Kayakers pull over to the side of the river for a snack and a chance to swing out into the river via a knotted rope. At Kona on the big island, passengers can visit coffee plantations where the rich, caffeinated drink gets its moniker. The S.S. Independence does a tour of Hawaii each week. Hilo excursions include trips to the volcanoes that have made the big island the youngest and largest of the Hawaiian islands. Fly over a volcano For those wanting to get as close as possible to a volcano without getting burned, 45-minute helicopter tours fly right over the steaming cauldron and streaming lava beds.
Helicopter pilots change their tours daily depending on where the lava is flowing.
Plus there are plenty of historical trips like visits to the spot where Captain Cook landed, Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona memorial, and the gorgeous Iao Valley on Maui, the site of a bloody battle between warring tribes centuries ago. Of course, since it's also a cruise there are plenty of things to do on board, mostly with a Hawaiian bent such as ukulele lessons, a Hawaiian story teller, hula dance instruction and lei-making classes. And then there's the food. Like most cruise ships, there's a never-ending array of meals, snacks and buffets. But chefs on the Hawaiian cruise ships also offer Hawaiian and Pacific Rim dishes, in addition to more mainstream fare like steaks and pasta, using foods native to the islands such as cream of macadamia nut soup.