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Hawaii
(Hawaii)


Say aloha to the surf and hula under the tropical sun.

Hawaii - the Aloha State - welcomes and seduces visitors with its plumeria-scented sea breezes and tropical warmth. This is where East merges with West in a blur of hula and hip-hop, soap operas and creation myths, junk food and Japanese tea ceremonies, Shinto shrines and surf clubs.


Mark Twain declared Hawaii to be 'the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean', and not even 50 years of mass tourism have managed to prove him wrong. Whether your thing is volcano spotting, surfing or hanging loose on the beach, this is the place to indulge yourself.

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Getting There
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To Do & See
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At a Glance
Getting Around:

Inter-island flights are plentiful between Honolulu (O'ahu) and airports at Lihue (Kauai), Kahului (Maui), Kona and Hilo (Big Island). The main carriers are Aloha Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines; commuter services are run by Island Air and Air Molokai. There are inter-island ferries between Lahaina (Maui) and Manele (Lana'i), and Lahaina and Kaunakakai (Moloka'i). In 2007, the Hawaii SuperFerry will start sailing between O'ahu, Maui, Kauai'i and the Big Island.

O'ahu has a comprehensive bus system, making the island easy to explore by public transport. It will be necessary to hire a car to fully explore the other main islands. Folks in Hawaii drive on the right-hand side of the road and consider horn honking extremely rude unless required for safety. Cycling is a legitimate way of getting around but be prepared for hefty climbs and narrow, traffic-clogged roads.

Weather:

The climate in Hawaii is fantastic. It's balmy and warm, with northeasterly trade winds prevailing most of the year. Near the coast, average highs are a pleasant 27°C (80°F), and the difference between summer and winter average temperatures is minimal. The rainiest period is between December and March. In general, the driest, sunniest conditions and the calmest waters are on the southwesterly, or leeward, side of the islands. Conversely, the northeasterly, or windward, side of the islands receive decent rainfalls: Hilo, the rainiest city in the USA, is on the windward side of the Big Island.

Dial in code(s):
City code:808
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