Going to Hawaii has always been on the top of my bucket list of places to visit. I was lucky enough to get a chance to go when we took a cruise to Hawaii in May 2012.
Below is a list (chronologically by ports visited) of 10 things we did in Hawaii.
1.Walking by Aliiolani Hale (the fictional police headquarters for the TV show "Hawaii 5-0")
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| King Kamehameha Statue in front of Aliiolani Hale |
2. Hiking on Diamond Head in Honolulu
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| The view atop Diamond Head |
3. People watching on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu
4. Taking a picture of the Duke Kahanamoku statue in Honolulu
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| Fresh leis hanging on the statue of Duke Kahanamoku |
5. Relaxing on Kaanapali Beach in Lahaina, Maui
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| The uncrowded Kaanapali beach |
6. Checking out the flea market in Kona
7. Being mesmerized by Rainbow Falls (Wailuku River) in Hilo
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| Beautiful Rainbow Falls |
8. Seeing the macadamia trees on the way to Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company in Hilo
9. Seeing giant sea turtles at Richardson Ocean Beach Park (Black Sand Beach) in Hilo
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| The giant sea turtles |
10. Going to Hawaii's Volcano National Park in Hilo
- visiting the Jaggar Museum
- seeing the steam coming from the Halemaumau crater
- walking through the Thurston Lava Tube
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| The inside of Thurston Lava Tube |
Tip: The ports in Honolulu, Lahaina (Maui) and Kona are easy to explore on your own using the bus or walking around on foot. However, the port of Hilo is located in a relatively isolated area so I highly recommend booking a tour guide or excursion in advance. We booked Hayley from Akamai Adventure Tours & Travel and she was a wonderful guide.
