Hawaiian interlude

If there’s heaven on Earth it’s probably somewhere in that fleet of islands that are set in the turquoise-emerald waters of the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii, with its pristine white sands that stretch into the dark green contours of the hills, should certainly be on your list of the 100 places to visit before you die.

Eight main islands (and some smaller ones) make up Hawaii. There’s Oahu, Molokai, Kawhoolawe, Lanai, Niihau, Kauai and Maui and Hawaii (also called the Big Island). The state capital, Honolulu, is located in Oahu.

Getting to Honolulu is a bit circuitous from India and when, at the end of a rather tedious 10-hour flight from the east coast of America, we were told that we’d be touching down soon, it was a welcome bit of news.

When we hit the streets of Honolulu it was clear that commuting wouldn’t be a problem. The city is served by a very efficient and inexpensive bus system, as well as colour-coded trolleys (those open-sided touristy buses). A ride on the trolleys — that wind their way to all the major shopping places and restaurants in and around Honolulu — is free of charge.

The Red Honolulu City Line and the Blue Ocean Coast Line (this one touches the tourist attractions outside Honolulu) are intended exclusively for sightseeing.

We started our trip with a trolley ride and made our first halt downtown at the Royal Palace, America’s only authentic royal palace. The Iolani Palace is located next to the State Capitol Building and dates back to 1882.

In front of the palace stands the statue of King Kamehameha, the monarch who united the different islands under his rule. Having admired the palace we headed straight for the famed Waikiki Beach, a crescent-shaped stretch of sand that backs up into a row of hotels.

Next on our agenda was the equally memorable Bishop Museum at 1525 Bernice Street. The exhibits here provide an interesting insight into the history of the islands. As bonus you get to catch Hawaii’s famous hula dance.

A prime attraction lies outside Honolulu and in the Hanauma Bay area. Here you can gawk at the semi-circular remains of an ancient volcanic crater that is now partially submerged in the sea.

Back in Honolulu you simply can’t miss a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial. Honolulu has a very special historical significance that dates back to December 7, 1941 — the day the Japanese bombed the United States Navy at Pearl Harbor. A number of warships were sunk that day and others seriously damaged.

On view is the battleship USS Arizona which took a direct hit in the ammunition chamber and sank within minutes. The USS Arizona is the final resting place for many of the battleship’s crew members who lost their lives that day. The wreck — now christened the USS Arizona Memorial — rests in shallow waters, some of it visible above the surface.

Hawaii lies on the Pacific Ocean and is culturally very similar to other islands in the area that are collectively referred to as Polynesia. To get an insight into this part of the world, visitors must check out the 42-acre Polynesian Cultural Center, an hour’s drive from Honolulu.

When we arrived there, we were met by our guide for the day who handed us tickets for the cultural show scheduled later that evening. The guides, as well as some performers at this theme park, are natives of the Polynesian islands (including the islands that make up Hawaii). Most are students of Hawaii’s Brigham Young University. Between classes, the students play an active role in running the Polynesian Cultural Center. In exchange, they benefit from reduced tuition fees.

The map of the centre indicated that a section of the park was dedicated to the islands and tribes of Polynesia. This included Hawaii, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Marquesas, Tahiti and the Aotearoa island in New Zealand, which is also a part of Polynesia and home to the Maori tribe.

Stopping by the museum near the entrance, I admired the display of artefacts culled from the different islands. Moving on to the section that represented the Maoris, I noticed a small crowd had gathered outside their show area. The performance began with a demonstration of the ritual to welcome guests to the Maori village. This ritual has the Maoris assigning a group of spear-wielding warriors for the guests’ protection.

Before long, we found ourselves engrossed in the rites, dances and games of the tribe. Fifteen Maori warriors, their faces painted with black lines, broke into a vigorous, frenzied dance, feet stamping and spears clanging in rhythm that reached a crescendo.

Later that evening, the lavish buffet dinner featured typical island cuisine with plenty of fish dishes and an abundance of fruits. Soon after, we settled into our assigned seats for the final show of the day.

The evening drew to a close with the fire dance of Samoa. As the lights dimmed, a solitary performer in a traditional costume appeared on stage, twirling a spear tightly wrapped in cloth at each end. Soon enough the ends were set on fire and the dancer began twirling it as he danced his way around the stage.

And when the performance ended, it took us a few moments to come back to reality and break into resounding applause.

Ready reckoner

Getting there: Jet Airways, Air India and other international airlines operate daily flights to different cities in the US which in turn offer connections to Honolulu. Some US cities with non-stop flights to Honolulu include Newark, Houston, Detroit and Los Angeles.

When to go: With its tropical weather Honolulu is a year-round destination.

Where to stay: There’s a vast choice of hotels including a variety of budget hotels. Move further off from Waikiki Beach and the rates go down considerably.

Exchange Rate: US $1 = Rs 49 approx.


The Personal Telegraph