How I ended up in Hawaii for a whole year. Kyiv — Frankfurt am Main

The more people learn that I once wintered on these islands, located far away in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the more questions they have. In this article I will try to tell you about the main moments of my very first and therefore most unforgettable trip to a distant hillock.

While Thailand and wintering in Thailand are described in some detail on the Internet, Ukrainians and Russians still rarely get to Hawaii. It’s understandable: far, expensive, more difficult visa get... How did I manage to get to these Paradise islands, at the age of 16, and even spend almost a whole year in Hawaii for free? As I recently promised in the comments to one of the articles, I’ll talk about this today... 😉

Part 1. Participation in the FSA FLEX selection

The FSA FLEX program is the Freedom Support Act Future Leader's Exchange Program. Translated: "Freedom Act - Future Leaders Exchange Program." In simple terms, this is an exchange program for students who come from post-Soviet countries to the United States to exchange culture, experience, knowledge, and this event is sponsored by no less than the US State Department.

FSA FLEX has existed since 1992, and since then more than 20 thousand people have visited America under this program. Today, schoolchildren from ten countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Ukraine can become participants in FSA FLEX. It is noteworthy that in 2003, teenagers from Belarus and Uzbekistan also came to the United States under this program, and I personally know these people, but now these countries are not on the list of participating countries. Politics however...

How the FSA FLEX Program Works

The bottom line is that any interested student aged 15 to 17 years from the above countries has the opportunity to take part in the competition completely free of charge. The main thing is to know about it and come to the right place at the right time and with the necessary documents on hands. The competition itself is held in several stages (in my opinion, four). It is logical that at each stage the vast majority of students are eliminated, and each stage is a whole bunch of surprises and nuances. Participants undergo a lot of different tests, for example, on the perception of live speech, listening, tests on grammar knowledge, etc. The very last stage consists of the task of writing three essays in English on completely unexpected topics. Each participant has only 45 minutes at their disposal, and even in their native language it is not always possible to get their bearings and formulate their thoughts so quickly. Works are submitted on click. A delay of one second means automatic exit from the program. Everything is very tough!

As far as I have heard, essays are checked by psychologists, in addition to other experts. In a word, the selection is really serious and according to many criteria - obvious and not so obvious. After writing the essay, the participants in the last round undergo an oral interview with a very important American, on whom a lot also depends... And then everyone can only wait for their work to be checked and a whole pile of documents, which takes several months. Absolutely everything is managed and managed by the Americans, and the work is sent for verification to the USA, so the possibility of bribing anyone is completely excluded.

As you can see, everything is quite difficult, but the game is worth the candle. Finalists of the program receive an unprecedented opportunity to study in the United States of America for an entire academic year completely free of charge. And everything is at the expense of the State Department and the host families, from plane tickets to pens, notebooks, school meals and hair shampoo.

So, schoolchildren from the countries of the former USSR come to the United States in August before the start of the school year. There are only 50 states in America, and before participating in the program, everyone signs a paper that if they become a finalist, they will agree to go to any of the fifty states, including Alaska or Hawaii. When we signed these documents, I remember exactly that it was very funny - everyone joked about who he thought would get to Alaska, and that he personally, of course, would go to Hawaii. But then no one seriously counted on this 100% - the program eliminates too many people, and the probability of getting to any particular place is too small.

To be honest, I really wanted to win and go to America, and in particular to Hawaii, where another girl from our class was already studying at that time. I looked at her photographs, listened to the stories that our classmates told about her journey - and I understood that it was difficult, but real! At that time, this was my most cherished dream, although I was well aware that at least going through several rounds of the program would be very, very difficult... Plus, I realized that the likelihood of me getting to Hawaii (even if successful) was so insignificant that even meeting a dinosaur on the street is even more likely... 😀 And yet, I hoped and worked hard, leaning on textbooks! I cannot help but say that I would not have been able to learn English if I had not had a simply amazing teacher and a Person with a capital P - Tamara Vasilievna. The second person who constantly encouraged me to learn the language was my mother. I am simply immensely grateful to these people, because knowledge in English changed my life forever!

When the results become known, the finalists of the program are called and informed that they have won. The organizers draw lots or choose a family based on compatibility... Nobody knows for sure how they do this, and it is also completely unrealistic to influence these results... As a result, each finalist learns about the state and city to which he is traveling, and a little later he They send a large envelope with instructions and information about the host family. American families participating in FSA FLEX are volunteers. It is in these families that schoolchildren from Ukraine and other countries of the former socialist camp are placed. Then everyone is assigned to study at their place of residence - in the most ordinary American schools.

An ordinary Hawaiian school, although almost new - Kapolei High School

The goal of the program, initially in 1992, was to remove the so-called Iron Curtain that separated the countries of the former Soviet Union from the capitalist world. Now, fortunately, the Iron Curtain has fallen long ago. But the FSA FLEX student exchange system continues to operate and is funded, so that every year there are more and more lucky students who receive a lot for their efforts in learning English. I think it’s incredibly great that the program works, although, of course, there are different opinions on this matter.

Criticism of the FSA FLEX program

1. Typically, I heard criticism from people who were not involved in the program. However, there are many exceptions. Indeed, it is quite difficult to organize such a program - everything must be thought out to the smallest detail. But no one has yet canceled the human factor.

Sometimes our schoolchildren get into trouble. No matter how experienced psychologists check the work, and no matter how hard the FSA FLEX organizers try to prepare teenagers, sometimes the system fails. The terms of the program clearly state that if a program participant is expelled from school, he returns home early. You also cannot break US laws, smoke, drink, engage in debauchery... much more. When our children find themselves in a land of great opportunity, and even abruptly leave their mother’s and father’s care, sometimes they fall under someone’s negative influence or simply go off the rails. Cases vary, but I can assure everyone that in 99% of them, as far as I heard, everyone completed the program successfully, regardless of the state, city and family in which they lived.

