There are also numerous corporations that let their employees dress down on the final working day of the week and this is referred to as Aloha Friday. This is the day when aloha attire could be worn in the offices. Back in 1947, the Aloha Week was created and people recognized that their economy would greatly benefit if their residents would wear more locally-made clothing. The Bank of Hawaii was the first company to ever allow aloha attire for their employees on Fridays. Nowadays, it is uncommon to find a corporation that does not adhere to the tradition of Aloha Friday.
The Spirit of Aloha has also lent its name to the legendary and colorful shirt in Hawaii, which is called the aloha shirt. This shirt is adorned in an infinite assortment of styles and patterns and is characteristically decorated in bright colors.
Aloha is more than just another Hawaiian word. It is something that the local folks have deep respect for. It is a deeply ingrained philosophy and is considered as a gift for the beautiful people of the Hawaiian Islands. Aloha Island weddings
ART AT THE ZOO FENCE
Local artists hang their works from the zoo fence for the browsing pleasure of residents and visitors alike. Friendly, casual atmosphere, punctuated by the raucous calls of tropical birds (from the zoo).
Where: Honolulu Zoo, outside the zoo fence by the banyan tree, Waikiki
Hours: Every weekend
NORTH SHORE ART GALLERIES
From jewelers, painters and sculptors to glass blowers and candle makers, artists have flocked to the historic surf town of Hale‘iwa over the years and created a bohemian village of galleries among the shell shops and t-shirt shacks. They sometimes ply their trade in public, so look carefully as you cruise through town.
Where: Hale'iwa town (North Shore)
CAPITOL DISTRICT
The historic Capitol District of Honolulu includes the State Capitol Building and must-see landmarks such as ‘Iolani Palace, Kamehameha I statue, Kawaiaha‘o Church, St. Andrew's Cathedral, Washington Place, the Hawai‘i State Library, Honolulu Hale, Ali‘iolani Hale, the Old Federal Building and the Mission Houses Museum. To learn more about the history of these places, visit the City's Historical Honolulu site.
Where: South King St., Downtown Honolulu
CHINATOWN
Chinatown offers a rich mix of tradition, culture and history: Meat markets rub elbows with sidewalk vegetable stands; temples bump up against tattoo parlors. Look at the facades of the buildings to see when they were built. A leisurely walk through the district shouldn't take longer than an hour.
Where: Downtown Honolulu, bordered by Nuuanu Avenue, North Beretania and South King streets
More information: www.chinatownhi.com
HAWAI‘I OKINAWA CENTER
This cultural center honors Okinawan pioneers and promotes ethnic culture and history.
Where: 97-587 Ukee St., Waipahu (west of Honolulu on H-1)
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday
Info: (808) 676-5400
HILTON HULA SHOWS AT SUNSET
Watch these lively shows from the beach or pull up a chair poolside. On Friday nights, enjoy a fireworks show at the Hilton.
Where: Hilton Hawaiian Village Super Pool area, 6:30 p.m. Halekulani's House Without A Key, 6 p.m. Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Poolside, 5:45-9:45 p.m.
Info: Hilton, (808) 949-4321; Halekulani, (808) 923-2311; Sheraton, (808) 922-5811
ISLAND SOAP AND CANDLEWORKS
Swing by and check out Hawai‘i's only soap and candle factory. It's a store, but all the goods are made on site and you can watch while they work.�
Where: Ward Warehouse (1200 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu)
Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Saturday; until 5 p.m., Sunday
Info: (808) 591-0533
KAWAIAHA‘O CHURCH
Tour the grounds or hear a Christian service in Hawaiian and English at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. Built in 1842, Kawaiaha‘o Church is the Westminster Abbey of Hawai‘i, with portraits of Hawaiian monarchs lining the walls (many of them were coronated in the building). The pews in the back, marked by velvet cushions and feather standards (kahili) are still reserved for descendants of royalty.
