Accommodations

The Hawaiian Islands offer a tropical adventure getaway with a large variety of condos, vacation homes, villas and resorts. Choose a vacation that offers luxurious living while making the most of the beautiful beaches, tropical forests, and rugged mountains of the islands.

View our Hawaii Vacation Rentals or Hawaii Resorts

Activities

Hawaii attracts visitors from around the world to enjoy the many beaches of the islands, as well as the beautifiul mountainuous terrain. The most visited man-made attraction of the islands is the U.S.S Arizona Memorial located in Pearl Harbor, along with the battleship U.S.S. Missouri Museum and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum. For other history, visit Iolani Palace, the only royal palace standing on American soil. Any trip to the Big Island should include a visit to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Events

The Vans Triple Crown is considered to be the world's premier surfing event, which takes place in the giant waves of the North Shore each year, between the end of November and early December. Hawaii's premier cultural showcase, the Aloha Festivals is a celebration of Hawaii's music, dance and history. An annual six-week Festival in early September with traditional chant and hula, and the Oahu Royal Court on the steps of Ionani Palace. March Whalefest Week marks the return of humpback whales, the largest winter time visitors, when the island celebrates with whale watching, Hawaiian entertainment and much more. In July, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park hosts a culture festival, with Hawaiian music, crafts and skills that will be demonstrated by masters. Participants have the opportunity to buy locally made Hawaiian crafts from the demonstrators and traditional Hawaiian foods will be offered for tasting.

Water Sports

While Hawaii may be world famous for the surfing, many other sports thrive in the waters of the islands, such as sail-boarding, para-sailing, water skiing, and wake-boarding. Hawaii offers many boating activities, like charter fishing and whale watching. Rent a powerboat, sailboat, or jetski, or go scuba diving. snorkeling, swimming, or body surf.

Golfing

With more than eighty courses to choose from on six islands, Hawaii offers challenges for golfers of any skill level. The Pacific Ocean is your water hazard and the lava fields define the rough. Play through palm trees, mango forests, and immaculate greens on courses created by some of the world's best designers. So pack your clubs, your golf shoes, and a bottle of sunscreen, but for the serious golfer, a swimsuit is optional.

History

Large, double hulled canoes brought the first Polynesians to Hawaii, along with their pigs, dogs, chickens, taro, sweet potatoes, coconuts, bananas, and sugarcane. These Hawaiians arrived between 500 and 1300 AD from the Marquesas Islands and from Tahiti. While there is some evidence that Juan Gaetano, a Spanish navigator, may have visited in 1555. Captain James Cook is credited with the discovery of Hawaii, which he name the Sandwich Islands, after the current Lord of the Admiralty, the Earl of Sandwich.

King Kamehameha I united Hawaii under a single ruler for the first time in 1810 and ascended to the throne in 1819. During his reign, he abolished the Kapu religious system which restricted women from many activities, such as eating with men. Hawaii remained a sovereign nation until Queen Lili'uokalani was forced to abdicate in 1893. The Islands became a Republic until its annexation by the United States in 1900. The Hawaiian Islands became widely known to Americans when the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the nation into World War II. Hawaii became the 50th state of the United States August 21, 1959 after a vote of over 94% in favor of statehood