Hawaii

Hawaiian strings of the soul

Aloha — the best getaway on Earth

In the world there are many lost islands in the ocean with palms, sand, carefree life, and exotic wildlife. The Hawaiian Islands hold top positions on this list. There is everything here — mountains, volcanoes, tropical forests, luxurious beaches, a botanical garden, or rather gardens — there are many of them, and each one deserves attention. 

In general, the place seems ideal: there’s plenty, it’s warm, and the population of one and a half million people is waiting for each new cruise to bring a fresh group of tourists to Hawaii, and is ready to help you enjoy your vacation —  both active and passive. It will take you on excursions, head up to a volcano, carefully fix your scuba gear while you dive into the depths, and if needed, it will even produce a president for a big country. After all, Barack Obama — is a native of Honolulu and knows firsthand what a ukulele is. 

And at one time, this blessed region in the very heart of the Pacific became the 50th US state. Despite the distance of 4 thousand kilometers, as they say, further from the boss — closer to the kitchen. An attractive place to relax any time of year consists of the five largest islands of the archipelago: Maui, Kauai, Hawaii, Molokai, Oahu. On the last island, in Honolulu, there is a small but famous Waikiki Beach, where hundreds of thousands of tourists vacation every year on its two square kilometers. There is the cleanest water that appeals to diving enthusiasts, small waves for beginner surfers, and, importantly, well-developed infrastructure: hotels, plenty of restaurants, entertainment centers, shops, and nightclubs. If what attracts you more is height rather than depth, then climbers are offered plenty of peaks: hikes to the Diamond Head and Kono Head volcanoes on Oahu.  And in Hawaii, the tallest Mauna Kea rises high. Getting there is as difficult as pronouncing the names. Now let’s head down and turn our sights to the largest canyon in Oceania — Waimea. On Kauai there is a picturesque canyon up to a kilometer deep, at the bottom of which flows the river of the same name.

Wet tropical forests on this island seem to make you set off on an expedition along the Nūnū trails, laid through the Sleeping Giant mountain range. If you’re just in the mood to lie on the beach with white sand, red sand, dark or green, then this is for you. One of the two beaches in the world with green sand, Green Sands Beach — getting to it isn’t easy; you need a special permit from the authorities, and you’re not allowed to take this green sand with you. But if a few handfuls of it end up in your swim trunks, the locals will only respectfully whistle—the main thing is to apply it in front, not at the back. Pālau‘ea Beach is known for Polynesian-style wedding ceremonies held there; the information isn’t as educational as the warning for die-hard bachelors about the dangers that await you right at the moment of total relaxation, when you can be taken while you’re still warm. 

Local cuisine will surprise you with its variety; the reason lies in the constant immigration of peoples of different backgrounds and ethnicities. Here you’ll find Eastern-style Manapua, Spem-musubi — similar to sushi, only with pieces of ham, Loco Moco— a traditional dish by local cooks, with rice and minced meat,  and an egg on top. And then there’s a chicken skewer marinated in pineapple syrup, soy sauce, with ginger, garlic, and ketchup, called «Huli-Huli» — what, are you still not looking forward to it? Eat and you’ll want another piece. The distant side with comfortable rest draws you in to meet the sunrise, looking at the Haleakala volcano where, according to ancient myths, the sun lived, caught by the Hawaiian god. Watching its release from nighttime confinement, and greeting it with a quiet but warm word   Aloha…