Where: 957 Punchbowl St., Honolulu (Capitol District)
Hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m., daily
Info: (808) 522-1333
KING KAMEHAMEHA STATUE
On June 11, King Kamehameha Day, 18-foot leis are draped around the neck and outstretched arms of this bronze likeness of the man who united the Hawaiian Islands, circa 1810.
Where: In front of the Ali‘iolani Hale (State Judiciary Building) at the junction of King and Mililani streets, Honolulu
LION COFFEE TOUR
Take a self-guided tour of the oldest major coffee company in the United States (it moved to Hawai‘i 20 years ago from Toledo, Ohio). Some of the equipment dates back to the 1920s.
Where: 1555 Kalani St., just off Nimitz Highway near the Bishop Museum
Hours: 6 a.m.-6 p.m., Monday-Friday; 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday
Info: (808) 843-4294
NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC (PUNCHBOWL CRATER)
The final resting place for more than 25,000 victims of three American wars: World War II, Korea and Vietnam. On Memorial Day each grave is adorned with a flower lei made by Hawai‘i's school children. Early morning is an especially peaceful time to pay respects.
Where: 2177 Puowaina Dr. (Punchbowl crater, overlooking Honolulu)
Hours: 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m., daily in summer; until 5:30 p.m. in winter
Info: (808) 532-3720
PLEASANT HAWAIIAN HULA SHOW
The Pleasant Hawaiian Hula Show has been shaking its hips since 1937, making it quite possibly the longest-running hula show in Hawai‘i. Audience members are often brought up on stage for impromptu hula lessons, so arrive by 9:15 if you want seats up front.
Where: Waikiki Shell Amphitheater in Kapi‘olani Park, Waikiki
Hours: 10 a.m., Tuesday-Thursday
Info: (808) 627-3300
ROYAL HAWAIIAN BAND
Created in 1836 by King Kamehameha III, this 40-piece band has survived through a monarchy, a provisional government, a republic, a territorial government and statehood to become the only full-time municipal band in the country. Come out and enjoy a living link to Hawai‘i's past.
Where: ‘Iolani Palace (Capitol District, Honolulu) and Kapi‘olani Park
Hours: Noon, Friday, ‘Iolani Palace; 2-4 p.m., Sunday, Kapi‘olani Park
Info: (808) 922-5331
SHERATON MOANA SURFRIDER
The Moana was the first luxury hotel built in Waikiki, circa 1901. Rates were $1.50 per room. Featuring one of the first electric elevators in the Islands and a telephone and bathroom for each room, it was considered one of the most elaborate hotels of its time. It's now on the National Register of Historic Places, and one of its three sections - the Banyan Wing - has been completely restored. Free guided tours of the "first lady of Waikiki" are available.
Where: 2365 Kalakaua Ave., Waikiki
Info: (808) 922-3111
U.S. ARMY MUSEUM
Weaponry, uniforms, photos and other memorabilia housed in a historic shoreline battery. Exhibits cover the martial history of early Hawai‘i through the Vietnam conflict.
Where: Fort DeRussy Military Reservation (next to the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki). Validated parking across the street.
Hours: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Tuesday-Sunday
Info: (808) 955-9552
VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES MEMORIAL PARK
A nondenominational cemetery of extraordinary beauty, set against the lush, chiseled Ko‘olau Mountains. Wild peacocks roam the grounds, two acres of ponds hold more than 10,000 koi (carp) and a nine-foot Buddha presides over the valley.
Where: 47-200 Kahekili Highway, Kaneohe (windward side of O‘ahu)�
Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., daily
Info: (808) 239-8811
VOYAGE THROUGH POLYNESIA
A Polynesian review-style performance, sponsored by the Queen Emma Foundation.
Where: Waikiki Town Center, second-floor landing
Hours: 7-8 p.m., Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
Info: (808) 922-2724
WAIALUA COFFEE VISITORS CENTER
Tour this modern coffee factory; formerly the mill for the famous Waialua Sugar Co.
