Journey to the "Spirit of Aloha" in Hawaii

They say that Hawaii is one of the places in the world with the highest rate of happiness among its inhabitants. This is because the climate, nature, gastronomy, and a lifestyle based on relationships within the community. Family and friendship ties seem to make Hawaiians optimistic and calm people by nature. Their philosophy of life is what they call the "Spirit of Aloha", the synchrony of mind and heart in everyone, according to which, each person should think and transmit good feelings to others. 

This must have been true from the beginning, when the first Maori explorers of Polynesia arrived 1,500 years ago on the Hawaiian Islands, coming from the distant lands of the South Pacific, guided only by the stars. When they arrived they were surely amazed by what they were seeing: an orchard of nature, beaches, rugged cliffs, volcanoes, and mountains that were far from ordinary.

Captain James Cook was the first European to arrive in Hawaii in 1778. In the 19th century, the island was known for its sugar plantations and this led to the arrival of many workers from China, Japan, or Philippines, which has greatly influenced the cuisine of the island.

Although the United States annexed Hawaii in 1898, it was not until 1959 that the island became an official state of the USA by popular vote. Of Hawaii's six main islands, Oahu is where Honolulu, the state capital and its largest city, is located. That's where former President Barack Obama was born.

Experiences for the whole family

Hawaii's beautiful beaches are just the beginning of a myriad of experiences that allow you to get up close and personal with nature, culture, and deep-rooted traditions of these ancient islands. From surfing the gentle waves of Waikiki Beach to snorkeling and swimming among green turtles or stingrays at Kona Coast, an archipelago that boasts more than 1,900 kilometers of coral reef.

In addition, every winter, Hawaii becomes the scene of the best whale watching on the planet. At this time, thousands of kohola (humpback whales) migrate to its warm waters to feed and care for calves. For the more terrestrial, much of the island can be visited by trekking along scenic trails, by 4x4 SUVs or with thrilling zip-line descents.

The 50 state parks and two national parks in Hawaii offer everything from waterfalls in lush valleys to volcanic landscapes similar to the surface of Mars. For the adrenaline junkies, there's nothing like a helicopter flight over the island's craters and mountains in what is one of the most unique ways to experience Hawaii.

Environmental care and sustainability are very important to these islands. Hawaii has the highest number of endangered species of native plants and animals, more than any other place on the planet. For this reason, one of the important values for the local and native Hawaiian people is what they call "malama aina" or taking care of the land.

We can discover different islands of Hawaii staying in different luxury resorts in this archipelago. All of them are located in privileged locations, between beaches of crystalline waters and volcanic landscapes, where you'll get to know the islands properly and practice a multitude of activities and experiences.