Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Dancing with flames at the World Fire-Knife Championships.
Oahu's main city, the fast-paced urban Honolulu, is not only the state capital but offers
Hawaii's hottest nightlife, its best shopping, and diverse restaurants. Next door is the world
famous vacation playground, Waikiki, complete with every imaginable visitor amenity. But the
island's North Shore and the windward side present a different face: miles of white-sand
beaches and a slower, country way of life.
Centuries of the indigenous Hawaiian culture have given the people of the islands the “spirit
of aloha,” a warm, welcoming attitude that invites visitors to come and share this exotic para-
dise. Mother Nature has carved out verdant valleys, hung brilliant rainbows in the sky, and
trimmed the islands with sandy beaches in a spectrum of colors, from white to black to even
green and red.
Visitors are drawn to this island not only for its incredible beauty, but also for its oppor-
tunities for adventure: swimming in a sea of rainbow-colored fish, hiking into a rainforest, or
watching whales leap out of the ocean as you tee of on one of the country's top golf courses.
Others come to rest and relax in a land where the pace of life moves at a slower rate and the
sun's rays soothe and allow both body and mind to regenerate and recharge.
Venturing to the island of Oahu is not your run-of-the-mill vacation; rather it's an exper-
ience in the senses that will remain with you, locked into your memory, long after your tan
fades. Years later, a sweet smell, the warmth of the sun on your body, or the sound of the wind
through the trees will take you back to the time you spent in the Hawaiian Islands.
THE ISLAND OF OAHU TODAY
A Cultural Renaissance
A conch shell sounds, a young man in a bright feather cape chants, torchlight flickers at sunset
on Waikiki Beach, and hula dancers begin telling their graceful centuries-old stories. It's a cul-
tural scene out of the past, come to life once again—for Hawaii is enjoying a renaissance of
hula, chant, and other aspects of its ancient culture.
The biggest, longest, and most elaborate celebrations of Hawaiian culture are the Aloha
Festivals, which encompass more than 500 cultural events from August to October. “Our goal
is to teach and share our culture,” says Gloriann Akau, an island manager of the statewide
Aloha Festivals. “In 1946, after the war, Hawaiians needed an identity. We were lost and
needed to regroup. When we started to celebrate our culture, we began to feel proud. We have
a wonderful culture that had been buried for a number of years. This brought it out again.
Self-esteem is more important than making a lot of money.”
In 1985, native Hawaiian educator, author, and kupuna (respected elder) George Kanahele
started integrating Hawaiian values into hotels in the 50th state. “You have the responsibility
to preserve and enhance the Hawaiian culture, not because it's going to make money for you,
but because it's the right thing to do,” Kanahele told the Hawaii Hotel Association. “Ultim-
ately, the only thing unique about Hawaii is its Hawaiianess. Hawaiianess is our competitive
edge.”
