RUSSO+Lana

Aloha!! Hawaii

What my postacrd looks like from the front:
~ My front cover says ALOHA GREETINGS FROM HAWAII

[[image:Picture2.png]]
Hawaii, as tourist bureaus and Hollywood constantly remind us, is ‘paradise.’ Push past the hype and what do you find? Darned if they’re not right. Hawaii is hiking sculpted cliffs or diving coral-reef cities in the afternoon and drinking mai tais to slack-key guitar at sunset. It’s slurping chin-dripping papayas with hibiscus flowers in your hair; it’s Pacific Rim cuisine, fiery volcanoes and cavorting whales. By serendipity and design (and popular consensus), Hawaii is an almost flawless destination. It’s an enchanting multicultural society whose roots lie in Polynesia, [|**Asia**], [|**North America**] and [|**Europe**], and it’s an expression of nature at its most luscious and divine.
 * INRODUCING HAWII:**

Advertisement Over seven million visitors come to experience paradise annually, but the islands are not as crushed with sun-baked tourists and cooing honeymooners as you might think. If you want a cushy resort vacation, head for [|**Oahu**]’s [|**Maui**]. For something cheaper or more adventurous, aim for the Big Island or [|**Kaua'i**]. If time is short, stick to one island and make the most of it. [|**Honolulu & Waikiki**] are teeming cultural and economic powerhouses, but in under an hour you can be alone in the rain forest or snoozing on white sand. Locals know that Hawaii isn’t really paradise, but on any given day it can sure feel like it.

Home to one of the world’s most active volcanoes and the [|world’s tallest sea mountain]. Birthplace of surfing and the hula. Former seat of a royal kingdom. Hawaii is one of the youngest geological formations in the world and the youngest state of the union. But perhaps Hawaii’s most unique feature is its Aloha Spirit: the warmth of the people of Hawaii that wonderfully complements the Islands’ perfect temperatures. There are primarily six major islands to visit in Hawaii: Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and Hawaii’s Big island. You’ll find each island has its own distinct personality and offers its own adventures, activities, and sightseeing opportunities. We invite you to explore all of Hawaii to find the unique island experience for you.

Hawaii Quick Facts:

 * Kauai's incredible [|Waimea Canyon] is 10 miles long, and one mile wide.
 * [|Duke Kahanamoku], the "Father of Modern Surfing," grew up in [|Waikiki] on Oahu.
 * The tallest sea cliffs in the world can be found on Molokai's north side.
 * A hulking ship is still trapped in the waters of [|Shipwreck Beach] on Lanai.
 * The crater of [|Haleakala] on Maui is roughly the size of the island of Manhattan.
 * Kileaua Volcano in [|Hawaii Volcanoes National Park] on Hawaii's Big Island is the world's most active volcano.

State Name:
Hawaii

State Nickname:
The Aloha State

Capital City:
Honolulu

Population:
1,262,840

Time Zone:
Hawaii Standard Time (GMT-10 hours), 5 hours behind the US East Coast, 6 hours behind during Daylight Saving Time (Hawaii does not observe Daylight Saving Time).

Languages:
English Hawaiian

Currency:
US dollar. Credit cards are widely accepted. Traveler's checks are accepted at many businesses.

Average Temperature:
April- November: 75˚-88˚ F. December- March: 68˚-80˚ F. Average water temperature: 74˚ F.

Area Code/Cell phones:
The area code for all of Hawaii is (808). Cell phone coverage on most Islands is readily available if you're coming from the US. Check your carrier and calling plan for details.

Internet Access:
Internet access is readily available on most islands and at many hotels.

Accommodations:
Luxury resorts, hotels, bed and breakfasts, rental cottages and condos are located throughout the islands.

Transportation:
Transportation options include car rentals, tour buses, shuttles, taxis or city buses.

Clothing:
Dress casually. Bring a light jacket for nights. Bring semi-casual dress clothes or resort wear for restaurants and nightlife. Suits and ties are rarely worn.

