Hawaii consist of eight primary islands:

The island of Oahu is the most populated of the Hawaiian islands, with about one million people. Oahu is the home of the capital city Honolulu, and the world famous beaches of Waikiki. This island has the largest airport, and by far the highest number of tourists visiting each year.

The island of Hawaii is frequently referred to as The Big Island, and is physically the largest island in the chain. It has a population of about 70,000 people, with the two main cities, Kona and Hilo, located about four hours apart by car. The Big Island features the highest elevation point in the Hawaiian island chain: Mauna Loa volcano at 13,677 feet high. It is also known for the only active volcano in the United States, which is currently producing about four acres of land mass each week as lava continues to flow.

Maui is the second largest island and is commonly referred to as The Valley Isle. It is formed by the two mountain ranges of Haleakala and the West Maui Mountains. Maui has a population of about 125,000 with the largest selection of available timeshares at this time. All the resorts are located on the sunny sides of the island to take advantage of the 300+ days of sunshine every year.

Kauai is referred to as The Garden Island because of some of the richest rain forests found in the state. In some areas, rainfall exceeds 400 inches per year. Many of the resorts are located in the coastal areas that are tropical yet receive more sunny days. This island has about 70,000 residents.

Molokai and Lanai are not considered major tourist destinations. They have fewer than 10,000 residents between the two islands, and are remote destinations for travelers to Hawaii. These two islands are part of Maui County, and can be reached easily by ferry boats which sail daily from Maui.

Ni’ihau only has about 200 residents, all native Hawaiians. This island does not permit tourists to visit.

Kaho’olawe is an uninhabited island that was used for bombing practice by the military many years ago. Since that time, there has been a major cleanup effort on the island which was scheduled for completion in November, 2003.

Whale Season in Hawaii

Year after year, thousands of humpback whales leave their summer feeding grounds in Alaska and set course for Hawaii. Swimming at a leisurely rate of 3-6 mph, most will have completed the 3,500 mile journey by early December.

Whale sightings are a regular occurrence from December through April. The whales will stay in the warm Hawaiian waters while mating, deliver their young, and nurse them through the winter. In April they will start the long journey back to Alaska.

If you are visiting us this winter, make sure you don't miss the site of these huge mammals that grow to lengths of over 40 feet and can weigh more than 80,000 pounds. Many tour companies offer whale watch cruises, some even guarantee a sighting. Or you can just admire them from any number of local beaches or timeshare resorts throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

Whale season in Hawaii is usually mid-December to mid-May. Happy whale watching!!!