Hawaii has something for everyone.
Hawaii, the southernmost state of the United States, conjures images of hula dancers and luaus. We think of Pele, the volcano goddess. We picture palm trees swaying over sandy beaches and rolling tides dotted with surfers. Hawaii has pineapple plantations, a winery on Maui, Pearl Harbor and countless other sights. While the Big Island lacks the metropolitan feel of Honolulu, Oahu, it does offer Kona, a lovely city famous for its sportfishing, snorkeling and coffee. Hawaii still has more to offer.
Puu Mahana, Olivine Sand Beach
Hawaii is famous for beaches, and on any of the islands can be found beautiful sandy or rocky beaches. However, for the rare sight, travel to the southernmost point of Hawaii, the Big Island, to Puu Mahana, a green sand beach. The beach is formed of eroded olivine crystals, the olivine being a product of volcanic lava flow. Although olivine is common in basalt lava, this may be the only olivine beach in existence. To reach Puu Mahana requires either a vehicle with four-wheel drive or a six-mile hike from South Point, Ka Lae. While the walk is long, the small, crescent-shaped beach is an amazing sight.
Volcanoes
Visit Kilauea and see the most recent lava flows. Or trek to the top of Mauna Loa, where unusual plants like the silversword grow at altitudes of more than four kilometers above sea level. Since the volcano's base is on the bottom of the ocean, the volcano is the largest in the world with a summit some 56,000 feet above its base. Wherever you go in Hawaii, chances are you are "on the volcano" as the volcano covers about half of the Big Island and accounts for approximately 85 percent of the rest of the Hawaiian islands combined. Mauna Loa is also one of the most active volcanoes on the planet. Dress warmly as the temperature is cold atop the summit year-round.
Road to Hana
While on Maui, be sure to drive the winding road to Hana. This slow-paced drive carries passengers through paradise beauty. On one side, the road drops off, down to a turquoise ocean with bands of lush, flowering trees lining the steep slopes. On the other side, the island rises up like a stone giant dripping with ferns and vines. Then, in a deeply seated curve, the route circles past a waterfall. There are no billboards spoiling the scenery. The only signs are speed limits and cautions on rounding the outer bends where the road narrows to one lane shared by both directions of traffic. On these curves, it's a practice to honk to warn oncoming cars. Likewise, many of the bridges also are one shared lane. And nowhere along the stretch is the road ever straight. Instead, it's a constant winding, twisting route.
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