Hawaii travel guide, hawaiian islands vacation guide

The most urban island, Oahu , offers cosmopolitan Honolulu and destination-resort extraordinaire Waikiki, along with the big waves and beautiful beaches of the more relaxed, more rural North Shore. For a vacation packed with excellent restaurants, oodles of shopping, spectacular vistas, happening night life and tons of Hawaiian history (from ancient temples to the bombing of Pearl Harbor), this is the island for you.

Maui, one of Hawaii’s most popular islands, features exquisite resorts, a cornucopia of activities (from snorkeling to helicopter sight-seeing), spectacular vistas (from a 10,000 foot dormant volcano to the isolated rural village of Hana), cream of the crop restaurants, and miles of white sand beaches in one of the most exotic settings on the planet.

Hawaii’s oldest island, Kauai, is known as the “Garden Island” lush tropical jungle, Bali Hai peaks, creamy sand beaches, dramatic ocean cliffs and stunning scenery. Adventurous travelers will love this island which has plenty of activities from sailing/snorkeling cruises to biking around the rim of a dramatic cavernous valley. A vacation on this rural island moves at a slower, tropical pace.

Hawaii’s biggest island, the Big Island of Hawaii and is still growing as the Kilauea crater continues to erupt, is a vacation like no other. However, be sure to spend time at the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where you can witness Mother Nature (in Hawaii, we call her Pele, the volcano goddess) at work - still creating the island. If you stay at the Volcano House in the National Park, 808/967-7321, the rooms are heated (hey, it's cold at 4,500 feet!) by volcanic steam. Nearly every kind of climate can be found on this “big” island from white, black and even green sand beaches to verdant rain forests to stark lava fields to wind swept high altitude summits at the peak of the world’s largest mountains. A vacation here can fill most any fantasy, from big game fishing to fine dining.

The smallest Hawaiian island, Lanai, a former pineapple plantation, now home to two very luxurious resorts, can be seen on a shoe string with a little planning. Then there is Molokai, truly the “last Hawaiian place,” an island stopped in time, where the traditional lifestyle of living off the land is still common and visitors journey back to a quieter, slower Hawaii.

The most Hawaiian of all the islands is Molokai. It has 100miles of shoreline, and 12 beaches, including the states largest white-sand beach, Papohaku Beach. It is ideal for those who want to truly get away from it all as it is the least developed island in Hawaii. Much of the island's eastern end is dense wilderness, thrusting mountains deep, green valleys. The western side is a rolling fertile plain which is Molokai's agriculture center. Winding country roads beckon sightseers via off road tour and taxi services. Molokai only has one resort area, Kaluakoi, which stretches along the islands western shore.

Please note:
The Hawaiian Islands do not have the all-inclusive resorts that you will find in Mexico and the Caribbean Islands. Some resorts have meals, such as Breakfast included with the opportunity to purchase a meal plan.

Getting Married in Hawaii:
For any person to lawfully marry in the State of Hawaii, a license for that purpose must be obtained from an authorized agent (HRS §572-1.7). Once the license has been issued, there is no waiting period before the marriage can take place. http://www.hawaii.gov/health/vital-records/vital-records/marriage/index.html

I recommend working with a 'wedding coordinator' based in Hawaii, or the island you plan to marry on for your wedding arrangements. and then using a travel agent to book your travel arrangements, such as hotel, car, air and tours.