We are in the middle of summer. While many of them have already been lost on vacation, in the mountains or on the shores of idyllic islands, we are sure that someone is still stuck in the daily hustle and bustle. For those of you who continue to brave the stifling heat, we’ve decided to shut you down for a few minutes and let you take you to some of the most exotic places in the world. Let’s start with a holiday icon called the “sea traveller’s Mecca”, the most famous archipelago in the Pacific, where all elements combine in a unique natural explosion.
Buckle up and get ready to explore the wonders of the world. Hawaii with Flight Simulator.
Departure from Naalehu
It’s 5:03 in the morning. The sun is rising as we are about to start the engines. We start the taxi process and reach the 4th runway, where we position ourselves for take-off. this little one Cessna 172 Skyhawk it will take us from the smaller airport in Naalehu, where we are located, to the much larger airport of Lihue. The particular route we chose will allow us to fly over the archipelago’s four main islands: passing through Hawai’i, on which we are now, then passing through Maui, Molokai, Oahu, and finally landing on Kauai. Throttle to maximum, we’re going.
Hawaii
The skies are slightly cloudy, but they help create a special light that adds value to the island’s lush southern landscape. Hawaii. However, the landscape changes very quickly as we correct our course northward. The vegetation begins to disappear and a reddish ground becomes the undisputed hero of the area below. This is because we are approaching the volcano. mahogany loa (“tall mountain”) is the largest mountain in the world by volume.
It is not immediately noticeable from above, but falls into the typology of shield volcanoes (reminiscent of its shape in profile). It consists of three main craters formed after the collapse of the original rim that formed the large caldera named Mokuaweoweo. Obviously, it’s linked to the “hotspot” that formed the archipelago that emerged out of the sea about 400,000 years ago. The last eruption dates back to 1984, but given the scarce silica presence in the lava, the eruptions are not explosive (it’s precisely this feature that gave it the shield shape).
Now we’re getting ready to reach, Mauna Kea Observatory, a collection of telescopes placed over the volcano of the same name. Although it is independent and is funded in individual units by various government agencies, the University of Hawaii manages the site and leases it to outside organizations. These thirteen telescopes are considered among the best in the world for their elevated and isolated position, as they are located on an island in the middle of the Pacific.
on the horizon Hawi wind farm. There are sixteen wind turbines that make up the center, crossing Mauna Kea and built to take advantage of the increased intensity of trade winds along the top of the ancient Kohala volcano. These wind turbines mark Hawai’i’s final frontier and show us the way to the next island, Maui.
Maui
The splendor of Hawaii’s landscapes is replaced by gently reddish shores. Maui. We fly over them through the territory of Makena, one of the “places designed for the US census.”
Continuing along the coast, we get to the island until we reach one of the largest settlements on the island. Kahului. This is also a “census-designated place”, part of the Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina metropolitan area, which includes the towns of the same name. It is one of the most important commercial and industrial centers of the island and is therefore very popular with locals from all corners of the island.
We now turn east. close, another “CDP” located on the northwest coast of the island. A resort stretches from Kapalua Bay to Honolua Bay. A little curiosity: during the sugarcane plantation era, Kapalua beach was named Fleming Beach in honor of David Thomas Fleming, manager of the Honolua Plantations. Today it has been renamed Kapalua Beach, but the echo of this controversial era recalled by DT Fleming Park is still a few miles away.
Molokai
We leave Maui behind for a short flight Molokai. The island has always been small at the center of Hawaiian history. After being colonized by Polynesian populations from various Pacific islands (Tahiti, among others) in the 7th century AD, the island saw no fighting and warfare, staying away from strife between the neighboring Oahu and Maui peoples and other tribes. However, internal conflicts within the island society led to rivalries for possession of the territory, with its neighbors first Oahu, then Maui. Eventually, the conquest of the Great King Kamehameha led to the definitive unification of Hawaiian lands and the end of territorial strife. The West only set its sights on the island in 1778, when Captain Cook’s third voyage brought the Resolution and Discovery ships to Hawaiian shores for the first time in European history.
In the heart of this small island (compared to what was just discovered) Kualapu’uA Molokai coffee plantation surrounding a large water reservoir at the foot of the volcanic cinder cone that gives the town its name. A quick hello and back in the ocean, we were on our way to Oahu.
Oahu and Kauai
island oahu It is probably the most famous of the entire archipelago, as it is home to Hawaii’s capital city, Honolulu. As we approach the beach, we notice that the water is more emerald green. Our first contact with the earth, it is at height Hanauma bayHome to one of the island’s most famous beaches, it’s so famous that it was used by ancient Hawaiian nobility even before the concept of “holidays” became popular.
Continuing along the coast, we quickly come across downtown Honolulu. attack right away diamond headThe volcanic crater, which stands out among the low houses of the city, was formed about 300,000 years ago.
Other attractions are the Pacific National Memorial Cemetery and the infamous Pearl Harbor, where a Japanese attack on the US fleet on December 7, 1941 marked the entry of the US fleet into the war against the Axis powers. Honolulu it is also where the Kamehameha dynasty died. In fact, in 1895, sovereign Liliuokalani was forced to abdicate to allow the constitution of the Republic of Hawaii, which only three years later became the 50th and final “part” of the United States.
While we want to keep flying over this land full of history, we must stay on course and prepare for landing.
We cross the ocean one last time before we take a look at the shores of the sea. Kauai. A cloud cover covers us, but the occasional glimpse offers us a breathtaking sight. Lihue airport is close, so we prepare to queue up at the runway. We lower the wings and landing gear, cut the clouds with the front propeller, a little turbulence slightly shakes the plane. Communication! We are finally on the ground. So this is our Hawaii tour it’s over. As we descend from the runway, we thank you for flying with us and hope that you will be able to see these incredible places with your own eyes soon.
If you enjoyed this little summer experiment, please let us know in the comments below, and maybe you can suggest other routes you would like us to explore with you.
Source: Multiplayer
