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One of the first ideas that come to mind when people think of Hawaii is that of paradise. White sandy beaches and crystal blue waters might spring to mind along with those clever drinks with the cute umbrellas. Hawaii is definitely one of the biggest tourist hotspots in the world and a destination for fun seekers everywhere. With tons of outdoor activities like scuba diving and sailing, and a sophisticated and exciting night life, most people do not think of a rich cultural heritage when they think about Hawaii. The American influence on Hawaii began in 18th century but it gained the status of an American State only somewhere in the middle of the twentieth century, in the year 1957. Since then Hawaii has never looked back and its popularity as a sought after tourist destination has grown continuously. But beyond all the tour guides and fishing expeditions out to sea, Hawaii has a much deeper gift to bestow upon visitors if they are willing to probe beyond the surface of what the island has to offer. There are a number of places in Honolulu that offer visitors a chance to glimpse what life on the island might have been like before it became the tourist hotspot that it is today. One of the places that must be watched is the Washington Place. It was built in 1846 and is named after the first president of the United States. The last Queen, after she was overthrown, spent the last years of her life here, till the year 1917. The Washington Place gained popularity as the haven for people who wanted to savor the days that were there before the arrival of western influence in Hawaii. The husband of the last queen, John Owen Dominis, built the Washington Place. For decades it was the meeting ground of people who wanted the monarchy to reestablish and the Island to return to old ways. This is the reason why Washington place appears coiled up in history and tradition. It has been the focal point of transition of Hawaii from the traditional to what it is now. Honolulu honors its hero Kamehameha I who unified all the islands before the West arrived. There is a statue of this popular Hawaiian hero. He is the man who helped to maintain traditional Hawaiian values when his people drifted towards the Western culture, the traces of which are evident all over now. If you want to get more in depth knowledge of the way modern Hawaii evolved and learn a few important lessons from the lives of people who emerged from past and faced the new challenges of the modern life, then you certainly need to visit the various museums and libraries that dot Honolulu cityscape. Since most of the people visit Hawaii only once in their lifetime they may not like to spend time over some artifact in a museum or a library or for that matter any other culturally interesting spot, even though these places are the soul of Hawaii. The fact remains that if you really want to enjoy your Hawaiian vacation you must take out some time to know more about the lavish history and its interesting people.
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