Tipping:
U.S. standards apply: 15-20% on meals, at least $1 per bag for porters, and at least $1 per night for housekeeping. Tourist attractions in Hawaii

=Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park= Address: 400 Farrington Highway Kapolei, HI 96707 808-674-9283 [|www.hawaiianwaters.com] Product Rating 0 stars DescriptionCool off at Hawaii's #1 Family Attraction, Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park. Nestled on 20 acres of lush, tropical landscape in Kapolei, Oahu's Second City, Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park features an exciting variety of unique water rides, attractions, and amenities for all ages and skill levels in a resort-like setting. Da FlowRider, the Park's $1 million-dollar ride, is an interactive water sport/skill ride that offers the thrill of surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding in a self-contained, compact, flexible, and safe environment. The latest attraction, Island Adventure Golf, is an 18-hole high-end miniature golf course with nine ADA accessible holes. The course features tropical landscaping, waterways, lava rock formations, a waterfall, large beach area with mock fish and sea turtles, challenging surfboard hazards, and an environment that reflects Hawaii. Cost without the card:Adult $39.99, Child $29.99 Hours:Peak Season (Memorial Day Weekend-Labor Day Weekend): Monday-Friday, 10:30 am-4:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 am-5:00 pm; Off-Peak Season (After Labor Day Weekend until Memorial Day Weekend): Monday, Thursday, Friday, 10:30 am-3:00 pm; Saturday and Sunday, 10:30 am-4:00 pm.ClosedFirst two weeks of February. May be closed for private events. Please call to confirm. May be closed major U.S. holidays.

HONOLULU =Honolulu, Hawaii Tourism= To help understand the layout of Honolulu the following general information is divided into the three neighboring areas - Pearl Harbor, Downtown and Waikiki. Within these areas the places of interest are arranged alphabetically.

The name Honolulu means "protected bay". The city's development first began around the port of Honolulu, Hawaii's ... safest because of an offshore reef.

In 1792 the British seafarer William Brown was the first to land here and he named the port "Fair Haven", almost a synonym of "Honolulu". Unfortunately it was precisely in this "fair haven" that Brown met his death as a result of an attack orchestrated by King Kalanikupule of Oahu. After Kamehameha I conquered Oahu Honolulu began its rise to become the most important city in the Hawaiian islands. Kamehameha I used the port as a place of transfer and an important stop for Pacific steam ships. Kamehameha III finally declared Honolulu capital city of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1850.

Pearl Harbor, today so important, was first developed in 1911. Its construction signaled a new phase in Oahu's development as a strategic military position.

Waikiki's tourist development only became possible at the end of the 19th c. when the Ala Wai Canal was built to drain this previously marshy area. From then on, Waikiki's growth into a focal point for tourism began, reaching its zenith in the 1970s.

Honolulu's modern development into a city of tourism was enhanced by the building of the airport, which is situated on a man-made platform in the lagoon between Pearl Harbor and the main part of Honolulu.

Honolulu today is an extensive, but narrow, city whose topography is determined by the sea and the mountains. Koolau Range, stretching about 31 miles/50km from the south-east to the north-west, is not particularly high but difficult of access. This has hindered the city from spreading out into the mountainous area. Development has been dictated by the cramped terrain and has caused satellite towns (Pearl City and, on the other side of the Koolau Mountains, Kanehoe) to grow up around Honolulu, relieving the city of some of its population pressures.

The dense population necessitated a correspondingly well-developed road network. The most important arterial roads to the north are Pali and Likelike Highways, to the west motorways H1 and H2. A third motorway (H3), between Honolulu and Kaneohe to the east coast, has been approved in principle but construction work has not yet begun.

The city of Honolulu falls roughly into three areas - Waikiki, Downtown and Pearl Harbor.

Waikiki, the main attraction, is a peninsula covering almost 1/2sq.mile/1.1sq.km bordered to the south by the Pacific Ocean and the man-made Ala Wai Canal in the other three directions. In this small area, one of the most densely-populated in the whole of the United States, more hotels, restaurants and shops can be found than in the rest of Hawaii.

Downtown, the center and historical part of Honolulu, is not so easily defined. It is bordered to the south by the sea, to the east by Ward Avenue, to the north by Vineyard Boulevard and to the west by College Walk Mall. Most of the places of interest mentioned from now on are to be found here.

In area Pearl Harbor occupies by far the largest part of the city, stretching for kilometers to the west. As well as naval bases, military bases and Honolulu Airport are located here.

Two valleys adjoin the north and the north-west of Downtown. Manoa Valley, which houses the University of Hawaii and the East-West Center, and Nuuanu Valley. Punchbowl Crater and the National Cemetery of the Pacific are to be found here.

