There are some places that you simply must visit once in your life due to their amazing natural beauty, fascinating cultures, and sheer uniqueness.
One destination that ticks all those boxes and more is the Hawaiian Islands.
The popularity of this remote volcanic archipelago among travelers never seems to waiver, and there are plenty of good reasons for that, especially in winter.
Amazing Culture
The Hawaiian Islands are rich in unique culture that can be absorbed through music, art, food, language, and local communities.
If you’ve never experienced it before, you will find each Hawaiian island has its own idiosyncrasies.
From poke bowls, to surfing, to the sacred art of hula – these are just scratching the surface of the unrivalled cultural encounters available in Hawaii.
An Island For Every Taste
Each island in the state has something a little different to offer.
On Kauai, you will find some of the most epic scenery anywhere in the South Pacific, with the unique north shore area home to many jagged peaks covered in a lush layer of green foliage.
Oahu is known as the heart of Hawaii and is the home of the capital Honolulu – this is one of the go-to places for surfers.
Molokai is another island of jaw-dropping beauty and lush green landscapes, while Lanai features rugged coastlines and many wellness resorts.
Maui is one of the best islands for beach life, while the Island of Hawaii is also home to pristine beaches as well as countless coffee farms.
More Flights Than Ever
Hawaii is about a six-hour flight from the U.S. west coast and between eight and 12 hours for the rest of the country, depending on where you fly from.
As demand for this beautiful paradise destination grows, so does the number of flights.
Hawaiian Airlines is adding new non-stop flights from May this year, including Salt Lake City to Honolulu, Sacramento to Lihue, and Sacramento to Kona.
These new flights are on top of a major expansion of existing routes, including new weekly flights being added from both Austin and Boston and an expansion of the daily services from Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Consistently Good Winter Weather
The climate is Hawaii is pretty consistent throughout the year, which makes it an ideal winter sun destination.
Between November and April, temperatures usually sit in the high 70s, getting a little cooler at night.
The Hawaiian winter is generally the rainier of the two seasons here. However, showers are normally short-lived and localized due to the strong prevailing winds in the Pacific Ocean.
Events Calendar Never Sleeps
Winter is definitely not the off-season when it comes to events in Hawaii – right through January and February, there is plenty going on.
You can get an early taste of spring at the Waimea Cherry Blossom Heritage Festival on Hawaii Island on 3 February, while arts and craft fans can get their fix during the Kauai Quilt Show from 9-21 February.
And if you’re missing your dose of competitive sport, how about checking out the Panaewa Stampede Rodeo on Hawaii from 17-18 February?
Support The Maui Recovery
The horrendous wildfires on the island of Maui caused devastation in August last year, but the recovery is now underway, and tourists are being welcomed back.
While some areas of the island (Lahaina) are still restricted, by being respectful and compassionate during your visit, you can help support local businesses.
Check out the website Maui Nui First for ideas on how best to visit with care and help the businesses and communities that suffered to get back on their feet.
Popularity Surging Against The Odds
Those aforementioned wildfires were probably the only reason Hawaii didn’t break its tourism record in 2023.
The latest visitor number figures for 2023 were up around 5% on 2022 and only around 6% down on the figure from 2019.
Without the brief pause in tourism to Maui in late summer last year, this record surely would have been broken, which just goes to show the pulling power of Hawaii as a travel destination.
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