Hawaii

Whether a symbol of welcome, the underwater home of popular cartoon characters, or an essential component of tasty, tropical drinks, the pineapple has long had an important position in popular culture. The pineapple has had a long and storied history, beginning in South America. Initially discovered in Uruguay, Brazil, and Paraguay, the pineapple soon spread throughout Central and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Philippines. Christopher Columbus is said to have taken the pineapple from South America onto his ships to prevent scurvy, and, as a result, spread the fruit around the world, until he finally brought it back to Spain with him. The Spanish then brought the fruit to what is now popularly considered its home—Hawaii. Hawaii eventually became one of the world’s major producers of this flowery fruit, but don’t be fooled; Hawaiian volcanoes are not the only backdrops for their cultivation. Extensive greenhouse production near the volcanic ranges of Iceland was recently developed, and the world’s leading exporters of pineapples are now Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, and the Philippines.

            What makes this fruit so desirable? Why does the whole world want a piece of this tropical pie? The pineapple is, in fact, no ordinary fruit. It isn’t even a single fruit, but rather a multiple fruit. A pineapple is a collection of flowers, each producing a small, fleshy piece of fruit that is then collected together in a mass to become what we know as a single pineapple. It is also the only fruit of its family, bromeliads, to be commercially cultivated and distributed. Not only is it exceptional and unusual, but the pineapple has culinary, cultural, and medical significance.

            Since their use as a protective measure against scurvy, pineapples have long been suspected to have medical and dietary benefits. What is the payoff to eating pineapple, you ask? Well, along with its high concentration of a number of vitamins, pineapple has been known to cure intestinal disorders, work as an anti-inflammatory agent when used topically, and induce childbirth when a baby is overdue. It could be argued, though, that the biggest advantage to eating las piñas is the delicious taste of the widely popular concoction, the piña colada.

            Enjoyed by beachgoers around the world, this icy drink has more varieties than you can count, and bartenders throughout the world have claimed to be the true inventor of the piña colada. To make this tasty drink at home, the possibilities are endless, but there is one thing that can make all the difference. Whether you use a mix or make it from scratch using one of the hundreds of recipes out there, the key to a delicious piña colada is fresh pineapple. If you use a drink mix, fresh chunks of pineapple blended in will give your drink a homemade flavor, and if you do choose to make it from scratch, pineapple chunks will give it an extra punch of that beachy, island flavor.

Check out these recipes for piña coladas made with fresh ingredients and drink mixes.

Most budget travelers can safely ignore the $50-100 adventure activities on Maui—they're rarely worth the hefty price tag. An exception is the Kaeleku Caverns's "Wild" Adventure Tour, which takes visitors on a 2-2½hr. spelunking adventure through Maui's largest lava tube cave (60,000 times larger than the cave at Waianapanapa State Park). At one point you can see daylight through a hole above you where lava burst through the crust of the tube as it was forming. The hardhats and gloves come in handy for crawling through the small openings of the cave's intriguing side passages; you'll climb up a 30 ft. ladder and hoist yourself up a smooth 6-ft. stretch of lava tube into an upper chamber. You'll then belly-crawl into another chamber and sit in pitch blackness and listen to the guide tell you about the bizarre creatures with which you're sharing the tube, including miniature scorpions and bacteria that live by eating the lava rock (don't worry, they won't eat you).

To get there, head north from Hana for 3 mi. on Hana Hwy. Turn left on Ulaino Rd.; the caverns are ½ mi. down on the left. 248-7308. Scenic Walking Tour (ages 6+) departs M-Sa at 11am (1-1¼hr., $29). The "Wild" Adventure Tour (ages 15+) departs M-Sa at 1pm (2-2½hr., $69). Occasional 35min. Lava Tube Tours are also offered ($15). Reservations highly recommended.

When the words "surf" and "North Shore" fall serendipitously into the same sentence, one hardly expects to find the word "school" tagging alongside. Surf Hawaii 4 U, a locally-based surf school with a lot of personality, looks to change this conception.

In the summer months, when the water is clear and the waves calm, the North Shore actually lends itself to the adventurous beginner. Edison de Paula, a world-class big wave rider, heads up the school. When he's not recklessly flying down the face of a 60 ft. wall of rushing water, Edison's focus is teaching novices to surf. Edison is an expert instructor, certified in basically every type of water rescue that exists. His enthusiasm lends itself generously to the business of beginners, and the only screams coming from the water are "yahoos!" What's more, he has an astronomical success rate; even the clumsiest tourists end up standing on a wave.

Surfing is one of the fastest growing sports on the planet, and it's no wonder—the exhiliration of taking off on a thrusting North Shore wave is tough to beat. Edison's surf school opens the door into this world, and his lesson is a foothold you should not miss. His most popular, and most useful 3hr. introductory course is $130. Surf Hawaii 4 U, 295-1241; www.surfhawaii4u.com. MC/V. 66-250 Kamehameha Hwy. Ste. D204.

Molokai lays claim to many records: the highest sea cliffs, the tallest ocean-terminating waterfall in the world, the largest beach in Hawaii, and the coolest mule ride on earth. Perhaps a less recognized treasure is the barrier reef that sits off Molokai's South shore. The only barrier reef north of Australia, it stretches almost 28 miles and is the longest in Hawaii. Students come from all over the world to study the diversity of life that is found in these teeming waters, including several species of rare fish and coral. Honu (green sea turtles), rays, reef fish, octopi, and several species of shark all call the reef home. The critically endangered hawksbill turtle even nests on the unprotected beaches along this shore, feeding on the reef. There are a variety of snorkeling and diving services offered in Kaunakakai to explore this hidden treasure, but there is no need to fork out big bucks and hire a guide to see it—just dive in! One of the best places for snorkeling is 20 Mile (Murphy's) Beach, where the reef connects to the shore and swimming is safe. Be wary of the current that pulls to the west. Stepping on the coral often causes irreparable damage—try to have as little impact as possible on this delicate ecosystem.