Hawaii

Best of Hawaii: Oahu, Big Island and Maui

Program No. 21586RJ
Join locals to explore Hawaii with an insider’s perspective, learning about unique island ecosystems, exploring Volcanoes National Park and snorkeling colorful reefs in Lanai!

Enroll with Confidence

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. Learn more

Protecting the Environment

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Learn more

At a Glance

Be immersed in the natural wonders, culture and history of America’s paradise — Hawaii! On this three-island adventure that begins on Oahu, journey along the breathtaking East Coast to marvel in the iconic natural beauty of Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay. Experience Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii, and cap off your learning adventure on Maui exploring a working pineapple farm and snorkeling its pristine waters.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking 1-2 miles daily.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Learn about environmental projects at a historic fish pond and non-profit community organizations on the east coast of Oahu.
  • Visit the home of the active Kilauea volcano!
  • Snorkel along the dazzling coral reef in Lanai.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Andrew A Lockwood
Andrew Lockwood is the President of Pacific Islands Institute, an educational travel company specializing in cultural and eco-experiences throughout Hawaii and the Pacific and has a great appreciation for the life-changing impact of global travel. He has been creating and coordinating Road Scholar programs since 1992 and carrying luggage for Elderhostel participants as a high school student in the early 1980s when his mother was the Hawaii Loa College Elderhostel Director. Andrew is an involved husband and parent of three children.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Andrew Lockwood
Andrew A Lockwood View biography
Andrew Lockwood is the President of Pacific Islands Institute, an educational travel company specializing in cultural and eco-experiences throughout Hawaii and the Pacific and has a great appreciation for the life-changing impact of global travel. He has been creating and coordinating Road Scholar programs since 1992 and carrying luggage for Elderhostel participants as a high school student in the early 1980s when his mother was the Hawaii Loa College Elderhostel Director. Andrew is an involved husband and parent of three children.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Print All
Map details are not available for this location.
9 days
8 nights
19 meals
8 B 5 L 6 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Welcome Dinner, Introductions
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
D
Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration: After you have checked in with the hotel front desk, come to the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm when and where dinner and introductions will take place. If you arrive late, please ask the hotel front desk for your packet when you check in.

Dinner: Dinner at hotel

Evening: Introductions: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead as we begin to explore Hawaii from an insider’s perspective. This Road Scholar program is designed for students of lifelong learning who may be first-time visitors as well as those returning to a place they love. Please read the daily schedule carefully to understand what is included. There is a limited amount of free time so that we can cover as much as possible. If you have special interests that are not part of the Road Scholar program, we recommend making plans to arrive early and/or stay on after its conclusion. Road Scholar Travel Services can assist you in making such plans.

DAY
2
Orientation, Pearl Harbor, Cultural Performance
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
B,L,D
Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach

Activity note: Getting on/off buses; driving about 25 miles throughout the day, approximately 1 hour depending upon traffic. Walking approximately 2 miles throughout the day. Note: Pearl Harbor has a no bag policy. Bags that offer concealment, such as purses, handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags, diaper bags, luggage, etc. that exceed the measurements of 1.5" X 2.25" X 5.5," are not allowed at the monument. There is a baggage storage center onsite that costs an additional fee.

Breakfast: At hotel

Morning: Orientation: We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/current conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Our field trip will begin at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial Visitor Center where we will pick up self-guided audio tours. As the National Park Service reminds us, “Pearl Harbor was the home port for much of the Pacific Fleet and the surprise attack on December 7, 1941 drew the United States into World War II. A total of 2,390 American service members and civilians were killed that day.” Please note that the National Park Service does not allow guided interpretation of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, so your visit here will be self-guided. Due to unprecedented demand, tickets for the boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial are limited and are not guaranteed for our group members in advance. There is a stand-by line available for those looking to take the boat ride out to the USS Arizona Memorial without a ticket. If you would like ensure a ticket in advance, you may purchase one for yourself directly on www.recreation.gov for $1. The group will arrive at Pearl Harbor at approximately 10:15 AM and will depart Pearl Harbor by 12:00 PM. If your ticket time is outside of those hours, you will need to coordinate your own transportation to and from Pearl Harbor.

