Itinerary

Our three-island resort vacation brings you the best of Oahu, Maui and the Big Island of Hawaii in just eight days. It is designed for those travelers with less time, featuring distinctive Tauck touches – elegant oceanfront accommodations, fine dining and in-depth cultural sightseeing – that have made Tauck the #1 travel company in Hawaii for decades.

1. Arrive Oahu Tour begins: The Royal Hawaiian. A transfer is included from Honolulu International Airport to The Royal Hawaiian on the shores of Waikiki Beach. Known as the Pink Palace of the Pacific, this historic resort has been an icon of luxury and romance for over a century; you have a choice of historic garden-view accommodations or oceanfront rooms during your stay. Meals D

2. Pearl Harbor / Catamaran Cruise Set along the white sands of Waikiki, The Royal Hawaiian offers the perfect locale to watch one of the world’s most famous beaches come to life in the early morning hours; colorful catamarans and outrigger canoes share the glistening waves with ardent surfers and swimmers. Sightseeing today includes a visit to Pearl Harbor and the poignant USS Arizona Memorial, a tribute to those who lost their lives on December 7, 1941. Drive up to Nuuanu Pali Lookout to enjoy a sweeping view of Kailua, Kaneohe and the blue Pacific. Take an afternoon cruise aboard the state-of-the-art catamaran Maita’i, a memorable way to take in the sights of Waikiki, and join us for a welcome reception tonight. Meals B

3. The Tropical Pleasures of Maui Fly to Maui today, known as the Valley Isle for its verdant landscapes. Visit the Maui Ocean Center for a fascinating look at life under the sea; the state’s largest aquarium, it is the only facility in the world dedicated to Hawaii’s unique marine life. Spend the next two nights at the elegant Maui Prince Hotel, regarded as one of the islands’ most beautiful beachfront resorts. Meals BD

4. Ho’omana’o / Lahaina at Leisure At Lahaina on Maui’s oceanfront this morning, experience first-hand the authentic Hawaii that few visitors get a chance to see when you take part in Ho’omana’o – a special celebration of the rich history and culture of the Hawaiian Islands featuring interactive, hands-on demonstrations of traditional Hawaiian pursuits such as playing hula instruments, poi pounding, kapa cloth making, throw-net fishing, spear throwing and more. Spend time exploring Maui’s old island capital and former whaling town of Lahaina on your own before returning to your hotel this afternoon. Meals B

5. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park A morning flight takes you to the Big Island of Hawaii, home to an amazing variety of ecosystems ranging from snow-capped mountains and misty rainforests to lava rifts, deserts and beautiful, pristine beaches. Explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park upon arrival; view steaming craters and cooled lava tubes as you travel through this fascinating geological wonderland. Enjoy lunch at Volcano Golf & Country Club, and then set off along the Hamakua Coast. After stopping in Kamuela for dinner, continue on to your home for the next three nights, Hilton Waikoloa Village on the celebrated Kohala Coast. Meals BLD

6. The Big Island of Hawaii at Leisure Spend the day at leisure enjoying the abundant resort facilities of the Hilton Waikoloa Village. An optional 2-hour helicopter flightseeing excursion over the island is available for an additional $399; ask at booking for details. Meals BD

7. Kona Coffee Living History Farm Experience a vanishing way of life today at the national award-winning Kona Coffee Living History Farm, a working seven-acre coffee and macadamia nut farm first homesteaded in 1900 by pioneering Japanese coffee growers. The historic story of coffee farming in the Hawaiian islands comes to life on a guided visit through the coffee orchards, 1925 farm house, coffee processing mill, drying platforms and other assorted buildings. Enjoy time at leisure in the harborside village of Kailua-Kona, where Hawaiian royalty once made their homes in ancient times. Spend the remainder of the afternoon as you wish, before joining us tonight for a traditional Hawaiian luau – a perfect way to mark the end of your week in the idyllic Hawaiian Islands. Meals BD

8. Journey Home Tour ends: Big Island of Hawaii. Fly home anytime. A transfer to Kailua-Kona Airport from Hilton Waikoloa Village is included; allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Meals B

Dates & Prices

Ho’omana’o, Lahaina
Brush up your poi pounding, throw-net fishing, spear-throwing, hula music and other traditional Hawaiian skills at the Ho’omana’o, a unique interactive cultural experience on the shores of Maui’s old capital, Lahaina.

Maita’i Catamaran Cruise, Waikiki The Pacific’s breathtaking beauty, spectacular volcanic views and Honolulu’s stunning cityscape are yours on a cruise aboard the twin-hulled, 44-foot catamaran Maita’i – specially designed to ply the blue waters off legendary Waikiki Beach.

