Hawaii

There’s sun, sand and surf aplenty in this episode of The Travel Bug, as I’m heading to the islands of Hawaii! Sitting in the middle of the Pacific, this chain of volcanic isles is where America meets Polynesia, making it a fusion of modern luxuries and island culture, mixed with a chilled out tropical attitude. There’s something for every traveller to discover here, from World War Two history and wonders of nature, to adventure and relaxation.

Honolulu is the bustling capital of this, the fiftieth state of the United States of America, and it’s not missing any of the excess you’d expect to find in the US. There’s no shortage of resorts, beaches and people. Over seven million tourists visit here every year!

First stop in Honolulu for the inquisitive traveller should be the Bishop Museum. This is where you’ll get to learn all about the interesting history of these amazing islands, and the indigenous people of Hawaii. You don’t really hear much about the history of Hawaii prior to the arrival of westerners. But the story of its traditional owners, their beliefs and way of life is well worth exploring, and is told in detail here, through beautiful displays and a huge collection of artefacts.

Having heard so much about the old Hawaii, it was only fitting that I left the city and headed to the windswept northeast coast. It might only be less than an hours drive from the bustling Honolulu, but it feels like it’s a million miles away. I made my way to Kualoa Ranch for a mountain bike tour through the lush and dramatic Kaaawa Valley. This spectacular valley was in movies like Jurassic Park, Pearl Harbour and Godzilla. Kualoa Ranch stretches for five miles along the coast and includes three mountains, two valleys and 4,000 acres. The mountain bike tour takes you to all the best vantage points.

After spending so much time looking at the ocean, I was due to take the plunge and finally get wet. And while there’s all sorts of water-based activities here to choose from, I was keen to go diving and experience the amazing visibility the ocean around Hawaii is known for. The site I dived on is called The Sea Tiger. It’s over 150ft long, and lies in a protected area off Waikiki.

The next morning I went to the Hawaii Fish Auction in Honolulu Harbour, to see the delicious seafood that makes Hawaiian cooking so tasty. Most of the fish here are sold to international restaurants in Japan and other Asian countries, but some of it stays in local hands, like those of chef Mavro, one of the pioneers of modern Hawaiian cuisine. He showed me around the auctions before we went back to his restaurant and he cooked a fantastic fish dish for me.

A major attraction in Hawaii, and one of the most significant sites in the world, is Pearl Harbour. Not for its beauty or for being the location of an ancient landmark, but for the events that occurred there on the morning of Sunday, December 7th, 1941.

In Pearl Harbour I was given a tour of the USS Missouri with a guide that explained all the interesting details of the site. While the Missouri served in three wars, spanning several decades, it secured its place in history as the site of Japan’s unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces on September 2nd, 1945, ending World War II.

Having tasted the major attractions of Oahu, I flew to one of the less populous Hawaiian Islands, Maui. On the drive from the airport across to where I was staying in Lahaina, I quickly came to see why Maui has been referred to as the most beautiful island in the world.

An early night was followed by an earlier rise, and I headed across the island to go on an eco tour to enjoy a close encounter with the resident green sea turtles. The water clarity is fantastic, so it was easy to get a good look at the sealife, and it’s not like you have to look hard to spot a turtle. They literally dot the seabed, with their big green shells standing out against the coral.

Boarding another interisland flight I made my way to Kauai, known as the garden island. It’s the fourth largest in the Hawaiian chain of islands and his home to about 65,000 people. One of the dominant aspects of the landscape here are the sheer volcanic peaks. The heavy rain that plagues the mountaintops has carved deep valleys and eroded the cliffs into dramatic formations, also creating spectacular waterfalls. So to get a good look at the landscape I went on a helicopter joy flight.

That afternoon I did the 60 minute scenic drive to the last stop of my trip to Hawaii. The road winds its way into the centre of the island, scaling the mountains as it takes you away from the coast, and to the cooler elevations of the awe inspiring Waimea Canyon. It’s the largest canyon in the Pacific, 10 miles long, one mile wide and more than 3,500 feet deep. It’s a dramatic sight and while it might be smaller than the Grand Canyon, it’s arguably just as magnificent.

Heading back into town I spent my final afternoon at the beach. And with the sun setting on yet another journey, the scenery continued to change colours, eventually going through a series of orange and gold hues. Before finally, the sun dipped below the horizon, closing the curtains on my Hawaiian expedition.