Hawaii, The Aloha state of the U.S, is a paradise with its turquoise waters, lush mountain peaks, tropical weather, and friendly people. Australia is known as Oz or ‘The Land Down Under,’ and is a country that is part of the Oceania Continent. It has beautiful beaches, marine reserves, and lush rainforests. So, let’s discover these two destinations in Hawaii vs. Australia.
The island of Hawaii is a state of the U.S and consists of eight main islands. In contrast, Australia is a continent that has six states and three mainland territories. Hawaii has a gorgeous coastline dotted with volcanoes, and Australia has wide open spaces, natural wonders, and the desert outback.
Hawaii and Australia have beautiful beaches and lovely warm weather. Read on for more facts about these two destinations. What are their backgrounds and cultures, and why do so many tourists visit their shores each year?
Hawaii Vs. Australia – Interesting Facts
Hawaii is a state in the U.S with eight main islands and many smaller volcanic islands. It is famous for its 750 miles of pristine coastline dotted with volcanoes. The state capital is Honolulu which is also the largest city in Hawaii. The island is host to the U.S Pacific Fleet and employees of the Defence Department. It has two official languages, Hawaiian and English.
Hawaii has a laid-back lifestyle, and the people are welcoming and friendly. A famous person born in Hawaii is Barack Obama. Hawaii is visited every year between March and November by the North Pacific Humpback whales, who come to its warm waters to mate.
Australia is a sovereign country. It is known as the Commonwealth of Australia and consists of the mainland of Australia, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. The mainland has six states and three mainland territories. Australia’s capital city is Canberra, and the country is famous for its wide-open spaces, natural wonders, and beautiful beaches.
The largest part of Australia is desert and semi-arid and is known as ‘the Outback.’ It also has Aboriginal culture, koalas, kangaroos, marine reserves, lush rainforests, and great wines. Australians are a friendly and easy-going nation; one of its famous sons was Steve Irwin. He was a renowned wildlife conservationist famous for developing crocodile capture and management techniques.
Hawaii Vs. Australia – Culture
The Hawaiian culture has an ancient blend of ethnic influences and a unique tradition that impacts language, religion, fashion, and cuisine. One of these ancient traditions is gifting a flower lei to welcome guests to the island. This strand of flower blooms is also used for all important occasions.
Hawaii is famous for the hula dance, music of the drums, and the chorus of chanting voices that echoes all over the island. Hawaiian legends and old-age superstitions with gods and goddesses create widespread cultural stories. 1.42 million people live in Hawaii.
The culture of Australia is derived initially from the British culture with input from the Aboriginal people. Some artistic styles and iconic inventions like the boomerang, the didgeridoo, and Indigenous Australian music have become symbols of modern Australia.
The Aussies are open-minded and open-hearted with many different cultures and communities living in Australia. 26.1 million people live in Australia, and this continent is approximately 46,4% larger than the state of Hawaii.
Hawaii Vs. Australia – Weather, And Climate
Hawaii has a tropical climate with a hot season from June to October (Kau) and a cooler season from December to March (hooilo). Temperatures change very little throughout the year. The highest temperature is about 35°C (95°F), and the lowest average at 11°C (52°F).
The rainfall in Hawaii is influenced by the trade winds, so different areas on the island can receive between 16.4 inches to 40 inches per year. There is minimum rain from April to September, and more precipitation can be expected from November to March. Snow falls on top of the highest peaks on the Big Island and the island of Maui. Every winter, snowstorms occur in areas above 11,000 feet.
Although the climate in Australia varies significantly throughout the states and territories, most of the country has four seasons. The summer months are December to February, Fall is March to May, Winter is June to August, and Spring is September to November. Average temperatures during the warm months are 25°C (77°F) to 33°C (91°F). In the dry season, the days are still warm, 32°C (89°F) but are cooler in the evening at 21°C (69°F).
80% of Australia receives less than 24 inches of rainfall annually, and 50% has less than 12 inches. Thus, Australia has a very low annual average rainfall of 16 inches. The states of Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory have frequent snowfalls.
Hawaii Vs. Australia – Beaches
Some of the most beautiful beaches worldwide are found in Hawaii, with soft white sand and warm blue water. Some beaches have green, black or red sand caused by weathered basaltic lava flows. Hawaii has calm beaches for children to play in, some beaches have beautiful waterfalls cascading into the ocean, and some have the strongest waves in the world.
Being far from any other landmass allows Hawaii astonishing wave patterns with swells suitable to beginners and professionals. It is the ideal place to catch a wave.
With more than 30,000 kilometers of coastline, beaches play a large part in the lifestyle of Australians. The large beach culture is mainly due to the pristine waters and soft sand and the many activities like swimming, surfing, fishing, snorkeling, and much more. Australia keeps its beaches well maintained, which makes them even more popular with visitors from all over the globe.
Australia is the largest surf country in the Southern Hemisphere and one of the greatest surf nations. The waves are consistent, so they will always give a great surf.
