Dedicated to Bob Stewart
(who is attending the Hawaii Association of Realtors® 2008 Pacific Rim Conference & Expo on the Island of Hawaii on September 18 & 19th, 2008 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village )
Yes, Hawaii is a State that was admitted into the Union on August 21, 1959 and making it the 50th State. Now, for those that have never even stepped foot in Hawaii.... let's clear up a few things.
First of all, it's widespread near and far that Hawaii is an island paradise. Right? Full of trade winds blowing through your hair and beautiful balmy sunny skies above. We have beautiful beaches and lush green valleys and wonderful hiking trails through our mountainous ridges. Oh, yes. Hawaii is all of that and then some.
We do not live in grass shacks and sip Mai Tai's with little umbrellas all day. Nor do the men run around in little cloths wrapped around their bottoms or women in grass skirts and topless. Yes, we carry a lot of tradition but we are also modernized ....just like you.
You are making your plans for your Relocation to Hawaii or even your vacation or honeymoon to Hawaii and you don't know where you want to stay. You haven't the fogiest idea that Hawaii is made up of small islands and that each island is a county.
By following the map below you can see the layout of the EIGHT HAWAIIAN ISLANDS and where they are located in conjuction to our island, Oahu.
Oahu is HONOLULU COUNTY.
Starting from the top I'll name off the islands and give a brief description of each:
- Niihau (knee ee how oo): The "Forbidden Island". Privately owned by the Robinson family since 1864 it is only accessed by family members, the US Navy, guests and government officials.
- Kauai (cow eye ee) or "The Garden Isle" and one of the wettest spots on earth is on Mt. Waialeale. My mother was born and raised here too. It is also Kauai County.
Oahu (oh ah hoo): "The Gathering Place" is where the business and hustle and bustle is. Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head and the famous Sunset Beach on the North Shore. This is HONOLULU COUNTY. And our office is in Central Oahu in Mililani Town.- Molokai (Mo lo ka ee): Is the "Friendly Isle" and one of the least developed islands in the Hawaiian Islands.
- Lanai (la na ee) was known as the "Pineapple Island". The pineapples phased out and now there are a couple of resorts there.
- Maui (ma oo ee) or the "Valley Isle" is known for its isthmus (the little portion of land that connects the two larger masses of land). This is Maui County.
- Ah....the ISLAND OF HAWAII. Now this is what confuses people when they think of "Hawaii" or the Hawaiian Islands. The island of Hawaii is also known as "the Big Island" obviously for it being the largest of the islands as well as the largest island in the United States. It is also larger than all of the islands combined. This is HAWAII COUNTY.
So the next time you want to plan for your vacation, the first thing to think of is....which island do I want to spend my time on? Should I plan for a tour of a couple of the islands?
For those of you that are Relocating to Hawaii with the Military you may want to find out which island you are going to be based on as well. Most likely it'll be on Oahu where all branches of the military are. For a complete map click on the following link for Honolulu County Hawaii Military Bases & Installations- Oahu Neighborhoods
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Ride the Wave to Success - 2008 Pacific Rim Conference and Expo Registration Form hosted by the Hawaii Association of Realtors®, Hilton Waikoloa Village on the Island of Hawaii- September 18 & 19, 2008
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© 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog. All rights reserved
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2012 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
All rights reserved.
Great overview Sally of the chain of islands. My last visit was to Oahu and Maui. I would like to see the Big Island and Kauai. What amazed me in coming from the airport to Wakiki was the traffic on the highways. It can be just like any other city in the U.S. I got over to Bellows AFB and that was real restful as well as many other places. The North Shore waves about killed me walking out into them. They were ferocious. A great place, I'd go there again in a minute.
Woo Hoo, the island information is really good, Sally. And each one is a post itself. As to the part about the dress, I can hear you giggling all the way here to San Diego.
Sally......it has been too long since I have visited your lovely islands. Great pictures! Hopefully we will be visiting again soon.
Sally, This was great for me. As you know one of our dreams is to visit the Islands. Thank you.
Sally- This is a wonderful overview of the state of Hawaii! I would suggest to any one planning on island hopping, don't get stressed out. It is better to enjoy a couple of the islands and really relax and soak it all in than rush around from island to island.
Sally- This is a wonderful overview of the state of Hawaii! I would suggest to any one planning on island hopping, don't get stressed out. It is better to enjoy a couple of the islands and really relax and soak it all in than rush around from island to island.
That's really sad, no grass skirts, no mai tais, no topless Realtors.
Just kidding, great post Sally I learned a lot.
All the best!
Sally, what a great resource you are for your state! I guess I never even knew the names of all the islands!
Hi Sally - very nicely done. I've been to Oahu twice and to Maui once. Loved both. I like the pronounciations you added after the name of each island.
Ann
I wish I could fly there in 6 hours but unless I move to CA I'm stuck with 13 hrs just to get to the place I really want to go one day.
Morning Sally,
Thanks for the post, great overview of Paradise. We look forward to returning one day in the not too distant future.
Hi Sally! Enjoyed this tour this morning with my coffee! I haven't been to your islands but want to sometime. You live in quite a beautiful paradise.
Sally I have been in Hawaii once and unfortunately I was to young to enjoy it, but I would love to go back someday and meet you and Randy.
THANKS! My best friend is in Kauai right now and I didn't know where it was!
Thanks to everyone who came by to get a little education on our islands... and the differene between Hawaii....and the island of Hawaii..
In any case..if you need clarification on anything shoot me an email...
Hi Sally, I was born in Hilo and two years later moved to Kailua, Oahu by my parents. I remember the day very clearly - Tuesday, August 21, 1959 when Hawaii became the fiftieth state. I was eight years old. I stood on our front lawn with the headlines of The Honolulu Star Bulletin as my parents took a picture of me. You did a great job of clearly educating everyone about Hawaii!
Thanks Dan...hey, if you have that picture it's worth bunches....for even just a glimpse of history with you in it! Do a post and share....please!
Aloha Sally - this is a very informative post about Hawaii, and in fact I am on my way tomorrow to your name sake. We are going to Maui. Great photo of Diamond Head (my Grandmother used to live just at the base of Diamond Head).
Sally - you burst my bubble! I was planning on coming over specifically to look at those men running around in little wraps....you mean they cover themselves up like on the mainland???? That's no fun!!!!
Sharon: Have fun!
B/B hahaha..you're funny!
The grass shacks and Mai-Tais do sound compelling, all the same...
I have only visited for duty and was amazed, but even with the hustle and bustle, what a beautiful place to visit! By the way, you write some excellent blogs!
The Hawaiian Islands are truly spectacular and this post really showcases that. I love how you bring things to life. Here's hoping i get some vacation time next year.
Castle: That'd be nice...we'll get together :)
What? Hawaii is a state? Why didn't they teach that when I was in school?
(haha, kidding of course Sally. Obviously I never saw this when you first did it.........it's why I ended up on the wrong island!)
Bob.... and so the reason you are learning here too lol!