Chris Trost's Travel Blog

This was a trip whose time had come. After watching the price rise steadily for three straight years, it was now or never. There were several options. The cruises to Hawaii from the west coast of the US were relatively inexpensive, but 6 days at sea total and only 5 on the ground in Hawaii seemed like a waste of money. On the other end of the price spectrum was organizing and booking the tour myself and traveling by plane from island to island. That was more work than I wanted to do with no guarantees that I would see all the places I wanted to. Then I looked at organized tours. Lo and behold, the tour company I've used several times just happened to have a compact tour at a decent price.

So, I took an organized tour with Gate1Travel ("9 Day Classic Hawaii"). The tour included the best of Oahu, the Big Island of Hawaii, and Maui, along with a variety of optional tours that made sure I got to see not only the big cities, but also the spectacular natural beauty of the islands. As always, our tour director and drivers were the consummate professionals. The sights were also great, as were the hotels and food. I arrived in Hawaii a day before the tour started so I could have some quality beach time and a chance to explore Honolulu more on my own.

How Long Was Your Trip? When Did You Go? Where Did You Go? The trip lasted 10 days from June 3 to June 12, 2024. I spent:

4 days in Oahu, including Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, and a circle tour of the island
2 days on the Big Island of Hawaii, including Kona, Paia, Volcanoes National Park
3 days in Maui, including Kahului, Iao Valley, Lahaina and a scenic drive to Hana
1 day traveling from Milwaukee to Hawaii via San Francisco

Did You Do This on Your Own or with a Tour Company? As mentioned above, I took an escorted tour with Gate1Travel. It was nicely paced and hit all the major stops. Our tour manager, Paul Hanohano, was exceptionally knowledgeable, helpful, and entertaining, as were our motorcoach drivers and local guides.

Gate1 Tour Director Paul Hanohano

My tour group had 18 people. All came from the US: California, Georgia, Tennessee, New York, Texas and Wisconsin. We were a very seasoned group of travelers and got along well. It was also the most punctual group I ever traveled with as I seemed to always be the last one to board the motorcoach throughout the tour. The Tennessee couple, Jessie and Tamara, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on the tour and got special recognition from Gate1, the group, and at the luau on our last day in Hawaii.

Gate1 Travel Group - 18 Total, Nice Group

How Did You Get There and Back? I flew from Milwaukee to the west coast, spending several days in San Francisco before flying to Honolulu. Once in Hawaii, we flew from island to island (Honolulu to Hilo, Kona to Maui) and traveled by motorcoach on the ground. I travelled about 8,500 miles by air and 300 miles by motorcoach on this trip.

Was It Easy Getting Around? Yes, because we had our own private motorcoach to get from place to place. In addition, our hotels were centrally-located so we could walk everywhere we needed to.

Gate1 Motorcoach - Very Comfortable

The motorcoach had a bathroom, but no electrical outlets, USB ports or WiFi. I brought my portable charger and my mobile data plan from home so I never ran out of power and could always talk to someone if I ran into trouble.

Gate1 had a seat rotation policy on the motorcoach so that the same people didn't always have the coveted front seats. However, the policy was largely ignored since there were three times more seats on the bus than passengers.

Where Did You Stay? We stayed in several 3- and 4-star hotels on the beach wherever we went. All were centrally located, modern, clean, and comfortable, with excellent amenities, including restaurants, WiFi, fitness centers, and pools, not to mention being close to the beach.

Gate1 Hotels - Excellent

Meals? All breakfasts and several lunches and dinners were included in the price of the tour. All meals included healthy options to suit all tastes and dietary needs.

How was the Weather? Superb! The weather was 75-85F most days with no humidity. Also, it never rained. This is typical June weather.

What Clothing Did You Pack? I brought four days of quick-drying clothing ("Dri-Fit") and did laundry in the hotel bathroom sink every few days. I brought mostly shorts and t-shirts. I also brought one pair of long pants and one long-sleeve shirt in case more formal attire was needed. I also brought two pairs of comfortable shoes, a rain jacket, a wide-brim hat, sunscreen. I left the insect repellent at home and it wasn't needed at all.

What was the Time Difference? Hawaii does not observe daylight savings so there was a five-hour time difference from my home in Milwaukee (US CDT). I had no jet lag since I stayed in San Francisco for 3 days before travelling to Hawaii.

What Was the Currency? What Were Prices Like? The US dollar since Hawaii is a US state. Credit cards are widely accepted and there were ATMs everywhere. Prices were far less than California but higher than at home in Wisconsin.

What Did This Whole Trip Cost You? It was expensive as travel goes. I spent $6,200, or about $620 per day. I paid 90% of the trip cost ($5,600) before leaving the US. Once on the ground, I spent another $600 on items not included in the tour cost, such as tips, lunches and dinners on my own, and airport transfers.

Any Parting Comments? Travel is an adventure. It’s an opportunity to experience, learn and appreciate how people around the world live. While I’m always happy to come home at the end of a trip, I never come back the same person.

Following is a day-by-day account of my trip. Each day starts with an overview of what we did, followed by my daily journal. I stopped giving history lessons in my posts but added links you can click on to read more about the places I visited. You can just read on from here or go back up to the Table of Contents above and jump to a specific day or topic of interest. Most entries include timing so that you can see tour pacing in case you want to do this on your own.

Enjoy!

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Day 1 - Monday, June 3, 2024 - Arrive in Hawaii

Itinerary: Fly to Honolulu, Hawaii.

About Hawaii from Lonely Planet

Daily Journal

Weather: 74F and partly cloudy

Hotel: Queen Kapiolani at Waikiki Beach (Location)

The big day was here. I was on my way to Hawaii from San Francisco. I stayed at an Aloft Hotel across the street from the San Francisco International Airport so that I could get there on time for my early morning flight to Honolulu. I got up an hour earlier than expected and caught the hotel's 5:20 am shuttle to the airport. By 5:50 am, I was checked in and sitting at the gate thanks in large part to TSA PreCheck, which allowed me to bypass a very long line at the airport security checkpoint.

