I love Hawaii and thought I would give you a short list of reasons you should vacation here. These reasons are in no particular order, just written down as the whim strikes me. Trust me on this one, the pineapple will never be fresher, the tikis prettier, or the ocean breezes sweeter than when you are watching a beautiful sunset on the coast of any of the Hawaiian Islands. It is truly a magical place. And while you are watching that sunset, see if you are lucky enough to see the green flash of light that sometimes occurs.
1. Location, location, location!
2. The weather is always just right
3. The best Teriyaki on the planet
4. Waikiki Beach
5. Sunrise on Haleakala
6. Watching the sunset into the ocean on Waikiki Beach
7. Surf board lessons
8. Watching the surfers on the North Shore
9. Eating spam sushi
10. Okay eating sushi of any kind
11. fresh pineapple and coconut
12. macadamia nuts
13. wearing a plumeria flower behind your ear (this one is for the girls)
14. torch ginger
15. wearing a lei
16. swimming in the Pacific ocean
17. walking on a black sand beach
18. seeing green sand
19. seeing pink sand
20. trade wind breezes
21. seeing the tiki torches at night
22. luau food
23. hula dancing
24. Iolani Palace
25. biking down Haleakala
26. The road to Hana
27. Tiki torch lighting ceremonies
28. Zip line adventures
29. Fern Grotto
30. Volcanoes
31. Drinking Kona coffee in Kona
32. Waimea Canyon on Kauai
33. Na Pali Coast Kauai
34. Pupu shells from Ni’ihau
35. River boat ride on Kauai
36. Helicopter tour of the Na Pali coast Kauai
37. Picnic on a secluded beach on Kauai
38. Zodiac tour of the Na Pali coast line
39. Sunset boat cruise off the Waikiki coast
40. Hanauma Bay (I would count this as the top ten reasons to go!)
41. Pearl Harbor
42. Polynesian Cultural Center
43. Nuuanu Pali on Oahu
44. Waikiki Beach Walk ( which is different from walking on Waikiki Beach)
45. Taking your picture with the Duke Kahanamoku Statue on Waikiki
46. Visiting a farmers market for fresh fruit
47. Climbing to the top of Diamond Head
48. Honolulu Zoo
49. Waikiki Aquarium
50. luau on the beach
51. Blue Hawaiians
52. Oceanarium at the Pacific Beach Hotel
53. Submarine rides
54. Snorkeling at Molokini
55. Iao Needle on Maui
56. Seven Sacred Pools
57. Wind surfing at Ho’okipa
58. Golfing at Kaanapali
59. Whalers Village Museum
60. Waianapanapa Beach
61. Water Falls
62. Whale watching
63. Makena Beach Maui
64. Mule ride to Kalaupapa, Molokai
65. Keahiakawelo on Lanai
66. Watch the dolphins play in Hulopoe Bay, Lanai
67. Mauna Kea
68. Mauna Loa
69. Silver Sword on Maui
70. Rainbow Falls Hilo
71. Parker Ranch
72. Horseback rides
73. Captain Cook Monument
74. Star gazing
75. Thurston Lava Tube
76. Devastation Trail
77. Halemaumau
78. Stemming cliffs
79. Ohia Lehua
80. Rainforest
81. Kapoho Bay
82. South Point- the southern most spot in the US
83. Cape Kamukahi
84. Liliuokalani Gardens
85. Coconut Island
86. Waipio Valley
87. Akaka Falls
88. Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
89. Kepaniwai Park
90. Piilanihale Heiau
91. Wailua Overlook
92. Waikane Falls
93. Polipoli State Park
94. Tedeschi Winery
95. Leleiwi Overlook
96. The chance to see Nene
97. Maui Ocean Center
98. Lahaina Town
99. Shopping, shopping, shopping
100. Mountainsides covered in Bougainvillea
101. Laying on the beach on a mat you bought from the ABC store
Well, there you have it. If you have any doubt about visiting Hawaii, after this list, then it is not the place for you. There is always something to do for everyone, and interests that will amuse any taste. It is simply a matter of packing and going.
What are some of your favorite reasons to visit the Hawaiians? We would love to create a Reader List of favorites. If you would like to share your reasons for visiting the Hawaiians Islands with us, send them to: contactus@hawaiianlife.com or you can send us a tweet at @hawaiianlife. We look forward to sharing this list of favorites with the world.
Aloha,
Mike
