I have a feeling most people would love to travel to the luxurious state of Hawaii. The luscious rain forests, exotic plants and animals, and beautiful beaches would draw anyone to this destination. I have heard wonderful things about this group of islands from so many of my friends and family. In fact, my parents went to Hawaii and generously left me behind. However, they shared their excursions and exploring stories and how they would love to return to the islands, with me, hopefully. 

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Among the famous white sand beaches with crystal clear water, there are also black sand beaches around Hawaii. The most famous beach to visit, Punalu’u Beach, is made out of small lava fragments which cause the black coloring. What is also unique about this beach happens to be the small, underwater freshwater springs located along the beach. The strange thing is the freshwater actually sits on top of the normal saltwater due to the difference in density. This also causes a drastic change in temperature from cold freshwater to warm salt water while swimming. Punalu’u Beach also happens to be the home to the endangered Hawksbill turtle. These turtles enjoy feeding in the water and also basking on the black sand. In addition to black sand beaches, there are also red sand beaches, Kaihalulu Beach, and even green sand beaches, Papakolea Beach.

My parents loved traveling to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park which is home to Kilauea and the Maunaloa volcanoes. The Kilauea happens to be the most active volcano on earth with its last eruption in 2018; However, the Maunaloa volcano has not erupted since 1984. Some options you have for touring the park include various crater rim drives around Kilauea and Halemaumau. You can also view various lava pools that have accumulated over the years and overlook the craters as well. The Hawaii Volcanoes National Park adds an exhilarating experience viewing some of the most dangerous natural structures on earth. 

For someone who happens to love history and wants a break from a beach vacation, Pearl Harbor is a perfect destination. During WWII, the Japanese planned a bombing attack on December 7, 1941. This spread devastation among the United States who remained practically uninvolved in the war until this point. One bomb hit the ship USS Arizona which killed over 1,177 sailors and Marines. The ship soon sank in the water and remains in that spot to this day. There is now a memorial directly on top of the ship honoring those on the USS Arizona and the 2,341 sailors, soldiers, and Marines who died on this day. There are other attractions located at the Pearl Harbor base on top of the famous sunken ship.

Overall, Hawaii provides endless attractions for all different types of people. The beautiful scenery is unmatched to any other destination. I would love to see the exotic scenery both on land and in the ocean. A vacation to Hawaii will be packed with things to do every step of the way.