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All you Need to Know
by Travel Journalist Tony Peisley
The sun was setting in a blaze of colour as we returned to the Hawaiian island of Maui but this spectacular sight almost passed us by as we were all still slightly stunned by the excitement of having been able to hear as well as see the whales spouting off all around us (thanks to a research boat patching through its hydrophone to our tour boat).
But, then, cruising among the Hawaiian islands should always be just one magical experience after another. The ports and towns can be a bit dull and more Americana than mainland America with their samey malls and tacky Walmarts but dig a little deeper into the islands and you are always rewarded.
Like when you take the helicopter trip over the island of Kaui. This is a breathtaking experience enhanced by ethereal music played through your headphones as you fly through pastel-shaded sunset mists and swoop down from lofty peaks into lush deep valleys and then low over beaches as surfers try and catch the Big One below.
The Hawaiian islands are favourite holiday destinations for Americans but their location four hours' flight-time from Los Angeles on the US West Coast means just one thing to anyone who starts their journey in the UK: you don't want to be doing any more flying once you get there.
So, if you want to see more than one Hawaiian island - and you really should - then it has to be a cruise. Especially now it is possible to cruise from Honolulu just around these lush islands which have preserved their own colourful version of Polynesian culture steeped in local myths and legends.
Home of Kona Coffee, the Big Island of Hawaii is, in fact, the least developed and has a genuinely spooky atmosphere due partly to the lush, waterfall-dotted rain forest interior but mainly to the lowering presence of Mount Kilauea - the world's most active volcano.
And if you think that’s just hype, you’ll be a believer after taking the tour to the "Circle of Fire" - its permanently bubbling, lava-spitting crater. After Oahu, which has Honolulu and the famous Waikiki, Kauai will also be the most familiar as it has featured as the colourful backdrop to some classic movies from South Pacific to Jurassic Park.
The bright colours of its interior suit the sunny Hawaiian mood which will capture and hold you throughout the cruise and - if you're lucky - for some time after you return to the real world back in the UK.
DOS and DON'TS of Hawaii Cruising
DO add on a Hawaiian stay to your cruise. Although there are longer cruises which start from Los Angeles and San Francisco, the longest inter-island cruises are 11 days so it makes sense to add on at least a few days in the islands and/or in LA or San Francisco on your way back home.
DON'T be put off by things you've heard about Waikiki Beach being over-commercialised. Next to the Hawaiian capital of Honolulu, Waikiki Beach is actually a fun resort for a few days. It has a long, sandy and well-maintained beach flanked by smart shops, hotels, bars and restaurants. It is also a good base from which to visit the site of the Pearl Harbour attack.
