Hawaii
Best of Hawaii: Oahu, Big Island and Maui
Program No. 21586RJ
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Best of Hawaii: Oahu, Big Island and Maui
Best of Hawaii: Oahu, Big Island and Maui
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Participant Reviews
Based on 65 Reviews
SHOWING
If you are a solo traveler and are hesitant to join this trip alone, change your mind and go! go! go!
— Review left February 17, 2026
This adventure was a nice blend of cultural learning, sightseeing and free time at a pace that kept the days full but not rushed.
— Review left February 14, 2026
This was a wonderful introduction to Hawaiian history, culture and geography. Every day was fascinating: Pearl Harbor, an agricultural project, a fish pool, a "lu'au" at a private home, a volcano crater, a rainforest walk into a lava tube, a Japanese garden, a pineapple plantation, and a snorkeling trip. Oh, and hula lessons!
— Review left January 28, 2026
Brandon Tapati, our group leader personified the Hawaiian Aloha spirit from the very beginning with his welcoming ukulele serenade and relaxed attitude; however, he was extremely organized and insured that each participant was comfortable and had their concerns addressed. The 9-day program was fairly comprehensive of the geography, history, culture and environment of the Hawaiian Islands.
— Review left November 30, 2025
My friend and I participated in the Best of Hawaii: Oahu, Big Island and Maui in November off 2025. It was a well planned tour that did an excellent job of helping me to understand the history and culture of Hawaii. Every day was interesting, educational and FUN! Several experiences were unique to this program, and priceless. An added bonus was our tour guide Brandon Tapati, whose sense of humor, warmth, and willingness to share his own experiences as a native Hawaiian made this tour exceptional.
— Review left November 20, 2025
This trip isn’t “The Best of Hawaii” rather it’s an exploration of traditional Hawaiian culture. You’ll need time on your own before or after the trip for bests like Iolani Palace, the Bishop Museum, dolphin or whale watching (depending on time of year), and many others. Most meals were average, some inedible. Granted, Hawaii is a pricey place to visit, but it seemed like Road Scholar really cheaped out here. This is my 12th trip, and the only time I’ve had this reaction to a program.
— Review left October 27, 2025
Overall, the trip was fantastic. While I could have skipped the visits to the farm and fish farm, the rest of the experience was truly memorable. My only real complaint is about the food. We were required to select all our meals for the entire trip on the first day, which felt a bit rigid—I would have appreciated more flexibility, though I managed.
What I found unacceptable was the lack of control over how beef dishes were prepared. I had beef three times; twice it came out medium-well, which I tolerated even though I prefer it well done. However, during the special dinner at the volcano, I ordered steak and received it so rare that blood covered my plate, potatoes, and broccolini. I asked if it could be cooked further, but was told that because it was part of a package, no changes could be made. As a result, I had no dinner that night. It was a deeply disappointing end to an otherwise wonderful day.
— Review left October 17, 2025
Excellent program, especially if you want to know more about volcanoes. If you live on the East Coast (Maryland for us) consider arriving three or four days early to explore Honolulu on your own -- after you catch up on your sleep.
— Review left September 18, 2025
This was our second trip with Road Scholar, and once again we were very impressed with the level of organization, the varied programs, the nice people on the trip, and the fun we had!
— Review left May 3, 2025
We totally enjoyed this trip! We came away with a real appreciation of the culture and history of the Hawaiian people, fell in love with Hawaii and made
several new friends.
— Review left March 27, 2025
Beautiful introduction to the Hawaiian people, culture, environment, and place in American history.
— Review left March 26, 2025
This was my 16th program and again it lived up to my expectations
— Review left March 26, 2025
This is a wonderful way to explore Hawaii. There was a lot to see and do. I learned how Hawaii was settled and how the culture is being preserved. I also gained a deeper appreciation for our world and how to be a better steward of our environment.
— Review left March 21, 2025
My first Road Scholars experience. Very much pleased.
— Review left March 13, 2025
This is an absolutely splendid program that more than exceeded my expectations. Worth every penny.