San Francisco Airport to Honolulu

San Francisco to Honolulu - My Plane to Honolulu

By 7:50 am, my full Hawaiian Airlines Airbus 330 was en route to Honolulu 2,700 miles, 5 hours and 3 time zones away. We arrived 30 minutes early due to favorable weather conditions.

San Francisco to Honolulu - 5 Hours

Oahu - Waikiki Beach and My Hotel in Center of Window

Oahu - Another View of Oahu - Western Coast

Oahu - Honolulu Airport - Welcome to Hawaii

I had a few hours to burn waiting for my travel friend to arrive from Houston. I wandered over to the other end of the Honolulu airport and parked myself at a food court for a few hours. My travel friend arrived at 1:15 pm. We proceeded to the Uber pickup area and 20 minutes later we were at our spectacular Honolulu hotel (Queen Kapi'olani) on the 18th floor of a 19th story building overlooking Honolulu with a partial view of Waikiki Beach a block away.

Oahu - Honolulu Hotel - Queen Kapi'olani - One Block from Waikiki Beach

Oahu - Honolulu Hotel - Queen Kapiʻolani

Oahu - Honolulu Hotel - Queen Kapiʻolani - 18th Floor City View (Video)

Oahu - Honolulu Hotel - Queen Kapi'olani - Beach is One Block Away

After wandering around the hotel admiring the amenities, we went on a long walk. We started at Waikiki Beach where all the local kids and tourists were enjoying a beautiful summer afternoon swimming, surfing and boogie boarding in the azure blue water and crashing surf at the Queen's Beach section.

Oahu - Honolulu - Diamond Head Volcano Crater by Hotel

Oahu - Honolulu - Incredible Banyan Tree

Oahu - Honolulu - Waikiki Beach (Queen's Beach Section)

Oahu - Honolulu - Waikiki Beach

Oahu - Honolulu - Waikiki Beach (Video)

Oahu - Honolulu - Waikiki Beach

Oahu - Honolulu - Kalakaua Ave Along Waikiki Beach

We then walked down Kalakaua Ave all the way down to the luxury Royal Hawaiian Resort on the far west end of Waikiki Beach. There were many hotels, shops and restaurants. He stopped at a local shopping mall near the Roal Hawaiian and grabbed a bite to eat before continuing north, a few blocks to the other major commercial area on Kahlu Street where we were once again met with many shopping and restaurant opportunities.

Oahu - Honolulu - Royal Hawaiian Resort

Oahu - Honolulu - Don Ho Statue

Oahu - Honolulu - Waikiki Beach from Royal Hawaiian Resort

Oahu - Honolulu - Surfboards for Rent on Kahlu Street

After our walk, we went to a nearby bar for a happy hour drink before heading down to the beach at 7 pm for sunset. It was too cloudy to see sunset so we went back to the bar for another drink and to watch open microphone night before heading back to the hotel for the evening.

Oahu - Honolulu - Sunset at Waikiki Beach

Honolulu Hotel - Queen Kapi'olani - 18th Floor Night View

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Day 2 - Tuesday, June 4, 2024 - Honolulu

Itinerary: Day of leisure to explore Honolulu on own. Evening orientation meeting with tour director and new travel companions.

About Oahu from Lonely Planet

About Honolulu from Lonely Planet

Daily Journal

Weather: 80F and partly cloudy

Since we arrived in Honolulu a day before the official tour started, we had a day on our own to explore Honolulu. The weather was superb and we had a great day wandering around Honolulu.

I got up around 5 am. Since the hotel restaurant didn't open till 6:30 am, we walked down to the pier at Queen's Beach, a section of Waikiki Beach, and watched all the early morning surfers enjoying a gorgeous sunrise and excellent waves.

Oahu - Honolulu - Waikiki Beach at 5:45 am - Lots of Surfers Already

Around 5:45 am on the pier, we ran into a local man who feeds bread to the birds every day. I took a turn feeding the native zebra doves bread. As long as I held the bread tightly in my hand and didn't make any sudden moves, the birds would land on my hand or arm and peck at the bread.

Oahu - Honolulu - Waikiki Beach - Bird Man on Queen's Beach Pier

Oahu - Honolulu - Waikiki Beach - Queen's Beach Pier - Feeding Bread to the Zebra Doves

We got back to the hotel around 6:30 am. The restaurant hostess, Diane, noticed us waiting by the pool for the restaurant to open and came out to get us. We sat on the restaurant patio with a wonderful view of Diamond Head Crater and the beach. I had a very nice egg dish.

Oahu - Honolulu - Diamond Head Crater View from Breakfast Table

Oahu - Honolulu - Hotel Breakfast

After breakfast, we walked for several hours up and down the beach, this time in the opposite direction of yesterday's walk toward Diamond Head Crater. It was definitely a quieter area than the one over by our hotel.

Oahu - Honolulu - Waikiki Beach - The Calm Before the Storm

Oahu - Honolulu - Waikiki Beach - Hawaiian War Memorial

We walked through Kapiolani Regional Park with its huge banyan trees and variety of native birds. The park was gifted by the King to the people of Hawaii for recreation. The banyan trees are very old and have a very dense and intricate root system.

Oahu - Honolulu - Kapiolani Park - Banyan Trees

Oahu - Honolulu - Kapiolani Park

Oahu - Honolulu - Kapiolani Park - Banyan Trees

Oahu - Kapiolani Park - Diamond Head in Back

Oahu - Kapiolani Park - Diamond Head

Oahu - Honolulu - Kapiolani Park - Banyan Trees

Next to the Kapiolani Park was Queen Kapiolani Garden with a number of colorful local plants and trees.

