Hawai’i in June
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Things to do..
Tours taken:
Kaua’i:
- Ni’ihau & Na Pali Super Tour with Holo Holo Charters
The tour was great, food was good and the guides were extremely helpful and took very very good care of us. At no point during this almost 8 hour tour (about 90 nautical miles) do you hit land, so if you’re motion sick, please be sure to come adequately prepared with a prescription patch. You can look for tours which only cover Na Pali, if motion sickness/time is a concern. That will shorten the length of the trip. However, if you are able to — Ldefinitely do both and with Holo Holo.
- Wailua River Kayaking & Hike with Rainbow Kayak Tours
We had a really great time on this tour. The kayaking was lovely and very calming and the hike down to the waterfall was also awesome. We got muddy, sweaty and dirty and then the fresh water falls just seemed that much more refreshing! Our guide was great! Loved her energy. However, this isn’t a must do in Kaua’i, so ensure the rest of your tours and activities are done and then if you have an extra day/morning — go on this tour!
- 60 min doors off helicopter tour with Jack Harter (booked through Tom Barefoot)
If you have the budget for a helicopter tour, Kaua’i is definitely the place to spend that money! Jack Harter has a doors off option and a full 60 min ride, which the other agencies do not offer. It is also the most expensive, but not by a large margin and you may as well do this right given helicopter rides don’t come by too often in life. Photo ops will be fantastic without the doors, as you don’t have to worry about clothes reflecting off the doors. We booked ourselves on this tour but our ride got cancelled due to the rain so we had to go with Blue Hawaiian 55 min Helicopter ride since Jack Harter was sold out for the remainder of our stay.
Note: Wear darker clothes, in case you get a window seat. Darker clothes reflect off the glass doors less so make for better photos for you and your fellow passengers.
Big Island:
- Sunset Manta Ray Snorkel with Hangloose Tours (booked through Viator)
This tour was so much fun and definitely a must do on Big Island. The tour guides were knowledgeable! It is a small boat so hang out at the back of the boat if you’re prone to motion sickness. The tours essentially float boards with lights connected to the bottom off these boards. There are handles to the side of the board which help you hold on to the boards and float with your head below the water. They will give you rubber noodles to stay afloat and you have to stay really still to attract plankton. Once the plankton accumulates, the grand manta rays will arrive and you will not be disappointed. It was a fantastic experience watching these gentle giants up close! Do not forget to carry your water cameras and go pros with you.
Note: Do not under any circumstances touch the manta rays. They have a protective film around their body which is destroyed on human touch and makes them susceptible to illnesses.
-Lava Boat Tour with Ocean Lava Tours, Inc
MUST MUST DO! You have the option of viewing the lava in 3 different ways, a helicopter, a boat or a hike. We did the boat ride and it was certainly the right call. When lava flow is strong, you want to see it up close which is only possible in a boat. The hot molten lava hits the ocean water and instantly cools down forming rocks. The water temp rises to 115 deg F. This process causes a lot of smoke which would be most of what you would view from the helicopter, the lava flows would not be visible owing to the thick layer of steam in the air. Views of the crater will be better in a helicopter, so its really about where your interest lies. A huge portion of this area is dangerous and landslides are common, so the government has cordoned off areas where people can walk to watch the lava. The hike can be done in addition to the boat or helicopter, if time permits. The boat brings you really close to the flows and the Coast Guard is looking to regulate this distance very soon as they feel it’s unsafe for boats to come up so close to the lava. Make sure you get views of the lava during dawn or dusk so you can view the glow in the day and after nightfall. Again, water can be choppy and boats are small so come prepared if you’re motion sick.
Note: Check https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/elevated.html for the latest volcano activity before your visit!
Maui:
- Haleakala Sunrise Special with Haleakala Bike Company
This excursion is a must do, however, if you’re renting a car in Maui anyway then this can be done on your own. You can drive up to the volcano in your car and watch the sunrise. Entrance fee to the Park is $25 and valid for 7 days after your first visit, so can be re-used for the ride through Haleakala on your way back from Road to Hana. Haleakala Bike Company or any other bike company will offer you bike and helmet rentals if you want to ride a bike down from the summit. If you do take the tour and can’t ride a bike or are unsure of riding one, the Upcountry Maui Van Tour will bring you back in the same van that took you up to the summit.
Note: Ensure you carry enough clothing to keep you warm, the wind can be brutal and the temperatures could fall to freezing up there.
- Molokini & Turtle Arches Snorkel (Ma’alaea) with Pacific Whale Foundation
Molokini is beautiful, but this tour didn’t really do much for me. The tour was packed and it seemed like they were aggressively selling something or requesting donations. Very touristy! Snorkeling at Molokini was great, as it was the first stop at 7:30 and wasn’t crazy crowded but by the time we reached Ma’alaea, about three other boats were there too, so you could hardly swim without hitting someone. We saw one turtle, but I feel like because of the crowd, they were probably scared to come out. I don’t have a solution to the crowd issue, because you wouldn’t be able to do this excursion on your own unless you own your own boat. The crater is beautiful, and a must see, but its a very touristy outing so be prepared.
