their own ways as well, Honolulu housing the biggest mountain range in the world and has more than 100 beaches surrounding the city, more than any other city in the world.
And for those reasons, a trip to Hawaii is very well worth it and proves to be an eye opening experience for everyone.