Oahu - Honolulu - Queen Kapiolani Park

On the way back toward the hotel, we happened upon a park with a band shell that was offering a free hula show (Kilohana Hula Show). We lucked out because the show was only offered from Sunday to Wednesday and this would be our only chance to see the show during our time in Honolulu. While I was somewhat skeptical about taking an hour out of the day for a dance show, it turned out to be quite enjoyable. While a small band played hula music in the background, a variety of male, female and mixed groups of dancers performed traditional dances. During the performance, they recognized audience members with birthdays and anniversaries. At the end of the performance, the 100 children from the Mary Star of the Sea elementary school went down on the field and got a hula lesson from one of the performers, followed by a demonstration of what they had learned.

Oahu - Honolulu - Kilohana Hula Show

Oahu -Honolulu - Kilohana Hula Show

Oahu - Honolulu - Kilohana Hula Show

Pahu - Honolulu - Kilohana Hula Show - Hula Lesson

Oahu - Honolulu - Kilohana Hula Show

After the hula show, we went back to the hotel, donned our swim trunks, and spent 1-1/2 hours, from 11:30 am to 1 pm, at Waikiki Beach (Queen's Beach section by our hotel) swimming, sunning and people watching. On the way out of the hotel, we watched the lei making class. I should have brought my water shoes for the beach because the bottom of the ocean was a sharp coral reef that cut the bottom of my feet a little.

Oahu - Honolulu - Lei Making Class at Hotel

Oahu - Honolulu - Waikiki Beach - Queen's Beach Section by Hotel

Oahu - Honolulu - Waikiki Beach - Couple Posing for Wedding Pictures

After the beach, we explored different areas of Honolulu on foot for a few hours before going back to the hotel at 4:30 pm to meet our tour director Paul and the Gate1 Hawaii Director Ester to pick up badges, luggage tags, breakfast tickets, and tour information. I even got a lei.

Oahu - Honolulu - Lei Gift from Gate1 Tour Company

Afterwards, we headed to happy hour at the bar next to our hotel. They had nice live entertainment and good people watching from the second-floor vantage point.

We returned to the hotel from 7 to 8 pm to meet the rest of the tour group, have a welcome drink, and receive a tour briefing.

Oahu - Honolulu - Tour Briefing with Gate1 Tour Director Paul

Around 8 pm, we all went down to Queen's Beach for a free fireworks show courtesy of a large Japanese jewelry company ("Royal Cosmetics") that was celebrating its 37th anniversary.

Oahu - Honolulu - Waikiki Beach - Bonus Fireworks Show at Sunset (Video)

Around 9 pm, I went back to the hotel and went to bed. It had been a long day of sun, fun and walking.

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Day 3 - Wednesday, June 5, 2024 - Honolulu Tour, Pearl Harbor

Itinerary: Begin with a city tour of Honolulu, including the Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific, historic Iolani Palace, and King Kamehameha's statue. In the afternoon, visit to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Continue to the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, followed by the USS Arizona Memorial & Museum.

About Pearl Harbor from Lonely Planet

Daily Journal

Weather: 80F and partly cloudy

We had a great day touring the major sights in Honolulu. What a nice city! The highlight for me was the afternoon visit to the Pearl Harbor Memorial, where we learned all about the Japanese attack on the US Pacific fleet on December 7, 1941, a "day that will live in infamy." I found the stop at the USS Arizona Memorial quite moving.

As usual, I got up at 6:00 am, went down for breakfast at 6:30 am and then went for an hour walk around town starting at 7:15 am. It was another gorgeous day.

At 8:45 am, we met the tour group, our tour director and our bus driver Aaron in the lobby and boarded our motorcoach for the all-day tour of Honolulu and Pearl Harbor. Although we were only a group of 18 people, the motorcoach had 52 seats which allowed us to spread out and give everybody a window seat if they wanted it. I was shocked that everyone in the group showed up on time, something that became the trademark of this group throughout the tour, which was super nice.

Gate1 Deluxe Motorcoach

Beautiful Day to Respect Other Peoples' Pronouns

Our tour of Honolulu took us on a long leisurely drive along the Diamond Head coastline east of Honolulu. The Diamond Head district is like "Beverly Hills" with all of its lavish homes with beach views against a backdrop of Diamond Head Crater. The crater is called Diamond Head because it is made of calcite, which sparkles in the light. As we drove, we learned that the island of Oahu is 44x30 miles with a population of one million people. Honolulu is the capital with about 350,000 people. The Hawaiian archipelago has 132 islands but we will only see eight over the next 10 days. Each island has its own color. Oahu is the yellow island. We learned that married women wear a flower on left side of the head and single women where a flower on the right. The Hawaiian language has 13 letters (A, E, I, O, U, H, K, L, M, N, P, W, ') including the apostrophe.

After driving through the Diamond Head district, we turned inland toward downtown Honolulu. Honolulu looks like any other US city with its expressways, tall buildings and traffic. As we drove, we ascended the mountains surrounding Honolulu and took in some great views. We even saw the high school that pop star Bruno Mars (Hernandez) attended. Our tour guide was in high school here with Bruno's mother, who was a hula dancer.

Oahu - View of Honolulu

At the top of the mountain overlooking Honolulu, we reached Punchbowl National Cemetery of the Pacific where many famous Hawaiians and Pearl Harbor fallen are buried, including Hawaii astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka, the first Asian American in space who perished in the Challenger disaster in January 1986. The cemetery is inside an extinct volcano crater.

Oahu - Honolulu - Punchbowl National Cemetery (Credit: Getty Images)

Oahu - Honolulu - Punchbowl National Cemetery

After Punchbowl National Cemetery, we proceeded downtown to the State Capitol building and historic Iolani Palace with its King Kamehameha I statue. At the front of the Capitol, we saw the Father Damien statue memorializing the famous Hawaii Catholic Church priest from Belgium who sacrificed his life for the lepers of the island of Molokai. Father Damien is considered one of the preeminent heroes of Hawaii, and was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2009. The bronze statue depicts Father Damien in his later years after being diagnosed with the disease of those he attended. Much attention was given to the recreation of the disfiguring scars on the priest's face and his arm hanging from a sling.

