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.

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 the Hawaiian Islands are made up of 132 islands, there are really only eight major islands that people ever hear of: Ni’ihau, Kaua’i, O’ahu, Moloka’i, Lana’i, Kaho’olawe, Maui

, and Hawai’i (also referred to as the Big Island). And of these eight main islands, there are really only four islands that are ideal for a vacation: Kaua’i, O’ahu, Maui, and Hawai’i. Aside from the paradise atmosphere that attracts numerous tourists to the islands each year, diving is another popular activity that the islands offer. With its pristine waters, beautiful reefs, and wide variety of marine life, Hawaii is one of the best places to dive, whether you are a beginning or experienced diver.

For people who are not familiar with Hawaii’s waters or are not highly skilled divers, there are many places in the islands that offer dive instruction and dive tours for those who wish to come in contact with the beautiful life located underneath Hawaiian waters. On Oahu, divers can find a variety of dive sites that include offshore lava formations, gottoess, as well as plane and shipwrecks.

Divers who travel to Maui can find most of the islands popular dive sites on the island’s west coast such as Molokini, Black Rock, and Five Caves. Kauai is extremely popular for its rugged and pristine diving, but winter swells make diving much more difficult than during the summer, when waters are much more calm. However, diving off the leeward coast of the Big Island is excellent because the large mountains tend to block the trade winds, leaving many of those dive sites with extremely calm, glassy waters. ]]> http://www.theviewpoint.org/destinations/popular-dive-sites-in-hawaii/feed/ 0 http://www.theviewpoint.org/kauai/the-island-of-kauai/ http://www.theviewpoint.org/kauai/the-island-of-kauai/#comments Thu, 06 Aug 2009 04:46:31 +0000 admin http://www.theviewpoint.org/?p=134

Nicknamed “The Garden Isle,” the beautiful island of Kauai is the fourth largest of the eight main Hawaiian Islands, which include Ni’ihau, Kaua’i, O’ahu, Moloka’i, Lana’i, Kaho’olawe, Maui, and the island of Hawai’i. About 64,000 people live on Kauai, which is located across the Kauai Channel, northwest of Oahu.

Although it is unclear as to the exact meaning of Kauai, it is believed that the island gained its name from the legend of Hawaiiloa, the Polynesian navigator who is credited with first discovering the island.

According to Hawaiian tradition, Hawaiiloa named the island after Kauai, a favorite son.Possible meanings of Kauai are “place around the neck” and “food season.”

Like every other island of Hawaii, tourism is the largest industry on Kauai.

Kauai is also home to much farm land, which was used primarily for sugar plantations in the past, but today the land is used mostly for ranching. Nevertheless, agricultural products including guava, coffee, sugarcane, and pineapple are still grown on a small scale on Kauai.The city of Lihu’e, located on the island’s southeast coast, is the county seat of Kauai County and is the second largest city to Kapa’a, which has a population of about 10,000.Waimea, another community located on the southwest coast was once the capital of Kauai.

Some of the popular attractions on Kauai include the Alakai Wilderness Area, Fern Grotto, Hanalei Bay, Ke’e Beach, Koke’e State Park, Na Pali Coast State Park, Wailua River, Waimea Canyon, and Princeville North Shore.