By the way, about families. It happens that our teenagers do not agree in character with their “adoptive parents,” their children or other family members. According to the terms of the program, in the event of irreconcilable conflicts, a replacement host family is allowed. I know a case where a girl from Moscow changed family twice. And every time they found her new family in Honolulu - exactly where she lived. In the end, there were moments in the third family that did not suit her, but she achieved a lot. Her first host family professed the Mormon religion. They forbade her to drink tea and coffee, determined what she was allowed to wear and what not, forced her to go to bed exactly at 9 pm, came up with a million more rules for her... By the way, the girl was from a very decent family, just the life of the party, and it wouldn’t get along I still had to work harder with her character. These “would-be parents” themselves did not have their own children, but for some reason they decided that they could experiment on a girl from Russia.

Some people come across a great family, but not everything is in order at school. For example, one girl was assigned to a school where only blacks studied, who constantly smoked weed, fought and were generally dysfunctional... Fun, right? Or someone might be accidentally placed in a black neighborhood. Let them say what they say about equality and lack of discrimination in America, but believe me, living as a white person in a black neighborhood and going to school every day where 99% of the students are black is not the best way to spend a year of your life. Nothing bad may happen, but the team must be healthy and it is important for a teenager aged 15-17 to have his own social circle - people with whom he will be interested, comfortable and safe to communicate.

The list of possible problems goes on... Someone simply ends up with a bad school, or a bad coordinator of the host organization, unable to resolve pressing issues, or some other annoying nuisance...

And yet, mostly such cases are exceptions, although sometimes students remain dissatisfied with their families, schools, neighbors, and social circles, but continue to live in these conditions without telling anyone anything. Accordingly, their life in the USA turns into some kind of “departure”. Subsequently, you can hear a lot of criticism towards the program, family, and school from such people, but in fact, all problems within the program can be solved - in extreme cases, every student has almost a direct 24-hour number for the State Department. Level, huh!?

2. The second portion of criticism falls precisely on those who have never had anything to do with the FSA FLEX program. I’m talking about supporters of conspiracy theories... Especially for them, I would like to write that there is no catch in the program... But convincing people of something that they know better than anyone in the world is pointless. 🙂

Some believe that such programs are needed to zombify our people and almost to recruit special agents... Bug! What have I not heard in many years since participating in FLEX. And most importantly, sometimes they say such things as a joke, and sometimes in all seriousness...

Regarding brainwashing, I can say that every day each of us is given a dose of noodles. Don't you agree? What about this:

“Buy 190 toilet lids and receive a roll of toilet paper... Bounty - paradisaic delight... It is this chewing gum that best restores the acid-base balance... We will return the country to the people! Vote for... shhh..."

What is this if not manipulation of your opinion and consciousness?

Sometimes this stream of unnecessary zombie information makes your head spin. Many people are trying to brainwash us, and everyone faces this from birth and on every corner...

I can say with complete confidence that no special brainwashing approach was applied to me personally during the FSA FLEX program. I saw the whole life of a simple town in which ordinary American schoolchildren studied, communicated with them, made friends, played football, went to the cinema... Perhaps with a slight amendment that all this happened in Hawaii... But every state of America has its own amendments. By and large, Hawaii is still part of the United States, and if it weren’t for the climate and the presence of the ocean nearby, how would Hawaii be different from West Virginia or Ohio?

Although, of course, it’s difficult to judge, because I have not yet been fully to other US states except Hawaii. In any case, what follows will be about these paradise islands.

Here they are - Hawaii... =)

Part 2. How we were prepared for the trip to the USA

After the news that I was going to Hawaii for the whole academic year, many new people and events appeared in my life... The finalists of the program were brought together several times. FSA FLEX graduates (the so-called Alumni), American volunteers, American Councils employees and many others worked with us interesting people. Everyone got to know each other and talked to each other. Immediately before the trip, a Pre-departure orientation was organized for us. A whole event that consisted of the fact that we lived for several days at a recreation center, communicated in English, played American games, watched films, program graduates told us about their experiences... It was incredibly fun and great! Everyone asked each other: “Where are you going?” - “I'm in Missouri”, “I'm in Minnesota”... And I was a superstar because I was going to Hawaii. 🙂

Since then, the nickname “Aloha” has stuck to me - a Hawaiian greeting and official name state. 🙂 Aleha... aloha... that’s what the other finalists of the program started calling me. The coolest thing was that all these people were very friendly, sociable, positive with a minimum amount of unnecessary show-offs and some other negative aspects. They could only envy someone as a joke, because everyone understood that it was just the fate that had fallen that way, and everyone expected a lot of interesting things from their next year in America. Where exactly to go was in second place. The main thing is that everyone here was a happy winner, who six months ago could only dream of traveling to the USA.

I can say with one hundred percent certainty that each of us is lucky to a certain extent, because the lottery’s share in this program is considerable. This is not mathematics - either you solved the problem or not... We were assessed on an incomprehensible scale - anyone could be eliminated at any moment... Or kicked out of the classroom for the slightest mistake - the discipline, as I already said, was very strict! In general, to some extent, all the finalists of the program, including me, were lucky! Honestly speaking!

Part 3. Flight to Hawaii

I had to fly on an airplane for the first time in my life, and immediately over such a long distance. If you draw a straight line on the globe, you will find out that the distance between Kiev and Honolulu is more than 12 thousand kilometers. Taking into account the fact that there are, of course, no direct flights, I had to cover a much greater distance by air. However, I didn’t have a drop of fear - only euphoria, joy, anticipation!