At the rear of the Capitol, we saw the Queen Liliuokalani statue. Liliuokalani was the only queen and the last sovereign monarch of the Hawaiian Kingdom, ruling from 1891 until the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893. She is also famous for composing “Aloha 'Oe” in either 1877 or 1878, while she was still an heir to the throne. She was already a prolific and established composer at the time, as well as an author and musician.

Oahu - View of Honolulu

Oahu - Honolulu - Tour Group in Front of Hawaii State Capitol

Oahu - Honolulu - Hawaii State Capitol - Father Damien Statue

Oahu - Honolulu - Hawaii State Capitol

Oahu - Honolulu - Hawaii State Capitol - Queen Liliuokalani Statue

After the capitol, we walked to the Iolani Royal Palace. In the original Hawaii 5-0 TV series, this was where 5-0 headquarters was located.

Oahu - Honolulu - Iolani Royal Palace

We then walked to the courthouse, which was the original palace but was not opulent enough for the king so he built another palace, the one we had just visited. The courthouse has the famous Kamehameha I Statue in front and is the headquarters for 5-0 in the new Hawaii 5-0 TV series.

A member of the group asked why the Hawaiian flag included the British flag. The answer was that King Kamehameha I designed it this way to pay homage to the historical ties between the Royal Navy and the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. The King had hoped that Hawaii would become a part of Britain. It was not to be and Hawaii became the 50th US state 140 years after the King's death on August 21, 1959.

Flag of the State of Hawaii

Oahu - Honolulu - Courthouse - Kamehameha I Statue

Oahu - View of Downtown Honolulu

Around 10:30 am on our way to an early lunch, we stopped at a Leonard's Bakery food truck by a shopping mall for hot malasadas, a fluffy donut with no hole. While there I ran into the mall and bought a new pair of shoes. What a difference new shoes made. My old shoes were worn out.

Oahu - Honolulu - Leonard's Bakery Truck

Oahu - Honolulu - Leonard's Bakery - Delicious Malasadas

Oahu - Honolulu - Whew! Bought Some New Shoes

Around 11:30 am we stopped for lunch at Restaurant 604, which had a marina and view of Pearl Harbor. Before lunch, we all introduced ourselves to the other your members. We were 18 in all with 7 men and 11 women. 8 people were from California, 6 from Georgia, 2 from Tennessee, 1 from Texas and 1 from Wisconsin. There were 2 family groups of 6. We ranged in age from our twenties to seventies.

Oahu - Honolulu - Lunch Stop - Restaurant 604

Oahu - Honolulu - Lunch Stop - Restaurant 604 - Flags or US Military Branches

Oahu - Honolulu - Lunch Stop - Restaurant 604 - Marina Overlooking Pearl Harbor

Oahu - Honolulu - Lunch Stop - Restaurant 604

At 12:30 pm, we arrived at the Pearl Harbor Memorial for a 3-hour visit. We strolled the grounds admiring the military hardware, statues and placards telling the story of Pearl Harbor before walking through the visitors center and museum.

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Bucket List Item Checked Off

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - So Much to See

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Map of Memorial Park

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Entrance

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Map of Pearl Harbor

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Lone Soldier Statue

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - USS Arizona Anchor

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - US Fighter Plane

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - USS Bowfin

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Very Strategic Location

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Crossroads of the Pacific

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Still an Important Naval Base

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Japan's Plan

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - 1/2 of US Naval Fleet Here

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Attack Was Total Surprise

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Radar Showing Incoming Planes

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - US vs Japan Pacific Fleet

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Japan Attack Wave 1 of 2

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Japan Attack Wave 2 of 2

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Japan Attack Waves 1 & 2

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Honoring the Dead

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Remembering the Dead

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - The Lead Up to 12/7/1941

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Should the US Join WW2?

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - The Growing Japanese Empire

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - FDR Addressing the Nation 12/8/1941

At our appointed time of 1:15 pm, we lined up to get on a boat for the ride out to the USS Arizona Memorial. 900 of the 1,100 men who died on the USS Arizona are still entombed in the wreck. On December 7, 1941, the USS Arizona exploded when an armor-piercing torpedo crashed through the deck and hit an ammunitions magazine.

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Boat to USS Arizona

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Boat to USS Arizona - What is a Veteran?

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Boat to USS Arizona

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - USS Arizona Memorial

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Boat to USS Arizona

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - USS Arizona Memorial

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - USS Arizona Memorial (Video)

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - USS Arizona Memorial

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - USS Shaw

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - USS Arizona Memorial

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - USS Arizona Today

Oahu - Honolulu - Pearl Harbor National Memorial - USS Arizona - Remembering the Sacrifice

After the USS Arizona Memorial visit, we boated back to shore and watched a movie about the Pearl Harbor attack before reboarding the bus and heading back to the hotel. On the way, we saw the marina where the opening credits of Gilligan's Island was filmed in the early 1960s.

We got back to the hotel around 4 pm and went for a walk along the beach. At 6 pm, we met the group for buffet dinner at Tiki's Restaurant around the corner from our hotel across from Waikiki Beach. Excellent meal.

Oahu - Honolulu - Group Dinner - Tiki's at Waikiki Beach

After dinner, I went back to the hotel to do some laundry and then went to bed.

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Day 4 - Thursday, June 6, 2024 - Oahu Grand Circle Island Tour

Itinerary: Full-day Oahu Grand Circle Island Tour, including stops at Waimea Valley, Nu'uanu Pali Lookout, and the Dole Plantation.

