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Hawaiian Discovery (First Class)

11 Day Hawaii Tour of Oahu, Maui, & Kauai | Operated by Trafalgar

  • 11 Days

  • 1 Country

    United States

  • 13 Cities

    Waikiki, Pearl Harbour, Honolulu, Hilo, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Keauhou, Kailua-Kona, Kona, Kahului (Maui), Kaanapali Beach, Lihue (Kauai), Kapaa, Waimea State Park

  • 16 Meals

    5 Dinners, 10 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch

  • Pace: Comfortable

    Mainly 2–3-night stays in each location. Comfortable travel days with numerous stops. Requires 1-3 miles of walking per day that might involve some uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones and stairs.

Trip Itinerary

Day 1: A Warm Welcome to Honolulu

Embrace a tropical state of mind on this uplifting encounter with the best Hawaii has to offer. Your first brush with traditional Hawaiian hospitality begins this evening when you join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a local-style Welcome Dinner.

Hotel: The Twin Fin Waikiki
Included Meals: Dinner
Notes
Day 2: Discover the History of Honolulu

There’s no better place to learn about history on your Hawaii tour than visiting where events occurred. Today, pay homage to the thousands of brave soldiers who lost their lives in the surprise military strike at Pearl Harbor visiting Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the USS Arizona Memorial. Continue through the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, located in Punchbowl Crater, and to downtown Honolulu to connect with the spiritual epicenter of Hawaii. On your walking tour, see Iolani Palace, the former home of Hawaii’s last-reigning monarchs and the only royal palace in the United States, as well as the King Kamehameha I Statue and the State Capitol Building. Kick back in your hotel overlooking Waikiki Beach or get out and explore the shore.

Hotel: The Twin Fin Waikiki
Included Meals: Breakfast
Iconic Experience: Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial Unlock the significance of a historic event visiting Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial. Pay homage and reflect upon those who lost their lives over on a moving and unforgettable experience. View the USS Arizona which, when it was commissioned in 1916, was the largest ship in the navy’s fleet, with a length of 608 feet. 
Iconic Experience: See Iolani Palace The history of Hawaii springs to life viewing the historically significant Iolanai Palace, the only royal palace in the United States. Even from outside, feel the energy of grand balls and hula performances, as well as the time of Liliuokalani’s overthrow and imprisonment. Continue your Honolulu Walking Tour viewing the State Capitol Building and the 18-foot, bronze King Kamehameha Statue commemorating a great warrior, diplomat and leader. 
Iconic Experience: Drive Through National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Explore the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, located in Punchbowl Crater, on a scenic drive. This burial in a national cemetery is for members of the armed forces who have met a minimum active-duty service requirement. 
Notes
Day 3: Journey to the Big Island
The Big Island of Hawaii brings new sights, landscapes and wildlife. Arrive in the town of Hilo and enjoy lunch on your own, perhaps seeking out the classic loco moco meal. Then visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to learn about the geology of the Islands. Continue along the coast to Punalu’u Beach Park, famous for its black sand and Hawaiian green sea turtles. The Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa welcome you with their multi-level fantasy pool with a 200-foot water slide, manta-ray viewing and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.
Hotel: Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Iconic Experience: Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Hawaii Volcanoes National Park brings new sights as you unlock the geology of the Islands. This UNESCO listed park and designated International Biosphere Reserve protects some of the most unique geological, biological and cherished cultural landscapes in the world and encompasses the summits of two of the world's most active volcanoes - Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. You’ll love experiencing this wonder for yourself viewing the steam vents and on a visit to the Kilauea Visitor Center. 
Iconic Experience: Visit Punalu'u Black Sand Beach Park Unlock the beauty of the must-see Punalu’u Beach Park, famous for its black sand and green sea turtles. Stroll along the black sand beach made of fragments of old lava flow. Then perhaps pause in a shady spot under the palm trees and keep your eyes peeled for endangered Hawksbill turtles and green turtles basking in the sun on the beach.  
Trafalgar Difference: Outrigger Kona Resort Perched above the lava cliffs of Keauhou Bay on 22 acres of Kona coastline is the Outrigger Kona Resort. You’re in for a treat here on Keauhou Bay as it’s one of the only places in the world where you can view giant manta rays feeding. Enjoy this magnificent spectacle directly from Pa'akai Point at the hotel. You can choose to take a dip in the multi-level fantasy pool with a 200-foot water slide or go local with an on-site hula or ukulele lesson.
Notes
Day 4: Play Your Way in Kona

