Hawaii with Oahu, Maui & the Big Island

After your arrival at Honolulu Airport, the traditional lei greeting at your Travel Director's Welcome Desk kicks off your Hawaii vacation. Your hotel during your time on Oahu was the setting for Blue Hawaii, Elvis Presley’s 1961 movie and it is the birthplace of the legendary cocktail of the same name. Tonight, join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a dinner.

Enjoy a relaxed start this morning followed by a visit to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, commemorating the tragic day of December 7, 1941. Walk through the Visitor Center and take a short boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial, the final resting place of 1,102 sailors and marines. USS Arizona tickets are subject to NPS; ticket timing availability not known until the day before visit. Spend time at the superb visitor center and explore exhibits that recount the events that led the US to join World War II. As part of today's adventure, you'll see the Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. It honours all those who served in the US Armed Forces and lost their lives during WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Return to Waikiki and spend the rest of your day at leisure.

After a Relaxed Start this morning, set out to explore Oahu on an exciting island tour. Take in the epic views from Pali Lookout towards the Kaneohe Bay and the Windward Coast. The valley below was the scene of a bloody battle in 1795 when King Kamehameha I extended his rule over the island with an army of 10,000 men. Journey beneath the towering Ko’olau Cliffs and along the rugged coastline. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with your Local Expert in a Hawaiian Legacy Forest and learn about the sacred planting ceremony of a native tree contributing to the healing of the local ecosystem. Delve into an al fresco, sustainably sourced picnic lunch while enjoying views of the Legacy Forest. Continue to North Shore where in the winter months waves can reach 30ft making it a favorite spot among big wave surfers worldwide. Visit Haleiwa, the social and artistic hub of the North Shore. Stroll among small boutiques and plantation-era buildings to soak up the laid-back ambiance. Finally, return to Waikiki after your eventful day and enjoy your evening at leisure.

Take a short flight to Kahului on Maui. This slice of Hawaiian island paradise offers magnificent nature and a wide variety of activities. Visit the awe-inspiring Iao Valley State Park and see the 1,200-foot landmark Iao Needle. This green-mantled rock outcropping overlooks sacred lands and was used as a burial site for Hawaii’s chiefs for centuries. Tonight, get together with your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner.

This morning, head to Upcountry Maui and discover a different face of the island. Visit one of the last working pineapple farms with a fun and knowledgeable Local Expert. Discover the deep impact these plantations had on the islands and sample some of the extra sweet Maui Gold variant. At its peak, Hawaii produced 75% of the world’s pineapples and the tropical fruit became a symbol for the state. Next we indulge in a Farm-to-Table lunch at the Hali’imaile General Store. Originally a plantation shop in the early 20th century, the restaurant is known for its outstanding island cuisine. Return to your resort and spend the evening at your leisure.

Explore Maui with Insight Choice. Choose to experience sunrise at Haleakala National Park, offering an astonishing volcanic landscape. Hear the Hawaiian legends about the active volcano and see the unique Haleakala Silversword plant. Alternatively, cruise to the scenic coastline of Lana'i island and snorkel a dazzling coral reef, home to abundant sea life. In the evening you are invited to choose your own dining experience from a selection of restaurants for your Dine-Around Evening. Your options include a magical evening at the Wailele Luau for a taste of traditional Polynesian cuisine, dance and storytelling, or one of the resort’s other acclaimed restaurants.

Take a short flight to Hawai’i, the largest island of the archipelago. Upon arrival, spend time in easy-going Kailua-Kona, once the home of Kamehameha I, Hawaii’s great ruler. Travel from the beach to the coffee growing area of Kona and join a Local Expert to learn about Kona coffee. Enjoy a tasting of this gourmet specialty that only grows on the slopes of two local active volcanoes. See native plants, fruits and the organic coffee fields on your tour around the plantation. Continue to your luxurious resort accommodation and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

After a relaxed start, begin your day at Rainbow Falls. Located in Wailuku River State Park, this 24 m (80 ft) cascade flows over a lava cave believed in local legend to be home to Hina, the Hawaiian goddess of the moon. After a luscious lunch, continue to Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes — Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Walk across ancient lava fields and steaming vents as you learn how these geological forces continue to shape the Big Island. Your Travel Director shares stories of Pele, the revered volcano goddess, whose presence is deeply rooted in Hawaiian culture.

Enjoy a relaxed-start morning and spend the day on island time at your leisure, relaxing under the swaying palms. Lounge by the pool, enjoy a spa treatment, or snorkel in the local lagoon looking for the rare green sea turtles that call these waters home. Alternatively, join an Optional Experience by helicopter for sweeping views over Big Island’s remote north shore. Tonight, come together for dinner and toast to your travels.

Bid farewell to your fellow travelers and new friends and depart at leisure to the Kona airport filled with new memories and stories.