SHORE EXCURSIONS

Sit back and enjoy the sights along the famed Hana Highway without having to navigate the twisting, curving road yourself. With an expert driver at the wheel, you won’t miss any of the incredible scenery of lava cliffs, tumbling waterfalls, the rugged northern coastline, lush hillsides of feathery ferns and trees laden with tropical fruits. You’ll stop to explore various sites along the way to "Heavenly Hana," in this wonderfully natural and pristine landscape. This tour goes to Hana and returns on the same route. A box lunch is included at the start of the tour.

OVERVIEW

Discover the natural beauty and quirkiness of the island’s North Shore through vastly different and revealing experiences. While browsing the boutiques in the former sugar plantation town of Pa’ia, you will get a genuine sense of its laid-back, bohemian ambiance. The shops tend to be colorful, somewhat eclectic and full of merchandise that you won’t find elsewhere as it is often made locally. A leisurely one-mile walk through a nearby rainforest will bring you to two waterfalls, one of them is Twin Falls, a gorgeous cascade that plummets into a serene pool where you may swim if you wish. The setting couldn’t be more relaxing or picturesque. The beauty of Ho’okipa Beach Park is equally captivating, especially the scene offshore as this is a premier spot for surfing and windsurfing because the waves are well-formed and sometimes reach heights of 30 feet. The beach is also one of the best places to see green sea turtles.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy free time shopping in the quirky, wonderfully laid-back seaside town of Pa’ia.
• Walk through a rainforest to two waterfalls where you are welcome to swim in the pools below.
• Watch the surfers and windsurfers at Ho’okipa Beach Park and look for green sea turtles.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear swimsuit under clothing.
• Wear athletic shoes or sturdy sports sandals that can get wet and muddy (water shoes are suggested). No flip flops, or sandals with no backstrap.
• Bring a towel.

OVERVIEW

Feast on authentic Polynesian cuisine and watch a mesmerizing performance of singing and dancing at the Drums of the Pacific Luau at the Hyatt Regency Maui. The evening show will begin in dramatic fashion with the haunting sound of a conch shell horn, followed by beating drums and the lighting of tiki torches, which will set the mood for this spectacle of all things Polynesian. Then, just sit back and enjoy the performance of Hawaiian hulas, Maori warrior dances native to New Zealand and a daredevil Samoan fire-knife dance that will bring you to the edge of your seat. The show also honors the cultures of other South Pacific islands, including Rarotonga, Tahiti and the Tuamotus. The all-you-can-eat buffet dinner will be just as diverse as the courses will likely include ahi tuna poke, pasture-to-plate Paniolo beef and shredded Kalua pork straight from the underground imu oven.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Watch a performance of songs and dances at a luau that honors Polynesian culture.
• Enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet dinner of traditional Polynesian cuisine.
• Gain insight into the various cultures as the songs and dances tell stories.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Meander through the Maui Ocean Center for a close-up view of Hawaii’s spectacular marine life with a special emphasis on humpback whales. To better understand the diversity of species in the Hawaiian Islands, you might browse exhibits featuring America’s largest live coral display, toxic pufferfish and green sea turtles – known locally as honu. More wonders will await you at the Open Ocean display, which features a clear acrylic tunnel that allows you to look up at a multitude of sharks, stingrays and colorful fish. Many of the species, such as the bandit angelfish and freckled snake eel, are endemic to Hawaii, so observing them is even more special. Still, the Humpbacks of Hawaii exhibit in the 3D Sphere is the highlight, as it presents the complex world of humpback whales through an immersive, cutting-edge audio-video experience. It is like being transported to the depths of the ocean and encountering these behemoths face-to-face.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a close-up look at Hawaii’s diverse marine life at the Maui Ocean Center.
• Observe creatures such as sharks, seahorses, green sea turtles and many endemic species.
• Watch an immersive 3D film on humpback whales that transports you deep into the ocean.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Tour the island’s only cacao farm and see how beans from the trees are made into custom chocolates. Now the largest chocolate factory in Hawaii, the Maui Ku’ia Estate sustainably produces chocolates from the seeds of the cacao trees that thrive on its 20 acres of farmland. As you walk through the orchard, a guide will describe the chocolate-making process step by step, show you how the cacao seeds are harvested and explain how the farm maintains a net-zero carbon footprint through solar power and eco-friendly packaging. During the tasting that follows in the shade of a thatched hale tree house, you will sample an assortment of milk and dark chocolates that may be flavored with mango, cappuccino, peppermint and coffee. You will also have the opportunity to purchase sweets in the gift shop. To support the local community, 100% of the farm’s net profits are donated to Maui charities.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover how chocolate is made from cacao seeds at a farm on the outskirts of Lahaina.
• Sample a variety of milk and dark chocolates, some flavored with tropical ingredients.
• Gain an understanding of how the farm and factory achieve a net zero carbon footprint.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Sit back and appreciate all the sights along the famed Hana Highway without having to navigate the curves yourself. Travel over one-lane bridges and along the winding Road to Hana in the air-conditioned comfort of an exclusive 8-passenger luxury Limo-Van, featuring all Captain's chair seating.

Relax and take in the incredible scenery of lava cliffs, sparkling waterfalls, lush hillsides of feathery ferns, and trees laden with tropical fruit. You'll have plenty of photo opportunities and time to explore, with many stops made along this spectacular coastal drive.

Experience the Ke'anae Peninsula, one of the last enclaves of native Hawaiians, offering splendid tranquil taro fields and a stop for a light morning snack. It's also the perfect place for you to learn about the native Hawaiian people, their culture, and the land they call home. See Waikani Falls, a cascade of fresh mountain rainwater. These are just some of the many sights for you to enjoy.

