Hawaii was somewhere I had always wanted to go and in July 1988 I had three weeks there dividing my time between the four main islands starting in Honolulu on Oahu, and then island hopping to the Garden Island of Kauai, the Valley Island of Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii before going back to Honolulu for the flight home.
It proved easy to get around Honolulu on foot and public transport, including the Pineapple Transit mini-bus from Waikiki to the Dole cannery - well worth a visit if you like really fresh pineapple juice and delicious pineapple ice cream.
There were also various sightseeing tours taking in the main points of interest in Honolulu - including Diamond Head Crater, the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbour and the splendid statue of King Kamehameha (who unified the islands) in front of the Judiciary Building.
Longer circular tours around the island took in places like the Pali Lookout, Hanuama Bay, the Polnesian Cultural Centre, the Valley of the Temples and Waimea Falls Park.
I think that perhaps Kauaui was my favourite island. It has a variety of magnificent scenery and yet is compact enough to get around easily with a hire car (essential in my view).
One place well worth visiting is Waimea Canyon. As you'll see, it's no wonder that it is known as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific"!
Continuing on around the island in a clockwise direction is the remote Na Pali Coast. You can take helicopter trips to see it but, having walked part way along one of the coastal trails, I think that's the best way to see it if you are reasonably fit.
There's lots more to see, including the Fern Grotto, a favourite spot for weddings, the Haleko and Ola Pua Gardens (which I hope were not damaged too much by hurricane Iniki in 1992) plus, of couse, some splendid beaches, including one used in the film South Pacific.
Maui is another island where I think you need to hire a car to get the best out of your visit, especially if you are staying at a hotel in Kaanapali.
The nearby old whaling port of Lahaina has a historical trail which takes in the Baldwin House, the restored home and office of a missionary doctor (the oldest building on Maui), and the nearby, massive Banyon Tree planted in 1873 in the town square (I don't know where everyone was the day I was there). I also found the Whaling Museum interesting and well worth a visit.
However, the highlight was a trip to the top of Haleakala Crater even though I didn't get up at 3.30 am to be there at sunrise. The road to the top has lots of hairpin bends as the summit is over 9000 feet and I think it's worth stoppping at the information centre on the way as this may be the only chance to see a Silversword plant in flower as they take up to 10 years to bloom in the harsh conditions of the crater.
Once you get to the top it's likely to be fairly blowy but you can admire the views from the comfort of the Visitor's Centre there.
There is a lot more to see on Maui such as the magnificant scenery on the Hana coast highway and the impressive Iao Needle, a 2000 foot peak at the end of the Iao Gorge (which gets very busy with coaches in the afternoon - and maybe the morning too).
If you plan to visit the island, you may like to check out "Maui Cheetah's" pages.
My main reason for going to the Big Island was that I wanted to visit the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the south-east coast. I stayed in Kona - famous for it's coffee - which meant quite a long day, not helped by the roadworks on the way! However, after picking up leaflets at the information centre, and setting off around the Park, it certainly lived up to expectations - massive craters, lava beds, desolate scenery and a rugged coast and in the distance the steam from hot lava entering the sea.
If there are any other links that you think I should include on this page (or anything that needs correcting) please let me know at: keg@greenhse.netkonect.co.uk
Where next? On to the next island or back to my home page or somewhere else?