Visiting the islands of Hawaii by cruise ship does have its advantages. You unpack once and sleep in the same bed every night. But no matter how lovely the scenery is from the deck of your cruise ship, the only way to really explore Hawaii's wonders is to go ashore. Besides, cycling on a stationary bike in the ship's fitness room just can't compare with taking a spin on the real thing in the fragrant Hawaiian sunshine.
Exploring Oahu
Most cruises originate in Honolulu and many visitors opt to book a night or two either before or after their cruise to see Oahu. If you just have a day on Oahu, be sure and take in the USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor. Take a combination Pearl Harbor and Honolulu city tour and add Iolani Palace and downtown to your sightseeing list. For a good stretch of the legs consider hiking to the top of Diamond Head in Waikiki. This dormant volcano has a seven tenths of a mile trail leading from inside the crater to the 760 foot summit. The path leads you up stairs and through tunnels until you come out next to an old WWII bunker. The view of Waikiki and Oahu's southern coast will most likely make your camera finger itch.
Exploring Maui
Depending on the cruise line you select, your time on Maui may be spent in Kahului on the northern end or in Lahaina, in the southwest. Kahului has a cruise ship dock and tour operators will pick you up dockside for your excursion. One option is the bike ride down Haleakala Crater. You are transported by van to the top of Haleakala Crater, a dormant volcano in east Maui. Book this tour for your second day in Kahului so you can welcome the morning on the crater's edge. After the sun rises pedal your way back down the switchback road all 23 miles back to the town of Paia, just east of Kahului. Snorkeling and whale watching cruises, in season, are available from both Kahului and Lahaina. Passengers are taken ashore in small boats called tenders in Lahaina, so be sure and allow for this extra travel time when booking your shore excursion.
Exploring Kauai
Cruise ships dock at Nawiliwili, located just north of Poipu Beach. Most cruise ships overnight here so that gives you a full day and a half to explore Kauai. Climb aboard a helicopter to see the waterfalls and rocky outcrops of Waimea Canyon. Book a zipline adventure and whiz from one tree top to another over craggy canyons and tropical jungle. Book a kayaking adventure and paddle up the Wailua River and into the rainforest to take a swim in a secluded swimming hole at Secret Falls.
Exploring Hilo -- Big Island
Cruise ships dock in Hilo for between ten and 12 hours, giving you time to explore the Big Island's largest city and to visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Book a helicopter tour and see the lava flows from the air or get out your hiking boots and hit the trails that lead around Halemaumau Crater, through dated lava fields, underground to the Thurston Lava Tube and if you are lucky, as close to the actual lava flow as the park staff feels is safe. Kilauea has been erupting steadily for decades and is one of the most visibly active volcanoes on the planet.
Exploring Kailua-Kona -- Big Island
Kailua-Kona is the largest town on the more touristy side of the Big Island. Mega resorts dot the Waikaloa and Kohala Coast, the emerald greens of their golf courses and tropical gardens a vivid contrast to the lava desert found along the roadway. Take a walking tour of Kailua-Kona and see where King Kamehameha the Great spent his summers and where the missionaries built the first church on the island. Book a snorkeling trip to Kealakekua Bay State Historic Park and find yourself swimming with spinner dolphins as they leap and spin to get a good look at you. There is no dock at Kona and guests are ferried to shore in tenders, so allow a bit of extra time if you are booking your excursion with a tour company.
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