Lunch: At a local restaurant

Afternoon: In the afternoon, We will be joined by members of the local community who will share the “Aloha Spirit” in a performance and enlighten us about its resonance in past and present life in Hawaii. Through Hawaiian music, hula, use of Hawaiian vocabulary, and an introduction to Hawaiian values and traditions, we’ll gain a better understanding of the foundations of Hawaiian culture and begin to understand what makes Hawaii unique and definitely not “just another tropical location.”

Dinner: At a local restaurant

Evening: At your leisure to explore the bustling city of Waikiki.

DAY
3
Hawaiian Cultural Overview,Traditional Agriculture Practices
Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii
B,L
Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus; driving 75-100 miles, approximately 3 hours total aboard bus. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; some uneven terrain, dirt trails.

Breakfast: At hotel

Morning: Our focus today will be how today’s Hawaiians are supporting their cultural and spiritual practices through environmental restoration and by breathing life into cultural practices that exemplify a lifestyle respectful of kanaka (people), aina (land), and kupuna (ancestors). We’ll learn about restoration of agricultural wetlands for the local community as we explore an agricultural farm and see cultivation of native plants and traditional foods such as taro. We’ll be joined by a local expert who will teach us about Hawaiian history and culture “post-contact” – since the arrival of Captain Cook and other Westerners. The discussion adds to the cultural context for our time in Hawaii and includes the growing importance of olelo Hawaii (Hawaiian language) as a carrier of Hawaiian culture, “Hawaiian world view,” and cultural pride. We’ll depart on a bus to venture around Oahu along spectacular mountain and coastal roads with stunning views of the ocean and the lush forests of the Koolau volcano. This scenic route takes us by Diamond Head and other sights of interest.

Lunch: Box lunch picnic-style

Afternoon: Our next field trip will take us to an ancient Hawaiian fishpond - one of the few remaining from what was once a plentiful resource. This technologically advanced form of aquaculture was unique to Hawaii. The pond's construction regulates both the flow and salinity of the water for optimum results.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. If you have something special in mind, we recommend making reservations in advance.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for morning check-out and transfer for our flight to Hilo.

DAY
4
Fly to Hilo, Imiloa Astronomy Center, Rainbow Falls
Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii
B,L,D
Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Activity note: Flight from Honolulu to Hilo approximately 1 hour. Getting on/off a bus; driving approximately 1/2 hour. Walking up to 1.5 miles; paved surfaces.

Breakfast: At hotel

Morning: We will have a morning check out and transfer via bus to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport for our flight to Hilo on Hawaii Island.

Lunch: Lunch location varies based on flight schedules.

Afternoon: We’ll have a docent-led visit to the Imiloa Astronomy Center, which is situated on nine verdant acres in the Science and Technology Park of the University of Hawaii at Hilo. We’ll focus on exploration of the planetarium and exhibition complex that links early Polynesian navigation history and knowledge of the night skies, today’s renaissance of Hawaiian culture and wayfinding, and contemporary developments in astronomy occurring on nearby Mauna Loa.

Dinner: At hotel

DAY
5
Free Time, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hilo, Big Island of Hawaii
B,D
Castle Hilo Hawaiian Hotel

Activity note: Getting on/off a bus, driving about 60 miles, approximately 2.5 hours total with multiple stops; Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; varied terrain; some areas can be wet and slippery.

Breakfast: At hotel

Morning: Free time. This block of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Usually Wednesday is a big market day at the Hilo Farmers Market with many local farmers, artisans, crafters, retailers, and food vendors.

Lunch: On your own to have what you like. You might also like to check out food choices at the Farmers Market.

Afternoon: We will regroup at an announced time and place and set out via bus for a field trip to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. From the National Park Service: “Hawaii Volcanoes National Park displays the results of at least 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution in the Hawaiian Island-Emperor Seamount chain — processes that thrust a bare land from the sea and clothed it with complex and unique ecosystems and a distinct human culture.”. We will make multiple stops, determined by the evolving conditions of this fascinating geologically active area.

Dinner: At a local restaurant

Evening: After dinner, we will ride back to our hotel in Hilo. Prepare for morning check-out and transfer for our flight to Maui.

DAY
6
Fly to Maui, Pineapple Farm, Iao Valley
Kaanapali, HI (Island of Maui)
B,L
Kaanapali Beach Hotel

Activity note: Morning check-out and transfer to airport. The flight to Maui is about 40 minutes. Getting on/off a bus; driving about 50 miles throughout the day, approximately 1.5 hours including stops. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day and standing; some uneven terrain, dirt trails.