Daily Journal

Weather: 80F and partly cloudy

It was a busy and glorious final day on Oahu as we enjoyed an 8-hour driving tour around the island that included awe-inspiring scenery and interesting stops like (in order) Halona Blowhole, Dole Pineapple Plantation, Waimea Valley and Haleiwa, Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Outlet, Byodo-In Temple and Pali Lookout.

I got up a little bit earlier today around 5:30 am. I did some laundry and then went down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. We made really good friends with Diane, the hostess at the hotel's restaurant. She and her husband travel the globe and get jobs where they live to cover the bills. Since it was our last day at the hotel, we exchanged Facebook addresses and took a picture together.

Oahu - Hotel Queen Kapiolani - Diane, the Hostess with the Mostest

At 8:15 am, we met our driver Kimoke'o and boarded the bus with 6 members of our tour group for the daylong, figure-8 tour around the island of Oahu. Like yesterday, today's tour began with a drive along the Diamond Head coastline east of Honolulu, the "Beverly Hills" of Honolulu. After several more miles, we rounded the southeast corner of the island and headed north along the eastern coast of Oahu. The jagged rocks and blue water were jaw dropping.

Oahu - Koko Head Mountain Near Diamond Head Crater

At 9 am, we arrived at our first stop, Halona Blowhole. It's called a blowhole because sea water spews from a hole in the ceiling of a half-submerged cave whenever a wave washes into the cave.

Oahu - Halona Blowhole - Water Coming Through the Ceiling Hole (Video)

Oahu - Halona Blowhole

While at the Halona Blowhole, I noticed a number of people ignoring the warning sign and making their way down the cliff to the shore below. I followed suit and got some really great pictures of the Blowhole area from sea level.

Oahu - Halona Blowhole - Only for Tourists

Oahu - Halona Blowhole

After Halona Blowhole, we continued our journey along the beautiful eastern coast, which now had the wall of a towering volcano along the opposite side. At some point, an earthquake caused one side of the volcano crater to collapse into the sea. So the road we traveled on had towering cliffs on one side and the ocean on the other. Along the cliff side, we saw the Haiku Stairway (to Heaven), a dangerous trail comprised of 3,922 steps to the top that has been closed since 1987 is only now being demolished.

Oahu - Eastern Coast

Oahu - Eastern Coast - Haiku Stairway to Heaven

Our route turned inland to the west and we eventually found our way onto the H-3 Highway headed northwest towards the norther coast of Oahu to Waimea Valley and Haleiwa. The H-3 is the most expensive interstate in US because it winds through sacred lands that many Hawaiians refuse to drive on as a show of respect.

Oahu - H-3 Highway

Oahu - H-3 Highway - Tetauo Harano Tunnel

Around 10:15 am, halfway to the northern coast, we stopped in the center of Oahu at the Dole Pineapple Plantation, which is just a giant tourist trap with a mammoth gift shop, restaurant, tourist train, and a pineapple maze. There were a lot of school children and families here. We wandered through the shops and gardens but didn't have time to do much more due to the long lines at all the popular attractions.

Oahu - Dole Pineapple Plantation

Oahu - Dole Pineapple Plantation - Rainbow Eucalyptus

Oahu - Dole Pineapple Plantation

After the Dole Pineapple Plantation, we headed up to the northern coast of Oahu where we visited the Waimea Valley. At 11:30 am, we arrived at the Waimea Valley Visitor Center. Before lunch, we took a 45-minute walk down the scenic trails to the end where there was a waterfall and swimming hole.

Oahu - North Coast - Waimea Valley

At 1 pm, we headed farther down the northern coast to Haleiwa, enjoying beautiful mountain and ocean scenery along the way, before turning south along the eastern coast again. Along the way, we saw Lion Rock and the location of filming for several of the Jurassic Park movies.

At 2 pm, we arrived at our next stop, Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Factory Outlet, to sample nuts and coffee. We were told that the sampling table for the various flavored macadamia nuts was not a buffet, but you wouldn't know that by the way the visitors were gobbling up the free samples.

Oahu - Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Factory Outlet

Oahu - Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Factory Outlet - "Buffet Line"

Oahu - Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Factory Outlet

After the nut outlet, we headed westward from the coast toward the center of Oahu for the final two stops of the day. Along the way, we passed the filming location from Karate Kid 2 where Mr. Miyagi returns to Japan to visit his dying father.

At 3 pm, we arrived at Byodo-In Temple, a replica of a historic Japanese Buddhist temple featuring manicured grounds and meditation sites. We walked the temple and gardens for 45 minutes. The highlight for me was ringing the Bon Sho (sacred bell) to cleanse my soul. But I have a feeling I should have rung it more than once.

Oahu - Byodo-In Temple

Oahu - Byodo-In Temple (Video)

After Byodo-In Temple, we continued south to our final stop Pali Lookout, arriving around 4 pm. Pali Lookout offers a panoramic view of sheer cliffs and the lush windward coast of Oahu all the way to Honolulu.

Oahu - Pali Lookout

After visiting Pali Lookout, we made our way a short distance back to Honolulu. After freshening up, we went to the bar next door for happy hour and then hiked up to the Rainbow Drive-In for dinner.

Oahu - Honolulu - Rainbow Drive-in - Great Food

Around sunset at 7 pm, we grabbed our welcome leis from the hotel refrigerator and took them down to Queen's Beach and put them around the necks of the surfer/seal statue. We then went back to the bar for a nightcap and then back to the hotel to pack our bags for the short morning flight to Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Oahu - Honolulu - Sunset at Waikiki Beach

Oahu - Honolulu - Waikiki Beach - Leaving My Lei Behind

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Day 5 - Friday, June 7, 2024 - Flight to Hilo, Volcanoes National Park

Itinerary: Depart early this morning for your flight to Hilo, on the Big Island of Hawaii. Upon arrival, head to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home to Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. Begin at the Kilauea Visitor Center, featuring exhibits on the environment, history and culture of the park. Hike along old lava fields and view steaming lava flows. After lunch, continue to Punalu'u Bake Shop, and taste their famous sweet bread. Later, check into your hotel in Kona.

