Honolulu is the “largest” city in the world. That’s because Hawaii’s state constitution states that any island not named as belonging to a county belongs to Honolulu. This makes the entire island of Oahu, where Honolulu is located, plus all the other small, uninhabited islands, known as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, part of Honolulu. Honolulu is about 1,500 miles (2,414 km) long. Or in other words, it spans the distance from Los Angeles, California, to Denver, Colorado.
Oahu is home to the world’s largest wind generator. The windmill is located on the top of a 20-story tower. It has two blades, each measuring 400 feet (122 m) in length.
Foster Botanical Garden near Iolani Palace was built in 1855, which makes it the oldest garden in Hawaii.
Waikiki attracts 72,000 visitors on any given day. That’s as much as 44 percent of all tourists present in the entire state of Hawaii.
Iolani Palace, located in downtown Honolulu, is the only royal palace in the United States.
Electric lights illuminated Iolani Palace four years before the White house had them.
Honolulu is the second most expensive city in the United States, after Anchorage, Alaska.
And a few more facts...not about Oahu...
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Fun Facts
The coral reefs in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands make up about 70 percent of all the reefs in the United States.
The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are a National Monument since June 15, 2006, when George W. Bush issued a public proclamation that created the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument under the Antiquities Act of 1906. The Monument includes all islands and surrounding waters, making it the largest marine wildlife reserve in the world. It encompasses 139,000 square miles of ocean. That's about the size of California.
The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are home to more than 7,000 marine species, a quarter of which are found nowhere else in the world. One such marine species are the approximately 1,400 surviving Hawaiian monk seals, which is the entire population of this endangered species. The archipelago is also the breeding ground for 90 percent of the endangered Hawaiian green sea turtle. Huge schools of fish, many seabirds and an enormous coral reef can also be found on these islands.
Today's word in Hawaiian is Nani (nah-nee) means Beautiful, pretty
The Shaka and Hawaii Time
Now that I have taught the girls how to "hang loose" I thought I'd do a little research to find out what I had taught them....
There seems to be a lot of questions surrounding the Shaka, but it appears to be accepted as part of the culture now....
How to Make a Shaka and to send a shaka: make a fist with either hand. Extend the thumb and pinky while keeping the middle fingers curled under. Face your thumb and pinky away from your body and draw an invisible “j” in the air. Give your shaka a shake and you’re communicating Hawaiian-style!
Some of the dispute is over the name...as we know from reading the blog there is no "sh"
in the Hawaiian language...
There are a couple of stories as to the origin...one of my favorites is the fella who was involved in an industrial accident and lost all but his thumb and pinky on one hand...he then was hired to keep kids off the sugar cane train....the kids would use the train to ride into town...the kids would signal each other when the security guy was near by flashing the "shaka"....
There is another story that links it to a TV pitchman and yet another that has it being popularized by a politician in campaigns beginning in 1976.
If you would like to read about it here are some links...
http://www.to-hawaii.com/shaka.php
http://starbulletin.com/2002/03/31/news/kokualine.html
I've heard a lot about "Hawaiian time" lately and I guess it is something we should all consider as we make our plans. According to my information, the people of Hawaii are much more laid back than those of us here on the mainland, it has even been suggested in some of my reading that we may become infected by this feeling (although some of us that are a bit more tense than others it may take longer). We should remember that the two reasons for our trip to Hawai'i are Granny's Birthday and to experience beauty and a sense of peace. Speaking of Hawaiian time, here is a little, "Did You Know?"...Hawaii has its own time zone. It’s called Hawaiian Standard Time. There is no daylight savings time in Hawaii, which means that in summer, Hawaii is two hours behind the U.S. West Coast, while in winter, Hawaii is three hours behind the U.S. West Coast.
The word for today is Haole (how-leh) originally meant foreigner now means Caucasian.
There seems to be a lot of questions surrounding the Shaka, but it appears to be accepted as part of the culture now....
How to Make a Shaka and to send a shaka: make a fist with either hand. Extend the thumb and pinky while keeping the middle fingers curled under. Face your thumb and pinky away from your body and draw an invisible “j” in the air. Give your shaka a shake and you’re communicating Hawaiian-style!
Some of the dispute is over the name...as we know from reading the blog there is no "sh"
in the Hawaiian language...
There are a couple of stories as to the origin...one of my favorites is the fella who was involved in an industrial accident and lost all but his thumb and pinky on one hand...he then was hired to keep kids off the sugar cane train....the kids would use the train to ride into town...the kids would signal each other when the security guy was near by flashing the "shaka"....
There is another story that links it to a TV pitchman and yet another that has it being popularized by a politician in campaigns beginning in 1976.