Climate Imagine a place where you’re never too hot or too cold, but always “just right.” With its warm and gentle trade winds, mild temperatures and sunny skies, Hawaii is an ideal vacation spot to visit throughout the year. Generally, bikinis, tank tops and shorts will be the perfect attire, but if you’re strolling along the beach in the evening, you may want to bring a light jacket. One might think the local weatherman is somewhat bored, but on the contrary, the islands see a lot of varying conditions and activity. On the nightly local news, you’ll find surf reports for each side of the islands, along with the tide report, wind analysis, rainfall stats and other detailed information. The Hawaiian Islands are an amazing place of contrast. Because of the dramatic variation of Hawaii’s terrain, visitors will also find accompanying climactic differences. For example, on the island of Hawaii, also known as the [|Big Island], you can hit the beach and soak up the sun and heli-ski at the top of [|Mauna Kea] in the same day! Hawaii's majestic mountains, which extend up to 13,796 feet (4,205 m), contain a climatic range from the tropic to the sub-Arctic. Overall, the weather in the islands is pleasant and never monotonous!
 * Peasant Climate Year-Round**

Hawaii boasts 11 of the 13 climate zones in the world, each with unique ecosystems and weather characteristics. Factors such as elevation, pressure variations, rainfall, wind and topography combine to create distinctive locations throughout the islands. Climates you may encounter in the Hawaiian Islands include the humid tropical zones, from sea level to 450 feet (137 m), the arid and semi-arid zones, the warmest parts of the islands, the temperate zones, at certain locations above 1,300 to 1,650 feet (400 to 500 m) and the Alpine zones, chilly areas above 10,500 feet (3,200 m). Make sure you are prepared for cooler temperatures if you’re going to be doing some mountain or volcano climbing. Generally the rule of temperature decrease is about 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit for every 1,000-foot increase (305 m) in elevation. Each of the Hawaiian Islands is home to the four primary climates of desert, tropical rainforest, temperate and tundra climates, so no matter where you stay, you’ll have the opportunity to experience the amazing natural diversity present here. Hawaii has only two seasons – summer, from May to September, and winter, from October to April. The early Hawaiians named them kau, the warm season (that’s when the sun is almost directly overhead and winds blow reliably from the northeast) and ho‘olio, the cooler season (when the sun is lower, the winds are more variable and there is more rainfall).
 * [[image:photos/palm.jpg width="148" height="125" align="right" caption="palm"]]Climate Zones**
 * [[image:photos/sunset.jpg width="148" height="125" align="left" caption="sunset"]]Seasons**

Winters are a few degrees cooler and wetter with breezy northwesterly winds. The average temperature in the islands is about 80 degrees F (26.6 C), dropping to about 75 degrees F (23.8 C) during the winter months with a 10 degree F (5.5 C) cool-down after the sun disappears. Summer highs average about 85 degrees F (29.4 C) and winter highs about 78 degrees F (25.5 C). June and July are generally the driest months for all islands. But even in Hawaii’s winter months, rain and cloud cover are very intermittent and you should get ample time in the sun. Hawaii has its own time zone, aptly referred to as “Hawaiian Standard Time.” Hawaii does not observe daylight savings time, so the amount of hours the islands fall behind the continental U.S. varies. If you’re talking to people on the U.S. West Coast during daylight savings time, they will be 3 hours ahead and when daylight savings time is not in effect, 2 hours ahead. For the U.S. East Coast, the difference is 5 hours and 6 hours respectively. Where you are on a Hawaiian island can actually make a subtle difference in the climate. The eastern facing side, or windward side, of each island is usually the cool, wet and windy side while the western facing side, the leeward side, is warm and dry. Hawaii is one of the greenest places on Earth thanks to the life-giving rains. Every day, it rains somewhere on the islands and it is common to see light rainfall while the sun is shining brightly. The volcanic crater of Mt. Waialeale on the island of [|Kauai] receives an average of 486 inches (1,234 cm) of precipitation a year and is considered the wettest place on Earth! In contrast, there are a few spots in the islands that receive 6 or less inches (15.2 cm) of rain per year. Hilo, on the island of Hawaii, is the wettest city in the U.S. with 130 – 200 inches (330 – 508 cm) of rainfall per year. Common in the islands is a gentle misting rain, referred to as “kilihune” in Hawaiian, and great for cooling off.
 * [[image:photos/timezone.jpg width="148" height="125" align="right" caption="Time Zone"]]Time Zone**
 * [[image:photos/beach.jpg width="148" height="125" align="left" caption="beach"]]Windward & Leeward**
 * [[image:photos/rain.jpg width="148" height="125" align="right" caption="rain"]]Rainfall**

