NCL Cruise: Hawaii Ports {Maui & Hilo)

Right this moment 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 present we’ll end up Hawaii. I wished 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 record. We now have determined that we’re extra Hawaii individuals 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 number 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 nicely 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 individuals 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 received in a shared taxi for a go searching. It was a bit of harder pleasing everybody with 6 individuals as an alternative of solely 4, so whereas it wasn’t dangerous, it wasn’t as ultimate as our first tour with strangers.

We advised our taxi driver what we wished to see, simply highlights of Maui in a few 3 to 4 hour window, so he proceeded to take us to the recent 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 a giant chunk out of our time on the taxi experience, 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 seemed stunning, despite the fact that the climate was a bit of 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 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 to be.

It’s wonderful 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, 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 large banyan timber in the midst of city, what an attractive view it was.

I used to be so fascinated by these timber everywhere in 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 concerning 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 an area 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 meal time.

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 received to see the place they’re dwelling and he or she packed up the automobile 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 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 Warfare II, after they fed the troopers that potted meat and the Hawaiians adopted it. A superb 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 best, the oldest grandchildren of 9.

I had by no means heard of musubi earlier than, however Lyndsey had advised us about it and that she and the youngsters prefer it. I used to be sport to strive a chunk, so I did. It was OK, however not one thing I might love. Mark ate an entire one and appreciated 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 fascinating. They monitor the volcano each day for harmful eruptions.  A search exhibits 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 beneath the volcano as it’s monitored on a regular basis. I believe 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 all places, which was very surreal to see in particular person.

This gap off the car parking zone was surrounded by fencing to maintain individuals 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 photos don’t even do it justice as to how deep and large the crater of the volcano actually is.

Lyndsey advised us at night time it glows crimson from all the warmth and that might be neat to see. Possibly subsequent journey!

Rainbow Falls

Subsequent on our cease was Rainbow Falls proper there in Hilo. It’s an attractive 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 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 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 all the way down to the water.

You possibly can see the steps right here to the best 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 sneakers simply for that reason they usually got here in helpful 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 previous. 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 advised me if you happen to 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 automobile and stroll round for about quarter-hour. I snapped as many photos as I may and it was stunning from each angle.

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

Really 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 might positively 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.

Really paradise!

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

And that’s a have a look at a number of the seashores we visited. We needed to say our farewells to Hawaii, but it surely positive 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 now have to funds 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 completely satisfied 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 numerous pics there too! Speak about range in surroundings, Hawaii and Alaska couldn’t be extra totally 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