Hawaii
Booking a holiday on the island of Hawaii is like reserving grandstand seats on the act of Creation. In Hawaii everything comes in superlatives. The largest privately owned cattle ranch in the country, Parker Ranch, sprawls across 250,000 acres. The world's tallest mountain (measured from its base on the ocean floor), Mauna Kea, stretches toward the stars. From its frigid summit, powerful telescopes are trained on the outer reaches of the universe. Hawaii is also home to the longest continuously erupting volcano in recorded history (Kilauea Caldera on the Big Island has been producing a lava flow since January 1983)
From this virgin soil extravagant flowers burst into bloom - vibrant orchids, monstrous protea, sassy anthuriums, fragrant carnation. Some of Hawaii's most treasured historical sites are here. At Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park the ancient temple of refuge has been restored. Hulihee Palace, the summer retreat of Hawaiian royalty, resides in Kona. And tour boats sail down to Kealakekua Bay where Captain Cook met his end. If you want wide open spaces and nature that's bigger than anything you can imagine, come to Hawaii's Big Island.
As one of the most geographically isolated, continuously populated spots on Earth, Hawaii is a land of many contrasts. Urban Honolulu, the state capital, is a cosmopolitan metropolis with a population of more than 370,000; the entire island of Molokai, a scant 50 miles away, has 7,400 residents.
Hawaii is an isolated archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,550 miles southwest of Los Angeles and about 3,900 miles southeast of Tokyo. First settled by Polynesians between A.D. 300 and 600, Hawaii was visited by British captain James Cook in 1778. He named them the Sandwich Islands. Politically Hawaii is part of North America as a US State, but geographically, because of its isolated location, it is not considered part of any continent. It's comprised of 8 major islands (Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Niihau) and a series of smaller ones. Hawaii is the world's longest island chain. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, and the United States entered World War II. Today the islands are one of the premier travel destinations in the world, and to quote Mark Twain, "The loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean..."
From this virgin soil extravagant flowers burst into bloom - vibrant orchids, monstrous protea, sassy anthuriums, fragrant carnation. Some of Hawaii's most treasured historical sites are here. At Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park the ancient temple of refuge has been restored. Hulihee Palace, the summer retreat of Hawaiian royalty, resides in Kona. And tour boats sail down to Kealakekua Bay where Captain Cook met his end. If you want wide open spaces and nature that's bigger than anything you can imagine, come to Hawaii's Big Island.
As one of the most geographically isolated, continuously populated spots on Earth, Hawaii is a land of many contrasts. Urban Honolulu, the state capital, is a cosmopolitan metropolis with a population of more than 370,000; the entire island of Molokai, a scant 50 miles away, has 7,400 residents.
Hawaii is an isolated archipelago in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, approximately 2,550 miles southwest of Los Angeles and about 3,900 miles southeast of Tokyo. First settled by Polynesians between A.D. 300 and 600, Hawaii was visited by British captain James Cook in 1778. He named them the Sandwich Islands. Politically Hawaii is part of North America as a US State, but geographically, because of its isolated location, it is not considered part of any continent. It's comprised of 8 major islands (Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, and Niihau) and a series of smaller ones. Hawaii is the world's longest island chain. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on the island of Oahu, and the United States entered World War II. Today the islands are one of the premier travel destinations in the world, and to quote Mark Twain, "The loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean..."
What you should know before planning your trip to Hawaii
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What to Pack
Check at any U.S. embassy or consulate for current information and requirements.
To obtain a visa, the traveler must submit a completed application form (either in person or by mail) with a 1 1/2-inch-square photo, and must demonstrate binding ties to a residence abroad. Usually you can obtain a visa at once or within 24 hours, but it may take longer during the summer rush June through August. If you cannot go in person, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for directions on applying by mail. Your travel agent or airline office may also be able to provide you with visa applications and instructions. The U.S. consulate or embassy that issues your visa will determine whether you will be issued a multiple- or single-entry visa and any restrictions regarding the length of your stay.
To obtain a visa, the traveler must submit a completed application form (either in person or by mail) with a 1 1/2-inch-square photo, and must demonstrate binding ties to a residence abroad. Usually you can obtain a visa at once or within 24 hours, but it may take longer during the summer rush June through August. If you cannot go in person, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for directions on applying by mail. Your travel agent or airline office may also be able to provide you with visa applications and instructions. The U.S. consulate or embassy that issues your visa will determine whether you will be issued a multiple- or single-entry visa and any restrictions regarding the length of your stay.