Aloha from Hawaii!

I was lucky enough to visit Hawaii for the second time this past November. Hawaii is a unique place because it has a culture unlike anywhere on the mainland. Hawaii's history and heritage is very important to the natives and they ask that as visitors (even if we are Americans) we respect their traditions and heritage.

One tradition and ritual the Hawaiians have is to remove your shoes before entering a house. I'm not sure where this started, but at many homes and condos a sign will be posted outside the door reminding visitors to remove their shoes before going through the door. Another tradition and ritual is to say "Aloha" and "Mahalo."  "Aloha" can mean hello, goodbye and peace. All Hawaiians will greet each other with this word. "Mahalo" means thank-you and for the most part, every business transaction is complete with the person saying "Mahalo."

The Memorial Site of the USS Arizona in Pearl Harbor

Of course, Hawaii's greatest treasure is its natural beauty. There are seven islands that make up Hawaii and I visited Oahu and Kauai. Oahu is the most populated of all the islands, with the majority of the people living in Honolulu. Honolulu is home of Pearl Harbor which was bombed by the Japanese on December 7, 1941. Now a national landmark, visitors can tour the museum associated with the Harbor and then take a ferry out to where the USS Arizona sank in the Harbor. The oil from the ship still bubbles to the surface of the harbor everyday. Many people lost their lives in the attack and they are emtombed beneath the waters of Pearl Harbor.


Kauai is called the "Garden Island" and it houses Hawaii's version of "The Grand Canyon" called Waimea Canyon. Kauai is also known for the Napoli Coast which is only accessible via helicopter or boat. The sunrises and sunsets in Hawaii are some of the most spectacular I've ever seen. The picture to the right was taken from a beach area at the very northern tip of Kauai where the road ends. We were able to visit right as the sun went down. The coast line on the left curves around to the Napoli Coast. There are hiking trails that you can take to view the Napoli coast but they can be treacherous if there has been several days of rain.