By Balwant Sanghera
Hawaii is like a paradise on earth. For a long time,I had a desire to visit this beautiful place. Finally it happened towards the end of December as it was part of a family vacation. After a six hour flight from Vancouver, our Air Canada flight landed in Honolulu in the middle of the night. Our hotel on the popular Waikiki beach made it very convenient for us to enjoy leisurely walks along the beach for the duration of our stay on the Oahu Island. Oahu is one of several islands that collectively make up the state of Hawaii. This 50th state of the U.S. is the only state located in the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii is the only state composed entirely of islands. It encompasses nearly the entire archipelago, 137 islands spread over 1500miles. Hawaii was annexed by the United States on July 4, 1898. It was admitted as the 50th state of the United States of America in 1959. Along with many other attributes Hawaii has become a tourist Mecca for people around the globe. Thus, it was a treat to spend a few days there along with my entire family.
Couple of days after arrival in this city of one million, it was the New Year eve. The crowd started gathering on the Waikiki Beach in the evening. By about 11 PM the whole place –the beach as well as the roads leading to it -were overflowing with people to witness the fireworks. The organizers did an amazing job in lighting up the sky with beautiful colour formations. It was one of the best fireworks I have seen in many years. The festive mood all around was just unbelievable.
One thing that stands out about Hawaii is its lovely warm weather. Throughout our stay there, the temperature was always around 26 or 27 degreesCelsius. Occasionally, there was a drizzle and rain. The beaches were usually full of visitors of all ages ranging from toddlers to senior citizens. The people-both locals and visitors- were very friendly. We spent most of our time on Oahu Island which is also known as The Gathering Place. The lush green parks, boulevards and grounds were all around. Calling Honolulu the green city will be an understatement. Honolulu (meaningsheltered bay), the 11th largest city in the U.S. and the only big city in Hawaii hosts numerous activities ranging from simple to sophisticated.Beautiful beaches, rainforests with cascading waterfalls, a plethora of marine life,historic sites,dynamic nightlife and fine dining have added greatly to the charm of this place.
A trip to Hawaii won’t be complete without a visit to Pearl Harbour. The Battleship Missouri and Arizona Memorials are a stark reminder of December 7, 1941 when a surprise attack by Japan changed the dynamics of World War2 drastically. As a matter of fact, it was a very tragic and history changing event. The Americans have done an excellent job in preserving and honouring the memory of all of those who became the victims of the attack.
Experiencing the Diamond Head,the coral reefsof Kaneohe, Bay, theNuuanu Rainforest, the breathtaking North Shore and Sacred Falls are just amazing. Boating, surfing, hiking, shopping are added attractions for the visitors to enjoy. There is so much to do, to see and experience that the visitor is overwhelmed. However, with limited time one can do only so much. After spending about eight days in this paradise in the middle of Pacific Ocean it was time to say good bye and head home. Upon our return, despite pouring rain and 4 degree Celsius temperature it was great to be back home in Richmond.
Link Columnist BalwantSanghera is a retired School Psychologist and Community Activist.