I was given air tickets completely free of charge, although people still ask my mother how much it cost to send her son to study in Hawaii. 🙂 Some of our people are like that, they don’t believe in anything! After the default, MMM and other crises, I readily understand them! They certainly don’t believe in the freebie that suddenly falls on their neighbor! 😉

1. Kyiv - Frankfurt am Main

The shortest flight on my route took me just a couple of hours to a huge airport, which is one of the largest air hubs in Europe. Frankfurt Airport is the third largest in Europe, one of the ten largest airports in the world, and through it air gate More than 50 million people move each year.

We flew to Frankfurt in a huge crowd - most of our flight was purchased specifically for FSA FLEX students. It is noteworthy that we all had to fly without taking off our branded blue T-shirts, so half of our plane was wearing blue T-shirts - it looked very positive. 🙂

However, the next flight was also a joint flight for most of the finalists.

2. Frankfurt am Main - New York

Yes, yes... We all flew to New York, and it was reality. For many of us, this was the only opportunity to go abroad at the age of 16, and we were proud of it, we wanted it, we were already looking forward to meeting our family and our new adventures in America.

The atmosphere on the plane was incomparable, the flight lasted about 7-8 hours, I don’t remember exactly. Everyone shared their emotions... Many managed to become close friends in the last weeks and months before leaving... The girls even cried, remembering the upcoming separation from their girlfriends and friends! Now there were many of us, but in a few hours everyone had to be on their own. We never met many people again... Some remained in the USA. Despite the two-year ban on re-entry into the United States, which we agreed to under the terms of the program, some guys and girls found workarounds and were able to return, enroll in American colleges... I am often asked why I didn’t stay, but I had no such goal and I didn't think about it for a second. Those who wanted it found solutions. Those who didn’t really want it couldn’t be found. Personally, I and many others simply did not look for them. But that was all later. At that moment we were flying towards our dream, which was about to come true.

I remember the flight over New York forever. The first thing I saw, you won’t believe it, was the Statue of Liberty, which flashed below under the clouds. We flew right over it, but because of the thick clouds, absolutely not a single building in the city was visible. But then a statue flashed between the clouds - half the plane saw it, so there could be no doubt! It was a cool feeling... As if she appeared to us on purpose and hid in the clouds again. Parallel reality!

It was then that I experienced for the first time what turbulence was. Nothing terrible happened - our large transatlantic liner just chickened out a little.

In New York we spent the night in a hotel. We were accommodated two people each, and the hotel was very decent. I don’t remember anything else - neither the names, nor how we drove through New York. There were some fragments of memories, frames left... Everything was as if in a dream. I remember that in the morning a bus picked us up and took us back to the airport. We said goodbye to some of the guys immediately upon arrival in New York, since they had to travel further by ground transport. But many flew to distant states - Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington State - although almost all on different planes...

3. New York - Salt Lake City

On the next plane there were only two of us in blue T-shirts. Me and some guy with whom I had not really communicated at all before, but for a few hours we became almost best friends. 🙂 We exchanged emails, then we probably corresponded for a month, and then Hawaiian life completely absorbed me, so that I even began to write to my really close friends less often)) I’m sure they forgave me!)

At the airport in the city of Salt Lake City, as the Americans abbreviately call Salt Lake City, the capital of Utah, I was left alone for several hours. I had to wait for a connecting flight... And I just walked around the airport, looked at duty-free windows, rode the escalators... Then I found my terminal, sat down on a bench, noticed that Americans prefer to sit on carpet - for some reason they are not satisfied with comfortable seats... 🙂 I marveled at these miracles of miracles, and then found out that my flight was postponed...

The organizers gave us all a magic phone number - we had to call it free of charge from any payphone in case something happened or the flight was delayed. I called from the nearest phone - the woman on the other end of the line listened to me and told me not to worry, that everything was fine. And I wasn’t worried. 🙂

Saw the first people wearing Hawaiian leis. Then I didn’t yet know that these were “leis” - but it turned out that this is the name of the famous wreaths of Hawaiian flowers... I saw the first very, very fat people! Although no, I saw them back in NY. 🙂

The wait for the plane lasted a long time for me - there was absolutely no one I knew around. And yet, the people who waited with me were confirmation to me that everything was going according to plan. No one was nervous, everyone was waiting, sitting on the carpet. 🙂 Through the huge window of the airport building I had the opportunity to look at the sandy-brown city. From the outside it seemed that Salt Lake City was located in the crater of a volcano, which was surrounded by desert... I began to imagine what this city was like if you looked deeper into it. In the end, I decided that the nature of Utah was rather poor, and the city of SLC was boring and dusty. I don’t know if it’s really true, but the high-rise buildings looked depressing against the backdrop of lifeless mountains and sand. “It’s also hot here in the summer, and probably very cold in the winter,” I thought and grinned. Once again I was glad that fate was throwing me not to some gloomy and dull place, but to a fabulous tropical island with the sweet name of Oahu...

Soon our plane finally decided to perform the feat... And we began to rapidly approach the Hawaiian Islands.

4. Salt Lake City - Honolulu

How can you get to Hawaii if you are 16 years old and your parents have worked at a factory all their lives, earning fairly modest money even by the standards of your not-so-rich city? How to get to Hawaii if you were born in a non-existent state, and live in one of the poorest countries in Europe, twelve thousand kilometers from Hawaii? How to get there if you have previously only heard about this place in jokes about new Russians? Finally, how to get to Hawaii if the coolest trips in your life were trips on the Zaporozhets to Gelendzhik? 🙂

On a bright sunny day in early August 2003, I first set foot on the island of Oahu, which became my second home for one school year, and for my soul, perhaps, for the rest of my life.

