South Pacific Seascapes

Bora Bora is one of over 100 islands in the South Pacific. The people are a mix of Maori, Chinese and European, and have a unique, welcoming culture. One can experience turquoise blue waters, white sand beaches, as well as a heathly mix of culture and the arts. Excellent hiking, scuba diving, fishing, boating and more can also be easily found.

Fakarava’s immense lagoon has several black pearl farms, idyllic white sand beaches and is peppered with small islands, homes to many breeds of nesting birds oblivious to visitors..The passes provide endless and exciting discoveries for snorkelers and scuba divers in dream-like purple water where 150 foot visibility is the norm.

Adventure and discovery are mixed with breathtaking scenery, romance, and the warm, sensual trade winds in the coconut palms. If you need to de-stress, this is the place. Snorkeling there is the best of anywhere, and Scuba diving in this tropical aquarium couldn’t be easier: when the tide is even, simply jump off the restaurant deck into this purple dream, sit yourself at the bottom ( 80″ ) of the pass, and watch the crowd go by, just like in a Paris cafe. Except you are in 80 degree water with 180″ visibility. And the crowd is made-up of tropical fish who come to check you out, including many huge napoleon wrasses, white-tip, black-tip and (harmless) grey sharks and sometimes manta rays.

Another cool dive – or snorkling – excursion is to Sane’s famous black pearl farm where you can see the large oysters suspended in mid-lagoon, and if it is the right time of year, even observe the delicate procedure of graft implenting in the live oysters. For a small fee, Sane may even let you dive for your own pearl, and who knows, you may hit the jackpot!

“The Big Island.” There’s something pleasantly direct about the nicknamenatives use for the island of Hawaii. Of course, it’s also known as “The Orchid Isle” and “The Volcano Island,” so it’s no wonder a visitor to Hawaii finds it to be a land of wonder and beauty.

Hana is an industrial port town on the windward (rainier) side of the island, with several hotels and an airport, although the majority of the resort activity is on the Kona side of the Island.

There are snow-capped 14,038-foot peaks (Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea), vast macadamia nut plantations, as well as black lava, white coral and green olivine beaches–not to mention the fiery landscape of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

It means “the gathering place,” and whoever named Oahu knew what he was talking about. For millions gather here every year to enjoy “the jewel city” of Honolulu, from Diamond Head and the world-famous beaches of Waikiki to the inspiring memorials of Pearl Harbor, to the only royal palace ever constructed on U.S. soil. And if you’re a board-bug, don’t
miss the legendary surfing beaches of the North Shore.

The main city on the Island is Honolulu, with Waikiki being the primarybeach and resort hotel area. Among the many popular things to do on Oahu, the Polynesian Cultural Center and Sea Life Park, on the opposite side of the Island from Honolulu, are very popular.

Los Angeles is the second largest city in the U.S., ranking second only to that of New York in size. The city, which attracts thousands of tourists yearly, is noted for its parks; for many and varied museums; for its enormous Music Center and Convention Center; for the fossil-rich La Brea Tar Pits; for its ethnic communities; for its climate and beaches; and for its educational institutions, including the Univ. of Southern California and the Univ. of California at Los Angeles. The 1932 and 1984 summer Olympics were held in the city.

Moorea’s white sandy beach, clearwater lagoons, majestic palm trees and volcanic peaks make this a truely peaceful island paradise. Moorea is dedicated to tourism without all of the hustle-bustle typical of its neighboring islands. Go to Velvedere Lookout, or view the facsinating marae ruins and stone archery platforms in the Upunohu Valley, both easily accesible by moped or car.

Tahiti, (te-hê´tê) island (1988 pop. 115,820), 402 sq mi (1,041 sq km), S Pacific, in the Society Islands, French Polynesia. The capital is Papeete. It relies on tourism and produces vanilla, fruits, and copra. Settled by Polynesians (14th cent.), it was visited in the 18th century by Capt. James Cook and Lt. William Bligh. It became French in 1843. Gauguin painted his best-known works there.