Maui Tourism

Tourism is an important part of the Maui economy and has a noticeable impact on the

Maui way of life.  The beautiful coral reefs that surround a large portion of the island’s

shores are home to a number of endangered and native species of plants and animals.

Besides a number of tropical fish and bottlenose dolphins, a number of the extremely

rare sea turtles also grace the shores of Maui.  Tourists have the chance to experience

these animals in their natural habitat, allowing for a once-in-a-lifetime viewing

opportunity.  Besides snorkeling in Lahaina and exploring the West Maui Mountains, the

biggest tourist spots on Maui include the world renown winding Hana Highway and

Haleakala National Park.  The highway runs past a number of untouched black sand

beaches and breathtaking waterfalls.  Haleakala, a dormant shield volcano, not only is a

beautiful backdrop but serves as a recreation site for hikers, bikers, and sightseers who

wish to see the sun peek over the horizon to star a new day.  If owners of Maui real estate

can embrace and acknowledge the importance of tourism to the success of the

island, the unique culture that Maui has become known for will continue to prosper in

the years ahead.

Hawaiian Island Facts

For those who wish to travel to Hawaii, it would be good to learn some interesting facts about the Hawaiian Islands. According to historians, Hawaii was most likely settled between A.D. 300 and 600 by a group of Polynesians who came from other Pacific Islands. In 1778, the famous Captain James Cook visited the islands and called the group of islands the Sandwich Islands. The native kingdom of Hawaii became a republic upon the deposing of Queen Liliuokalani and later, a U.S. territory in 1900 following its annexation in 1898.

One of the most remembered incidences in the World War II was the ferocious attack on the naval base of Pearl Harbour on 7th December 1941 by the Japanese. That attack brought the entry of the United States into the world war.

Hawaii is a chain of islets and eight main islands. The eight main islands are Hawaii, Kahoolawe, Maui, Lanai, Molokai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. It is blessed with mild temperature and this augurs well for its chief plantation products mainly cane sugar, pineapple, flowers and nursery products. The climate is also suitable for the growing of coffee beans, bananas, and macadamia nuts. However, Hawaii’s largest source of income is its tourist business to its charming Hawaiian Islands.

Of interest would be Hawaii’s highest peak called Mauna Kea (13,796 ft). Mauna Loa (13,679 ft) is the largest volcanic mountain in the world by volume. Other major points of interest amongst the tourists are the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Hawaii), Haleakala National Park (Maui), Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park (Hawaii), Polynesian Cultural Center (Oahu), the USS Arizona and USS Missouri Memorial at Pearl Harbor, The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Oahu), and Iolani Palace (the only royal palace in the U.S.), Bishop Museum, and Waikiki Beach (all in Honolulu).

Of late, tourists visiting the Hawaiian Islands are becoming attracted to the availability of visiting the Hawaiian Islands using Cruise Packages. There are many good and attractive Hawaiian Cruise deals around which you can shop.

Experience Hawaii Onboard and On-Foot

Have you ever heard people talk about their Hawaii cruise excursion experiences and envy their joyful recollections? Well, there are numerous other reasons why you should book yourself a deal. With the islands’ refreshingly tropical climate and breathtaking sites to see like the Kilauea volcano, a Hawaii cruise excursion may just be your one-way ticket to a fabulous outing.

First things first: You should consider freeing 10 to 14 days from your calendar, as the area the cruise covers will be vast area. This is not even considering the ocean that surrounds these islands. So if you are departing from San Diego or Los Angeles for example, expect the trip to be that long.

It is also obviously imperative that you find the best cruise ship that suits your leisurely needs. The best part of being on a Hawaiian cruise excursion is you can just sit back and take in the sights. But if you’re the restless type, then a ship with the facilities that can cater to your interests would greatly enhance your enjoyment. If rock climbing or working out in a mini-gym is your cup of tea, then avail of a cruise ship with those features. That’s not to say that you’ll be bored in your Hawaii cruise excursion. You can do things such as horseback riding, deep-sea diving and playing golf once you make the proper shore excursion arrangements.

If you have a problem with seasickness, you can opt to go to Hawaii by plane and then board the cruise ship from thereon. But take note that cruise ships are generally huge, so you won’t feel the waves too much when you’re inside them. For specifics, you can contact Norwegian Cruise Lines in this matter, as they are the primary inter-island cruise operators in Hawaii. Plus, since you cut short your time in getting there, you can spend more time traveling around them.

