EXCURSIONS À TERRE

Start your tour with a leisurely drive through the "Hilo Walk of Fame” known for all the banyan trees that have been planted by celebrities. Drive by Liliuokalani Gardens, the largest ornamental Japanese garden outside of Japan. Your experienced guide will provide commentary of Hilo Town as you make your way to Wailuku State Park and Rainbow Falls.

While visiting Akaka State Park, you can see two gorgeous waterfalls- 100 foot Kahuna Falls and towering Akaka Falls which plummets 422 feet into an eroded gorge. Stop at Pana’ewa Zoo the only naturally occurring rainforest zoo in the United States. Next, visit Mauna Loa Mac Nut Factory as well as the Big Island Candies Store. Established in 1977, each of its delectable candies and cookies are hand-crafted in this factory store. View the production process and see what goes into making these world-famous Hawaiian treats. All products are made from only freshly roasted Big Island macadamia nuts and pure Kona and Ka‘u coffee from farms on the Big Island. Since its founding, Big Island Candies has continuously introduced new and imaginative products that "wow" both the eyes and taste buds of its growing legion of fans.

Enjoy tastings of two classic Hawaiian products – coffee and chocolate – and see how both are produced to maximize their unique flavors. At Kona Joe Coffee, you will learn about the patented cultivation process that allows the trellised Arabica coffee trees to grow upright like grapevines, which ensures uniform sun exposure. The result is a superior organic coffee bean with an enhanced taste and body, as you will discover by sampling a fresh-brewed cup. You will be treated to another sampling at Kokoleka Lani Farms, an actual working farm where you will view cacao (chocolate) on the tree and see the raw beans utilized in the making of their award-winning chocolate. After touring this biodiverse farm, you will enjoy the best part--a chocolate tasting! In addition to coffee and cacao, learn how farm products are integrated into Kona Natural Soap which is also made here. Afterward, enjoy free time to browse their chocolate selections, Kona coffee and vegan soaps in the gift shop.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See how a patented process for growing coffee produces a uniquely flavored cup of coffee.
• Tour a cacao farm and watch each step of the cacao bean production.
• Sample a selection of coffees and chocolates that are pure Hawaiian..

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

After a scenic drive through Upcountry Maui, you’ll arrive at the zipline course, which sits near the edge of Haleakalā National Park at 4,200 feet above sea level. An experienced guide team will outfit you with safety gear before leading you through an active conservation restoration area being replanted with native trees. Along the way, your guides will share their knowledge about the history of Haleakalā National Park, its delicate ecosystems, and the cultural significance of the area. When you arrive at the first zipline, you’ll be clipped in for the first of five exhilarating rides down the slopes of Haleakalā. The adrenaline journey culminates in a thrilling zip on Hawaii’s only pendulum zipline, where riders reach speeds up to 45 miles per hour! While pausing on the elevated platforms between ziplines, you will enjoy views of Haleakalā National Park, the West Maui Mountains, and the islands of Lāna‘i, Moloka‘i, and Kaho‘olawe just offshore.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride five separate ziplines, including the only pendulum zipline in Hawaii.
• Enjoy the adrenaline rush of riding ziplines as high as 90 feet over a canyon.
• Get a literal bird’s-eye view of Maui and surrounding islands as you race between zipline platforms.
• Hike through an active conservation restoration area that is being replanted with native Hawaiian trees.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear athletic or hiking shoes with a fully enclosed toe and heel.

