Hawaii: Volcanoes, Beach and History

Here’s your chance to tour Oahu’s famous Kualoa Ranch, the popular nature reserve and film location for numerous Hollywood blockbusters and TV shows. Make sure to reach Kualoa Ranch at least half an hour before your tour begins. If you’re staying at a hotel in Waikiki, transport will be arranged to the ranch. Once you reach, ride through the lush valley on an all-terrain vehicle, with your local guide for company. Check out the shooting locations for movies like ‘Jurassic Park’ and ‘Pearl Harbor’, and TV shows like ‘Lost’. Your guide will point out local plants and wildlife and share interesting trivia as well. Ride your vehicle over seasonal streams and dirt tracks. Follow your guide up hillsides with historic WWII trails and down into a green valley. Return to your hotel after the tour. (Duration: half day; Not available: Christmas & New Year’s Day; Shared activity; Group size: max 10 ppl; Shared transfers for Waikiki hotels only; Pick up times may vary; Equipment provided: safety helmets; Please wear covered shoes; Not suitable for pregnant women & people with back, joint or heart conditions; Driving license required; Signed liability waiver needed; Children below 18 yrs to be accompanied by adult; Min age to drive: 21 yrs; Min age to ride: 5 yrs)

Enjoy a two-hour surfing, stand up paddleboarding or bodyboarding lesson for two in Oahu. Choose the option you prefer while making your booking. On the day of your lesson, you will be picked up from your hotel in Waikiki and taken to a beach in Waikiki or to Oahu’s North Shore. There you will meet your professional instructor. You will be given all the necessary equipment, including a long sleeve surf shirt and protective reef shoes. Your two-hour lesson will be tailored to fit your skill level. Whether you are dipping your toe in the water for the first time, looking to improve your technique, or wanting to learn advanced skills, your instructor will have a specific approach just for you. If you take a surfing lesson, you will also receive instruction on the mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the sport so you can express your personality on the board. (Duration: 2 hrs plus transfers; Private activity; Shared transfers; Meals are not included; Fitness level: moderate; Min age: 14 years; Group size: max 2 ppl; Please bring your own towels and sunscreen)

This immersive tour begins at the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites Visitor Center. Visit its two museums, Road to War and Attack and Aftermath, replete with multimedia exhibits. View a 23-minute film of the Japanese air strike at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater. Cross the Pearl Harbor channel aboard a Naval vessel that takes you to the Arizona Memorial on Ford Island. This white open-air shrine is built over the remains of the midsection of the sunken battleship. More than 1,100 servicemen remain entombed in its hull. There’s a marble wall engraved with the names of all the martyred crewmen. Anchored nearby is the iconic USS Missouri that was the site of the Surrender Ceremony, which ended World War II. Pay your respects to the veterans who are laid to rest at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, located at Punchbowl Crater. Driving through downtown Honolulu, see Iolani Palace, Kawaiahao Church and King Kamehameha’s Statue. (Duration: full day; Not available on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Honolulu Marathon Day & Dec 7; Time: 0800 hrs; Shared activity & transfers from Waikiki hotels only; Pick up times may vary; Group size: max 58 ppl; tour is 6 hrs but 8 hrs with transfers)

Discover the dramatic landscape of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and see an active volcano. Early in the morning, you will be picked up by a shared vehicle and driven for about an hour to reach the park. Once you reach, a certified national park guide will lead you on an interpretive hike across the rugged landscape. As you walk, your guide will tell you about the region’s eco diversity and its distinctive geographical features including Kilauea volcano. Later, stop at a sprawling chocolate and tropical fruit farm located on the fertile volcanic slopes. Learn about the sustainable techniques used to grow and harvest the cacao that is later crafted into delicious chocolate. You will also visit the gorgeous Rainbow Falls that cascade down about 80 feet, before heading back. (Duration: full day; Time: pickup between 0730 – 0905 hrs; Shared activity & transfers; Group size: max 12 ppl; Travel time to activity: approximately 1 hr each way; Meals included: snacks and lunch; Please inform us of any food allergies in advance; Gluten-free options available on advanced notice; Lunch selection required at booking and menu subject to change without notice; Fitness level: easy – moderate, not suitable for guests with mobility impairments; This activity involves walking on uneven terrain for 2 – 3 mi; Walking sticks, day packs, and rain gear (if needed) provided; Guests must sign a release and waiver of liability before participating; Please wear a light jacket or sweatshirt, closed-toe sport/walking shoes, comfortable walking shorts, hat, and sunscreen; Not available on Sundays; Min age: 6)

