5 Incredible Ways to Experience Hawaii
Which One Is Right for You?
Few destinations have the ability to feel like several vacations wrapped into one quite like Hawaii.
One day you can be standing at the edge of a dramatic volcanic landscape, the next winding through lush rainforest toward a waterfall, and the next doing absolutely nothing except listening to the waves from a beautiful beach. Every island offers its own scenery, personality and experiences.
But here’s something travelers don’t always realize when they first start planning: there isn’t just one “right” way to experience Hawaii.
You can explore several islands on a beautifully planned luxury journey. Choose an escorted vacation that balances sightseeing and free time. Settle into one incredible resort and really slow down. Cruise between islands and wake up somewhere new. Or create a completely customized vacation built around exactly what you want to do.
The best Hawaii vacation isn’t necessarily about seeing the most. It’s about choosing the style of trip that fits the way you like to travel.
Here are five incredible ways to experience Hawaii—and how to decide which one might be right for you.
1. Go All-In on a Luxury Guided Journey
Best for: Travelers who want an elevated experience, immersive sightseeing and very few logistics to manage themselves.
If Hawaii is a bucket-list trip and you want to experience multiple islands without worrying about all the moving pieces, a luxury guided journey can be an exceptional way to go.
A trip such as Tauck’s Best of Hawaii combines beautiful accommodations, inter-island transportation, expert guidance and thoughtfully selected experiences into one seamless vacation. Instead of spending your time figuring out flights, transfers, tours and timing, you get to simply enjoy Hawaii.
And that matters in a destination where some of the most memorable experiences aren’t necessarily sitting right outside your hotel.
Imagine soaring above Kauai by helicopter, seeing emerald valleys, waterfalls and the dramatic Nā Pali Coast from above. Explore the powerful landscapes of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Experience a traditional Hawaiian luau featuring cuisine, music and cultural storytelling. Stand at the edge of magnificent Waimea Canyon. These are among the experiences highlighted in this style of journey.
Because so many details and experiences are already included, you’re free to concentrate on the destination instead of the logistics.
Why we love this option: It takes much of the work out of multi-island travel while still allowing you to experience Hawaii in a meaningful, immersive and elevated way.
2. See More of Hawaii on a Classic Escorted Journey
Best for: Travelers who want the ease of guided travel but also appreciate some flexibility and value.
Want to see several Hawaiian islands without planning every hotel, flight, transfer and sightseeing experience yourself—but don’t necessarily need a luxury touring experience?
A classic escorted journey may hit the sweet spot.
An itinerary such as Globus’ Best of the Hawaiian Islands combines organized sightseeing with opportunities to enjoy some time on your own. Travelers can experience famous Hawaiian landscapes and attractions such as the Road to Hana and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park while having much of the transportation and logistics already arranged.
One feature we especially like is the ability to personalize portions of the experience through upgrades, including enhanced room categories and views.
You get the confidence of having the major pieces planned while still enjoying some freedom along the way.
Why we love this option: You get the convenience of an organized multi-island itinerary while maintaining some independence and flexibility.
Tauck or Globus—what’s the difference?
This is an important question because, at first glance, these two vacation styles can sound very similar.
Think Tauck if your priorities are luxury, highly curated experiences, elevated accommodations and having more included in the overall journey.
Think Globus if you want a well-organized escorted experience that allows you to see a lot of Hawaii while balancing guided touring, personal time and budget.
Neither is automatically “better.” They simply fit different travelers—and helping you figure out which traveler you are is where a good travel advisor becomes especially valuable.
3. Slow Down With a Hawaiian Resort Escape
Best for: Families, couples and travelers who would rather experience one island more deeply than move between several.
Here’s something we remind clients all the time:
You don’t have to island-hop to have an amazing Hawaii vacation.
Sometimes the best Hawaii vacation is unpacking once, settling into a gorgeous resort and giving yourself permission to slow down.
One of our favorite examples—especially for families—is Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa on Oahu.
Located along the shores of Ko Olina, Aulani combines a beautiful Hawaiian setting with Disney touches and family-friendly amenities. Guests can enjoy multiple pools, waterslides, a lazy river, children’s activities, Hawaiian cultural experiences and storytelling, dining and spa experiences.