This full-day tour includes an alfresco picnic-style lunch at a Hana beach park. After lunch, guests delight in discovering Wai'anapanapa State Park, with numerous unique scenic features. Stroll on the black sand beach, photograph lava sea arches, or view beautiful lava formations. The return journey offers an optional swim to take a dip in a freshwater pool under a cascading waterfall, so bring your swimsuit underneath your clothes and a towel for - a perfect "Heavenly Hana" experience. An opportunity to swim at either Pua'a Ka'a ( waterfall ) or Waianapanapa ( black sand beach ) but not both, is offered to guests. The optional swimming opportunity is determined based on safety conditions.

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.

Combine all the highlights of West Maui on this comprehensive excursion: Iao Valley, Maui Tropical Plantation and the Maui Ocean Center. You'll start with a visit to the most well-known and beautiful gorge on the ‘Valley Isle,’ the Iao Valley. Here, you'll visit one of Maui's most striking sights, the Iao Needle, a 2,250-foot cinder cone pinnacle that pierces through the clouds and dominates its lush surroundings. Next, stop at Maui Tropical Plantation, where you'll enjoy a fully narrated 40-minute tram tour through macadamia nut orchards, agricultural villages, sugar cane fields and flower gardens. Then at the Maui Ocean Center, experience the underwater journey that gives you an up-close look at some of the beautiful creatures only found in Hawaii's waters.

We invite you to the historic plantation town of Hali’imaile, located in beautiful Maui. Enjoy a short drive to Maui Gold Pineapple Company. Locally owned and operated, this plantation carries the 100-year tradition of pineapple on Maui. Upon arrival, your knowledgeable and friendly pineapple tour guide will greet you and transport you into Maui’s last remaining pineapple fields. This is the only place in the United State where guests are able to tour an operational pineapple plantation. This tour takes you on an exclusive experience of Maui’s pineapple heritage. You will visit the sprawling pineapple fields and processing plant to learn how the most delicious pineapples in the world are harvested, packed and shipped on this Hawaiian Island. Taste the various stages of the famous Maui Gold pineapple while learning the history and fascinating facts of this iconic fruit.

After your tour and tastings, you will board your vehicle for your return trip back to Kahului and the cruise ship pier.

Savor authentic Hawaiian dishes and beverages at several establishments in the historical district of Wailuku, which nestles at the foot of the West Maui Mountains.

After departing from the pier, you will soon arrive in the heart of historical Wailuku, where you will stop in a variety of unpretentious restaurants and locales to sample pure Hawaiian specialties. Some of the dishes will reflect the town’s Asian and Pacific Islander ethnicities.

While the exact offerings will vary, you can expect to taste breakfast staples such as banana pancakes and hot malasadas, a fried-dough treat that Portuguese sugarcane workers introduced to Hawaii in the late 19th century.

Loco moco is another classic, and the Tasty Crust has been serving it for more than 40 years in Wailuku. The dish is a savory combination of rice, hamburger patty and brown gravy, topped with a fried egg or two.

In all likelihood, you will also sample delectable sashimi, a variety of poke bowls and seasoned saimin noodles. Another favorite is Spam musubi, a handheld with a slice of Spam wedged between two blocks of rice and wrapped in nori, a Japanese seaweed.

You will also sample several beers at the Maui Brewing Company, Hawaii’s largest craft brewery. Selections range from a citrus-flavored India Pale Ale known as Big Swell to Coconut Hiwa Porter, a robust dark ale with hints of mocha.

View a watershed battle site in a verdant valley as a prelude to strolling through a botanical garden and seeing how locally grown lavender is infused into a plethora of products. Iao Valley State Park now covers a mountainous area where King Kamehameha I won the Battle of Kepaniwai in 1790 and united the Hawaiian Islands. The volcanic pinnacle known as the Iao Needle soars above the rainforest there. Similarly, the massive shield volcano Haleakala provides a gorgeous setting for the Kula Botanical Garden. As you meander its garden paths, you may pass koi ponds, walk through a covered bridge and enjoy the soothing sounds of waterfalls. A flourishing lavender farm nearby offers an equally tranquil experience. While exploring on your own, you can take in the sweeping views of Maui’s central valley and see how lavender is grown and used in products such as soaps, essential oils, jelly and candles.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See the site of the 1790 battle that led to the unification of the Hawaiian Islands.
• Stroll the winding paths at the Kula Botanical Garden.
• Explore a lavender farm and marvel at the array of products made with the flowering plant.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

Discover Hawaii’s extraordinary marine life at the Maui Ocean Center with a special emphasis on humpback whales. To better understand the incredible diversity of species in the Hawaiian Islands, you will browse exhibits such as the Living Reef and Turtle Lagoon, where you will see green sea turtles, or honu, gracefully gliding through the sea. More wonders will await you at the Open Ocean display as you walk through its clear acrylic tunnel and look up at the multitude of sharks, stingrays and colorful fish. Yet another area of the Ocean Center depicts how the sacred island of Kaho’olawe has been restored after being used for military target practice and training. Still, the Humpbacks of Hawaii is the highlight, as it presents the complex world of humpback whales through an immersive, cutting-edge audio-video experience. It’s like being transported to the depths of the ocean and encountering these massive behemoths face-to-face.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Gain insight into Hawaii’s diverse and complex marine life at the Maui Ocean Center.
• Watch sharks, stingrays, sea turtles and countless tropical fish in massive seawater habitats.
• Enjoy an immersive audio-visual experience into the complex world of humpback whales.