Hawaii was born of fire and sea, shaped and cultivated by wind and
waves and a constantly moving earth, nurtured by a mineral-rich land,
plentiful rain and, of course, endless sun. America’s archipelago — and
the dramatic cliffs, lush valleys, flower-filled forests, tranquil coves,
cerulean waters, gnarled lava fields and colorful beaches that are its
trademark — are quite literally a product of their environment and at
first glance, the six main islands seem fairly similar where tourists are
concerned. All come stocked with sunshine, innumerable palm trees,
poke proprietors, stunning swimming spots, hotels with ocean views
and, perhaps most importantly, locals brimming with aloha spirit.
SO HOW DOES ONE PICK BETWEEN
OAHU, MAUI, LANAI, HAWAII (AKA THE
BIG ISLAND), KAUAI AND MOLOKAI?
Why not plan an itinerary that highlights the forces responsible for
creating this delightful destination — fire, water, air and earth — and
celebrates the primal connection between nature and the natives?
Malama ka ‘aina, which translates roughly to preserve and take care
of the land, is one of the most important tenets of the Hawaiian
culture. Most flights from the mainland will deposit visitors on Oahu
in the buzzing capital city of Honolulu. But thanks to readily available
Hawaiian Airlines’ nonstop flights between isles, Honolulu International
is also an easy and convenient jumping off point to venture over to
get a taste for what sets each of the hot tropics apart.
FIRE
Given the chain’s volcanic heritage,
fire-inspired activities are a logical
place to start when deciding how to
fill your vacation days. Seeing lava
flowing from the ground, crashing
and exploding upon impact with
the Pacific, smoke billowing in big
fluffy clouds is an awe-inspiring, near
spiritual experience no matter how
many PBS documentaries you have
binge-watched. There are many ways
to accomplish this bucket list item
on the Big Island in Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park. Reserve a room or
window seat for dinner at Volcano
House, a historic hotel perched on the
rim of Kilauea’s caldera, and watch
as the still active Halemaumau Crater
turns incandescent as night falls and a
farm-to-fork and pole-to-palate meal
is served. Early risers willing to splurge
should book a C Big Island sunrise
boat tour out of Hilo to get front and
center with magma. A cheaper, but
much more labor-intensive option is to
rent bicycles from Kalapana Cultural
Tours where Highway 130 ends, peddle
three and a half miles one way and
then walk out to a coastal observation
area. To see red, arrive at dusk and
ride back in darkness. Luckily, the
rentals come with helmets, first aid
kits and headlamps.
WAT E R
Dive headfirst into fun in a myriad of
ways. The easiest being swimming
or snorkeling from shore at popular
places like Poipu Beach (Kauai),
Hanauma Bay (Oahu) or Two Steps
(Hawaii). Boat trips can get you away
from crowds and closer to cooler fish,
turtles and dolphins. Nana Kai often
runs scuba, snorkel and free diving
excursions to a sunken ship off Oahu
and the locally nicknamed Electric
Beach (where the power plant’s
warm water outflow pipes attract big
schools of vibrant fish). From Maui,
Four Winds II charters deposits you
at Molokini, a sunken crater that is
home to 250 marine species and 38
different corals.
Find your inner Moana on a sunset
sail around the royal lands of
Keauhou on Hawaii in an authentic
(yet updated) way-finder’s vessel
captained by Eka Canoe Adventures.
FLYWASHINGTON.COM 36 SUMMER 2017
Hanauma Bay (Oahu)
The small capacity also makes them the boat to board when
you want to get up close and personal with the resident manta
rays. With a noodle and a custom longboard equipped with
handles and a blue light, your family floats on the surface while
the graceful and gentle giants gorge on plankton and glide past
your masked face.
And speaking of gentle giants, humpback whales migrate en
masse to the region’s warm waters between November and
April and create what islanders affectionately call “whale soup”
in the ocean corridor between Lanai, Molokai and Maui. During
this time, pay extra mind to the car in front of you, as breaches
visible from land are responsible for Maui fender benders by the
dozens every year.
Learn board basics and how to ride waves at a surf school like
Surf Hawaii on Oahu or with private lessons by Maui’s Zack
Howard or Hawaii’s Kona Boys. Or if you prefer the safety of the
sand, instead motor around Oahu’s North Shore, aka the Seven-
Mile Miracle, stopping to shovel shave ice and see the pros hang
10 on the bananas swells of Banzai Pipeline and Waimea Bay.
AIR
Most people would probably be surprised to know that it snows
in Hawaii. Head into thin air on Hawaii for a snow day atop Mauna
Kea and visit the observatories while there. Travel to the summit
at 13,796 feet above sea level requires a 4x4 and a stop at the
visitor’s center to acclimate to the attitude. As many rental car
companies restrict access on that route, an all-day tour with
Mauna Kea Summit Adventures is the way to go. Seeing one of
the world’s most famous sunrises at 10,023 feet from Haleakala
National Park on Maui provides a natural high. It now also requires
a reservation, which can be booked up to 60 days in advance
through the NPS, unless you go with a group. Maui Activities Store
offers van service. But adrenaline junkies should opt to roll down
on two wheels from above the clouds with one of their guides.