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Eight main islands offer their own unique ambiance and attractions.

Miles and miles of beaches with sand ranging in hue from sugary white to red, green and jet black. The only royal palace in the United States. A perfect climate caressed by trade winds. A rich mosaic of people where every race is a minority. Deserts, rain forests, snow and coral reefs. A kingdom, republic, territory and finally, a state.

Hawaii, the necklace of islands Mark Twain called the "Most beautiful anchored in any ocean," continues to draw millions of visitors destined to be enchanted by the unique character and beauty each island shares with a generosity matched only by her people.

The eight major islands that make up what the ancient Polynesians called "The heavenly homeland of the north" - Hawaii, Kaho'olawe, Maui, Lana'i, Moloka'i, 0ahu, Kauai and Ni'ihau - were created by millions of years of volcanic activity. Eons separate the evolution of the sister islands, giving each a unique character and landscape. Yet as singular as each island is, all exude a special mana, or spirit, that collectively makes Hawaii a place like no other in the world.

OAHU

Drawing more visitors than any other Hawaiian island, 0ahu is a place of colorful contrasts: It is home to the nation's llth largest metropolitan area, Honolulu, while still being ringed by more than 100 world-renowned beaches. The island is usually divided into four areas, each reflecting its own unique history, geography and identity: Honolulu, the Leeward Side, the Windward Side and the North Shore.

Fast-paced by Island standards, Honolulu still generates a small-town feeling with its ethnic communities, pleasant parks and beaches. Protected from heavy winds by the Ko'olau mountain range, the city's temperate climate is the perfect backdrop for a seemingly endless list of activities. Here, any diversion under the sun - wet or dry - is possible. In addition to water sports, the many restaurants, galleries, clubs, museums, arboretums and the Iolani Palace - the only royal palace in the United States - comprise more than enough activities for any itinerary. And with hundreds of retail stores offering everything from designer goods to "Made in Hawaii" products, Hawaii is also known as the shopping mecca of the Pacific.

Once the royal playground of Kamehameha, Honolulu and environs are now places to be enjoyed by everyone. And of course, just a few minutes from downtown Honolulu is the world-famous resort, Waikiki. With its attractions such as the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium, activities from golf and outrigger canoe rides to historical walking tours, and people who share the Aloha spirit, Waikiki is truly life's greatest beach.

The Leeward Coast roughly takes in the area west of Honolulu, from Pearl Harbor to Ka'ena Point. Island trade winds drop their moisture on Oahu's interior, leaving this part of the island somewhat drier. Visitors can make a trip to historic Pearl Harbor and see the Arizona Memorial, which was erected after the attack on the U.S. fleet in 1941. Makaha Beach, with its international surfing competitions, is also a popular attraction further up the Sunset Coast.

One-third of the State's best surfing beaches are on Oahu, and no place in Hawaii can lay claim to more pulse-quickening rides than the North Shore. Here visitors can watch the world's top surfers take on nature's most powerful waterworks at spots such as Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline. Other noteworthy places to visit include idyllic Waimea Valley and the Polynesian Cultural Center, where the traditions of the Pacific Island peoples are brought to life.

The Windward Side of 0ahu is the flipside of Honolulu - slower and with fewer attractions, but with a "mana" or spirit, all its own. Near Ha'iku Valley, visitors will encounter the Byodo-In Buddhist temple with its serene Japanese gardens. At Kalanai Point, travelers can enjoy one of the Island's most appealing parks, Malaekahana State Recreation Area.

MAUI

" Maui no ka'oi." In Hawaiian, that means "Maui is the best." And increasing numbers of visitors are echoing that sentiment as they arrive on Maui to explore her many riches. The valleys, golden beaches, forested mountains, grasslands and open plains that make up this storied island are home to some of Hawaii's most famous attractions, such as Haleakala Crater, the old whaling town of Lahaina, the road to Hana and gorgeous Ka'anapali Beach.

Even Kamehameha knew Maui was special - after defeating the island's chief Kahekili, he set about transforming Lahaina into a political center for all of Hawaii. The whaling capital of the world in the early 19th century, Lahaina still retains its colorful legacy through its National Historic Area designation and museums, and has also matured to include decidedly modern lure of world-renowned resorts, restaurants and shopping experiences.

Known as the "House of the Sun" in Hawaiian, Haleakala Crater is the world's largest dormant volcano. It has generated its own ecosystem within the crater which visitors can tour, and has spawned a number of interesting artists' communities on its slopes in towns such as Makawao, Ha'iku and Kula.

