The Lonely and Forgotten Paradise - Hawaii
It is like a "Alien" among many tropical islands. It always completely overturns travelers' perception that the island is the scene of coconut grove and beach.
It has more than the most beautiful beaches in the world, but also the scenery of snow-capped mountains that other tropical islands do not have. You can wear a bikini to surf in the ocean, or you can wear a down jacket to overlook the snow-capped mountains.
The live volcano here is the most active and the safest ones in the world, and you can experience the shock brought by the volcano up close in various poses.
Trekking on solidified lava, getting a ride in helicopter overlooking the crater, water and fire, destruction and rebirth... A shocking visual feast will be staged at any time .
It is called the place "The most like the earth in ancient times", and it is the "all-purpose background" in the film industry.
The famous movies such as"Jurassic Park" and "King Kong" were produced here, dense rain forest valleys, magnificent waterfalls... It seems that dinosaurs will emerge from the rain forest in the next second.
Along with the Atacama Desert in Chile, it has become the place with the clearest starry sky in the world. On more than 300 clear nights every year, you can stand on the highest peak of the earth and look at the sea and stars (calculated from the foot of the mountain below sea level to the height of the peak, the Mauna Kea volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii is the highest peak in the world.)
It is also one of the regions with the most abundant marine life species in the world . In this blue sea, there are more than 7,000 species of life inhabited, of which at least a quarter of species here have not been found in other parts of the world, such as the Hawaiian monk seal.
This is Hawaii, which belongs to the United States, but in Oceania.
It has the highest happiness index in the United States and one of the loneliest islands in the world.
It used to appear in TV dramas, textbooks... it probably was the first island that many people knew when they were children.
It is full of sunshine everywhere in our imagination, Hawaiians dancing hula dance and playing ukulele.
It is the island that Asians and Europeans dream of visiting there once in their lives.
There are more and more islands worth visiting, but Hawaii seems to be forgotten.In fact, Hawaii not only has excellent beaches, but there are too many other things to see. You even can tour here without a repeating.
The best way to reveal Hawaii
Choose a favorite island for island hopping
The Hawaiian archipalegos are comprised of 124 small islands and 8 large islands, which are inlaid like a string of pearls on the azure Pacific Ocean. Except for the two big islands that are privately owned by some clans, which are forbidden to enter and are not inhabited by tourists.Tourists basically arrive at the six major islands:Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Lanai and Moro Kay Island.Each of them is beautiful and has its own features.
If your duration could be 7-10 days, it is recommended to choose two of the islands which is the best way to experience for island hopping.
Oahu, this is the first stop of the plane's arrival in Hawaii, and it is also the island with the most urban vitality and the most well-developed. There are resorts and high-end brand shopping stores everywhere.
The Big Island of Hawaii , as its name suggests, is the largest island in Hawaii and the island with the most activities. Stargazing, watching the black beach, taking a ride of a helicopter to overlook the volcano, hiking in the rainforest valley...You might need more than 1 week to enjoy all kinds of activities here.
Maui Island, also known as the "Island of the Valley". Most tourists come here for the Road to Hana , known as the Road to Paradise.
Kauai is the oldest island in Hawaiian and still retains a relatively primitive style. Spielberg, Zuckerberg, and Haruki Murakami all bought houses in Kauai and lived in seclusion.
Especially Haruki Murakami, who lived here for half a year, also wrote the famous novel "Kafka by the Sea" and praised Kauai: "How happy this kind of life makes people feel."
D1-3: Kauai Island
"Start a Kauai Drifting" ---Mountain Tubing Tour
Kauai is adjacent to the lively Oahu Island. It takes about half an hour to arrive by Hawaiian Airlines from Honolulu Airport. It used to be a sugar cane factory. This rafting route was also used as a waterway for workers to transport sugar cane. It was later developed into a mountain rafting project.
During the rafting process, you will sometimes pass through a few dark rock tunnels. The guide will also ask everyone to turn off the searchlights above their heads and drift in the dark tunnels where they can't see their fingers. There will be a mixed sense of excitement and "fear".
You can never imagine that the most common animals on Kauai are chickens, because the locals think that pheasants are too unpalatable, so they let these chickens grow freely, almost to the point of "overwhelming disaster". Therefore, there is another "special experience" on Kauai Island-being woken up by the crows of roosters every morning.
"Love is at sunset, there are more romantic scenes than in the movie"--Sunset Golf Cart Tour
Hawaii is a chek-in destination in the hearts of many golf fans. There are 10 golf courses on Kauai, most of which are surrounded by mountains and seas, with spectacular scenery, and have been voted as the most beautiful golf course in the world. The Princeville Makai Golf Club on the north coast of Kauai Island is one of the most famous courses in Hawaii , and was selected as one of the five most beautiful golf courses in the world by the American version of "National Geographic Traveler".
