Luxury Hawaii Holidays

The best way to appreciate Hawaii’s incredible landscapes is from above. Take a helicopter tour for magnificent views of Jurassic forests, crashing waterfalls, whale pods and lava flows over the islands. Choose from a range of helicopter tours covering different routes, from a Molokai Voyage to Haleakala Crater or Sunset Odyssey tour.

Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island is home to the world’s most active volcano, Kilauea, as well as its largest, Mauna Loa, which rises over 13,600 feet above sea level. Tour the 333,000 acre park to see deserts, rainforests, lava tubes and volcanic craters. Try the Crater Rim Drive, walk through the Thurston Lava Tube and see Puu Oo Vent spurt lava from underground tubes straight into the ocean.

Drive Maui’s famous Hana Highway, a 103 kilometre stretch of road that traverses 54 bridges and over 600 curves. The windy road takes you through forests and along the coast, past eucalyptus trees, Black Sand Beach and Waianapanapa State Park. Stop off at Keanae Peninsula, the Bamboo Forest, Wailua Falls and the Garden of Eden, where the opening scenes of Jurassic Park were filmed.

Each June, Maui hosts the Kapalua Wine and Food Festival. Over a long weekend, the Kapalua Resort welcomes in food and wine experts to give seminars, wine tastings, and local cooking demonstrations. As a visitor you will be welcomed the Aloha way with some delicious meals.

Grown on Hawaii Island, Kona coffee is renowned for its delicious flavour and aroma. For ten days each November, you are invited to get a glimpse of how the coffee beans are grown and sample the coffee within the jubilant atmosphere of live music and dance performances.

The Aloha Festivals are a month-long celebration of Hawaii’s culture and traditions. Many of the archipelago’s islands join in the celebrations, offering a range of events. From ceremonies to parades, each of the events showcase Hawaiiaan culture. This is the perfect way to learn more about the islands’ fascinating spirit during your Hawaii holidays.

Another celebration of Hawaiian culture and history, Waimea Town Celebration is a nine day festival held each February. The festival features a range of fun events across Kauai’s breath-taking West Side, full of live entertainment and delicious local food.

Hawaii’s capital city celebrates the cultures of the Pacific Rim each March at the three day Honolulu Festival. Get a taste of the unique cultures through exhibitions, live entertainment, crafts, and great local food.

Known as the potato of the tropics, taro is a plant that has played a huge roll in Hawaii’s history and culture. The plant is celebrated for sustaining Hawaii’s earliest settlers with its starchy root, and locals now use it in everything from burgers to poi. 

One of Hawaii’s staple foods, poi is made from cooking and mashing taro root. Despite the purple mash appearance, poi is incredibly flavourful and beloved by locals.

Whole pigs are roasted in a fire pit underground, lined with rocks and banana leaves. After being covered, the pig is cooked for an entire day. Kalua pig is a favourite with locals and usually made for big celebrations, so make sure you give it a try if you attend a luau (traditional Hawaiian party).

First invented in the town of Hilo on Hawaii Island, Loco moco is now a popular dish across the archipelago. A delicious comfort food, Loco moco consists of rice, a burger patty and a fried egg, all covered in a gravy. 

Another Hawaiian favourite is poke, a food made from ahi (raw tuna) that’s marinated in shoya, sesame oil, salt and green onions.

Considered a soul food by many Hawaiians, lau lau is a tasty dish of leaf-wrapped fish and pork. The fish and meat is wrapped in ti leaves and taro leaves, secured with tied leaf stems, then steamed for hours. The result is a parcel of deliciously tender and juicy meat. Note that the cooked taro leaves are not to be eaten, as they are solely there to seal in the moisture and flavour.