Get ready to embrace your outdoor adventurer on an invigorating day on your Hawaii tour exploring the Big Island on your own or with an Optional Experience. Take in Kohala’s beauty and history on a fun, off-road adventure and relaxed trail walk to a hidden waterfall and scenic overlook of Pololu Valley. You’ll love trekking across bridges and past bright green taro terraces. Finish the adventure cooling off in a waterfall. Or, discover what’s beneath these gorgeous waters with a snorkeling trip in the pristine Puʻuhonua O Honaunau (The Place of Refuge) and Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cooks Monument) featuring lava tubes and sea caves or on a Night Manta Experience viewing the incredible feeding frenzy in the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Hotel: Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
Included Meals: Breakfast
Notes
Day 5: Experience the Sights, Flavors and Wildlife of Hawaii

Dive into marine life learning about the second largest rays in the world, the mobula alfredi manta rays. On a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, visit the Hawaii Ocean Science and Technology Park’s Sea Salt farm to learn about the importance of salt in Hawaiian culture and how it’s produced from the deep ocean water, drawn from 2,200 feet below the surface. Watch the salt production process and enjoy a curated tasting to explore the flavor profiles of this Hawaiian Sea Salt. Then, journey to the unique Kona Joe coffee plantation, discovering how some of the world's best coffee is grown and roasted. This evening, lose yourself in the moment as we embrace the tradition of the Hawaiian Luau and enjoy a dinner featuring local flavors and tropical cocktails.

Hotel: Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Be My Guest: Hawaiian Salt Farm Visit Unlock the importance of salt in Hawaiian culture visiting a deep Ocean Salt farm. Watch the salt production process and taste different salts to explore the flavor profiles. Learn how salt is produced from deep ocean water and how this differs from salt produced in other locations. Enhance your visit over a food truck lunch with tempting options including a Dim Sum Box or Katsu Chicken with Furikake Rice and Somen Noodles.  
Iconic Experience: Hawaiian Coffee Farm Visit a coffee plantation and learn about this exclusive beverage and the work it takes to produce, all while tasting the coffee and taking in some of the most scenic views in Hawaii. 
Iconic Experience: Learn About Hawaiian Manta Rays Discover the world of the giant manta rays (mobula alfredi) that come to the Kona shores at the Manta Ray Learning Center at the <name of resort>. Under the guidance of your Local Specialist, learn the manta ray’s life cycle, the history of the rays in the area and how the center supports educational programs and funding scientists for research with a mission to support mantas in their natural environment. To top it all off, the lights from the resort shine into the water, attracting plankton which in turn attracts manta rays to the water right off the hotel. 
Notes
Day 6: Explore the Natural Wonders of Maui

Maui. An island where dormant volcanos, black sand beaches and whale watching lure explorers just like you. Start your discovery with a Be My Guest experience at O’o Farms, a local sustainable farm in the high country of Maui. Have a delicious and healthy farm-to-fork experience helping to gather fresh produce for your al fresco lunch. Then journey to our resort on stunning Kaanapali beach. As the sun sets over the Pacific, take a gentle stroll to nearby Whalers Village or enjoy a relaxing beach stroll.

Hotel: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Be My Guest: O'o Farms O’o farm produces naturally grown leafy green vegetables, root vegetables, fruiting body plants, orchard fruits, savory herbs, and a wide array of edible flowers. We meet the farm team and enjoy a delicious lunch cooked over an open fire using the richest produce harvested right on the farm.
Notes
Day 7: Entice Your Senses in Maui

Unlock the natural beauty of paradise, charting your own course through Maui’s landscapes. This evening, enjoy a dinner featuring local flavors. You’ll love making the most of your stay at Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa cooling off in their half-acre pool or Maui's only oceanfront full-service spa and salon, rooftop stargazing or oceanfront golf.

