Page 39 - Explore Magazine Spring 2016

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while gazing out across the beach and ocean. If you are Ka’anapali Beach on the west coast of the island is well
lucky, as we were, you might even spot a turtle or two worth the 45-minute drive from the airport at Kahului.
swimming in the surf.
Maui has the relaxed, laid-back feeling you expect of a
We were able to walk straight onto the beach from the tropical Island. The resorts are more spread-out and
hotel, and it’s a great place to sunbathe, go for a swim, the Hyatt Regency where we stayed had a selection of
take surfing lessons or just people-watch, day or night. four different restaurants, plus a huge swimming pool
Waikiki is always buzzing with people and things to do. complete with an adult-sized water slide and a faux
If you are looking for some good nightlife there is plenty waterfall leading to a hidden cave with a swim-up bar.
in Waikiki, including the Sheraton Waikiki’s own RumFire
bar, where we spent a couple of nights enjoying an We took the opportunity to experience a luau – a
traditional Hawaiian feast – accompanied by great
array of rum-based (my favourite) cocktails and great
entertainment. entertainment, Pacific Island-style. This was a really
enjoyable night as well as delicious, and I highly
We were also lucky to experience Hallowe’en in Waikiki, recommend it. Maui also has a multitude of activities to
which saw the whole main street packed with people choose from. A sunrise tour to Haleakalā volcano found
dressed up in every costume you could imagine! Although us being driven right to the crater at an impressive 3,000
one could easily spend a whole week just relaxing by the metres, at which point we found out that not everywhere
pool or on the beach drinking cocktails, there is just too in Hawaii is warm! Although it can be weather-dependent,
much else that the island offers. we were fortunate to observe a beautiful sunrise above
the clouds, one of the most beautiful sights we have both
A circle-island tour with Discover Hawaii Tours was the ever seen. This was followed by an exhilarating bike trip
perfect way to see as much of Oahu as possible in one back down the volcano.
day, and it included exploring coffee, pineapple and
macadamia farms, seeing part of a surfing competition Another highlight of our trip on Maui was a half-day
on the North Shore, swimming beneath a stunning snorkelling excursion on the luxury sailing catamaran,
waterfall, exploring a sacred Japanese temple, and much Alii Nui. This was a perfect day spent cruising on the
more. Pearl Harbour is also a must-see, and it is both Pacific Ocean, with the wind in our hair, sun on our backs,
informative and humbling to explore the museums and good music and plenty of food and drink, as well as some
the impressive submarines, ships and planes on display. great snorkelling at the secluded volcanic reef on Molokini
Island, midway between Maui and Kaho’olawe.
On other days during our stay on Oahu we explored
the many shops, restaurants and cafés in Waikiki and Sadly, our journey had to come to an end but as far as
Honolulu where you can find a variety of different culinary holidays go, this took the top spot. For us, it really was the
delights including Hawaii’s own “fusion” style of food. honeymoon of a lifetime!”
To top off our stay on Oahu, we took a (rather expensive)
plunge and booked a helicopter tour with Blue Hawaiian
Helicopters, which offered amazing aerial sightseeing. For
Sam, this was the highlight of our trip so far, but being a
little weak-stomached I did not enjoy it quite as much.
We were reluctant to leave Oahu but excited to see what
Maui could offer, and we were not disappointed. Gorgeous

HELLOWORLD : EXPLORE : SPRING EDITION