But choosing a resort vacation doesn’t mean you have to spend every moment at the resort. You can balance those wonderfully relaxing pool and beach days with time exploring your island.
And Aulani is just one example. Your Wish & Wander Journeys advisor can help you choose a Hawaiian resort and island that fits the type of vacation you’re imagining.
Why we love this option: Sometimes seeing less allows you to experience more. Staying on one island gives you time to settle in, relax and enjoy Hawaii without feeling like you’re racing through your vacation.
4. Island-Hop Without Packing and Unpacking
Best for: Travelers who want to experience several Hawaiian islands as easily as possible.
Want to wake up on a different Hawaiian island without changing hotels every few days?
This may be your answer.
Norwegian Cruise Line’s Pride of America sails entirely within the Hawaiian Islands, allowing travelers to spend more time exploring the islands rather than crossing the ocean. Typical itineraries include Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Island (the Big Island).
Your ship becomes your floating home base while you explore.
That means you can spend your days discovering waterfalls, volcanoes, beaches and island towns—and then return to the same stateroom at night.
No repeatedly packing your suitcase. No checking in and out of multiple hotels. No changing rooms every few days.
Overnight stays in port can also provide additional time to explore before returning to the comfort of the ship.
Why we love this option: It combines island hopping, relaxation and convenience into one vacation and gives you the opportunity to experience several different sides of Hawaii in one trip.
5. Create Your Own Hawaii Adventure With a Flexible Independent Trip
Best for: Travelers who already have a vision for their Hawaii vacation and want the freedom to explore on their own schedule.
Maybe you’re reading the first four options and thinking:
I already know what I want.
Perfect.
Maybe you know exactly which islands you want to visit. You already have a few resorts in mind. You know you want five nights on Maui followed by a few days on Kauai—or perhaps you’ve always imagined combining Oahu with the Big Island.
You don’t necessarily want to join a guided tour, and a cruise isn’t quite what you have in mind.
You want your Hawaii trip, your way.
That’s where a Flexible Independent Travel—or FIT—vacation comes in.
With just a few details about the vacation you have in mind, your Wish & Wander Journeys travel advisor can help curate all of those individual pieces into one seamless trip.
We can help coordinate your:
Island selection and the best order for your trip
Resort stays
Inter-island flights
Rental cars and transfers
Tours, activities and special experiences
Pre- and post-travel details
You still get the freedom of an independent vacation—without having to piece every detail together yourself.
And you don’t have to have everything figured out before you call us.
Maybe you know you want Maui and Kauai but aren’t sure how many nights to spend on each. Maybe you know the experiences you want but don’t know which island makes the most sense. Or perhaps you’ve saved a handful of resorts and need help narrowing down which one actually fits your travel style and budget.
Give us the vision. We’ll help curate the trip around it.
Why we love this option: It’s your Hawaii vacation. We simply help bring all the pieces together so the trip you’ve been imagining works beautifully from beginning to end.
So...Which Hawaii Vacation Is Right for You?
That’s where planning Hawaii gets interesting.
Maybe you want the luxury and immersive experiences of a Tauck journey.
Perhaps you prefer the guided sightseeing and flexibility of Globus.
You might want to unpack once and settle into an incredible Hawaiian resort, or see multiple islands from the convenience of Pride of America.
Or maybe you already know exactly what your Hawaii vacation should look like and simply want a Wish & Wander Journeys advisor to curate a customized island-hopping adventure around your vision.
There isn’t one perfect way to experience Hawaii.
There’s a perfect way for you to experience Hawaii.
And that’s exactly what we help you find.
At Wish & Wander Journeys, we look at how you like to travel, what you want to experience, your budget, your pace and who you’re traveling with—and then help match you with the islands and travel style that make the most sense.
From choosing the right islands and resorts to coordinating tours, cruises, transportation and experiences, we help take the complicated pieces of planning off your plate.
Because a trip to Hawaii shouldn’t just look incredible in the pictures.
It should feel incredible while you’re actually there.
🌺 Ready to start dreaming about Hawaii? Let Wish & Wander Journeys help you find your perfect way to experience the islands.
