Hawaiian Contrasts

With its warm, friendly welcome embodied by the spirit of ‘aloha’, the mere mention of Hawaii conjures up images of tropical beaches and luxurious resort-style hotels, so you’d be forgiven for thinking it offers little more than an idyllic week in the sunshine. While you certainly can have a relaxing holiday here, we’d like to let you in on a few secrets. First up, the four main islands of Oahu, Kauai, Maui and the Big Island (which, confusingly, is also known as ‘Hawaii’) are not only bigger than you might think, they’re also entirely different to each other. Seeing one, most definitely, does not mean you’ve seen them all. If you’ve flown halfway round the world to get here, it’s no extra effort to hop on a quick inter-island flight to explore all that Hawaii has to offer beyond world-famous Waikiki Beach. Compare the surfing hangouts of Oahu’s north shore with the canyons and cliffs of verdant Kauai, or contrast the lunar-like landscapes of the volcanic Big Island with the exclusive resorts of Maui. The scenery throughout is spectacular, and it’s impossible to pick a favourite. In short, it’s the perfect place for a self-drive holiday!