Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
A Cruise Through the Islands
If you're looking for a taste of several islands in a single week, consider
taking a cruise with
Norwegian Cruise Line
(
&
800/327-7030;
www.ncl.
com), the only cruise line that operates year-round in the Hawaiian
Islands. Norwegian Cruise Line's 2,240-passenger ship
Norwegian Star
leaves every Sunday from Honolulu and makes stops on the Big Island,
Maui, Kauai, and Fanning Island in the Republic of Kiribati, before return-
ing to Honolulu the following Sunday. Prices start at $1,847 per person,
but deals are often available through travel agents. Prices are substan-
tially reduced for children 2 and under with two paying adults. Family-
friendly amenities include “Kids Crew” (an onboard children's program)
and babysitters.
The disadvantage of a cruise is that you won't be able to see any of the
islands in depth or at leisure; the advantage is that you can spend your
days exploring the island where the ship is docked and your nights aboard
the ship sailing to the next port of call.
A WEEK ON MAUI
The day you arrive, take the kids to
the Maui Ocean Center to give them
an idea of what's out there in the big
blue. This 5-acre facility houses the
largest aquarium in Hawaii and fea-
tures one of Hawaii's largest predators:
the tiger shark. As you walk past the 3
dozen or so tanks and countless
exhibits, you'll slowly descend from
the “beach” to the deepest part of the
ocean, without ever getting wet. Start
at the surge pool, where you'll see shal-
low-water marine life like spiny
urchins and cauliflower coral; then
move on to the reef tanks, turtle pool,
“touch” pool (with starfish and
urchins), and eagle-ray pool before
you reach the star of the show: the
100-foot-long, 600,000-gallon main
tank featuring tiger, gray, and white-
tip sharks, as well as tuna, surgeonfish,
triggerfish, and numerous other tropi-
cals. The most phenomenal thing
about this tank is that the walkway
goes right through it—so you'll be
surrounded on three sides by marine
creatures. A very cool place, and well
worth at least a couple of hours. Then
head to the beach.
On day two, get up before sunrise
and drive up the 10,000-foot (still
active
keep the kids occupied. Then wander
over to Chinatown where the kids will
be enthralled with the exotic food-
stuffs at the outdoor markets.
On day six, take the kids to Hawai-
ian Waters Adventure Park. They'll love
this 29-acre water-theme amusement
park; plan to spend the day here. High-
lights are a football field-size wave pool
for bodysurfing, two 65-foot-high free-
fall slides, two water-toboggan bullet
slides, inner-tube slides, body flume
slides, a continuous river for floating
inner tubes, and separate pools for
adults, teens, and children. In addition,
there are restaurants, food carts,
Hawaiian performances, and shops.
On the last day, or on a rainy day,
take them to the Hawaii Children's
Discovery Center. Perfect for ages 2 to
13, this 37,000-square-foot place of
color, motion, and activities will enter-
tain them for hours with hands-on
exhibits and interactive stations. Where
else can they can play volleyball with a
cyber-robot or put on sparkling cos-
tumes from India or dress up as a pur-
ple octopus or write their names with
backwards letters while looking in a
mirror? There are lots of summer
classes and activities from playing with
clay to painting (most of them invite
the parents to participate too).
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