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Perhaps no other vacation destination has as many choices as Hawaii. Consisting of a chain of islands most people tend to let the travel agent select their destination. Unless you have made repeated trips to Hawaii, you may be missing the ideal site for your vacation. I have provided this short guide to the islands, based on my many trips to all of the islands. Hopefully it will help you select the right place for your next visit.

The Hawaiian Islands were all formed by the same underwater volcano and the further north you go the older the islands. The commercialization of Hawaii is also different on each island. Some islands have large cities while some have scattered condos and hotels.

OAHU: Until a few years ago, all visitors flew into Honolulu airport and venturing to any other island required another short flight. Today, major airlines fly into Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and the big island of Hawaii. Oahu is dominated by Waikiki beach and the city of Honolulu. The oldest hotels in Hawaii are on Waikiki beach. It is a crowded beach adjacent to a very large metropolitan city. Traffic is even a problem. Highlights include Pearl Harbor, the Punchbowl crater, Sealife Park, and the Cultural Center. There are much better destinations than Oahu. I avoid Oahu on all of my trips to Hawaii.

KAUAI: The garden island is beautiful and less hectic. The southern part of the island includes resorts and golf courses. The east side is scattered hotels and small cities while the west side is the breathtaking Napili coast. There is much to do on Kauai including traveling to the "Grand Canyon", taking a boat trip to Napili, and cruising up the Waialua River. Kauai does not have the best beaches or snorkeling sites, but is much more laid back and beautiful than some of the other islands.

MAUI: Called the "Best" of Hawaii, has the most to offer including snorkeling, the Halelukela crater, Lahina city, shopping, golfing, etc. It is separated into East and West Maui which are two separate craters. From Maui, you can see Lanai (about a 40 minute boat ride), and Molokai about 10 miles to the north. The Kaanapali Beach area is the oldest part of the island and contains a string of hotels. In the past 15 years, the Wailua Beach area has developed into a high-end part of the island with expensive hotels and exquisite golf courses. The scenery is beautiful, and the activities are extensive. Most people should include Maui in their trip plans.

HAWAII: The big island is made up of two large 15,000 foot volcanoes and boasts the only active volcano in the islands. It is very diversified and includes cattle ranches, live volcanoes, lust tropical jungles, and dry coast lines with fine beaches. It would take you a whole day to drive around the island. To the east is Hilo, with its lush tropical gardens. To the west is Kona, the dry coast with fine hotels and golfing. Between Hilo and Kona are the Volcano National Park and its active Kilauea Volcano. Hawaii is less traveled than Oahu or Maui and a good destination for a family that likes to take in some excursions while still having fun in the ocean.

MOLOKAI: Still relatively un-developed, Molokai has some of the most beautiful scenery in all of Hawaii. The east coast consists of 6,000 foot cliffs but is accessible only from air or sea. This is the place to relax for those A - type personalities. There are not as many activities or diversions except for some golf courses on the north shore and an animal reserve in the middle. If you want a place to learn how to relax, this is it.

In summary, there is something for everyone in Hawaii. Oahu is the most developed and unless you love people and like shopping in metropolitan centers, you can find more relaxing places in Hawaii. Maui is a must. Its rich whaling history, fine restaurants, myriad of water activities and diversity of landscapes make it worth the visit. Kauai and Hawaii are special islands for the discriminating visitor. There are things to do with much less commercialism. Select Kauai to relax or play golf, and Hawaii to explore lava tubes and jungles. If you are looking for a retreat, look to Molokai with its limited amenities forcing you to sit by the pool sipping your Blue Hawaii.

In a subsequent publication, I will focus on where to stay in the islands and how to use the internet to find your next vacation retreat.

Patrick Fargo is the author of various articles and books on management, software and the internet. He has a manuscript for a book titled, "Management Evolution: Why Companies are Failing" completed and is looking for a publisher. One of his passions is Hawaii. He has made over 10 trips to the islands and has provided advice to many of his friends. Visit his site to see some of his articles and other "works of art" at www.patrickfargo.com. Pat can be contacted via email at p_fargo@earthlink.net.