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Useful information for tourists about the Hawaiian Islands, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of the Hawaiian Islands, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions of the Hawaiian Islands.

Geography of the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian Islands - an archipelago of twenty-four islands and atolls, as well as many small islands, located in the North Pacific Ocean. The archipelago is of volcanic origin; got its name from the name of the largest island - Hawaii. Most of the islands of the archipelago make up the fiftieth state of the United States.

Hawaii is the largest and youngest island in the chain, consisting of seven different volcanoes. Mauna Loa, which makes up more than half of the island, is the largest shield volcano on the planet. The height of the volcano from the seabed (Hawaiian depression) to the peak is more than 10 kilometers.

State

State structure

Hawaii is the fiftieth state of the US Republic. In accordance with the Constitution, the legislative power is exercised by a bicameral Congress. Executive power in the United States, including the Hawaiian Islands, is exercised by the president.

Language

State language: English

The native language, Hawaiian, exists for the exotic. They love it, teach it in colleges, tell tourists about it, but only a few words are used in everyday life.

Currency

International name: USD

The US dollar is equal to 100 cents. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars, as well as coins: penny (1 cent), nickel (5 cents), dime (10 cents), quarter (25 cents), half-dollar ( 50 cents) and one dollar.

It is most convenient to pay with credit cards (VISA, Master Card, American Express, etc.), they are accepted in hotels, restaurants, shops and generally everywhere and without any restrictions. Do not take Eurocheques with you, they are not valid here.

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Cuisine of the Hawaiian Islands

Hawaiian cuisine is famous for its seafood dishes. "Lomilomi" from chopped raw salmon, "laulau" - steamed fish or pork, "opacapa" from pink snapper - all these are integral parts of the local menu. Spicy lovers will love the Hawaiian red onion. You can try a pig baked according to local custom in an earthen pit. The process of eating such a pig usually takes place at sunset and is accompanied by some kind of show - the national hula dance or fire tricks popular in Polynesia. All together is called "Luau".

Not the last place here is occupied by tropical fruits. Here they will offer both "banal" banana-oranges, as well as star fruit with a floral taste and a "passion fruit" similar to a small watermelon - "Passion fruit".

Very good local cocktails "mai-tai", "Lover" s flower ". They exist both in alcoholic form and in non-alcoholic form.

Hawaiian cuisine is famous for its seafood dishes. "Lomilomi" from chopped raw salmon, "laulau" - steamed fish or pork, "opacapa" from pink snapper - all these are integral parts of the local menu. Spicy lovers will love the Hawaiian red onion. You can try a pig baked according to local custom in an earthen pit. The process of eating such a pig usually takes place at sunset and is accompanied by some kind of show - the national hula dance or fire tricks popular in Polynesia. All together is called "Luau". ...

Tips

Tipping is customary to give about 10-15% of the bill to waiters and taxi drivers, about 0.5-1 dollar to the porter, maid, porter.

Office Hours

Banks are open from 9:00 to 15:00, many have 24-hour ATMs.

Shops are open Monday to Friday from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, however there is no official closing date for stores and many of them are open 24/7 on Sundays.

The medicine

The Hawaiian archipelago, located in the central Pacific Ocean, consists of 162 islands, only seven of which are inhabited. The islands have fantastic nature - palm trees and tropical flowers, wide beaches and stable fine weather.

GEOGRAPHY

The Hawaiian Islands are 24 islands located in the Pacific Ocean between 20 degrees north latitude. and the Tropic of the North and at longitude 160 degrees E. quite a distance from the USA. They represent the peaks of an underwater oceanic ridge. So there are many active volcanoes. The largest islands are Hawaii, Kahulawi, Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Big Island. The most active volcano in Kilaui is located on the Big Island.

CLIMATE

The Hawaiian Islands are located in the climatically extremely comfortable region of the Pacific Ocean. The climate is tropical, maritime. There are two seasons: summer - between May and October; winter is from October to April. Spring and autumn are arbitrary. The coolest months are January and February. The average minimum temperature at this time drops to +18 degrees, the maximum reaches +27 degrees. The hottest time of the year is August. The average minimum temperature at this time is about +21 degrees, the maximum reaches + 32 degrees.

From October to April, the influence of tropical cyclones is great, when the greatest amount of precipitation falls (from 80 to 100 mm, on the island of Hawaii - up to 370 mm).

The rest of the time, sunny and dry days reign. The driest month is June, it has a monthly rainfall of only about 10 mm, but on the southernmost island of Hawaii this month can receive up to 160 mm.

You can swim here at any time of the year. The water temperature is kept at the level of +23..+28 degrees year-round.

Best time to visit:

In Hawaii, the most comfortable time is from May to October, when there is the least chance of rainfall.

TYPES OF TOURISM

Beach vacation.

On the numerous beaches of the Hawaiian Islands, you can safely lie on the beach, sunbathe and swim. You can swim in the ocean. This is either a civilized beach, where there is everything you need - from sunscreen to a disposable camera for underwater photography, or an uncivilized one, where the waves are raging, and you already have to take care of beach accessories yourself.