OVERVIEW

Discover how Ocean Organic Vodka employs sustainable agricultural practices to produce some of Hawaii’s most unique distilled spirits. The family-owned estate lies on the slopes of the dormant shield volcano Haleakala, a fertile setting that is ideal for farming. While touring the 80-acre, entirely solar-powered property, you will gain an understanding of the organic methods used to grow dozens of species of sugar cane for its namesake vodka and other spirits. Pesticides, herbicides and GMOs are strictly prohibited. The vodka has the distinction of being the only one in the world made with mineral-rich deep ocean water, which imparts a subtle complexity. You will have the opportunity to sample this premium vodka and a bourbon barrel-aged rum that is finished with charred kiawe wood that lends it a sweet flavor. The return drive will be just as memorable as you will pass the cowboy town of Makawao and the pineapple plantations around Hali’imaile.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit an organic farm that grows sugar cane for its premium vodka and other spirits.
• Discover why the farm’s distillery only uses ocean water drawn from 3,000 feet below the surface.
• Sample the distillery’s revered vodka and a rum aged in bourbon barrels with charred kiawe wood.
• View the upcountry cowboy town of Makawao and Hali’imaile, a pineapple-growing area.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Discover the wonders of Hawaii’s highest volcano while atop its summit and behold a roaring cascade named for the rainbows in its mist. Your immersion into the natural sciences will begin at the Onizuka Center for International Astronomy visitor center, where you will learn about the advanced telescopes on sacred Mauna Kea volcano and about rare endemic plants such as the delicate silversword that only on grows at altitudes above 5,000 feet. Mauna Kea is nearly three times that high and to reach its summit you will ascend in a 4x4 vehicle. The volcano is nicknamed the White Mountain as it is sometimes snow-capped. The views on the way up will be breathtaking as will be the epic vistas that await you at the very top. The sight of Rainbow Falls will also be spectacular as the 80-foot cascade lies within a mango orchard and usually creates rainbows as the sun shines through the plummeting water.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive up the slopes of Hawaii’s highest volcano in a 4x4 vehicle.
• Take in the panoramic views from atop the summit of Mauna Kea volcano.
• Learn about the discoveries that the telescopes on the volcano have made.
• Behold Rainbow Falls, which is named for the rainbows that often form in its mist.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Experience the ultimate treetop adventure and come away with a newfound confidence in your physical abilities, mental fortitude and sheer willpower to push yourself to new heights. Unlike a conventional zipline, this aerial adventure involves swinging ropes, balance bridges and daring climbs into the tree canopy. An orientation and practice run on the ground will help prepare you for the fun and challenges that lie ahead. Afterwards, you will warm up on the easy Squirrel Course, move on to the moderate Fox Course and then pull yourself along a rope while hanging upside-down high above the forest floor on a Tyrolean Traverse. That’s the Bear Course. With your confidence now soaring, you will be ready for the high-flying Eagle Course, which ends in the treetops 50 feet above the ground. The descent will be just as exhilarating as you soar down at a goose bump-producing speed on a “quick flight” cable.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Different than zipline experiences, this aerial adventure will have you swinging, scrambling, and climbing through multiple elements.
• Climb high into the tree canopy by negotiating a series of aerial courses.
• Prepare for the ultimate challenge by warming up on easier aerial courses.
• Learn to increase your balance, climb more confidently and use a Tyrolean Traverse.
• Enjoy literal bird’s-eye views of the forest from high above.
• Gain newfound confidence in your abilities to meet new challenges.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Paddle through the brilliant blue waters of Hilo Bay in a kayak and enjoy a unique perspective of the city and the volcanoes looming in the background. After a briefing to ensure that you maximize the experience, you will ease into a kayak and follow the guide into the crescent-shaped bay. From there, you will have an excellent view of Hilo’s urban landscape, which sprawls along the coast and up into the flanks of the volcanoes. The guide will point out and describe Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano that is the highest point in Hawaii. Then there is Mauna Loa, the world’s largest volcano. It too is a spectacular reminder that the Hawaiian Islands are volcanically formed. While paddling through the bay and around Coconut Island, be sure to look for green sea turtles, symbols of good luck and longevity. You will also kayak up the Wailuku River to view its gorgeous waterfall.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Paddle around Hilo Bay in a kayak as the guide describes the surrounding natural beauty.
• See the massive volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa from a unique water perspective.
• Enjoy an up-close view of Coconut Island and the waterfall on the Wailuku River.
• Look for green sea turtles gracefully swimming by in the bay’s crystal-clear waters.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Bring water shoes, towel, bathing suit and a change of clothes.

