Field Trips To Hawaii
Eighty percent of Hawaii’s population resides in or near Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, a hotbed for island-style cuisine and Waikiki nightlife. Contrary to popular belief, affordable accommodations for the savvy traveler are easy to come by. Hotels line the busy shores of Waikiki Beach amid souvenir shops, Japanese restaurants, open-air bars and activity kiosks. A few feet away, soft white sands give way to a glorious view of Diamond Head Crater and the seemingly endless Pacific Ocean.

While nights in Waikiki are typically filled with brazen excitement, days tend to lean toward water sports, hiking, sightseeing, golfing and sunbathing. Honolulu is a city rich with Asian and Polynesian influence. Iolani Palace, The Polynesian Cultural Center, Bishop Museum and the Kodak Hula Show offer insights into Hawaii's diverse culture. Ala Moana Center is undeniably the retail hub of the Central Pacific, where you’ll find everything from a drugstore to the most elaborate designer boutique.

No trip to Hawaii is complete without a visit to Oahu’s North Shore, home of Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay and the legendary Bonzai Pipeline. Arguably the surfing capital of the world, professional surfers spend the northern hemisphere’s winter months here, competing in world cup events and riding waves in excess of thirty plus feet.

A leading example of the strong sense of community here is the Aloha Festival, a statewide cultural celebration of traditional music, dance and Hawaiian heritage in early September. Sporting events are no stranger to Hawaii’s vigorous lifestyle either. The Honolulu Marathon and Great Aloha Run attract multitudes, while October’s Ironman Triathlon draws a steady stream of international athletes. Film critics, screenwriters, actors, directors and producers assemble in the islands each autumn for the Hawaii International Film Festival, a showcase of independent films from around the Pacific Rim.