traveldk.com

Following several failed attempts, Hawai’i became the 50th state in the Union on August 21, 1959. William F. Quinn and James K. Kealoha were sworn in as the first elected governor and lieutenant governor of the new state. The occasion is marked each year by a state holiday, Admission Day, celebrated on the third Friday in August.

The steam room is wet, the sauna dry, and either one will open the body’s pores in readiness for other treatments.

The Hawaiian steel guitar was born in the islands around the turn of the 20th century, but exactly where, when, and how is still a point of discussion. The instrument is held horizontally on the player’s lap, and a sliding steel bar is used instead of fingers on the fret board. The sound was particularly big during the Sweet Leilani era.

Stones are an important part of Hawaiian cultural life, used in practical situations (such as building) and for spiritual needs (such as the fertility and birthing stones found on all the islands). Because stones are so highly regarded, visitors are asked not to remove them from their setting.

Longboard specialists with a major sideline in T-shirts. It’s hung floor to ceiling with ’60s surf memorabilia.

This shop is a shrine to the career of a Samoan from Hawai’i who found fame in Japan as sumo wrestler Yokozuna Akebono. Sumo souvenirs and island bric-a-brac are sold.

In winter, this wide, golden strand is piled high, forming a steep, natural amphitheater for watching surfers attack the awesome waves. In summer, changing tides flatten the beach out, making it more sunbathing-friendly. All year long, though, dangerous currents make swimming risky. Park facilities have recently been added across the street.

This place has been satisfying surfers’ pizza cravings for years. The pies are crusty, thick, and loaded with a panoply of toppings.