There are tons of beautiful vacation destinations around the globe, but Hawaii has a top-notch reputation for a reason. People who are trying to escape cold weather know that they’ll have every opportunity to enjoy themselves in Hawaii. Folks looking for a break from their routine can achieve that in Hawaii as well.
Before booking your next vacation in Hawaii, though, it’s best to make sure the airports you’re traveling through are fully reliable. Click here to find out about the US airports with the most flight cancellations in 2023.
To compile this list of everything Hawaii is known for, 24/7 Tempo consulted several travel websites. These include Tourism Teacher, Travel Drafts, and Go Hawaii.
It’s nickname: The Aloha State
Hawaii’s nickname is “The Aloha State.” The reason why it snagged this nickname is because “aloha” is a common way to greet your friends and loved ones when you’re a local on the island. Another nickname for Hawaii is “Paradise of the Pacific,” but that nickname certainly isn’t as used as “The Aloha State.”
Exquisite beaches
The beaches of Hawaii are undeniably breathtaking. One of the reason these beaches are considered so stunning is due to the water clarity. Hawaiian water is a little more clear than what you’d see at a California beach. The sand is super clean because the locals generally respect the land where they live. There’s loads of lush greenery and beautiful ocean horizons where people can watch sunsets and sunrises.
Luaus
If you’ve never been to a Hawaiian luau, it’s definitely something that should be added to your bucket list! Hawaiian luaus are vibrant, colorful, exciting, and lively. They typically include impressive performances, high-vibrational music, and festive attire. On top of that, luaus usually always have massive and delicious feasts at the center.
Surfing and other water sports
Since people living in Hawaii have beach access at all hours of the day, it makes sense that surfing and other water sports are so heavily prevalent. Along with surfing, people enjoy scuba diving, wakeboarding, paddle boarding, cliff jumping, water skiing, jet skiing, parasailing, snorkeling, and more.
Volcanoes
One of the scarier details about Hawaii revolves around the volcanoes. There are six active volcanoes in Hawaii that are spread out among the various islands. Volcanoes are highly dangerous because they are powerfully destructive. They spew out hot lava, toxic gases, and ash. Once a volcano erupts, other threatening conditions can occur. This includes wildfires, water contamination, floods, and power outages.
Hula dancers
Would a traditional luau be complete without hula dancers? Hula dancing is a form of artistic expression for the natives of Hawaii. Since hula dancers are known for being the most authentic form of Hawaiian entertainment, it’s easy to come across these performers on various stages during your tropical vacation.
Aloha shirts
When people escape their mundane realities by taking trips to Hawaii, they occasionally throw on Aloha shirts. Aloha shirts are covered in brightly-colored Hawaiian flowers. These festive shirts help just about anyone get in to a vacation mood — even if you’re still at the airport and you haven’t even arrived in Hawaii yet!
The Dole Plantation
The Dole Plantation is a popular tourist attraction in Hawaii. In fact, more than 1 million visitors stop by the dole plantation every single year. Since the Dole Plantation spans across a three acre garden maze and offers a family-friendly train ride, it’s a place people can check out with family members of all ages.
Poke dishes
Poke is considered one of the most classic and iconic dishes to be served in Hawaii. On top of being well-known and popular, Poke is also highly nutritious. People who generally enjoy eating sushi often enjoy Poke since it’s slightly similar. It often includes tuna, red onion, scallions, seaweed, soy sauce, and sesame oil.
Lei necklaces
Some visitors to Hawaii are greeted by locals who are ready to place a lei necklace over their heads. Leis necklaces consist of gorgeous flowers sewn together in a connected chain. It’s also possible to find lei necklaces made out of fake flowers that you can wear forever.
The Pearl Harbor attack
One of darkest moments in history occurred on December 7, 1941. It was the attack on Pearl Harbor that resulted in 2,403 deaths. Out of those deaths, 68 were civilians. As of now, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial Museum exists as a place where people can pay their respects and reflect on the unforgettable event.
Kona coffee
Since Kona coffee comes from nutrient-rich and volcanic soil, it’s a little more expensive than coffee you’ll find anywhere else. Kona coffee exists thanks to labor-intensive harvesting processes after coffee beans are individually picked by hand. There’s nothing simple about the procedure in place to make a cup of Kona coffee! Since it requires so much energy and effort, Hawaii is known for it.
Ukuleles
When you listen to Hawaiian music, one of the most popular instruments, you’ll hear is the ukulele. Ukuleles are used as the backdrop to many classic Hawaiian songs, that help people feel light hearted, happy, and relaxed. Although ukuleles look similar to guitars, they’re actually much different since they only have four strings.
Palm trees
The palm trees of Hawaii make the island landscape look so much prettier. Palm trees are a universal symbol of vacation time and relaxation. Since there are so many palm trees scattered across the islands of Hawaii, it’s easy for people to associate these elegant trees with the Aloha State.
High cost of living
One negative thing Hawaii is known for is the high cost of living. Purchasing homes, cars, and gasoline will certainly take a pretty penny out of your bank account. When it comes to buying your essentials at the grocery store, those prices are also steep. The fact that most grocery store items must be shipped in from other places is a huge reason why.
Movie and TV show backdrops
Plenty of popular movies and TV shows have been filmed in Hawaii. Some of the biggest movies include “Aloha” starring Bradley Cooper, “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” starring Jennifer Lawrence, “The Descendants” starring George Clooney, and “Jumanji 3″ starring Dwayne Johnson. Shows like “NCIS: Hawaii,” “Hawaii Five-0,” and “Baywatch” have also used Hawaii as a fabulous backdrop.
Mai Tai cocktails
Although it’s true that Mai Tai cocktails originated in California thanks to a restaurant owner named Victor J. Bergeron, this drink beloved in Hawaii. It’s one of the most common orders bartenders receive while working on the islands. The tropical drink is fruity and refreshing due to its combination of pineapple juice, orange juice, lime juice, spiced rum, and grenadine.
Barack Obama and other famous people born there
Former President Barack Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on August 4, 1961. He isn’t the only famous person who was born and raised somewhere across the islands, either. Nicole Kidman, Nicole Scherzinger, Lauren Graham, and Kelly Preston were all born in Hawaii before forging their pathways to fame and notoriety.
Rainbows
Since rainbows are so frequent in Hawaii, it’s easy to correlate the two. It’s all thanks to random tropical downpours of rain! Hawaii is definitely known for its gorgeous arches of color in the sky. The trade winds and constant cloud coverage in Hawaii are additional reasons for the constant rainbows that streak across the sky.
Coconuts
Coconuts are recognized as delicious, tropical fruits. Polynesian voyagers introduced coconuts to Hawaiian soil wherever they were able to settle down on open land. Coconut seeds can be used to plant full-fledged coconut trees, which you’ll easily come across in most areas throughout Hawaii. It’s obvious that Hawaii is a beautiful place on earth with much to offer, but click here to discover 45 amazing places you never knew existed.