If you would like to read about it here are some links...
http://www.to-hawaii.com/shaka.php
http://starbulletin.com/2002/03/31/news/kokualine.html
I've heard a lot about "Hawaiian time" lately and I guess it is something we should all consider as we make our plans. According to my information, the people of Hawaii are much more laid back than those of us here on the mainland, it has even been suggested in some of my reading that we may become infected by this feeling (although some of us that are a bit more tense than others it may take longer). We should remember that the two reasons for our trip to Hawai'i are Granny's Birthday and to experience beauty and a sense of peace. Speaking of Hawaiian time, here is a little, "Did You Know?"...Hawaii has its own time zone. It’s called Hawaiian Standard Time. There is no daylight savings time in Hawaii, which means that in summer, Hawaii is two hours behind the U.S. West Coast, while in winter, Hawaii is three hours behind the U.S. West Coast.
The word for today is Haole (how-leh) originally meant foreigner now means Caucasian.
The Hazards of Hawai'i (Part 2)
The hazards continue (but they are fewer)
#5 - Swimming in streams - There are few chances on Oahu to swim in streams or under water falls...there are a few hazards associated with doing so. Leptospirosis is a bacteria found in some of Hawai'i's freshwater. Also, consider wearing reef shoes when swimming in streams. I have also seen warnings about flash floods and rocks coming over waterfalls.
#6 - Dehydration - Carry and drink lots of water while we are out and about, by the time you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated.
#7 - Traffic - Traffic can be a big problem in the Honolulu area. I don't know how it compares to Houston...
#8 - Last but not least - Grocery Stores - These are a decided hazard. Although it does say we should save some money cooking our own food...I hear that a trip to the store can be startling. Phrases like they charge how much for milk ? sound as if they are common. Even items like pineapples grown in Hawai'i could cost more than we pay for them here. They do recommend Sam's Club in the Ala Moana Area or Costco west of Waikiki.
Today's word in Hawaiian is Moana (moh-ah-nah) means ocean.
#5 - Swimming in streams - There are few chances on Oahu to swim in streams or under water falls...there are a few hazards associated with doing so. Leptospirosis is a bacteria found in some of Hawai'i's freshwater. Also, consider wearing reef shoes when swimming in streams. I have also seen warnings about flash floods and rocks coming over waterfalls.
#6 - Dehydration - Carry and drink lots of water while we are out and about, by the time you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated.
#7 - Traffic - Traffic can be a big problem in the Honolulu area. I don't know how it compares to Houston...
#8 - Last but not least - Grocery Stores - These are a decided hazard. Although it does say we should save some money cooking our own food...I hear that a trip to the store can be startling. Phrases like they charge how much for milk ? sound as if they are common. Even items like pineapples grown in Hawai'i could cost more than we pay for them here. They do recommend Sam's Club in the Ala Moana Area or Costco west of Waikiki.
Today's word in Hawaiian is Moana (moh-ah-nah) means ocean.
The Hazards of Hawai'i (Part 1)
Here are some of the hazards that may become part of our trip. (But I hope not)
#1 - Oahu is at 21 deg. Latitude. It receives sunlight more directly than any where on the mainland. Sunblock of at least SPF 15 is recomended. Lotion types are usually used when walking/hiking and gel types, such as Bullfrog, when going in the water. It is strongly suggested to wear a t-shirt while snorkling and try to avod the sun between 11 am and 2 pm.
#2 - Water Hazards - The surf is the most hazardous water hazard. Although its more calm in the summer and on the leeward side, we are on the windward side, high surf can be found anywhere at anytime. More people drown in Hawai'i than anywhere else in the country.
#3 - Ocean Critters - The odds are overwhelming that we will have trouble from any of these but we have some information in case we happen accross any of them.
A) Sharks - Most are essentially harmles white tipped reef sharks. An occasional hammerhead or tiger shark may also be seen. In the past 25 years there have only been a handful of documented shark attacks off Oahu, mostly tigers attacking surfers. In general don't go worrying about sharks and if you do come upon one, the books suggest swimming away slowly.
B) Portuguese Man-of-War - Related to the jelly fish they are small but they pack a painful sting. Fortunately, they are not common to most beaches, howeve, when they do come ashore they do so in large numbers. If you see them on the beach don't go in the water.
C) Box Jellyfish - Oahu is the only island in the chain where jelly fish can be a problem. Nine or ten days after the full moon box jelly fish approach the shoreline, especially on leeward beaches. I don't think we will be there during shis time frame.
D) The Rest... Shoes will go along way to protecting us against the likes of Sea Urchins, Coral and Sea Anemones.
#4 - Bugs - Guess what...NO myriad of hideous bugs! The worst bugs are centipedes, but, you will probably never see one. There are cane spiders, which are not poisonous, although they think they are. Bees and wasps are more common on the leeward sides of the island. Mosquitoes, it is indicated that if you turn on the overhead fan in your room at night it will help keep them away, but they do recommend a good repellent containing DEET. Regarding cockroaches...there is good news and bad news...the bad news some are bigger than your thumb and they fly...the good news is you probably won't see any. One of there predators is the gecko, which makes a surprisingly loud chirp at night. There are no snakes in Hawai'i (other than some reporters). There is some concern that the brown tree snake might have made it onto the island from Guam, and although they are harmless to humans, if we see one we are instructed to kill it and call the pest hot line.