The best beach in Hawaii is considered Hanauma Bay Beach on the island Oahu , also very popular on this island are the beaches of Lanikai Beach, Kailua Beach Park, on the island Maui is Kapalua Bay Beach, Kaanapali Beach , on the island Kauai - Poipu Beach , on the Big Island - Hapuna and Mauna Kea Beach . You can swim in the pools of numerous hotels. There are pools with sea water, there are with fresh water.

The most popular places: on the island of Maui - Hookipa Beach Park for professionals, Kihei beaches are suitable for beginners, Kanah Beach is available for all levels of skiing; on the island of Oahu - Waikiki beach for both beginners and professionals.

The underwater world of the local coastal waters is diverse and colorful. The most popular diving site is the submerged Molokini crater on the island of Maui. It is excellent for group diving. For lovers of sunken ships, the island of Oahu will be of interest. The main dive center here is the city of Honolulu. On the Big Island, you can highlight the place of Kona Coast on the west coast. Here you can dive into the "Eel Cave", "Turtle Hole" and make a "Night meeting with a manta". Manta rays are a large stingray, but near this island they are the safest. More experienced divers who prefer to dive in less crowded places will appreciate the underwater world of the southern coast of Kauai. The most interesting places are the Sheraton Caves, the sunken ship Luckenbach, lava caves where sharks meet.

Excursions (in detail).

The Hawaiian Islands include 24 islands and each of them is unique in its own way, each has something to see. This is the homeland of the Polynesian peoples, where you can get acquainted with their culture. Nature endowed this region with interesting landscapes, animals and plants.

Ecotourism.
The nature of the Hawaiian Islands is very diverse, one might even say unique, so tourists are happy to walk through tropical rainforests.

In addition, in the Hawaiian Islands, you can actively engage in cross-country cycling or retire on fishing.

WHAT TO WATCH

• Ohu island. The capital of the Hawaiian Islands, Honolulu, is located on this island. Exploring the island should begin with a sightseeing tour of the city. You will see the Iolani Palace - the only royal palace in the United States, the monument to King Kamehameha and Queen Liliokalani, the Senate, the Governor's residence, China Town. It is impossible not to visit the legendary Pearl Harbor memorial complex. This is the naval base where World War II began for the United States. At the jewelry factory, you can watch a film about the extraction of coral - the national stone of Hawaii and see how jewelry is made from coral, pearls and other precious stones. The factory shop will offer a wide selection of unique jewelry of the highest quality with a lifetime warranty.
• Volcanoes. The Hawaiian Islands are a chain of extinct and active volcanoes, three thousand kilometers long. The most active volcanoes on the island of Hawaii are Manua Loa and Kilauea. Manua Loa is also the highest active volcano in the world (4169 m). In the Hawaiian Islands, everything is adapted for excursions to volcanoes. Near the active ones there are observation platforms and observatories, numerous roads lead to the extinct ones, and they themselves are indented with hiking trails. On the island of Hawaii there is the "Hawaii Volcanoes National Park", which occupies about 93 thousand hectares. Here you will see the panorama of the Kilauea volcano and the Halemaumau crater, you will see how boiling lava flows directly into the ocean, visit the museum of volcanology.
• Cultural Center of Polynesia. The park is located in the north of Oahu. Here you can get acquainted with the rich culture of the peoples of Polynesia. The seven villages are Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand, Samoa and the Marquesas. Unique performances - national costumes, musical instruments, incendiary dances. Hospitable and friendly Polynesians will discover the secrets of their ancient civilization - how to light a fire without matches, open a coconut with one blow, climb a palm tree and dance Hula.
• Valley Island Maui. This is a trip to one of the highest peaks of the archipelago - Haleakala volcano. Here you can visit magnificent protea flower plantations and picturesque mountain valleys, swim on Kaanapali beach.
• The island of Kauai. The most visited places on the island are the Russian Fort Elizabeth, Waimea Canyon, which is considered a small copy of the Grand Canyon, an observation deck overlooking the Na Pali coast and the Kalalau Valley, as well as one of the most beautiful mountains - Wamaleale (this is the place where the largest world rainfall). It is worth visiting near the ocean geyser Spouting Horn, take a walk through the jungle to the famous Hawaiian Hula Temple.

STORY

The Hawaiian Islands first appeared on the world map under the name of the Sandwich Islands at the end of the 18th century. They were discovered by the great navigator James Cook. Americans settled here from the beginning of the 19th century, and by 1850 they had established the cultivation of sugar cane. At the same time, Honolulu became the capital of the Hawaiian Islands. In the years 1870-1880, the situation escalated more than once and more and more often there were demands for the annexation of the islands. In the early 1890s, a revolution broke out in Hawaii, and after the overthrow of Queen Liliuokalani, a provisional government was formed, which in February 1893 offered to sign an annexation treaty. However, the Senate and President Cleveland rejected the proposal. In 1894, Hawaii was proclaimed a republic, recognized by the United States. In 1897, the annexation treaty was again submitted to the Senate for consideration and was again rejected. However, at the height of the Spanish-American War, Congress passed a joint resolution of both chambers on the annexation of the islands, and in 1959 Hawaii received the status of the 50th US state.

