Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the Sun: Haleakala National Park”
under “Exploring Maui with Your
Kids,” in chapter 5.
•
Taking a Day Trip to Lanai
(Maui): If you'd like to visit Lanai
but have only a day to spare, con-
sider taking a day trip.
Trilogy
(
&
888/MAUI-800;
www.sail
trilogy.com) offers an all-day sail-
ing, snorkeling, and whale-watch-
ing adventure. Trilogy is the only
outfitter with rights to Hulupoe
Beach, and the trip includes a
minivan tour of the little isle (pop.
3,500). See p. 290. You can also
take
Expedition's Lahaina/Lanai
Passenger Ferry
(
&
800/695-
2624;
www.go-lanai.com) from
Maui to Lanai, then rent a four-
wheel-drive vehicle from
Dollar
Rent-A-Car
(
&
800/588-7808
)
for a day of backcountry exploring
and beach fun. See p. 330.
•
Soaring Over the Na Pali Coast
(Kauai): This is the only way to see
the spectacular, surreal beauty of
Kauai. Your helicopter will dip low
over razor-thin cliffs, flutter past
sparkling waterfalls, and swoop
down into the canyons and valleys
of the fabled Na Pali Coast. The
only problem is that there's too
much beauty to absorb, and it all
goes by in a rush. See “Helicopter
Rides over Waimea Canyon & the
Na Pali Coast” under “Exploring
Kauai with Your Kids,” in chap-
ter 8.
•
Watching Rainbows at a Water-
fall:
Rushing waterfalls thunder-
ing downward into sparkling
freshwater pools are some of
Hawaii's most beautiful natural
wonders. If you're on the Big
Island, stop by
Rainbow Falls
(p. 207) in Hilo, or the spectacu-
lar 442-foot
Akaka Falls
(p. 202),
just outside the city. On Maui, the
road to Hana offers numerous
viewing opportunities. At the end
of the drive, you'll find
Oheo
Gulch
(also known as the Seven
Sacred Pools), with some of the
most dramatic and accessible
waterfalls on the islands. (See
“Tropical Haleakala: Oheo Gulch
at Kipahulu” under “Exploring
Maui with Your Kids,” in chap-
ter 5.) Kauai is loaded with water-
falls, especially along the North
Shore and in the Wailua area,
where you'll find 40-foot
Opaekaa
Falls,
probably the best-looking
drive-up waterfall on Kauai. (See
“Wailua River State Park” under
“Exploring Kauai with Your Kids,”
in chapter 8.) With scenic moun-
tain peaks in the background and a
restored Hawaiian village on the
nearby river banks, the Opaekaa
Falls are what the tourist-bureau
folks call an eye-popping photo op.
•
Smelling the Flowers in a Tropi-
cal Garden:
The islands are redo-
lent with the sweet scent of
flowers. For a glimpse of the full
breadth and beauty of Hawaii's
spectacular range of tropical flora,
I suggest spending a few hours at a
lush garden. Two tropical havens
not to be missed on the Big Island
include the 40-acre
Hawaii Trop-
ical Botanical Garden
(p. 203),
featuring 1,800 species of tropical
plants, and the
World Botanical
Garden
(p. 204), showcasing
some 5,000 species.
Liliuokalani
Gardens
(p. 205), the largest for-
mal Japanese garden this side of
Tokyo, resembles a postcard from
Asia, with bonsai, carp ponds,
pagodas, and a moon gate bridge.
On lush Kauai,
Na Aina Kai
Botanical Gardens
(p. 380),
about 240 acres in size, is sprin-
kled with some 70 life-size (some
larger than life-size) whimsical
bronze statues, hidden off the
beaten path of the North Shore.
•
Exploring The Grand Canyon of
the Pacific—Waimea Canyon
(Kauai): This valley, known for its
