Hawaii under the skin – island hopping on volcanoes with the family is written by Anders Madsen Pedersen.
Island hop with the family on four stunning islands in Hawaii
Visiting the Hawaiian Islands is a dream for many. Like Bora Bora and the Seychelles, they are known as one of the most breathtaking and exotic places on earth, with a unique combination of natural beauty, volcanoes, diverse landscapes and a rich cultural heritage.
An almost magnetically attractive travel destination far away in Pacific Ocean in one of the last time zones on our spinning globe, but also a place that paradoxically – perhaps because of the connection to the USA – seems to be easily accessible and a popular travel destination for many.
My family and I have had several attempts to visit Hawaii over the years, but the opportunity was repeatedly turned down. We had too little time available, or we felt that our three children were too young for the level of activity we were striving for. Finally, the opportunity arose, so we took the entire month of January off the calendar and went to visit four different islands.
The goal was to search for the authentic Hawaii and get under the skin of the islands. What makes Hawaii so special? Let's delve into the individual touches of the islands.
Kauai – Hawaii's lush garden island
We begin on Kauai, the northernmost of the larger islands in the archipelago, formed by undersea volcanoes. The island takes its name from Hawaiiloa, a legendary Polynesian navigator who named the island after his son Kauai.
It's a stunning debut on our island hopping. Just minutes after we leave the airport in our rental car, we are surrounded by lush rainforest, deep canyons and plantations of fragrant pineapple and papaya. The island is almost like a large garden. 70% is covered by national parks and protected nature areas, which are only accessible on foot.
The many tropical plants and flowers give the island an immediate paradisiacal appearance, and it is difficult to drive in more than second gear, because everywhere we have to pull over and explore small paths that lead to hidden beaches, cascading waterfalls and spectacular views.
Polynesian settlers brought domestic chickens to the island, and when Hurricane Iniki hit the island in 1992, many domestic chickens were released and mixed with the wild birds, resulting in the large population of wild hens and roosters that roam freely on the island. Everywhere.
It creates a unique rural idyll and a relaxed atmosphere, which harmonizes perfectly with the locals' persistent efforts to prevent any kind of overdevelopment of the island's infrastructure and cities. If it were up to them, development would be put in reverse gear. And you can understand them well.
On hikes, we visit the Nā Pali Coast, Waimea Gorge and Koke'e National Park, which are incomparably beautiful, untouched and worthy of preservation.
One of the last days we charter a helicopter that takes us into the middle of the island to the 'weeping wall' on Mount Waialeale – one of the wettest places on earth.
The enormous amounts of rainfall the mountain receives, combined with a confluence of more than 20 waterfalls cascading down steep cliff faces, creates the place where Mother Earth is poetically said to cry. Whether these are tears of joy due to the beautiful nature or tears of sadness caused by the course of the world, we were not given the answer.
If you're not into Hawaii or volcano hiking, see also: Island hopping in Greece
Oahu – rich in cultural heritage
Next stop will be Oahu. The island's name comes from the Hawaiian words 'O', meaning place, and 'ahu', meaning gathering or altar. The name Oahu can therefore be translated as 'the place with the altar'. This makes sense, as Oahu has been a central location for many cultural and religious ceremonies throughout history.
We discover this immediately. We don't have to go far from the capital Honolulu before we are practically tripping over traditional Hawaiian temples and shrines, which mix with royal palaces, Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and Mormon churches. Oahu is a cultural melting pot, oozing with raw spiritual and meditative energy.
A point of impact is the visits to the many heiau, which are traditional Hawaiian altars or temples, often located in places of particular natural beauty, such as on cliffs overlooking the azure sea or looking down into lush green valleys.
The most beautiful heiau consist of large stone walls and complex platforms. They have been used for various ceremonial purposes such as sacrifices of food or animals – especially pigs and dogs – to honor the gods. Offerings of food and vegetables symbolized abundance and could bring special blessings.
At war temples – called 'luakini heiau' – human sacrifices were also made to strengthen prayers, pay for violations of the gods' laws or prepare for war. During our visits, we experience in several places that large quantities of fish, bananas, breadfruit and handmade feather wreaths with fresh flowers are constantly being offered.
Traditions live on in Hawaii.
Maui – the magic of volcanoes
Most people have probably heard of Maui. The island is named after the Polynesian demigod and trickster Māui, also known from Disney cartoons VaianaOn the volcanic island of Maui, we achieve a perfect balance of adventure and relaxation on our island hopping.
We explore volcanic beaches, snorkel at Molokini Crater, and drive the famous Hana Highway, which circles the remote eastern part of the island, resembling a rugged landscape of volcanoes from Mars.
All over Maui there are a multitude of small markets serving locally produced coffee, fruits and vegetables. The many food stalls and eateries serve local specialties such as poke, kalua pig og loco moco.
We visit galleries and art shops selling handmade jewelry, wood carvings, and paintings that reflect the beauty of the island. The special aloha spirit seems especially strong on Maui – everyone greets everyone, and we sense a strong love, compassion, and respect for others. From the friendly greeting to the helping hand. Everyone is ready to make our stay as comfortable as possible.
A very special experience is the sunrise at 3.000 meters above sea level from the top of the fascinating volcano Haleakalā. It is unforgettable to stand in a golden light in the bitter cold with a thick fleece, hat and gloves, and at 06.15:XNUMX experience how the first rays of the sun bathe the surrounding landscape with dramatic rock formations and 'cinder cones' – small volcanic cones.
Molokai – the authentic experience
We end our island hopping on Molokai, one of the least visited islands in Hawaii. The first thing we see upon arrival is a huge sign that says: “Slow down – this is Molokai.” Here, no one is in a hurry, and the locals do their part to preserve their heritage and traditions.
Molokai turns out to be a miniature version of Kauai with incredible natural beauty. There are plenty of pristine beaches, lush valleys and a dramatic mountain range that runs through the entire island. Here we go on several hikes.
At the northern tip, we even get to experience a remote former leper colony.
It turns out to be the perfect place to end our tour completely down to earth. Even though we managed to escape the big resorts and shopping malls on the other three islands, Molokai is still something very special. Because here there are no resorts, no shopping malls and almost no tourists. A perfect place for us, who are looking for peace and quiet before we head home.
I get the thought that if there is no room in heaven when that time comes, they can probably send me back to Molokai in Hawaii.
Have a great trip to Hawaii on your own island hopping on volcanoes.
These are the places you should see on island hopping in Hawaii – volcanoes, rainforests and temples
- Maui – walking on volcanoes
- Molokai – the authentic Hawaii
- Oahu – culture and temples
- Kauai – rainforest and canyons
Did you know: Here's an expert from USA Rejser Nicolai Bach Hjorth's top 7 overlooked destinations in the USA
7: Apostle Island, unique islands off Wisconsin
6: Finger Lakes, scenic lakes in New York
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