Beautiful beaches are just one reason to visit Hawaii.
Hawaii is composed of eight main islands. Six of those eight are most frequently used as travel destinations. The main island of Hawaii is also home to the state capital, Honolulu. While Hawaii has a population of more than 1.2 million, approximately 7.6 million tourists visited Hawaii in 2007. Hawaii has a variety of things to do and places to go for both families and couples.
The Islands
Aerial view of the Hawaiian Islands.
Hawaii is made up of eight islands: Hawaii, Maui, Kaho'olawe, Lana'i, Moloka'i, O'ahu, Kaua'i and Ni'ihau. Of the eight islands, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii (also known as The Big Island) are the most frequent travel destinations. Oahu is a great place to surf or enjoy historical sites, such as Pearl Harbor. Maui's Haleakala Crater is a beautiful place to view the sunset and on the island of Hawaii you can snorkel, ski and see volcanoes and rain forests.
Geography
Hawaii's tallest volcano is Mauna Kea.
The only state separated from the continent of North America is Hawaii. Completely surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii is the 47th largest state in the United States and covers 6,459 square miles. There are several volcanoes in Hawaii and, in fact, each island is made up of one volcano or more. The tallest volcano in Hawaii is known as Mauna Kea, reaching almost 13,800 feet. Hawaii is home to mountains, volcanoes, beaches and rain forests.
Climate
There are two seasons in this temperate state: summer and winter. Summer lasts from May to September and winter is from October to April. The average summer temperature is 80 degrees, and the average winter temperature is 75 degrees, cooling down an extra 10 degrees at night. The average humidity is 63% and the precipitation varies greatly dependent upon the location.
Features
A wide variety of things to do and see awaits you in Hawaii. Family resorts are the perfect place to take the kids. Bring the family on a trip to see a pineapple farm, go horseback riding, and spend lazy afternoons on the beach. For couples, the Big Island offers nightlife and shopping in Kailua-Kona and Hilo. People who love the outdoors will enjoy the trip 10,000 feet up to the top of Haleakala Crater or a trip to Waianae, Oahu, to see dolphins, sea turtles and reef ecosystems.
Considerations
It's possible to visit Hawaii no matter what your budget.
Dependent upon the source, a trip to Hawaii can cost a couple anywhere from $375 to $792 per day. Of course, accomodations will have a lot to do with this. You will pay more per day for a luxury resort, such as the Four Seasons, than you will for more budget-friendly lodging, such as Best Western. At the same time, an all-inclusive resort can save you money on meals and some activities. Determine what is most important to you then choose the lodging and activities that will best suit your needs and your budget.
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