Although 800,000 years old, Hawaii,
the Big Island, is still growing.
With the ongoing eruption of Kilauea
volcano, the island continues to
expand - and with it, the need for
preservation of Hawaii Volcanoes
National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage
site.
You and your family can take part
in that effort through the opportunity
this AAA Ambassador getaway gives
you by participating in a volunteer
activity followed by a guided tour
of the park.
This vacation offers the usual fun-in-the-sun
activities - like relaxing beachside
and a Zodiac snorkel adventure along
the Big Island's rugged coast. But
there's also ample opportunity to
experience authentic Hawaiian life.
Enjoy an afternoon at Mauna Loa Mac
Nut Farm where the delicious macadamia
has become one of the state's most
successful exports. Tour Parker Ranch
and learn about the rags-to-riches
story of sailor John Parker who sailed
with Captain James Cook in 1809.
And stop at Pu'uhonua o Honaunau,
a sacred place of refuge to native
Hawaiians.
Then relax at a Polynesian luau
where all the elements of island
culture, native food and joyous music
come together on your last memorable
evening.
Price includes:
• 6 nights hotel accommodations
with ocean view and breakfast daily
• Volunteer activity inside Hawaii
Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, followed by
a guided tour of the park Zodiac
Snorkel Adventure
• Admission to: Mauna Loa Mac Nut
Farm, Parker Ranch, 'Imiloa Astronomy
Center of Hawaii, 1 sacred Hawaiian
site, Tsunami Museum and Akaka Falls
• Welcome Dinner and Farewell Luau
• Lei greeting, airport transfers,
and hotel porterage and taxes
Day 1 - Arrive Kona, the Big
Island of Hawaii
Arrive into the Kona International
Airport in traditional style with
a lei greeting. Travel south to the
Outrigger Keauhou Resort. Adjacent
to the hotel is one of the very best
snorkel sites in all of Hawaii, and
snorkel gear is available to rent.
This evening enjoy a welcome dinner
as a group.
Accommodation: Outrigger Keauhou
Resort - 2 nights
Day 2 - Free Day & Zodiac
Snorkel Adventure
Spend the day exploring the Keahou
area, snorkeling at the hotel or
relaxing. This afternoon enjoy a
Zodiac Raft Expedition. Explore the
rugged coast via these inflatable
high powered rafts. Snorkeling is
included on this adventure.
Day 3 - Southern Most Point in
the United States & Mac Nut
Farm
Today enjoy a to-go continental breakfast
while en route to our first stop:
Pu'uhonua o Honaunau “place of refuge,”
once holy ground to Hō, the Native
Hawaiians. Offshore is one of the
best examples of sea life preserves,
and you are likely to see the Honu
(Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle) basking
in the sun on the beach or swimming
nearby. Then we stop at the southernmost
point of the United States: Ka Lae,
where we'll see Hawaii's rarest and
most seldom seen gem, a green sand
beach- Puu Mahana. Next stop is at
Puna lu u, Hawaii's famous black
sand beach where you'll enjoy lunch
on your own. Continue to the Mauna
Loa Mac Nut Farm which supplies 70%
of its power needs from renewable
sources, using macadamia nut hulls
and shells plus used motor oil from
another local company to run generators
for its processing factory. Finally
arrive in Hilo where the evening
is at your leisure.
Accommodation: Hilo Hawaiian -
2 nights
Day 4 - Volcanoes National Park
Today, travel to Volcanoes National
Park for a light breakfast at the
Kilauea Lodge. Afterwards, join
a National Park Ranger in a morning
volunteer activity to help preserve
this precious landscape. You'll
then enjoy a tour of the park that
includes the Thurston Lava Tube
and Jaggar Museum. After lunch
on your own overlooking the steaming
crater of Kilauea volcano, head
back to Hilo for a visit to the
'Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaii,
based on the University Grounds,
a very distinctive example of architecture
constructed with Titanium. We will
take some time to wander through
the exhibits and view the spectacular
show Mauna Kea between Earth & Sky.
Return to the hotel for an evening
at leisure.
Day 5 - Tsunami Museum, Akaka
Falls & Parker Ranch
Visit the Tsunami Museum, opened
to commemorate the May 23, 1960 tsunami
which destroyed much of downtown
Hilo. Then visit the Hawaii Tropical
Botanical Garden located in a valley
on Onomea Bay. Stop at Akaka Falls
for a brief stroll through the lush
jungle. A must on the Big Island
is Tex Drive-in, where you will find
their famous Malasadas, puffy donuts
best eaten while hot. Continue north
to Waimea for a visit to Parker Ranch,
one of the largest cattle ranches
in the U.S. and home to the Paniolo,
Hawaii's cowboy. You complete your
circumnavigation of the island as
you arrive at the Waikaloa Beach
Marriott Resort.
Accommodation: Waikaloa Beach
Marriott Resort - 2 nights
Day 6 - Day at Leisure & Farewell
Luau
Today you are free to explore on
your own. Some options are a visit
to a coffee plantation, a snorkel
cruise, kayaking, or just relaxing
on the beach. The Waikaloa Beach
Marriott Resort is one of the best
family oriented resorts on the Big
Island; you may just never want to
leave. This evening enjoy the Royal
Luau at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott
with traditional foods, music and
dance.
Day 7 - Depart Kona
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer
to the airport for your return
flight home.
