The Hawaiian Islands are renowned for their many exciting travel experiences. It is not without reason that tourism is the main branch of the economy here. Vacationers can appreciate the beaches with white, black, green sand, blue tropical lagoons, dense impenetrable jungle, mountains with peaks covered with snow, active volcanoes, and, of course, get acquainted with the original culture of the local population. This is wonderful music, original outfits, spectacular dances ... More than a hundred islands and atolls are united in the southernmost state of the United States, far from the mainland.
Overflowing waters
The oldest of the Hawaiian Islands is Kauai. Formed about six million years ago, there is a long extinct volcano. The top of this mountain is a small plateau on which the lake is located. The name of the lake is the same as the mountains - Waialeale, translated from Hawaiian, means "overflowing waters." This name is not accidental. It rains almost constantly in the area of the Vaialeale volcano, filling the lake and everything around with water. This is the "wettest" place on the planet, with an average of 11,680 mm of precipitation per year. And in 1992, a record number of 16,900 mm fell here. It is even difficult to imagine such an amount of water on the mountain if it did not drain anywhere.
The water falling from the mountain creates an extraordinary impression. It gathers in streams, they flow down from the top, forming here and there stormy streams that wash out the rock. One of these places where there are many streams, Honokohau Falls, is especially amazing.
Wall of tears
The entire mountain is covered with dense greenery. And although only some species of plants can withstand such humidity and lack of sunlight, the steep slopes and the bottom of the gorge are overgrown with lichen, ploon, sedge ... In the depths of the canyon, a turbid river carries its turbid waters. Thin threads flow into it in labyrinths. It is from a helicopter that they look like threads, in fact, these are quite large streams. The fact is that walking in these places is almost impossible due to the difficult terrain. Many helipads have been built in the area for tourists, from which excursions are organized. A steep rock, about 300 meters high, as if scratched by a huge animal and streams run over the places where giant claws once walked.
The mountain seems to be crying. The waterfall is called the “Wall of Tears”. Depending on the amount of precipitation, the number of streams and their completeness are constantly changing. So the pattern in the gorge transforms over the years. Although the widest streams, which have already made their way in the rock, of course, are constant, only change the flow rate.
Filming location of a popular movie
The air in the canyon is saturated with moisture, the rumble of falling water is mesmerizing. The clouds covering the sky overhead create a feeling of isolation from the rest of the world, from reality. The sun's rays are rare here, and the size of Honokohau is striking. Getting here, you can feel the strength and power of primitive nature. Get an unforgettable experience of unspoiled virgin landscapes. It is very easy to imagine that a Triceratops grazing behind a nearby rock, which is being hunted by a dromaeosaurus. No wonder it was in these places where the shooting of the film "Jurassic Park" took place. The audience remembered well the episode with the view of the waterfall.
The bottom of the gorge is dug by streams, it seems that it is the backs of the ancient lizards frozen and covered with moss. Rare trees seem very small against the backdrop of huge green rocks. The colossal size of the walls creates the impression of fake, plasticine.
Unique place and tradition
The top of the mountain is constantly hidden in fog or haze. This gives it a special mesmerizing look. The ancient Hawaiians considered it sacred; according to their legends, the ancestor god, Kane, lived there. They built a heiau temple on top. Such buildings, in the opinion of many local residents, still have tremendous power. It is a flat space surrounded by lava walls and lined with smooth stones. In the center there is an altar, on which, in fact, food, flowers, pieces of lava wrapped in plant leaves are brought.
The customs of the local people attract tourists from different parts of the world. The flower garland "Lei" or the word "Aloha" is familiar all over the world. By the way, this is not only "hello", "goodbye", "love". With this word, Hawaiians express tenderness, kindness, sympathy. "Aloha" is the basic life values of the inhabitants of the Hawaiian Islands.
The national dance Hula is also known. With its help, dancers, decorated with local plants, coconut fibers, pieces of fabric from the bark of trees, flowers, tell instructive stories, perform ancient religious rituals. Now the hula dance is successfully entertained by tourists.
The music here is wonderful. It combines the styles of different peoples who gradually settled on the islands. Its basis is percussion instruments, a small four-string guitar. Cheerful, harmonious motives amuse the ear and give pleasure. Diving and surfing are developed on the islands. Fans of outdoor activities do not remain indifferent to the underwater landscapes of amazing lagoons and waves of the Pacific Ocean.
The island of Kauai in Hawaii has a phenomenal wildlife beauty. The coast of Napali surprises with floating rocks, the indescribable beauty of the Hanalei Bay, dense thickets of the jungle teeming with outlandish animals and birds ... Surprising is the fact that there are absolutely no snakes, according to the law, importing them to the island, even as pets, is prohibited. Still, according to the law, in these places you cannot build houses higher than 11.8 meters, the height of an average palm tree. There are absolutely no skyscrapers familiar to most famous resorts.
All this charm can be viewed from land, from the sea, from the air. Travelers are provided with all the necessary means of transport. Helicopter excursions over the island are especially fascinating, especially since Honokohau Falls cannot be seen in another way. The pedestrian walkways are too difficult to reach. The landscape in this area is not for ground walks. For that, an amazing, unforgettable landscape opens up from a bird's eye view, mesmerizing with its enormous grace.
You can fly to the island by plane to Lihue airport, or first to the capital of Hawaii Honolulu, Oahu airport, and only then to Kauai.
