Travel Kuoni

Hawai'i's Rainbows and Rainforests

This is a kaleidoscopic, island hopper of a journey through the ‘rainbow capital of the world’.

Hawai’i’s regularly sunny skies, short and sharp showers, and clean-as-it-can-be air create the best conditions going for those sweeping (often double or circular) arcs of colour. The vivid hues of Maui’s rainbow eucalyptus trees, the 50-shades-of-green rainforests, sands that go beyond the standard golden, and most importantly, a vibrant heritage passed through countless generations only add to the colour palette of life in Hawai’i. Car hire is included on each island so the pace can be set by how you feel, what you want to see and when you want to see it.

Multi-centre
10 nights
Multi Centre

From £3,995 including international flights

This is just a suggested itinerary so you can completely tailor make your holiday, choosing where you stay and for how long, and if you'd like to add a USA city stopover to or from Hawai'i. Any sightseeing mentioned is just a recommendation and should be arranged locally.

Itinerary overview

Days 1-4

First up is magical Maui, an island dominated by two slumbering volcanoes, green-as-can-be valley...

Days 5-7

After a short hop of a flight over to Hawai’i Island, a world of volcanic-meets-jungle landscapes...

Days 8-11

As soon as you step foot on Kaua’i, a feeling of tranquillity washes over you, shoulders drop and...

Days 1-4

Maui

First up is magical Maui, an island dominated by two slumbering volcanoes, green-as-can-be valleys and with a coastline of dreams. Base yourself in a beachside bolthole and head out on expeditions in your hire car to east Maui’s wonders along the Hana Highway like Twin Falls, the Garden of Eden Arboretum and Waiʻānapanapa State Park (prior reservations are required), the emerald jewel in the crown. At least one of your evenings on the island should be spent out on the water, taking in the sunset and possibly catching the ‘5 o’clock rainbow’ which graces the sky above the coastline with surprising regularity. For a loftier perspective of the sun dipping below the horizon – or appearing above it at the other end of the day – take a trip up to Haleakalā summit (sunrise reservations are required).

Maui Spectacular
Maui

This helicopter tour covers much of Maui in a single flight, combining West Maui’s valleys and waterfalls with East Maui’s rainforest and volcanic landscapes. You’ll also land at Ulupalakua Ranch on the slopes of Haleakalā for a short stop with refreshments and views. It’s a varied, mid-length flight perfect if you want both aerial sightseeing and a brief on-the-ground, away-from-it-all experience.

You’ll start by flying over West Maui, where deep valleys, dense rainforest, and long ribbons of waterfalls set the tone. It’s the side of the island that feels wild and cinematic, the sort of scenery that makes you forget about your camera for a moment because you’re too busy looking. Then comes the unexpected part. Your pilot lands at a private spot on Ulupalakua Ranch, high on the slopes of Mount Haleakalā. You’ll have around 20 minutes on the ground to stretch your legs, enjoy light refreshments, and take in wide-open views across rolling pastureland. On a clear day, you’ll catch views stretching all the way to the sea on both sides of the island.

Back in the air, the flight continues over East Maui for an extended look at the lush Hana region and the vast volcanic landscape of Haleakalā. From this angle, the island’s scale becomes clearer, and the contrast between the rainforest, the coastline, and the crater becomes clear. It’s adventurous without being intense, visually rich, and varied enough to feel like you’ve really seen Maui rather than just skimmed over it.

• Duration: 1½ hours
• Daily departures
• Operates year round 
• Group experience

Days 5-7

Island of Hawaii

After a short hop of a flight over to Hawai’i Island, a world of volcanic-meets-jungle landscapes will be your oyster. To satisfy the rainforest theme of this holiday, we advise staying over on the west coast, close to Hilo, where protected forest, wildlife and reserves spill down to the coastline from the slopes of Mauna Kea, and rivers flow over falls and through parks like Wailuku River State Park. You’ll still be able to get behind the wheel of your hire car and head south and west to explore the big-ticket attraction that is Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park to get up close and personal to geothermic marvels. And no trip to the island is complete without discovering the deep connection the people of Hawai’i have to Madame Pele (or Ka wahine 'ai hōnua), the goddess of volcanoes and fire and ‘she who shapes the sacred land’.

Big Island Spectacular
The Island of Hawai'i

A chance to witness the Big Island’s breathtaking beauty first-hand, this action-packed adventure will leave you slack-jawed in amazement. A tour around earth’s most active volcano, Kilauea, will satisfy your appetite for adrenaline, while a barefoot stroll over black sand beaches will gently soothe your soul. From Madame Pele's fire-forged landscapes to the lush rainforests of the Hamakua Coast, this trip is a feast for the senses. Get snap-happy as you marvel at the towering sea cliffs and meandering valleys of the Kohala Mountains and take a moment to connect with nature at the foot of the crashing waterfalls.

