Many residents and tourists are hoping for the return of the Hawaii Superferry.  The company was forced to suspend operations and send its ships back to the U.S. mainland after a judge ruled that the state had not provided adequate inspections of the operation prior to the ships’ launch dates.  Most people remain hopeful that after the proper environmental impact statements are completed, that service will be reinstated.  The Hawaii Superferry hoped to operate service between Honolulu and Nawiliwili, Kauai, Kahului, Maui, and Kawaihae, Big Island.

However, the only service to officially launch was the twice-daily rotation to Maui on the Alakai, a aluminum-hulled catamaran that could hold up to 866 passengers and 282 compact cars.  With drive-on, drive-off capability, the ferry was especially useful for people staying in vacation rentals in Hawaii because they could use a single rental car to take day trips to Maui from Oahu.  The Huakai, the company’s second ship, was scheduled to arrive and start service in 2009.  Following the suspension of service, the company is searching for alternative uses for the two ships until they are allowed to return to the islands.  However, to many’s dismay, it is unclear if the company will ever restart inter-island service.

Think of Hawaii and you will instantly be taken to an island paradise filled with world-class beaches, balmy breezes, majestic sunsets and amazing surfs. Hawaii with all its 8 islands and 120 islets has much more to offer. These are the reasons why Hawaii remains one of the most well loved vacation spots in the world. If you are traveling to Hawaii soon, here are a few tips on what to do here.

Swimming and snorkeling is a must here and it would be insane to miss out on the opportunity to experience the magnificent waters here. Chances are that you will probably stay in a hotel that is just a few feet away from the beach. Molokini is a very popular site in Hawaii boasting the most impressive underwater views. The marine preserve on Molokini is a most fantastic sight in Hawaii. For Molokini and for most of the dive and snorkel sites in Hawaii you will need to rent a boat to reach these magnificent areas. Glass bottom boats are common here so that non-swimmers can still enjoy the beauty of the underwater world. If you are traveling to Hawaii in the winter, then you are in luck because this is the time when Humpback whales are present in Hawaiian waters. The best way to get up close to these creatures is by booking a catamaran cruise found on either in Honolulu, Oahu, Maui or Kauai. Hawaii thanks its rich verdant soils to its many volcanoes. If you are traveling to Hawaii, get up close and personal with a volcano and witness something you will never forget.

Kilauea Volcano can be found on the Big Island and is the most famous Volcano in the islands. Since the beginning of 2000 it has spewed out lava to cover 40 square miles of land expanding 40 miles off its shore. The possibility of watching a birth of a new island is not far and will keep you enchanted for a lifetime. If you are one that prefers to stay on shore then why not try the Hawaiian golf courses. These courses are surrounded by magnificent scenery not found anywhere else. Over 80 courses are hosted by six of the islands of Hawaii. Sample the cuisine to get a taste of Polynesian delight, travel to Hawaii to experience a delicious luau. A luau is a one-of-a-kind experience in gustatory delight, rich in flavor, history, color and taste. There is always a feast of senses because of the traditional dances and music involved.

Suitably nicknamed “The Gathering Place,” the beautiful island of Oahu can be considered the center of Hawaii’s population and commerce. With over 900,000 residents, Oahu is home to over 90% of the state’s population. Of the eight major Hawaiian Islands, including Ni’ihau, Kaua’i, O’ahu, Moloka’i, Lana’i, Kaho’olawe, Maui, and the island of Hawai’i, Oahu suffers the most from overcrowding, overdevelopment, and traffic, but Oahu also has the most to offer to both the island’s residents and visitors. Oahu is also home to Honolulu, the state capital and the largest city in Hawaii, as well as Waikiki, which is the main tourist center throughout the islands. Of all the islands, Oahu has the most options in terms of dining, shopping, and entertainment opportunities.

Oahu is also home to some of Hawaii’s most popular tourist destinations, including Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Kailua Bay, and the North Shore.

Some of the popular attractions in Oahu include Valley of the Temples, the Pali Lookout, USS Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri, the Polynesian Cultural Center, Honolulu Academy of Arts, the Bernice P. Bishop Museum, and Ala Moana Shopping Center, which is also one of the largest open air malls in the world. ]]> http://www.theviewpoint.org/oahu/the-island-of-oahu/feed/ 0 http://www.theviewpoint.org/hawaii-state/about-hawaii/ http://www.theviewpoint.org/hawaii-state/about-hawaii/#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:48:26 +0000 admin http://www.theviewpoint.org/?p=137

The state of Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states and is the only state made up entirely of islands, an archipelago known as the Hawaiian Islands, which is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States.

Hawaii is made up of eight major islands: Ni’ihau, Kaua’i, O’ahu, Moloka’i, Lana’i, Kaho’olawe, Maui, and the island of Hawai’i, all of which were formed entirely by volcanic activity. The island of Hawaii, which is also referred to as the Big Island to avoid confusion, is the youngest and largest of the eight major Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii has a population of about 1.3 million residents, but over 90% of the population is situated on the island of Oahu, which could be considered the center of commerce for the state.

Oahu is home to Honolulu, the state capital and largest city, as well as Waikiki, the main tourist center throughout the islands.

With its beautiful beaches, lush greenery, and pleasant, year-round warm climate, Hawaii is one of the most popular destinations in the world for vacationing.

