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Any 'Best Of' travel guide inevitably includes the Hawaiian
Islands as the best place for sun, sand and natural attractions -
the place to head for an idyllic beach holiday.
Hawaii has some of the best beaches in the United States, each
unique in its dimensions, shapes and hues. These sandy stretches
are fronted by crystal waters teeming with tropical fish darting
through forests of coral. Some of the world's best surfing and
watersport opportunities are offered here and for those intent on
premium sightseeing it is hard to beat the thrill of watching lava
flow from the world's longest erupting volcano.
Visitors who relish exploring different cultures and ancient
civilisations will find the best of Polynesian relics in which to
indulge their passions, as they soak up some of the Mana
(spiritual power) with which the islands were imbued by the
legendary gods and goddesses.
The state of Hawaii includes approximately 130 islands in the
Pacific Ocean, many of which are uninhabited. The islands lie about
1,600 miles (2,600km) off the coast of mainland USA. The largest
island, Hawaii, is known unimaginatively as the Big Island, but the
state capital, Honolulu, and most of the population is located on
the smaller island of Oahu, which is also the main tourist
destination. The other main islands are Maui, Molokai and Kauai.
Between them the islands boast an amazingly diverse geography
providing endless recreation opportunities, from snowboarding on
mountain summits to hiking through rainforests. It's no wonder that
Hawaii is one of the most popular travel destinations in the United
States: the possibilities offered by a Hawaiian holiday are limited
only by the boundaries of the imagination.