RELIGION

The freedom of religion guaranteed by the constitution and the separation of church and state ensured the spread of many religions on the islands. The missionaries spread Catholicism widely, but along with it there are Islam, Hinduism, Confucianism.

TRANSPORT

The most common mode of transportation in Hawaii is by car. Freeways allow you to get to any settlement on the island. All roads are in good condition. In order to rent a car, you must have a driver's license and be over 21 years old (in some rental companies - 25 years old). Usually payment for the rental is made by credit card, but if you book a car when purchasing a tour, then upon receipt of it, you can pay in cash, leaving a refundable deposit of about $ 200 per week and presenting an international air ticket. Together with the car, the tourist will receive a detailed road map. On the roads it is forbidden to exceed the speed limit, it is necessary to give way to a pedestrian who has entered a controlled crossing, it is impossible to keep open bottles of alcohol in the car. Failure to follow one of the rules can cost a driver's license.

Taxis are usually ordered by phone or taken from the hotel, it can be stopped by hand, but, giving preference to this type of transport, one must keep in mind that this is quite an expensive pleasure.

It is best to travel from one island to another on small planes of local airlines. The flight will take no more than 20 minutes.

FLORA AND FAUNA

The flora in the Hawaiian Islands is represented by lush tropical vegetation, exotic flowers. Hawaii is the birthplace of orchids. There are no predatory animals, snakes and crocodiles here, the world of birds is very diverse. More than 600 species of tropical fish live in coastal waters.

MINERALS

From minerals, basalt wool is mined, which is used as an insulating material.

BANKS

Banks are open from 9:00 to 15:00, many have 24-hour ATMs.

MONEY

The official currency is the US dollar. It is equal to 100 cents. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars, as well as coins: penny (1 cent), nickel (5 cents), dime (10 cents), quarter (25 cents), half-dollar ( 50 cents) and one dollar. It is most convenient to pay with credit cards (VISA, Master Card, American Express, etc.), they are accepted in hotels, restaurants, shops and generally everywhere and without any restrictions. Do not take Eurocheques with you, they are not valid here. Currency: US dollar (USD)

POLITICAL STATE

Hawaii is the fiftieth state of the US Republic. In accordance with the Constitution, the legislative power is exercised by a bicameral Congress. Executive power in the United States, including the Hawaiian Islands, is exercised by the president. He has the ability to quickly make critical decisions.

POPULATION

The population of the Hawaiian Islands is 1.1 million people. Hawaiians make up about 2% of the population. Hawaiians, like many islanders, have never been inclined to work hard. Therefore, in the 19th century, when sugar cane began to be cultivated on the islands, the government was forced to import Japanese and Chinese workers to work on the plantations. Therefore, now the Japanese and Chinese, as well as visitors from the mainland of the United States, make up the bulk of the population of the islands.

Language: The official language is English. It is mainly used by the inhabitants of the Hawaiian Islands to communicate with each other. And the language of the indigenous people - Hawaiian - exists, in general, for the exotic. They love it, teach it in colleges, tell tourists about it, but in everyday life they use only a few words, and then very rarely.

KITCHEN

All those who have visited the islands pay tribute to the Hawaiian cuisine. Hawaiian cuisine is famous for its seafood dishes. "Lomilomi" from chopped raw salmon, "laulau" - steamed fish or pork, "opacapa" from pink snapper - all these are integral parts of the local menu. Spicy lovers will love the Hawaiian red onion. You can try a pig baked according to local custom in an earthen pit. The process of eating such a pig usually takes place at sunset and is accompanied by some kind of show - the national hula dance or fire tricks popular in Polynesia. All together is called "Luau". Not the last place here is occupied by tropical fruits. Here they will offer both "banal" banana-oranges, as well as star fruit with a floral taste and a "passion fruit" similar to a small watermelon - "Passion fruit". Very good local cocktails "mai-tai", "Lover" s flower ". They exist both in alcoholic form and in non-alcoholic form.

CONNECTION

You can call from numerous pay phones located on all streets to any point in the world using plastic cards. The telephone code for Hawaii is 1808.

• THE SHOPS. Shops are open Monday to Friday from 9.30 am to 5.30 pm, however there is no official closing date for stores and many of them are open 24/7 on Sundays. The price (sales tax) in stores does not include value added tax; when shopping, you will have to pay another 8.25% of the cost of goods.
  
