An Extended Exploration Of The Hawaiian Islands

Sensuous and intense, rugged and majestic, this extended journey seeks the rarest pearls in North America’s Pacific Ocean. From the serenity of Vancouver in Canada’s British Columbia to the Hawaiian Islands, we slip amongst wonders and waters that redefine our words for desire.

When the sun is high, we catch the first glimpse of Hawaii, which is the proper name for the Big Island. Birthplace of Kamehameha the Great, this island reigns supreme for its five volcanos, deep canyons, plummeting waterfalls and Kona coffee. Take a cardio-hike through Volcano National Park. Walk to Akaka Falls...read more that plummets some 422 feet (128 meters) to spring forth a multitude of misty rainbows. Or hop a helicopter to hover active Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanos.

Oahu welcomes us to Honolulu and the sugary white shores of Waikiki Beach. Imagine chauffeured shopping safaris or champagne toasts atop Diamond Head. Enjoy a private tour of Pearl Harbor and the Punchbowl Crater that cradles the National Memorial Cemetery. An overnight allows time for a traditional Hawaiian Luau, a folkloric celebration that tells the story of Hawaii before high-rises and hotels.

The legendary coast of Kona has long been coveted for its beauty where Captain Cook first stepped ashore to where King Kamehameha I went for a little R&R. Graceful manta rays, green turtles and surfers fill the warm bays whilst coffee plantations and orchid gardens dot the leafy foothills. As glamorous as a movie set, Kauai is perhaps the most picturesque island. From the dramatic 4,000-foot-high (1,200 meters) Na Pali Coast State Park to 3,600-foot-deep (1,090 meters) Waimea Canyon, a geological masterpiece that is alien in such a lush landscape. Under an azure-and-gold sun, we return to Vancouver where the downtown Stanley Park refreshingly leaves you feeling miles away from civilisation.