Cruise Hawaiian Islands
This was an amazing trip to Hawaii that included a cruise of the Hawaiian Islands! We started and ended at Oahu and sailed to Maui, the Big Island and Kauai. Each island is unique, so we were allotted a decent amount of time to experience each one. We flew into Honolulu and stayed on Waikiki Beach for several days to explore the island of Oahu before cruising to the other islands via Norwegian Cruise Line, aboard the Pride of America ship.
Highlights:
- Oahu
- Pearl Harbor – self explanatory. Must do if you make it to Oahu.
- USS Arizona Memorial -If this Memorial is open, it’s a humbling visit.
- USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park -this is a cool tour thru the sub! Diamond Head – Really want to hike up here if we go back.
- Polynesian Culture Center – This is where we had our Luau. Theme Park.
- Waikiki Beach – It’s famous and crowded. Most hotels are along this beach.
- Botanical Gardens – there are a few. Enjoy the tropical beauty.
- Dole Pineapple Plantation – Ride the train through the plantation.
- Maui
- Mama’s Fish House – expensive but incredible. Highly recommend “Mama’s Stuffed Fish”. It was fabulous! You’ll enjoy the view too!! Beautiful!
- Road to Hana – What an experience. Do a little research to enjoy it.
- Tedeschi Winery – now Maui Wine. Enjoyed the wine making tour.
- Black Sand Beach -on the Road to Hana. Check out the cave there too.
- Kaanapali, Napili, Wailea, or other beaches.
- Big Island
- Punalu’u Black Sand Beach – supposedly the most famous, with turtles.
- Papapkōlea Green Sand Beach – very rare. One of only four in the world.
- Hāpuna White Sand Beach – in Kona. Near golf and hiking.
- Kona Coffee Tours – lots of coffee farms in Kona. Take a tasting tour.
- Big Island Brewhaus in Kamiela/Waimea – craft beers, good food and music.
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park – very interesting drive through the Park.
- Kauai
- Helicopter ride- there are several companies that offer these. Incredible views. This is one of our favorite things we experienced.
- Na Pali Coast -breathtaking views, by helicopter and then sailing by. Beaches, Waterfalls and more on this beautiful island.
Big Dog’s Review: Our trip to Hawaii exceeded my expectations. We started out in Honolulu and stayed there three days. While we were here we saw all the sites. Using public transportation we got around easily. On Saturday we boarded a Norwegian Cruise ship and sailed to three islands. We sailed at night and enjoyed the islands during the day. My favorite part was the helicopter ride on the island of Kauai. I recommend this type of trip you can see so much during the day and travel at night.
Lulu’s Review: The cruise between the Hawaiian Islands is not the vacation. Usually moving overnight and you wake up in a new port, unless you are spending several days on one island or one side. The ship is nice but it’s basically your hotel and your transportation with some meals thrown in. You won’t have time for many activities on the ship anyway. You’ll be on an island! And what fun you will have! We certainly did!!
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Wrap up: Go to a Luau somewhere, hike Diamond Head, tour a coffee plantation. Don’t miss Pearl Harbor and Mama’s Fish House. Take a helicopter ride over one of the islands. We think a Cruise of the Hawaiian Islands allows you to see and experience more of this enormous tropical playground. Seriously so much to do!! Go enjoy and hang loose!!
Napali Coast Kauai Helicopter tour over Kauai 
Helicopter tour over Kauai 
Na Pali Coast Kauai 
View at Mama’s Fish house at lunch during our Cruise of the Hawaiian Islands 
Wow! What an amazing trip.
We loved it! Hope to go back!
Oh! We are hoping to plan a Hawaii trip in about 5 years, and WOW I think we are going to have to stay longer than a week! So much to do!
Yes, Tiffany! Try to go to all of the islands if you can. They are all so different and offer unique experiences!
Hawaii is gorgeous! Lisa’s daughter just moved there so now we have some ideas of what to do when we visit! Thank you for sharing!!
