Aloha Hawaii

Andy Tooth on 08 November 2000
We visited Hawaii back in 2000. It was a long journey with a flight time of about 17 hours. It is a good idea to do a stopover on route if possible, as this helps to break up the journey and also allows you to visit somewhere else. We flew via San Francisco outbound and Los Angeles on return.

We were staying on the Island of Oahu - probably the most well known of the Islands that make up Hawaii. Oahu’s capital is Honolulu and the famous resort of Waikiki is only 10 minutes away. This is where we stayed. On arrival at Honolulu airport they placed the obligatory garland of flowers around my neck and welcomed me with Aloha. We set off on the short trip to Waikiki and I could see the hotels that make up this resort in the distance. I was a little disappointed as I had imagined it to be very lush with palm trees swaying in the breeze. The reality is a tourist resort with huge hotels reaching for the sky. Waikiki caters for the masses. Everything is on hand from large shopping centres to the International Market place and a convenience store is on every street corner. When we visited it was only a few weeks off Christmas and outside the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Centre they had a huge Christmas tree decorated with seashells alongside Santa’s sleigh been pulled by dolphin. There is zoo in Waikiki too, this will keep the children entertained for the day if you have small children with you. The beach is where I spent most days either watching the surfers, chilling out, playing in the water with my daughter or looking for dolphins from one of the many boats that tourists can sail on. The Island also has its own Seaworld Centre where you can watch dolphins, sea lions and whales performing. Along the back of the resort is a canal. Nothing like the canals in England, much wider and set against a backdrop of mountains. Here we were able to see the Hawaiians practising in their outrigger canoes most evenings. There are lots of Japanese tourists and lots of Japanese weddings taking place in the hotels. Stretch limousines are everywhere and people like to flash their cash. After a couple of days I embraced the resort and everything around me. I couldn't’t change what it was like so I had to accept it. The rest of the Island is tropical and once you get out and about you see this.

A favourite place of mine was Hanauma Bay. It is easy to find and has a true Hawaiian setting. The bay is protected and smoking on the beach is not allowed. It is home to Hawaii’s first Marine Nature Reserve. Oahu is also home to Diamond Head Crater, an extinct volcano just outside Waikiki rising more than 700 feet. Pearl Harbor is another very famous tourist attraction and is only minutes away from Honolulu. There is a very calm and eerie feeling here, but a place that lots of people like to visit. The people are very friendly and although Hawaii is the 50th State of the USA it still retains a Polynesian feel. Lots of the night time entertainment revolves around their culture with singing and dancing displays taking place somewhere every night. If you want low rise and low key then go to one of the other Islands like Maui.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in Waikiki and would certainly go back again; it’s just a case of accepting that it is geared towards tourists, and not as lush as you would probably think.