— Review left March 8, 2025
Couldn't say enough about the quality of our experience on our first, but not last, Road Scholar trip. Our guide, Mel Melele, was excellent. He was very knowledgeable about Hawaiian culture and was good humored throughout. He brought us into his home for a traditional luau witch was wonderful.
The vulcanologist was great. She, and the bus driver, changed their schedule and worked late in order to take us up to the volcano to see it erupting at night. All of the other local guides and experts were also excellent.
Thank you!
— Review left March 4, 2025
Wonderful in every way!! Ozzie was a terrific guide. We especially enjoyed our time on Maui; the snorkeling and whale watching experience was a highlight. The eruption on Mt. Kilaeua was awe inspiring. The guest lecturers and educational/cultural experiences, as always, are top notch. Would definitely recommend!
— Review left February 28, 2025
Terrific tour that remained enjoyable throughout the scheduled activities. The mix of islands was very interesting and added to the natural beauty and learning we experienced. The tour leader was one of the best I've ever had. Scheduling by Road Scholar was easy and supportive.
— Review left February 24, 2025
Our Hawaiian trip included three islands and many interactions with residents that were both educational and authentic. The trip clearly exceeded my expectations in virtually every way.
— Review left January 23, 2025
Great experience could not be happier with this experience
— Review left January 21, 2025
We felt welcomed by all- the locals, the participants, and the friendly, knowledgeable and local instructors.
Honored to learn so much about the history and culture of the islands. The beauty will stay with you.
— Review left November 4, 2024
Our guides; Kaika and Shalina were terrific, they made a great trip an exceptional trip.
— Review left October 29, 2024
This was my first adventure with Road Scholar and my first time to travel to Hawaii ; my experience far exceeded my expectations!
The overall online itinerary for the Best of Hawaii is is well-done and matched what I was hoping to experience and learn about. I also valued the reading suggestions. I was only able to read 5 of the books recommended: 2 history books, a mythology book, Mark Twain’s Letters and Molokai. That small amount of reading greatly enhanced my travel experience. Once the adventure started, there were some nice surprises such as the trip to the USS Arizona Memorial and the impromptu stops to the Iolani Palace and the Kamehameha Statue!
Our first accommodation at Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki was acceptable and convenient. My only one one suggestion would be to consider a different hotel in Honolulu or maybe I needed to ask for the quite section:). The second accommodation at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel was stellar! It was such a beautiful property located on the bay and right next to Liliuokalani Gardens. Finally, the Kaanapali Beach Resort in Maui was incredible and is truly a gem. I was very touched by the Lei ceremony on my last day and appreciated the hotel’s dedication for sharing Hawaiian culture with their guests. All my dining experiences were great, I love fish and I had some of the tastiest fish entrees! The dinner at Mel’s house was very special and made me think of Thanksgiving; it was a great way to bring 19+ strangers together in the spirit of aloha. All of the guest lecturers were passionate and knowledgeable about their various subjects.
Finally, I want to commend Mel Malele for his instruction of Hawaiian culture and for sharing aloha with us! Mel is an inspirational and personable group leader who led by example. To extend my gratitude for such a warm and beautiful experience, I offer a humble haiku:
Hawaii (Aloha)
Of wind, water, wing,
Noble archipelago,
Birth of Aloha.
Mahalo!
Susie
— Review left September 30, 2024
Live your dream vacation in Hawaii--jump in the clear blue water, swim with the turtles, try surfing, walk on beds of lava, learn more about our 50th state, venture thru a lava tube, experience the foods and culture, enjoy all the planning done by RS and enjoy the trip.
— Review left September 28, 2024
What a wonderful cultural experience. The Islands are beautiful, and so are the people!
— Review left May 9, 2024
This trip surpassed my greatest expectations! it was amazing in so many ways.
The staff members at each hotel were so friendly, welcoming and helpful.
I learned so much, the weather was great (although humid) beautiful things to see and wonderful excursions. Great group leader and participants.
