NationalGeographicTravellerAustraliaandNewZealandWinter2018

winter iSSUe 2018 29

The aloha spirit is alive and

well on each of Hawaii’s six

islands, but they offer very

different experiences.

Hula All the Way

1

In April each year, the town

of Hilo on the Island of Hawaii

• what many people refer to as
  the Big Island – comes alive with
  song during the Merrie Monarch
  Festival (merriemonarch.com).
  Back in 1964, the festival was
  launched to draw tourists to the
  economically struggling island,
  but it now celebrates everything
  about Hawaiian culture. There’s an
  arts fair, exhibitions of dance and
  music, hula competitions and a
  parade down the main street.

Floating with Giants

2

Imagine paddling atop

a kayak only to have a

humpback whale raise its fin

from the water just metres

away. Without engine sounds

or diesel fumes, these fascinating

creatures are more likely to come

close (you’re not allowed to

approach them) for a once-in-a-

lifetime experience. Maui Kayak

Adventures (mauikayakadventures.

com) runs tours during the calving

season from January to March.

If you’d prefer to tour in a

traditional outrigger canoe or

try your hand at whale watching

on a stand-up paddle board,

check out sister company

Hawaiian Paddle Sports

(hawaiianpaddlesports.com).

Ride On

3

It’s one of the smaller

Hawaiian islands, but it has

the highest sea cliffs in the world

and a spectacular fringing reef. On

Molokai, you’ll also find one of the

state’s most interesting excursions.

The Kalaupapa Mule Tour

(muleride.com) takes guests on the

backs of beasts of burden along

the Kalaupapa Trail and down the

edge of those formidable sea cliffs

to a former leper colony. And don’t

worry if you’ve never straddled a

mule before – you’ll be shown all

the basics before heading off.

Ghosts of Journeys Past

4

Lanai is the smallest

inhabited Hawaiian island,

and a favourite with those looking

to leave the modern world far

behind. Kaiolohia, also called

Shipwreck Beach, is one of its

more spectacular drawcards.

This 13-kilometre stretch of

sand has a number of wrecked

ships, including an oil tanker

from the 1940s, along its rocky

shoreline. It’s a great spot for

walking and beachcombing

and has excellent views of

Maui and Molokai.

The thrill of a close encounter
with a humpback whale during
COURTESY MAUI KAYAK ADVENTURES a kayaking tour on Maui.

10 ReAsOns tO visit

HAWAii