I spent a few days last weekend on O’ahu, the third largest of the Hawaiian islands. It was my first trip (I KNOW!) to the state. And WOW I loved it! As an attendee at the inaugural Classic Vacations E3 conference, I had the chance to learn so much about the 50th state from various hoteliers and the Hawaii Tourism Authority. What I realised is that Hawaii is a GREAT destination – there is literally something for everyone. This week, I’ll focus on the major islands for visitors.
Hawaii, the 50th state
The Aloha State, or Hawai’i*, became a US state on August 21, 1959. Prior to statehood, Hawaii was ruled by various Polynesian tribal chiefs, then was a monarchy, a republic, a territory, and finally a state.
It is volcanic, having been formed by undersea volcanoes millions of years ago. The Island of Hawai’i (or the Big Island; they are rebranding to the official name of Hawai’i) is the youngest island in the archipelago and is still forming. Lava flows on the south and east side of the island are constantly changing the landscape.
*The official name, in the US Constitution, is Hawaii. This is because the ‘ didn’t exist when someone wrote the name down. To islanders, it is Hawai’i and is pronounced “Hah-vai-ee.”
Did you know? Hawaii is the only US state to have royal palaces. These date back to when Hawaii was a monarchy.
Why go to Hawaii
Hawaii is ideal for travellers who maybe like the idea of New Zealand but not the idea of going too far. For travellers who are unsure about leaving the US, since its familiar and the currency is the same. Before attending the course, I had to take the Hawaii Tourism destination specialist program. For the first certification, I learned about the islands as a whole and their history. The second certification went into more detail about the islands. I’m in the process of finishing up the program too, with courses on each island.
One thing that really resonated with me is how DIFFERENT each island is. While it would be time-consuming to visit every island in a short trip, it’s beneficial to visit at least two or three to really appreciate Hawai’i’s diversity! Keep a keen eye out this week on my Instagram for more photos of my adventures down here. And every day, check back here for a little bit more about each island!
|| Oahu || Maui || Island of Hawaii || Lanai and Kauai ||