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So now I can tell you how these islands are similar, how they are different, and what you need to know when planning your vacation. How long to fly to Hawaii and the Maldives, how much such a trip will cost and who is suitable for a holiday on the bounty or volcanic islands tropical islands. I will also help you understand how best to choose an island and a hotel in all the variety of offers. Well, let's take a virtual trip to such remote and exotic places like the Maldives and Hawaii.

Let me start with the fact that both the Maldives and Hawaii can be called dream places, places you should definitely visit at least once in your life. One way or another, we are all familiar with these tropical ones. The pictures from the Maldives that many have seen in magazines or advertisements do not lie. This is exactly the classic image of heaven on earth: , turquoise sea ​​water, white pleasant sand, a palm tree bent over the beach, in a word - bounty!

The beaches in the Maldives are the best in the world!

And the mysterious Hawaii you may have seen more than once in the series “Lost” ( Lost). After all, they were the location where many episodes and scenes were filmed. This lush tropical vegetation, mountains, volcanoes and, of course, a great variety of beaches suitable for swimming and sunbathing, as well as for surfing and other water sports, simply could not leave you indifferent.

If you have already decided exactly what you want to go to Hawaii, and you need to choose an island and a beach, then I advise you to read my article on how to combine with big amount practical information.

It is important to know:

• Beach holidays will not disappoint you, whether you choose Hawaii (for example, a 5* hotel The Royal Hawaiian on Waikiki Beach) or a luxury resort Four Seasons in the Maldives. It's beautiful at both resorts. And what you like to do in your free time from sunbathing will have a decisive influence on your choice.

So let's start comparing the Maldives and Hawaii!

1. What kind of countries are these and the features of holidays in them?

• Many tourists do not realize until they start choosing a vacation spot that Maldives- is independent Island state, consisting of a huge number of islands: inhabited local residents s, entirely converted into resort hotels, as well as uninhabited islands. In total, the state includes about 1,200 islands grouped into atolls. Read more.
• Hawaii same - this is large archipelago, consisting of seven large islands and some others smaller in size. All of them belong to the USA and are a separate state. Americans prefer to vacation in Hawaii in a rich way, so they plan their vacation trip there at least a year in advance. Tourists from all over the world also come to Hawaii to enjoy its unique natural beauty and charm. It is considered very prestigious to be there, and therefore the best Hawaiian hotels in high season are no cheaper than .

2. Do I need a visa?

• To visit the Maldives, citizens of almost all countries in the world do not need a visa at all. Upon arrival, a stamp is given allowing you to vacation in the country for no more than 30 days. It is quite possible to extend your vacation for some more time. Read how to do this in, which examines in detail all visa situations when visiting the Maldives.
• To visit Hawaii, you need a valid US visa. You can stay in America on a tourist visa for up to 6 months, but this is fraught with subsequent questions at the border upon your next entry and when receiving new visas. In any case, no matter how long your vacation, a regular American visa will be enough for you, which is best done in advance several months before your trip to America.

3. Location and where it is on the map

• The Maldives is located almost at the equator in Indian Ocean close to India and Sri Lanka. Read more.
• Hawaii is located in the North Pacific Ocean near west coast USA.

3. How long to fly and how to get there

• There are direct Aeroflot flights from Moscow to the Maldives. lasts 9 hours. You can also fly with transfers, which will also be approximately 12-15 hours, taking into account the time for transfers in Arab countries, Sri Lanka or Europe. Main airport The Maldives is located on a separate island, Hulule, 2 kilometers from the capital Male.
• There are no direct flights from Russia to Hawaii. From the European part of the country it is easier to fly through big cities USA - New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Seattle, Los Angeles and others. And from the east of Russia you can fly to Hawaii via Korea. Most of planes fly to the island of Oahu and the city of Honolulu. However, there are direct flights from the USA to other islands - Maui, Big Island. Read more about the flight, which lasts 12 hours. From Los Angeles or any other US city in the west, it takes about 6 hours to fly to Honolulu.

Male is the capital of the Republic of Maldives

4. When to go

• falls during the winter months: from December to April. It's Christmas time and New Year holidays, Valentine's Day and gender holidays on February 23 and March 8. At other times, the southwest humid monsoon reigns here. Read the detailed article:
• And the best time to go to Hawaii is in the summer - from June to September. Keep in mind that in America this is the time of mass vacations, so look for cheap air tickets in advance on the website Aviasales.

5. Features of culture

• The Maldives is a Muslim country in which all tourists are allowed to relax as they are used to only in resorts. Staying outside of them is a must. For example, vacationers on inexpensive island villages (for example, on) are extremely upset by the prohibition law in the Maldives. However, this does not concern tourists in resorts, because there they can wear a bikini.
• Hawaiian Islands, although part of the United States, are proud of their local Polynesian culture. Hula dancing, the gentle giant singer with a ukulele Israel and his unforgettable voice, the ancient belief in the volcano goddess Pele - all this is not forgotten and intertwined with modernity. The evening shows and dances are extremely interesting to watch. and if you like active recreation, then do not forget that to travel around the island it is better to immediately rent a car at the airport, having previously booked on the website Rentalcars.

Developed infrastructure of Hawaii

6. Prices

• What is more expensive – Hawaii or the Maldives? The answer depends on the choice of island. The Maldives has excellent islands with very low prices, where the average cost of one day of vacation for two is about 200-300 dollars(For example, Kurumba And Baros). distant islands like a hotel Four Seasons They cost much more, but the comfort and service there are simply outrageous. The total cost of a holiday in the Maldives consists of the price of air tickets, hotel accommodation, meals in restaurants, excursions, additional services like massage and spa, as well as transfer to the hotel. Prices for a boat, seaplane or domestic flight vary greatly. To simplify, I would say that a week budget holiday in the Maldives with flights it will cost approximately $1500-2000 , and for a week and a half at the resort "" you will have to pay no less $3500 . Luxurious worth $5000-10000 .
• Things are different in Hawaii. A rather expensive flight to Honolulu or to other islands and serious prices for decent hotels will definitely say that luxury holiday in Hawaii it will be a little more expensive, because prices for a double room start from $250-300 per day, if you book in advance (see good 5-star hotels for example Halekulani or The Royal Hawaiian on the island of Oahu). Seems like an average hotel Hilton Garden Inn can be found for 150 dollars, but don't expect luxurious service there. Therefore, if we talk about an inexpensive way to relax in Hawaii, you will have to sacrifice the quality of services and comfort of living.