Kona Coffee Living History Farm Step back to a time when the “Kona Nightingale” – the donkey – was the mode of transportation at the Kona Coffee Living History Farm, for a close-up look at the life of Hawaii’s early-20th-century Japanese coffee growers.
 

• Night 1,2,3 The Royal Hawaiian (Historic Garden Rooms or Tower Oceanfront Rooms)Honolulu, Oahu
• Night 4,5 Sheraton Kauai Resort (Ocean-View Rooms)
  Poipu Beach, Kauai
• Night 6, 7, 8 Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa (Ocean-View Rooms)
  Maui
• Night 9,10,11 Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel (Ocean-View Rooms)
  Kohala Coast, Big Island of Hawaii

Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for the hotel and restaurant staffs, and local guides and drivers are included.

No Options Sold - Tauck Directors sometimes assist with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but they will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.

Itinerary

Our most comprehensive Hawaiian journey features outstanding sightseeing and relaxed island leisure at some of the Pacific's finest oceanfront resorts. Visit four islands in distinctive Tauck style, enjoying fine hotels, à-la-carte dining and special entertainment events.

1. Arrive Honolulu, Oahu
Tour begins: The Royal Hawaiian. A transfer is included from the Honolulu International Airport to The Royal Hawaiian. You have the option of staying in a garden room or a tower oceanfront room of this elegant Waikiki Beach landmark. Dinner tonight is in the hotel’s legendary Surf Room. Meals D

2. Pearl Harbor / Honolulu
Today’s sightseeing begins with a poignant visit to Pearl Harbor, where the USS Arizona Memorial honors those who lost their lives in the attack of December 7, 1941. See Iolani Palace, Washington Place and the grandiose state capitol building, among other Honolulu sights. Please join us for a welcome reception tonight. Meals B

3. Waikiki / Outrigger / Bishop Museum
Start the day by meeting a local “beach boy” who will “talk-story” about life on Waikiki Beach, after which you’ll take a ride on Waikiki’s famous surf aboard an outrigger canoe. You’ll have time to explore as you please, perhaps walking up Diamond Head for stunning views of Oahu’s south shore. Tonight, a special private evening at the Bishop Museum – considered one of the finest anthropological museums in the world – includes cultural demonstrations, traditional entertainment, cocktails and dinner in a unique setting, available exclusively to Tauck guests! Meals BD

4. Fly to the Garden Isle of Kauai
Take a morning flight to the lush Garden Isle of Kauai, alive with plumeria, orchids, hibiscus, and other tropical plants. Upon arrival, visit the beautifully restored Kilohana sugar plantation, whose elegant, Tudor-style mansion was one of the grandest and most expensive on Kauai when it was built in 1935. Enjoy lunch and a wagon tour of the 35-acre estate, dotted with tropical gardens and century-old plantation cottages. Stop at Spouting Horn – a natural volcanic blowhole that spurts seawater 50 feet into the air – then arrive at your oceanfront home for the next two nights, the Sheraton Kauai Resort, on southern Kauai’s celebrated Poipu Beach. Meals BL

5. RAVEN-series Lecture / Kauai at Leisure
A RAVEN-series interpretive lecture on the ecology of the islands examines the effects of natural forces on the Hawaiian Archipelago and its climate, flora and fauna. Enjoy leisure time today to pursue optional activities from swimming or snorkeling to spotting marine life on Poipu Beach – look for sunbathing monk seals, and spinner dolphins and green sea turtles swimming offshore. Meals BD

6. Fly to Maui, the Valley Island
Fly to Maui, the lovely Valley Island. Have your camera ready for a photo stop in the mist-shrouded Iao Valley en route to the old island capital and historic whaling town of Lahaina, where you’ll have time to explore on your own. Continue on to the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa in the beautiful Kaanapali Beach area. Meals BD

7. Island of Maui at Leisure
Spend a day at leisure in the idyllic setting of your resort or explore the island as you please. Resort activities range from scuba diving and tennis lessons with a pro to hula demonstrations and wildlife tours. Discover the cultural heritage of the Hawaiian people at a luau tonight, where you will be treated to an evening of traditional food, music and dance amidst a memorable backdrop of tiki torches, stately palms and oceanfront views. Meals BD

