There’s something magical about Hawaii. Golden beaches, perfect surf, delicious Pacific fusion food and scenic drives across paradise islands. Whether you’re exploring the bubbling lava fields on the Big Island, hiking to Waimea Canyon on Kauai or learning about native history in Oahu, there is so much to do here. It’s also a wonderful stop on a round the world trip – a little island haven in the middle of your holiday. We’ve put together 6 Hawaii holiday packages, to give you an idea of what is possible when exploring this incredible state.
Let’s start with a simple holiday to the islands. Our Hawaii paradise island-hopping holiday is the ultimate holiday to this archipelago. Drive or hike through lush valleys, volcanic landscapes and relax on beautiful beaches as you visit the four main islands. From the historic memorial at Pearl Harbour to the fish-filled bays of south Oahu, you’ll enjoy exploring Hawaii’s main island for a couple of days.
If you’d like to experience some world-class snorkelling, then head to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, where a colourful coral reef sits in an extinct volcanoes crater on the south coast. Turtles are regularly seen as well as lipstick tangs and trumpet fish.
Next, you’ll fly to the Big Island, where bubbling lava and starry skies will fill your days and nights. We recommend you drive over to the Volcanoes National Park to witness the lava flows and views of the caldera from the main centre of the park.
Nearby you can also visit the Kapoho Tide Pools, where the spring-fed pools are full of fish that will happily swim right up to you. After enjoying the pools, stop in at one of the observatories at the summit of Mauna Kea. This is the highest point of Hawaii and is known worldwide as a stargazing spot! It’s a beautiful way to spend your time here.
Next, you’ll fly to Kauai, where the natural splendours of Waimea Canyon await. Known as the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’, this deep gorge is carved right down the middle of the north-west corner of the island and is coloured a deep red, orange and green.
Finish your trip on the white sands of Maui. There are so many to choose from - Makena Beach has beautiful golden sand with green water that laps at the beach while up on the north-west coast, Napili Bay has white sand and swaying palm trees – a quintessentially Hawaiian experience.
If you’re looking for a dreamy honeymoon of beaches and island, combined with one of the coolest cities in the USA, then we’ve got the trip for you. Head to the Pacific Ocean on this romantic Seattle and Hawaii honeymoon. Starting in the Pacific Northwest, you’ll have four days to explore the quirky city of Seattle.
Take a tour through the delicious food stalls of Pike Place Market, wander through music history at the MoPop Museum and take in views of the city from the revolving Space Needle. You could visit the aquarium to learn about local wildlife before heading out on a cruise of Puget Sound to enjoy views over Seattle as well as the many islands and mountains surrounding the city.
Next, fly to Hawaii where you’ll explore the history and culture of Oahu before heading to Kauai and the Big Island to breathe in the natural beauty of these islands. Spend a day in Oahu learning about the history of Pearl Harbor, where the Japanese attack in 1941 prompted the USA to enter World War II. After a couple of nights here, you’ll fly to Kauai, the Garden Island.
Lush, green and mountainous, our favourite thing to do here is go hiking along the Na Pali coastline. The stunning mountains and valleys on this area of the island are created by Mount Wai’ale’ale which sits in the centre of Kauai and is one of the rainiest spots on earth. The water runoff from this mountain has carved deep grooves into the island and the hike down the coastal path is one of the most scenic on the island.
Finish your honeymoon on the endlessly romantic Big Island. Stargaze from the observatories on Mauna Kea and swim with turtles in Kealakekua Bay. Here, parrotfish and tangs dance through the water, but if you’re looking for larger marine life then you should try snorkelling with Manta Rays, which are best seen at night when they begin to feed on plankton that live off the shore of the Big Island. Swimming with these gentle giants is a wonderful way to finish your honeymoon.
Combine the city of neon lights with the paradise islands of Pacific on this Tokyo and Hawaii holiday. In Tokyo, you’ll have the chance to dance in the karaoke bars, tour the ancient temples and slurp some ramen. Taste sushi at the Tsukiji Fish Market, explore the Xojoji Temple and soak up the bustling atmosphere of this incredible city.
After twinkling Tokyo, you’ll fly to Hawaii, where paradise awaits. From the historic memorial at Pearl Harbour to the fish-filled bays of south Oahu, you’ll enjoy exploring Hawaii’s main island for a few days. Relax on the golden sands of Waikiki or if you want something more adventurous, try a hike along the Diamond Head Trail.
