Dream Vacation

Siting over 2,000 miles west of California, about 1,500 years ago a group of canoes came ashore to some of the islands now known as Hawaii. These people, the islands’ first known residents, had rowed about 2,000 miles from the Marquesas Islands to get hereThese cultures brought traditions of their own and over time created new traditions such as surfing, hula dancing, and exchanging flower garlands called leis which is something I have always admired about this dream place.

Hawaii is the world’s largest island chain, and it is the only U.S. state completely made up of islands. But only 7 of its 132 islands are inhabited. The Hawaiian Islands are volcanic islands. They have formed as the Earth’s crust, made up of giant rocky slabs called tectonic plates, moves over a particularly hot spot in the molten layer beneath the crust. The heat melts the rock that makes up the crust, turning it into magma. Then once the magma breaks through to the surface of the Earth’s crust it cools and forms new land.

Hawaii is known for its beautiful beaches, some of them with unusual colors. Many beaches are filled with white sand, but other Hawaiian shores are covered with green, red, pink, and even black sand. Since I like hiking, biking, kayaking, sailing, swimming, or just sitting on the beach, Hawaii is the state for me. Near the water, you can relax as palm trees blow in the island breeze. Travel toward to the center of one of the big islands and I can hike through dense tropical rain forests and experience stunning waterfalls and also to not forget diving in the waters and snorkel near Hawaii’s coral reefs.

Though Hawaii has thousands of plants and animals, it has only one native land mammal: the Hawaiian hoary bat. Hawaii’s other mammals, including the mongoose, rat, and feral pig, were brought to the islands by humans. Hawaii is teeming with native birds like the Hawaiian owl, the noio, a type of tern and Hawaii’s state bird, the nene. Hawaii’s waters are home to sea life such as monk seals, hawksbill turtles, and lizardfish. Humpback whales visit the waters from December to May to mate, give birth, and nurture their calves.

The main thing of Hawaii that I love is their culture is every bit as diverse as its geography, with virtually every nation and ethnicity represented in its food, festivals, music and art. From hula and hip hop to the Honolulu Symphony and community theater, the possibilities for today’s visitors to participate in Hawaii’s rich culture are limited only by the imagination.