Since Hawaii is celebrating 50 years of Statehood on August 21, 2009, I thought it would be fun to sit down and write down the first 50 things that come to mind when I consider the things I like about Hawaii.
I decided not to include specific hotels or resorts since that would take up too much of the list. With that exception then, here, in no particular order, are 50 things I like about Hawaii. You can click on the links to find out more about each of my picks.
- Visiting Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial
- Taking a helicopter tour of Kauai with Jack Harter Helicopters
- Whale watching with the Pacific Whale Foundation
- Searching out Lost filming locations on Oahu with Kos Tours
- Seeing the earth grow at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- The music of the late great IZ - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
- Sunrise over Haleakala
- Snorkeling with Teralani Sailing Adventures on Maui
- Sailing with Wild Side Specialty Tours off of Oahu's Leeward Coast
- Exploring Honolulu's hole-in-the-wall restaurants with Hawaii Food Tours
- Lunch at one of Oahu's North Shore shrimp trucks
- The views from the top of Diamond Head
- Seeing sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea with Hawaii Forest and Trail
- The Paradise Cove Luau
- Spending a day at the Polynesian Cultural Center
- Getting take-out dinner at the Honokowai Okazuka and Deli
- Dinner at the Dinner at the Teppan-Yaki Dan at the Sheraton Maui Resort
- Ziplining with Kauai Backcountry Adventures
- Going on a Hawaii Movie Tour on Kauai
- Watching the surfers on Oahu's North Shore
- A special dinner at The Feast at Lele in Lahaina
- The Old Lahaina Luau
- Walking in the shoes of Father Damien on Molokai's Kalaupapa Peninsula
- Swimming with and photographing a Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle
- ABC Stores
- Watching the penguins at the Hilton Hawaiian Village
- Taking a fast ride on Fair Wind Cruises' Hula Kai
- Soaring over Ka'anapali Beach with UFO Parasail
- Watching the Aloha Festivals Floral Parade
- Halloween in Lahaina, Maui
- A drive along the Road to Hana
- Tasting wine at Maui's Winery
- The flowers and tropical plants at the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden near Hilo
- Shopping on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki
- Taking a tour at Parker Ranch
- Driving to Kauai's Waimea Canyon
- Seeing a Hawaiian Monk Seal resting on the beach
- The great Buddha at the Lahaina Jodo Mission
- The Byodo-In Temple in the Valley of the Temples, Oahu
- Hawaiian shirts from Tori Richard
- Taking photos... anywhere
- The peace you find on Oahu's Waimanalo Beach
- A morning at the Honolulu Zoo
- Riding horseback in the Big Island's Waipio Valley
- Seeing Hawaii's underwater world on an Atlantis Submarine Tour
- Seeing Sistah Robi Kahakalau perform live
- Exploring Historic Honolulu
- A glider ride with Honolulu Soaring over Oahu's North Shore
- A Blue Hawaii cocktail
- Having lunch or dinner with my good Hawaii friends