It is a massively rewarding hike, with 365-degree views when you reach the summit. From down on Waikiki Beach it can look like a challenging climb, but it actually only takes around an hour to reach the 760-foot summit.
Finish your holiday with a trip to the Big Island and Kauai. The Big Island’s beaches are regularly voted as some of the best in the world – driving north will take you to Hapuna Beach, where turquoise waves lap the white sand beach that is fringed with the lush vegetation Hawaii is famous for. Over in Kauai, you can hike along the Na Pali coast, or even take a helicopter flight over the jagged cliffs.
Want your children to the dip their toes into the breath-taking Pacific Ocean? Then head off to explore California and Hawaii on this exciting family holiday to the States. Start in San Francisco where you can take in the multicultural city with your family - introduce your kids to dim sum in Chinatown at lunchtime and enjoy some Mexican food in the Mission District in the evening.
Next, you'll drive to Yosemite to soak up the natural beauty and hike between waterfalls and mountains. For the best views, drive to Glacier Point where you can take a wonderful photo of the whole family with Half Dome in the background – the drive along here will take you past small, lush meadows where chipmunks scurry amongst the wildflowers.
You'll end your trip in Hawaii, for some tropical family beach time. Learn about the history and culture of Pearl Harbour, before heading over to Maui to relax and play on the golden sands. Mokapu Beach is perfect for children learning to snorkel, with calm waters and a relaxed vibe. It's the perfect holiday to introduce your kids to the majestic outdoors.
Combine the untamed wilderness of Alaska with the golden sands of Hawaii on this beautiful honeymoon. You'll start in historic Anchorage before heading off on a road trip down to the Kenai Peninsula for wildlife watching, cruising through the fjords and gazing at glaciers. Café hop in Homer before looking around the plethora of galleries and museums.
Take a float trip on the Russian River, keeping a keen eye out for moose, bears and eagles as your guide navigates you through the mountain scenery. Next, you'll head north to Denali National Park where you’ll journey deep into the woods and experience the best of the Alaskan wilderness.
After two weeks of exploring the wilds of Alaska, some rest and relaxation on the sands of Hawaii will be a welcome end to your honeymoon. You’ll be staying at Turtle Bay, on the north shore, around an hour from Waikiki Beach – it’s a beautiful spot with stunning beaches like Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach, perfect for sunbathing and playing in the surf.
After all the excitement of Alaska, take the time to sit back, relax and enjoy walking along the beach hand in hand, reflecting on your adventurous trip together. A sunset cruise on your final evening is the perfect way to round of your honeymoon in style.
Combine cool cities, delicious food and perfect beaches on this Portland, Maui and Honolulu holiday. Start in Oregon, where the city of Portland is famous for its independent coffee houses and farm-to-fork food. Cycle around the city tasting Portland’s famous donuts before heading out into vineyard country for some wine tasting.
After sampling the local pinot noir you’ll head to Silver Falls; here you can breathe in the scent of the forest, pick salmonberries and feel the spray from the falls. It’s such a lovely spot to experience nature.
Next, you’ll fly to Honolulu, where you’ll take a tour of the city, climb to the peak of Diamond Head and snorkel with tropical fish in Hanauma Bay. Why not try a surfing lesson – the waves in Waikiki are perfect for beginners and watching the locals heading out to sea with their colourful boards will easily tempt you into trying it.
Finish your holiday in Maui, where you can combine relaxation with exploration. Drive along the Hana Highway for breath-taking views of the ocean and hike through the moonlike landscapes of Haleakala National Park.
Made from the lava flows and ash from the crater of the volcano, the varied scenery will expose you to barren cinder cones and lush cloudforest higher up the trailheads.
We hope you’ve seen here how easy it is to visit Hawaii, whether you just want to explore these paradise islands or combine them with another destination. If I’ve inspired you to take a trip to Hawaii, give us a call on +44 1273320580 or request a quote. We are experts in planning tailor-made holidays to Hawaii, as well as round the world flights, so we can work together with you until we’ve created your perfect trip.
Mark spent several years working in Australia and New Zealand then travelling independently all over the world with Malaysia, Indonesia and Costa Rica amongst his favourite destinations. Ever in search of adrenaline and a good party he has caged-dived with sharks, zip-lined through the jungle and partied at Songkran (Thai New Year). His extensive personal travel experience helps him put together impressive flight itineraries and to create a true trip-of-a-lifetime for his customers. With 2 years’ tailor-made travel industry experience under his belt, Mark joined Travel Nation in 2013 as a round the world specialist and is also a member of our Business Class team.
