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Show New Utah! - Wednesday, August 4, 1999 - Page 3 Find your own paradise in Hawaii Islands offer astonishing variety of landscapes, experiences and moods "v.. i I Hawaii is one of the world's most desirable tourist destinations, but after a pair of visits in the past few years which included all of the four major islands, I've decided that advertisers have somewhat missed the point. . Not that Hawaii doesn't offer gorgeous scenery, balmy tropical tropi-cal weather, beautiful beaches and exotic dancing girls; there's plenty of all that. It's just that there's so much more there than you ever hear about, and the most surprising thing we found was ... solitude. Large sections, in fact the vast majority, of every island remain uninhabited and wild. You can't call them pristine; there has been too much invasion inva-sion by imported species of plants, animals and humans to leave the ecology undisturbed. Nevertheless, even on heavily heavi-ly populated Oahu, there are empty beaches, remote trails that few follow, and many other spots where visitors can truly "get away from it all." The individual islands share the drenching rains on the east coasts and the near-desert conditions con-ditions on the western sides, with interiors that remain largely inaccessible by the customary cus-tomary means. Still, each island is also unique, and has its own character charac-ter and flavor. Here are a few personal observations about the four we visited. Oahu " The host for Honolulu, the 'only real city in the islands, and the location of the famous Waikiki Beach. If you like people peo-ple and activity, this is the place for you. It also offers -some of the cheapest accommodations accommo-dations and airfares to be had. As large as Honolulu is though, especially when compared com-pared with the small towns that make up the rest of the' cities" in the state, it takes up only a small percentage of the island. Elsewhere, you can find the same variety of landscapes and Iquiet places that are available on the other islands. 1 1 H) ' wf u?Vf .There are many interesting lighthouses in the Islands; fthis one, at Kilauea Point on .Kauai, boasts the world's largest clamshell lens. est cf ry txcs tpti to c txki hi is;anea. LCrclna tioomlng there Maui The next-most-visited destination, desti-nation, Maui has a north shore string of resorts that are a little nicer and more expensive than many of those along Waikiki, but their beaches are as busy with activities for those who enjoy them. You can also drive to the 10,000-foot summit of Haleakala, a dying volcano that provides a spectacular view at sunrise and some flora and fauna found nowhere else in the world. There's also the narrow and winding road to Hana through the tropical rainforests on the east side, a worthwhile adventure adven-ture if you don't mind going 20 m.p.h. most of the way. Kauai There is a resort area on this island too, on the south side, but most of it is agrarian and quiet. This island boasts Hawaii's only navigable river, which gets its start at the wettest spot on earth. It also has Waimea, the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific," a spectacular drive that ends above the lush skyline to be forever for-ever known as "Bali Hai" from the movie "South Pacific." The towering cliffs on the west coast are so steep and rugged that there is no road to them; the only way to see them is by helicopter or boat, but it's well worth the trip. Hawaii Otherwise known as "The Big Island," to distinguish it from the name of the state, Hawaii is the least-visited but perhaps most intriguing of the four. It has sun-drenched Kona on the west and garden Hilo on the east, with two of the world's tallest mountains and an active volcano inbetween. If you don't dot anjrttlittgr'tlr miss Volcanoes National Park. Photos and text by Beky Beaton tEHoTn Member FDIC rim B faatMi P 7i Most people think only of the white sand beaches they see on Hawaiian postcards, but black Waianapanapa State Park on the northeast shore of Maui are quite common. Golden sand is too, be found in the Islands, and no two beaches are alike. ...... --J'L1'r' The Kilauea caldera on the Big Island of Hawaii offers a stark volcanic landscape in contrast to the tropical lushness that surrounds sur-rounds it. This is one of the world's most active volcanoes. Away from Honolulu, Oahu offers remote areas of beauty like this one on the eastern shore south of Laie. When you see our piggy bank. . . Ml JYV - ,UUU LjX,:J UV7IJUL Save something out of everything . you earn. Regular savings and investments are critical to your financial success. And what better reminder than a huge piggy bank? Your savings are secure at the Bank of American Fork; we're one of the . nation's safest banks. We've also recently added personalized investment consulting as an available service, through our alliance with Financial Network Investment Corporation. Come in today. We'll show you how regular savings snd investments can make your future very bright. Investment products offered an not departs and ait not , fDK insured. They are not obligations of nor guaranteed by the Bank of American Fori, or arty other ffilited entity and , involve investment risks, including fluctuations in market value and possible loo of principal. Financial Network Investment Corporation is not a bank. Securities are offered through FiriarKial Network financial MetvialheacfAnmkmMmnotafSSaMd, n7 .cTnrr? D: v This sunset was captured at that line the major roads on all the Islands. This one is a few miles south of Lahaina on Maui. sand beaches such as this one at but pink and even green sand can one of the many public beaches i - A ( yssoround. COPY |