8. Mount Haleakala
Ascend to the summit of Mount Haleakala, Maui’s legendary House of the Sun; the haunting beauty of the deeply sculpted, richly colored dormant volcano proves to be an unforgettable sight. After you descend, drive through Maui’s countryside for insights into the island’s agricultural history. Return this afternoon to the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa to spend the rest of the day as you please. One of the finest resorts on Kaanapali Beach, there are a wide range of amenities and activities within the 40 lush oceanfront acres. Meals B

9. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Fly to the Big Island of Hawaii for a three-night stay in one of the islands’ premier resorts. After arriving, explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park; discover an array of astounding geologic features including craters and lava tubes. Continue along the spectacular Hamakua coastline to your resort, the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, nestled into the bluffs above the white sands of beautiful Hapuna Beach. Condé Nast Traveler has rated this beach the “number one beach in America.” Meals BL

10. Big Island at Leisure
Spend the entire day as you please; the Big Island is the largest and most diverse in the Hawaiian Archipelago, home to a variety of tropical landscapes that include rainforests, mountains, volcanoes and beaches. Go exploring on the island or enjoy the recreational activities available at your resort. As a guest at the Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, you’ll enjoy all of its amenities plus those of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, its neighboring sister property, such as heated freshwater pools and poolside whirlpools at both hotels. Optional activities (at an additional charge) include a championship 18-hole golf course, tennis, and a world-class spa. Island flightseeing is also available on an optional helicopter excursion over the volcanoes and valleys of the Big Island, for an additional $399 per person; ask at booking for details. Meals BD

11. Kona Coffee Living History Farm
Visit the national award-winning Kona Coffee Living History Farm today for an intriguing look at a vanishing way of life. At this working seven-acre coffee and macadamia nut farm first homesteaded in 1900 by pioneering Japanese coffee growers, a guided visit through the coffee orchards, farm house, coffee processing mill and drying platforms illustrates the history of coffee farming in the Hawaiian Islands. Enjoy time at leisure in the harborside village of Kailua-Kona; in ancient times, Hawaiian royalty made their homes here. Spend the remainder of the afternoon exploring the beautiful Kona Coast as you wish, before joining us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight. Meals BD

12. Journey Home
Tour ends: Hawaii’s Big Island. Fly home anytime; a transfer to the Kailua-Kona Airport is included. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Meals B

Dates & Prices

Sightseeing Highlights

Private Evening at Bishop Museum
A private evening at Honolulu’s renowned Bishop Museum, whose collections reflect the unique cultural heritage of the Pacific islands, features traditional entertainment, cultural demonstrations, dinner and cocktails – a Tauck Exclusive!

Waikiki “Talk-Story” & Outrigger Ride
An authentic island experience awaits on Oahu, where you’ll listen to a local Waikiki beach boy “talk-story” about life on the beach, then head out for some fun in the sun and the surf aboard a Hawaiian outrigger canoe.

RAVEN-series Ecology Lecture
The rich biodiversity and climate of the Hawaiian Islands reveal much about the forces of nature at work. Join us for a RAVEN-series presentation on the ecology of the islands that takes a look at this “living laboratory.”
 

Hotel Accommodations - The tour price includes all deluxe ocean view hotel accommodations with private baths. Most reserved rooms accommodate two guests in two separate beds. Triple accommodations are generally two-bedded rooms with a rollaway cot and are not recommended for comfort.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary, and except for an occasional island buffet, all dining is à la carte.

Tauck Director – "The Best of Hawaii” tour is conducted by a Tauck Director who will remain with the group throughout the duration of the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for the hotel and restaurant staffs, and local guides and drivers are included.

Itinerary

1. Arrive Honolulu, Oahu
Tour begins: The Royal Hawaiian. Our limousine service will be waiting your arrival at Honolulu Int’l Airport to whisk you away in style to your Tower Oceanfront room at The Royal Hawaiian. A favorite retreat for celebrities and dignitaries, this historic “Pink Palace” fronts Waikiki Beach. Dine tonight in the acclaimed Surf Room. Meals D

2. Pearl Harbor / Iolani Palace Dinner
Rise early for a sightseeing excursion of city landmarks. Your first stop is Pearl Harbor, eternal memorial site of the USS Arizona. Breathtaking scenic views await at Nuuanu Pali Overlook, followed by a drive past Washington Place and the grandiose state capitol building. Be our guest at a royal reception and dinner at Iolani Palace, a National Historic Landmark and the only official state residence of royalty in the United States. Meals BD

3. Natural Treasures of Oahu
Venture beyond city limits today as you discover the diverse natural treasures that have made Oahu a favorite Hawaiian Island destination. Scenic landscapes abound, from lush tropical rainforests, rocky cliffs and volcanic craters like Diamond Head to golden beaches, rolling waves and turquoise bays. Bird and marine life share the island shores with surfers, sailors and fishermen here, portraying the quintessential sights of Hawaii. Meals B