Hotel: Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Notes
Day 8: Onwards to Lihue, Kauai

After a leisurely morning on the Valley Isle, jet off to Kauai where you’ll spend the next three nights admiring the natural surroundings. Kauai, at over six million years old, is the oldest of the main Hawaiian Islands and boasts the only navigable rivers in the state of Hawaii. It is also the northernmost island in the Hawaiian chain, which is the most isolated inhabited land mass. Start this next leg of your journey relaxing in your hotel’s infinity-edge pool, kicking back with a Mai Tai in their oceanfront bar or dining at their onsite Moa Moa Hawaiian Fish House.

Hotel: Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort
Included Meals: Breakfast
Notes
Day 9: Uncover the Wonder of Waimea Canyon State Park

There’s no better place to learn about Kauai’s land than Grove Farm, a beautifully preserved one-hundred-acre homestead in the center of Lihue. Enjoy a private, guided tour of the original plantation main house, as well as other resident and plantation workers’ housing camp dating back to the 1870's. Continue all the way up to Waimea Canyon State Park. The result of thousands of years of erosion, the canyon walls offer a canvas of brilliant shades of red, brown, green, blue, grey and purple, with shadows and light producing a never-ending show. Drive through the island's famous Tunnel of Trees with a stop at Spouting Horn blowhole, one of the most photographed spots on Kauai. Cap off your day with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Allerton & McBryde Botanical Gardens for a tour highlighting rare native Hawaiian ferns and plants.

Hotel: Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort
Included Meals: Breakfast
Dive Into Culture: Grove Farm Get ready to visit a beautifully preserved one-hundred-acre homestead in the center of Lihue. On a private, guided tour, visit original buildings including the original plantation main house, owner’s cottage, guest cottage and old office, as well as other resident and plantation workers’ housing camp. The still active household, farm, gardens, banana patches and pastures maintain the same practices that were established during that era. 
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®: Allerton and McBryde Botanical Garden Tour Explore natural beauty at one of one of the world's top botanical research organizations on a guided tour of Allerton and McBryde Gardens. Step through the gates of this once-private estate and see cliff-top views of the protected bay below. Travel by vehicle deep into the upper Lawai Valley and McBryde Garden, discovering a valley most visitors to Kauai don’t get to experience. Head to the conservation nursery and horticulture center for a special behind-the-scenes viewing. See the rare native Hawaiian ferns and plants among the over 6,000 rare and endangered species of plants collected throughout the Pacific Basin and the world. Conclude your tour viewing the outdoor rooms, pools, fountains and sculptures of Allerton Garden. Your visit contributes to the ongoing restoration mission and directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
Iconic Experience: Visit Waimea Canyon A display of changing colors and lights awaits at Waimea Canyon State Park, one of the Hawaiian Islands most awe-inspiring sites. Dubbed the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” the canyon is 14 miles long, 1 mile wide and more than 3,600 feet deep, with a lookout offering views of buttes, crags and gorges. You’ll drive all the way up the canyon and bask in these views of different colored rock. 
Iconic Experience: See Spouting Horn Discover Spouting Horn blowhole, one of the most photographed spots on Kauai. Be amazed at how the Poʻipū surf channels into a natural lava tube and puts out a huge spout of water that can reach as high as 50 feet into the air. Listen for the hiss and roar of water that is the basis of a Hawaiian legend of a giant moʻo (lizard) named Kaikapu.  
Notes
Day 10: Find Your Island Adventure

Kauai’s natural treasures are yours to explore during this full free day. Feel like you’ve stepped onto the big screen on an Optional Experience Kauai Movie Tour adventure. Your backstage pass will take you to many famous sites on Kauai where Hollywood Blockbusters and TV shows were filmed while viewing clips of those notable films. On your final night on Kauai on your Hawaii tour, toast to the incredible sights of the islands with your fellow travelers over a Farewell Dinner.

Hotel: Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Notes
Day 11: A Fond Farewell

For now it’s a fond a hui hou... until we meet again. Make your way to Lihue Airport or consider extending your stay on Kauai.

Included Meals: Breakfast
Notes
This itinerary is for reference only. Upon booking with GET, guests will receive tour documents which will list all confirmed hotels and itineraries based upon the guest's departure date.

