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MEMORIES:
bradybunchgal remembers...I love Hawaii. I never wanted to leave, I felt like I was in heaven even though it rained everyday ... More »
Posted on 06/13/08
PHOTOS:
Hawaii, the islands of intrigue and romance. The excitement and adventure that visitors eagerly anticipate becomes real from the moment they step off the plane and get "lei'd." The intoxicating floral scent is only a preview of what the volcanic and luscious islands have to offer. Though visitors usually come to Hawaii via thoroughly modern modes of transportation, and though the islands are certainly filled with the most modern of accommodations and conveniences, the rich and colorful history of Hawaii is revealed almost immediately, making you feel as if you have traveled backwards in time.
Evidence suggests that Polynesian settlers from islands such as the Marquesas and Bora Bora first inhabited the Hawaiian Islands over a thousand years ago. In their isolation, Hawaii was an island absent the written word, meaning that there is little left outside of songs, chants and ceremony to tell the history of their great people. In the late 18th century, the European explorer, Captain James Cook, discovered the islands of Kauai and Niihau. It was around this time that the islands were united under King Kamehameha, and Hawaii would be isolated no more. Within a few decades, Hawaii became a major transportation and trading port, as well as a base for new missionary families.
Fast forward to the end of the 19th century. After a politically tumultuous century, Hawaii becomes a territory of the United States in 1898. Sugar cane becomes the hot ticket item as supplying whaling ships dies out, and fruits like pineapple are exported to the mainland. Up until the fateful day of December 7, 1941, most people hadn't heard of Pearl Harbor. The unexpected attack from the Empire of Japan upon the little American territory brought the United States into World War II, changing the momentum of the war entirely. Soon, virtually everyone knew about Pearl Harbor, and its host city, Honolulu. Fast forward once more, almost two decades, and Hawaii is made a state in 1959 - the 50th of the United States - and quickly becomes one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world.
Hawaii offers so much for visitors to experience. Like the many great places to see in this world, it often can't be done in just one trip - unless there's a lot of time to spare. The state is said to have more endangered species per square mile than any other place in the world. The many trails the islands have to offer provide a lush tropical landscape for nature enthusiasts to enjoy, and snorkeling is a popular activity for visitors looking to don their goggles and flippers to look at the vast array of sea life in and around the islands. A trip, particularly a first-time trip, isn't complete without a luau. To many, coming to Hawaii and not going to a luau is comparable to going to Paris, France and not seeing the Eiffel Tower. Poi and kalua pig are common elements of just about any luau. Other Hawaiian dishes, such as poke, laulau, and variations of taro and arrowroot puddings are also found at more traditional celebrations. Here, not only do guests, friends and family, learn about the history of their foods, they get a glimpse into Hawaiian culture through song, dance and chants, most often referred to as "hula," which is really just one of the many styles of dancing, chanting and praying in Hawaii.
Pop culture today has a lot to thank Hawaii for. Those rascally kids from The Brady Bunch managed to anger the Hawaiian gods to the point that revenge was exacted on Greg’s negligible surfing skills. "Book 'em Danno!" made its way into our culture via Hawaii Five-O. Intrigue and crime seemed to go hand in hand around the mysterious islands, as further witnessed by the hit 80s TV show, Magnum P.I. Heck, even the folks at Baywatch have something to thank the Hawaiians for. In 1925, Olympic swimmer and founding father of surfing, Duke Kahanamoku (the Big Kahuna to most of you,) used his trusty surfboard with ease, rescuing victims of a capsized boat in the waters outside of Newport Beach, California. Lifeguards were so impressed by the effort that having a surfboard ready became standard equipment for Southern California lifeguards. A number of memorable movies have taken place in and around the volcanic islands, from the serious and heart-wrenching From Here to Eternity to the Elvis classic Blue Hawaii. And let’s not forget the man largely responsible for the popularity of Hawaiian music in our culture, Mr. “Tiny Bubbles” himself, Don Ho.
The islands await, ready for anyone eager to experience a tropical getaway filled with surfing, sunning, skin-diving, or just enjoying a Mai Tai under the setting sun with a loved one. It’s perhaps as close to paradise as one can find in this world. Whether you come for the food, or the adventure, or just the feeling of friendship and love that the friendly inhabitants of the islands warmly display to their visitors, you’re sure to return home with an abundance of memories and a longing to return. Aloha!
