I'm in complete agreement with Mark Twain, who called Hawaii "the loveliest fleet of islands that lies anchored in any ocean." Granted, I haven't visited every fleet of islands on the planet. But my brief time spent on Oahu and the Big Island in 2007 was enough to make me realize how special, how intoxicating these islands are. Their dramatic landscapes and sublime spirit possess you long after departing Honolulu International.
Happy 50th, Hawaii. What a nice, youthful milestone for such a timeless, mythical land. I intend to return to your shores again.