• Hawaii, like the US mainland, has strict regulations on the sale of liquor. They can only be bought in stores with a special license. In other stores you can buy only beer. Persons under the age of twenty-one are prohibited from selling alcoholic beverages.
• TIPS. Tipping is customary to give about 10-15% of the bill to waiters and taxi drivers, about 0.5-1 dollar to the porter, maid, porter.
• NATIONAL FEATURES. The most important thing about Hawaiians is their cheerfulness and sociability. The joyful mood of life is called the word "Aloha", which means "hello", and "goodbye", and "welcome", in addition, it is included in the name of many local companies. Even Hawaiian license plates say "Aloha State." Hawaiians are very fond of talking, each of them is very interested in where the vacationers came from, their name, whether they often visit the islands.
• ELECTRICITY. 220V, 50Hz;
• HEALTH CARE. The Hawaiian Islands, like the rest of the United States, does not have a public health insurance system. Therefore, going on vacation to the archipelago, you must purchase an insurance policy. When applying for it, you should check which cases of diseases are included in the insurance. Strictly on these points, the costs will be reimbursed by the insurance company. When contacting a doctor, vacationers pay the bills themselves, and upon arrival in the country of permanent residence, they receive compensation from the insurance company. All prescriptions and records of all physician-provided services must be kept. If a vacationer has a serious illness, and he cannot pay his bills, you must contact the insurance company. When contacting a doctor for a matter that does not require emergency medical attention, you need to check whether the insurance will cover this visit.

The Hawaiian Islands are located almost in the center of the Pacific Ocean. The Hawaiian archipelago of volcanic origin has 162 islands, the total area of ​​​​which is slightly more than 28 thousand square kilometers, only seven of them are inhabited. By the way, the Hawaiian Islands is the fiftieth state of the United States, its population is 1.3 million human. Its largest part, which is logical, is concentrated on the largest island of the archipelago, which is called Hawaii, and boasts the presence of several active volcanoes. There are several cities on the islands, the largest of them - Honolulu, this is the state capital, and here, by the way, Barack Obama was born.

Nature of the Hawaiian Islands

amazes with a riot of tropical plants, the perfection of beaches, unique landscapes. Each island has its own climatic features, but in general the weather in Hawaii is favorable. In summer and autumn it rains, but rather short-term. There is never stuffiness and extreme heat, but storms and hurricanes do happen, and the city of Hilo sometimes suffers from tsunamis.

Gone are the days of sandalwood mining, whaling, pineapple and sugar cane farming, and military bases in Hawaii. The main source of income for the state is tourism, and all thanks to the unique nature of the archipelago. There are beaches with white, red, black and even green sand, volcanoes and volcanic craters, valleys, waterfalls, mountain rivers, coastal cliffs, magnificent views and romantic sunsets. And most importantly - in Hawaii you can hide from the crowds and bustle of the big world.

Vacationers come to Hawaii

those who love the exotic, are looking for new sensations and adventures, who admire the magic of nature and dream of visiting a paradise on the planet. The image of Hawaii is created by the silhouettes of hula dancers and surfers rushing through the waves, ukulele melodies, the aromas of ginger wreaths, the exclamation of "Aloha!", sunsets and the taste of pina colada cocktail.

Of course, the Hawaiian archipelago has a developed tourist infrastructure, with high-end hotels, chic restaurants and trendy boutiques side by side with miniature shops, tiny cozy cafes and much more modest tourist accommodation. The main influx of tourists is in winter, from December to March. Suspecting that not everyone will be able to eat traditional local dishes of seafood and fruits for a long time, Hawaiians have opened numerous restaurants serving international cuisine and dishes from different countries.

What to do while relaxing in Hawaii, when you get tired of lying on the beach?

In the homeland of surfing, it’s a sin not to try at least once to catch a wave or try other water activities, whether it’s windsurfing, water skiing, diving, sailing or kayaking. For those who wish, mountain bikes, horse riding tours, tennis courts, golf courses, excursion routes are available. Restaurants, clubs and bars are open at night in cities and large towns.

In order not to run into a large fine, you should know that in Hawaii, smoking is most strictly limited than in other US states. You can not smoke even on many beaches. And you can only drink alcohol from the age of 21. When entering Hawaii, all fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers must be declared to protect the islands from disease or plant pests. Export of fruit is prohibited.

The Hawaiian Islands can be safely called one of the most amazing places on the planet. Here, on the coast of the endless ocean, every vacationer will enjoy the opening landscape, which seems to be specially created for contemplation with its soft sand, tall palm trees, a variety of exotic birds, animals, fruits and flowers.

Hawaii is also called the Sandwich Islands. They include atolls and 24 islands, as well as many small islands. They are of volcanic origin, and got their name from the name of the largest island - Hawaii.

People here do not live everywhere, but only in these places:

• Hawaii.
• Oahu.
• Maui.
• Kauai.
• Molokai.
• Lanai.

Origin of the islands

The formation of the archipelago was due to the movement of the Pacific lithospheric plate. Since it moved in a northwesterly direction, the islands in this particular part are the oldest and smallest due to long erosion. Here all the volcanoes are basaltic.

In the chain, the youngest and largest island is Hawaii, which has 7 volcanoes. The largest of them is Mauna Loa. It is worth noting that Russians visit the Canary, Seychelles and Hawaii with pleasure. The island on the map (Hawaii) occupies the main area of ​​the resort. It is of volcanic origin and is part of the 8 islands that form the US state of Hawaii. This is the largest inhabited island - its total area is 10432.5 square meters. km.

How to get to the Hawaiian Islands

It is a major transportation hub for the northern Pacific Ocean. Through it pass the paths that connect Canada and the United States with the Philippines, the states of East Asia, New Zealand and Australia.

