For people looking forward to fun and enjoyable Hawaii vacations, planning ahead is always a good idea. This type of foresight includes researching different destinations, skimming through guidebooks, mapping out locations, and determining what is the best way to spend precious hours in the islands. There are several places across the island chain that are popular in books, however, but not at all good places to go in reality. One place to skip is Poipu Beach Park on Kauai. The always crowded beach is quite popular but is nowhere close to the serene and quiet beach getaway many people look forward to. If on Kauai, Lydgate Beach is a much better alternative and has better facilities and much less people.

On Maui, the Kahului Shopping Center is a place for all visitors and tourists to avoid. The generic set of shops is desperately trying to attract non-locals although all of its stores are geared toward residents. A close by alternative is Market Street in Wailuku which not only has a greater spread of shops but also charming restaurants and a much nicer town vibe. On the Big Island, tourists typically flock to Lulu’s. However, the overpriced, deepfried establishment has nothing special and is quite similar to the overexposed Senor Frogs chain. A much better choice would be the Kona Brewery which has more live music, outdoor seating, authentic cuisine, and local beers.

The warm summer sun. The caressing tropical breeze. Lively luaus. Large colorful flowers. The cool and relaxing sound of the ocean. Barbecue parties. White sands. Fresh fruits. Powerful waves good for surfing. A place filled with culture. These are just a few of the descriptions of Hawaii.

Hawaii has often been referred to as the haven of vacations and as the place closest to paradise. This state is located in an archipelago in the North Pacific Ocean, thus the paradise-like environment and culture.

If California is known as the “Sunshine State” and Chicago as the “Windy City”, Hawaii is dubbed as the “Aloha State.” If you notice, Hawaiian people greet each other with “Aloha”. Even when they talk on the phone, instead of “Hello?”, “Aloha” is used.

Eight main islands compose this state. They included Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe. Hawaii is also called the Big Island. This island has generally a rugged coastline, lava deserts, deep valleys, and hollow gulches.

The island of Maui is dubbed as the Valley Island. The largest crater in the whole world is found on this Hawaiian island. Oahu is occasionally called the Capital Island, for this is where the state’s capital, Honolulu, is located. The Garden Island, or Kauai, is mostly composed of mountains and mountain ranges. Molokai is known as the Friendly Island. The reason behind this is that the people who live here are very friendly and hospital to its visitors. Known as the Pineapple Island, most of the island of Lanai is owned by a pineapple company. In the island of Niihau, tourism is prohibited. The last of the main islands, Kahoolawe, holds the nickname Target Island. The U.S. military forces actually used Kahoolawe as a target during practice. However, most of the native Hawaiians regard this island as a sacred place.

With a population of about 10,000 residents, the town of Kailua is located in the North Kona District of the Island of Hawaii. However, in order to avoid confusion with the Kailua, the town on windward Oahu, the post office designates the Kailua in Kona as Kailua-Kona, even though the locals often refer to the town as just “Kona.” The town is served by the Kona International Airport and is the main center of commerce and tourist destination on the west coast of Hawaii, opposite of Hilo, which is the other large settlement on the island located on the eastern coast.

Fueled by tourism and major investments, Kailua has recently undergone substantial real estate and construction development in the past decade. Today Kailua is home to numerous attractions and hosts the annual Ironman World Championship triathlon and the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. Kailua is also known for its variety of coffee known as Kona coffee, which is a variety of Coffea arabica cultivated on the nearby slopeds of Mount Hualalai and Mauna Loa. Many of Kailua’s popular sites of interest are located along the town’s main road, Ali’i Drive. Attractions include the Kamakahonu royal residence, Ahu’ena Heiau, Hulihe’e Palace, Mokuaikaua Church, the Sadie Seymour Botanical Gardens, La’aloa Bay and Kahalu’u Bay.

Why live on Oahu? Why move to Oahu? Why even live in Hawaii? These are serious questions for some, but for experienced residents, living in the tropical island paradise requires no second guessing. Homes for sale Hawaii Oahu have seen an upsurge in popularity, especially with non-Hawaii residents from Japan and the U.S. mainland. One of the reasons for this rise in attractiveness is thanks to the many beach parks maintained by the City & County of Honolulu.

These beach parks provide not only the essentials for park goers – bathrooms, showers, lifeguards, and parking lots – but also offer a host of other opportunities. Waimea Bay Beach is one of the most popular Oahu beaches and is located on the island’s north shore. Experienced swimmers and sufers need only apply. The waters in this area reach a peak surf height of 35 to 45 feet with a dangerous shore break. For those not so experienced, the summer months are perfect for frolicking in the waves and the beach is great for sunbathing year round. There is also a large rock that is popular for adventure-seekers looking to make the twenty foot plunge into the rather shallow oceanic waters below. The cove of sorts is located in a secluded valley and is quite empty, especially during the week. Having a home on Oahu allows for quick and frequent trips out to Waimea Bay to enjoy what Hawaii has to offer.