BEAUTIFUL HAWAII.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17159, 1 October 1923, Page 8

BEAUTIFUL HAWAII.

LAND OF MANY ATTRACTIONS.

Honolulu, the Mecca of the tourist nlio visits tho Pacific, needs little introduction to New Zealanders That however, will not diminish the interest m the visit to Christchurch of Mr George T. Armitage, executive secretaiy of the Hawaii Tourist Bureau, who is making a tour of the Dominion in the interests of tourist traffic Primarily, Mr Arniitage is concerned with making better known the attractions of Hawaii. Though New Zcaland, m point of population, is small, it is regarded as a promising field for tourist publicity work, and a considerable amount of money had already been spent for that purpose in the Dominion. “It is one of the purposes of mv visit,” said Mr Armitage, “ to see if we are spending too much or too little. Last year we had about 693 tourists from Australia and New Zealand, people who actually stayed at Honolulu apart from those who passed through. We are trying to encourage more people to stop off at Honolulu.” Mr Armitage is enthusiastic when talking of the wide range of attractions that the Hawaiian islands offer to the tourist, and pointed out that the w inter months in New Zealand, when holidays were mostly taken, covered the period during which the islands were most attractive, and the wonderful tropical foliage was at its best; but, he hastened to add, the period at which a trip is taken is not very material, for the climate of Hawaii, Avitli a temperature that varies only a few- degrees during the whole year, is always pleasant, and the attractions peculiar to Hawaii an* always there. The Hawaiian Tourist Bureau is anxious that visitors should take sufficient time to see more than the city of Honolulu and far-famed Waikiki, for the group lias other places of beauty and wonder, prominent among which is the ever active Kilauea volcano. Tourists are well served in the matter of inter-island steamer services, aryl the organisation of the Tourist Bureau is at the disposal of visitors.” “lam particularly interested in pointing out,” said Mr Armitage, how comparatively inexpensive the trip is, and in how short a time it can Ihj made. For instance, you can go from Christchurch to Honolulu and return in eight Aveeks. That would give you a delightful stay of a day at Suva each way, and three weeks in Honolulu while waiting for the steamer to come back from Vancouver. Of course, I do not Avish to infer that three weeks would be long enough, for if a person had time three months would not be too long.” Mr Armitage mentioned that last year a total of about 10,000 tourists visited Hawaii, in addition to about 20.000 first-class passengers who passed through Honolulu. This great influx of tourists has meant the spending of many millions of dollars in “the playground of the Pacific.” “ Practically all the celebrities of the world pass through Honolulu at one time or another,” said Mr Armitage. “so that, rather than being remote from the world, Ave are right in the centre oi things. We have the opportunity continually to meet and to hear and to know prominent people. “ I would like to say that my trip to New Zealand is not entirely selfish. We want to co-operate Avitli the Tourist Bureaux in New Zealand, so that we can send people to each other. During my limited time here. I am calling on the Tourist Bureaux to thank them for distributing our literature as they have done for some time, and to offer to do the same for them in return. I. liavj made arrangements with the Tourist Department in Wellington to send us everything they get out. No doubt this will bring some- additional tourists to Ncav Zealand. A particular point of my information to those inquiring about NeAV Zealand is that, as with Hawaii, it is a matter of weeks and months, and not of days, to see New Zealand properly. Your Tourist Bureaux are verv favourably known m. America, and it

h 111 -- ■——— will be a pleasure to me to send visitors along.” Mr Armilage expressed himself as amazed at the hospitality tliat had been shown him in New Zealand. “ The only complaint I have to make/’ he said, “ is that I have not enough time to see the sights of New Zealand more thoroughly and get better acquainted with your people-. T bope 1 will be able to comc again at no distant date.”