For domestic tourists who dream of going on vacation to Hawaii, the easiest way is to fly to Los Angeles, then to Honolulu. If tourists come to the islands of Kauai, Maui or Hawaii, the flight is also to Los Angeles, after that - a flight to the required island with a change in Honolulu.

From Chicago or New York, the flight takes 9-10 hours, in addition, you can fly from Japan in 7 hours, but this option is more expensive.

You can also get here from the coast of the United States by cruise ship. Basically they depart from Vancouver or Los Angeles, this trip lasts 3 days.

Flora and fauna of Hawaii

The Hawaiian Islands are home to various ancient animal and plant species, as their flora and fauna evolved over seventy million years with almost no human intervention. The Polynesians were the first to come here, enriching the flora and fauna of the islands with various new samples. The areas of forests began to decrease with an increase in population, the number of steppes began to increase, and this began to worsen the environment of the archipelago. Because of this human influence, the main number of animals that lived in the forests died out.

On the islands, agriculture has become monocultural. The Europeans who came to the Hawaiian Islands (their map is presented in this article) made agricultural production and animal husbandry large-scale. But this also had a negative impact on the environment, as the rapid growth of cities led to the disappearance of forests. At the present moment, the situation has changed, although a huge number of species still remain on the verge of extinction.

Attractions of the island of Oahu

Recently, the Hawaiian Islands have become increasingly popular among tourists. Tours, prices for which depend on the time of year and in the high season average 120,000 for 10 days, many are interested in the opportunity to visit the island of Oahu, since it is here that the capital of Hawaii, the city of Honolulu, is located.

For vacationers, excursions around the city and the island are conducted. Here, of particular interest is the Iolani Palace, China Town, the monument to Queen Liliokalani and King Kamehameha, the senate, the residence of the governor. Of course, you need to visit Pearl Harbor, a military base. The United States, after the destruction of this place, entered the 2nd World War. In retaliation for the complete destruction of this base, nuclear bombs were dropped on the Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

A jewelry factory is also located here, where you can trace the process of creating amazing jewelry. If you want to keep something for yourself as a keepsake of this place, you can buy jewelry in a local store - interesting gizmos from different metals, precious stones, corals and pearls are presented here.

Oahu is the center of Polynesian culture. Holidays in Hawaii can start with a visit to 7 villages - Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawaii, New Zealand, Marquesas and Samoa. At the same time, each village reproduces its own part of the culture of Polynesia, delighting visitors with various performances, incendiary dances, as well as playing authentic musical instruments.

Top 5 most visited attractions

Hawaii is a paradise for every tourist, with an incredible number of interesting places. Consider the sights of the islands that you need to visit.

1st Place: Iolani Palace

This is the former residence of King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani, who ruled here at the end of the 19th century. The building is located in the city of Honolulu. The Hawaiian monarch built his palace in 1882 after a trip to Europe. It was equipped with all modern conveniences: it is believed that electricity and telephone were installed here earlier than in Buckingham Palace and the White House. This attraction is visited annually by about 60 thousand tourists.

2nd place: Haiku stairs

3992 steps of stairs lead to the top of Kulau, from where incredible views open up. Due to the fact that its peak is often hidden in the clouds, this path is called the "stairway to heaven." Tourists sometimes have to move through thick fog, which creates the illusion of walking in the sky.

3rd Place: Akaka Falls

The 135-meter waterfall is the most beautiful and highest waterfall in Hawaii. It falls from a cliff of volcanic origin, whose height is 135 meters. The waterfall can be admired in the national park near the city of Hilo.

4th place: Waipio Valley

It is the largest of the seven valleys in Hawaii. It is also called the "Valley of the Kings", as many rulers of the island once lived here. It was a very fertile valley with a favorable climate for agriculture. Its inhabitants, according to local beliefs, are guarded by the spirits of their ancestors. The valley is so picturesque that quite often it becomes a location for shooting Hollywood films: the films "Predator" and "Water World" were filmed here.

5th place: Kealakekua Bay

This marine reserve is located in a historical place: in Kealakekua Bay in 1779, James Cook appeared, originally taken by the Hawaiians for the god Lono, more precisely, his earthly incarnation. Today it is the largest natural bay of the island. Its waters are well protected, with visibility of thirty meters. This makes the bay a great place for snorkelling and scuba diving.

Volcanoes - a natural attraction

Holidays in the Hawaiian Islands are impossible without a trip to extinct volcanoes, which is not surprising. In essence, these islands are volcanoes, long extinct or still active. Their peaks peep out of the sea, forming a chain 3000 km long.

To see the most active of them, Manua Loa and Kilauea, you should go to Hawaii. You need to know that Manua Loa is the highest active volcano in the world. Its height is more than 4000 m. The islands have all the conditions to see these "giants". Extinct giants are simply slashed with footpaths; tourists are taken to them by buses.

Of course, it is better to look at active volcanoes from afar. For this, there are observation platforms and observatories. In addition, there is the Volcanoes National Park on the island of Hawaii. From here you can observe the Halemaumau crater and Kilauea. Its visitors will see an amazing sight of seething red-hot lava flowing into the ocean.

