Beauty

ISLAND HOPPING | Hawaii at its best

By

ISLAND HOPPING | Hawaii at its best
By Martina Stritesky

There’s a reason why this hotspot has been attracting both the well-heeled and well-in-the-know for years. With island hoppers that range from Jennifer Aniston to Oprah Winfrey and Justin Timberlake, find out why these triple A-listers have been coming back for more. Simply put, Hawaii has a little something to please every palette! With a choice between adventure or relaxation, revelry or some good old-fashioned quiet time, your getaway can be exactly what you dream it. A land where custom has it that Aloha not only means hello and goodbye (so you’ll never have to go) but also love, kindness, compassion, and affection, it is truly the basis of what Hawaiians consider to be one of their core values. HIGHLIGHTS: Nighttime luaus, plush resorts, celeb sightings, active volcanoes and surfing.

STAY: Four Seasons Maui at Wailea
This swish resort has won accolade year-after-year for being one of the most luxe resorts throughout all the islands in Hawaii. Want to hear more? Rooms are super luxe and decked out in soothing hues of aqua, gold and orange. It’s impossible not to relax in their pristine white linens beds—the Four Seasons trademark. Grab dinner on site at Wolfgang Puck’s Spago, where Hawaiian and Californian cuisine merge together perfectly. Say goodbye to your diet (at least for a night) and ask for the delish lobster-crusted potatoes. After dinner, take a stroll on the properties u-shaped beachfront where you’ll be able to get the perfect view of both the ocean and sunset. We guarantee you’ll never want to leave. Or at the very least you’ll be dreaming about your stay long after you’ve returned home. Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, 3900 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea, Hawaii, 1-800-819 5053

DINE: A Luau in O’ahu
Get in the Aloha spirit and feast like they used to with a traditional Hawaiian luau. At the Paradise Cove Luau, you’ll be greeted with a Mai Tai (think tropical fruit juices mixed with rum), a Shower of Flowers, and a tropical flower lei. How pretty. Expect to be dazzled come nightfall with fresh pineapple skewers, spitfire roasted pig and a full luau performance of song and dance. You’ll be feeling like a kama’aina (local) before the sun sets.
 

DO: A Tour of Kuaui, Big Island and Maui

Catch A Wave: Island of Kuaui, Hawaii
Garden Island Surf School teaches you the basics of hanging ten on the scenic shores of Hawaii’s Kuaui Island. The retired pros who teach the school show you how to spring upright on the board, the art of balancing and how to read the waves. After a week you’ll be ready to take the swells and impress that cutie on the beach.

Monitor Active Volcanoes: Big Island, Hawaii With two of the most active volcanoes in the world located on Big Island, this is the place to study all things hot. Spend a week with scientists at the University of Hawaii-Hilo where you’ll explore lava tubes and go trekking across historic lava flows. You’ll even visit Mauna Kea—one of three active volcanoes on your itinerary— which is taller, yes taller than Mount Everest. If volcanoes aren’t your thing, choose from over 75 other programs offered, such as marine science courses and snorkeling expeditions.

Flying High in Paradise: Maui, Hawaii
You’ll need to get in the air to get a glimpse of the very best the islands have to offer. Sign yourself up for a Blue Hawaiian Helicopter Tour and soar over tropical rainforests, emerald hidden valleys, erupting volcanoes and crystal-blue waterfalls. You may even get a chance to see flowing lava. With even the National Geographic toting their tours as ‘breathtakingly beautiful’ we promise you this is one adventure you’ll never forget. And because safety comes first, you’ll be pleased to know that the Blue Hawaiian has been awarded the Federal Aviation Administration’s coveted Diamond Certificate of Excellence ever since they opened their doors in 1998. Aloha Hawaii!

PHOTOS: Harvey Lloyd, courtesy of the Four Season Hotel