Itinerary #12: Hawaii

DSC_1006Our 50th state, Hawaii is comprised of a group of islands all different and uniquely beautiful. On this amazing trip we had the opportunity to visit Kauai, Maui, the Big Island of Hawaii and Oahu. We learned about natural wonders like black sand beaches, volcanoes and the abundant sea life that inhabit the water surrounding the islands. We learned about Hawaiian history and culture, how the Polynesian peoples discovered these islands and inhabited them and their eventual discovery by Captain Cook in 1778 which forever change the future for it’s original inhabitants.

It’s hard to reconcile Hawaii’s past and present but in visiting all the islands we came to appreciate Hawaii as it is today, from it’s beautiful scenery, to it’s crops and mix of island culture and unique and tasty foods. Of course it’s easy to come here and relax and enjoy this island paradise, it’s another thing to explore and discover. My hope is that when you visit these islands, you learn about their ancient culture and their place in American history and take these important lessons to heart for there is so much here beyond the palm trees, ocean waves, and suntan lotion. Aloha!

State Hawaii

Theme Pacific Cultures and American Imperialism     Duration 12 Days

 

Day 1

Smith's Fern Grotto Wailua River Cruise (Kapaa)• Fly to Honolulu, and then to Lihue, Kauai
Smith’s Fern Grotto Wailua river cruise

Day 2

Paddle Boarding (Hanalei Bay)Steelgrass Farms Chocolate Tasting Tour
Paddle Board lessons on Hanalei Bay

Day 3

Cruise the Napali Coast (Kekaha)Cruise Napali Coast with Napali Makai
Sample Lappert’s Ice Cream

Day 4

Hawaii• Fly from Kauai to Maui
• Day at the beach
Old Lahaina Luau

Day 5

HawaiiOutrigger Canoe with Maui Paddle Sports
Maui Ocean Center
Explore on Front Street

Day 6

HawaiiAlexander Baldwin Sugar Museum
• Fly to Kona on the Big Island

Day 7

HawaiiEco Adventures Zipline
King Kamehameha statue in Hawi

Day 8

HawaiiAkaka Falls
King Kamehameha statue in Hilo
Volcano National Park
Black Sand beach

Day 9

Waikiki Beach (Honolulu)Mountain Thunder Kona Coffee Plantation tour
• Fly to Honolulu
Waikiki Beach

Day 10

HawaiiDole Pineapple Plantation
Explore the North Shore
Polynesian Cultural Center

Day 11

HawaiiPearl Harbor
Iolani Palace
Hawaii State Capitol Building

Day 12

• Fly home

Hawaii

Comments

  1. It indeed should be our 50th state! Hawaii is a mix of many cultures, not just Polynesian. The ouster of the queen was the result of her wanting to arbitrarily change the Constitution. The people objected. In a March 2016 poll, an overwhelming majority of Hawaii’s residents say any effort to create a ‘country within a country’ is patently unfair and racist. Moreover, if the U.S. had not been here during WWII, the residents might well be speaking another language. So come and experience Hawaii for the beauty that she is — both in the land (aina) and her rich mix of cultures.