Where to relax on the islands

The Hawaiian Islands, photos of which are presented in this article, being one of the most beautiful places on the planet, are amazing not only for the underwater world with all kinds of its inhabitants and unique nature. People come to this place to practice various types of water sports. Windsurfing, surfing, sailing, kiteboarding, etc. are especially popular here.

For fans of diving on the islands, the beauty of the underwater world is specially created by volcanoes, stunning the imagination. Among them are giant caves and grottoes with arches and columns, an incredible amount of a wide variety of corals and fish. There are sixty well-equipped dive centers on the islands.

Fishing connoisseurs will remember fishing in these places for a lifetime, because it is simply fantastic! Fishing will captivate you with the variety and quantity of fish; for example, you can catch mahi-mahi, sailfish, tuna or blue marlin.

But for those who do not want to leave the hotel, there are all conditions for a comfortable stay, including swimming pools. But few people deny themselves swimming in the ocean, since all beaches are equipped with showers, toilets, dining tables, neatly mowed lawns, and places for fires. At the same time, there are completely wild beaches for connoisseurs of the exotic - winds and waves rage there, and crabs run along the coast.

The favorite activities of local tourists are golf and cycling.

Everyone who comes here can enjoy not only the unique paradise nature - there is an opportunity to choose for themselves the passive or active type of recreation that he wants.

Hawaiian style

The Hawaiian Islands are the birthplace of a special, slightly clumsy and relaxed style. US comedy heroes usually return from vacation with a floral necklace and Hawaiian flowery shirt, which immediately shows where they spent their weekend. No wonder the most famous flip flops on the planet - "flip flops" - are produced under the Hawaiians brand. A traditional souvenir that is brought from here is a shell necklace with a pendant in the shape of a fishhook. It should be noted that the cost of some pieces is $200-300, while such jewelry is combined only with classic Hawaiian clothing.

Finally, there is one more thing to add. The islands are absolutely safe for tourists. You should not be afraid of natural disasters. Hawaii has a good climate all year round (neither cold nor hot), although it does rain in winter. Dance lovers can learn the hula dance - lessons of this dance can be found in every major hotel. Don't forget to tip the attendants - they have become a very tight part of the culture of Hawaii and have become an unwritten rule for a long time.

The most convenient way to travel between the islands is by plane, but ferries also run between some of them.

Two hundred years ago, this archipelago was called Sandwich, in honor of one of the English diplomats, the first Lord of the Admiralty - John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich (John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich, 1718-1792). This man was an influential person during his lifetime, and we, the descendants, are better known as the inventor of the dish of the same name - a sandwich - a sandwich with a delicious layer between two pieces of bread or halves of buns.
The "sandwich" name did not catch on, and the fabulous island country today bears a name that has Polynesian roots.
The name of the archipelago, consisting of 24 islands and atolls, is identified with the name of the largest island - Hawaii.

The history of the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands

Sandwich Islands this group of patches of land among the vast expanses of the Great Ocean was named by James Cook, who was the first European to stumble upon them during one of his trips around the world in January 1778. Here, a year later, the natives killed and almost ate (according to popular belief) this famous navigator. The threat of weapons from the British forced them to return the remains of Cook, who was killed during a skirmish with the locals, and these remains were buried with honors at sea.
According to the notes of eyewitnesses of the incident that have come down to us, the body of the great navigator was dismembered and prepared for baking at the stake. The skull was mutilated, which subsequently gave rise to versions that the natives, after all, ate the English captain, and presented the remains of a completely different person for burial. After all, to eat the great and strong enemy leader, which the natives considered Cook to be, was a great success, and, according to popular belief, promised many benefits and benefits for the cannibal tribe.
However, according to other researchers, the native Hawaiians were not cannibals, and they did not eat people, unlike the inhabitants of Oceania, Guinea, Polynesia and other island peoples.
It is difficult to judge which of the historians is right.
It is only known that the Hawaiians themselves are descendants of the inhabitants of Polynesia, who settled in Hawaii long before Cook appeared on these shores - approximately in the 3rd century AD. It is possible that the old Polynesian traditions, after all, were not completely forgotten.

But let's not stir up the sad pages of the glorious past of the great navigators, we will only note that the name Sandwich did not take root, and the islands discovered by James Cook began to be called the Hawaiian archipelago more and more often, and now few people remember their original name.

How did the Hawaiian archipelago form?

The Hawaiian archipelago is a chain of islands stretching in the center of the Pacific Ocean, between Eurasia and America, north of the equator between 19 and 29 degrees N. latitude. This is approximately at the latitude of Central Mexico, Cuba, the southern border of Egypt, Central India and the northern tip of the Philippine archipelago.

There are 24 relatively large islands and atolls in the Hawaiian archipelago, as well as many smaller islets, of which there are more than a hundred. They are located in an elongated chain from southeast to northwest, with the largest islands located in the eastern region of this rocky "chain".

