The Hawaiian Islands

The Hawaiian Islands

The Hawaiian Islands are one of the most sought-after travel & vacation destinations in the world. Hawaii has 6 major islands consisting of Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui and the largest island of them all, Hawaii... more commonly called the Big Island. The big Island of Hawaii is about the size of Connecticut and is also the youngest of the islands, approximately 800,000 years old.

Planning a Hawaii Vacation

When planning a Hawaii vacation, more and more travelers are choosing to stay in a privately-owned vacation rental home for both comfort and price effectiveness. However, whether you choose an ocean view hotel, oceanfront vacation home, or a cozy villa tucked away in the countryside, you'll find your Hawaii vacation totally refreshing with a myriad of opportunities for adventure, sightseeing, discovery and relaxing. You'll also find that each of Hawaii's Islands has its own distinct personality. Three of Hawaii's beaches made the top 10 list of TripAdvisor in the U.S.: Oahu (#3) Kailua Beach Park for powder white sand beach. Kauai (#6) Tunnels Beach for outstanding snorkeling and views. Oahu (#10) Waimea Bay Beach Park for its clear and calm water in the summertime. With that said, let these award-winning locations be a guide when planning your Hawaii vacation.

Hawaiian History

To fully appreciate Hawaii and its heritage, travelers are encouraged to learn a little about Hawaii's history prior to (or during) their Hawaii vacation.

In 1778, Captain James Cook landed on the island called Kauai at Waimea Bay. He named the archipelago the "Sandwich Islands" in honor of the Earl of Sandwich. Captain Cook was the man responsible for opening the doors to the west. Sadly, he was killed only a year later in Kealakekua Bay on Hawaii's Big Island.

The state of Hawaii was admitted to the Union on August 21, 1959, making Hawaii the 50th state of the United States of America. This group of islands was formed from past and current volcanic activity. Current volcanic activity can be found on the Big Island of Hawaii, while all volcanic activity on all the other Hawaiian Islands has been dormant for thousands of years.

At about 1,860 miles (3,000 km) from the nearest continent, the Hawaiian Island archipelago is the most isolated grouping of islands on the planet. The entire Hawaiian archipelago chain is 1,500 miles long with the oldest of the Hawaiian Islands disappearing beneath the ocean's surface due to millions of years of erosion.

Hawaii Vacation Activities

The Hawaiian Islands are a scenic paradise with a rich colorful history and a vast variety of activities and sightseeing for travelers & vacationers. As many already know, Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing and the infamous Hula dance. Vacationers can take a helicopter ride over steep cliffs and canyons, visit Pearl Harbor to view the USS Missouri and Arizona Memorial, take surfing lessons, outrigger or scuba lessons, or simply bask in the warm sun on the infamous Waikiki Beach. Hawaii abounds with water sports, golf, museums, art galleries, shopping, a zoo, aquarium and downtown nightlife. One hot spot in particular for vacationers is the active volcano Kīlauea on the big Island of Hawaii, which offers a memorable helicopter adventure your family never forget.

Weather in The Hawaiian Islands

The warmer, dryer months in Hawaii are April through October, during which Hawaii has temperature ranges of 75-88 degrees Fahrenheit. A Hawaii vacation during the winter months is a pleasant 68-80 degrees. Some islands, such as Maui, are dryer than others, whereas Kauai is the wettest of all. Year-round trade winds make for an entire year of great vacation months.

Don Guy is a travel writer and co-founder of http://www.MrVacation.com, a vacation rental directory offering vacation rentals and vacation homes for sale. When planning a Hawaii vacation, consider searching MrVacation.com for the perfect Hawaii vacation rental home, condo, or villa your entire family will enjoy.