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Maui |
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 In 1995 my
family and I went to Hawaii. We visited the islands of Maui and Lanai. Normally I am not
much of a sun and sand kind of guy. I usually spend my vacations walking along cobblestone
streets, climbing around castles and other old buildings. I used to look down on my
friends who would never think of going near a museum on their vacation. I’ve always
felt guilty about "wasting" my vacation time lying on a beach. Well after this
vacation I have changed my tune! What is important when we plan our vacations is to
provide for a range of experiences. Ideally a trip through Europe can be
interrupted by a
couple of days in the sun (assuming you can find any) floating down a lazy river. A
vacation in the sun that includes visits to local ruins, etc. could be just the ticket
into gaining some new insight on the local people or history.
In Hawaii we did the things that you would normally do there such as lying on the beach or snorkeling, but we also visited a few small towns and a working plantation. I came away without the feeling of guilt or from being tired and needing a vacation after my vacation! What is important is that you plan different activities, especially if you are bringing children. Hawaii is like no other state in America having a large native population that still has links to it's colonial past through a shared common memory handed down by their elders. Issues revolving around compensation, homesteading and cultural identity are still being resolved with quite dignity while they welcome an often jarring but necessary tourist industry. Yes there are areas in Hawaii where tourists are not welcome and overt confrontations against mainlanders can occur but these can be minimized by observing local customs. Hawaiians are an incredibly warm people with a distinct view of life that has much to offer the harried traveler. |
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| The World Wide Web contains many sites from around the world where you can buy tickets for local events, get brochures or organize itineraries. You don’t need to be a professional travel agent, just be willing to spend some time up front. Planning a few different activities does not mean that you have to be a total slave to a master plan but a little planning can provide a focus to your trip. | |||||
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