My first visit was in 1980, and I was young - just into the double digits! I may be remembering this wrong, but what I remember is that we got off the air-conditioned plane (and we were all dressed up, as people still dressed up to get on planes back in the day), and we were hit with this wave of muggy, hot, humid air. Yoinks! But after that: I remember learning to hula; playing in waters that extended out yards and yards before the ocean dropped down; learning some sort of rhythm-thing where we clicked and tapped and tossed sticks; burying ourselves in the sand; freezing at the top of ... dang, brain freeze, what's it called? Haleakala? - who knew it would be so cold?!; so much more. I loved it! And I'm going back for the fourth time - this time to Kauai - next year!

First impressions--1997 in HNL--from INSIDE airplane:
1. Color of water as we landed
2. Large number of planes from Asian countries, reminding me of one of the things I love still best about Honolulu--it 's a great international city with influences quite different from the mainland's.

The first lasting impression was TASTE! We arrived late evening and by the time we checked into our Kannapali hotel it was 8 pm. We wandered up the "boardwalk" until we came to the Hula Grill where we ordered grilled shrimp and lobster appetizers and their famous Mai Tai. Everything was so fresh - the drinks were from fresh squeezed guava and passion fruit - we ended up ordering 4 more... EACH!

1975, I was 16 and when I saw Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach from the plane for the first time and I almost died. I couldn't believe that I was actually there! I was very impressed with the Honolulu airport with it's lack of windows. Eating at the old Halekulani was the high point of that trip. It was so cool sitting and watching the Hula show at House Without a Key. I was really into collecting t-shirts then and it seemed like Waikiki was t-shirt heaven.
-Bill

WoW, what great memories everyone has. Makes me feel like I'm right there with you. Thank You so much.
Lori

I remember walking through the Honolulu airport, awestruck that I was actually in Hawaii. And then we got on a small plane to Kauai, and the wonderful smells in the Lihue airport, along with the fantastic breeze, were unbelievable. I can still close my eyes and remember feeling the wind and smelling the flowers. We've been to Hawaii since then, but not to Kauai. BUT we're going back to Kauai in 32 days!!!

mine was in kauai in nov 1999. it was 9:30pm when i arrived. i stayed at a b&b inland and had to look for all the landmarks the host told me about. boy it was DARK, and as i was coming up on a hill, I got spooked by the creepy outline of a banyan tree. i did manage to find the b&b and settled in for the night.

when i awoke the next morning (but no thanks to the dogs & roosters), i threw open the shutters of the big picture windows and was rewarded with the most beautiful sight i had seen - a panoramic view the lush, green hillsides; birds chirping, roosters still crowing (LOL). still one of my favorite travel memories.

It was the wind -- the never-ceasing wind, always blowing, never stopping, just about to drive me crazy wind. The sloppiness of the people, dressed in all kinds of clothes, just what was nearest when they woke up. The high prices for everything -- food, lodging, everything. The glazed look in people's eyes as they got off planes, as if they were in a dream.

From the plane we had terrific views of Hanauma Bay, Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach. I was actually able to spot my hotel before we landed. The color of the water . . . .I had wanted to go to Hawaii- especially Oahu, since I was four years old and I couldn't believe I was finally there!

My first trip was to Oahu in 1988, I remember going to the beach with my parents and my brother to swim and looking at diamond head from the water thinking that this was the most amazing place. I can remember exploring the Royal Hawaiian with my Dad one day. I loved it and have always wanted to stay there. 2002 was my first trip to Maui and the smell still stays with me. The sugar cane fields in the wind as we drove to Wailea, I could go on and on, 27 days and I will be there to create new memories!

1st impression - What? They can't afford air-conditioning at the airport?

2nd impression - Got scared by the ladies giving me the lei.

Okay, I was only 12, so what do you expect? ;)

((r)) Aloha, and thanks for a great thread! My first impression of Hawaii actually comes under the heading of "the silly things you remember": our honeymoon in July, 1978 was a trip to Oahu and Maui with a tour group, and strangely enough, what my husband and I both remember vividly from that initial experience was the bus trip from Honolulu airport to the Sharaton Waikiki, particularly the bus driver pointing out to us, in the midst of a construction area, the state bird - the CRAIN (construction, that is!). That corny little joke has stayed with us now for 27 years!/:)

However, in the now even dozen trips we've taken to Kauai, the current lasting impressions are the sounds of the birds (mourning doves and roosters) and the intoxicating feeling I get when I'm lying on the beach at Hanalei Bay or looking out at the Na Pali from Ke'e Beach - the vivid greens and blues are just etched into my soul now. Even just the Hawaiian music, whether piped in at the airport, at a hula show, or wherever, always puts a smile on my face!

So...even though the "state bird/crain" thing won't go away, it's actually just an amusing side note to the deeper experiences described above!

Mahalo again for this post!

margot55 ~
Your Welcome. I'm glad everybody seem's to be enjoying this topic. I know I'am. That was very funny about the Crane!
Lori

April of 96..........I just remember the need to pinch myself to make sure it wasn't a dream.

The smells.........the wonderful tropical smell, and the sheer beauty of it all.

Stayed on Oahu for a few days and than went to Hawaii...........I just LOVED the Kona airport.....sounds silly, but thought it was the cutest little thing.

Now, reading some of the other impressions on this thread, could I assume that the Kauai airport is little and quaint also?? We will "do" Kauai for the first time in July.

Can't wait to get back!
janie

Honeymoon in 1988. I saw Waikiki and the beaches west it with swaying palm tree from the plane. The most awesome was the smell of the flowers, especially plumeria. Last time we went to Cafe Hanalei at the parking lot of the Princeville, I kept on sniffing the plumeria smell before I left the island for home. I can't get enough of plumeria. Then there are bougainvillea in different colors everywhere and the fruit trees from mango to jackfruit.... and all the tropical fruit that satisfied my taste buds.

Last Memorial Day. Driving to our condo in Princeville while listening to IZ, and thinking this is paradise.

Just topping, in case some missed it..

2003 - LAX to HNL for a trip to Oahu & Maui. My first impression: as I looked out the plane to the turquoise ocean & Waikiki Beach, I knew Hawaii was going to live up to all of my expectations. As we deplaned, I noticed all the people, dressed in their Hawaiian shirts carrying bags of souvenirs and waiting to catch their return flights back to the mainland. I was and still am in awe that these islands are so magical, so desirable, that most of the thousands (or maybe even hundreds of thousands) of people milling around each day are on vacation.

Great Thread! Fun!

I don't have a first impression, since my family on my father's side is from there.

Outstanding memories of Hawaii for me are: food - sitting around the kitchen table, or here there anywhere ("No more poi, thank you" with a sick grin - can't stand the stuff!) and nonstop yakkety-yak.

Oh, yeah, first time seeing a cousin walking in the door, I wondered how he would be able to get through the door - he's half Hawaiian! Built like - umm - a door.

What flowers? What smells? What beaches? (Just kidding!)

Mahalo for a great thread! :)

Yeah, when your looking out of that plane window, staring at the waves, and the white foam crashing against the shore, it seems so surreal. Everytime I see it, I have to pinch myself, I can't believe I'm so blessed, to be back!

Lori