Try booking as many tours as possible directly with the company you’re taking the tour with. It makes life easier for refunds in the event that tours get cancelled due to weather.
Other excursions:
- Sunsets Views: Kaua’i: St. Regis, Kalalau lookout (Waimea Canyon National Park), Poi’pu Beach, Ke’e Beach. Big Island: Kona Coast near Sheraton Keauhou. Typically the Manta Ray Snorkeling excursion will allow you to view the sunset as well. Mau’i: Kihei Beach, Wailea Beach, anywhere along Ka’anapali.
- Road To Hana: Hana Hwy 30. We downloaded the GyPSy app for this excursion, which if you’re doing the road trip on your own, is a blessing! There is barely any reception all throughout and definitely no internet on your phone. This app will guide you to the very end. It will not give you directions if you choose to come back via the backside of Haleakala, which is highly recommended although dangerous on a wet day or if you’re unsure of your driving skills. The app tells you stories behind every place in Hana and talks of legends and is very accurate. We picked up breakfast as we were told food would be difficult to find, but we found plenty of fruit, banana bread and ice cream along the way. If you want to be on the safe side, pick up something, but we didn’t need it. Below is a list of all the places we stopped at along the Hana Highway:
1) Ho’okipa lookout
2) Twin Falls
3) Waikamoi trail to bamboo forest
4) Kaumahina state wayside — we made a bathroom stop here but this place has a nice lookout point as well
5) Honomanu bay view — mile 13
6) Ke’anae Arboretum — Must stop. The walk through this arboretum is short but really pretty. You feel very close to nature and they have some lovely plants and trees.
7) Take a left from the arboretum and head to Ke’anae peninsula for a beautiful view of the water and rugged volcanic rocks
8) Aunty Sandy banana bread stop — Shaved Ice and cold Maui gold pineapple and of course, warm banana bread that melts in your mouth
9) Pau Wa Lu Point. Lava flowing from Haleakala, forming the peninsula. The water is deep blue and the waves crashing against the dark black rock formations make for a stunning visual experience.
10) Coconut Glen’s Ice cream- We were stuffed from our stop at Aunty Sandy’s so we didn’t stop here but it was recommended by multiple people.
11) Wai’apanapa State Park & the black sand beach there. Our GyPSy app told a scary legend about a Hawai’ian princess who was murdered here by her cruel king husband. So, once a year there is a phenomenon in this very cave where the water turns red like blood as a reminder of the incident…but really…it’s just shrimp being born! Short 5 min hike down to the cave.
12) Red Sand beach in Hana. Go past the community center (on your left) and the trail will start to your left. It is slightly hidden but THIS IS A MUST DO! If the weather is wet please be careful or avoid. This is a nude beach.
13) Kuloa Point Trail
14) 3 Bear Falls
- Piilani Hwy/Hwy 31 — on the back side of Haleakala to get back to the city on the way back from Road to Hana. There are gravel roads which are very steep and narrow in places but is extremely pretty and well worth the effort. Most car rental companies don’t allow you to use their vehicles on this stretch but the road is definitely doable and recommended.
- Kahekili Highway
- Big Beach and Little Beach in Maui were my favorite. Just loved how cute little beach was and how peaceful and quiet both were. Little beach is a short hike from Big Beach and is a nude beach.
- Sit in your car and drive around :)
Places to Eat (Suggestions aimed toward vegetarians):
Get fruits at whichever farm stand you find, the fruits are delicious and taste so fresh and juicy! The lychees, tender coconuts, pineapples, papayas, bananas — I could live on a fruit diet in Hawai’i!
Kaua’i:
- Federico’s in Hanalei
- Mai Tai’s at St. Regis
- Kaua’i Juice Company — The Lilikoi Kombucha was delicious
- Postcards
- Food Trucks in Hanalei — we ate at Fresh Bite. They had great wraps and coffee!
- Lotus Thai in Princeville — it is in a food court with many dinner places and has cool outdoor seating too. Get icecream after at Lapperts Ice Cream around the corner.
Maui:
- Pita Paradise in Wailea
- Kihei Cafe for breakfast. Delicious Granola in a Papaya Boat
- Monsoon India
- Maui Thai Bistro
- Maui Gelato
- Mexican at Toasted Chiles
Areas to Stay:
Kaua’i:
Princeville on the Northern shore is close to Hanalei Bay and has great eating options and options for stay. Po’ipu is also a good area to stay in but is more touristy and expensive than Princeville. Kapaa as a location is very convenient as it’s equidistant from the north and south but food and stay options aren’t as great as the other two.
Big Island:
Kona — Northwestern part of the island. Close proximity to town and manta ray snorkeling. They have many beaches there too.
Hilo — Northeastern part of the island. Close proximity to Volcano, especially if you plan to do an early morning tour.
Maui:
Wailea is more upscale than Kihei. Both places have great stay and eating options and is conveniently located. Ka’anapali is a good option for a more luxury type vacation where you can enter your resort and forget the world. It’s more secluded and away from the rest of Mau’i.