I, like everyone
else in the United States, had heard about Hawaii my whole life. For some reason, I was not driven to go there
the way most people are. “I’ll be
disappointed,” I thought. “It just
really can’t be that great.” I was
wrong; it really is that great. A little,
remote paradise exists right in the middle of the Pacific—uprooted and set free
“from the boundless deep” as James Michener so beautifully stated.
With an average daytime
temperature of 85° F (29.4° C) at sea level in the summer, and 78° (25.6° C) in
the winter, balmy breezes, and mornings which whisper one into wakening, Hawaii
is somewhere everyone should visit at least once.
Oahu – The North Shore
A great place to
start is the island of Oahu. On the
beautiful North Shore which President Obama favors when he vacations in Hawaii,
one can find gorgeous golf courses, stunning beaches, both private and public,
and the Polynesian Cultural Center in
Laie amongst other countless destinations.
Part of the Mission Statement of the Polynesian Cultural Center is to
“preserve and portray the cultures, arts and crafts of Polynesia.” At the center, one can explore representative
“villages” of Tonga, Tahiti, Marquesas, Hawaii, Fiji, Aotearoa, and Samoa. There is a luau buffet available, and the highly-acclaimed
evening show will leave you breathless when “blazing fireknives” fly through
the air from the skilled hands of the performers.
If you would
like to stay on The North Shore, IVHE has a
stunning property which looks a bit like Robin Masters’ estate on the 1980’s
television show, Magnum P.I.; see this exclusive home
swap.
Oahu – The South Shore
For a change of
pace, head down to The South Shore where Honolulu, the famous Waikiki Beach, Diamond
Head, and the exclusive Waialae Country
Club. While in Honolulu, a visit to
the Ala Moana Mall is in order. The
largest outdoor mall in the world, it features such exclusive shops as Chanel
and Salvatore Ferragamo along with eclectic, foreign-based shops. Also in Honolulu, dinner at Michel’s is a
culinary pleasure; the pineapple panna cotta is delectable—savor it slowly to
take back a pleasant memory of the islands.
While overlooking Waikiki Beach,
there are picture-perfect moments at Michel’s like seeing children playing
pleasantly until sunset.
The hike to
iconic Diamond Head crater looming above Honolulu is well worth the somewhat
steep hike; spectacular views wait at the top.
Hawaii is
interesting—along with exclusivity, there is also an “of the people” feel to
it. For instance, right next to elegant
Waialae Country Club is a public beach; the state of Hawaii works very hard to
be inclusive as well as exclusive.
Perhaps it is the potpourri of people which inspires such a
combination. The many cultures in Hawaii
add to its richness; there is no other state like it in America.
If your tastes
run toward the more exclusive in Hawaii, IVHE
has several beautiful luxury
exchange homes available. See how it works, and read testimonials.
Learn as I did
that Hawaii really does live up to the hype—visit at least once.
Thank you to Sona
Schmidt-Harris – Follow me on Twitter @Sonag2000
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