Hawaii. Just the mention of its name is enough to send shivers of anticipation up my spine. Though some might prefer the Caribbean or Fiji as their ultimate place to get away from it all, for me Hawaii offers a paradise setting that none can match. Lush tropical forests, pristine beaches of white and black sand and a deeply rooted, relaxed Polynesian culture make it irresistible.
What we commonly refer to as Hawaii is actually a set of seven islands, each one distinctly different from the other.
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One of the many way to explore Hawaii |
The Big Island, (Hawaii) is such a unique setting it possesses 11 of the 13 world climate zones in one land mass. A work in progress, the largest of the islands is continuously growing as red hot molten lava from Kilauea Volcano hardens once it reaches the Pacific Ocean. This is evidenced by the white steam clouds visible when driving along Chain of Craters Road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The plan for touring two of the islands was to spend one week on Hawaii and a second week on Oahu. To drive the full circumference of Hawaii would take approximately one day at a leisurely pace. Spending seven days here would afford us the opportunity to explore in detail the specific areas of Kailua-Kona on the east side of the island and Hilo on the west.
Driving in Hawaii is surprisingly fun. For the most part, the main roads are excellent, though sometimes construction can slow things down. But then this is an island, so what’s the hurry anyways?
It seems most vacationers choose a convertible when exploring the islands, but we decided to see the sights from inside the comfortable confines of a Jeep Commander. Picking up our full-size SUV from Discount Hawaii Car Rental, a Thrifty Car Rental agency located at the airport, we loaded far too many suitcases in back and left the busy terminal behind.
"Trail Rated" means Jeep has done their off-road homework on the Commander. With excellent ground clearance and precise steering, there wasn't much that could spoil our driving agenda as we headed north up the Kohala Coast on Highway 19 to spend our first two nights at the incredible Hilton Waikoloa Village.
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Hilton Waikoloa Village |
Located on 62-acres of prime Hawaiian beachfront property, the resort features 1,240 luxurious guest rooms and suites in a paradise setting on the southern Kohala Coast. With two waterfalls, three fresh water pools, nine restaurants, a Dolphin Quest Learning Lagoon and Swiss Trams or Canal Boats available to transport you around the resort, the mood is tropical on a grand scale and provided the perfect starting point for our Big Island adventure.
Rising early on day two, we had previously scheduled a snorkel cruise with Red Sail Sports. Our morning passage would be on their newest 50' catamaran named "Kaimaka."
Before we knew it, our stay at the Hilton Waikoloa Village was at and end and it was time to pack up the Jeep Commander again and embark on a course to the tropical side of the island and the city of Hilo.
Taking a north easterly route on Highway 19, we passed through the city of Waimea and several hours later found ourselves arriving in Hilo. Famous as the final battle site for King Kamehameha I, the city is now recognized as much for the cruise ships docked in port as it is for its historical significance.
While visiting Hilo, we would be staying at the Shipman House Bed & Breakfast Inn. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this 5 th generation island family home offers five well appointed rooms, high-speed Internet access and a relaxed pace not easily found at a mega resort.
Hosts Barbara Ann and Gary Andersen provide an atmosphere so perfectly suited to the vibe of old Hawaii that all thoughts of big city life are quickly forgotten. Instead, the mind is filled with the sounds of a tropical shower and the smell of fresh baked rolls in the morning. It is a treat to sit in one of a handful of rocking chairs on the wide wraparound porch and allow the fragrance of Hilo to whisk you away.
As morning broke on day four of our trip, we left the Andersen’s and continued south on Highway 19, making a straight path to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park . Arriving at the park, the rain was heavy at times and we decided to explore Crater Rim Drive from the dry confines of our SUV. Various stops along the way included a walk across the moonlike surface of a petrified lava field and through a dimly lit and wet inactive lava tube.
After, we started down Highway 11 towards Kilauea and eventually Naalehu at the extreme south end of the island. A winding, sometimes narrow two-lane highway, the Commander felt at ease on the road. Tackling undulating paved surfaces without ever breaking a sweat, it held a straight course, even though the winds on this side of the island howl at a blustery pace 24 hours a day.
