Hawaii

Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states (August 21, 1959), and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It occupies most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of Australia. Hawaii’s natural beauty, warm tropical climate, inviting waters and waves, and active volcanoes make it a popular destination for tourists, surfers, biologists, and volcanologists alike. Due to its mid-Pacific location, Hawaii has many North American and Asian influences along with its own vibrant native culture. Hawaii has over a million permanent residents along with many visitors and U.S. military personnel. Its capital is Honolulu on the island of Oʻahu.

The state encompasses nearly the entire volcanic Hawaiian Island chain, which comprises hundreds of islands spread over 1,500 miles (2,400 km). At the southeastern end of the archipelago, the eight "main islands" are (from the northwest to southeast) Niʻihau, Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, Kahoʻolawe, Maui, and Hawaiʻi. The last is by far the largest and is often called "The Big Island" to avoid confusion with the state as a whole. The archipelago is physiographically and ethnologically part of the Polynesian subregion of Oceania.

U.S. President Barack Obama was born and spent much of his youth in Hawaii; he is the only president to hail from the state.

Flight fares

From the available flights, united flight is the cheapest from Delhi to Hawaii (Honolulu Airport) and just like on the print screen it will cost about $2277 for the ticket to and flo.

Flying distance

The flying distance between New Delhi airport and Honolulu airport is 11897 Km.

Map of Honolulu Airport

Hotel Reservation

Hotel chargesIt will cost $72 USD per night for the hotel

Policy Information

If you cancel this reservation during 10th Oct. 2010 - 14th Oct. 2010 (GMT+07:00) it will result

In a 100% of one night cancellation fee.

City Travel

I will use buses and taxis to travel around the major tourism areas of Hawaii. And the tickets can

be booked from Bus pass office 811 Middle street Honolulu the bus passes Cost 2.5 UDS each

for a one way ticket on a given route.

Bus booking cannot be done online but it from their offices at Middle Street in Honolulu.

City Map

Taxi reservations

Reservations can be made online. And the cabs will cost about $58 for each hour.

Hawaii Food Cost

Food will cost $10 per meal which will be roughly $40 per day with drinks.

Intended places to visit include:

With the help of smart destination card of 5 days tour I will visit major destinations with charges of $179 for the 5 days.

Lanikai Beach, Na Mokulua IslesLanikai, or “heavenly sea,” truly lives up to its reputation as one of the world’s best beaches. Pristine turquoise/green waters, expansive white sand, lazy coconut palm trees, and an offshore reef provide the perfect conditions for swimming, kayaking, sun bathing and photography. The picturesque Mokumanu and Mokulua Isles are situated just off shore.

‘Iolani PalaceCommissioned for construction by King David Kalākaua, `Iolani Palace is the only royal palace in the United States. Construction was completed in 1882, and featured electricity, indoor plumbing, incandescent lighting, and telephones, making it one of the world’s modern structures of the 19th century. Following extensive research and structural and furnishings restoration, the palace was reopened to the public as a museum in 1978.

The Pacific War MemorialThe Pacific War Memorial is a bronze replica of the National Iwo Jima Memorial at Newington, Connecticut. Dedicated on March 16, 2002 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, the

monument immortalizes the timeless photograph depicting the raising of the American Flag at Mt. Suribachi during the WWII Battle of Iwo Jima.

Pu’u o Mahuka Heiau State Historic SiteThe Pu’u o Mahuka Heiau, or “hill of escape,” is the largest heiau on Oahu. Overlooking beautiful Waimea Bay, this two-acre ancient Hawaiian temple provides a spectacular panoramic view of the North Shore to Kaena Point.

La’ie PointLocated on a small peninsula just past the Polynesian Cultrual Center, La’ie Point offers expansive panoramic views of the Windward Coast, Koolau Mountains, and parts of the North Shore.

Byodo-In TempleThe Byodo-In Temple sits just below the 2000-foot Koolau Mountains in the Valley of the Temples. Built in the 1960’s, this tranquil Buddhist temple is a replica of the 950-year old Byodo-In Temple in Uji, Japan. It was built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant workers who came to work on the Hawaii sugar plantation fields.

Diamond Head LighthouseThe original Diamond Head Lighthouse was constructed in 1899. Today, a reconstructed 55-foot lighthouse sits 147 feet above sea level, and marks the finish life of the biennial Trans Pacific Yacht Race that starts 2,225 miles away in Long Beach, California. Now operated by the US Coast guard, the lighthouse features 60,000 candlepower and 18-mile visibility.

Hanauma Bay Nature ReserveHanauma Bay Nature Reserve was once a volcanic crater that has been eroded by waves and time. Today, the protected cove has been transformed into a Nature Preserve and Marine Life Conservation District featuring pristine waters, vibrant coral reefs, and hundreds of unique marine life and fish including the majestic Honu (Hawaiian green sea turtle) and Humu-humu-nuku-nuku-apua’a (trigger fish).