— Review left May 3, 2024
I loved the contrasts of different island visits and two pa’ina (luau). The weather, scenery and people were fabulous. The culture and language was a highlight for me. I was well cared for, no negative thoughts and very glad I was able to participate.
— Review left April 30, 2024
Outstanding trip, I learned so much about Hawaiian history and culture, would recommend it to anyone who is interested in the islands but is not a "resort" person.
— Review left April 29, 2024
My husband and I were very pleased with ALL that we got to experience on this trip. Highly recommend .
— Review left March 31, 2024
This program was a great intro into Hawaiian history, geology and culture. It was well organized and gave an opportunity to experience the life and the people of Hawaii apart from the usual tourist visits. We loved it.
— Review left March 25, 2024
This was an excellent program. I learned so much from Mel. He was phenomenal and his knowledge of Hawai'i and Samoa are incredible. I could do this program again and again and learn something new everytime from Mel.
— Review left March 20, 2024
The Road Scholar trip, “Best of Hawai’i: O’ahu, Big Island & Maui”, was a great way to be introduced to the culture of Polynesia and the history of Hawai’i. We had a great time!
— Review left February 29, 2024
This was my first visit to Hawaii. I chose this trip to see Pearl Harbor and Volcano National Park, and came home with a wealth of knowledge and appreciation for the Hawaiian people and culture. The trip exceeded my expectations. Each speaker had a depth of knowledge about their subject and a passion for keeping the Hawaiian culture alive. Mel, our trip leader, invited us to his home on Hawai'i for an authentic Hawaiian dinner. We helped prepare the food and watched as he assembled it in an emu for cooking. This wasn't just a show. It was and still is used for gatherings with ohana (family and community). We learned how the Hawaiian people used the night sky for navigation. We visited an 800 year old fish farm, a taro farm, and even a pineapple farm. All visits included a lesson on the history of these foods and their importance to the Hawaiian people. February was a great time to go to see the migrating humpback whales and their young, albeit a bit windy and rainy. I recommend this trip, especially if Mel is your guide.
— Review left February 20, 2024
Travel and learning with Road Scholar builds confidence and wholeheartedness! It's like showing up to camp without responsibilities - just bring your gear, dreams, and enthusiasm. Do it!
— Review left November 2, 2023
If you are seeking an adventure, sign up for a Road Scholar excursion. I've taken eleven of them and will soon be scheduling another. Their leaders are so personable and approachable, their lecturers are so knowledgeable and graphic, their destinations are so evocative and promising. R.S. is so helpful in helping us plan our transportation and answering all questions posed to them. I tell my friends, "They make sure I see everything, do everything and eat everything!" I've never been disappointed with my investment of time and money in a Road Scholar journey - I'll bet you won't be either!
— Review left November 1, 2023
Hawaii: Oahu, Big Island, and Maui is an adventure to be embraced! This trip offers All: History, culture, language, food, environment, geology, volcanoes, oceanography, botany, astronomy.... Our leader Taiwi and his team of experts stretched our minds and conversations as we were immersed in travel, hiking, snorkeling, cooking, Eating!, and savoring the fun of a luau under a starry Hawaiian night with our fellow travelers. Grateful to be with the considerate, fun, and kind fellow traverlers and learners in our group! Aloha! and Mahalo!.
— Review left May 5, 2023
Excellent Program, both fun and educational. Excellent main Guide! A good deal of travel and early morning starts, but well worth the efforts!
— Review left May 4, 2023
This trip to Hawai'i was a 'bucket list' activity for me. The Road Scholar educational presenters really made this trip special! I am very glad I switched from a traditional tour company to Road Scholar.
— Review left April 19, 2023
Excellent quick overview of the Hawaiian islands. Excellent introduction to the indigenous culture by our knowledgeable leader. As always, the fellow travelers were part of the joy of the trip.