Price Includes

What's Included
  • - An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
  • - Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
  • - All porterage and restaurant gratuities
  • - All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
  • - Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
  • - Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
  • - Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
  • - All transport and transfers shown
  • - Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
  • - Optional Experiences and free time
  • - Flights from Honolulu-Kona, Hilo-Kahului and Kahului-Lihue
  • - On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
Dining Summary
  • - 5 Dinners (D)
  • - 10 Breakfasts (B)
  • - 1 Lunch (L)
Iconic Experience
  • Unlock the significance of a historic event visiting Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial. Pay homage and reflect upon those who lost their lives over on a moving and unforgettable experience. View the USS Arizona which, when it was commissioned in 1916, was the largest ship in the navy’s fleet, with a length of 608 feet. 
  • The history of Hawaii springs to life viewing the historically significant Iolanai Palace, the only royal palace in the United States. Even from outside, feel the energy of grand balls and hula performances, as well as the time of Liliuokalani’s overthrow and imprisonment. Continue your Honolulu Walking Tour viewing the State Capitol Building and the 18-foot, bronze King Kamehameha Statue commemorating a great warrior, diplomat and leader. 
  • Explore the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, located in Punchbowl Crater, on a scenic drive. This burial in a national cemetery is for members of the armed forces who have met a minimum active-duty service requirement. 
  • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park brings new sights as you unlock the geology of the Islands. This UNESCO listed park and designated International Biosphere Reserve protects some of the most unique geological, biological and cherished cultural landscapes in the world and encompasses the summits of two of the world's most active volcanoes - Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. You’ll love experiencing this wonder for yourself viewing the steam vents and on a visit to the Kilauea Visitor Center. 
  • Unlock the beauty of the must-see Punalu’u Beach Park, famous for its black sand and green sea turtles. Stroll along the black sand beach made of fragments of old lava flow. Then perhaps pause in a shady spot under the palm trees and keep your eyes peeled for endangered Hawksbill turtles and green turtles basking in the sun on the beach.  
  • Visit a coffee plantation and learn about this exclusive beverage and the work it takes to produce, all while tasting the coffee and taking in some of the most scenic views in Hawaii. 
  • Discover the world of the giant manta rays (mobula alfredi) that come to the Kona shores at the Manta Ray Learning Center at the &lt;name of resort&gt;. Under the guidance of your Local Specialist, learn the manta ray’s life cycle, the history of the rays in the area and how the center supports educational programs and funding scientists for research with a mission to support mantas in their natural environment. To top it all off, the lights from the resort shine into the water, attracting plankton which in turn attracts manta rays to the water right off the hotel. 
  • A display of changing colors and lights awaits at Waimea Canyon State Park, one of the Hawaiian Islands most awe-inspiring sites. Dubbed the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” the canyon is 14 miles long, 1 mile wide and more than 3,600 feet deep, with a lookout offering views of buttes, crags and gorges. You’ll drive all the way up the canyon and bask in these views of different colored rock. 
  • Discover Spouting Horn blowhole, one of the most photographed spots on Kauai. Be amazed at how the Poʻipū surf channels into a natural lava tube and puts out a huge spout of water that can reach as high as 50 feet into the air. Listen for the hiss and roar of water that is the basis of a Hawaiian legend of a giant moʻo (lizard) named Kaikapu.  
Trafalgar Difference
  • Perched above the lava cliffs of Keauhou Bay on 22 acres of Kona coastline is the Outrigger Kona Resort. You’re in for a treat here on Keauhou Bay as it’s one of the only places in the world where you can view giant manta rays feeding. Enjoy this magnificent spectacle directly from Pa'akai Point at the hotel. You can choose to take a dip in the multi-level fantasy pool with a 200-foot water slide or go local with an on-site hula or ukulele lesson.
Be My Guest
  • Unlock the importance of salt in Hawaiian culture visiting a deep Ocean Salt farm. Watch the salt production process and taste different salts to explore the flavor profiles. Learn how salt is produced from deep ocean water and how this differs from salt produced in other locations. Enhance your visit over a food truck lunch with tempting options including a Dim Sum Box or Katsu Chicken with Furikake Rice and Somen Noodles.  
  • O’o farm produces naturally grown leafy green vegetables, root vegetables, fruiting body plants, orchard fruits, savory herbs, and a wide array of edible flowers. We meet the farm team and enjoy a delicious lunch cooked over an open fire using the richest produce harvested right on the farm.
Dive Into Culture
  • Get ready to visit a beautifully preserved one-hundred-acre homestead in the center of Lihue. On a private, guided tour, visit original buildings including the original plantation main house, owner’s cottage, guest cottage and old office, as well as other resident and plantation workers’ housing camp. The still active household, farm, gardens, banana patches and pastures maintain the same practices that were established during that era. 
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
  • Explore natural beauty at one of one of the world's top botanical research organizations on a guided tour of Allerton and McBryde Gardens. Step through the gates of this once-private estate and see cliff-top views of the protected bay below. Travel by vehicle deep into the upper Lawai Valley and McBryde Garden, discovering a valley most visitors to Kauai don’t get to experience. Head to the conservation nursery and horticulture center for a special behind-the-scenes viewing. See the rare native Hawaiian ferns and plants among the over 6,000 rare and endangered species of plants collected throughout the Pacific Basin and the world. Conclude your tour viewing the outdoor rooms, pools, fountains and sculptures of Allerton Garden. Your visit contributes to the ongoing restoration mission and directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.

