7-Day Hawaii, Round-trip Honolulu

“The Big Island.” There’s something pleasantly direct about the nicknamenatives use for the island of Hawaii. Of course, it’s also known as “The Orchid Isle” and “The Volcano Island,” so it’s no wonder a visitor to Hawaii finds it to be a land of wonder and beauty.

Hana is an industrial port town on the windward (rainier) side of the island, with several hotels and an airport, although the majority of the resort activity is on the Kona side of the Island.

There are snow-capped 14,038-foot peaks (Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea), vast macadamia nut plantations, as well as black lava, white coral and green olivine beaches–not to mention the fiery landscape of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

It means “the gathering place,” and whoever named Oahu knew what he was talking about. For millions gather here every year to enjoy “the jewel city” of Honolulu, from Diamond Head and the world-famous beaches of Waikiki to the inspiring memorials of Pearl Harbor, to the only royal palace ever constructed on U.S. soil. And if you’re a board-bug, don’t
miss the legendary surfing beaches of the North Shore.

The main city on the Island is Honolulu, with Waikiki being the primarybeach and resort hotel area. Among the many popular things to do on Oahu, the Polynesian Cultural Center and Sea Life Park, on the opposite side of the Island from Honolulu, are very popular.

“Maui No Ka Oi.” If you’ve been to Maui, you’ve no doubt heard this before. It means, “Maui is the best,” and you’ll hear this clever slogan often when you visit this enchanting “Valley Isle.” Explore the old whaling town of Lahaina and nearby West Maui Mountains. There’s also Haleakala National Park, with its 10,000-foot volcano and crater. If you have a weakness for the tropics, heady nightlife and miles of perfect-tan beaches, put Maui on your must-see list. Kahului is the
main commercial center of Maui. Ten minutes away is the verdant Iao Valley and its towering rock monolith. On Maui’s eastern coast is some of Hawaii’s finest scenery – black sand beaches, isolated fishing villages, old lava flows, lovely waterfalls, dense jungle growth and lush groves of mango and monkeypod trees. Golden sand beaches and secluded coves line Maui’s western shore. Lahaina was the capital of Hawaii during its royal days and much of it has been restored as it was a century ago. Maui’s most spectacular sight is Mount Haleakala with its enormous crater large enough to hold
Manhattan. Mauians have a saying: Maui No Ka Oi, or, Maui is the Best.