About the Big Island of Hawaii from Lonely Planet

Daily Journal

Weather: 84F and sunny.

Hotel: Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach (Location)

Today we had an early flight from Honolulu to Hilo, which is located on the east side of the Big Island of Hawaii. Upon arrival, we set off for Kona on the west side of the island with stops at Rainbow Falls, Nani Mau Botanical Gardens, Volcano National Park, and Punaluu Black Sand Beach.

I woke up at 5:15 am, showered, and headed down to meet the group for our 6:00 am departure. The hotel set up a nice carryout breakfast with coffee for our group since we would be leaving before the restaurant opened.

Oahu - Honolulu Hotel - Carry Out Box Breakfast

At 6:45 am, we boarded our bus and departed for the Honolulu airport a short distance away for our 9:00 am flight to Hilo on the Big island of Hawaii.

We got to the airport about 7:00 am. After checking in and clearing security, a couple from our travel group took us up to the Hawaiian Airlines lounge to relax before heading back to our gate. While we waited, we had three gate and plane changes along with a 1-1/2 hour delay (Gates A19, B4, A14). I got my 10,000 steps in before departure.

Oahu - Honolulu Airport - I See My Luggage on Top with Red Strap

Oahu - Honolulu Airport - Our Plane to Hilo After 3 Gate Changes

By 10:15 am, our Hawaiian Airlines Boeing 717 was finally on its way to Hilo. 55 minutes later at 11:00 am, we landed in Hilo. After collecting our luggage, we headed to our bus and driver Gonzo (a lady) and began our journey towards Kona on the southwest corner of the island. Since hotel check-in was 3 pm, we made several stops along the way.

The Big Island - Hilo Airport

The Big Island - Our Gate1 Bus

The Big Island - Hilo

Our first stop at 11:45 am was Rainbow Falls. The trees surrounding the waterfall were just as impressive as the waterfall with their size and intricate root system.

The Big Island - Rainbow Falls

The Big Island - Rainbow Falls (Video)

The Big Island - Rainbow Falls

Following the waterfall, we stopped at Nani Mau Botanical Gardens for a nice buffet lunch. After lunch, we strolled through the beautiful gardens.

The Big Island - Nani Mau Gardens

The Big Island - Nani Mau Gardens - Lunch Buffet

The Big Island - Nani Mau Gardens

The Big Island - Nani Mau Gardens - Cleansing My Soul (Again)

The Big Island - Nani Mau Gardens

After our lunch stop, we proceeded to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home to Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. We arrived around 2:15 pm. Our tour began at a pair of steam vents spewing a cloud of steam and steam that smelled like rotten eggs.

The Big Island - Volcano National Park

The Big Island - Volcano National Park - Steam Vents

We then had time on our own to explore the park. We went directly to Volcano House for a panoramic view of Kilauea volcano. I then took one of the hiking trails a 1/4 mile down into the crater. The trails were easy and beautiful trail but time was limited so I turned back before reaching the bottom of the crater and went to the park Visitor Center, which featured exhibits on the environment, history and native Hawaiian culture in the park.

The Big Island - Volcano National Park - Volcano House

The Big Island - Volcano National Park - Kilauea Volcano

The Big Island - Volcano National Park - Kilauea Volcano Trails

The Big Island - Volcano National Park - Visitor Center

Following Volcano Park, we continued to Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. We arrived at 4:30 pm. Seeing black sand was a unique experience. There was also a turtle nesting area but no turtles to be seen during our visit.

The Big Island - Punalu'u Black Sand Beach - Lilies

The Big Island - Punalu'u Black Sand Beach

The Big Island - Punalu'u Black Sand Beach - Bad Luck!

The Big Island - Punalu'u Black Sand Beach

The Big Island - Punalu'u Black Sand Beach - Turtle Nests

On our way out of Punalu'u, we stopped at the famous Punalu'u Bake Shop for coffee and to sample their delicious sweet bread. Our guide bought and distributed a loaf of rainbow sweet bread to each couple in the group, which I consumed over the next few days.

The Big Island - Punalu'u Bake Shop

The Big Island - Punalu'u Bake Shop - Hawaiian Sweet Bread

By 6:15 pm, with the sun going down, we arrived in Kona on the west coast of the island and checked into our beautiful, centrally located, beachfront hotel. In the evening

The Big Island - Sunset Near Kona

The Big Island - Marriott Kona Hotel

The Big Island - Marriott Kona Hotel Room

It wasn't till after the trip that I learned that the Polynesian compound across the inlet from the hotel was a famous landmark known as Kamakahonu. It was the royal estate of King Kamehameha I himself. Kamakahonu means "eye of the turtle" and what the king called this pristine little inlet. It is where he spent his final years.

The Big Island - Marriott Kona Hotel - Kamakahonu National Historic Landmark

In the evening, we went to a local bar for a few beers and trivia before heading back to the hotel for the night.

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Day 6 - Saturday, June 8, 2024 - Kona, Coffee Plantation Tour

Itinerary: Today, visit a coffee farm. Learn how coffee is cultivated and roasted to obtain top quality Kona Coffee. Conclude the tour with a tasting of fresh-roasted brew. Kona Coffee is a well-known gourmet coffee. Return to your hotel and spend the afternoon at leisure.

Daily Journal

Weather: 90F and sunny

Today we had a half day of touring in Kona and rest of day at leisure. We did a morning tour and tasting at Greenwell Coffee farm. I know a lot more about the whole coffee making process now than I did yesterday at this time. After the coffee farm we went back to Kona and poked around town and enjoyed mai tais at the hotel pool.

I slept till about 6:00 am. By 6:30 am, we were down at the hotel's beautiful waterfront restaurant for breakfast. They had an impressive spread of food with a great view.

