10 Day Hawaii Islands Adventure

Welcome to the Hawaiian Island of Oahu and the 50th American State. You will have a welcome meeting in the hotel lobby at 18:00 this evening to meet your tour leader and fellow travelling companions. Please look for a notice in the hotel lobby where it will take place.

There is a lot to do in Honolulu and it is highly recommended to book a few extra days to make the most of your time here. If you do arrive early, why not go snorkelling at Hanauma Bay or visit the Dole Plantation or Polynesian Cultural Centre? The Waikiki area is also ideal for soaking up the sun’s rays, which are almost as famous as the beach itself.

The infamous incident at Pearl Harbor was a surprise military attack by the Japanese against the United States naval base, on the morning of December 7, 1941. It has since become known as the Battle of Pearl Harbor and sparked off the United States’ participation in World War II. Today is a sobering visit to this historic site with an audio guide provided. Included is admission to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona to learn about this infamous side of American history.

Take an afternoon drive to visit the world-famous beaches and surf breaks of the North Shore before continuing down Oahu’s windward coast with all its breathtaking views. In the evening return to Waikiki for cocktails and sunset where you may even be lucky enough to view the rare “Green Flash” as the sun descends below the horizon.

With Oahu in the background, we fly to Big Island where we spend the next four nights. You’ll notice the landscape and flora changing between islands and today is no different. First up is a visit to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, which brings Hawaiian culture to life. It was in this sacred place that people who had committed crimes or broken the laws of the people, ended up seeking refuge from the death penalty. Upon arrival, you’ll notice the great wall marking borders between the royal grounds and the sanctuary. Many ki'i (carved wooden images) surround the Hale o Keawe temple, housing the bones of the chiefs. Surrounded by palm-lined beaches, wooden carvings, a massive lava rock wall and reconstructed villages, the location is simply idyllic.

From here we head to Volcanoes National Park for the next two nights, taking in Kilauea's spectacular variety of incredible volcanic features and ecosystems. The scenery and landscape changes significantly from shady forests with birds singing to steaming vents, desert-like-terrain and vast craters. Keep an eye out for Hawaii's state bird, the highly engendered Nene Goose. Enjoy a scenic drive on the Chain of Craters road. Travel through dense rain forest into desolate black lava fields, discover ancient petroglyphs and end by the ocean with views of the Holei Sea Arch. We will be joined by a specialist guide who will take us on a four-mile roundtrip hike to the bottom of Halema’uma’u Crater. The crater previously had a lava lake inside which erupted last summer, which makes this an interesting time to learn about the recent activity. See lava trees and enjoy nature and bird watching. When returning to the hotel enjoy a stop at Volcano Winery, where you can opt for a unique wine tasting experience.

With Oahu in the background, we fly to Big Island where we spend the next four nights. You’ll notice the landscape and flora changing between islands and today is no different. First up is a visit to Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, which brings Hawaiian culture to life. It was in this sacred place that people who had committed crimes or broken the laws of the people, ended up seeking refuge from the death penalty. Upon arrival, you’ll notice the great wall marking borders between the royal grounds and the sanctuary. Many ki'i (carved wooden images) surround the Hale o Keawe temple, housing the bones of the chiefs. Surrounded by palm-lined beaches, wooden carvings, a massive lava rock wall and reconstructed villages, the location is simply idyllic.

From here we head to Volcanoes National Park for the next two nights, taking in Kilauea's spectacular variety of incredible volcanic features and ecosystems. The scenery and landscape changes significantly from shady forests with birds singing to steaming vents, desert-like-terrain and vast craters. Keep an eye out for Hawaii's state bird, the highly engendered Nene Goose. Enjoy a scenic drive on the Chain of Craters road. Travel through dense rain forest into desolate black lava fields, discover ancient petroglyphs and end by the ocean with views of the Holei Sea Arch. We will be joined by a specialist guide who will take us on a four-mile roundtrip hike to the bottom of Halema’uma’u Crater. The crater previously had a lava lake inside which erupted last summer, which makes this an interesting time to learn about the recent activity. See lava trees and enjoy nature and bird watching. When returning to the hotel enjoy a stop at Volcano Winery, where you can opt for a unique wine tasting experience.

We continue following the coast to the sacred and unbelievably beautiful Waipio Valley. A locally led 4x4 tour of the valley and introduction to Hawaiian history and culture is included to help you dig beneath the surface of this beautiful area. This historic town, set in the green northern tip of the island, was once the busy hub of North Kohala’s now defunct sugar industry. Now, it is home to a handful of charming art galleries and restaurants set in colourful and lively plantation buildings. From here, head to Kona where we stay for the next two nights. There's lots a great dining options on Kona's bustling ocean front. Tonight, you have the option of swimming with Manta Rays as part of an optional excursion.

Optional activities:

• Night Swim with Manta Rays from US$109 per person

Enjoy a day trip to Punalu’u black sand beach. Honu - Hawaiian Green Turtles, are often spotted in this palm fringed paradise. While it isn't the best swimming spot, you can observe these locals basking on the black sand. Just make sure to give them the distance they require. To sign off on our Big Island adventure, we head over to Kealakekua Bay Park, where we'll board Zodiac boats to a secluded bay and can snorkel the coral reefs nearby the Captain Cook Monument. The white structure pays tribute to Captain Cook, the first westerner to arrive on the Hawaiian Islands, and marks the location of his anchored ships and subsequent death. Follow the coastline back to base, exploring sea caves along the way.

This morning you wave goodbye to Big Island, ready for touch down on the idyllic island of Maui. Once you've landed, you drive to Lahaina where the remainder of the day free to explore or hit the beach. Maui is a popular tourist destination and although it can at times be busy, it is also said to be one of the world's top island destinations. Maui offers those quintessential views of Hawaii that you would imagine when conjuring up images of this tropical paradise.

Optional Activities:

• Lahaina - Whale Watching (in season) from US$40 per person

Today is all about exploring the island on two wheels - and what better way than Maui’s famous 23 mile downhill? You’ll drop 3,000 feet in 10 miles and curve around 29 switch backs, stopping often to enjoy incredible vistas of west Maui surrounded by the Pacific. You’ll pass by vegetable truck farms, protea farms, lodges, galleries and Kula botanical gardens. This is the perfect way to experience the real side of Maui. You’ll definitely need a Mai Thai back at the hotel with a view of the sunset to wind down afterwards.

By now you’ll have a good idea of just how beautiful Maui is and today you'll get to see more of what the island has to offer. We've included a full day driving tour on the ‘Road to Hana’ with plenty of stops along the way to stretch our legs. The day includes multiple waterfalls and viewpoints, plus visits to Waianapanapa State park and Hana Town. Please be aware, the roads can get quite windy, but the endless views should help to ease any motion sickness. If you would prefer to stay at the hotel, there are options to rent stand up paddle boards and kayaks. Or you might wish to rent a snorkel, and go in search of Honu - Kaanapali beach is well known for turtle sightings.

All good things come to an end and with your tour finishing in the morning, it is time to wave goodbye not only to Hawaii, but also your new-found travel buddies. If the thought of reality is simply too much to bear, why not book a few post-tour nights and ‘live the dream’ a while longer?