Hawaii Holidays

Where is Hawaii?
Hawaii is the 50th state of the USA and the only one made up entirely of islands. Located in the Pacific Ocean 2400 miles south west of California, only seven of its 132 volcanic islands are inhabited – Oahu, Hawaii (Big Island), Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Kauai and Niihau. Its nickname is the Aloha State and its capital is Honolulu.

Read more

Oahu
Head to Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu, on the island of Oahu for iconic Waikiki Beach escapades, whether you come for the winter swells or the tranquillity of the North Shore. Expect Polynesian flavour, luxury high-rise hotels, laid-back beach vibes, vibrant nightlife and beautiful beaches. It’s the place to come if you want to learn to surf, fancy hiking the legendary Diamond Head Walk or to go snorkelling in the crystal clear waters of Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. Lanikai Beach is a glorious stretch of golden sand perfect for families looking for kid friendly swimming and a more secluded spot where kayaking and paddle boarding is the norm. On Oahu there’s also a sombre reminder of Hawaii’s part in the Pacific War – travel west of Honolulu to visit the active military base of Pearl Harbour and see the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pacific Aviation Museum and the USS Arizona Memorial. It’s also possible to visit the National Memorial Cemetery and the American-Florentine style Iolani Palace.

Read more

Hawaii
The Island of Hawaii (Big Island) is the largest of the archipelago and alongside a perfect palette of white-sand beaches and blue seas lay hidden gems of black cliffs and volcanic landscape, green ferns and cascading waterfalls, gunpowder sands and white-capped mountains. Come here for the famous Hawaii Volcanoes Park, for stargazing under clear night skies on the summit of Mauna Kea (where astronomy students with telescopes will help you search out the constellations) and the wild forests of the Kohala coast. There’s the incredible olive-green sand beaches found at the end of South Point Road, sunset picnics overlooking the lava glow from the Kilaue Iki crater and the coffee scented hills of Kona’s Honaunau plantations. And there’s also championship golf courses and world-class scuba diving.

Read more

Maui
The Valley Isle of Maui is where sunsets and sunrises meet in a whirlwind of majestic beauty over the iconic Haleakala Crater – the world’s largest dormant volcano. Take the winding road to Hana for verdant rainforests, head to the west side for lavish resorts and fantastic golf courses and make for the North Shore for an authentic taste of island life. Dive alongside sea turtles in Molokini’s underwater volcanic crater, head to the Iao Valley State Park for spellbinding views of the 1200-foot-tall ʻĪao Needle and follow the locals to Ho’okipa State Beach Park for world-class windsurfing, paddle boarding and snorkelling.

Read more

Kauai
Rising 4000 feet above the Pacific Ocean, Kauai’s Na Pali Coast is the jewel of the Garden Isle. The choice of location for the filming of Jurassic Park, its rugged sea cliffs, white-sand beaches and extraordinary sea caves can be explored by boat, kayak and helicopter. Kauai is Hawaii’s oldest island and its natural wonders include Waimea Canyon, the Spouting Horn and the tropical valleys of Limahuli Garden and Preserve at the foot of Mount Makana. Kauai is an extraordinary island for honeymooners and couples with an enchanting mix of beautiful beaches and lush scenery.

Read more

Getting around
Transport varies from island to island and depends largely on what you would like to do. If you’d like to explore further afield, you can hire a car or enjoy one of our hand-crafted tours taking you across the islands. If you’re just enjoying the beach and ocean, then relying on shuttles and taxis is the best option. The main islands have plenty of taxis with metred fares. On Oahu, TheBus takes you everywhere from downtown Honolulu to Pearl Harbour and the Waikiki Trolley will take you to most of the main sights. If you opt for a twin-centre holiday you can fly between the islands, and there’s also the option of taking a helicopter over coastline and volcanic landscape on both Kauai and the Big Island.

Read more

Food and drink
Expect refreshing shave ice, famous Hawaii poke bowls and North Shore garlic shrimp and fresh Pacific Ocean seafood everywhere you go. There’s a generous amount of fresh fruit and vegetables on the islands, as well as side dishes of poi and the sweet dessert of Haupia. There are plenty of surf-inspired hot spots, award-winning restaurants, farm-to-table cuisine and candy coloured shrimp trucks lining the beaches. And you can’t leave Hawaii without experiencing a legendary luau feast. Drink plantation iced tea by day and mai tais by night and don’t forget those refreshing acai bowls to chow down on while at the beach.

Read more

Resort fees
It is standard practice for resorts/hotels within the USA to charge a mandatory resort fee which is payable locally. This fee can be anywhere between 5USD to 40 USD per room per night and is not included in the cost of your Kuoni holiday.

Read more