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Overview of Faimont property |
With the majority of the population located on the upper half of the island, it was possible to go for several kilometers with out seeing another vehicle. After a brief visit to the black sand beaches of Punalu'u and a quick stop at the local bake shop, "The Southernmost Bakery in the USA", we navigated the narrow corners of Naalehu and watched as the compass indicated we were once again heading north.
Passing Captain Cook's monument and the Kona International Airport at Keahole, we found ourselves back on the Kohala Coast. The birthplace of King Kamehameha I , this time our destination was the luxurious Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii.
Originally built in 1990, it features 540 guest rooms and suites on 32 acres of unspoiled beachfront property. Improvements made in 1996 further strengthened its position as one of the elite resorts on Hawaii and it is now a member of the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts collection.
Onsite activities include volleyball, Hawaiian arts and crafts, seaside yoga and tennis and much more. Looking to get in touch with nature, we participated in the Honu (turtle) Snorkel. Here Hawaiian green sea turtles can be found foraging for food in the reefs located in Pauoa Bay. Gliding in and out of our reach as we snorkeled the coastline, they seemed content to allow us a glimpse of their undersea world.
World class golf is just a short cart ride away. The adjacent Francis H. I'i Brown Golf Course provides the challenge of not just one, but two championship courses. When it comes time to unwind, the new Spa Without Walls offers 10 waterfall massage houses interspersed amidst the tropical foliage.
At the end of a second two day stint on the Kohala Coast, our one week tour of Hawaii was over. Next we would be taking the short one hour flight to Oahu and continuing our Hawaiian adventure on the highways of Hawaii’s most populated island. Look for part two of this story in the coming few weeks.
OAHU
A short plane ride northwest from the Big Island of Hawaii, Oahu rises from the Pacific Ocean awash in emerald green foliage and neon. The most populated of the infamous islands, we made the quick jaunt in less than one hour via Hawaiian Airlines direct service from Kona International Airport.
With so much ground to cover in a week, our choice of vehicle would be important.
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Hilton Hawaiin Village |
Leaving the terminal, we headed south to the city of Honolulu and Waikiki Beach. The H1 highway leads straight to the city, past Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona Memorial and Aloha Stadium, home of the NFL Pro Bowl. Our first stop was the Hilton Hawaiian Village, a 22-acre paradise with direct beach access, five pools and 22 restaurants.
A winding series of pathways interconnect the resort's six main towers. Our rooms were located in the Lagoon Tower adjacent to Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, with excellent views of Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head and Honolulu.
It would be entirely possible to spend a week at the resort and still not experience everything. Of course, many activities exist off property in Oahu and we opted to ride the waves under the watchful eye of the experts at Hawaiian Fire. Taking us to a remote beach on the western shore of the island, the morning was spent tackling the ocean on surfboards and swallowing liters of seawater. After two days of sun and fun in Honolulu, it was on to our next stop.
Passing the surfers sacred ground of Banzai Pipeline, we entered Turtle Bay Resort for two nights of incredible scenery, food and lodging. The resort is famous as the filming location for the hit TV series "Lost" and it is easy to understand why.
A striking sapphire blue lagoon fronts the outer edge of the property, while the back and side are home to two championship golf courses. Horseback rides on the beach are a must, as is quality time spent by the pool. Winds tend to pick up quickly on the north shore, though we were assured on many occasions the winds of Hawaii were unusually strong for the time of year. I can only imagine what it must be like during high surf season at Banzai Pipeline.
Car windows were filled with the sights of seaside towns and breaking waves as we headed south taking Hwy 930 and 93 on the way to Ko Olina.
The entrance to the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina is striking, but it is only after entering the resort and exiting past the main pool on the way to the rear private lagoon that your breath is completely taken away.
In Ko Olina the essence of true Hawaii meets metropolis as warm ocean currents and white sand mingle with first-class amenities. In the distance, Honolulu rises above the beach, while onsite activities include shark and stingray feeding, starfish and ocean life exploration and an award-winning spa.
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JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa |
Of course a visit to the island of Oahu would not be complete without participating in the ancient feast of 'aha 'aina and the renowned Paradise Cove Lu’au was just a few steps away. Dining on traditional dishes, we watched as dancers and fire jugglers performed during the Polynesian extravaganza.
After two weeks and two islands it was time to leave Oahu behind. I was left to wonder what other discoveries await on the six remaining major Hawaiian Islands. Hopefully the wait won’t be too long.