— Review left April 15, 2023
Will McGough was a wonderful Road Scholar guide and would plan another trip without hesitation if he was assigned as the guide
— Review left March 26, 2023
Outstanding program with authentic Program Leader who demonstrated and lived the culture and experiences as had most of the expert speakers. The itinerary was packed and efficient with the best possible location and quality of accommodation for the value.
— Review left March 3, 2023
Always wanted to see an active Volcano and we got to experience that after the skies cleared. We learned a lot about the Hawaiian people and state and its history. Our tour guide Tai was a native and was able to share many customs, words, history and spirituality with us.
— Review left February 23, 2023
the planning, organization, and delivery of what was promised did not disappoint
— Review left February 22, 2023
In the past year, we have fulfilled a desire to visit our nation's 49th and 50th states. Hawaii is a wonderful place to visit, and we appreciated the opportunity to visit three islands via excellent (and short) internal flights. Hotels were outstanding. So were meals. Our top reason to visit Hawaii was to see the Pearl Harbor Memorial. We did so, but the visit was so short that our group didn't even have time to see the orientation film. That was a great disappointment that Road Scholar needs to correct. On the other end, our visits to the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and a pineapple farm were deep and informative. In addition, we saw four full-length rainbows during our tour.
— Review left December 17, 2022
Again we enjoyed our tour with Road Scholar. We especially thought our leader, Tai, was knowledgeable and filled the days with stories and direct knowledge of the islands we visited. He was, as we have experienced in the past, a great tour leader.
We were disappointed several time during the trip when 'special guest speakers' failed to appear. When asked by folks who are curious about why we take our periodic Road Scholar programs we invariably point out the wonderful and knowledgeable experts who round out our learning experiences. Those omissions in our trip were filled but were not up to the expected standards. I left the tour wishing for the give and take of those experts that did not happen.
The accommodations were fine, the food good, and as usual our group was diverse and knowledgeable. Again, our leader was excellent.
— Review left December 13, 2022
I found this program thoroughly enjoyable and exciting. As a solo traveler, I felt included and never lacked for company whenever I wanted it.
— Review left November 22, 2022
This trip was was ok, but not great. It is rated as a Level 3 activity, but I think it should be rated a Level 2. Unlike the other Level 3 RS trips I have taken, there were no hikes - only short walks - and a lot of down time. There were several very interesting and informative activities, such as the Snorkel and Dolphin Watch, the Ka Hau 'oli Hui presentation, and the visits to Volcanoes NP, the pineapple plantation and Pearl Harbor. The visit to the fish pond was interesting, but too long (and designed more for grade school kids). I found the visits to the farm, astronomy center and Rainbow Falls disappointing - not much to see or experience. And the luau was more like a Las Vegas show than a traditional Hawaiian experience. Several "instructors" were excellent (especially the volcanologist and the marine biologist) but others were mediocre. Also, there was little/no traditional food served, including limited fresh fruit (especially at breakfast) - but lots of fried food and bacon! I enjoyed travelling with the RS group - very interesting and friendly people who helped make the trip itself enjoyable. But of the 30+ educational tours I have taken over the years with several different organizations (including RS), this was the most disappointing - nothing was really bad, but I expected to see and experience more of the "best" of Hawaii (music, culture, historical sites, traditional food, natural beauty, people, etc.).
— Review left November 15, 2022
Keep up the good work and keep Hawaii safe and beautiful.
— Review left November 8, 2022
This was the perfect way to see and learn so much about Hawaii beyond the usual tourist experience. With everything that is included I think the trip is a good value for the money. Our group leader was great. The days are well planned with a variety of learning adventures balanced with free time to relax and enjoy the beach. This was my 3rd Road Scholar trip and I'll be doing more!
— Review left November 3, 2022
This program was amazing. A variety of experiences on three different islands. The instructor was so knowledgeable that the amount of information gleaned about Hawaii was amazing. I would highly recommend this program for anyone visiting Hawaii.
