HAWAII: THE ALOHA STATE
BY CLAY
LARROY
We lead
such busy lives working, going to school, taking children to different
activities that often we do not stop and talk to our children. We usually do
not have time to sit around the dinner table and ask our children what they did
today. Family vacations are so important, as it gives us a way to connect
with each other in a stress free relaxed environment. Families that take
vacations together build memories that will last a lifetime. Family vacations
and travel can be a most rewarding experience. When you are ready to
plan a vacation contact me!
Oahu – “The Gathering Place”
About Oahu
Sometimes called “The Gathering
Place,” Oahu certainly lives up to its name. The third largest Hawaiian island
is home to the majority of Hawaii’s diverse population, a fusion of east and
west cultures rooted in the values and traditions of the Native Hawaiian
people. It’s this fundamental contrast between the ancient and the modern that
makes discovering Oahu so enjoyable.
The clear blue waters of Kailua Beach meet the metropolitan cityscapes of Honolulu. The
historic architecture of Iolani Palace meets the timeless memorials of Pearl Harbor.
The big city of Waikiki meets
the small town of Haleiwa on the North Shore.
Whether you’re hiking atop iconic Leahi
(Diamond Head), enjoying some of Hawaii’s best shopping, or simply unwinding on the sands of the island’s
beautiful beaches, you’ll find variety at every turn on Oahu.
Oahu
History
From the Hawaiian monarchy to the
attack on Pearl Harbor, an exploration of Oahu’s history reflects the key
influences that have impacted all of Hawaii. In 1795, King Kamehameha I led
his forces in the legendary Battle of Nuuanu near the scenic precipices of
the Nuuanu Pali Lookout. This pivotal battle resulted in the conquering of
Oahu and the eventual unification of the Hawaiian Islands under one rule in
1810.
Seven Hawaiian monarchs followed after
Kamehameha the Great. King Kamehameha III (Kauikeaouli) permanently established
the Hawaiian Kingdom’s government on Oahu. King Kamehameha IV (Alexander
Liholiho) and his wife Emma’s summer retreat, the Queen Emma Summer Palace,
can still be visited in Honolulu’s
Nuuanu Valley today. King Kalakaua, also known as the Merrie Monarch, built the
majestic Iolani Palace in Downtown Honolulu.
Queen Liliuokalani was Hawaii’s last reigning monarch after American colonists
overthrew the Hawaiian Kingdom in a controversial coup in 1893. In 1898, Hawaii
became a territory of the United States.
The 1800’s were a time of great change
for Hawaii. Christian missionaries became influential after King Kamehameha II
(Liholiho) ended the traditional kapu (taboo) system. Many of the historic
churches on Oahu are reminders of Christianity’s influence, such as Kawaiahao Church in
downtown Honolulu, which was a place of worship for Hawaiian kings and alii
(royalty). Soon, new commerce emerging from whaling, sugar and pineapple
industries resulted in an influx of western settlers.
As agriculture boomed in the late 19th
century, plantation owners found themselves in the midst of a labor shortage.
Immigrants from Japan, China, Korea, Puerto Rico, Portugal, Russia and the
Philippines arrived to work in the plantations. Today, this mix of ethnicities
is the source of Hawaii’s multicultural population. Visitors can step backward
in time to explore this era at Waipahu’s Plantation Village.
You can also still see the smoke stack of the old Waialua Sugar Mill as you
drive toward historic Haleiwa town.
In the early 1900’s, agriculture began
to wane and Hawaii’s visitor industry began to grow. In 1901, the Moana Hotel
opened on the beach in Waikiki. Today
the Westin
Moana Surfrider is Hawaii’s oldest resort still in operation.
The Halekulani
Hotel opened in 1917 as a cottage colony and was rebuilt as a
luxury hotel in the 1970s. The Aloha Tower opened
in 1926, and was the tallest building in Hawaii for four decades. In 1927 the
iconic Royal
Hawaiian Hotel opened and was nicknamed the “Pink Palace.”
On the morning of December 7, 1941,
the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor pushing
America into World War II. The surprise attack was aimed at the Pacific Fleet
of the United States Navy and its defending Army Air Corps and Marine Air Forces.
The attack damaged or destroyed 12 American warships, destroyed 188 aircraft
and resulted in the deaths of 2,403 American servicemen and 68 civilians.
In 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state
of the United States. Completed in 1969, the Hawaii State Capitol is located in
Downtown Honolulu, behind Iolani Palace.
From the largest museum in the state, Bishop Museum,
to the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites, Oahu is home to numerous landmarks and
significant points of interest that shed light on the fascinating facets of
Hawaii’s past.
Aloha Tower is a historic Honolulu landmark
and home to an outdoor shopping and dining marketplace.
Bishop Museum houses the largest collection
of Hawaiian artifacts in the state and is a popular destination for the whole
family.
The only official state residence of royalty
in the U.S., Iolani Palace’s grounds and galleries are now open to the public
as a museum.
The historic Kawaiahao Church was the first
Christian Church built on Oahu in 1842.
Nuuanu Pali Lookout is one of Oahu’s most
popular scenic spots with panoramic views of Windward Oahu and the Koolau
mountain range.
Five Pearl Harbor
Historic Sites honor this National Historic Landmark where World War II both
began and ended.
REFERENCE SITES:
I thought my book was done,
then we went to Hawaii
and the whole last chapter happened.
Mariel Hemingway
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