NCL Cruise: Hawaii Ports {Maui & Hilo)

As we speak I’m sharing the second a part of our Hawaii cruise on NCL, with stops in Maui and Hilo. I hope you’ve loved our trip with us as we glance again in any respect we noticed and did on this 16 day NCL cruise from Hawaii to Alaska. I’ve bought heaps extra to share, however right this moment we’ll end up Hawaii. I needed to doc this journey for us, in addition to share with you all too. We had by no means been to Hawaii or Alaska, so it’s good that we will test these 2 states off our journey bucket listing. We have now determined that we’re extra Hawaii folks than Alaska peope and would positively like to return to Hawaii sooner or later and see extra of the islands.

Our subsequent cease in Hawaii was the island of Maui. I had heard a lot of good about Maui and it was stunning, though  I’m certain we solely scratched the floor of what there may be to see on the island. Once more, a cruise simply permits you to see only a tip of the iceberg so to talk on what a vacation spot provides. Then  you possibly can determine the place to return and spend extra time exploring.

As with Kauai, we didn’t have excursions booked with the cruise ship or in any other case, so we determined to wing this cease as nicely and determine what we’d do once we bought off the ship. This plan didn’t work fairly in addition to Kauai, once we discovered a pair to share the prices with. This cease, in Maui, we did the identical factor and went off the ship and listened to conversations round us as folks have been making an attempt to find out what to do. We ended up with a pair from MS and a mom/daughter duo (mother had a walker) who have been trying to share a taxi for a have a look at Maui, so all of us bought in a shared taxi for a go searching. It was a bit of harder pleasing everybody with 6 folks as a substitute of solely 4, so whereas it wasn’t dangerous, it wasn’t as ultimate as our first tour with strangers.

We instructed our taxi driver what we needed to see, simply highlights of Maui in a few 3 to 4 hour window, so he proceeded to take us to the new spots as he knew them. We stopped first on the Maui Tropical Plantation and Mill Home, a plantation fruit tour and a restaurant on web site. After wanting round a bit, all of us determined that taking the tour would take an enormous chunk out of our time on the taxi trip, so we made the choice to move on with the taxi and see as a lot as we may within the time allotted.

The plantation regarded stunning, regardless that the climate was a bit of misty that day.

There’s a tram tour and in addition a restaurant to attempt on web site, the Mill Home.

It was fairly to stroll round and have a look at the attractive vegetation and mountains within the background.

It was a quintessential Hawaii view, simply what I imagined the islands to appear like.

It’s wonderful all of the birds across the islands, they’re in every single place!

Our subsequent cease on the taxi tour was the lovable and quaint city of Lahaina. We solely had about half-hour right here, but it surely was such a cute city.

It was good to see the native artwork and crafts featured right here.

The spotlight of Lahaina was the enormous banyan bushes in the midst of city, what an exquisite view it was.

I used to be so fascinated by these bushes everywhere in the islands. The banyans are gorgeous bushes!

We had enjoyable strolling round this cute city for a bit, taking all of it in.

The gelato regarded so good, ought to have tried it!

We made one other cease on the best way again to our ship, all in regards to the humpback whales. We’d see the humpback whale on our go to to Alaska.

Extra gorgeous views in Hawaii.

We ended our day in Maui at a neighborhood seaside the place sea turtles have been resting within the sand. They have been stunning to see.

One other night time on the ship and time for supper.

The subsequent day we pulled into the port of Hilo and that is the place Mark’s daughter Lyndsey lives along with her household. She’s tremendous near the cruise port so we met up along with her as quickly as we may get off the ship.

It was one other stunning day in Hawaii and we had our personal private tour information on this cease.

We bought to see the place they’re residing and he or she packed up the automotive for our outing that day, getting all 4 children able to go. She additionally stopped by her favourite comfort retailer to get snacks and in addition the Hawaiian delicacy referred to as Musubi (pronounced musa-bee). Have you ever heard of that? This was a brand new one on me, however apparently Hawaii’s love of Spam goes again to World Battle II, after they fed the troopers that potted meat and the Hawaiians adopted it. An excellent title appears to be redneck sushi, it’s merely rice and spam wrapped in seaweed wrappers and formed right into a small loaf. As you possibly can see, the boys adore it! That is Jaxton on the left and JJ on the appropriate, the oldest grandchildren of 9.