KAUA"I

Long before "eco-travel" became a popular buzzword, the Island of Discovery, Kauai, was giving visitors a true taste of Eden with her natural paradise. Cloaked in brilliant shades of green, Kauai lures visitors with her lush mountains, verdant grottos, hidden beaches and shimmering waterfalls. What has colored Kauai's reputation? Water, of course. One spot on the island, Mt. Wai'ale'ale, is said to be one of the wettest spots on earth, with an average annual rainfall of over 450 inches.

Known as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific," Waimea Canyon is just one of nature's masterpieces on the island. Laced with miles of excellent hiking trails, this 10-mile-long gorge offers an amazing show from dawn to dusk, as its vivid palette of colors change with the time of day. "Green" travelers can also explore the many trails and isolated beaches of the stunning Na Pali coast.

THE BIG ISLAND

Hawaii's Big Island is not only the largest (at 4,038 square miles, twice the size of all the other Hawaiian Islands combined), it is the most diverse, with climate and terrain that range from tropical to desert, from clean, high mountains to sprawling cattle ranches, and beaches that come in green, white or black sand. At 800,000 years, it is the youngest of the island chain, but was the first discovered by voyaging Polynesians nearly 2,000 years ago, hence becoming the cradle of Hawaiian civilization. Today the Big Island is a fascinating storehouse of cultural and historic sites, befitting an island that is also the birthplace of the first three kings of a united Hawaii.

Legends live among the Big Island's history, particularly stories of Pele, the Fire Goddess, whose home is in the mighty volcanoes. One volcano, Kilauea, is the world's most active, and yet is safely seen by over one million visitors annually. Two of the tallest mountains in the Pacific - Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa - dominate the center of this vast island and are snow-capped several months of the year. East Hawaii is charmingly evocative of Old Hawaii, with flowers, waterfalls and rain forests, and the important deep water port of Mlo. West Hawaii is every man's dream of the South Seas, with long beaches and languid evenings.

Products distinctive to the Big Island are macadamia nuts (most of the world's supply is grown here), Kona's gourmet coffee and a wide range of floral products. The Big Island is an enormous feast for both the mind and the senses.

MOLOKA'L

Known as the "The Most Hawaiian Isle," Moloka'i is a place where nature has carved rugged beauty and where residents and visitors enjoy a slow-paced, true Hawaiian ambiance. The ancients believed that this island possessed a spirituality unique in all the Hawaiian islands, and it remains a special place to this day.

The west end of this long, narrow, mountainous island is dry with wide plains. Molokai's east end is a tropical rain forest, while the rough-hewn north shore features deep ravines in rich hues of green created by over 240 inches of rainfall per year.

Prime attractions include the Moloka'i Ranch; 'Ili'ili'opae, a Hawaiian heiau that showcases traditional island culture; and Molokai's most famous site, Kalaupapa, a beautiful and secluded area that once was a leper colony administered to by one of Hawaii's most venerated figures, Father Damien.

LANA'L

Seclusion and rustic beauty are the reasons many visitors choose to come to Lana'i. Once the home of the world's largest pineapple plantation, the island now boasts two luxurious resorts which offer superb accommodations in a true getaway environment. But Lana'i offers much more: it is truly an island of contrasts. From the spectacular golf courses to the rugged landscape of the area known as the Garden of the Gods; from Hulopo'e Bay - a marine preserve and one of the best diving spots in the world; from the miles of deserted beaches to the Munroe Trail, best explored by four-wheel drive; and from the quaint town of Lana'i City to Kaunolu,

once the summer fishing camp of King Kamehameha, Lana'i offers one of Hawaii's most diverse travel experiences.

NI'IHAU and KAHO'OLAWE

A private island, Ni'ihau can be visited only by invitation. Seventeen miles southeast of Kauai, this island has no automobiles, paved roads, movie theaters, restaurants or telephones. Approximately 225 natives live there, keeping alive the traditions of old Hawaii.

Now uninhabited, Kaho'olawe was once the home of ancient Hawaiians until the 13th century. It was a penal colony in the 1830s; a cattle ranch in the 1870s and until recently, a bombing target for the U.S. Navy. Native Hawaiians are now seeking to reclaim the island.

For more information, contact Gail Ann Chew, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau (808) 924-0260

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