If you want to learn more about Hawaiian culture and history, the place to go while on Maui is the Bailey House Museum. Located in Wailuku, this museum, run by the Maui Historical Society, is the place to go to learn about Hawaiian culture, see artwork and artifacts and view furnished rooms from 19th century Maui. The house is a mission home built in 1833 on the site of the Royal Compound of King Kahekili, the last ruling chief of the island of Maui. Originally, the house served as a mission school for girls. It was purchased by Edward and Carline Bailey in 1847 where the Bailey family lived until 1888. The house has been resorted to it’s 19th century condition and currently serves to house many Hawaiian documents, artifacts and resources owned by the Hawaiian Historical Society. The museum is open Monday through Saturday from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M. Admission is $7 for adults ($5 for seniors)and $2.00 for children between the ages of 7-12. Children under 6 are admitted free of charge.
The coral reefs of Hawaii were very special to the Hawaiian people. In ancient times, not only did ancient Hawaiians get food from the sea, but they also worshiped coral as one of the first creatures to emerge from the sea during creation. The coral reefs are highly prized and protected as the special treasure that they are.
Exploring the Hawaiian coral reef is one of the outstanding things to do while vacationing in Hawaii. The waters are temperate and filled with fish of every color in the rainbow. Visitors can go snorkeling, scuba diving or even “snuba diving” on every island. Sea life is abundant and colorful among the swaying sea plants and corals. The Hawaiian coral reefs are home to to unique species of sea animals that are not found anywhere else on the planet. It is believed that well over a quarter of the reef animals living in these waters are unique to the islands. Places like Hanauma Bay on Ohau or Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii, to name just two, are great places to see unique marine life and enjoy all that the ocean has to offer in Hawaii.
If you enjoy Hawaii’s gorgeous lush foliage and tropical plants, a visit to Queen Liliuokalani, last reigning monarch of the Hawaiian Islands, should definitely be on your list of things to see and do while on the Big Island of Hawaii. The gardens span some 30 acres and have huge banyan trees, pathways, pagodas, ponds and bridges to make your stroll around the lush gardens both enjoyable and memorable. The garden is located next to Coconut Island just off of Banyan Tree Drive. Take the road past the hotels and turn right toward the ocean. The gardens will be on the left with a gorgeous view of Hilo Bay sprawling before you. Wander over the footbridge to Coconut Island while you are there.
If you love Mother Nature, a visit to Goat Island Bird Sanctuary (also known as Mokuauia Island) might be just the kind of experience that you would enjoy. Located on Oahu’s northeastern coast on the southern part of Malaekahana Bay, the island can be reached by swimming over to it during low tide from Cooke’s Point. Kayaking over is also a good way to get to the island easily and safely. This 13 acre area is home to many species of birds and is a protected seabird sanctuary. If you swim over to visit the island, be careful not to disturb or bother the seabirds, especially if it is during nesting season. The currents can be strong here so do not venture out into the water when the sea is rough or during high tide. If you swim over, you may want to take a flotation device as the ocean floor is sharp here and there are many reefs that you could step on and damage.
The center of the island is restricted for nesting birds and there are signs so do not go into the center of the island. If you travel to the island, be sure to obey all posted signs and take care not to disturb the birds or any sea turtles who may be basking in the soft sands here. To get to the location of this island, take Kamehameha Highway north of Laie to the Malaekahana State Park Recreation area. You will find parking in this area.
If you enjoys dramatic seascapes, be sure to stop by the Halona Blow Hole on the east side of the island of Oahu. Back when hot lava dripped into the ocean, it created underground lava tubes as it raced to the sea. This created some pretty spectacular holes where the ocean can come crashing through at high tide.If you haven’t seen a Hawaiian blow hole, this is definitely a stop you should make when you are exploring the east side of the island.
To get to the Halona Blow Hole, take the H-1 freeway east toward Hanauma Bay. The Blow Hole is located about a mile and a half past the entrance to Hanauma Bay. There is parking and a viewing area to give you a good view at a safe distance. The Blow Hole is at its finest on a windy day at high tide when the waves have more force. On days like this, the spray can go as high as 20 to 30 feet in the air. In winter months, you might even be lucky enough to see whales playing in the warm island waters off the eastern shore so be sure to look out to see while at the viewing point. In the summer, when the surf is calm, Halona Beach Cove can be a fun place to go swimming. Be sure to wear beach shoes as the path to the beach can be rocky and steep. Do not go into the water here when there is high surf or pounding waves as the area can definitely be unsafe during these times.