7. What money to take with you and how much

• The official currency of the Maldives is rufiyaa. However, in the Maldives, as in Cambodia, there are two currencies in use: the local rufiyaa, as well as U.S. dollars. Tourists can easily pay for all services in dollars, both in cash and by bank card. In the capital, you can pay in dollars everywhere, and get local currency for change at the normal rate. Almost no one pays in cash, and the total bill is usually issued at the end of the vacation, which is easier to pay with your credit card. Therefore, on a trip to the Maldives, in addition to the money in your card account, take a minimum of cash to pay for souvenirs and all sorts of small expenses; a few hundred US dollars will be enough. Read more about money and prices in the Maldives.
• When traveling to Hawaii, you must bring cash. U.S. dollars for small expenses and a bank card (preferably dollar). You can pay with cash in cafes and restaurants, but in taxis they only accept payment using a card. Hotels don't like to accept large amounts of cash either, so... credit card You will definitely need it, including for renting a car. Read about features and prices, as well as how to pay tips.

8. What to do while on vacation

There is another very important difference between the beach tourism giants Maldives and Hawaii.

• People go to the Maldives mainly for two reasons: to relax on the beach, along the shore or to go diving. The small size of the island-hotel and the relaxed atmosphere immerse you in a sweet slumber, and you just want to relax in the Maldives. And sometimes have fun, try yourself in different aquatic species sports, boat ride, go to desert island to the picnic, . It's still relaxation. And only experienced divers really push themselves in the Maldives. But it deserves it! Read more.
• And in Hawaii, you can not only fully explore the island you fly to, but if you wish, you can also fly to neighboring islands! Although tourists usually do not have enough time for this. I really wanted to go to Maui, but I didn’t have time to see even all the most interesting things that it offers. Here you can trek to an extinct volcano, see waterfalls, rent a car and drive around the island in search of great beaches, ride the wave on the surf. And also visit military museums (Pearl Harbor). Night life It’s also very busy – clubs and concerts. In general, Hawaii is more suitable for lovers active rest, which can be successfully combined with a visit to the beaches.

9. Shopping

• There is no special shopping in the Maldives, all you can do is relax.
• Shopping in Hawaii is simply excellent! I bought clothes from world brands here, excellent souvenirs for gifts and local sweets.

10. Attractions

• We can say that the best attractions in the Maldives are the paradise islands themselves! – this is exactly what everyone comes here for. There is no such atmosphere anywhere else in the world.
• But Hawaii is full of attractions - both natural, cultural and man-made.

The Hawaiian Islands, otherwise called the Sandwich Islands, are an archipelago formed as a result of volcanic activity, numbering more than 160 islands, including 24 quite large ones, located in Pacific Ocean 5000 km from North America. They are part of the United States as the 50th state. Therefore, for a vacation in Hawaii you will need.

Panoramic view of the Honolulu coastline

There are not many Russians visiting these places for tourism purposes, due to the remoteness of the islands from Russia and the rather complicated process of obtaining a visa.

Before you receive required visa, you need to think about which vacation spot to choose. Each of the islands has its own attractions and offers different options for spending time. To make your choice easier, you can study the reviews of tourists who have already been here on the forums or find out the reviews of your friends.

The largest island in the archipelago is Hawaii, called Big Island, since its area makes up more than 60% of the land area of ​​the entire archipelago, a famous reserve of seven volcanoes, including active ones, and many “wild” beaches that attract surfers.

Map of Hawaii showing all the islands

Another interesting place for tourists is the Laymana Museum of Hawaiian Antiquities, located in Hilo.

The island of Maui is slightly smaller in area. He was chosen for family vacation and adherents of quiet calm measured life. Its peculiarity is hotels with original design and unusual design and the presence of a large number of golf courses. Russians and tourists from other countries are attracted to Maui by the beauty of its picturesque mountain shelves.

The most densely populated island in the archipelago is the island of Oahu, whose inhabitants account for three-quarters of the population of the entire state. The capital, Honolulu, is also located on it.

Tourists are attracted to the world famous Waikiki Beach and a number of historical attractions (Iolani Palace, King Kamehameha Statue and the Polynesian Cultural Center).

The island of Kauai (translated as “garden island”) is attractive for its waterfalls (more than twenty) and canyons, creating unique picturesque landscapes.
There is a monument to Captain Cook here because it was on Kauai that his expedition originally landed.

The island of Lanai will be preferred by those who like solitude. A bunch of wild beaches, rivers flowing from the very tops of the mountains, waterfalls and small lakes create unusual, beautiful corners.

Local Attractions

In addition to wonderful beaches and picturesque landscapes, a vacation in Hawaii may be interesting due to the national park " Hawaiian Volcanoes", operating since 1916. It is located on the very large island, includes seven mountain formations, both dormant and active. Here you can learn about the history of the formation of the archipelago.

The Big Island is also famous for its extensive coffee plantations, beach green sand(of which there are only two in the whole world), the highest mountain peak(if you include the underwater part) Mauna Kea and one of the most active volcanoes Kilauea.

