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Very few people visit Hawaii without running their feet through the golden sand
beaches along Waikiki. There's surf, sand, scenery and shops galore.
Hotels, restaurants and nightclubs line the strip for more enjoyment. If you
like the action of nightlife then you will like Waikiki. What better way to spend a day or
evening mingling with folks from different parts of the world, than in Waikiki? Whether you
like to relax, catch a few rays, partake in the many activities or enjoy the action, this strand of
land has something for everyone, including world-class resorts. Must see Waikiki..
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Kilauea, possibly the most active volcano on earth has added some
500 plus acres of coastal land to the island since 1983, when the latest
succession of eruptions began. Situated in the heart of Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park, Kilauea is accessible by land or air. There is a Visitor Center in
Kilauea where park rangers provide updates on the region's current volcanic
activity as well as backcountry trail conditions. There are videos on volcanoes,
guided walks and even programs for kids. Guided tours by private tour
operators include, land excursions with a walk through the Thurston Lava
Tube Trail to complete aerial tours.
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The Waimea Canyon, though smaller and nearly 200 million years
younger than the Grand Canyon in Arizona is absolutely amazing
and is a must see during your stay on Kauai. The canyon road begins
in the town of Waimea and spans nearly 20 miles, climbing to an elevation
of almost 4000 feet. Along the way there are many places to stop and take
in the views. As the road climbs in elevation the views continue to get better
and about a third of a mile north of 10-mile marker is the most scenic of all
the lookouts "Waimea Canyon Lookout". Offering a sweeping
view of the Waimea Canyon from this vantage point at about 3400ft. Continuing up
the road to a point just before 12-mile marker is the spectacular 800ft Waipoo Falls.
As your journey ends atop Waimea Canyon you'll have terrific views of the Kalalau
Valley and the Na Pali Coast.
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Nestled along Maui's southwest shoreline and protected from the northeast Trade winds,
the old whaling town of Lahaina is a favorite among vacationers and for good reason. A
national historic area with 31 designated historic sites; Lahaina is blending history of the
past with Hawaii's present day tourism. Lahaina boasts an array of galleries for local
artist, souvenir shops and restaurants. Year round sunshine, white sandy beaches and
19th century flavor attract visitors to Lahaina from around the world every rear.
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Truly remarkable, this state-of-the-art ocean center is the only marine park
of it's kind, in the entire world, dedicated solely to fostering understanding,
wonder and respect for Hawaii’s marine life. Get a glimpse of the largest
collection of live coral on display in the entire nation. Here you will see the
most unique collection of marine life in all Hawaii that include sharks, eels,
lionfish, green sea turtles just to name a few. A journey through Maui Ocean
Center takes about 1½ to 2 hours; however, many visitors stay the entire day.
The center has two restaurants and a store. Open Daily, 9am - 5pm. Admission:
Adults, $20.00; Children, $13 (3-12 yrs).
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The events of December 7, 1941
are forever etched in history and signify the beginning and the end of World War II.
Managed by the National Park Service (NPS), the USS Arizona Memorial (USAR)
is built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona, the final resting place
for many of the crewmen who were surprised on December 7, 1941 when Japanese Naval Forces
invaded Pearl Harbor. The Memorial is accessible only by the NPS tour from the visitor center.
Tours are free; begin about every 15 minutes from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, on a first-come, first-served basis.
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Mauna Kea lies to the north west of Kilauea and is the pinnacle
of all Hawaii, reaching into the sky almost 14,000 feet at the
summit and boasts the utmost collection of large astronomical
telescopes in the world. Tours to the summit take place on
Saturdays and Sundays and are provided through the OCIA
Visitors' Information Station. You must arrive at the VIS by
1 p.m. in your four-wheel drive vehicle.
See regulations. The VIS also offers Stargazing Programs each night from
6:00 to 10:00 PM at the 9,300 ft altitude OCIA "mid-level" facilities. Stargazing
is free and kids are welcome. When traveling to high altitudes,
use caution.
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Trekking in Na Pali is a hikers dream. With miles of trails
and several places to camp off the beaten path, a journey through
the Na Pali Coast will take you deep into Kauai's land of natural wonder.
In all of Kauai and for that matter in most of the world, you will not find
the massive cliffs that are here along the Na Pali Coast, a 22 mile stretch
of rugged shoreline with huge sea cliffs reaching high into the sky. The grandest
of all cliffs in Kauai and if you are a hiker, chances are you already know of these dramatic cliffs
that make Kauai famous for some of the world's best hiking. For those who are new to hiking
or haven't trekked in Na Pali before, the journey through this scenic hiking wonderland
can be devided into basically three segments. Kee Beach to Hanakapiai Valley [2 miles]; Hanakapiai
to Hanakoa Valley [4 miles]; and Hanakoa to Kalalau Valley [5miles].
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Whalers Museum takes you back in time, to the old whaling days on Maui.
The whaling era dates back to the early nineteenth century during a period
between (1825-1860). This history-oriented museum is the only one of its kind
on Maui and displays many artifacts, photo murals and interpretive graphics of
this era as well as one of the largest scale models of a whaling ship anywhere
on display. Admission is free and self-guided tours [audio] in four languages are
available from 9:30 am to 10 pm daily.
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The Humpback whale is the State of Hawai`i's official marine mammal.
They begin their 6,000-mile annual migration from Southeast Alaska during
the fall and generally arrive in Maui Mid November with the majority arriving
in January and staying in the shallow warm waters off Maui until March. The whales
spend much of their time along the western coastline of Maui near Maalaea Bay, mating, giving birth
and nurturing their calves. Maui is more than a tropical paradise and it is no wonder the
Humpback whales migrate here each year to winter in the shallow waters of the blue pacific.
Whale watching is a top attraction in Maui during the winter months.
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