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Hawaii: a family adventure: with its natural beauty, activities for both kids and adults, and the spirit of aloha that permeates every experience, Hawaii is a natural choice for families.

Article Excerpt
Oahu

Oahu is usually the first stop for travelers coming to Hawaii.

Though many tourists stay in Waikiki, others hop in the car and set out for adventure. Some of the most beautiful beaches, rain forests, and tropical excursions await exploration.

Bamboo forests and indigenous Hawaiian flora and fauna are the setting for the Manoa Falls hike, an easy 1.5-mile loop trail that takes hikers into a rain forest just 15 minutes from Waikiki. Situated in Manoa Valley, a hidden haven of greenery, the trail leads to a waterfall that you can hear long before you reach it.

Oahu is home to the world's largest permanent hedge maze, the Pineapple Garden Maze at Dole Plantation. Ramble along a path that winds 1.7 miles, framed by 11,400 colorful Hawaiian plants such as the many varieties of hibiscus, the official state flower. For an in-depth look into the plantation, families can ride the two-mile, 20-minute narrated journey by train that show cases the legacy of the pineapple and agriculture in Hawaii. You'll also see some of the most spectacular scenery on the North Shore, the stunning Koolau and Waianae mountain ranges.

lingo

The Hawaiian language--lyrical and poetic--was not written down...