Some of the most popular towns and cities to explore in Hawaii include Hilo and Kailua-Kona on the Big Island, Kihei and Lahaina on Maui, Lihue and Kapa’a on Kauai, and Honolulu, and Waikiki on Oahu. Although great experiences can be found on any of the Hawaiian Islands, there are really only four islands suitable for vacations: Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island. Although Oahu suffers from overcrowding, overdevelopment, and traffic, Oahu has the most to offer in terms of dining, shopping, and entertainment opportunities.

Although Hawaii doesn’t have many high-tech or engineering industries, Hawaii still holds an important role in the world of science in terms of the marine biology research done in the islands. It is obvious why marine biology would be one of the most prominent sciences practiced in the islands due to convenient access to the sea and the wealth of marine life in the Pacific Ocean, and one of the premier marine biology facilities in the islands is theHawaii Institute of Marine Biology, which is located on Coconut Island in Kaneohe Bay, just 15 miles from the main campus of the University of Hawaii and downtown Honolulu.

The 29 acres of land on Coconut Island is entirely a research facility surrounded by 64 acres of coral reef designated as the Hawaii Marine Laboratory Refuge.

The island is also composed of 6 acres of enclosed lagoons that are used for keeping organisms in captivity for study. Only researchers and members of the research facility can access Coconut Island and conduct any experiments on or around the island.

Although scientist from around the world come to conduct experiments at the facility, the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology is established primarily for use by University of Hawaii students and faculty.

Although it may seem that Hawaii would be somewhat less technologically advanced than most other parts of the world because it is isolated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, which also happens to be the largest ocean in the world, Hawaii, especially the island of Oahu is just as developed as many large cities. In Hawaii there are many important issues that are talked about, and many of these give rise to the numerous blogs on the internet about Hawaii affairs. Although there are thousands of blogs on Hawaii on the internet, many of which are only related to tourism, here are a few of the most popular Hawaii blogs.

One of the most heated issues in Hawaii are related to Native Hawaiian rights, which makes the Hawaiian Independence Blog, which is made especially to discuss Native Hawaiian Issues, one of the most popular Hawaii Blogs. Some topics talked about on this blog are related to Hawaii regaining its sovereignty and the disputes over the Akaka Bill, which is proposing to give Native Hawaiians more rights. Another popular Hawaii blog is Hawaiirama, which is a blog dedicated to Hawaii travel. This blog will give you all the local’s best picks for shopping, dining, and entertainment so that visitors can have the best experience possible in paradise. With all of the talk about being eco-friendly and going green, environmental issues are the primary topic on the Hawaii blog, Raising Islands. This blog offers news about the environment of the Hawaiian Islands and educates readers all about environmental sciences so that people are more aware of the environment around them. ]]> http://www.theviewpoint.org/hawaii-blogs/some-of-the-top-hawaii-blogs/feed/ 0 http://www.theviewpoint.org/hawaii-state/hawaii-state-art-museum/ http://www.theviewpoint.org/hawaii-state/hawaii-state-art-museum/#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:33:26 +0000 admin http://www.theviewpoint.org/?p=98

Run by the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts the Hawaii State Art Museum is a popular art museum conveniently located in the No. 1 Capitol District Building right in downtown Honolulu. Admission is free at all times and the museum also participates in an event in downtown known as First Friday, which is where numerous art galleries throughout downtown open in the evening to allow people to explore any new works of art that may have been put on display.

The downtown Hawaii State Art Museum is actually the newest museum in Hawaii, and the museum is separated into three galleries: the Diamond Head Gallery, the Ewa Gallery, and the Sculpture Gallery.The museum also offers a 70 seat multi-purpose room for hosting any special events or public programs that may take place at the museum. Also located in the museum is Downtown @ HiSAM, which is the museum’s restaurant, as well as Shop @ HiSAM, which is the museum gift shop. Group tours for the museum are also offered for groups of up to 12 people. ]]> http://www.theviewpoint.org/hawaii-state/hawaii-state-art-museum/feed/ 0 http://www.theviewpoint.org/hawaii-events/popular-events-and-festivals-in-hawaii/ http://www.theviewpoint.org/hawaii-events/popular-events-and-festivals-in-hawaii/#comments Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:51:57 +0000 admin http://www.theviewpoint.org/?p=108

Although many great events can be found on all the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu is the island that has perhaps the most events and festivals.On Oahu you will find art, culinary, cultural, music, and other events that will entertain anyone. From weekly farmers markets to monthly movies on the beach to annual parades and festivals, there is always something fun happening on Oahu.

One of the largest events on Oahu is the annual Aloha Festival, which is actually made up of numerous events to celebrate Hawaii’s unique cultures. Some of the great events held during the Aloha Festival is the Waikiki Floral Parade, Waikiki Hoolaulea, which is a street party, the Aloha Tower Ukulele Contest, a falsetto singing contest, and other special events that take place at historic sites such as Kawaihao Church.

Another great event is the annual Honolulu Festival, which includes a exciting parade, cultural exhibits, traditional and contemporary dance performances, and arts and crafts demonstrations. There are also many food and music festivals on Oahu such as the Taste of Honolulu Festival, Waikiki SPAM Jam, the Honolulu International Choral Festival, the Hawaii Invitational International Music Festival, and the Ukulele Festival ]]> http://www.theviewpoint.org/hawaii-events/popular-events-and-festivals-in-hawaii/feed/ 0