Compare Hawaii: Ocean and Islands Adventure by Discover Corps vs Hawaii Highlights Self-Drive Tour by Audley Travel

Day 1: Arrive in Honolulu and Meet the Group

Meals: Dinner

Upon arrival in Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu, you’ll be be met at the airport and taken to your hotel just steps from the world famous Waikiki beaches. After a relaxing welcome dinner together, we’ll get to know one another and discuss the schedule for the week ahead.

Day 2: Journey to Oahu’s North Shore & Experience the Aloha Spirit

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll set out for Hawaii’s iconic North Shore, famous for its big waves and stunning landscapes. Spend the morning in the historic Waimea Valley with a local organization helping to preserve the valley’s cultural heritage and rainforests. Assist with a reforestation initiative, swim in waterfalls, and see why the ancient Hawaiians deemed the valley sacred centuries ago. In the afternoon, we’ll continue to Na Mea Kupono, an eco-farm that is home to Hawaii’s staple crop, taro. We’ll be hosted by this local family for a Hawaiin-style paina, or gathering, for our dinner as we learn more about their role in farming on the island.

Day 3: Climb Diamond Head & Sail out to Sea on a Catamaran

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Hawaii’s South Shore is crowned by the now extinct Diamond Head volcano. We’ll take a hike this morning to the top of the rim to get a panoramic view of Waikiki from above. For those who opt not to hike, we’ll have the option to visit the Bishop Museum, home of the royal Kamehameha family and now housing an array of artifacts covering Hawaii’s vast Polynesian heritage. After lunch in Waikiki, we’ll hit the sea on a catamaran ride over the turquoise Pacific waters.

Day 4: Fly to Maui & Explore the Tropical‘Iao Valley State Park

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Enjoy a free morning to explore Waikiki. Head to the beach for a surf lesson with the Waikiki beach boys, check out the area’s cafes and shops or simply relax on white sand beaches only steps from your hotel. We’ll take a short mid-day flight across the Hawaiian archipelago to the Valley Isle of Maui. After landing, we’ll head over to the towering emerald peaks of the ‘Iao Valley on Central Maui for a guided hike of the state park. A location revered by the ancient Hawaiians, the valley also served as the site of one of Hawaii’s most important battles as King Kamehameha I tried to unite the islands in the 1700’s. Later in the evening, unwind at our Kaanapali beachfront hotel.

Day 5: Snorkel off Lana’i & Lend a Hand Protecting Sea Turtles

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

We’ll have an early breakfast before cruising to the scenic coastline of Lana'i island with the Pacific Whale Foundation. Spend the morning with breakfast on the boat (expect large boat with other travelers) and then 1.5 hours of snorkeling. Scout for wild dolphins, including acrobatic spinner dolphins, friendly bottlenose dolphins, and curious spotted dolphins. Conservationists from the Foundation will narrate your journey and take about everything from whale migration to plastics in the ocean to reef health.

We’ll return to Maui and, after lunch, spend our first afternoon volunteering alongside the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute. Home to one of Hawaii’s largest sea turtle rescues and land based coral nurseries, we’ll join their staff on beach and marine debris cleanu , specifically collecting coral fragments. Take these pieces of coral back to the research center and aid in cutting them into smaller pieces to be grown at the center for a period of 8 months - something that would take the reef 20 years to regenerate! This coral is eventually placed back into the reef to bring back areas that are dead or dying.

Day 6: Maui Ocean Center Volunteering & Farewell Luau

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll spend another morning helping the conservation team at the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute. On Maui and other Hawaiian islands, sea turtles are being threatened as their habitat is increasingly depleted. Green turtle populations are being impacted by events such as the 2018 hurricane that washed out the most important nesting beach for this species in the entire archipelago. We’ll continue to lend a hand on our projects while learning about some of the initiatives in place to preserve the fragile ecosystem both on land and underwater, including going out with the team to find turtles and tag them for research purposes.

Later in the afternoon, we’ll head back to the hotel where you’ll have some free time to enjoy the beach, swim in the ocean or venture into the coastal town of Lahaina. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a special farewell dinner together along with a traditional island luau.

