Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1
How to Feel Like
a Hawaii Family
M
aybe the two of you visited Hawaii B.C. (Before Children), or maybe a trip
to Hawaii has been the dream for years. There's no place on earth quite like this
handful of sun-drenched mid-Pacific islands. The Hawaii of South Seas litera-
ture and Hollywood films really does exist. Here you'll find palm-fringed blue
lagoons, lush rainforests, hidden gardens, cascading waterfalls, wild rivers run-
ning through rugged canyons, and volcanoes soaring 2 miles into the sky. And
oh, those beaches—gold, red, black, and even green sands caressed by an end-
less surf. The possibilities for adventure—and relaxation—are endless. Each of
the six main islands is distinct and infinitely complex. There's far too much to
see and do on a 2-week vacation, which is why so many people return to the
Aloha State year after year.
As a nearly life-long Hawaii resident, I'm letting you in on some of the secrets
that Hawaii families enjoy. We live here because of the beauty, culture, and
lifestyle of these precious islands. You don't have to be rich to live in Hawaii
(although, as my mother says, “It sure helps”), to enjoy a quiet early morning
walk on the beach just as the sun lights up the turquoise water, to smell the sweet
fragrance of just-blooming ginger, or to hear the thundering music of a water-
fall. Hawaii can be a place that teaches your kids to enjoy the richness of their
senses, from the vibrant colors of a rainbow to the smell of a bamboo forest just
after an afternoon rain squall.
Hawaii can also be a place of adventure, the opportunity for you and your
children to try new things: snorkel in warm tropical waters filled with neon-col-
ored fish, coast down a dormant (but not extinct) mountain, silently glide over
calm waters in a double kayak, or soar through the air, stopping to hover over
an exploding volcano in a helicopter.
Even the word “Hawaii” is magical all over the world, not only for the incred-
ible beauty here but also for the culture and the lifestyle. This is a land founded
by people who had immense respect for the island and the ocean. Their creed
was a lifestyle of harmony and generous sharing. Millions of visitors flock to
these islands every year because with all that's going on in the world today, they
hunger for this harmony and generosity, which in Hawaii is referred to as the
“aloha spirit.”
All is not perfect in paradise. It is expensive in Hawaii: The islands sit in the
middle of the Pacific, the most remote island chain in the world, and everything
that is not grown or produced here has to be shipped or flown in—so be pre-
pared to pay more. And despite being part of the United States, things are defi-
nitely done differently in Hawaii—that's why you've shelled out the money to
give your family an opportunity to experience life here.
Part of raising a family is building memories that will last a lifetime. A trip to
Hawaii will create memories not only of what you did, but of a lifestyle—the