The Big Island - Kona - Hotel Restaurant

The Big Island - Kona - Hotel Restaurant - Mr. Jingles (Unneutered Cat)

The Big Island - Kona - Hotel Restaurant

There was a lot of activity at the public beach adjacent to the hotel. We learned that there is an outrigger competition every Saturday during the summer for the kids. Teams compete by paddling quite a distance out to a buoy and back. There was also a King Kamehameha I festival going on with a parade and dancing. It occurs every four years so we lucked out. We missed the parade because of our tour schedule but got back in time to stroll the town and enjoy the rest of the day's festivities.

The Big Island - Kona - Saturday Outrigger Competition

We departed our hotel at 8:30 am for a visit to Greenwell Coffee Farm. Upon arrival, we stopped by the gift shop to sample coffee while the manager Lilo explained how coffee is cultivated, roasted to obtain top quality Kona coffee, a well-known gourmet brew.

The Big Island - Kona - Greenwell Coffee Farm

After the tasting our guide took us around the farm and showed how coffee was grown, cultivated and roasted. It's a laborious process with no guarantees of success depending on a number of factors, Mother Nature mostly. Besides coffee, the farm also produced peppers, bananas, avocados, cherries, coconuts and pineapple.

The Big Island - Kona - Greenwell Coffee Farm

The Big Island - Kona - Greenwell Coffee Farm - Papaya

The Big Island - Kona - Greenwell Coffee Farm - Avocados

The Big Island - Kona - Greenwell Coffee Farm - Coconuts

The Big Island - Kona - Greenwell Coffee Farm - Coffee

The Big Island - Kona - Greenwell Coffee Farm - Bird of Paradise

The Big Island - Kona - Greenwell Coffee Farm - Bananas

The Big Island - Kona - Greenwell Coffee Farm

The Big Island - Kona - Greenwell Coffee Farm - Pineapple

The Big Island - Kona - Greenwell Coffee Farm- Peppercorns

The Big Island - Kona - Greenwell Coffee Farm

The Big Island - Kona - Greenwell Coffee Farm - Coffee Bean Processing

The Big Island - Kona - Greenwell Coffee Farm

Around noon, we returned to the hotel in Kona and had the afternoon at leisure to venture on our own. We started with a complimentary Mai Tai at the hotel bar. I needed a Hawaiian shirt for the luau in Maui in a few days so I walked to nearby Goodwill but found nothing since the selection in my size was meager.

The Big Island - Kona - Hotel - Mai Tai at the Bar

In the mid-afternoon, we went to Kona Brewing Company for lunch and then to a local bar for cocktails and trivia.

The Big Island - Kona - Kona Brewing Lunch Stop

The Big Island - Kona - Quinn's Almost by the Sea - Green Bay Packer Bar

By late afternoon, we were back downtown roaming the streets taking in the Kamehameha I Festival.

The Big Island - Kona - Kamehameha I Festival

The Big Island - Kona - Kamehameha I Festival - City Hall

The Big Island - Kona - Kamehameha I Festival - Traditional Dancing

The Big Island - Kona - Kamehameha I Festival - Local Church - Run by Husband and Wife from Wisconsin!

By 6 pm, we were back at the hotel doing laundry, packing our bags and relaxing. This was our last day on The Big Island of Hawaii before flying to Maui the next day.

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Day 7 - Sunday, June 9, 2024 - Flight to Maui, Paia, Tropical Gardens, Iao Valley

Itinerary: This morning, fly to Kahului in Maui. Here, visit the Iao Valley State Park, home to the 2,000-foot-high Iao Needle, one of Maui's natural landmarks. Later, arrive at your resort hotel with free time.

About Maui from Lonely Planet

Daily Journal

Weather: 85F and partly cloudy

Hotel: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort (Lahaina) (Location)

Today we took a midmorning flight from the Big Island of Hawaii to Maui. In the late morning we spent an hour or so in the quaint north shore town of Paia, a popular surfing town filled with interesting shops and restaurant. We then went to Iao Valley State Park, home to a needle mountain rising 2,000 ft above sea level, followed by a stop at Maui Tropical Gardens. In late afternoon, we arrived at the stunning Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa in Lahaina along the western shore of Maui. This trip is going to fast.

I woke up at 5:00 am, showered, packed my bag, and went down for breakfast at 6 am. At 6:45 am, the group met in the hotel lobby and headed to the airport 9 miles away for the 25-minute flight to Maui. We arrived at the Kona International Airport (KOA) around 7:05 am, checked in, and were sitting at the gate for our 8:45 am flight to Maui Airport (OGG) by 7:30 am. We departed on time at 8:45 am and touched down in Maui at 9:20 am.

The Big Island - International Airport

The Big Island - International Airport - Plane to Maui

We met our bus outside the airport and drove to nearby Paia for lunch and an hourlong stroll in this quaint beach and surfing town. We ended up getting lunch at a nearby grocery story to maximize our shopping time since there were so many places to see.

Maui - Paia

Maui - Paia - $1.8 million Studio Condo

Maui - Paia - Coffee Shop

Around noon, our driver, Eugene, picked us up and drove us 30 minutes to Iao Valley State Park, home to the 2,000-foot high Iao Needle, one of Maui's natural landmarks. We strolled a paved 0.6 mile walkway that provided a scenic viewpoint of the Iao Needle and took us down to the river that cut through the valley.

Maui - Iao Valley

After Iao Valley, we drove to Maui Tropical Plantation. We definitely had too much time here but it was pleasant nonetheless. It's essentially a tourist trap with a restaurant and shops, a zip line and a plantation tour. The ticket booth for the tour was closed so I just started walking up the road into the plantation on my own taking pictures. Suddenly an old man on a four wheeler came up and abruptly stopped. We stared at each other for about 10 seconds until he asked me if I was with the tour. When I said no, he told me I wasn't supposed to be wandering around on my own. Too bad. My bad. So I just walked back down to the shopping and hung out there till it was time to leave.

