Hawaii is a series of islands in the central Pacific Ocean and a state of the United States. Hawaii is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the entire world, due to its amazing natural beauty and fantastic coastline. A good way of learning more about the island is to take one of the many Hawaii tours, where you will learn more about the island and all its attractions such as snorkeling Oahu. The Hawaiian people have a long and rich history of recreation in and around the waters of the island, including such activities as surfing, boating, and fishing. The Pacific Ocean is integral to the culture of Hawaii, and even today, most of the recreational activities that take place on the island occur in and around the beach. The traditional Hawaiian people have a long history associated with the islands of Hawaii, with the earliest archaeological evidence from as early as 300 BC. Since this time, a number of Polynesian settlers have made Hawaii home, and used the waters surrounding the islands for hunting, transportation, and fun.
By far the most famous sport that is associated with the Hawaii islands is surfing. For centuries, surfing has played an important role in Polynesian culture, and it was first observed in Tahiti in 1767 by a white man. In 1866 when Mark Twain visited Hawaii he wrote this account of surfing: "In one place we came upon a large company of naked natives, of both sexes and all ages, amusing themselves with the national pastime of surf-bathing." There are also additional references to the activity of surfing throughout the Hawaiian islands and on the island of Samoa and Tonga. In modern times, Hawaii has become the most famous surfing destination in the world, with such famous surf breaks as "Pipeline" on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.

While surfing may be the most famous recreational pastime that is associated with Hawaii, there were also a number of other water based activities that were enjoyed by the traditional people of the Hawaiian islands. There are a number of wooden traditional boats that are known to have come from Hawaii, with these vessels used for both fishing and fun. In native cultures, the activities of practical fishing and recreational fun and boating would not have been so separately defined, with these boats also used for transportation as well. The islands of Hawaii will always be associated with the beach, the water, and the activities that take place there, many of which were enjoyed by native Hawaiian people hundreds of years before white settlement.