HAWAII
kukui and hau trees, glorious tropical
flowers (5000 types of hibiscus), along
with vari-coloured fruits, coffee and
macadamia nuts. The humpback whale
is an annual visitor and there is an exotic
collection of birdlife.
The sights
On Oahu, see Pearl Harbor and visit
famous Waikiki Beach. Hire a car or jump
on the local bus to explore the beautiful
beaches on the famous North Shore.
On Maui the main attraction is Haleakala, a
dormant volcano reaching approximately
3000 metres. The best time to visit
Haleakala is at sunrise. A drive along the
stunning Hana highway is also a must
while on Maui.
On Hawaii's Big Island, there is Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park and Parker
Ranch, which is the third largest working
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cattle ranch in the US. There's also a
space centre named after Hawaii's first
astronaut, Ellison S. Onizuka.
Kauai has Waimea Canyon and a number
of magnificent botanical gardens. A sailing
trip or helicopter ride along the breathtaking
Napali coast is also highly recommended.
Ride a mule down Molokais cliff trail to
Kalaupapa.
Lanais best dive spot, Cathedrals,
has dramatic coral formations creating
pinnacles and caverns rising from a depth
of 21 metres to the surface.
Where to stay
Hawaii has accommodation to suit all
budgets and travellers can expect to find
hundreds of hotels and condos in every
category from luxury to budget. Camping
is available in National, State, City, and
County Parks.
Getting around
If you are considering visiting all of the
islands, it's recommended that you allow
a minimum of three weeks. The domestic
airlines, Hawaiian, Go Hawaii and Island
Air help to maximise sightseeing time.
Helicopter sightseeing tours are popular
and give you a chance to see places that
may otherwise be inaccessible.
On the ground there are limousines,
taxis and coaches available. Oahu is
the only island with a bus service with
an extensive route that covers the entire
island. In addition, there is a ferry from
Lanai to Maui, from Molokai to Maui and
from Oahu to Maui. Renting a car or jeep
is extremely popular in Hawaii, although
it's not necessary in Honolulu as it has
a good public transport network. Driving
is on the right hand side and, as most
islands have only one main road, it's