Day 7: Depart Maui or Continue on for the Post-Trip Extension

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check-out of your rooms. The rest of the day is free to relax at the beach or explore nearby Lahaina until your flight home, or continue on to our optional post-trip extension along the gorgeous road to Hana.

Day 1: The Big Island (Hawaii)

Accommodation options: Fairmont Orchid, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Aston Shores at Waikoloa & Chalet Kilauea

On arrival, pick up your car and drive to your hotel on the coast and relax for the rest of the day.

Day 2: The Big Island (Hawaii)

Accommodation options: Fairmont Orchid, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Aston Shores at Waikoloa & Chalet Kilauea

Today you can explore the beautiful Kohala Coast. This evening enjoy a Manta Ray night snorkel — an amazing chance to swim with these amazing underwater creatures.

Day 3: The Big Island (Hawaii)

Accommodation options: Fairmont Orchid, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Aston Shores at Waikoloa & Chalet Kilauea

Today you may wish to relax in Waikoloa and observe the strange volcanic beauty of the island. You can drive north to the small town of Hawi, or south to Kona. Make sure to visit a coffee plantation for some delicious local coffee.

Day 4: The Big Island (Hawaii)

Accommodation options: Volcano House,  Aston Shores at Waikoloa, Chalet Kilauea & Fairmont Orchid

At your leisure, move from the western side of the island to the east. Arrive at your hotel in the heart of the National Park. Relax in the lovely tropical eastern coast of the island for the rest of the day. At your leisure, move from the eastern side of the island to the west. Arrive on the coast and relax at your hotel for the rest of the day.

Day 5: The Big Island (Hawaii)

Accommodation options: Volcano House, Aston Shores at Waikoloa, Chalet Kilauea & Fairmont Orchid

Today you will be met by your private guide. He will take you around the park and you will be able to ask questions on the geology, landscape, culture and history that has shaped this National Park.

Day 6: Maui

Accommodation options: Royal Lahaina Resort, Andaz Maui at Wailea, Napili Kai Beach Resort, Beach front cottage at Inn at Mama's Fish House Restaurant and Inn, Maui & Inn at Mama's Fish House

After a leisurely breakfast make your way to the airport for your flight to Maui. On arrival pick up your rental car and drive to your oceanfront hotel, an idyllic location for you to relax at for the next four nights.

Day 7: Maui

Accommodation options: Royal Lahaina Resort, Andaz Maui at Wailea, Napili Kai Beach Resort & Inn at Mama's Fish House

Spend a full day exploring everything Maui has to offer. Take a tour to Haleakala National Park to see Maui's highest peak, or visit Iao Valley State Park, home to one of Maui's most recognizable landmarks, the 1,200 ft Lao Needle. Alternatively, you could spend time in Lahaina, which is a historic whaling village and one of the most lively spots on Maui.

Day 8: Maui

Accommodation options: Royal Lahaina Resort, Andaz Maui at Wailea, Napili Kai Beach Resort & Inn at Mama's Fish House

Today you will go on a tour to see the turtles swimming in the ocean off the coast of Makena Bay on the south western part of the island, with a chance to see the tropical fish and maybe even a black tip shark in the Molokini Crater. This afternoon you might like to take the car and drive up to the top of Haleakala Volcano where you can watch the sunset.

Day 9: Maui

Accommodation options: Royal Lahaina Resort, Andaz Maui at Wailea, Napili Kai Beach Resort & Inn at Mama's Fish House

Driving Maui's Road to Hana can be a highlight of your visit to the island. The road is full of hairpin turns and scenic overlooks, framed by lush rainforest scenery and dotted with tumbling waterfalls. There are hundreds of birds which nest in the rainforest, so it's well worth taking a good camera and some binoculars.

Day 10: Los Angeles

Accommodation options: Palihouse Santa Monica, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, Jamaica Bay Inn & La Peer

Return your car at the airport this morning as you fly back to the US mainland. On arrival in LA take a taxi to your hotel in Santa Monica.

Day 11: Los Angeles

Accommodation options: Palihouse Santa Monica, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, Jamaica Bay Inn & La Peer

Enjoy the day at leisure exploring Los Angeles and its famous sights.

Day 12: Return home

A final morning at leisure then make your way to the airport for your onward flight.