Optional Experiences

Optional Experiences are subject to change. Your Travel Director will supply you with a final list of Optional Experiences available on your trip. Optional Experiences cannot be booked online; they can be purchased during your trip through your Travel Director.

Premium Morning Snorkel (Available on Day 4)

Discover the hidden treasures underwater by snorkeling the pristine Puʻuhonua O Honaunau (The Place of Refuge) and Kealakekua Bay (Captain Cooks Monument). Learn about the history and culturally significant sites from your Captain and Crew as you explore the coastline, lava tubes and sea caves – pausing your adventure for lunch in the shade.  

Adult Price: $160 Child Price: $136 Kohala Waterfalls Adventure (Available on Day 4)

Get ready for Kohala’s stunning beauty and rich history on an off-road adventure and trail walk. Experience dramatic views of Pololu Valley, foot bridges, taro terraces and waterfalls—with a stop for lunch in between. You’ll even have the chance to take a cooling dip in the waterfall. 

Adult Price: $237 Child Price: $214 Manta Ray Snorkel Adventure (Available on Day 4)

Don’t miss a bucket list experience joining a snorkeling adventure in the warm waters of the Pacific at night with manta rays. This is the only place in the world where you can snorkel at night with these creatures as large as 16 ft. across and weighing 1,000 lbs. You’ll be amazed as you witness this feeding frenzy that includes not only this once-in-a-lifetime encounter but warming hot chocolate and cookies. 

Adult Price: $142 Child Price: $142 Kohala Waterfalls Adventure (Available on Day 5)

Get ready for Kohala’s stunning beauty and rich history on an off-road adventure and trail walk. Experience dramatic views of Pololu Valley, foot bridges, taro terraces and waterfalls—with a stop for lunch in between. You’ll even have the chance to take a cooling dip in the waterfall. 

Adult Price: $237 Child Price: $214 Kauai Movie Tour Adventure (Available on Day 10)

Attention, movie buffs! Explore many famous sites on Kauai where Hollywood Blockbusters and TV shows were filmed. Visit Tahiti Nui, where “The Descendants” was filmed, showcasing Kauai’s most beautiful locales and scenic locations. At Lydgate Beach, see where Elvis filmed “Blue Hawai’i”. Then make your way to Kilauea Point Lighthouse Overlook at the Northern most tip of Kauai seen in “Lilo and Stitch.” And in quaint Kapa’a Town on the east side of Kauai, see where the famous dinosaur “egg-change” took place in “Jurassic Park.”  You’ll love this unique tour that truly showcases Kauai’s most beautiful locales and scenic locations. 

Adult Price: $165 Child Price: $104 Kauai Transfer (Available on Day 11)

One Way Shared Ride Transfer to Airport.

Adult Price: $15 Child Price: $15