ALOHA
The main question we get from clients is “how do I know which island?” That is a great question! The islands are all very different. Enjoy the information below and then contact one of our Hawaii Specialist to talk over your options.
Kauai
Unwind and let the oxygen-rich air of Kauai’s Wailua River invigorate your spirit as you kayak to a cascading waterfall. Or breathe deeply at the edge of the time-swept Waimea Canyon as it speaks to you without words. On Kauai, native fishponds amaze with 1,000-year old forward-thinking, while legends of the Napali Coast transport you back in time. From the small towns of Hanapepe and Old Koloa Town to sunny Poipu Beach, this is truly “Hawaii’s Island of Discovery.”
Oahu
Sometimes called “The Gathering Place,” Oahu certainly lives up to its name. The third-largest Hawaiian island is home to the majority of Hawaii’s diverse population, a fusion of east and west cultures rooted in the values and traditions of the Native Hawaiian people. It’s this fundamental contrast between the ancient and the modern that makes discovering Oahu so enjoyable. Whether you’re hiking atop iconic Leahi (Diamond Head), enjoying some of Hawaii’s best shopping, or simply unwinding on the sands of the island’s beautiful beaches, you’ll find variety at every turn on Oahu.
Molokai
“Hawaiian by Nature”, the island of Molokai remains true to its island roots. There are no traffic lights—just aloha—in the harbor town of Kaunakakai, where fishermen haul in their daily catch and farmers showcase fresh-picked produce from neighboring fields. Quiet your spirit and you’ll feel the mana(power) that protects the island, from an area near Maunaloa said to be the birthplace of hula to the indescribable beauty of Halawa Valley. Or, descend 1,700 feet on a surefooted mule to the remote settlement of Kalaupapa and change your perspective forever.
Lanai
Lanai is an island of intriguing contrasts. Hike the lunar landscape of Keahiakawelo (Garden of the Gods) or picnic overlooking Puu Pehe (Sweetheart Rock), named for a maiden Pehe and her handsome warrior. Two Four Season Resorts pamper you—one along the seaside, the other in the misty mountains—while Hotel Lanai in Lanai City welcomes you with old plantation charm. Whether you’re hiking among native ohia lehua trees on the Munro Trail or making your way to the 18th hole, Lanai is easily Hawaii’s “Most Enticing Island.”
Maui
Known as the “Valley Isle,” Maui is dotted with quaint towns, artist communities and local favorites that have been around for generations. Head to Wailuku for pastries from a “mom and pop” bakery, or head to Lahaina for a taste of Maui’s famed farm to table cuisine. From shimmering beaches and sacred Iao Valley to migrating humpback whales and sunset on Haleakala, it’s not surprising Maui was voted the “Best Island” by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler for 19 years.
Island of Hawaii
Think big. island of Hawaii is the youngest and largest island in the Hawaiian chain, but it’s remarkable for more than just its size. Picture yourself visiting Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, or talk story with a cultural demonstrator at Puuhonua o Honaunau, a historic park that was once a place of refuge. Whether you’re walking on a black sand beach, snorkeling with manta rays, horseback riding in Waimea or sailing along the Kona Coast, island of Hawaii is your island for adventure.
Hawaiian Culture
‘O ke aloha ke kuleana o kāhi malihini.
Love is the host in strange lands. Every guest is treated as family.
Ho‘okahi nō lā o ka malihini.
A guest for only a day
Feelings of affection, compassion, mercy, sympathy, kindness, grace,
charity, and so much more are appropriate translations of aloha.
Through aloha, visitors are no longer guests after a day. They are
contributing members of the family having the same kuleana as we do to
protect all that is Hawai‘i.
Thousands of miles away from the nearest populated land mass, surrounded by Moananuiākea (the vast ocean), the volcanic
Hawaiian Islands emerged from the ocean floor.
The geological birth of the islands spanned millions of years – at the northwestern end of the archipelago, Hōlanikū, also known as Kure
Atoll, is about 28 million years old. The island of Hawai‘i, the geologically youngest island at the southeastern end of the island chain, is
about 400,000 years old and still growing – new land was added to the island as recently as 2018 by the volcanic eruption of Kīlauea.
The entire Hawaiian archipelago consists of 132 islands, reefs, and shoals stretching across 1,523 miles of the North Pacific Ocean. Only the islands on the southeast end of the archipelago are inhabited and constitute what
is commonly known as the Hawaiian Islands. The remainder of the archipelago is part of Papahānaumokuākea, one of the largest
protected marine areas in the world.
In the cultural world view, the Hawaiian Islands are described in mele ko‘ihonua (genealogical chants) as the products of heavenly unions, descendants of Wākea (sky father), Papahānaumoku (earth mother),
and Ho‘ohōkūkalani (creator of the stars). The Hawaiian people and their staple food kalo (taro) also descend from these unions, which makes the kuleana (responsibility) of stewardship a deeply personal connection.
I am ready to talk about a Hawaii vacation with a Hawaii Specialist.