OVERVIEW

Zip along the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii on a 41-foot Super-Raft and enjoy an extended stop to snorkel in the crystal-clear waters. The powerful, twin-engine vessel is open-air with plenty of shaded bench seating so you should be comfortable as you race along the gorgeous Kona coast. After assessing the wind and water conditions, the captain will select the most suitable spot for your snorkeling adventure. The Big Island boasts the highest percentage of live coral in the Hawaiian Islands and where there’s coral, there’s fish. You can expect to see an ever-changing parade of marine life that may include fluorescent-colored tangs, oddly shaped trumpet fish, graceful manta rays and green sea turtles, known locally as honu. Triggerfish are also found here and are considered the unofficial Hawaiian state fish. They’re rather unusual looking as indicated by their 21-letter Hawaiian name, which means “fish with a snout like a pig.”

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise off the naturally beautiful Kona coast of Hawaii in a powerful 41-foot Super-Raft.
• Snorkel a coral reef or another spot that should be teeming with colorful marine life.
• Keep an eye out for showstoppers like green sea turtles and Hawaiian spinner dolphin.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore some of the Big Island’s most dramatic landscapes and come away with a deep appreciation of its volcanic formation. After pausing at America’s southernmost bake shop, where you might try a mango malasada treat, you will travel to the Punalu’u Black Sand Beach. The jet-black sand is made of volcanic materials and lava fragments and is quite the sight, especially if you spot a green sea turtle basking on the beach. Symbols of wisdom and good luck, they are the only sea turtles known to sunbathe. The wonders of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will be even more extraordinary. The terrain and natural diversity there are so unique that UNESCO deemed the park both a World Biosphere site and a World Heritage site. You will see volcanic craters, the active volcano Kilauea and hot water vapor rising from countless steam vents. Rainbow Falls is yet another captivating natural wonder.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Admire the volcanically formed black sand beach at Punalu’u and perhaps see a green sea turtle.
• Drive through stunning Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
• View an active volcano, craters and steam vents releasing hot water vapor into the air.
• Enjoy the ultimate view of Rainbow Falls as it plummets 80 feet into the pool below.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Stroll through the largest Edo-style ornamental garden outside of Japan and enjoy hours of free time browsing the shops and farmer’s market near Hilo Bay. To reach Liliuokalani Gardens, you will travel down Banyan Drive, a sun-dappled street lined with banyan trees that celebrities such as Babe Ruth and Amelia Earhart planted. More botanical treasures await you within the gardens, which is named for Hawaii’s last reigning monarch, Queen Liliuokalani. It opened in 1917 as a tribute to the many Japanese immigrants that worked Hawaii’s sugarcane fields. While meandering through the serene setting, you will notice that nearly every plant is indigenous. They include species such as the rosy trumpet tree and the towering kukui, the national tree of Hawaii. Later, you will independently explore the abundant boutiques, art galleries and marketplaces along the waterfront. There will also be plenty of time to dine on your own if you wish.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive down a beautifully shaded street lined with banyan trees that celebrities planted.
• Meander through Liliuokalani Gardens, a botanical oasis with mostly indigenous plants.
• Spend hours exploring Hilo’s main shopping and dining district along the bay.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Witness one of the most esteemed ceremonies in Samoan culture, performed at a traditional village and enjoy a scenic drive with photo stops along the way. Begin your tour with a drive east, during which you'll delight in the island's natural beauty and natural landmarks. Highlights include the photo stop at Camel Rock, a rock formation resembling a lonely camel laying on the bay. Your tour carries on towards the east end of Tutuila. Stopping at Auasi wharf to take photos of the beautiful island of Aunu’u off in the distance and watch locals board local fishing boats utilized as taxis between the two islands. Before returning to your ship make a stop at Fagatogo Marketplace to shop, local handicrafts, jewelry, or local clothing.