Hawaii

Hawaii (Hawaiian: Hawaiʻi, sometimes pronounced ha-VAI-ee by locals) is the 50th state of the United States of America. Situated nearly at the center of the north Pacific Ocean, Hawaii marks the northeast corner of Polynesia. While it was once a major hub for the whaling, sugar and pineapple industries, it is now economically dependent on tourism and the U.S. military. The natural beauty of the islands continues to be one of Hawaii’s greatest assets. Honolulu is the state’s capital, largest city, and cultural hub. Hawaiian and English are the official languages of Hawaii.

Kauai Info

Kauai is the northwestern most of Hawaii‘s major islands. Nicknamed the Garden Island, it is covered with lush greenery and tropical plants, watered regularly by abundant rainfall. As the oldest of the islands, it has been changed the most by the forces of erosion, and this has resulted in natural wonders such as Waimea Canyon and the Na Pali Coast. As a consequence of its age, Kauai also has more miles of sandy coastline than the other Hawaiian islands.

Cities

  • Kapa`a, on the east side, about a 20 minute drive north of Lihu`e, is the largest population center on the island.
  • Lihu`e, on the island’s southeast side, is the civic and commercial center of the island
  • Po`ipu, on the south side, branded “the sunny side of paradise”, is the major visitor destination for the island.
  • Princeville is a planned resort community on the north shore, consisting of homes, condo developments, the St. Regis hotel, and 2 golf courses.
  • Waimea, on the west side, is a small town with a flavor of old Kaua`i.

Tourist Information

In many ways, Kauai is different from the rest of the islands. It’s almost as if you’ve stepped into a separate kingdom, and for many years Kauai was just that in relation to Hawaii. Kamehameha I was able to conquer all the islands by force, except Kauai. Two separate campaigns to take the island ended in failure. In the end, it took diplomacy, a royal kidnapping, and an arranged marriage to bring Kauai into the kingdom of Hawaii.

Warning

This island can be quite hot in the summer!

Maui Info

The island of Maui is one of the islands of Hawaii, a state of the United States of America. It is the second largest of the eight major islands.

Cities

  • Hana – a small isolated town on the rugged eastern coast of Maui. It is well known for its 52 mile scenic drive which connects it to Kahului. The drive can take up to four hours, complete with one lane bridges and hairpin turns. Surrounding the city are lush rainforests, while rolling pastures are prevalent even on Main Street. Hana is home to the historic St. Sophia’s Church as well as beautiful black sand beaches running along the shoreline.
  • Haiku – an iconic example of Maui’s cultural melting pot. Nestled ten miles upcountry past Paia, the township is known for its agricultural aspects and plantations. It consists of little more than a post office, several shops, and quiet suburbs.
  • Kahului – was built in the 1950s by a plantation company, and hailed as a “dream city”. It is the commercial hub and transportation center of Maui with the two largest malls, main airport and a deep-water port.
  • Kaanapali – a tourist heavy region on the west coast. Close to Lahaina, this city sports many hotels and festivals to draw in visitors.
  • Kapalua – rests at the foot of the West Maui Mountains and is home to one of the most luxurious resort areas on Maui. The region is comprised of a multitude of clear bays and sandy beaches, which showcase championship golf courses along with numerous boutiques and award-winning restaurants.
  • Kihei – is a renowned tourist destination, featuring condos and beaches on the southwest coast near the volcano, Haleakala.
  • Lahaina – was once a historic whaling village which has been transformed into a cultural center with many art galleries and museums. With various beach and whaling tours, the city has become one of the main tourist attractions on Maui.
  • Napili– a beach town on northwest shore near Kapalua which offers calm waters protected by an offshore reef.
  • Paia – became an important city when sugar mills were built nearby. Since their construction in the late 1800s, immigrants of diverse backgrounds including Chinese, Portuguese, and Japanese flocked to the region for work. The beautiful rural area is currently known for its beaches and surfing/windsurfing locations.
  • Wailea and Makena – are master-planned resort areas located just south of Kihei.
  • Wailuku – the northwestern region of Maui, ten minutes from Kahului airport. The city offers as a gateway into the Iao valley, which was once a burial ground for Hawaiian Chiefs. It houses the county seat of Maui’s local government, and is a large commercial center with a variety of unique storefronts.

Tourist Information

Though English is mainly used in Maui, the language of Maui is the same as the entire island of Hawaii. The Hawaii pidgin language originates from Polynesian languages. It is part of an Austronesian language family, which are languages that are widely dispersed through Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Some languages that helped create the Hawaiian pidgin are English, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese, and several others. The Hawaiian alphabet consists of 13 characters. There are five vowels and eight consonants (h, k,l,m,n, p, w and apostrophe). An apostrophe I usually used as an Okina, which is moral of a glottal stop or a catch in the throat. Learning some pronunciation and words of Hawaii can help tremendously during a visit to Maui:

Note

While Maui has a basic public transportation system, many places are not accessible by bus, and most visitors rent a car