8-Day Explore Hawaii Escorted Tour

Day 1: Depart LAX for Honolulu, Hawaii (2 Nights). Alternate US city departures available.
Aloha and welcome to Hawaii! Upon arrival at Honolulu International Airport, you are greeted with a traditional fresh flower lei and transferred to your hotel in the heart of Waikiki. After meeting with your Tour Director at the hotel, enjoy the rest of the day to do as you please. Perhaps start exploring on your own or indulge in some early shopping at Waikiki's International Market Place. With over 130 carts, shops and artisan stands, this open-air setting in the heart of Waikiki remains a must-see-and-do for that special gift or souvenir. TF

Day 2: Pearl Harbor & Honolulu Sightseeing
Meet with your Tour Director and fellow travellers for a private gathering and then head out to Pearl Harbor for a visit to the USS Arizona, a tribute to those military personnel killed in the fatal attack of December 7, 1941. On to Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, followed by downtown Honolulu to view the King Kamehameha Statue, Iolani Palace - the only official royal residence on American soil - and the State Capitol. Also included in today’s excursion is a visit to a renowned coral jewellery workshop where you learn how Hawaii's rare and precious corals are harvested, graded and crafted into unique island designs. The rest of the afternoon is free to do as you please. This evening, a Highlight Dinner is served at a local restaurant. TF.(Full Breakfast/Highlight Dinner)

Day 3: Oahu to Kona, Hawaii. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Sightseeing
Start with a short flight to the island of Hawaii. Landing in Hilo, set out on a fabulous day of sightseeing and enjoy a Highlight Lunch. Experience diverse scenery as you make your way across the island to the Kona Coast. En route, explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to Mauna Loa, the most massive volcano on earth, and Kilauea, the world's most active volcano which has been erupting almost continually since 1983 and produces rivers of fiery lava. Visit the Jaggar Museum and learn of the explosive beginnings of the Hawaiian Islands and get the opportunity to walk through an actual lava tube. Continue on through macadamia nut orchards and Kona’s famous coffee farms before stopping at a local coffee plantation and see how Kona coffee is grown, harvested and processed. Sip a freshly brewed cup and experience the rich aroma and flavourful taste that makes Kona coffee so highly valued. Then travel to your oceanfront hotel on the stunning Kona Coast.(Full Breakfast / Highlight Lunch / Dinner)

Day 4: Big Island at Leisure
Spend the entire day doing whatever interests you most. As the residence of the great King Kamehameha, Kailua-Kona is rich in historical highlights as well as fun activities. Take an optional excursion to a historic heiau, a Hawaiian temple of worship, or choose from a host of options, including boat excursions, snorkeling adventures, or an exciting ride aboard a submarine, cruising slowly through the colourful coral gardens and giving you the unique experience of a snorkeler’s-eye view of the marine life without getting wet! This evening, optional dinner and cocktail cruises are available to experience Kona’s breathtaking sunset.(Full Breakfast)

Day 5: Kona, Hawaii to Maui (3 Nights)
Fly to the island of Maui. Many say, “Maui No Ka Oi,” or “Maui is the Best,” with its fine beaches and snorkeling coves, outstanding golf, colourful local history, cascading waterfalls and striking volcanic interior. Find yourself at the forefront of the organic experience as you meet your expert host at a local organic urban farm for a unique farm-to-table culinary journey. Learn about ecologically sound organic and biodynamic practices as you visit this small organic farming operation and taste superb local organic produce. Then enjoy a 'Be My Guest' Lunch while enjoying a glass of wine at a beachside restaurant at the historic whaling town of Lahaina. Later, check in at your beachfront hotel ideally situated on the breathtaking Kaanapali Beach.(Full Breakfast / Be My Guest dinner)

Day 6 & 7: Maui at Leisure
Enjoy two glorious days to indulge in your favourite pastime. A three-mile long white sand beach, the adjacent Kaanapali Golf Course, tennis courts, Lahaina’s art galleries and shops… all vie for your attention. Perhaps take an optional sunrise tour to the summit of Mount Haleakala and follow in the footsteps of the ancient Hawaiian kahuna who came here to worship their gods, or an excursion to Hana which brings you to magical places of untouched natural beauty and the Hawaii of dreams. Optional helicopter excursions offer the very finest staging of Maui’s natural beauty with their unique perspective and otherwise unreachable viewpoints. Your Tour Director will be happy to assist you in planning your time. During your stay on Maui, you'll meet a local naturalist who will discuss the ecology of the Hawaiian Archipelago, taking a look beyond the ordinary at some of the plants and wildlife that call the Hawaiian Islands home. On one evening, meet your fellow travellers for a Luau Farewell Dinner. Enjoy tropical cocktails and a delicious buffet of island specialities, and learn about Hawaiian culture and traditions during a colourful review of traditional Hawaiian, Tahitian and Samoan dance and music as the performers weave the legends of the South Pacific into their spellbinding performances. The spectacular beachside setting, tiki torches, palm trees gently swaying in the balmy and fragrant air all contribute to make this a night you will long remember.(Full Breakfast / Farewell Dinner / Full Breakfast)

Day 8: Depart Maui for the mainland
Aloha. Its Time to bid farewell to the Hawaiian Islands as you are transferred to Kahului Airport.(Full Breakfast)