Escape to Hawai‘i
Escape to Hawai‘i
Few things can brighten the winter season ahead like a sunny interlude in the Hawaiian Islands. Just a six-hour flight from Seattle, the islands of aloha beckon with one-of-a-kind experiences that showcase the archipelago’s natural beauty and authentic Hawaiian culture.
Hawai‘i Island
Mother Nature always puts on epic shows on Hawai‘i Island, also known as the Big Island. It’s almost twice as large as all the other islands combined and active Kīlauea continues to add to Hawai‘i’s Island’s mass. So what could be more exciting than witnessing Hawaiian fire goddess Pele’s might at Hawai‘i’s Volcanoes National Park? Take Hawai‘i Forest & Trail’s (hawaii-forest.com) Kīlauea Lava Hike and your interpretive guide will lead you on an eight- to 11-mile hike in search of lava while sharing the science of volcanoes and the legends of Pele.
Equally enthralling is watching manta rays gliding through the water illuminated by spotlights on the Manta Ray Night Dive/Snorkel with Big Island Divers (bigislanddivers.com) in Kona. Divers and snorkelers alike can witness these magnificent creatures swimming and somersaulting through the ocean as they fed on the plankton that are attracted to the spotlights.
Discover the dramatic valley and boyhood home of King Kamehameha I on the Kona Waipi‘o Valley Explorer with KapohoKine Adventures (kapohokine.com). This Hāmākua Coast tour begins with a drive between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea volcanoes to Rainbow Falls in Hilo. You’ll stop at famous Hilo Farmers’ Market enroute to Onomea Bay, Hawai‘i Tropical Botanical Garden, and ‘Akaka Falls. Finally, you’ll visit Waipi‘o Valley—the Valley of the Kings—a place of impossibly steep cliffs carved by waterfalls cascading more than a thousand feet to the valley floor. Once inhabited by thousands, the valley is now a lush, rarely visited, and mystical place.
Maui Nui: Maui, Moloka‘i, and Lāna‘i
Unforgettable guided outdoor adventures are yours to experience with Epic Maui Hikes (epicmauihikes.com). Hike through bamboo trees and play in waterfalls on the Jungle/Waterfall Adventure. Or take the Road to Hāna, a one- or two-day adventure that can include a private waterfall, black sand beach, red sand lagoon, and cliff jumping. Epic Maui Hikes always provides you with Go Pro photos and offers a video option of your guided adventures.
Travel back in time on the Discover Old Hawai‘i tour with Maui Nei Native Expeditions (mauinei.com), a 3.5-hour interactive program that showcases authentic Hawaiian cultural arts and stories of Lahaina’s sacred sites and traditional ways of life. As you move from site to site, a kumu (teacher) guides you on the creation of a cultural item using traditional Hawaiian methods. Learn about such traditional Hawaiian customs as ‘ohe hano ihu (bamboo nose flute making), ‘ohe kapala (bamboo print stamping), kalo (taro) cultivation, and poi (taro) pounding.
From Lahaina Harbor you can take a ferry to either of Maui’s sister islands Moloka‘i or Lāna‘i, both ideal for day trips or extended stays. Between December and April, prime whale watching season, you may even see humpback whales frolicking in the waves during the crossings.
O‘ahu
With its urban vibe and laid back tropical surroundings, O‘ahu offers an exciting diversity of town and country experiences. The new Hawai‘i Monarch’s Tour ‘Iolani Palace and Bishop Museum Combo Experience (bishopmuseum.org) travels back in time nearly 2,000 years when Hawai‘i was originally settled. Learn how the Hawaiian monarchs lived and ruled during the 19th century at grand ‘Iolani Palace and then explore everything from the evolution of the Hawaiian Islands to the Polynesian voyagers who used the stars to navigate across the Pacific at Bishop Museum.
Discover O‘ahu’s creative scene at Art + Flea (artandflea.com), a unique event the last Thursday of every month, at Honolulu’s Ward Village. More than 60 independent artists, vintage collectors, food trucks, handmade goods and artwork, fashion designers, and local bands are on hand. Art + Flea also hosts Sunday Funday Market at Ward Village the second Sunday each month.
Escape to Sunset Ranch (sunsetranchhawaii.com), an exclusive private estate on O‘ahu’s North Shore with spectacular ocean and mountain views. The new Estate Wellness Tour is a unique and authentic Hawaiian cultural experience. After a lei greeting, you’ll enjoy a tour of the breathtaking estate and finish with a locally sourced meal at Sunset Ranch’s botanical garden.
Kaua‘i
Fourteen miles long, one mile wide, and more than 3,600 feet deep, Kaua‘i’s majestic Waimea Canyon—The Grand Canyon of the Pacific—is a true geological wonder. Book the Waimea Canyon Bicycle Downhill with Outfitters Kaua‘i (outfitterskauai.com) and you’ll start at 3,600 feet, cycle down to sea level, stopping for incredible views as the guide shares Kaua‘i’s folklore and history.
Līhu‘e Sugar Plantation laborers built the Hanamā‘ulu ditch system—a canal and tunnel irrigation system for sugar cane fields—back in the 19th century. While
the plantation is closed, Kaua‘i Backcountry Adventures (kauaibackcountry.com) offers a unique mountain tubing experience through the historic irrigation system. Learn island history as your guide drives you deep into Kaua‘i’s pristine interior. Once there, you’ll receive a tube and headlamp and launch into the gently flowing waters. Floating through open canals, tunnels, and flumes, marvel at these spectacular engineering feats and the incredible natural surroundings.
Get to know Kaua‘i’s farmers and chefs on intimate farm to fork tours with Tasting Kaua‘i (tastingKauai.com). The new Short Order Kaua‘i Food Tour provides three tastings on a two-hour adventure on the island’s Royal Coconut Coast. You’ll meet some of the island’s top cooks and visit out of the way establishments that include everything from food trucks to fine dining.