Active volcano Kilauea in Hawaii

On neighboring island, Oahu, there is another representative of the “fire-breathing” mountains - the frozen Koolau volcano, which last erupted almost 200 thousand years ago. This natural monument is called “Diamond Head”. In the central part there are pineapple plantations.

Here is the Battleship Arizona Memorial, built on the remains of a sunken ship in Pearl Harbor, and a submarine museum. The Battleship Missouri Memorial, where the Japanese surrender pact was signed, ending World War II, is also popular.

Hanauma Bay Marine Sanctuary – perfect place for diving enthusiasts (paid since 1998), the Marine Life Park is interesting, where you can closely communicate with sea ​​lions and turtles, dolphins and stingrays.
On the island you can visit both Buddhist temple, so Christian Church Kawaihao, a tour of Iolani Palace will reveal the entire history of the island. The state capital, Honolulu, also offers a traditional zoo, museums and a number of monuments, especially military ones, due to the presence of many American army bases on the islands.

Visiting the Hawaiian Islands means having a great time on picturesque resort- the dream of almost every tourist. Visitors are welcome here, and there are many options for interesting pastime in this tropical paradise.

In this article we will tell you what excursions you can visit while on vacation in Hawaii and indicate approximate prices for these tours.

Oahu Island – sightseeing tour

During an excursion on the island of Oahu, you will visit the best observation decks: overlooking the city of Honolulu, the crater of the Diamond Head volcano, Haunama Bay, Iternity Beach and the Halona Blowhole. Then we will drive through the prestigious Kahala area, visit Cape Makapuu, the local village of Waimanalo, visit the Valley of the Temples and the Byodo-in Temple (an exact replica of the Japanese one), then visit a flower nursery and a macadamia nut store, and after that - at the Pali pass.

This excursion lasts for five hours. The price for a group of one to three people is 320 dollars, from four to six – 450, and if the number of tourists is larger, then by agreement.

Excursion: helicopter flight over the island of Oahu

Taking a helicopter ride, you can see Hanauma Bay, Diamond Head, Waikiki, Chinaman’s Hat Island, as well as admire the Sacred Falls and Dole Pineapple plantations, exotic... read more

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Weather in Hawaii by month:

Month	Temperature		Cloudiness	Rainy days / Precipitation	Water temperature in the sea	Number of solar hours per day
	During the day	At night
January	25.1°C	22.3°C	26.5%	1 day (20.3 mm.)	24.5°C	11 o'clock 0m.
February	25.0°C	22.2°C	35.5%	4 days (53.9 mm.)	24.2°C	11 o'clock 27m.
March	25.0°C	22.1°C	33.0%	2 days (41.3 mm.)	24.2°C	12h. 2m.
April	26.4°C	23.1°C	29.4%	2 days (28.3 mm.)	24.7°C	12h. 39m.
May	27.4°C	23.7°C	27.3%	2 days (27.0 mm.)	25.3°C	13:00 10m.
June	28.3°C	24.5°C	24.9%	-	25.8°C	13:00 25m.
July	29.1°C	25.3°C	23.8%	1 day (14.6 mm.)	26.2°C	13:00 17m.
August	29.6°C	25.7°C	24.0%	1 day (24.7 mm.)	26.7°C	12h. 50m.
September	29.3°C	25.6°C	24.0%	1 day (31.9 mm.)	27.1°C	12h. 15m.
October	28.6°C	25.2°C	28.2%	1 day (38.8 mm.)	26.9°C	11 o'clock 39m.
November	27.2°C	24.5°C	31.2%	2 days (23.6 mm.)	26.2°C	11 o'clock 8m.
December	25.9°C	23.4°C	32.4%	2 days (35.9 mm.)	25.1°C	10 o'clock 52m.

*This table displays weather averages collected over more than three years

TOURIST REVIEWS:

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Hawaii will offer every guest the right island

Everything that the largest Pacific archipelago belonging to America is rich in is the turquoise of the sea, the gold of the sun, the pearls of the sands. This is what we, yesterday's students, thought when we were getting ready to go on a trip to find the treasures of relaxation. However, having spent a little time in Hawaii, we unexpectedly found hidden jewels of relaxation, the shapes of which were determined by the island.

Lanai is unique in its impressive number of golf courses, highly specialized clubs, and training centers. Oahu is famous for its Sea Life Park, where dolphin therapy is practiced. This island is considered ideal for exploring the fascinating Polynesian culture, which is preserved by the natives of special villages, and diving (thanks to legendary bay Hanuma, where the aborigines feed turtles).

What makes the island of Hawaii unique is its volcanic origin. Some fire-breathing mountains act by supplying famous beach Punaluu anthracite sand. When you sunbathe on volcanic lava, you feel like an action superheroine. Once you find yourself in the gardens and Waimea Canyon (the longest valley) of Kauai, you find yourself in a blockbuster. You'll fly on a plane that flies freely between the islands to Maui, and you'll live a little in a fairy tale with a slight surfer twist. Magnificent tropical forests, luxurious waterfalls, bluish-scarlet sunsets, stormy seas.

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HOLIDAY PRICES:

How much does a vacation to Hawaii cost? December 2014.

tour cost

Our last tour was to Hawaii. Our group of 4 people had visas. We opened it earlier, independently by private invitation. The cost in those days was $165. We flew from Moscow with two transfers (Amsterdam, San Francisco) Honolulu. The ticket was purchased in advance, so the cost was $800. The return flight, although longer (38 hours with stops) via Atlanta-Amsterdam, was tiring, but something you wouldn’t tolerate for the sake of such savings.

