Guides - Fodors Essential Hawaii

Oahu. Honolulu and Waikiki are hereand its a great big luau. Its got hot restaurants and lively nightlife as well as gorgeous white-sand beaches, knife-edged mountain ranges, and cultural sites, including Pearl Harbor.

Maui. The phrase Maui no ka oi means Maui is the best, the most, the tops. Theres good reason for the superlatives. Its got a little of everything, perfect for families with divergent interests.

Big Island of Hawaii. It has two faces, watched over by snowcapped Mauna Kea and steaming Mauna Loa. The Kona side has parched, lava-strewn lowlands, and eastern Hilo is characterized by lush flower farms, waterfalls, and fresh lava forming daily.

Kauai. This is the Garden Isle, and its where youll find the lush, green folding sea cliffs of Napali Coast, the colorful and awesome Waimea Canyon, and more beaches per mile of coastline than any other Hawaiian island.

Molokai. Its the least changed, most laid-back of the Islands. Come here to ride a mule down a cliff to Kalaupapa Peninsula; to experience the Kamakou Preserve, a 2,774-acre wildlife refuge; and for plenty of peace and quiet.

Lanai. For years there was nothing here except for pineapples and red-dirt roads. In 2012 Oracle billionaire Larry Ellison purchased 98% of the island, and it still attracts the well-heeled in search of privacy, with two upscale resorts, archery and shooting, four-wheel-drive excursions, and superb scuba diving.

Hawaiian culture and tradition here have experienced a renaissance over the last few decades. Theres a real effort to revive traditions and to respect history as the Islands go through major changes. New developments often have a Hawaiian cultural expert on staff to ensure cultural sensitivity and to educate newcomers.

Nonetheless, development remains a huge issue for all Islandersland prices are still skyrocketing, putting many areas out of reach for locals. Traffic is becoming a problem on roads that were not designed to accommodate all the new drivers, and the Islands limited natural resources are being seriously tapped. The government, although sluggish to respond at first, is trying to make development in Hawaii as sustainable as possible.

Although sustainability is an effective buzzword and authentic direction for the Islands dining establishments, 90% of Hawaiis food and energy is imported.

Most of the land was used for monocropping of pineapple or sugarcane, both of which have all but vanished. Sugarcane is now produced only on Maui, while pineapple production has dropped precipitously. Dole, once the largest pineapple company in Hawaii, closed its plants in 1991, and after 90 years, Del Monte stopped pineapple production in 2008. The next year, Maui Land and Pineapple Company also ceased its Maui Gold pineapple operation, although in early 2010 a group of executives took over one-third of the land and created a new company. The low costs of labor and transportation from Latin American and Southeast Asian pineapple producers are factors contributing to the industrys demise in Hawaii. But the Islands have perfected a sugar pineapple that is way less acidic than the usual ones. Although the imports have proved daunting, they have also set the stage for great agricultural change to be explored.

Emulating how the Hawaiian ancestors lived and returning to their simple ways of growing and sharing a variety of foods have become statewide initiatives. Hawaii has the natural conditions and talent to produce far more diversity in agriculture than it currently does.

The seed of this movement thrives through various farmers markets and partnerships between restaurants and local farmers. Localized efforts such as the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation are collectively aiding the organic and sustainable agricultural renaissance. From home-cooked meals to casual plate lunches to fine-dining cuisine, these sustainable trailblazers enrich the culinary tapestry of Hawaii and uplift the Islands overall quality of life.

The $10 billion tourism industry represents a third of Hawaiis state income. Naturally, this dependency caused economic hardship when the financial meltdown of recent years affected tourists ability to visit and spend. But the tourism industry has bounced back strong once again.

One way the industry has changed has been to adopt more eco-conscious practices, as many Hawaii residents feel that development shouldnt happen without regard for impact to local communities and their natural environment.

Belief that an industry based on the Hawaiians aloha should protect, promote, and empower local culture and provide more entrepreneurial opportunities for local people has become more important to tourism businesses. More companies are incorporating authentic Hawaiiana in their programs and aim not only to provide a commercially viable tour but also to ensure that the visitor leaves feeling connected to his or her host.