Day 1 Thu. HONOLULU. Aloha and welcome
to Hawaii! Upon arrival at Honolulu International Airport, you will be greeted
with a fresh flower lei and transferred to your hotel in Waikiki. Your Tour
Director will be on hand to assist with check-in.
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Day 2 Fri. HONOLULU. Enjoy a continental
breakfast and reception with your Tour Director. Afterward, a full day at
leisure. Your Tour Director will have suggestions including activities near
world-famous Waikiki Beach, or a full-day optional outing to the Polynesian
Cultural Center on the island’s north shore where you’ll enjoy a dinner buffet
and the colorful stage show “Horizons.” (CB)
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Day 3 Sat. HONOLULU. PEARL HARBOR AND CITY
TOUR. This morning, your sightseeing excursion features the sunken USS
ARIZONA and its impressive memorial to the men still entombed there, Punchbowl
National Cemetery, and Honolulu Lookout. Other sights include bustling
Chinatown, Iolani Palace, and Kamehameha’s Statue. The afternoon, is free for
independent activities. Tonight join the optional sunset dinner cruise along the
shores of Waikiki.
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Day 4 Sun. HONOLULU. One last day to
enjoy Waikiki, the world’s most famous beach. Your Tour Director has ideas to
make your day memorable.
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Day 5 Mon. HONOLULU–KAUAI. Morning
transfer to the Honolulu airport for the flight to the “Garden Isle” of Kauai.
Then drive along the scenic southern shore via Poipu Beach to Waimea, once the
Polynesian capital of Kauai and the site where Captain Cook landed on the
islands in 1778. Sightseeing highlights include WAIMEA CANYON, known as the
“Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” the lush and fertile Hanapepe Valley, and a photo
stop at SPOUTING HORN, a dramatic blowhole on the ocean’s edge. Later, arrive at
your oceanside hotel in Kapaa. Tonight, you’ll attend a LUAU feast, considered
one of Hawaii’s best. After dinner, sit back and watch a captivating
international revue of dancers and musicians. (D)
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Day 6 Tue. KAUAI. This morning, enjoy a
unique adventure: cruise up the Wailua River to a lava rock grotto covered with
tropical fern. At the FERN GROTTO, you will be serenaded by Hawaiian musicians
playing traditional, local songs. Kauai has a lot to offer, and your Tour
Director will suggest several optional outings for the duration of your stay,
including a trip to Hanalei Bay, the filming location of many Hollywood movies,
such as South Pacific and The Thornbirds. Other activities include
helicopter flightseeing and snorkeling on the Na Pali coastline.
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Day 7 Wed. KAUAI. Continue your
leisurely stay on Kauai. Relax and sunbathe at the hotel pool, or take a stroll
along the beach. Kapaa offers an array of shops and boutiques. Restaurants are
numerous and sure to please your palate. Your Tour Director will have other
ideas for things to do and see.
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Day 8 Thu. KAUAI–HILO–KONA. VISIT TO HAWAII
VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK. Early this morning, depart for Hilo and the
island of Hawaii. Then, tour HAWAII VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK. See Kilauea Crater,
rising 4,090 feet above a volcanic wonderland of steaming fire pits, lava tubes,
and fern forests. Arrive in Kona on the sunny side of the “Big Island” in the
late afternoon.
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Day 9 Fri. KONA. A full day to relax and
explore the resort town of Kailua-Kona. Optional activities include a snorkeling
cruise to a coral reef to view magnificent tropical fish or a helicopter ride
along the Kohala coastline and over the famous Parker Ranch and an active
volcano. For the evening, take an optional dinner sail, which includes
cocktails, live entertainment, and dancing.
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Day 10 Sat. KONA–MAUI. This morning, fly
to Maui, the “Valley Island.” On arrival, sightseeing begins with a visit to the
IAO VALLEY, the “Yosemite of the Pacific,” to view the lao Needle. Then, through
the lush farm country and along the shoreline via Maalaea Boat Harbor to
Lahaina, once a whaling center and capital of the Hawaiian monarchy. Free time
to explore this colorful town. Then head to your lovely hotel, situated across
the street from the beach in the resort area of Kihei.
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Day 11 Sun. MAUI. A full day at leisure
to enjoy Maui’s splendid beaches or relax by the pool at the hotel. Kihei offers
plenty of boutiques and restaurants. There is a variety of optional outings
including the Road to Hana, one of the world’s most spectacular scenic drives
with its 54 bridges and many waterfalls. You may want to take in the Maui Ocean
Center, a state-of-the-art aquarium and marine park that showcases marine life
indigenous to the islands. Also from January to mid-April, whale watching is
offered.
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Day 12 Mon. MAUI. HALEAKALA NATIONAL
PARK. This morning is dedicated to HALEAKALA NATIONAL PARK, the volcano
known to islanders as the “House of the Sun,” and its vast Haleakala Crater. The
parkland is located in a setting of stunning natural beauty, ranging from a
landscape of cinder cones to dense rain forest. Return to Kihei in the early
afternoon with the balance of the day at leisure.
Note: Elevation
at Haleakala National Park is 10,000 ft.
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Day 13 Tue. MAUI. Transfer to Maui’s
airport in Kahului for your homebound flight.
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