— Review left November 1, 2022
My first experience with Roads Scholar was fabulous! I waited a long time to visit Hawaii. Lucky for me I signed up for The Best of Hawaii and I joined a group of people who are interested in history and culture. Also, I joined a tour where things were arranged for me (food, travel to other islands, sight seeing etc) and I met really great people who specialized in their field, like the Volcanoloigist Cheryl, and our group leader Tai, a Hawaiian. This was a trip of a lifetime.
— Review left October 14, 2022
I waited three years to go on this trip because of Covid and I am so grateful I decided to go. We had perfect weather, wonderful group and wonderful group leader. We were fortunate enough to see a lot on the three islands and learn a lot about Hawaii. Road Scholar, as usual, does a wonderful job. I am looking forward to my next adventure with them.
— Review left October 6, 2022
A lot of information was covered in a few days. The itinerary given in advance helped review items of interest in advance, check out the hotels and get comfortable with the pace of the program.
— Review left September 19, 2022
This is an amazing Road Scholar trip. If you want to see the sights and enjoy the lovely Hawaiian Islands and experience the Aloha Spirit, I hope you can go. I waited many years to make this trek and it didn't miss a beat!
From Pearl Harbor, to a tropical Leony Arboretum (my adventure) to wild and wooly volcanoes, and the home of ancient kings in Iao Valley... not to mention the daily feasts of fish vegetables and fruit. LOL so good!
— Review left April 15, 2022
This is a wonderful introduction to Hawaii including the land, the people, and the history. We had a terrific time and especially enjoyed the trip to Volcanoes National Park and the snorkeling/whale watch boat ride.
— Review left March 8, 2022
I waited decades to visit Hawaii, and this trip fulfilled my dream! Our group visited not one, but three of our 50th state's islands. From Oahu's Pearl Harbor and the beach at Waikiki to the pineapple plantation on Maui, we had many opportunities to learn about the culture and history of this magnificent place. Of course, we also had free time to indulge in shopping and just resting poolside with a good book. I have to say as my first Road Scholar trip as a single traveler, it was a huge success! Aloha!!
— Review left November 4, 2021
If you enjoy walking and seeing some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, you will enjoy Road Scholar's trip to Hawaii!
— Review left November 1, 2021
Excellent hotels. Great excursions. I greatly enjoyed the free time on Maui--the art galleries, map store and poster store in Lahaina are amazing. The others on the trip provided interesting and enjoyable company. As a solo traveler, I felt very comfortable and was welcomed by the others on the trip.
— Review left March 25, 2020
This trip was about beauty, nature, Hawaiian history and culture, and experiencing it all as close to being a local as possible. Will is simply the best! Thanks Road Scholar.
— Review left March 22, 2020
The Hawaii program was amazing! I loved the variety, the field trips, and the gorgeous scenery. The food was delicious and fresh. Now that I am home, taking my daily walks with no surfers, volcanoes, or gorgeous beaches in view just reminds me of how fabulous it was. Check Hawaii off the bucket list!
— Review left March 21, 2020
We did and saw a lot on our trip. Highlights for us were USS Arizona and touring Volcano National park with an expert. Small group was the good way to go, only 19 in our group of fun travelers. Best of all, Will the group leader, was terrific. Knowledgeable, personable and well organized. Happy travels!
— Review left March 20, 2020
This is a short trip for the distance you have to travel but is full of interesting excursions and instructors. Highly recommend this as a good introduction to the Hawaiian islands.
— Review left February 19, 2020
What a great trip. Frank and Lee were amazing leaders. The small group made the trip more intimate. Fulfilled bucket list dream of visiting Hawaii. I highly recommend this trip!
— Review left September 24, 2019
This program leaves a participant with a deeper knowledge of the history and present times of Hawaii. It includes a variety of experiences which help to provide that knowledge. Housing and food are good and plentiful, transportation is comfortable, leaders are knowledgeable and accomodating.
— Review left February 19, 2019
A great way to see three islands in one trip with excellent presenters on the relevant subjects: Volcanology, History, Culture, Agriculture, Geology, Astronomy, marine biology.
— Review left February 18, 2019