Hawaii = Paradise

Hawaii and paradise should be considered synonymous words in the English dictionary. Hawaii is not only a popular vacation hub for a large part of the western United States but it serves as a frequent honeymoon destination for people all over the world. Often people are perplexed on how to visit such a tranquil place and feel accomplished once the vacation or honeymoon is over. Repeating the same excursions everyday can cause you to second guess your trip on your way home. Island hopping, cruising and focusing on one island can cause you to second guess your trip on your way home. Island hopping, cruising and focusing on one island are three different ways to experience all the 50th piece of the United States has to offer.

One way to visit the island of Hawaii is to island hop. Hawaii is made up of eight islands: Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kauai, Niihau and Kahoolawe. If you are going to island hop I recommend visiting Maui, Hawaii, Oahu and Kauai. Some people will spend a few days on three or four of the islands over a two week span to assimilate the Hawaiian lifestyle. Each island offers the traditional excursions like parasailing, jet skiing, and local shops for perusing but each island also presents something unique which can only be experienced on that particular island. Maui, Hawaii, Oahu and Kauai will offer you the most in tourist attractions, sights and beaches. The positive side of island hopping is you will get to see various parts of one of the most beautiful states in America. If planned correctly, you can leave Hawaii never needing to return. The negative aspect of island hoping is all the traveling. Every island will require checking in and out of hotels, packing, unpacking, traveling to airports, boarding planes and checking luggage. My best friend and his wife island hopped for their honeymoon about five years ago. His wife’s bag weighed eighty pounds. She basically had an eleven year old kid in her suit case. Her bag needed to be carried to and from the airport on five separate occasions and because of the weight she needed to pay for it five times as well. The Hawaiian Islands are beautiful but I am not sure if they are that beautiful.

Another option to think about when honeymooning or visiting Hawaii is a cruise. Norwegian Cruise Line and a few other Hawaiian affiliates offer eleven days cruises which cover a majority of the islands. Most ships will start out on Oahu and travel to Maui, Hawaii and Kawai. The average price per person can be as low as $1,100 which includes food, non-alcoholic beverages, and unforgettable experiences. If you are thinking of island hopping, the cruise is the way to do it in style and hassle free. The only drawback to taking a cruise is you may not be happy with the amount of time you are granted on some of the islands.

The last option is to stay on one island and experience all it has to offer. Maui has Mount Haleakala which is a volcano that forms more than 75% of the highland. If you climb to the top, you will be able to take breath taking pictures above the clouds and freeze your ass off. The Big Island offers you the chance to see sprouting lava at the Kilauea Volcano. This is the most active volcano on Hawaii and is said to be between three hundred thousand to six hundred thousand years old. If you are going to Kauai, you need to embrace your adventurous side. Kauai is nicknamed the Garden Island because a rainforest covers most of its surface. This island is best known for its zip lining, ATV trails, rappelling waterfalls and hiking adventures. Definitely for the action star in all of us. Last but not least is Oahu. Home to the state capital of Honolulu Oahu is the third largest Hawaiian Island. Along with great food and great beaches Oahu also has Pearl Harbor, the Dole Plantation and Diamond Head State Park.

Find what suits you and your honey best and explore Hawaii together. For my honeymoon my wife and I chose the island of Oahu. In the coming weeks I hope to detail the island of Oahu and all it has to offer.