Whale watching in Maui is part of a nature lover's vacation.
The allure of swaying palms and sun-kissed beaches make Hawaii a tempting vacation destination. The islands do have some of the most picturesque beaches and offer more than a few opportunities to exercise those eyeballs doing a bit of bikini and Speedo watching. But each island also has its own flavor. There are many options for those looking for a Hawaiian vacation that goes beyond the tan.
Oahu -- History Buffs Retreat
If you can tear yourself away from the surfing and the seemingly non-stop partying of Oahu's Waikiki Beach, you will find that this very cosmopolitan island has a historic side. Pearl Harbor, just a short drive west of Waikiki, is where World War II began for the United States. The USS Arizona sits on the bottom of this protected bay, straddled by an elegantly curved monument listing the names of all who died during the bombings of Dec. 7, 1941. After your visit to the USS Arizona take a vintage cable car over to the USS Missouri, permanently moored at Pearl. This is where World War II ended with the signing of Japan's surrender treaty. If you'd like to learn about more of Hawaii's past, visit Honolulu's Bishop Museum as well as the Iolani Palace in that city's downtown.
Kauai -- Hollywood's Tropical Secret
Vacationers flock to Kauai for the warm sands of Poipu Beach, the championship golf at Princeville and to explore an island that is awash in flowers. Movie lovers are drawn to Kauai in search of backdrops for some of the most well known films. Visit Lumahai Beach on the island's North Shore where "South Pacific" was filmed. Go deep into the rainforest to see where the T-Rex in "Jurassic Park" caused all that mayhem. See the now closed Coco Palms Resort, used for Elvis's "Blue Hawaii" and the original television series "Fantasy Island." Movie tour operators take you into sites that are off limits to the public and/or are hidden and difficult to reach.
Maui -- Nature Lover's Paradise
Every year the humpback whales leave their feeding grounds in the North Pacific and travel thousands of miles to the warm waters off of Maui and Lanai. Whale watching tours are offered between the latter part of November and early April. Companies such as the Pacific Whale Foundation have scientists on board to make the trip educational as well as fun. Other ideas for a nature lover's vacation to Maui are snorkeling at the crescent shaped Molokini Island or going scuba diving with the sharks in the reef tank at the Maui Ocean Center near Kihei.
(ref 3)
Big Island Hawaii -- Geologist's Delight
Volcanoes created the Hawaiian Islands. The scientific explanation is that the movement of the earth has taken Kauai to the northwest, putting the youngest of the islands, Hawaii, right over the "hot spot." Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is home to the very active Kilauea volcano. The Visitor's Center has information on the current eruptions and where it is safe to explore. Take one of the pathways to Halemaumau Crater, usually not as active as Kilauea but still spouting steam and the occasional lava flow. Go deep into the Thurston Lava Tube, a tunnel created by an underground flow of lava that hardened and now is home to plants and animals that survive in almost total darkness. To get a different perspective, take a helicopter tour of the park. Get a bird's eye view of the red rivers pouring into the sea and setting off huge plumes of steam.
(ref 6)
Lanai -- The Luxurious Escape
Lanai is for the escapist that wants to do so in the lap of luxury. Once a giant pineapple plantation, the island of Lanai is home to two very posh but very different resorts. One is the Lodge at Koele, patterned after an English Manor home and sitting among pine trees at a high elevation. Its sister property, the Manele Bay Resort, is at sea level on one of the widest stretches of white sand on the island. Both are managed by the Four Seasons hotel group and offer top of the line accommodations and customer service. Stay at one property and enjoy signing privileges at the other. Between the two resorts you have a choice of two golf courses, a full service spa, horseback stables and restaurants ranging from the waterfront Ocean Grill to the sophisticated Great Hall offering an English tea service with a Hawaiian twist.
Tags: active Kilauea, deep into, home very, lover vacation, nature lover, nature lover vacation