dle: i live on oahu...currently waikiki but i grew up on the westside (nanakuli)

sumo: USS Arizona is cool tons of great info!

ill rank the islands from most tourists to least:

1. Oahu
2. Maui
3. Kauai
4. Hawaii (Big Island)
5. Molokai
6. Lanai
7. Niihau (owned by private family)

kauai has the napali cost which is a killer hike. but really the gem is Hawaii. theres a ton of open land and its home to the highest point in America (most of it below sea level <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> )

the tourist or worker thing is big. hawaii is so expensive that most middle class families both parents have to both work full time GOOD paying jobs just to rent. you really do PAY for paradise yet never really get to enjoy it fully. after living on the CONUS for a bit i know i want to explore more...ive seen the islands and honetly im bored of them....too pricey. for ex i could be renting a 4bd 2ba houe with garage in LV for what i pay for a 2bd 2ba 1 parking space condo is NOISY waikiki.

if any of you do come to hawaii dont swim in waikiki beach water tourist regulary piss and poop ALLL the time!

sumo i wouldnt worry about sharks more so some of the dumb locals or the iceheads.

we do allow bow hunting. the nursery i work at has a whole troupe of wild pigs but we cant trap them...long story.

also the SOD ate through those coconuts like butter. the reason they are so frayed is because they are old ones. if you get the younger mature green ones you can husk them easily. its a fun post work activity. im gonna make coconut curry with the meat later