hey, i found this summary for you at epinions.com when i searched
google "which hawaiian island" personally, i perfer the west side of
the big island during the winter. if you like waves at all then you
must go during the winter. also, i find oahu a bit crowded and the
beaches are a little rocky. if you go to the big island, i recommend
waipio valley, by waimea(the city) a secluded beach surrounded by two
cliffs of forests. anyways, here's this thing for you:
"There are 7 major Hawaiian islands; in no particular order they are
'Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Hawaii, Molokai, Lanai, and Niihau'. All the
Hawaiian Islands together comprise the state of Hawaii. These islands
are all similar in that they are volcanic in origin, and generally
have the same balmy temperatures with cooling ocean breezes - but
there are incredibly different attributes to each island worth
learning for the first-time or repeat visitor to assist them in making
an informed destination decision.
First, some simple facts for all the islands:
1. Language spoken is English (with some pidgin) and currency is the
dollar.
2. Whale season is January to March.
3. Average summer temperature is about 83 degrees and average winter
temperature is about 79 degrees.
4. It rains a little more in the winter. (That's the only way to tell
it is winter)
5. It gets cold up on the mountains - so bring a sweater if you will
be visiting the 3000 foot above sea level or higher.
6. The area code for all the islands is 808.
7. The time zone is Hawaiian Standard - which is three hours before
California during Daylight Savings time.
8. The windward (east) facing sides of the islands are generally
rainier than the leeward (west) facing sides.
And now, the islands:
Oahu - The Gathering place
Some famous places on Oahu are Honolulu, Waikiki beach, Pearl Harbor,
the North Shore, and the Polynesian Cultural Center. Oahu is best
known because its high population and very developed cities allow the
island to offer many different sights, attractions, and cultural
shows. Oahu was the first island to develop tourism as an industry.
About a million people live on Oahu and about 5 million visit Oahu
each year. This can make the island a little crowded but it makes up
for that with the sheer amount of choices of attractions for you to
visit, from water sports to nature to restaurants to culture exhibits.
Oahu is a good choice for you if you don't mind a lot of people and
some traffic in order to be able to experience almost everything
Hawaii has to offer on one island.
Kauai - The Garden Isle
Some famous places on Kauai are Lihue, the Na Pali coast, Waimea
Canyon, and Hanalei Bay. Kauai is best known for its very beautiful
and lush green valleys and the rugged, unspoiled Na Pali coastline.
About 70,000 people live on Kauai and about 1 million visit there each
year. Kauai has really good beaches and plenty of watersports with a
lot of local culture mixed in. Kauai is a good choice for you if you
want to see Hawaii at its greenest and prettiest but still want plenty
of conveniences ... like a fancy restaurant right around the corner.
Maui - The Valley Isle
Some famous places on Maui are Kahalui and Lahaina, Haleakala (a
volcanic crater), and the road to Hana (and Hana itself). Maui is best
known for its whale watching and its beaches. About 100,000 people
live on Maui and a little over 2 million visit each year. Maui is
second only to Oahu with how many people visit each year and it is a
very popular vacation spot for college students - so there may be a
little partying going on around you -and the island balances this with
great beaches, spectacular views, and a lot of nature attractions.
Maui is a good choice for you if you want a good balance of the beauty
of Hawaii with the conveniences of the cities and don't mind sharing
the beach with a few people.
Hawaii - The Big Island
Some famous places on the Big Island are Kona and Hilo, Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park, the active Kilauea volcano, South Point, and
Mauna Kea (a mountain that gets snow in the winter). The island of
Hawaii is mostly called "the Big Island" and is best known for its
active volcano and its black sand beaches. About 140,000 people live
on the Big Island and a little over a million visit each year. The Big
Island has 11 different climates and three different colored sandy
beaches (green, black, white). The Big Island is a good choice for you
if you want to really get into nature and see Hawaii at its newest
without a lot of other people around.
Molokai - The Friendly Isle
Some famous places on Molokai are Kauanakakai, Halawa beach park, and
Molokai ranch. Molokai is best known for Kalaupapa (the leper colony)
and Father Damien's work there. About 7,000 people live on Molokai and
about 80,000 people visit there a year. Molokai is quiet, small,
peaceful, and relaxing. It has long, empty, sandy beaches and pretty
forests. Molokai is a good choice for you if you want to get away from
the rest of the world and relax all day long on the beaches or the
golf courses.
Lanai - The Private Isle
Some famous places on Lanai are Shipwreck beach, the Garden of the
Gods, and Manele Bay. Lanai is best known for its solitude. About
3,000 people live on Lanai and about 100,000 visit each year. The only
accommodations on Lanai are two Luxury Hotels ... one on the ocean,
and one on the mountain. You can hang out on the beach all day, or
hike or golf without seeing hardly another person. Bill Gates rented
the entire island for his wedding in 1994 for exactly that reason.
Lanai is a good choice for you if you are not on a budget and want a
lot of peace and quiet.
Niihau - The forbidden Isle
Niihau is a small, privately-owned island with a population of about
300 Hawaiians. No one is allowed to visit unless they are invited by
someone who lives there.
Unfortunately, in describing the physical attributes of the islands I
neglected mentioning the people who live there in the interest of
brevity. Once you visit you will see the spirit of Aloha that is shown
by the residents of Hawaii and the fascinating Polynesian culture are
two of the things that always draw visitors back to Hawaii.
When planning a trip to Hawaii, you can't go wrong with any island,
but if you research and choose an island according to your tastes, you
can increase your enjoyment of Hawaii. I would also suggest visiting
no more than 2 islands in a 7 day period to allow you to experience
the most of each island.
Aloha, Lisa
http://www.volcanoalley.com"
have a good time!
spencerhpaul |
