Aloha everyone!  As you can probably tell by the greeting, this week we will be traveling to the beautiful state of Hawaii because I want to think about something other than snow since it is the middle of January in Pennsylvania.   So needless to say, we are going to trade in some snow for some sand. 

The first stop we will be making in Hawaii is to the World War 2 Valor in the Pacific National Monument.  The monument honors and memorializes the location of the Pearl Harbor attack that happened on December 7, 1941.  This attack is ultimately what brought the United States into the war for the Allied Powers.  This work of history is also home to the USS Arizona Memorial which marks the resting site for over a thousand sailors who were killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor that sunk the ship.  While visiting the monument, tourists can also hear and see many stories and memorabilia from the second World War.  I am not a history buff myself but sights such as this are truly breath-taking and allow us to learn from the past making them a “must see.” 

So of course, when talking about Hawaii I have to discuss the beach!  I, for one, am a total beach lover and Ka’anapali Beach in Maui is definitely on my bucket list.  This beach features three miles of all white sand beach with shopping and dining along it at a place known as Whalers Village.  This village has plenty of attractions ranging from small boutiques to whaling museums to hula lessons.  Ka’anapali Beach is also known for the cliff-diving ceremonies that take place daily off the northernmost cliffs.  The one spot known for these ceremonies is a place referred to as Black Rock. 

All this talk about beaches really makes me in the mood for some water sports, which brings us on over to the next stop in Hawaii known as the Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy.  This academy is one of the oldest surf schools in Maui and offers both group and private lessons.  I, personally, have the balance of a newborn giraffe so the more lessons the better and these professionals offer some of the best in the world.  In addition to surfing, visitors can also take paddle boarding lessons and for experienced surfers they even offer a Surfari which allows surfers to catch waves with the native Hawaiian instructors. 

Well for anyone who gets tired of the beach after a day or two, Hawaii also has many other great attractions to offer its visitors including the Greenwell Farms.  This coffee farm has been around since 1850 where they offer walking tours of the coffee fields.  Visitors are able to see the coffee beans growing as well as visit the processing facilities where each step in the production process can be viewed.  And of course, it is not all see and no taste; visitors are welcome to sample various types of coffee throughout the tours.

In summary, Hawaii is one of the top vacation spots in the world and rightfully so.  Visitors can do and see everything from beach activities to historic landmarks all while enjoying the warm weather.  I, for one, definitely plan on making it to this beautiful state someday and hope this post was informative for anyone who plans to do the same.  Until next week, keep calm and travel on!  (And also come back for my next post!)