Published 2nd Jul. 2024
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Our America specialist, Dave, recently visited the ‘Aloha State’ for an iconic island-hopping Hawaiian research trip. While venturing through the varied landscapes of Maui, Big Island, Kauai and Oahu, he explored the Jurassic Park filming locations, stayed in a room with a volcano view and drove to heights of over 10,000ft. Curious to find out more about his USA holiday? Read on for the inside scoop on Dave’s tropical adventure…
I spent 11 days hopping across some of Hawaii’s beautiful islands: Maui, Big Island, Kauai and Oahu.
While in Maui, I explored the Kaanapali and Kapalua Bay areas on the north shore and the vibrant west coast in Wailea. I visited the summit of Haleakala National Park and enjoyed a scenic catamaran ride at sunset. On the Big Island, I drove to the wetter side to explore Hilo, spent a night overlooking the world's most active volcano, Kilauea (missing the eruption by a matter of days!), and explored the volcanic landscapes of the Kona coast. I also enjoyed a sunrise kayak on the Pacific, with epic views of the world’s tallest mountain, Mauna Kea, from the water. In Kauai, I explored the historic communities of Hanapepe and Waimea on the south coast, the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’ at Waimea Canyon, and took a zodiac trip along the iconic Napali Coastline, the setting for the Jurassic Park movies. On Oahu, I savoured the exciting atmosphere of Waikiki Beach and Honolulu, explored the stunning coastline of the north shore, known for some of the best surfing in the world, and enjoyed a tour of the Dole Pineapple Plantation.
The incredible diversity of each island! Despite being part of a single state, every island is completely unique. I didn’t expect the rainforest to be so dense on Kauai and the lava fields to be so prevalent on Big Island. The Napali Coast zodiac tour was also particularly stunning. As a fan of the original Jurassic Park movies, seeing the iconic cliffs and landscapes from the first two films was an awesome experience.
Yes – Oahu's north shore was a complete change of pace and vibe to the glitz and glamour of Waikiki, which felt like another version of Miami Beach. Kapalua Bay on Maui was also fantastic and far removed from the west coast's big hotels and strip malls. The beaches here are perfect for families as the waters are so calm.
Pineapple Ice cream at the Dole Plantation, complete with a pineapple stick as the ‘flake’... although the Poke is also worth a shout-out!
I’ve never driven to heights of over 10,000ft at the summit of Haleakala! The temperature difference was extreme, and the cloud cover was so dense that I couldn’t take in the views, but getting so high was still an incredible experience.
Staying in Volcanoes National Park in a room overlooking the volcano's crater. Even if there’s no lava flowing, it feels crazy being so close to such a spectacular force of nature.
Combine two or three islands into your trip, as it’s impossible to fully take in the state’s geological make-up and Hawaiian culture from just one island. Also, if you want to go on a helicopter ride, book it for the start of your trip. Unpredictable weather conditions mean it’s not uncommon for them to be cancelled (as mine was), and you’ll want to give yourself enough time to re-book it if this happens.
Header Image by Joerg Glaescher | Body Images by David Martin.
From New York to California and all the states in between, our team knows the USA's hotspots incredibly well. What we really excel at, though, is the under-the-radar regions, thanks to our in-depth experience and the hand-picked guides we work with on the ground. Whether you’re travelling as a family or à deux, road trips are the ultimate way to explore the USA, and we're brimming with suggestions to improve journeys, from scenic route options to photogenic stop-off points (all based on our own experiences, of course). And if that's not enough, you'll have our in-country Concierge team on hand at all times for extra help and advice.
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