Escape to the Hawai’i, the Aloha State, filled with beautiful beaches, tropical rain forests, stunning waterfalls, vibrant culture, rich history, majestic vistas, delicious cuisine, and magical experiences. On this 9-day, 8-night tour to our 50th state, you enjoy the best of Oahu and Maui, and see for yourself why Hawaii is one of the best “Bucket List” destinations in the world.

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DAY 1          

Our morning flight departs Albuquerque and arrives in Honolulu in the early evening. After a traditional flower lei welcome, we transfer to our hotel for 4 nights, the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, located only a few blocks from the famous Waikiki Beach. You have time to walk the beach and enjoy dinner of your choice.

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DAY 2            B,D

Our first full day in Hawaii starts with the most visited attraction on Oahu: Pearl Harbor. At the Visitor Center, we witness actual footage of the attack of 1941, and then we travel aboard a U.S. Navy vessel to visit the famed USS Arizona. This memorial is located directly above the actual battleship, the final resting place for 1,177 men and women. We visit the Punchbowl Cemetery, a memorial site that pays homage to those in the U.S. Armed Forces who lost their lives in the service of our country. We continue our tour at the Iolani Palace, residence of the Hawaiian royalty; the King Kamehameha Statue, representing Hawaii’s regal past; the Kawaiahao Church and Mission Houses, chapel of the royal family and Oahu’s oldest church; the Hawaii State Capital, center for the state legislature, and the Honolulu Hale, seat of the city’s government. After an independent lunch, your afternoon schedule is open to enjoy the beach, pool, downtown sights or just relax in paradise. This evening at Duke’s of Waikiki, we feast at our Welcome Dinner, and prepare for our island tour tomorrow.

 

Day 3            B,L

We start early for an entire day of sightseeing all over the island. This famous “Grand Circle Island Tour” is chock-full of wonderful tropical places. On our 10-hour outing, we plan to visit Diamond Head, the Kahala Gold Coast, the Halona Blowhole, the Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout, the Byodo-In Temple, Waimea Valley, Chinaman’s Hat, North Shore surf breaks, Historic Haleiwa town, and Dole Pineapple Plantation. It could be a challenge to pick your favorite! While on our tour, we enjoy lunch, and depending on the day’s schedule, there can be more wonderful sights we could experience like a secret cove that is often a home to green sea turtles, a scenic waterfall, a lighthouse, a botanical garden and more. We arrive back at the hotel for an independent dinner and enjoy more evening views of the Pacific Ocean. 

 

Day 4            B

Today is all yours! By now, you’ve experienced much of Oahu and have the opportunity to plan a full day exactly like you want, or you can let us help. How about a catamaran cruise, helicopter ride, movie locations tour, submarine dive, Jurassic Valley off-road tour, or snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, floating in the pool, shopping in the markets, laying on the beach, sipping your favorite drink, watching the surfers…so many choices for just one day! Feel free to plan ahead or just be free-spirited and go with the flow. Tonight is the final evening on Oahu and our last chance to enjoy one of the most famous beaches in the world with its glorious sunsets. 

 

Day 5             B,L

After breakfast, we leave Oahu and take a short inter-island flight to the Valley Island of Maui. Known for the awe-inspiring Haleakala volcano, the famous Road to Hana, whale migration, windsurfing, black and red sand beaches, and terrific snorkeling, this island is our home for the next 4 nights. We head out to the top excursion on the island in Haleakala National Park, and we begin the climb to the 10,023-foot summit of Haleakala Volcano. This scenic, 37-mile drive from sea level is the world’s highest elevation gain in the shortest distance. We pass cinder cones, lava flows, and beautiful vistas that overlook Maui’s majestic mountains. As you arrive at the summit above the clouds, Maui’s giant shield volcano is breathtaking. This 30,183-acre park features 6 of the world’s 14 climate zones and holds the distinction of having the most endangered species of any U.S. National Park. During the 6-hour tour, we have lunch together and then check into our ocean-front hotel, the Royal Lahaina Resort. You have the evening to walk the beach, enjoy the views, and have the choice of many restaurants for your dinner. 

 

Day 6               B,L

We continue to check off the “Best of Maui” today! After breakfast, we depart on the famous Road to Hana, full of amazing sights and adventures. On this full day tour, we enjoy lunch in tropical paradise. A wide range of sights await us on this out-and-back, 130-mile trip full of endless pull-offs and special points of interest. As we traverse the northern and eastern part of Maui, we take in expansive ocean views and rugged coastline vistas. Twist and turns lead us across narrow valleys, one-lane bridges, and past red-sand and black-sand beaches, lava tubes, verdant gardens, and countless waterfalls. Hungry? Local fruits, banana bread or a smoothie can be found at farmer’s stands along the way. With dozens of places to experience, we could enjoy roadside parks, Seven Sacred Pools, a Rainbow Eucalyptus Grove, the Upper Waikani Falls, the Ke‘anae Peninsula village, beach parks, Paia Town, the Ho‘okipa surfing lookout, Hamoa Beach, Wailua Valley and much more. We return to our hotel full of marvelous memories and ready for a restful evening and independent dinner. 

 

DAY 7                 B,D

One of most successful places for whale watching in Hawaii is on the western coast of Maui, in the shallow ‘Au‘au Channel between Maui, Moloka‘i and Lana‘i. The peak season typically runs between mid-January and March, so it’s the perfect time, in a prime location, for a whale watching boat excursion. Today we enjoy a 2-hour boat tour on the western coast as we look for humpbacks, pilot whales, pygmy whales, endangered false killer whales, and dolphins. After the tour, there is independent time to relax or float in any of the resort’s pools. Tonight, we immerse ourselves in the culture, spirit and passion of Hawaii and Polynesia at an oceanfront luau in Lahaina. An Imu ceremony with songs, dances, cuisine, and traditions from many generations show us a colorful, tropical world. Dig into the all-you-care-to-eat buffet with traditional roast pig from the in-ground oven, and delight in this very special experience! 

 

Day 8                     B,D

The cabana on the beach in front of your resort might be calling. Or maybe golfing is on your mind? What about a massage? Tennis, snorkeling, parasailing, yoga, ukulele lessons, slow walks on the Ka‘anapali Beach? Today is all yours, and the on-site possibilities are plentiful. Want to head out? There are dozens of day excursions for your consideration as we enjoy our last full day on Maui. Tonight, we dine together at a local style Farewell Dinner, and prepare for our flight back to the mainland tomorrow. 

 

Day 9                     B

Today we fly home to Albuquerque from Hawaii with special memories, photographs, and friendships from these magical tropical islands.