Small islands are scattered singly or form groups, among which stand out the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (Lee Islands) and several islands of the Midway group. Among the individual small islands are Kure, Pearl and Hermes, about. Lisyansky, Laysan, Nihoa, Maro, Gardner, Necker, French Frigate Shoals. Only the seven largest islands are considered inhabited, the rest are lifeless patches of land, only occasionally visited by duty services and scientific expeditions. One of the Hawaiian Islands - Kahulave in the middle of the last century was a US Navy military training base, and is also uninhabited at present.

The largest of the Hawaiian Islands - about. Hawaii, which is often referred to as the Big Island. The large island occupies almost 62% of all land belonging to the archipelago. Other large islands include Oahu, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau. Each of these islands is unique and interesting in its own way, differing from its neighbors in the archipelago in landscape, natural design, weather conditions, and even elements of flora and fauna. On about. Oahu is the state capital, Honolulu.

Hawaii was formed as a result of volcanic activity of the so-called "hot spot" on the ocean floor, which manifested itself here and manifests itself in the form of active tectonic and magmatic processes associated with the movement of layers and plates of the earth's crust. The Hawaiian underwater ridge, located at the bottom, majestically rises with its peaks to the surface of the ocean, forming the islands of this amazing archipelago with individual volcanoes and groups of volcanoes. Some of these volcanoes have cooled down and are considered extinct, but many are still capable of spewing lava, smoke and ash from the bowels of the earth. And the Kilauea volcano, located on the Big Island, is considered the most active of the earth's volcanoes - it has been erupting almost continuously for more than 30 years, since 1983.

Climate of Hawaii

The climate, as one would expect, is warm, tropical, since Hawaii is located near the conditional northern border of the tropical zone.
The action of the trade winds has a significant impact on the amount of precipitation falling here. On the windy side, i.e., on the northern and eastern slopes of island elevations and volcanoes, precipitation usually falls more than on the southern and western slopes located on the leeward side. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in the period from October to April, i.e. in winter. However, one should not imagine the Hawaiian Islands as being flooded with streams of heavenly water - most of the territory of the archipelago is usually subject to the caress of the sun's rays, since clear days here are relatively rarely interrupted by gloomy clouds and rains.

In the summer, from about June to September, the season of hurricanes and tropical storms begins in Hawaii, which more often hit the islands from the north and northeast. Hurricanes come here from American coasts, originating off the coast of Mexico and California. Most of these "visitors from America" ​​lose their power and strength when moving across the ocean, and only the remnants of elemental ferocity usually reach Hawaii. However, hurricanes are causing some concern for the Hawaiian Islands. Particularly affected by the elements are the islands that are not protected by mountain ranges, for example, about. Kauai.

Happen in Hawaii and tsunamis - huge ocean waves that come, most often, from the north. The second largest (after the capital of Honolulu) city of Hawaii is Hilo, located on the northern shore of about. Hawaii (Big Island) suffers from tsunami attacks especially often, since it is located on the shore of a bay that collects the shock force of the waves into a powerful water fist.

Weather in Hawaii

Despite the natural disasters described above, which periodically visit Hawaii, most of the year the weather is fine here, and, thanks to the beauty of the landscapes and the mild climate, the archipelago can be called a paradise on our planet. For this reason, the islands are a popular destination for numerous American tourists and vacationers, who have considered Hawaii their 50th state since 1959.
It is rarely stuffy and hot here.
In summer, the temperature at the foot of the volcanoes fluctuates between +29-+32 degrees. C, in winter - + 18- + 21 degrees. FROM.
In the mountains, the temperature is much lower, and on the highest peaks (Haleakala, Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea) snow sometimes falls in winter, which here is an exotic element against the backdrop of a mild tropical climate.
If you are going to relax in Hawaii, you should not take warm clothes with you - a light jacket will provide comfort during night walks and in any vagaries of nature. Male tourists do not need to worry about a formal suit and a beautiful tie - in Hawaii, these items of clothing are traditionally considered excess.

The official language here is English, but occasionally you can hear Hawaiian speech - a surprisingly melodic and simple language. The Hawaiian alphabet has only 12 letters, so many words and phrases are made up of repeated syllables and sounds.
The "folk" nickname of the state of Hawaii is Aloha, which in Hawaiian means a greeting or a declaration of love. According to statistics, the permanent population of the state is almost 1.5 million people.

Among the numerous and curious facts that Hawaiians are extremely proud of, it can be noted that here are the highest coastal cliffs in the world (on Molokai Island), the most active of modern volcanoes, the highest mountain on the planet (if we consider its base to be the ocean floor), the most beautiful canyon of Waimea (on the island of Kauai).
Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing and the 44th US president, Barack Obama.
Surprisingly clean air made it possible to settle on about. Hawaii, the Mauna Kea International Observatory, from where observations are made of space objects.