Wow! How wonderful to live there! And great for you to have a local guide!!
Wow! You did and saw a lot in the short time you were there. I love coffee so I would love the coffee plantation. The sub not so much. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, so many things to do-something for everyone!
I look forward to visiting Hawaii someday! Looks like a gorgeous destination.
Yes it’s beautiful, Cindy!!
What an amazing trip! I can’t wait to get there one day!
Get ready for an awesome adventure, Melissa!!
I have heard great things about the Dole pineapple plantation and was happy to see photos from your experience there!
Oh I’m glad we could share, Carolyn!!
Hawaii is so awesome! I bet cruising the islands would be a fun experience.
It was such a fun experience, Kendra!
You had me at coffee tours! How fun!
That’s funny! I don’t drink coffee, but yes, fun!!
Headed to Oahu this month! I’m so excited to travel again. Mama’s has earned its reputation, too.
That’s fabulous, Ashley!! Enjoy!! Yes, don’t miss Mama’s if you get to Maui!
YES please. That’s all I have to say 😅
Haha Suzan! For sure!
Looks amazing! I would love to visit the pineapple plantation!
The pineapple plantation is awesome!
Truth be told, I don’t think I’ve ever been in a helicopter. Looks so much fun. Everything looks amazing. Thanks for sharing!
So glad you enjoyed it, Whitney!
I’d love to see the Napali Coast from the waterside. We’ve done some hiking on it, but it’s a spectacular view from the water!
Oh that sounds fun, Kristin! Yes, beautiful coast!!
Living there was one of my greatest times in life.
That’s so cool that you lived there, Jason!!
Awe! Beautiful! Hawaii is on my bucket list. Will definitely visit one day!
Yes! You will love Hawaii!
Absolutely breathtaking! My fiance went to the Dole Plantation and loved it (I’m a huge pineapple fan, so I was jealous, lol).
Haha yes that Dole Plantation is so much fun!
oh! How I want to go! I’d go for a month if I could. Just to breath, explore and learn. I’d walk endlessly, I am so passionate about the culture of coffee, I would spend hours listening to them talk. It looks so beautiful – thank you for sharing
I’m so glad you enjoyed it, Faye!! Hope you get your month in Hawaii soon!!
Wow, there is so much to do! I can’t wait until I can visit!
Yes, book plenty of time Sydney!!
So jealous! I would love to go on a helicopter tour of Hawaii. Gorgeous views!!!
Thanks Tiffany! Hope you get to do that one day soon!
Still trying to get to Hawaii. Thanks for sharing.
Hope you get to go soon!
Love your pictures! I can’t wait to visit the Hawaiian Islands one of these days.
Hawaii is an amazing place to visit, Alexis!
I’ve only seen the big island of Hawaii, so a cruise would be a great way to see the rest of them, especially if I’m limited on time! And I’d love to go on a helicopter tour!
I highly recommend this same agenda!!
Hawaii is incredible. I can not wait to go back!
I would go back too, Lisa!!
Looking forward to hopefully rescheduling our Hawaii trip for next year. A couple of things you listed on your highlights are already on our radar… but I will look into some of the others for sure!
Hope you get to go soon, Marianne! Can’t wait to hear about it!
You sure did Hawaii right! Those photos from the helicopter are amazing!
Thanks Megan!!
Kauai is one of my favorite spots on this earth! Glad you also were able to enjoy it!
Yes, Barbara! We loved the helicopter tour of Kauai!
Pearl Harbor is on my husband’s bucket list, and Kauai is on mine.
Sounds like a Hawaiian vacay is on your bucket list, Tammy! Enjoy!
Hawaii is like another world. Whenever I see the gorgeous mountains and volcanos I can’t help but think of Jurassic Park haha.
Yes and the waterfalls!!
We loved our first trip to Hawaii. We visited the Big Island only. I would love to go back and explore the other islands. Your trip was awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Sabrina! We loved different things about each island and the Big Island was really cool!