The beautiful Grand Wailea, Maui

One of my favorite places in the world is Hawaii. People always ask me, "which island is your favorite?" And my answer is always "which ever island I'm on!" I have been on all six of the islands you can visit, and can say that each has its own personality. When clients ask me where to go, I do a lot of Q&A with them to get a real sense of what they look for when they travel. This allows me to suggest the best place for them.

Folks looking for active vacations - biking, hiking and the like - will find that just about any island offers activities to challenge even the most ambitious outdoor action seekers. On Kauai, there is no better place for sheer beauty - and challenging hiking - than the Kalalau Trail, a path that skirts the edge of the spectacular Kalalau range on the west side of the island. This is one of the only ways to see this region - the others are by boat or helicopter! And, of course, there's the Waimea Canyon, also known as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. Here you'll find trails for all levels of hikers that lead you to the beautiful vistas in the canyon. 

On Maui, one of the favorite activities is to bike down the crater. A super-early morning start will get you to the top of Haleakula crater in time for sunrise, a truly awesome event. Then, get on a bike and ride down the hill! 

Don't forget the hike up Diamond Head Crater on Oahu or hikes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. On Molokai, take a mule trip - Grand Canyon style - down to the Kalaupapa Peninsula, and on Lanai get some four-wheeling fun on rugged roads leading to lunar landscapes.

History buffs love Oahu where it's easy to spend at least one day visiting Pearl Harbor...the Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri, and the Bowfin Sub. Honolulu is home to the only palace in the U.S. - the Iolani Palace offers glimpses into the lives of Hawaiian royalty. The Bishop Museum is a treasure trove of exhibits and information about Hawaii's history and the Polynesians who first landed here. Did you know there is a beautiful Buddhist Temple on Oahu? Far removed from the bustle of Waikiki, this incredibly beautiful site offers visitors peace, quiet, and contemplation.

The excitement of Hawaii - called the Big Island - is, of course, centered around the volcano, in constant eruption since 1983! Last year, violet eruptions and lava flows added thousand of acres to this, the youngest of the Hawaiian islands. This is where you see nature in full action. Spending a day or two in the national park will leave you in awe of the power of the volcano. Walk through a lava tube, drive around the crater, and hike in a rain forest. It's said that of the 13 (or so) climatic zones in the world, Hawaii has 10 or 11! No Saharan desert, and no arctic zone. Did you know that people can ski on Mauna Kea? And you can also visit the world's biggest array of telescopes aimed at the heavens.

Notice I've not mentioned those great beaches, or snorkel spots, or dive areas, or fishing, or kayaking, or sailing, or wind-surfing...or so much more.

Oh, and I haven't talked about food, either. Or Mai Tais! There ARE some things that are really more fun to discover on your own.

When you need some expert help on your Hawaii vacation, do contact me. I LOVE to talk about this beautiful place - the most remote islands in the world!