Hawaii’s close proximity to the equator means that the islands stay nicely warmed. On clear sky days, the sun can be especially intense, so it is recommended you use hats and sunscreen to avoid negative effects. If you accidentally end up with a sunburn, the local aloe plant cut open and applied directly is a soothing remedy.
 * [[image:photos/sun.jpg width="148" height="125" align="left" caption="hot sun"]]Hot Sun**

Because Hawaii sits on the edge of a tropical zone, the islands are prone to strong trade winds and an occasional tropical storm. Although hurricanes are rare, the islands are vulnerable to Pacific Ocean storms generated to the north. In some cases, the islands will only experience the “aftershock” of storms with heavy swells, rains and super size waves. Flash flooding may occur during unusually heavy rains in the wet season, although damaging floods are rare. Only four hurricanes have been recorded in the islands since 1957.
 * [[image:photos/hurricane.jpg width="148" height="125" align="right" caption="hurricane"]]Storms**

If you’re visiting from a landlocked area, you’ll feel the moisture in the air immediately upon landing. Visitors from typically dry areas, such as Colorado, may notice a replenished quality in their skin, or that their hair may take longer to dry after a shower or ocean swim. The Hawaiian Islands fair well with comfortably moderate humidity levels diminished easily by cooling trade winds. On rare occasions when the trade winds are absent, humidity can make the air feel a bit thick. Humidity may vary slightly on a daily basis, with an average of 63% humidity in Honolulu, and between varying climate zones and elevation.
 * [[image:photos/humid.jpg width="148" height="125" align="left" caption="humid"]]Humidity**

Hawaii is a [|surfer’s paradise], with some of the biggest waves and cleanest barrels in the world. The North Shore of [|Oahu] is home to the sport’s most popular pro contest, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, held annually in November and December. Check the daily surf reports to find out which part of the island boasts the best waves.
 * [[image:photos/surf.jpg width="148" height="125" align="right" caption="surf"]]Surf**

Visitors to Hawaii are amazed at how “warm” the ocean water feels. Depending on the time of year, sea surface temperature surrounding the coast may range from 73 to 80 degrees F (22.7 to 26.6 C)! Now that’s a comfortable swim!
 * [[image:photos/ocean.jpg width="148" height="125" align="left" caption="ocean"]]Ocean Climate**

Hawaiian residents and visitors are grateful for these steady and cool breezes brought from the northeast that sweep through the islands at an average of 12 miles (19.3 km) per hour. Tradewinds are generally steady during the summer months and a bit weaker and inconsistent in winter.
 * [[image:photos/windy.jpg width="148" height="125" align="right" caption="windy"]]Tradewinds**

Kona winds originating from the southeast accompany the climate changes in the winter and help bring much needed rain to the islands.
 * Kona Winds**

Called “anuenue” in Hawaiian, rainbows are abundant in the islands and can be seen frequently accompanying light misting rain. It’s not uncommon to see two or more colorful rainbows together.
 * [[image:photos/rainbow.jpg width="148" height="125" align="left" caption="rainbow"]]Rainbows**

Thanks to the help of active sea breezes, the cloud cover in Hawaii does not usually stay put for very long. Clouds tend to hang above the mountains, drop rain and move on. If you notice it beginning to cloud up in the islands, don’t worry. Chances are they’ll be on their way shortly. And if you happen to get caught in a sudden downpour or light rain, rest assured that it may clear up within minutes. Hawaii’s mild climate, beautiful scenery, warm ocean and gentle breezes make it the perfect vacation destination.
 * [[image:photos/clouds.jpg width="148" height="125" align="right" caption="clouds"]]Clouds**
 * **Average Relative Humidity** ||
 * || **Lihue, Kauai** || **Honolulu, Oahu** || **Hilo, Big Island** ||
 * **January** || 77.5% || 77.2% || 78.0% ||
 * **February** || 76.2% || 74.5% || 77.5% ||
 * **March** || 75.8% || 69.0% || 78.8% ||
 * **April** || 75.5% || 67.8% || 79.8% ||
 * **May** || 74.8% || 66.0% || 77.0% ||
 * **June** || 74.0% || 64.8% || 77.8% ||
 * **July** || 74.0% || 65.0% || 79.8% ||
 * **August** || 74.5% || 66.0% || 80.2% ||
 * **September** || 74.5% || 65.5% || 77.2% ||
 * **October** || 76.5% || 67.0% || 77.8% ||
 * **November** || 77.5% || 71.0% || 81.0% ||
 * **December** || 77.0% || 73.5% || 79.5% ||