Enjoy a lovely cruise with a romantic, three-course dinner and cocktails. Make your way to the starting point with time to spare and meet the friendly crew. As you sail past significant landmarks along the rugged Kealakekua Bay coastline, your historian tour guide will share interesting information on all that you see. You will learn the history of famous landmarks like Captain Cook’s Monument, the Ahuena Heiau, the Holua Slide and the Kuamoo Battlefield. After, savor a sumptuous dinner buffet, featuring salads, curries, fragrant rice, BBQ short ribs and local coconut dinner rolls with desserts and cocktails. There will be live entertainment during the alfresco meal, and the chance of spotting spinner dolphins and even humpback whales. Finally, take in a beautiful sunset before returning to your hotel. (Duration: 3 hrs; Time: 1600 hrs; Not available on Mondays; Shared activity; No transfers; Starting point: Kailua Pier in Kailua-Kona; Meals included: dinner with one complimentary cocktail; Please inform us of any food allergies in advance; Suitable for differently abled guests; Signed release & waiver of liability needed to board)

Travel on the picturesque Hana Highway, through Maui’s verdant countryside, during this eco-adventure tour. You will traverse scenic vistas with 620 curves, cascading waterfalls and 59 bridges. Along the way, your knowledgeable driver/guide will tell you about ancient Hawaiian culture, myths and legends. Pass through Paia, a town on the North Shore that is home to surf shops and art galleries. Watch waves crashing against the rocky coastline at Kaumahina State Wayside Park. View the Upper Waikani Falls, also known as Three Bears Falls. Stop at the traditional Hawaiian village of Keanae with its taro fields. Stand near the Keanae Congregational Church and see the waves roll over the jagged, black lava rocks. Then, halt at Pua’a Ka’a State Wayside Park, with its acres of rainforest. Weather permitting, you may swim in the waterfall pools. Next is Waianapanapa State Park in Hana that boasts a black sand beach, blowhole, lava tube and sea arches. Drive around Hana Bay and return via Kaupo and Nu’u Refuge. (Duration: full day; Available Tue, Thu & Sat, year-round; Time: 0600 hrs; Shared activity & transfers; Pick up times may vary; Group size: max 15 ppl; All entry fees are included; Meals included: breakfast and lunch; Please inform us of any food allergies in advance; Min age: 3 yrs)

Enjoy a truly Hawaiian experience with this traditional luau on the beach. Head to the oceanfront venue and immerse yourself in local history and culture. Take in the rustic setting reminiscent of an old Hawaiian fishing village, where you will be greeted with a fresh flower lei. Watch demonstrations of various island crafts as you sip on refreshing cocktails and premium spirits from the open bar. Gather around the imu, a traditional underground oven, to watch the unearthing of roasted kalua pig, a luau staple. Afterwards, sit under thatched structures and take in splendid views of the sunset over the ocean. As night falls and the tiki torches are lit, feast on a five-course meal featuring local specialties such as lomi lomi salmon, kalo hummus and Maui-style fish. Enjoy dessert to the beat of the Pahu or Hawaiian drums as the cultural performances begin. Gain insight into the rich past of Hawaii through an engrossing revue where hula dance performances and elaborate costumes are some of the highlights. (Duration: 3hrs; Not available on Oct 31; Time: 1715 hrs (Oct – Feb)/ 1745 hrs (Mar – May & Sep)/1815 hrs (Jun – Aug); Shared activity; Group size: max 480 ppl; No transfers; Meals included: dinner and drinks; Please inform us of any food allergies in advance; Starting point: 1251 Front Street, Lāhainā; Choice of seating available at time of booking)