The flora and fauna of the Hawaiian Islands impress with the abundance of species of living organisms that have sheltered the local climate. There are a lot of endemics, i.e. plants and animals that are not found anywhere else on the planet. This is not surprising - after all, the Hawaiian archipelago has been isolated from the outside world for more than 70 million years, separating itself from the continents, islands and continents.
It should be noted that most of the endemic species are on the verge of extinction due to the efforts of man since the time of the settlement of the islands by the Polynesians.
Over the past two centuries, more bird species have been declared endangered in the Hawaiian Islands than in any other area on our planet. Suffice it to say that out of 67 local species of birds, 23 have already disappeared and 30 are under the threat of extinction.

However, there are very few "natives" among the land inhabitants of the Hawaiian Islands. Only among birds there are relatively many endemics, but there are almost no Hawaiian mammals. The only land animal that can be called "native of Hawaii" is a gray-haired (white-gray) bat (Lasiurus cinereus). However, only one of the three subspecies of this winged mammal lives on the islands, which are also found in some other corners of our planet. Bats came to Hawaii, apparently by accident, by a fair wind from other islands in Oceania, so they can only be considered indigenous people conditionally.

The same can be said about the famous Hawaiian monk seal. (Monachus schauinslandi)- three subspecies of this pinniped mammal are known, one of which is endemic to these places. The second subspecies lives in the Mediterranean Sea, and the third - the Caribbean monk seal, is considered extinct almost a hundred years ago.
But the Hawaiian "monks" are currently facing many problems that threaten these animals with extinction. According to experts, less than one and a half thousand individuals of these animals remain in Hawaii, which do not get along well with such a noisy and curious neighbor as a person. Monk seal populations are dominated by males, and this leads to fierce fights between them during the mating season. The "brides" also get it - many of them die as a result of the aggressive behavior of males, which further aggravates the situation. During the breeding season, females should not be disturbed at all, otherwise the precious offspring will be thrown out of the womb.

Mongooses live on all islands (except for Maui) - small rodents found in many warm countries. Mongooses are active eaters of bird eggs, destroying the feathered fauna of Hawaii.
All other large animals found in the forest and mountain regions of the islands were brought here by people, and, for the most part, are the feral descendants of domestic animals.
Another thing is the underwater world of Hawaii.

Approximately 450 species of various fish live in the coastal waters of the islands, among which more than 100 species are endemic to this archipelago. Here, conger eels and moray eels are found in abundance, you can see the colorful inhabitants of coral buildings, including parrot fish, which is considered the main "culprit" in the formation of colorful coral sand on Hawaiian beaches. Scraping algae with their "beak", parrot fish swallow fragments of coral skeletons, which are crushed and turned into sand in their digestive tract.
Among the Hawaiian reptiles, one can note numerous sea turtles and small land lizards - geckos, which greatly help the locals in the fight against cockroaches by eating them. In addition to geckos, here you can meet smooth-skinned lizards - skinks.
Visitors are usually surprised by the almost complete absence of snakes on these fabulous islands with an abundance of forests and greenery.

Another attraction of the Hawaiian Islands is humpback whales that come here from the western coast of North America to rich underwater pastures and for breeding. In addition to humpback whales, here you can meet sperm whales, pygmy killer whales (Feresa attenuata), as well as dolphins and other amazing and rare marine animals. The coastal waters of the islands are richly populated with dolphins - here you can meet at least a dozen species of these aquatic mammals, including bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, long-snouted, black dolphin and others.

Sharks in the Hawaiian Islands

Of course, the paradise place did not go unnoticed by the toothy sea robbers - sharks. More than 40 species can be found in the area of ​​​​the archipelago - from extremely dangerous carcharodons and tiger sharks to humans, to harmless plankton-eating whale sharks. There are a lot of reef sharks and long-finned longimanus, as well as various bottom predators.
The abundance of vacationers on the beaches, fans of water sports, combined with the abundance of sharks in coastal waters, have made Hawaii one of the most shark-prone places on the planet. Here, a dozen or two cases of shark attacks on people are recorded annually, which, for the most part, are caused by provocative human actions.
As in the rest of the world, surfers are most at risk of experiencing shark teeth, as the surfer on the board plays the dangerous role of a shark "lure". Teasing predators is always dangerous, and formidable ones like the great white shark are doubly so.
Nevertheless, Hawaii was and remains the world center of surfing - fans of this hobby are sure that it is less likely to die in the teeth of a shark than as a result of an unsuccessful passage of a giant wave or hitting underwater rocks. Perhaps this is so - after all, out of the millions of vacationers in Hawaii, only a few are in trouble from communicating with sharks.

Divers prefer the coastal waters of the island of Maui for diving, and the tiny crescent-shaped island of Molokini, located next to Maui, is a dream for any diver on the planet because of the unique beauty and scenery of the underwater world.

Finishing the description of the fauna of the Hawaiian Islands, it should be emphasized that all the wild inhabitants of this archipelago are zealously protected by local environmental organizations and laws. You can’t touch animals (dolphins, turtles, fish, birds, and others), you can’t disturb them, you absolutely can’t feed them, and in general, when meeting with them, express deep respect and respect, otherwise you can be subject to a rather significant fine. Suffice it to say that, for example, illegal catching of sea turtles will cost the violator 100,000 greenbacks. This is how Hawaiian Americans teach to respect the nature of their country. In my opinion, it is quite worthy.