NCL Cruise: Hawaii Ports {Maui & Hilo)

In the present day 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 received tons extra to share, however at the 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 are able to examine these 2 states off our journey bucket checklist. We have now determined that we’re extra Hawaii folks than Alaska peope and would undoubtedly 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 plenty of good about Maui and it was stunning, though  I’m positive we solely scratched the floor of what there’s to see on the island. Once more, a cruise simply means that you can see only a tip of the iceberg so to talk on what a vacation spot gives. Then  you may resolve 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 effectively and determine what we’d do once we received 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 attempting 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 seeking to share a taxi for a take a look at Maui, so all of us received in a shared taxi for a go searching. It was just a little tougher pleasing everybody with 6 folks as an alternative 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 trying round a bit, all of us determined that taking the tour would take an enormous chunk out of our time on the taxi experience, so we made the choice to go on with the taxi and see as a lot as we might within the time allotted.

The plantation seemed stunning, regardless that the climate was just a little misty that day.

There’s a tram tour and likewise a restaurant to strive on web site, the Mill Home.

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

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

It’s superb all of the birds across the islands, they’re in all places!

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

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

The spotlight of Lahaina was the large banyan timber in the midst of city, what a good looking view it was.

I used to be so fascinated by these timber all around the islands. The banyans are gorgeous timber!

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

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

We made one other cease on the way in which 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 seashore the place sea turtles have been resting within the sand. They have been stunning to see.

One other night time on the ship and meal time.

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

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

We received to see the place they’re dwelling and he or she packed up the automotive for our outing that day, getting all 4 youngsters able to go. She additionally stopped by her favourite comfort retailer to get snacks and likewise the Hawaiian delicacy often called 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 Warfare II, once they fed the troopers that potted meat and the Hawaiians adopted it. A great identify appears to be redneck sushi, it’s merely rice and spam wrapped in seaweed wrappers and formed right into a small loaf. As you may see, the boys adore it! That is Jaxton on the left and JJ on the precise, 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 children prefer it. I used to be sport to strive a chunk, so I did. It was OK, however not one thing I’d love. Mark ate an entire one and favored it rather a lot. 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 thought what to anticipate, however it’s actually attention-grabbing. They monitor the volcano every 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 dwelling under the volcano as it’s monitored on a regular basis. I feel I’d be just a little nervous about that. Simply driving into the park, there was smoke popping out of holes within the floor in all places, which was very surreal to see in individual.

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

And it’s superb how huge the crater of the volcano actually is.

All of the smoke popping out of the bottom was utterly 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 extensive the crater of the volcano actually is.

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

Rainbow Falls

Subsequent on our cease was Rainbow Falls proper there in Hilo. It’s a good looking waterfall and we received out and walked nearer.

There’s a walkway to get to an excellent viewing platform. That is what I imagined Hawaii to appear to be, waterfalls and luxurious greenery in all places.

It was beautiful!

Onekahakaha Seashore Park

We additionally went to a pleasant seashore space that she takes the children too they usually name it a swimming pool. It does form 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 right down to the water.

You possibly can see the steps right here to the precise 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 for that reason they usually got here in useful right here in Hilo.

We had a pleasant time for over an hour right here on the seashore 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 previous. They’re so cute and all 4 of them love the water.

Kealoha Seashore Park

We needed to get going to get again to our ship, so earlier than we headed again Lyndsey took us to at least one extra seashore park which was very near the primary one. She instructed me should you suppose 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 might 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 positive if we had extra time, we’d see loads of sealife right here. We did see a turtle. I simply seen 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’d undoubtedly come again to this spot once more.

Everybody was pointing on the sea turtle.

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

Actually paradise!

There have been inbuilt rails and steps right here too.

And that’s a take a look at a number of the seashores we visited. We needed to say our farewells to Hawaii, however it positive was a enjoyable go to!

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

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

We had one of the best 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 glad for him!

That’s a wrap on Hawaii, however I’ll be again with at the least 2 extra posts breaking down what we noticed and did in Alaska. I took a number of pics there too! Discuss range in surroundings, Hawaii and Alaska couldn’t be extra totally different!

For those who missed my first posts, catch up right here:

Packing for a 16 Day Cruise

Cruising on the NCL Spirit

Kona and Kauai ports

Associated