HAWAI‘I
DESTINATION OF THE MONTH
WEEK 3 OF 4
The Hawaiian Islands itinerary that can change your life isn’t found in any guidebooks. Because what makes the Hawaiian Islands truly special is not only their stunning natural beauty or vibrant culture – it’s the deeply rooted relationship that connects them.
That relationship between people and place grows stronger every time we mālama (give back). When we give back – to the land, the ocean, the wildlife, the forest, the fishpond, the community – we’re part of a virtuous circle that enriches everything and everyone. Including our experience as a visitor.
Let’s make sure that as we travel, we are travelling in a way that allows the Hawaiian Islands to regenerate and thrive in the future.
The Mālama Hawai‘i Program
Several organisations offer opportunities for visitors to play a positive role, like beach clean-ups, native tree planting, and more. Engage in some of the suggested volunteer opportunities, and in exchange, experience Hawai‘i on a much deeper and connected level. Through the Mālama Hawai‘i Program, travellers could qualify for a special discount or even a free night from a participating hotel when taking part in its dedicated volunteer activity.
Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach has partnered with the Hawaiian Legacy Rainforest Initiative and are committed to planting 100,000 native trees. When booking the Unforgettable, Soulful Hawaii package, you can visit Gunstock Ranch and plant your own native Hawaiian tree.
Receive your third night free at the Outrigger Reef Resort Waikiki when participating in the 2-hour eco-adventure at Kualoa Ranch that includes various types of community service and cultural learning experiences from land to sea.
Enrich your Hawaiian experience with authentic cultural values at Maui’s Kaanapali Beach Hotel. Here guests have the option to enjoy local Hawaiian crafts, food and activities, leaving them touched by the culture and people of Hawai‘i.
Support local and sustainable tour companies
Hawai’i has a Sustainable Tourism Association that certifies organisations that promote ethical, sustainable tourism that holistically integrates people, the planet, and profit.
Some of the certified tour operators are: Fair Wind Cruises, Paradise Helicopters, Maui Kayak Adventures, Kipu Ranch Adventures and Hawai’i Forest and Trail.
Discover Hawai‘i’s Roots
All of the Hawaiian Islands have complex and fragile ecosystems that are easily affected by outside influences. There are many ways visitors can learn about the native traditions used to work the land—and help locals keep Hawaii more sustainable for generations to come. There are a variety of farm and agricultural tours, botanical gardens and more that showcase the islands’ unique environments.
Island of Hawai‘i
There are numerous ways to learn about the local ecosystem and experience the unique beauty of the island of Hawai‘i. At the Hawai‘i Wildlife Center’s Hoopulauma Science and Discovery Center you can learn about efforts to protect and rehabilitate native bird species and other wildlife. At the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority campus there are a variety of tours focused on renewable energy, sustainability and emerging technology offered by the Friends of NELHA group.
Maui
Take a drive to Upcountry Maui and stroll among fields of sweet lavender and vibrant protea in Kula. Or walk back in time through gardens of indigenous plants at the Kula Botanical Garden. Continue to the 30,000-foot summit of Haleakala and you just might meet our state bird, the endangered nene (Hawaiian goose), or stumble across a Haleakalā silversword, a rare and beautiful succulent that shimmers in the early light.
O‘ahu
Embark on a farm tour to learn about the farm-to-table processes that are such a vital part of Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine, and see Native Hawaiian plants and flowers at Honolulu Botanical Gardens’ five diverse sites on O‘ahu. From December through May, go whale watching off O‘ahu’s southern coast to greet humpback whales on their annual visit to Hawaii’s warm waters
Kaua‘i
Take a farm tour in the beautiful, green Hanalei taro fields to see how kalo (taro), an important Hawaiian root starch, is cultivated. The South Shore of Kaua‘i is also home to Kaua‘i Coffee, a working coffee plantation. Some of Hawaii’s largest botanical gardens can also be found on Kaua‘i; the National Tropical Botanical Garden has three sites here: Allerton Garden and McBryde Garden just west of Koloa, and Limahuli Garden on the North Shore.
Lāna‘i
Besides the island’s resort areas, much of Lāna‘i looks the way it did hundreds of years ago. Cook pines and what is left of pineapple fields remain in Central Lanai, but there are other off-the-beaten-path spots that can transport you back in time. Visit the Kanepuu Preserve for a self-guided tour featuring 48 species of endemic Hawaiian plants. Protected by the Nature Conservancy, learn how this fragile ecosystem continues to survive in Lāna‘i today.
Do you love the Hawaiian Islands as much as we do? Then don’t miss Australia’s biggest annual Hawai‘i Roadshow, Aloha Down Under, which will run from 22 to 29 August 2022. Full details here.
Hawai’i Tourism Oceania is looking forward to welcome you to an evening of Hawaiian food, entertainment, and holiday giveaways!
Register your interest to participate here.
For more information on the Hawaiian Islands, visit Gohawaii Australia | Go Hawaii
Facebook: @gohawaiiau Twitter @gohawaiiau Instagram: #gohawaiiau
HAWAI‘I
DESTINATION OF THE MONTH
WEEK 3 OF 4
Subscribe to LATTE’s free eNewsletter to keep up to date with everything in the luxury travel industry.