• Duration: 2 hours
• Daily departures
• Operates year round 
• Group experience\

Mauna Kea Summit & Stars
The Island of Hawai'i

This evening tour combines a scenic drive up Mauna Kea, sunset views from high above the clouds, and guided stargazing under one of the clearest night skies on Earth. You’ll climb from sea level into the mountain’s high-altitude landscape, stop for sunset, then descend to a more comfortable elevation for an after-dark look at the stars.

You leave earlier in the evening and begin the gradual climb up Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano that rises well above the rest of the island. During the drive, your guide fills in the background, from the mountain’s geological story to the way Hawaiians once used the stars to navigate across the Pacific. There’s a hot picnic-style dinner along the way, timed for when the temperature starts to drop and sitting down feels particularly welcome.

Sunset is the main event. From near the summit, you watch the sun sink with clouds often spread out below you and the colours changing quickly as the light fades. It’s a quiet, unhurried moment, helped by the fact that very little else competes for attention at this altitude. After dark, you head back down to a lower elevation for stargazing. Wrapped up against the cold, you take part in a guided star show using a powerful 11-inch Celestron telescope. With minimal light pollution, the night sky here is clear and expansive.

• Duration: full day 
• Departs Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Volcano, Chocolate & Waterfalls
The Island of Hawai'i

This full-day experience on Hawaiʻi Island brings together three very different sides of the island. You’ll explore an active volcanic landscape with a guide, visit a working cacao farm to see how chocolate is made from the ground up, and finish the day at one of Hilo’s best-known waterfalls. It’s a varied itinerary that works well if you want contrast rather than a single-focus tour.

The day begins at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, where you explore a landscape shaped by eruptions, collapses and cooling lava. Travelling through the park with a guide, you see how volcanic activity continues to reshape the terrain. One of the key stops focuses on the dramatic collapse of the Halemaʻumaʻu crater, which significantly altered Kīlauea and changed how this part of the park looks and feels.

From molten geology, the focus shifts to something much sweeter. You visit a tropical cacao farm, set across a large working property, where you follow chocolate from tree to finished product. The visit is hands-on and practical, breaking down the process in a way that makes the result more interesting than you might expect. The day finishes in Hilo at Rainbow Falls. Surrounded by lush greenery, the waterfall is an easy, unrushed stop and a good way to wind things down. 

• Duration: full day
• Daily departures
• Operates year round 
• Group experience

Days 8-11

Kaua’i

As soon as you step foot on Kaua’i, a feeling of tranquillity washes over you, shoulders drop and mindfulness is the order of the day. This is why we’ve picked the island as your final stop on your holiday – after all your rainforest, rainbows and reef explorations, it’s time to relax. And by relaxing, we mean cruising along the Nā Pali coast with its towering sea cliffs that are interrupted by deep, jungle-clad valleys; popping into peaceful botanical gardens (it’s not called the Garden Isle for nothing); being metaphorically bowelled over by the sheer scale of Waimea Canyon, the ‘Grand Canyon of the Pacific’; and snoozing under the swaying shade of palm trees on the ‘coconut coast’. Pure bliss.

Kauai Eco Adventure
Kaua'i

This helicopter flight is a fast, comprehensive way to see Kauaʻi’s most dramatic landscapes in one go. You’ll fly over remote valleys, waterfalls, deep canyons and the Nā Pali Coast, covering areas that are difficult or impossible to reach by road. It’s a short but wide-ranging experience, designed for anyone who wants a clear sense of the island’s scale and scenery without spending days travelling around it.

Lift off by helicopter and watch Kauaʻi turn cinematic. You’ll glide into the Hanapēpē Valley to see Manawaiopuna Falls, better known as the Jurassic Park waterfalls. From there, it’s on to Olokele Canyon and the vast, rust-red folds of Waimea Canyon, often called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, where waterfalls spill down the cliffs. Then comes the north shore, and this is where things get even more dramatic. You’ll trace the Nā Pali Coast’s towering sea cliffs, rising thousands of feet straight out of the ocean, sweep over the turquoise waters of Hanalei Bay, and spot the Princeville area tucked neatly into the greenery.

If the weather’s playing nicely, your pilot will finish strong with Mount Waiʻaleʻale, a dormant volcano and one of the wettest places on Earth. All that rain has a point. It feeds a riot of waterfalls and deep green ridges that feel almost unreal. It’s scenic, immersive, and adventurous enough to brag about later. Kauaʻi from the ground is lovely. From the air, it’s unforgettable.

• Duration: 50 minutes
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Group experience

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