More later....
Today's word in Hawaiian is Akamai (ah-kah-MY) means wise or shrewd.
#1 - Oahu is at 21 deg. Latitude. It receives sunlight more directly than any where on the mainland. Sunblock of at least SPF 15 is recomended. Lotion types are usually used when walking/hiking and gel types, such as Bullfrog, when going in the water. It is strongly suggested to wear a t-shirt while snorkling and try to avod the sun between 11 am and 2 pm.
#2 - Water Hazards - The surf is the most hazardous water hazard. Although its more calm in the summer and on the leeward side, we are on the windward side, high surf can be found anywhere at anytime. More people drown in Hawai'i than anywhere else in the country.
#3 - Ocean Critters - The odds are overwhelming that we will have trouble from any of these but we have some information in case we happen accross any of them.
A) Sharks - Most are essentially harmles white tipped reef sharks. An occasional hammerhead or tiger shark may also be seen. In the past 25 years there have only been a handful of documented shark attacks off Oahu, mostly tigers attacking surfers. In general don't go worrying about sharks and if you do come upon one, the books suggest swimming away slowly.
B) Portuguese Man-of-War - Related to the jelly fish they are small but they pack a painful sting. Fortunately, they are not common to most beaches, howeve, when they do come ashore they do so in large numbers. If you see them on the beach don't go in the water.
C) Box Jellyfish - Oahu is the only island in the chain where jelly fish can be a problem. Nine or ten days after the full moon box jelly fish approach the shoreline, especially on leeward beaches. I don't think we will be there during shis time frame.
D) The Rest... Shoes will go along way to protecting us against the likes of Sea Urchins, Coral and Sea Anemones.
#4 - Bugs - Guess what...NO myriad of hideous bugs! The worst bugs are centipedes, but, you will probably never see one. There are cane spiders, which are not poisonous, although they think they are. Bees and wasps are more common on the leeward sides of the island. Mosquitoes, it is indicated that if you turn on the overhead fan in your room at night it will help keep them away, but they do recommend a good repellent containing DEET. Regarding cockroaches...there is good news and bad news...the bad news some are bigger than your thumb and they fly...the good news is you probably won't see any. One of there predators is the gecko, which makes a surprisingly loud chirp at night. There are no snakes in Hawai'i (other than some reporters). There is some concern that the brown tree snake might have made it onto the island from Guam, and although they are harmless to humans, if we see one we are instructed to kill it and call the pest hot line.
More later....
Today's word in Hawaiian is Akamai (ah-kah-MY) means wise or shrewd.
Stuff to Pack
According to my research this is all we need to take with us...(maybe a little more)...
Waterproof sunblock
Two bathing suits
Shoes - flip flops, trashable sneakers, reef shoes, hiking shoes if you need them
Mask, snorkel and fins...although you can rent these
Camera
Junk clothes for biking, hiking, ect.
Light rain jacket
Mosquito repellent, lotions recommended over liquids
Shorts and other cool cotton clothing
Fanny pack
Cheap simple backpack
Hat or cap
You may not need to bring everything on the list but it may cause you to think of things that you hadn't already....
Today's word in Hawaiian is Lomi (low-mee) it means to rub or massage.
Waterproof sunblock
Two bathing suits
Shoes - flip flops, trashable sneakers, reef shoes, hiking shoes if you need them
Mask, snorkel and fins...although you can rent these
Camera
Junk clothes for biking, hiking, ect.
Light rain jacket
Mosquito repellent, lotions recommended over liquids
Shorts and other cool cotton clothing
Fanny pack
Cheap simple backpack
Hat or cap
You may not need to bring everything on the list but it may cause you to think of things that you hadn't already....
Today's word in Hawaiian is Lomi (low-mee) it means to rub or massage.
Day 7 - Our last day
Perhaps before we catch our plane this evening it would be a good time to locate some reminders of our trip...yes that's right...now would be a great time to pick up those gifts for our friends and souvenirs for our selves... Other than a return to the Ala Mona Shopping Center I was thinking of Kalakaua AvenueProfile of Waikiki, Oahu, Hawaii in Waikiki or the International Marketplace .International Market Place - Oahu Shopping - VirtualTourist.com There are also some shops to spend time in at Hale'iwa, Oahu : Shopping : The North Shore: Haleiwa Frommers.com the Waikele Premium Outlet Waikele Premium Outlets, Oahu Shopping : Reviews and Location of the Waikele Premium Outlets - MSN Travel Destinations and we would like to see the shops of Chinatown Aloha-Hawaii.com: A Walk Through Chinatown Honolulu. I'm sure that we can fill a day before we have to hit the airport.
Today's word in Hawaiian is Hana (hah-nah) which means work.
Today's word in Hawaiian is Hana (hah-nah) which means work.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
