Learn English in Hawaii, USA

The Hawaiian Islands, located in the central Pacific Ocean, are the most remote chain of islands in the world. Hawaii’s unique and distinctive mix of peoples and cultures are the result of the peaceful co-existence and blending of people from all over the world who have settled in the Islands. Since no group represents an ethnic or religious majority, there is a high degree of tolerance of various lifestyles, including gay and lesbian, throughout the local community.

OAHU
Seventy-five percent of Hawaii's residents live on Oahu, where Honolulu is the capital city, the principal port, and the business, financial, educational and tourism center of the State. Oahu is geographically only the third largest of the inhabited Hawaiian Islands. Most residents of Oahu live in the urban area along the southern shore, with the rest of the island being rural or suburban. Towering green cliffs and lush tropical foliage dominate the scenic windward coast. World-famous surfing beaches dot the north shore. The majority of gay nightclubs and businesses are in the Waikiki area, Honolulu's urban beach resort famous for its stretch of reef-protected white sand beach and a wide variety of hotels, restaurants, shops and nightlife. This area is located only a short distance from GV Hawaii. Honolulu-Waikiki is a safe and cosmopolitan city.

MAUI
Maui offers a variety of sights and experiences. The views from atop 10,000-foot Mt. Haleakala (especially popular at sunrise and sunset) are well worth the winding drive past fields of exotic flowers. The long, winding road to the village of Hana is lined with waterfalls and lush tropical foliage. The quaint old towns of Lahaina, Paia and Wailuku are fun for exploring, shopping, and dining. During the winter months, the waters surrounding Maui are ideal for whale-watching. Maui's gay and lesbian community, while mellow and low-key, is quite active in sponsoring fund-raising and social events where visitors are always welcome.

KAUAI
Kauai, the most tropical of all the islands, is quiet and tranquil. The Island's scenic beauty, which includes waterfalls, sea cliffs, arid canyons and scores of beautiful white sand beaches, has served as the backdrop for many cinematic films. Waimea Canyon, “the Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” is a must-see. Helicopter tours are popular, as the spectacular sea cliffs of the Na Pali coast and the crater of Mount Waialeale (one of the wettest spots on earth), are not accessible by road. If you're looking for natural beauty and adventure, Kauai's the place to find it.

THE “BIG ISLAND” OF HAWAII
Larger than all of the other islands combined, Hawaii is known locally as “the Big Island”. Kilauea, the world's most active volcano, has been in a state of activity since 1983, and its fiery creation of hot, new land is often spectacular. The rich fertile soil left by Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, produces orchids, coffee and macadamia nuts. There are black sand and white sand beaches, gorgeous waterfalls and hidden valleys. From the Ka‘u desert to the Ola‘a rain forest to the snow-capped peaks of Mauna Kea, the Big Island is a splendor of ecological diversity. The Big Island’s gay and lesbian community often gets together for socials and parties, where visitors are always welcome.