KAUA'I

Long before "eco-travel" became a popular buzzword, Kaua'i, was giving visitors a true taste of Eden with her natural paradise. Cloaked in brilliant shades of green, Kaua'i lures visitors with her lush mountains, verdant grottos, hidden beaches and shimmering waterfalls. No wonder, that Kaua'i was aptly given the nickname "The Garden Island." Blessed with a diversity of natural wonders and landscapes, the island boasts seven distinct mirco climates. They range from desert-like conditions on the west side, semi-arid tropical weather on the beach resorts, cool mountain forests above Waimea Canyon, pastoral plains on the upper east side to tropical rain forests in the interior.

Known as the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific," Waimea Canyon is just one of nature's masterpieces on the island. Laced with miles of excellent hiking trails, this 10-mile-long gorge offers an amazing show from dawn to dusk, as its vivid palette of colors change with the time of day. "Green" travelers can also explore the many trails and isolated beaches of the stunning Napali coast.

KAUA'I ISLAND Facts

Nickname: The Garden Isle
Land Mass: 552.3 square miles
Population: 58,000
Highest Peak: Kawaikini Peak on Mt Wai'ale'ale, 5,243 feet
Major Airport: Lihue Airport
Golf Courses: 8 - 18 hole courses; 1 - 9 hole course

O'AHU

Hawaii's Big IslandDrawing more visitors than any other Hawaiian island, O'ahu is a place of colorful contrasts. The island is usually divided into four areas, each reflecting its own unique history, geography and identity: Honolulu, the Leeward Side, the Windward Side and the North Shore.

Fast-paced by Island standards, Honolulu still generates a small-town feeling with its ethnic communities, pleasant parks and beaches. Protected from heavy winds by the Ko'olau mountain range, the city's temperate climate is the perfect backdrop for a seemingly endless list of activities. Here, any diversion under the sun - wet or dry - is possible. In addition to water sports, the many restaurants, galleries, clubs, museums, arboretums and the 'Iolani Palace — the only royal palace in the United States - comprise more than enough activities for any itinerary. And with hundreds of retail stores offering everything from designer goods to "Made in Hawai'i" products, Hawai'i is also known as the shopping mecca of the Pacific. O'ahu is Hawaii's "Gathering Place".

Just a few minutes from downtown Honolulu is the world-famous - Waikiki. With its attractions such as the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium, activities from golf and outrigger canoe rides to historical walking tours, and people who share the Aloha spirit, Waikiki is truly life's greatest beach.

The Leeward Coast roughly takes in the area west of Honolulu, from Pearl Harbor to Ka'ena Point. Island trade winds drop their moisture on Oahu's interior, leaving this part of the island somewhat drier. Visitors can make a trip to historic Pearl Harbor and see the Arizona Memorial, which was erected after the attack on the U.S. fleet in 1941. Makaha Beach, with its international surfing competitions, is also a popular attraction further up the Sunset Coast.

One-third of the State's best surfing beaches are on O'ahu, and no place in Hawai'i can lay claim to more pulse-quickening rides than the North Shore. Here visitors can watch the world's top surfers take on nature's most powerful waterworks at spots such as Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline. Other noteworthy places to visit include idyllic Waimea Valley and the Polynesian Cultural Center, where the traditions of the Pacific Island peoples are brought to life.

The Windward Side of O'ahu is the flipside of Honolulu — slower and with fewer attractions, but with a "mana" or spirit, all its own. Near Ha'iku Valley, visitors will encounter the Byodo-In Buddhist temple with its serene Japanese gardens. At Kalanai Point, travelers can enjoy one of the Island's most appealing parks, Malaekahana State Recreation Area.

O'AHU ISLAND Facts

Nickname: The Gathering Place
Land Mass: 597 square miles
Population: 872,478
State Capital: Honolulu
Highest Peak: Mt Ka'ala, 4,020 feet
Major Airport: Honolulu International Airport
Golf Courses: 40