The most famous experience is the Makai Golf Cart Sunset Tour at the Makai Golf Club.
At beginning of sunset, you can drive a golf cart by yourself and stroll around this 18-hole golf course. All the way is full of lush greenery and beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, which is very astonishing.
At the end of this journey, you will encounter a breathtaking sunset on the cliff coast of the gold courses. There are beautiful sunsets on Kauai almost every day. Both tourists and locals will be moved by the orange sun sinking into the sea. You probably will met some old couples who watched the sunset together there, such a romantic scene which seems to appear in the movie only.
Pope Beach---Opportunity to encounter a meditating monk seal
The north shore of Kauai is a sacred place for the beach. You can park on almost every road and walk a few steps to the beach.
If you are lucky, you can also see Hawaiian monk seals on the shore . This creature is listed as a critically endangered species. There are only about 1,200 left in the world. It is the only species that lives in tropical waters all year round and only found in Hawaii.
(The shining "stone" in the photo is a monk seal. )
In addition to foraging for food, monk seals spend most of their time "meditation" on the reef. When you find a monk seal lying motionless on a rock, do not be dubious about its life. It was just meditating on life.
Enjoy a breakfast in a century-old cafe
If you want to experience the most local breakfast, then there is a local cafe with a history of 101 years. Some of the locals grew up with the food in this cafe.
The decoration of Tip Top Cafe is very simple and does not look like an on-line celebrity restaurant. In busy seasons, people will line up for a long tail in early morning.
The Beef bone soup is their recommedation dish, with cilantro seasoning, rice and chopsticks, it is tasty, the beef bones were fatty and lean, enjoy the feeling when it is melt in your mouth. They also offer other ones such as American breakfast, muffins.
Allerton Gardens Sunset Tour-- One of the "50 must-visit attractions in a lifetime"
The Allerton Garden is a botanical garden located in the southern valley of Kauai Island. It is named after its founder Robert Allerton, and it is a masterpiece among landscape architectures. It was once selected by the US "National Geographic Magazine" as "50 must-see attractions in a lifetime."
It is highly recommended to join the Allerton Garden Sunset Tour, which is only once a day. During the three-hour trip, a botanist will take you deep into the garden and see the many tropical plants you have never met before, and tell you the legendary story of the garden.
The entire garden is so big that it is beyond imagination. You have to take a bus for 15 minutes to reach the depths of the garden, and then get off the bus and walk around. There are not only gurgling streams, dense banyan trees, strange flowers and plants, but also many beautiful buildings along the way.
Movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Jurassic Park have all been shot here. The three most classic towering trees are here. The big tree where the little girl found the dinosaur egg in Jurassic Park is here.
The climax of the journey is still at sunset. You could have an opportunity to have dinner at the old manor’s garden shed that facing the sea. The villa is still decorated according to the owner’s original living room, just like dining at the owner’s house. After the meal, stroll on the beach , the Hawaiian sunset is still breathtaking.
Tips: If you want to learn more about the garden, it is recommended to call or book a tour service in advance. 4 groups of tourists are received every day, about 20 tourists each gruop, guided by a botanist.
Tour around the island by helicopter-"Every second is breathless by the verdant greens and magnificent views"
The reason why Hawaii’s oldest Kauai Island is less popular, is that only 3% of the land has been developed. The steep mountains, waterfalls, forests, etc. in the central part have always been perfectly maintained in their original state. It is difficult to reach these areas by car or on foot, so helicopters have become the only way to observe the entire landscape of Kauai.
The whole journey takes about 50 minutes, and every minute or even every second is filled with breathless verdant magnificence, sometimes passing over the top of the mountain, sometimes descending to the hinterland of Waimea Canyon, and sometimes flying over the sea fountain on the coast of Na Pali.
The captain who drives the helicopter will explain to the passengers the history of Kauai in detail, explaining every river and waterfall, just like a troubadour, telling the deep attachment to this land. "Where there's water, there's life".
Though the helicopter ride is subject to the weather condition.
Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay--"Looking out the window, you will find just a classic Hawaiian postcard"
Kauai is relatively primitive, so there are not many hotels to choose. The Hilton Garden Inn Wailua Bay is only 5 kilometers away from Lihuye Airport. Looking out from the hotel room window, it is a classic Hawaiian postcard. There is a footpath near the hotel’s own beach, that is said to be rated as the top 10 most beautiful trekking route in the United States.