Hawaiian cruise offers a cultural feast
The volcanic outcroppings that form the Hawaii archipelago offer a range of experiences from exploring ancient cultures to reliving historical highlights
Sandy Katz
Published on
Mar 07, 2008
The spirit of aloha embraced the 1,440 passengers aboard the MS Zaandam from the moment we boarded in San Diego for a 15-day round-trip to Hawaii.
Ports-of-call included Hilo, Honolulu, Lahaina, and Maui, with side trip to Ensenada, Mexico on the second-last day of the homebound leg of the voyage.
Four days after leaving the mainland, we slid into Hilo on Hawaii's Big Island, which is twice as large as all the other islands put together and getting larger as red-hot lava creates new land almost daily. Local legend has it that volcano goddess Pele and demi-god Kamapua'a battled over the island. They eventually struck a deal and divided it in two: the dry Kona side on the west and tropical Hilo on the east.
The Hilo side is where you can enjoy waterfalls and gardens. It's worth taking a ground or air tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home of the Kilauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. The latter, at 13,677 feet above sea level, is the world's most massive. Kilauea put on a blazing show as we cruised by.
At Hilo Hattie stores, local craftsmen offer one-of-a-kind souvenirs. The colourful clothing screams Hawaii. There's also an array of such edible specialties as macadamia nuts and Kona coffee.
Next on the itinerary was Honolulu, the state capital and home to almost one million people - 80 per cent of all the islands' population. Waikiki, with its marvelous beach, coconut palm groves, fishponds, and walled taro patches, was a favourite spot of the island chiefs.
The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor serves as a history lesson and poignant tribute to those who died in the Dec. 7, 1941, air attack that launched the Pacific war against Japan. The memorial is built over the original sunken battleship.
Nearby is the USS Missouri, on whose deck military brass from several nations collected on Sept. 2, 1945, to sign the documents that ended World War II.
At the 42-acre Polynesian Culture Center visitors are greeted by natives of seven South Pacific cultures and can learn to play Fiji bamboo drums, experience warfare training with New Zealand tititoria sticks, and make fire Samoan-style from coconut husks. Dancers perform daily during the Paradise Canoe Pageant.
Our next stop was Maui, the second largest of these volcanic outcroppings. The most prominent natural attraction is 10,023-foot Haleakala, the world's largest dormant volcano crater.
The Maui Tropical Plantation and Ocean Center offers natural beauty and the largest tropical aquarium in the western hemisphere. The Ocean Center exhibits living animals in habitats that faithfully replicate their natural environment beneath the sea. You can stroll with sharks and rays and graceful moon jellyfish in the Open Ocean Tunnel.
During eight days at sea, we enjoyed the amenities provided by this chic Holland America Line vessel.
Accommodations were pleasant staterooms with individual temperature controls and surprisingly large bathrooms for a cruise ship, some with full-size tubs.
Daily activities varied from relaxing at the pool and whirlpool to meeting other jackpot hopefuls in the casino or fellow bridge enthusiasts at daily card competitions. There was always a full house for talks featuring scientists, celebrities and a variety of experts on everything from flower arranging to culinary delights. Movies played daily in the theatre and, in the evenings, comedians, musicians, magicians, singers and dancers were on tap.
Dining is important aboard a cruise ship. From breakfast, served in the room, in the dining room or buffet-style on Lido deck, to the 11 a.m. snack, afternoon tea and themed evening meals in the Rotterdam Dining Room, cruise guests felt fully pampered.
For more information on Holland America Line, call 877-724-5425 or visit hollandamerica.com.