Hawaii - Ohau & The Big Island
Discover two islands with very distinct personalities. Sophisticated Oahu island has the city of Honolulu with its trendy shopping and resorts, and the island of Hawaii (also known as the Big Island) has a diverse landscape and an active volcano that is the largest in the world. Both islands offer spectacular sunsets and stunning beaches.
Dates: Mar 8-15, 2008 & May 10-17, 2008
Arrival: Honolulu Airport (HNL), Oahu - between 10:00am and 6:00pm
Departure: Kona Airport (KOA), Hawaii (Big Island) - between 9:00am and 6:00pm
Itineraries are subject to change
Day 1
Arrival on own / meet trip leader
Transportation to hotel
Hotel check in
Dinner at hotel
Group orientation & introductions
Day 2
Breakfast at hotel.
Begin your stay with a driving tour of Honolulu, which includes Iolani Palace-the only royal palace in the U.S., King Kamehameha's statue, Hawaii State Capitol, and Chinatown. At the International Market Place, try Hawaiian specialties as you have lunch on your own, and shop for souvenirs. Enjoy relaxing beach time at Waikiki or rent a surfboard or boogie board and try out the sport made famous by Hawaiians. We will have dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 3
Breakfast at hotel.
Explore Oahu, including the Nuuanu Rainforest, panoramic views from Pali Lookout, the North Shore surfing beaches, and Haleiwa-a favorite vacation spot of Queen Lili'uokalani. We will see pineapple fields, tropical vegetation, ocean vistas and coastline, and take time to enjoy the sun and surf. You may want to try some typically Hawaiian foods at our lunch break. After we return to Honolulu, you might want to take a swim in the hotel pool before dinner.
Day 4
Breakfast at hotel.
At Pearl Harbor, we visit the USS Arizona National Monument and learn about the attack on the U.S. naval fleet in 1941. We will ferry across the bay to the memorial over the sunken ship and a memorial to those who died here. Spend time at the Polynesian Cultural Center. With its seven native villages and the chance to participate in the daily adventures of Hawaiian and other South Pacific cultures, this is an experience not to be missed. Our dinner will be an authentic luau at the Center, followed by the world's largest night show.
Day 5
Breakfast at hotel.
Today we take an island-hopping flight to Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, where we will learn about the history and geography of the island by visiting the Tsunami Museum and the Lyman Museum & Mission House. After lunch on your own, we will take a drive out to Akaka Falls State Park and hike the half-mile trail through lush tropical flora to see the waterfalls. After checking in at our hotel, we will enjoy dinner together.
Day 6
Breakfast at hotel.
We leave Hilo today and tour Volcanoes National Park on our way around the island. This is one of the most geologically active places in the world and is home to two volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Along Crater Rim Drive, which circles the Kilauea Caldera, we will pass lava flows and rain forests and walk through Thurston Lava Tube. We will also visit the Jaggar Museum with its seismology and volcanology exhibits and stop at the Volcano House, where you can buy lunch and souvenirs. Traveling on, we will stop at Punalu'u Black Sand Beach for a swim before arriving at Kailua-Kona to check into our hotel. Later, we will have dinner in a local restaurant.
Day 7
Breakfast at hotel.
Relax, swim, sunbathe, snorkel, and whale-watch on a Catamaran cruise from Hapuna Beach today. Breakfast and lunch will be provided onboard. Hawaii is an underwater paradise and one of the most geographically isolated places on Earth. An amazing 30 percent of Hawaii's marine animals are found nowhere else in the world. Later, we will visit the Kona Farmers Market and enjoy a farewell dinner at Bubba Gump's restaurant overlooking the water.
Day 8
Breakfast at hotel.
Individual departures facilitated by EDT staff.
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