Living in Hawaii

Punchbowl Crater Hawaii

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:24:04 +0000

Punchbowl Crater is an extinct volcanic tuff cone located in the heart of Honolulu. Translated from Hawaiian, Punchbowl means “Hill of Sacrifice,” in relation to the crater’s historical significance as a altar of sacrifice where ancient Hawaiians offered sacrifices to pagan gods and killed violators of many taboos. Eventually, Punchbowl was used as a lookout over the harbors below and two cannons were installed to serve as a salutary announcement of the arrival of distinguished guests. Due to Punchbowl’s unusual shape and slanted hills, it has become the site of several condos sale Oahu Hawaii. Many of the condominiums on the slopes of Punchbowl have excellent views down to the Pacific Ocean and over downtown Honolulu. Today, Punchbowl is home to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific that is located within the crater itself. The cemetery is administered by the federal government’s National Cemetery Administration and is dedicated to those men and women who served in the United States Armed Forces. Each year, thousands of visitors stop by the cemetery to pay their respects to the fallen warriors of the nation. Because of Hawaii’s strategic importance in many conflicts and the fact that Hawaii is the home base of many military operations, the cemetery has become almost as popular as the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC and Virginia.

Vacation in Waikiki

admin — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 08:16:40 +0000

Image by John in LA via Flickr

Most tourists who travel to Hawaii stay in Waikiki. Of all the tourist destinations in Hawaii, Waikiki is the largest and liveliest of them all, offering a wide array of dining, shopping, and entertainment opportunities. Waikiki is also made up primarily of hotels such as the Hilton Hawaiian Village and Royal Hawaiian. Located minutes away from the Honolulu International Airport and downtown Honolulu, Waikiki offers everything any tourist would need to feel like they are in paradise.

In the 1800’s Waikiki was meant as a retreat for Hawaiian royalty. In the late 1800’s, a few small hotels began to pop up and Waikiki became a tourist hotspot. Today there are many famous and historic hotels such as the Moana Surfrider Hotel and Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The beautiful beaches that run along Waikiki host numerous surf competitions, outdoor performances, hula dancing, and outrigger canoe races. Two popular events that take place on the beach in Waikiki include “Brunch on the Beach,” where famous local chefs offer their tasty creations at discounted prices, and “Sunset on the Beach,” where a 30 foot movie screen is erected so that beachgoers can enjoy a movie in the evening. Both of these events take place on a monthly basis.

The West

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:36:52 +0000

Only a few tourists who come to Oahu, know the west of the island. In a tour that this can also do not include, because it is a cul-de-sac. Which of Pearl City from over Highway 93 in the West goes inevitably comes to the end of the road and need to go all the way back again. On Kaena Point in the northwest, there is no normal befahrbare connection to the beaches in the north, in the mountainous hinterland is mostly military land on which the transfer is prohibited. In addition, there are no tourist attractions along the route, from some beaches aside.

The West Coast is in the wind shadow of the mountain chain Waianea, on the rare clouds with rain. Accordingly, this side of the island very dry. In the few places to live mostly native Hawaiian or immigrants from Samoa. Many tourist guides report that they are happy to remain among themselves and this corner of the island as a kind of refuge. Tourists are therefore in some places not so welcome, but mostly eh none.

The North

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:36:16 +0000

The ultimate surfer paradise of the world lies in the north Oahus, on the so-called “North Shore”.

When the winter storms in the North Pacific Ocean waves on the north coast auftürmen, then begins between Haleiwa and Sunset Beach the high season. Sometimes, particularly stormy days, the highway is blocked because the huge breakers to the street. From Honolulu with her flock surfboards vollgepackte pickups to the north, where sonnengegerbte Beach Boys sit. They then crossed the coast up and down and watch the swell. The beaches are the fans with binoculars and and the photographers with their super telephoto lenses and track so that their idols.

The fastest way to get from Honolulu on the freeway from 2 across through the center of the island in the north. At the end of the freeway at Wahiawa man with cuts on Highway 80 a piece and finally lands on Highway 99 to Haleiwa. On the coast itself, the only road through many small towns and has almost everywhere a speed limit of 30 or 50 miles per hour. That is one of Waikiki from along the east coast several hours longer than the direct route described, although the route to the card only about one and a half times as long.

ALOHA PARADE

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:34:18 +0000

If you accidentally in September on Oahu, then perhaps the happiness and it’s Aloha Week. Then held in Honolulu a magnificent parade.

This move is gigantic, he reminded me of the Rosenmontagszug in Cologne, only instead of Kamelle was greeted with Aloha. All schools, military corps, bands and companies of all islands as well as guests from the mainland are taking part. Hours can be at the roadside and enjoy the colorful goings.

The best that has been directly to the Kalakaua Avenenue overlooking the ocean and enjoy the passing, aloharufenden people. Also on other islands, there are festivities for Aloha Week, but nowhere is it so huge like this.

PEARL HARBOUR

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:30:35 +0000

The area of Waikiki and Honolulu fits well with buses explore. Even commercial tours are the highlights of which are quite comfortable, but we always come in hordes somewhere and is fremdbestimmt. My tip is “The Bus”, convenient, inexpensive and local.

A must visit the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbour, but this should be at least a half-day account. From Waikiki from every half hour a shuttle bus to the Visitor Center. The trip takes about three-quarters of an hour, which is about half an hour faster than the public bus.

The visit of the Memorial is free and especially for the Japanese tourist program is an important point. Depending on the crowd waiting a long time, we had great luck, could just go through the barrier and already 10 minutes later we sat in the cinema.

Pictures

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:24:23 +0000

Most flights from Oahu to Kauai or from Oahu to Kauai on Big Island or Maui. In a holiday on several islands will be the airport in Honolulu in any case several times.

No matter what local airline to fly between the islands as taxis, places are not awarded. So there in time before departure at the gate, so you have a seat at the window gets. As a service, there is usually only Fruchtpunsch, but rather strange taste.

For all flights you have a wonderful views, particularly on Oahu, as this island is very low over. Here are some video snapshots, which I first holiday in 1996 from the plane had made.

Hanauma Bay

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:23:10 +0000

Hanauma Bay, the curved bay, is an extinct volcano crater in the southeast of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. The crater is one of the attractions on Oahu. Through its meerseitige opening of the crater offers numerous species of fish a safe home.

There were also excerpts of the 1961 Elvis Presley film “Blue Hawaii” shot.

The parking lots at the upper rim are limited and already in the early morning shows. Therefore, it is, how to get to Hanauma Bay early seesaw. Is the car park shows, is already on the main road no more traffic through. Equally well can the public transport select to the Hanauma Bay.

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:21:08 +0000

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is a hotel in Waikiki, Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, USA.

The 5-star hotel with 527 rooms and is located at the Kalākaua Avenue directly to a private beach. It was in the so-called “Spanish-Moorish style with bell tower built, etc. and 1 February 1927. The historic building is a modern tower, the Royal Tower. Because of its bright pink paint, it received the nickname Pink Palace of the Pacific.

It is the symbol of the island of Oahu. Before the Second World War, it was a popular resort for Hollywood stars.

Worth mentioning

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:18:53 +0000

Oahu is the site of numerous films and television series such as Magnum. In addition, on this island the first four squadrons of American success series Lost shot, which applied to six seasons. A change of location filming, according to producers is not expected.

In the racing game Test Drive Unlimited, 2006 for various platforms such as PC, Xbox360, PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 2 has been released, it is possible the players, the entire island by car or motorcycle to navigate.