In 2017, 9.3 million people visited Hawaii. Some were on their first trip to the Islands, some returning, some on their honeymoon. For many, the toughest choice is deciding which island -- or islands -- to visit.
Island hopping, especially for first-time Hawaii visitors, is a great way to sample a little bit of everything this paradise state has to offer.
Since each island has its own "something special, island hopping can be for every type of traveler," said Karen Danaher, lead concierge at tours company Hawaii Concierge.
"We help a lot of people who want to island hop," she said. "For some, Hawaii is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and they want to see as much as they possibly can in that one trip."
"It depends on the type of traveler," Danaher said. "Some like to plunk down on the beach for 10 days, and others like to remain active and see as much as they possibly can -- for those travelers, they can island hop to three and sometimes four islands in one trip."
Recently, for example, Danaher helped a couple plan an island-hopping honeymoon of a lifetime. Since Honolulu Airport on Oahu is Hawaii's major gateway, it is the first stop for most of the island's vacationers and honeymooners.
While on Oahu, the couple made a visit to the USS Arizona Memorial, which commemorates the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
After two full days on Oahu, the lovebirds were whisked off to Maui (flight time 25 minutes) and hopped a luxury catamaran for a sunset dinner cruise for two. The next day featured a guided hike through a magical tropical rainforest to dazzling waterfalls, where the honeymooners were able to safely frolic in the secluded swimming pools at the base of the falls.
Lastly, they took a hop to Lanai by catamaran. During the hour-and-a-half sailing, they enjoyed an island-style breakfast. Once they docked on Lanai, they had the opportunity to swim, snorkel, sunbathe or "snuba" (at an additional cost) before a kiawe wood barbecue dinner overlooking Manele Bay.
In addition to the Hawaii Concierge on Maui, who customize island-hopping adventures that include spectacular tours, Pan Tours has an island-hopping enhancement to its Agent Direct web portal for booking packages that include multiple destinations. Pan Tours enables agents to book up to four flights and visits to as many as three island plus a flight home. Online options include air-room-car, air-hotel and air-car packages.
Discover Hawaii Tours also offers 10-day, three-island, all-inclusive packages that include an airport flower lei greeting (a tradition many look forward to but one that must be arranged), roundtrip air transportation, luxury hotel accommodations, dining and guided tours.
"I think maybe 50% of our clients visit more than one island while they're here," said Paula Simpson Takamori, owner of Travel to Paradise. "Since airfares and getting to Hawaii is half the battle, once you're here, if you can stay an extra few days and see another island, it's worth it."