As with any traveling adventures, the schedule will also play a part in your overall comfort. Most people do their excursions in the summer or the Christmas season, so if you desire a less populated and more affordable trip, it is advisable to sign up on the months of September and October.

Going on a Hawaii cruise excursion is surely a great way to consume your vacation time. You can never go wrong on a trip that has a beautiful destination without the hassles.

Hawaii Cruise Excursions

Most cruise packages to Hawaii will cover cruise excursions and shore tours at an extra charge. However, it usually is cheaper to book these on your own and not bundled together with the basic cruise package you get from the liner.

The excursions usually include helicopter tours, island tours, catamaran adventures, private sailing adventures, private snorkeling, snorkeling tours and swimming with dolphins, whale watching, historical tours, sailing, water sports and other exciting activities to help you get the most of your visit to Hawaii.

Most of these excursions are based on the calendars of the popular lines Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean, Princess Cruise lines, Holland American Cruise Lines and Carnival Cruise Lines, which gives you the freedom to leave the ship to carry out the excursions and come back at a predestined time to continue your cruise with the other passengers.

Choose An Island To Explore:

Islands of Oahu Excursion

Home of the Diamond Head, the most recognizable landmark in Hawaii, an excursion here would be great for anyone who loves shopping and has a passion for history as Oahu is the home of Pearl Harbor, which is synonymous with World War II.

Hanauma Bay is the ultimate snorkeling destination while the North Shore is famous for surfing. The Ko’olau mountain range offers distinctive sheer cliffs, lush rainforest and cascading waterfalls which wait to be explored.

Maui Excursion

The island is known for its attractions including the old whaling town of Lahaina, Haleakala Crater(the world’s largest dormant volcano), the road to Hana (renowned its scenery) and Kaanapali Beach.

Big Island Excursion

Bigger than all of the other islands combined, it is renowned for Kilauea and Kilauea Iki (the world’s most active and largest) volcanoes. and is the best for whale watching in the winter months (Nov-May).

Get to snorkel in the crescent shape of Molokini (a half sunken crater) and whale watch in Lahaina.

Kaua

The oldest and fourth largest of the Hawaiian islands and is famous for the immense and colorful Waimea Canyon.

Enjoy a kayak paddling tour on the Wailua River or choose to explore the golden sand beaches of the Coconut Coast.

Planning A Hawaiian Holiday Itinerary

Planning your itinerary for a holiday in Hawaii shouldn’t be difficult if you already know what you want to see and do while on your cruise to Hawaii.

There are basically 3 options to choose from:

Roundtrip from Honolulu

Only the US-flagged ships, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of Aloha and Pride of America, are permitted to offer intra-island cruises*. The ships offer the cruise industry’s only week-long, port-intensive option, sailing 7-night round trips from Honolulu.

*The foreign flag Jones Act requires that ships that are registered in foreign countries must call on at least one international port.

Roundtrip from the U.S., Mexico or Canada

These are round trip voyages of up to 15 nights from San Diego or Vancouver offered by Princess and Holland America, amongst other lines.

Repositioning Tours

These cruises only take place once or twice a year when the ship is moving from one cruise region to another and are usually available at a bargain price as the cruise lines are keen to fill them with fare paying passengers.

They sail between the U.S. and the Far East and /or Australia / New Zealand, calling on Oahu and Maui and sometimes the Big Island (Island of Hawaii) as well as islands in French Polynesia.

Check the cruise calendars to see when you can book to travel on these tours as they are only available for a limited time.

Activities:

If your plan is to engage in surfing, scuba diving, hiking, etc, while on your cruise to Hawaii, it is worth mentioning that some activities are particular to certain islands.

Where To Hike

i. Kauai - Waimea Canyon
ii. Kauai - Na Pali Coast (only in the summer)
iii. Big Island - Mt. Kilauea

Where To Scuba Dive

i. Big Island - West Coast

ii. Maui - Molokini
iii. Maui or Lanai - Lanai Coast

Where To Windsurf / Kite Surf (Only In The Summer)

i. Oahu - Kailua Beach
ii. Maui - Hookipa Beach Park

Where To Go For Snorkeling

i. Oahu - Haunama Bay
ii. Maui - Black Rock
iii. Kauai - Lydgate Beach & Tunnels

Where To Go For Nude Sunbathing

i. Maui - Little Beach in Makena
ii. Kauai - Secret Beach in Kilauea
iii. Big Island – Various Locations

Where To See An Active Volcano

i. Big Island

Where To See Waterfalls

i. Kauai
ii. Maui

Anything else you may want to do, can be done on just about any of the 6 Hawaiian islands.