Where: Kealohanui Street, Waialua (North Shore)
Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., daily
Info: (808) 637-2411
WAIKIKI HISTORIC TRAIL
The Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association offers a guided walking tour of Waikiki's historic sites along the Waikiki Historic Trail. This walking tour follows a series of informational markers that highlight historic sites between Kapahulu Avenue and the International Market Place, including the estates of Prince Kuhio, Princess Ka'iulani and King David Kalakaua. The tour covers only a portion of the Waikiki Historic Trail, which can be explored in self-guided fashion.
Where: Meet at the beachside surfboard marker titled, "The Beaches of Waikiki," at the entrance to Kapi'olani Park on Kalakaua Ave.
Hours: 9:00-10:30 a.m. Monday thru Friday
Cost: Free
Info: (808) 841-6442
WAIKIKI HULA SHOW
A roving hula show, stopping at Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center (9 p.m.) and King Kalakaua Shopping Plaza, among others.
Where: Along Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki
Hours: 8-10 p.m., Friday
It is impossible for the island of Maui not to immediately come to one’s mind when considering a Hawaiian vacation. Maui, like all the islands of Hawaii, features immaculate rainforests, fabulous multicolored beaches, stunning waterfalls and a dazzling underwater world. This island was named after a playful demigod who has phenomenal strength and artistic power. Tourists who are after a terrific adventure would definitely find it in Maui, which is also recognized as “The Valley Isle” and the second biggest among the Hawaiian Islands.
Travelers would get a kick out of the Kaihalulu, translated as the Roaring Sea but popularly known as the Red Sand Beach. Its sands are literally red because the beach itself is situated in a volcanic ember cone. The coarse and vibrant sand was actually brought about by the erosion of the red volcanic ashes. Tourists would appreciate the area’s picturesque view: its vivid red sand alongside the aquamarine waters, clear blue skies and cotton-candy clouds. This exotic spot is excellent for people who love swimming and snorkeling.
One of Maui’s famous tourist destinations is the Leleiwi Lookout. However, this lookout’s chief attraction is not the panoramic landscape it provides. Leleiwi Lookout actually offers a mysterious phenomenon, which only happens in two other countries namely Germany and Scotland. Once the clouds are really low and when the sun is in the right area behind you (normally during sunset), you would be able to view your own shadow’s reflection! Incredible, is it not? That optical illusion is actually called the Specter of the Brocken, which occurs when there is a perfect combination of shadow, mist and the sun. There are people who compared their experience to seeing their own souls.
http://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/maui/polipoli-spring-state-recreation-area The Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area is a site in Maui that offers lodging and camping facilities for their guests. Tourists would be able to delight in a mountain hiking with magnificent sights as well as pig and bird hunting. Travelers would do well to take a camera with them for there are pristine forests and numerous trails in the area. Families would be able to take a rest and eat here because there is also an access to a picnic site. It is advised that people should wear multilayered clothing as well as hats and gloves when camping and hiking since the temperature in this place is normally 200 cooler than the coastal regions.
Tourists should not leave Maui without visiting the Venus Pool. It is also known as the Waikoa Pond and is located in the southeastern part of Maui. This swimming pool was naturally formed in an astoundingly lovely setting beside the ocean. The Venus Pool, situated between the Oheo and Gulch Pools, is actually among a chain of pools and waterfalls. Local teachings reveal that back in ancient Hawaii, it was only the royalty who were allowed to make use of this beautiful place. Its freshwater bathing area is the ideal site to spend a quiet day. People can bask in the sun on the huge, flat rocks and treat themselves in the mild, tranquil water.
Maui is definitely has its opulent resorts, colorful sand beaches, freshwater pools and iridescent waterfalls. Surely, there is no other island in the planet that can provide the type of experience that only the island of Maui has to give. Tourists, without a doubt, would enjoy their vacation at this unforgettable piece of paradise called Maui. For info on Maui found here : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maui