4. Garden Isle of Kauai
An early morning flight takes you to the Garden Isle of Kauai, resplendent with perfumed plumeria, cascading deep-purple bougainvillaea, canopied trees, and sprawling plantations. You’ll be able to enjoy this lush tropical paradise from your private lanai at your elegant beachfront resort. Enjoy lunch and a horse-drawn carriage ride back to a time of grandeur and elegance on the manicured grounds of Kilohana Plantation, once the most prestigious estate on the island. Meals BL

5. The Ecology of the Islands
Take a closer look at the flora and fauna of Hawaii during a RAVEN-series presentation that focuses on the unique ecology of these Pacific Ocean islands. Spend the afternoon at leisure and enjoy dinner at the hotel tonight in one of its acclaimed restaurants. Meals BD

6. Fly to Maui, the Valley Isle
Maui wears one of her most famous landmarks as a crown, weaving the majestic beauty of the dormant 10,023-foot-high Mount Haleakala into a lush landscape alive with the ancient legends and traditions. Your visit to this verdant Valley Isle with Tauck takes you to Iao Valley, then past pineapple and sugar cane fields; ensures historic maritime discoveries in the old whaling town of Lahaina; and indulges with oceanfront pleasures at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa on Kaanapali Beach. Meals BD

7. A Taste of Maui
Life on Maui entices with wildlife-rich waters, fragrant gardens, and an average year-round temperature of 75 degrees – the perfect ingredients for delectable local cuisine. You will have the unique opportunity to discover the secrets of great island cooking today at an award-winning restaurant, culminating in a memorable luncheon experience. The remainder of the day is free. Meals BL

8. Mount Haleakala
Travel to the top of Mount Haleakala, Maui’s legendary House of the Sun, viewing the extraordinary volcanic landscapes of the crater. Drive past acres of onions, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, and flowers covering the hillside farms of local residents who make their homes here as you make your descent. You’re invited to a festive luau tonight, where Hawaii’s cultural traditions come alive in dance, food, and song. Meals BD

9. Big Island of Hawaii
Fly to the Big Island of Hawaii this morning, where Hawaii Volcanoes National Park boasts a starring role. Discover craters, lava tubes and a score of fascinating legends as you explore its surreal landscapes en route to your acclaimed Fairmont hotel, nestled amidst 32 oceanfront acres along the Kohala coast. As close to paradise as it gets, The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii offers spectacular scenic views and extensive recreational facilities, as well as a close-up look at several historical sites located on the resort grounds. Meals BLD

10. Tropical Views & An Ocean Sail
Start your day with an optional two-hour helicopter flightseeing excursion (additional $399 per person; ask at time of booking) that soars over the active volcano Kilauea, the hidden tropical valleys of the Kohala Mountains and the green rainforests of the Hamakua Coast. Enjoy the abundant amenities of your luxury resort today, culminating with a catamaran sail featuring beautiful views along the Kohala Coast. Dinner is included tonight at the resort. Meals BD

11. Kona Coffee Living History Farm
The historic Kona Coffee Belt sits within a twenty-mile stretch of prime agricultural land on the leeward coast of the island where ancient Hawaiians harvested taro, banana, breadfruit, sugar cane, and mountain apple crops. Today this region hosts the Kona Coffee Living History Farm, a working seven-acre coffee and macadamia nut farm first homesteaded in 1900. Step back in time on a guided tour through the lush coffee orchards, farmhouse, Japanese bathhouse, and coffee-processing mill, meeting local “pioneers” along the way. Your visit includes a traditional “Japanese Tea Service” featuring renowned Kona coffee. Explore the harborside village of Kailua-Kona, nestled at the bottom of the Hualalai Volcano, en route back to your hotel. Join us for a regal farewell dinner this evening. Meals BD

12. Journey Home
Tour ends: Big Island. Fly home anytime; a private limo transfer to the Kailua-Kona Airport is included. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Meals B

Dates & Prices

• Exclusive small group departures! Every departure limited to 26 Tauck guests!

• A private dinner on the grounds of Iolani Palace, a National Historic Monument that reigns as the only official royal residence in the United States

• An authentic taste of Hawaiian fusion-style cuisine as you learn the secrets of national award-winning recipes at Roy’s of Kahana, a renowned restaurant on Maui

• A horse-drawn carriage through the grounds of Kauai's most elegant estate