We chose the hotel on line 2, but we didn’t regret it at all. The beaches of Waikiki are only a 5-minute walk, but there are many restaurants, shops and cafes along the way. It didn’t bother me at all, and the hotel pleased me with its convenience and cleanliness. Compared to others, its price was about $150 for a double room. The Imperial Hawaii Resort hotel is located close to the bus stop, which gave us the opportunity to ride around the entire island and visit other beaches for 2.5 dollars. Taxis to and from the airport were taken on the spot, without ordering. The trip for 4 cost only $30, and at a very odd time (late night arrival) and early departure at 5 am.

We organized an excursion to the zoo and pineapple plantations ourselves. We walked to the zoo; the entrance ticket was $20. We spent almost the whole day in one of the richest zoos in the USA. Pineapple paradise cost - 2.5 (bus) + excursion train ride around the territory - $7 + samples different types pineapple products (juice, ice cream, sweets) - about $5. Several times we went to China Town (Honolulu area) and to the center with monuments, universities and museums. Compared to other US resorts, holidays here turned out to be the cheapest. True, as always, there is not enough time to visit all the interesting things.

Food and products

If you pay attention to the cheapest establishments, then Japanese and Chinese cuisine very attractive and common here. Coffee can be purchased for 99 cents at any convenience store or eatery. Decent and more expensive restaurants cost from $30 per person with light drinks. Marriott offered a buffet for $20, a good Japanese buffet complex for $15. Of course, there are many American chain restaurants like McDonald's where you can have a meal for 6-9 dollars.

Total money spent on vacation

Helpful information?

Holiday impressions in December

The temperature both day and night is very comfortable for relaxing and walking.

Youth recreation

You can enjoy exploring all 6 islands that are completely different from each other. Even the weather can be different.

Holidays alone

If you don’t want to look for adventure and explore all the Hawaiian Islands, then you can choose very quiet place and enjoy the silence and beauty of nature.

What to take with you on vacation?

Everything you might need for a holiday by the sea. Sunscreen lotions are a must. Temperatures are not very high in December, but you can still get burned.

For walking around tropical forests Islands will need remedies against mosquito bites and it is better to take closed clothes and shoes.

Where is the best place to stay?

If you are traveling alone, then the International Hostel in Honolulu for 2800 rubles is ideal. For a group of friends good option There will be accommodation in the Aekolion residence near the village of Waikolou 3100 per night. We didn't stay in a hotel for more than 3 days. They changed islands and moved from place to place. It's more interesting and you can see more.

What to do at the resort?

Exploration of the Hawaiian Islands, helicopter tours, yacht trips, diving and coral reef exploration.

For those who love exotic photographs, you can immediately go to the island of Oahu. On this island in the bay there is a huge coral reef located right in the crater of a dormant volcano. Here you can explore the bottom with a mask and see exotic fish.

Helicopter excursions will reveal all the delights of the island and help you see all the beauties in a short time.

Waterfall in the tropical forest.

Great tour of the island of Oahu. On this excursion you will be able to see the prestigious Kahala district, where most of the Hollywood stars live. View Honolulu from the heights of the Tantalus Mountains.

Diving on Maui is very popular. This amazing islands for research underwater world. The excursion is organized by experienced instructors and trainers. Dive boats depart daily from Maui.

An incredible sight is the sea fountains that can be seen on the shores of the island of Kauai. Bizarrely shaped stones cut like this sea ​​wave during high tide, incredibly high fountains are formed. The water playing in the sunlight bends so that you can see a rainbow. An incredibly beautiful sight.

Where can I eat?

It is better to eat in inexpensive cafes, since in our opinion there is a huge selection of seafood and they are fresher.

About the quality of food and service

Hawaiian cuisine takes some getting used to. Not everyone will like it, so if you don’t plan to experiment, you can order the usual fast food. A staple of Hawaiian cuisine is taro. This is a completely unleavened product and is used to make mashed potatoes. purple. In regular eateries you can try different types of fish with delicious sauces. The island has a large selection of food from various countries: Japanese, Chinese, and European.

Disadvantages of vacationing in Hawaii

Hawaiian food is high in calories and high in starch, fat and salt. In order not to get unpleasant surprises with your stomach, it is better to find out the composition first or ask for a tasting portion.

Is it worth vacationing in Hawaii?

Hawaii is definitely a place where you want to return again and again. All of the Hawaiian Islands are incredibly beautiful and attractive with their unpredictable weather and tropical forests.

We are from St. Petersburg, we definitely travel every six months. This time we decided visit Hawaii. Friends recommended it and the reviews were wonderful. But because I wanted to see much, and move from hotel to hotel, fly from island to island, and sit in airports for hours- We didn’t want it one bit, so we decided to take a cruise.

After infinite flight moved in a covered smog Los Angeles, still night in flight, and in the first rays of the sun rising from the ocean we see a miracle! In the middle of the emerald abyss - there is a volcano with its top torn off. Inside the crater is all green, and transparent turquoise waves splash around snow-white foam. Nearby lies a joyful and bright city immersed in greenery and sandy beaches.

Hawaii is the last state of America, but the first thing we heard in a taxi on the way from the airport was “Hawaii is not America!” - can you imagine? Then we were given a long lecture all the way; “We are, they say, fighting against corporate rules, against the fact that multinational corporations were squeezing out our small businesses, our farmers, small shops and infringing on our rights!!!”

These are the times! To hear this in States! Not only does it turn out that we consider ourselves deprived! I don’t know what suppresses them (!?) America, as we later learned all national parks are supported by the federal budget, and payments population, and medicine and pensions and other. And state payments Hawaii to the American budget (federal tax) is only 1.5%! I don’t know if this information is accurate and how one can be dissatisfied, but with our 60% of sent you know where-don't compare. But, Maybe there are some reasons. During our trip, we heard more than once the now familiar phrase “Welcome to Hawaii” and “Hawaii is not America”!

