Hawaii island hopping: Oahu, Big Island & Kauai

Itinerary in brief:

• 2 nights Honolulu
• 3 nights Kauai
• 3 nights Hawaii 'Big Island'

Day 1: Arrival in Honolulu

Aloha and welcome to Hawaii! On arrival in Oahu you’ll enjoy a flower lei greeting at the airport before being transferred to your hotel in Waikiki Beach.

Day 2: Honolulu

Today you’ll embark on a tour of Pearl Harbour, where the Japanese attack in 1941 prompted the USA to enter World War II. Visiting the Arizona Memorial is a sombre moment but an important one in your understanding of Hawaiians recent history. Exploring the visitor centre will give you a full insight into the events of that day before visiting the Punchbowl National Cemetery where many of the “unknown” graves from Pearl Harbour can be found, as well as veterans resting places from the Vietnam and Korean wars. Later you’ll enjoy a city tour of Honolulu, taking in the Kawaiahao Church, the Iolani Palace and the statue of King Kamehameha who founded the Kingdom of Hawaii.

After the tour, you’ll have the rest of the day at leisure.

Day 3: Honolulu to Kauai

In the morning, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight from Honolulu to Kauai. On arrival in Kauai, you’ll pick up your car hire from the airport and drive to your hotel - the rest of the day is at leisure.

Day 4: Kauai

Today you are at leisure to explore the island and there’s nowhere better to start than the Waimea Canyon, known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. The 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. You can cruise along Waimea Canyon Drive and hike away from the road before driving a loop around the island to northern beaches where you can relax on Lumahai Beach, Tunnels Beach or Wainiha Beach – each more beautiful than the last!

Day 5: Kauai

On your second free day in Kauai, why not hike a section of 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.

We can you book you a guided trek along part of the train, a 6 hour round trip to Hanakapiaai Beach that will give you a glimpse into Kauai’s natural beauty. If you don’t fancy the hike then we’d recommend a helicopter tour, which will give you a bird’s eye view of the mountains, including the “Wall of Tears” where hundreds of narrow waterfalls cascade down the lush green hillside.

Day 6: Kauai to Hawaii

In the morning, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight from Kauai to the Big Island. On arrival on the Big Island, you’ll pick up your car hire from the airport and drive to your hotel in Kona. The rest of the day is at leisure so why not settle into the hotel and have dinner on one of the fabulous beaches on the western shore.

Day 7: Hawaii

Today is a free day to enjoy the island. 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. Once you have explored the museum and the Crater Rim Drive, check with Volcano Observatory where the best area to see the glowing lava as it bubbles out of the earth.

This afternoon you could drive from the volcanoes to 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, drive back towards Kona, stopping at one of the observatories at the summit of Mauna Kea. This is the highest point of Hawaii and is known worldwide as a star gazing spot!

Day 8: Hawaii

After a busy day exploring yesterday, why not relax today and head to the beach? Head north and you’ll hit Hapuna Beach, where the turquoise water is so beautiful you’ll just want to lie down on the white sand and watch it crash against the shore. A more remote option but equally stunning is Makalawena Beach, only accessible by a 25 minute walk from the road.

Go south and you’ll come across Kealakekua Bay, where green turtles relax in the warm water and the snorkelling is arguably the best on the island. Parrotfish, Tang, Triggerfish and Surgeonfish all dance through the water in a colourful cloud but if you’re after the bigger marine life you should try snorkelling with Manta Rays, which are best seen at night when they begin to feed on the plankton that live off the shore of the Big Island. Swimming with these gentle giants is a wonderful experience, speak to your consultant about booking a tour.

Day 9: Departure

Your time in Hawaii has come to an end and today you’ll return your car to the airport before catching your flight back to Honolulu.