Maui Tropical Plantation

After Maui Tropical Plantation, we drove to our hotel on the west coast of Maui, the magnificent Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa in Lahaina. There was a massive wild fire here in 2023 that caused extensive damage. Much has already been rebuilt although there are still some signs of the devastating fire.

Maui - Southern Coast

Maui - 2023 Lahaina Wild Fire Area

Maui - 2023 Lahaina Wild Fire Area - Memorial to the Victims

Maui - Lahaina - Hyatt Regency Hotel

Maui - Lahaina - Hyatt Regency Hotel - African Penguins

Maui - Lahaina - Hyatt Regency Hotel - Getting Lei'd

Maui - Lahaina - Hyatt Regency Hotel

Maui - Lahaina - Hyatt Regency Hotel Room

We arrived at a our hotel at 3:15 pm, checked in, and then toured the hotel for an hour before meeting our group for dinner at 5 pm in the Oceanside restaurant at the hotel.

Maui - Lahaina - Hyatt Regency Hotel - Group Dinner

After dinner around sunset, we walked for an hour down the beach path to the Whaler's Village mall where I bought a Hawaiian shirt for our luau in a few days. Then it was back to the room and bed.

Maui - Lahaina - Hyatt Regency Hotel - Sunset Over Maui

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Day 8 - Monday, June 10, 2024 - Lahaina, Road to Hana Tour

Itinerary: Full day Road to Hana tour, which highlights the best of Maui's natural beauty.

About the Lahaina from Lonely Planet

About the Road to Hana from Lonely Planet

Daily Journal

Weather: 82F and partly cloudy

Today I took the SPECTACULAR "Road to Hana" tour on Maui highlighting the best of Maui's natural beauty. The tour is 67 miles each way, from the west shore of Maui to the east shore, along the northern coast. The road features an incredible 1,240 curves and 118 single-lane bridges against a backdrop of lovely beaches, tranquil coastline, and picturesque viewpoints. My favorite parts were the black sand beach and lava tubes at Waianapanapa State Park, the volcanic rock beaches on the Ke'anae Peninsula, and all the green sea turtles at Ho'okipa Beach Park.

After getting up at 6 am and having breakfast, we met our most excellent driver and guide Kimo in the hotel lobby at 7:45 am. Only 6 of the 18 people in my group took the tour. They missed a truly memorable experience.

Maui - Hotel Restuarant

Maui - Hotel Restuarant Breakfast

Maui - Road to Hana - Tour Minibus

Maui - Road to Hana - Driver/Guide Kimo on Left (Video)

For the next 4 hours, we made our way slowly down the winding road to Hana making several photo stops along the way.

Maui - Road to Hana - Get the Dramamine

Maui - Road to Hana - Nice Scenery

Maui - Road to Hana - Rainbow Eucalyptus

Maui - Road to Hana - Nice Scenery

Maui - Road to Hana - Cliff Diving (Video)

Maui - Road to Hana - Waianapanapa Park - Black Sand and Lava Tubes

Maui - Road to Hana - Waianapanapa Park - Black Sand

Maui - Road to Hana - Waianapanapa Park - Lava Tube

Maui - Road to Hana - Waianapanapa Park - Lave Tube

Maui - Road to Hana - Waianapanapa Park - Black Sand and Lava Tubes

Maui - Road to Hana - Waianapanapa Park - Hawaiian Cemetery

Around noon, we stopped for lunch at a place called Hana Farms Roadside Stand that included pizza, salad and hibiscus tea.

Maui - Road to Hana - Hana Farms Lunch Stop

Maui - Road to Hana - Kimo (L) Gives Ukelele Lesson to Ricky

Around 1 pm, we continued touring the Hana area and even stopped for photo's in Oprah's front yard. Although Oprah wasn't there, a man who looked like Dr. Phil was sitting on her front porch. In all likelihood, it was her security guard or gardener.

Maui - Road to Hana - Nice Scenery

Maui - Road to Hana - Great Wall of Oprah

Maui - Road to Hana - Oprah's House in Hana

Maui - Road to Hana - Oprah's House in Hana - Dr. Phil on the Porch?

Maui - Road to Hana - Oprah's View from House in Hana

Maui - Road to Hana - Photo Op in Oprah's Front Yard

Around 1;30 pm, we made another stop at Wailua Valley State Wayside for panoramic views of the countryside.

Maui - Road to Hana - Wailua Valley State Wayside

Our next stop at 3 pm was Ke'anae Peninsula featuring giant waves crashing over volcanic rock formations along the coastline.

Maui - Road to Hana - Ke'anae Peninsula

Maui - Road to Hana - Ke'anae Peninsula (Video)

Maui - Road to Hana - Ke'anae Peninsula

Maui - Road to Hana - Ke'anae Peninsula - Ukelele Lesson for Alice

Our final stop at 4:30 pm was Ho'okipa Beach Park, home to nesting green sea turtles. There were probably 50 turtles basking in the sun behind barriers to keep people from disturbing them.

Maui - Road to Hana - Road to Ho'okipa Beach Park

Maui - Road to Hana - Ho'okipa Beach Park

Maui - Road to Hana - Ho'okipa Beach Park - Green Sea Turtles

Maui - Road to Hana - Ho'okipa Beach Park - Ukelele Lesson for Chris

Maui - Road to Hana - Ho'okipa Beach Park - Ukelele Lesson for Chris - I Got This

Maui - Road to Hana - Ho'okipa Beach Park - Ukelele Lesson for Joe

Following the beach, we headed back to our hotel in Lahaina, arriving around 6 pm. We had survived the road to Hana!

Maui - Road to Hana - Surf Shop on Way Back to Lahaina

Maui - Road to Hana - We Did It!

Because the skies were clear, I hustled down to the beach to photograph the sunset since it would be my last opportunity to do so given I would be at a luau the following night. The sunset was fantastic.