Hawaii Vs. Australia – Tourism
The most significant industry in Hawaii is tourism which accounts for 21% of Hawaii’s economy. Due to the mild weather, tourism remains constant, and Hawaii receives about 9 million visitors annually. The largest group of tourists is the Japanese.
Hawaii is popular because of its wonderful climate and natural beauty. In the U.S, it is one of the safest cities. Tourism is integral to Hawaii as it generates more than 200,000 jobs.
Tourism in Australia is also an important part of the economy, and it caters to domestic and international visitors. 8.19 million international tourists visited Australia in 2019, and tourism employed 666,000 people. The Great Barrier Reef, the Australian wilderness, and the unique wildlife are popular attractions.
Hawaii Vs. Australia – 3 Famous Landmarks
Below are three famous landmarks of Hawaii and Australia.
Hawaii Famous Landmarks
Scattered throughout the islands of Hawaii are historical relics and sites such as:
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
On the island of O’ahu is the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, where the U.S naval base was attacked on December 7, 1941. Here you will find relics of the last world war. The USS Arizona Memorial was also built to honor those who died during the bombing.
ʻIolani Palace in Oʻahu
This palace was built in 1882 and boasted electric lights, indoor plumbing, and a telephone system. This is where the last sovereign, Queen Liliʻuokalani, was kept under house arrest when the kingdom was overthrown.
The Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park
This is where Captain James Cook, the first westerner, first set foot on Hawaiian soil. He was also killed after quarreling with one of the ancient Hawaiians. Kealakekua Bay is also an ideal spot to kayak and snorkel in the clear waters.
Australia Famous Landmarks
Although Australia was only colonized by European settlers in the late 18th century, the Indigenous Australians lived on the land for 65,000 years. These are 3 of Australia’s most historical landmarks.
Wiebbe Hayes Stone Fort
In 1629, following the Batavia shipwreck and mutiny off Australia’s west coast, a group of Dutch sailors built this stone fort to protect themselves from bloodthirsty mutineers.
Mungo National Park
This is another important part of indigenous culture and is the oldest ritual burial site in the world. It contains the remains of the Mungo Man and Mungo Lady. According to carbon dating, this proves that Australia was inhabited between 40,000 to 68,000 years ago. The Aboriginal people have maintained the oldest continually surviving culture on Earth.
Captain Cook’s Landing Place
In 1770, James Cook was a Lieutenant when he arrived on the east coast of Australia to colonize the continent on behalf of the British. The landing site is commemorated with a plaque in the seaside Botany Bay National Park.
Hawaii Vs. Australia – 5 Reasons To Visit
The 5 good reasons to visit Hawaii are:
- Friendly people and the Aloha spirit – the vibrant locals, with their unique culture and traditions, embrace the Aloha spirit of welcoming you to their island.
- Incredible marine life – Hawaii is home to bottlenose dolphins, stingrays, sea lions, giant turtles, Humpback whales, and colorful reef fish. Go on a snorkeling experience in the crystal-clear waters, scuba dive, or enjoy a sunset cruise to see these magnificent sea creatures.
- Stunning beaches – Hawaii’s warm climate is perfect for visiting these gorgeous beaches all year round. Swim in the beautiful ocean or just soak up the sun.
- Outdoor adventures and activities – you can hike in the forests and cool off under the waterfalls in the jungle, go horseback riding, surf the perfect waves, or take a deep-sea fishing trip.
- Hawaiian cuisine – the taste is influenced by Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, and Polynesian cuisine. These are the nationalities that have settled on the island over the years. The ingredients are always fresh. Try the traditional luau, which offers favorite savory meats, seafood, and sweet and fruity desserts.
The 5 good reasons to visit Australia are:
- Nature and wildlife – 80% of Australia’s plants, mammals, reptiles, and frogs are unique. Some of these are the kangaroos, dingos (wild dogs), wallabies, wombats, koalas, the platypus, and the echidna.
- The Great Barrier Reef – is the largest reef system in the world. It is millions of years old and home to diverse marine life and living coral species.
- Magnificent beaches – Australia has a coastline of almost 50,000 km and over 12,000 beaches. The waters are pristine with picture-perfect soft white or golden sand. Australia is a wonderful place to surf, and they have some of the best waves.
- Outdoor Adventures – you can take a 4-wheel-drive on Fraser Island, visit the 12 Apostles by helicopter, or snorkel with whale sharks at Ningaloo Reef. Enjoy kayaking the Katherine River Gorge or surfing the sand dunes on Moreton Island. There is always some kind of adventure in which to participate in Australia.
- Australian barbecue – Aussies love barbecue and will serve steak, burgers, sausages, and fresh seafood served with bread, tomato, or barbecue sauce. There will always be a couple of stubbies (beer) to go with the barbecue.
Conclusion
Hawaii and Australia have beautiful beaches with great waves for surfing, a warm climate, and a lot to offer tourists. Both destinations have great outdoor activities, marvelous tours, beautiful places to visit, and incredible cuisine. But if you want a more relaxing holiday with fun activities and outings, choose Hawaii. And Australia is a good choice for a more adventurous holiday with natural wonders and exotic wildlife.
