Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
you, just go to the other side of the
island—or head into the hills.
On rare occasions, the weather can
be disastrous, as when Hurricane Iniki
crushed Kauai in September 1992
with 225 mph winds. Tsunamis, huge
tidal waves caused by far-off earth-
quakes, have swept Hilo and the south
shore of Oahu. But those are extreme
exceptions. Mostly, one day follows
another here in glorious, sunny pro-
cession, each quite like the other.
HOLIDAYS
When Hawaii observes holidays (espe-
cially those over a long weekend),
travel between the islands increases,
interisland airline seats are fully
booked, rental cars are at a premium,
and hotels and restaurants are busier.
Federal, state, and county govern-
ment offices are closed on all federal
holidays: January 1 (New Year's Day),
the third Monday in January (Martin
Luther King Jr. Day), the third Mon-
day in February (Presidents' Day,
Washington's Birthday), the last Mon-
day in May (Memorial Day), July 4th
(Independence Day), the first Mon-
day in September (Labor Day), the
second Monday in October (Colum-
bus Day), November 11 (Veterans
Day), the fourth Thursday in Novem-
ber (Thanksgiving Day), and Decem-
ber 25 (Christmas).
State and county offices are also
closed on local holidays, including
March 26 (Prince Kuhio Day), honor-
ing the birthday of Hawaii's first dele-
gate to the U.S. Congress; June 11
(King Kamehameha Day), a statewide
holiday commemorating Kame-
hameha the Great, who united the
islands and ruled from 1795 to 1819;
and the third Friday in August
(Admissions Day), which honors the
admittance of Hawaii as the 50th state
on August 21, 1959.
Other special days celebrated in
Hawaii by many people but which
involve no closing of federal, state,
and county offices are in January or
February (the Chinese New Year),
March 3 (Girls' Day), April 8 (Bud-
dha's Birthday), April 15 (Father
Damien's Day), May 5 (Boys' Day),
August (Samoan Flag Day), Septem-
ber and October (Aloha Festivals), and
December 7 (Pearl Harbor Day).
KIDS' FAVORITE HAWAII
EVENTS
Please note that, as with any schedule of
upcoming events, the following information
is subject to change; always confirm the
details before you plan your trip around an
event. For a complete and up-to-date list of
events throughout the islands, check out
www.calendar.gohawaii.com
.
January
Morey World Bodyboarding
Championship,
Banzai Pipeline,
North Shore, Oahu. Competition
is determined by the best wave
selection and maneuvers on the
wave. Call
&
808/396-2326.
Early
January.
Ka Molokai Makahiki,
Kau-
nakakai Town Baseball Park,
Mitchell Pauole Center, Kau-
nakakai, Molokai. Makahiki, a tra-
ditional time of peace in ancient
Hawaii, is re-created with perform-
ances by Hawaiian music groups
and hula halau, ancient Hawaiian
games, a sporting competition, and
Hawaiian crafts and food. It's a
wonderful chance to experience the
Hawaii of yesteryear. Call
&
800/
800-6367
or 808/553-3876 or visit
www.molokai-hawaii.com.
Late
January.
Ala Wai Challenge,
Ala Wai Park,
Waikiki, Oahu. This all-day event
features ancient Hawaiian games,
like
ulu maika
(bowling a round
stone through pegs),
oo ihe
(spear-
throwing at an upright target),
huki
kaula
(tug of war), and a quarter-
mile outrigger canoe race. It's also a
great place to hear Hawaiian music.
Call
&
808/923-1802.
Last week-
end in January.