Halona Cove and Blow HoleHiding along the scenic coastline of South Oahu is the Halona Cove and Blow Hole. A 30-foot geyser of ocean water erupts from an underwater lava tube. The small cove to the bottom right of the Blow Hole is the site of the love scene from the Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr movie From Here to Eternity.

Lyon ArboretumThe University of Hawaii Lyon Arboretum is a lush, 200-acre botanical garden located in upper Manoa Valley. Featuring spectacular island trees, flora, birds, and wildlife, the Lyon Arboretum and Botanical Garden is the only university botanical garden located in a tropical rainforest.

Honolulu Academy of ArtsOnce the family home of Anna Rice Cooke, the Honolulu Academy of Arts was founded in 1927, and has since become Hawaii’s premiere art museum, with over 50,000 collected works.

The Hawaii-style building, now registered as a National and State Historic site, was redesigned by New York architect Bertram Goodhue, and features off-white exteriors, tiled roofs, and airy showcases that highlight the museum’s mission style.

Pu’u ‘Ualaka’a Park.

Pu’u ‘Ualaka’a Park on Mt. Tantalus offers sweeping panoramic views of southern Oahu, including Diamond Head, Waikiki, downtown Honolulu, Punchbowl Crater, and the Honolulu International Airport. This is also the famous picnic spot featured in the Elvis Presley film Blue Hawaii.

Hawaii Culture

Hawaii is a tropical paradise which has more than its share of pristine beaches, stunning sunsets, towering waterfalls and reefs teeming with colorful fish. Anyone who has been here knows Hawaii is different, unique, special and unforgettable. What sets these islands apart from the rest of the world? It's the native culture, the Hawaiian culture. It's a culture that is filled with fascinating customs, music, legends, traditions and values.

The flower lei

Today, probably the most enjoyable and unforgettable Hawaiian custom is the flower lei. Custom dictates that a lei should be offered graciously with a kiss and removed only in private. It's considered rude to remove a lei once it's accepted in view of anyone, but especially in view of the person(s) who gave it to you. Lei designs are limited only to the imagination and range from the simple common one-strand orchid or tuberose presented as a special treat to those who arrive by plane or ship to the more elaborate or rare depending on how important the occasion may be.

Expert canoe builders and non-instrument navigators

Early Hawaiians have a history of being expert canoe builders. The tradition requires that prayer and food offerings are made to forest gods before, during and after the tree is taken from the forest. Cultural protocols determine exactly how the tree for a canoe would be felled.

Early Hawaiians were also master non-instrument navigators. Using only the sun, moon, stars and waves, they were known to traverse the Pacific, which resulted in the occupation of many small islands in Polynesia. The Hawaiians had an intimate knowledge of the location and types of celestial bodies. Everything from the North Star to the South Cross have Hawaiian identities and lore.

The language

Then there's the Hawaiian language. Comprised of only five vowels and eight consonants, Hawaiian has the shortest alphabet in the world. Tricky for most to master, the language is comprised of soft sounds with words having many and often hidden meanings. One of the most notable is the word aloha. It's probably the most widely known of all Hawaiian words, and it is one of the most important.

Aloha not only means hello, goodbye and love, it also means sympathy, kindness, compassion, affection and fondness. This word is more than a greeting or expression of love – it is the basis of what Hawaiians consider to be one of the culture’s core values.

Hawaiian cultural values also include terms like akahai, which defines a person’s demeanor as modest, gentle and unpretentious. Also important is lokahi, meaning harmony and peace, oluolu meaning agreeable and pleasant and ahonui, which means patient and enduring.

The hula

Another Hawaiian icon is the hula. It's an image of swaying hips, graceful hands and colorful costumes. The hula has evolved over the years from an activity exclusively for men and for religious purposes to today's contemporary dances, where both the men and women dance for fun, expression and enjoyment. Hula today has two major forms, the ancient, or hula kahiko and the modern, or hula auana.

Hula kahiko is accompanied in the Hawaiian language along with drums and other percussion implements. Hula kahiko is performed for storytelling or for religious and ceremonial purposes. Dancers are adorned with bark cloth, coconut fibers and native grasses, plants and ferns. Hula auana is colorful, fun, upbeat and musical. Auana dances are accompanied by song in English or Hawaiian, as well as ukuleles and piano guitars. The dancers’ dresses are colorful and are decorated with flower prints.

The music

Music has also grown to be a familiar and popular part of Hawaiian culture. Ever evolving from a beginning of simple drumbeats and chants, music today is filled with a multitude of artists and genres that include hapa-haole (Hawaiian melody with English lyrics), traditional, luau, kolohe (naughty or teasing hula), chalangalang, jawaiian and more.

Total expenditures:

Flight: $2277

Accommodation: $504

Meals: $ 280

Transport: $451

Shopping: $ 600

Others: $ 400

Total: $ 4512