I had by no means heard of musubi earlier than, however Lyndsey had instructed us about it and that she and the youngsters prefer it. I used to be recreation to attempt a chunk, so I did. It was OK, however not one thing I might love. Mark ate a complete one and favored it lots. Even the 2 youthful ones adore it.

Kilauea Volcano

Our first cease of the day was up the mountains to Kilauea volcano. It’s a nationwide park and I had no concept what to anticipate, but it surely’s actually attention-grabbing. They monitor the volcano day by day for harmful eruptions.  A search reveals that the volcano final erupted right into a lava lake September 2021 to December 2022. They don’t really feel an excessive amount of hazard from residing under the volcano as it’s monitored on a regular basis. I feel I’d be a bit of nervous about that. Simply driving into the park, there was smoke popping out of holes within the floor in every single place, which was very surreal to see in particular person.

This gap off the car parking zone was surrounded by fencing to maintain folks from falling in.

And it’s wonderful how large the crater of the volcano actually is.

All of the smoke popping out of the bottom was fully fascinating to see.

Our first time being this near a volcano, it was very enlightening.

My footage don’t even do it justice as to how deep and broad the crater of the volcano actually is.

Lyndsey instructed us at night time it glows crimson from all the warmth and that may be neat to see. Perhaps subsequent journey!

Rainbow Falls

Subsequent on our cease was Rainbow Falls proper there in Hilo. It’s an exquisite waterfall and we bought out and walked nearer.

There’s a walkway to get to viewing platform. That is what I imagined Hawaii to appear like, waterfalls and luxurious greenery in every single place.

It was attractive!

Onekahakaha Seaside Park

We additionally went to a pleasant seaside space that she takes the youngsters too they usually name it a swimming pool. It does kind of really feel like a swimming pool with clear water and rocks surrounding making it an important place to swim.

There have been even rock steps constructed all the way down to the water.

You possibly can see the steps right here to the appropriate they usually have been on either side of the rock wall.

All of the black rock is lava.

The water was so clear and never too chilly.

I took water footwear simply because of this they usually got here in useful right here in Hilo.

We had a pleasant time for over an hour right here on the seaside park and Mark performed soccer with the boys within the water.

All of them love the water.

Pop and his boys.

This little cutie is Ryanne, she’s 3.

And the youngest is Justice Jr., 2 years outdated. They’re so cute and all 4 of them love the water.

Kealoha Seaside Park

We needed to get going to get again to our ship, so earlier than we headed again Lyndsey took us to 1 extra seaside park which was very near the primary one. She instructed me in the event you assume the primary one’s fairly, wait til you see this one! She was proper! It’s completely gorgeous.

We solely had time to drive there, get out of the automotive and stroll round for about quarter-hour. I snapped as many footage as I may and it was stunning from each angle.

It was a Friday, however not very crowded in any respect. Some folks have been there, with chairs, blankets and picnics and what a spot to spend the day.

Actually a tropical Hawaiian paradise.

I’m certain if we had extra time, we’d see loads of sealife right here. We did see a turtle. I simply observed the thong within the pic above, I ought to have cropped that out! Ha! That’s not anybody we all know.

A lot magnificence and I couldn’t recover from the water colours.

I might positively come again to this spot once more.

Everybody was pointing on the sea turtle.

There was loads of shade bushes to get out of the solar.

Actually paradise!

There have been in-built rails and steps right here too.

And that’s a have a look at among the seashores we visited. We needed to say our farewells to Hawaii, but it surely certain was a enjoyable go to!

We will certainly wish to return to Hawaii sooner or later. There’s so many locations I do wish to see and so we have now to funds and plan for extra travels.

I’m so glad we bought to do that journey, it was really the journey of a lifetime, seeing Hawaii and Alaska in a single lengthy journey.

We had the perfect time on all of the excursions in Hawaii, particularly the 2 days with household. That was actually particular for Mark, to have the ability to see his daughter and the grandkids too. Made my coronary heart comfortable for him!

That’s a wrap on Hawaii, however I’ll be again with not less than 2 extra posts breaking down what we noticed and did in Alaska. I took quite a lot of pics there too! Discuss variety in surroundings, Hawaii and Alaska couldn’t be extra completely different!

In the event you missed my first posts, catch up right here:

Packing for a 16 Day Cruise

Cruising on the NCL Spirit

Kona and Kauai ports

Associated