Day we rested, walked along Waikiki-reminiscent of Sydney, but a lot of Japanese. Very!!! Hawaii is considered the most expensive state in America, but they seemed cheaper to us than ours St. Petersburg. The streets are clean and completely safe wherever you are. Even on deserted beach at night.

There it is customary to give 15% tips or 10% if the bill is large. IN New York, a year ago, when we gave 15%, the waiters came up and blatantly asked; - “There’s something wrong with you liked? -and showed their displeasure by shaking off the tablecloth before nose, it was very unpleasant.

Stayed at the hotel Aston, almost right on the shore.190 dollarsnight and a million dollar view. But we didn't expect this pandemonium. Crowds, crowds, crowds of people, Asians everywhere - in the corridors, elevators, restaurants. And for breakfast and dinner and... always. Brrrrr.

Restaurants by prices quite affordable and with good kitchen. We fell in love with the Oceanarium Restaurant the first time. Imagine huge aquarium where exotic fish, stingrays and a Hawaiian mermaid swim. Without scuba gear, underwater like a fish. Waving your hand and tail.

Dinner at restaurant cost $90 for two, including tip, fried scallops in wine, perfect Kamchatka crabs, squid baked in batter, excellent steak, local fish, fried shrimp, cakes, strawberries in hot chocolate, and all this - in a huge number. It was difficult to get up from the table.

In the evenings there are mini shows in Waikiki. Either Hawaiian women dance, swaying their hips, making men shrink awkwardly, or handsome Hawaiians with spears and swords perform a fiery show, or fireworks - the city never sleeps and lives the busy life of a world resort.

What's left is terrible impression from Japanese restaurants. No, prepare-they are wonderful. But attitude?! We heard the opinion that the Japanese are Nazis and do not consider anyone other than the Japanese as people (I used to think that this was an unfounded statement), but here collided with a clear disregard for white clients. That is, we were clearly shown that the Japanese were here in the first place. It was shocking. Americans at the next table, after forty minutes(!) of waiting, they began be indignant and we too, at the end we started arguing. We will never go to them again.

In the morning we took Taxi, it turned out that there are a LOT of taxis there expensive! They charge 120 per hour dollars! Taxi drivers are polite, but the meter was ticking scary! People are open and friendly, always smiling and sincerely trying to help. Very different from Americans in other cities. No one for you Nothing does not try to impose, everything is very kind and pleasant to the soul and heart.

We got there with our suitcases ship. Cruise we planned still in St. Petersburg, but our agencies asked for almost 3,200 thousand dollars for interior cabins. I have a husband English speaking, I went to the America Right website and found the same cabin for 2700! We chose an inside cabin (without portholes) because we thought that we would leave in the morning and return already at night. And the difference in money is better spent on excursions and yourself and your loved ones.

On the liner you go to heaven. Gyms, swimming pools, saunas, French, Italian, American restaurants -for any The taste and cuisine are excellent everywhere. For Italian and French and for alcohol you have to pay an extra 25-30 dollars. The menu is incredible. And fish in any form, and steak, and... everything you dream about. It's true that discos are a disgrace to America!

Last year we took cruise on Caribs and excursions that were offered at ship. Based on last year’s experience, we didn’t really like it, since I don’t speak English very well, and there was also a large group of American pensioners. While there they are on their own crutches and strollers to the bus home mowing By the time they crawl in, sit down, you’ll sweat. And there are screaming kids behind me. The end result was a crumpled, boring and difficult excursion for us to endure.

I am a businesswoman, and as a former lawyer, took over the organization of excursions and tours. From sad experience I knew how important it is to have good guide Both the mood and impression from the trip! To have a bore who knows little and crumples up the whole trip for us is excluded! I checked everything three times, read all the forums and reviews, and even found a Russian agency there (I won’t say which one. They intimidated me by deleting the resource) which hooked me both with the routes and description. And as always, I was not mistaken!

I wanted look all without any crowding, crushing and waiting, then When It’s convenient for us, so we took an individual tour from our “Russo-Hawaiians” "Mysterious Hawaii" across all islands.

Cruise allows you see maximum from maximum amenities. During the day, you are in one city, you go on an excursion, see the best, and in the evening you return to your ship. No need search restaurant, taxi, then go to the hotel, then to the airport to fight with suitcases, waiting, check-in lines, flights, new taxis and hotels... None of this torment. Every we had two days new island, and every day - new city. You see more, you pay less, and there are no hardships or hassles. In addition, the routes we traveled with our guides clearly went past the routes huge tourist buses.

After Honolulu we moored to Maui. Maui is considered the most the best island for a “life” as close as possible to heavenly. The biggest one lives there quantity millionaires per capita of the American population. And after visiting it becomes clear why.

Taking car, we went to get permission to camping at the city hall. We were surprised that camping is prohibited on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and everyone must find alternative accommodation for these two days. Because We We arrived on Tuesday, we were guaranteed one night at the camp ground Kahana in North Oahu, about an hour from Honolulu. We arrived at our parka at about five in the evening, after shopping at Wal-mart, where we bought fins and rubber slippers (since we were warned that some beaches may be rocky) water and off I go for the first time. I was amazed by the huge selection of snorkeling accessories (snorkel is a snorkel for breathing, and snorkeling is swimming in underwater mask with a tube) and diversity dried seafood. There we had a bite to eat at a local Fast Food, which offers a Hawaiian menu - pork baked in the ground, burgers with salmon, ribs cut crosswise rather than lengthwise.

There is a wonderful Valley there Craters at the very top of the mountains, I can't go wanted, hard to bear mountain roads and the guide warned that the road winds, but... they husband I was persuaded.

How lovely! The road goes through impassable jungle, then our mixed forest, over lawns and hills (just like in New Zealand). You rise up and you drive through the thickness of the clouds, higher and higher, and you are already in the heavens, and the whole world and endless the ocean is below you!