Breakfast: At hotel

Morning: We will check out in the early morning and transfer via bus to Hilo Airport for our flight to Maui. Upon arrival in Maui, we’ll hop aboard a bus for a visit to a local pineapple farm. Long associated with Hawaii, pineapple plantations used to be large and numerous throughout the islands, but for reasons we’ll share during the field trip, they are now almost entirely gone. With a local expert, we’ll see field operations first hand. We'll also learn about the growing cycle of pineapples and cultivation techniques. And we’ll taste fresh pineapple!

Lunch: At a local restaurant

Afternoon: We will embark on our field trip to Iao Valley State Park in Central Maui. A paved path will guide us on a stroll through a botanical garden to a lookout point. We’ll learn of the historic significance of this valley which was the location of a significant battle – the 1790 Battle of Kepaniwai - in King Kamehameha I’s quest to unite the Hawaiian Islands. This lush valley also features one of Maui’s most photographed landmarks, the 1,200-foot Iao Needle. We’ll reboard the bus, drive to our resort in Kaanapali on Maui's scenic west side, and check in mid-afternoon. As we get close to the hotel, we’ll pass historic Lahaina, point out sites of interest, and give you the lay of the land to help you get a better sense of distance and how you might like to spend your free time tonight and tomorrow.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. If you have something special in mind, we recommend making reservations well in advance.

Evening: At leisure. You might like to take a walk along the beach, explore local galleries and restaurants, or seek out live music.

DAY
7
Free Time, Marine Life Presentation
Kaanapali, HI (Island of Maui)
B,D
Kaanapali Beach Hotel

Breakfast: At hotel

Morning: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. You might like to hang out at world-famous Kaanapali Beach right in front of the hotel or explore the local Kaanapali/Lahaina area independently. Lahaina was a longtime residence of kings and chiefs of Maui, and served as the capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii from 1820-1845. It was also a key port for the whaling industry as well as a center of missionary activities. Don’t miss the massive banyan tree! Planted in 1873 to honor the 50th anniversary of the first Protestant mission in Lahaina, it’s now the largest banyan in the U.S., standing more than 60 feet high with 16 major trunks, a circumference of 1/4 mile and shading 2/3 of an acre!

Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Afternoon: Free time. Continue your independent explorations or just relax.

Dinner: At hotel

Evening: We’ll be joined by a marine biologist for a presentation on Hawaii’s marine life in preparation for tomorrow's snorkeling adventure.

DAY
8
Lanai Snorkel, Luau, Polynesian Music & Dance Performance
Kaanapali, HI (Island of Maui)
B,L,D
Kaanapali Beach Hotel

Activity note: Early rising for field trip. Getting on/off vehicles; driving about 10 miles, approximately 1/2 hour driving. Getting on/off a boat; those who wish to snorkel must be competent swimmers; life guards onboard. Those susceptible to motion sickness should consider appropriate remedies.

Breakfast: Light continental breakfast aboard snorkel vessel

Morning: We'll depart the hotel via bus and join other passengers to embark on a boat-based snorkeling field trip and wild dolphin watch. Local naturalists will lead us as we explore a coral reef that is home to abundant fish and other marine life. Wild dolphins are often found year-round in these waters so we will be on the lookout for spinner, spotted, and bottlenose dolphins. From December-April, we’ll also look for the migratory humpback whales that visit each year.

Lunch: Aboard the snorkel vessel

Afternoon: Upon our return to the harbor we'll have free time to explore Lahaina or return to the hotel.

Dinner: At the resort, we’ll enjoy a luau in an oceanfront setting where the pua’a kalua (roasted pig) is taken out of the imu (underground oven) — the centerpiece of an elaborate, multi-course meal of traditional island fare with a variety of tropical and other beverages included. Share favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

Evening: We’ll enjoy live music as we dine, followed by a performance of music, song, and dance conjuring myths and stories from throughout Polynesia. The luau culminates with a spectacular fire-knife-dance finale. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
9
Program Concludes
Kaanapali, HI (Island of Maui)
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: Breakfast at hotel. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys. Aloha and a hui hou!






Recommended For You

loading spinner