Discover Hawaii Tours Blog

ABC TV’s hit show “Lost”, which has filmed in Hawaii for the last 5 years, has begun shooting the 6^th and final season. Since the popular show aired its first episode in September 2004 it has become some what of a cult classic with audiences eagerly awaiting each week’s installment. With popularity increasing each year, the effect on Hawaii tourism has been palpable as visitors flock to the Island of Oahu to see their favorite locations. During the first year alone “Lost” acquired 16 million viewers each episode and that equates to a lot of people viewing the beautiful scenery of Hawaii.

Byodo-In Temple

Believe it or not, filming locations in and around Honolulu have been used as stand-ins for spots around the world. With a wee bit of set dressing, Honolulu has been portrayed as New York, California, South Korea, Iraq, Nigeria, United Kingdom, Paris, Thailand, and Australia. The Honolulu Convention Center was recently used as the Sydney International Airport. Another prominent location on Oahu utilized for filming was the Byodo-In Temple. The famous beach where the plane crash took place is actually Mokule’ia Beach, situated along the North Shore of Oahu.

Sunset Beach - North Shore beaches

Locals not only spot the film crews regularly but LOST actors are a common sight on the island as well. Don’t be too surprised if you find yourself walking down the street and run into some familiar “LOST” faces.

After the final segment airs in May 2010 both fans and locals will nurse the wounds of loss as the weekly viewing population bids farewell to a friend and the State gets use to a lot less worldwide exposure.

For those of you who want to see some of the filming locations in person, reserve seats on our 4A – Lost & Famous Films Experience Tour. Filming Locations for Jurassic Park, Pearl Harbor, Mighty Joe Young, Tears of the Sun, Baywatch, and Gilligan’s Island will also be included in the tour.

TV show LOST film location

Although Hawaii might not be home to Santa’s elves, it is home to our very own mischievous, elfish like characters also known as Menehunes. Europe isn’t the only place with legends and stories of elves and dwarfs, such as the Leprechauns of Ireland. Hawaii’s rich culture is full of legends and myths, but none are as widespread as the myths surrounding the Menehunes.

Menehune

Menehunes, similar to pixies or trolls, are characterized as short dwarfish type people who are both mischievous and master builders. Legends say that they are responsible for building fish ponds, temples, roads and walls. However, they only work at night so as not to be seen. If spotted, the Menehunes would abandon their work and disappear into the mountains. Even today the work of the Menehunes can be spotted from our Tour 16B: Hidden Waterfall Guided Eco Hike. While on the trail you will actually walk on top of a handmade, lava rock, cobblestone road that was once used as the original route from one side of the island to the other. Legends are still told of how the Menehunes built part of this road as well as other walls and temples within the area.

Hidden Hawaiian Waterfall

However, many scholars believe that the Menehunes are not mythical but are in fact the first settlers to Hawaii from the Marquesas Islands. In Tahitian, a similar word Manahune, or commoner, refers to a race of people who were small in social rather than physical stature. Historically, the Tahitians were the second wave of explorers to Hawaii and invaded the islands. This invasion may have caused the original inhabitants to flee into the mountains only to re-appear at night when they secretly searched for food and supplies. Although Menehunes are considered to be mythical creatures, an 1820s census officially counted 65 Menehunes living in Wainiha Valley on the island of Kauai.

While Santa’s elves are busy finishing up toys for the upcoming Christmas holiday, our Hawaiian “elves” or Menehunes stay busy on the islands mischievously running around. So next time you can’t find your missing belongings be warned, a Menehune may be hiding right around the corner.

Explore Hawaii's rainforest and legends

One of the most photographed and acknowledged icons in Hawaii, Diamond Head stands proud on the south shore of Oahu. With a summit of 762 feet above sea level, Diamond Head offers a 365 degree view of the south shore that is truly breath taking. If the view at the summit doesn’t take your breath away, the trail to the top might.

Surprisingly, Diamond Head is not a volcano at all. It is a 200,000 year old volcanic tuff cone formed during a series of eruptions referred to as the “Honolulu Volcanic Series.”

Punchbowl Crater

This series of eruptions also created the famous Punchbowl Crater (seen on: Tour 42 – Pearl Harbor War Memorials, Tour 3 – Pearl Harbor & Historic Honolulu, Tour 8 – WWII Start to End, and Tour 2 – A day at Pearl Harbor) and

Hanauma Bay Crater

Hanauma Bay Crater (seen on: Tour 9 – Full Day Scenic Oahu Tour, Tour 7 – Oahu Circle Island Tour with Pearl Harbor, Tour 12 – Pali/Makapuu Costal Tour, and Tour 19 – Dolphin Swim, Pearl Harbor, and Scenic Oahu).

Prior to Diamond Head, the area wascovered by shallow costal water extending to the base of the much older Ko’olau Mountains. A fissure, or crack in the earth’s surface, allowed magma to mix with the shallow water causing a brief, but highly explosive, hyrdomagmatic explosion. The pulverized ash, rock, steam, and debris shot into the sky and settled into the symmetrical crater now known as Diamond Head.

Many people question where Diamond Head got its name. Well, well in ancient times there lived a farmer who sold heads of lettuce for 10 cents on the hillsides of Diamond Head. He would call out, “A Dime a Head! A Dime a Head!” to customers passing by. The name stuck and even today we still call the monumental icon, Diamond Head.

Unfortunately, that story is untrue; Diamond Head’s real name isn’t Diamond Head at all, but Le’Ahi. The Hawaiians named this volcanic tuff cone Le’Ahi for a few different reasons. Ahi is a tuna fish found in the Hawaiian waters, and Diamond Head’s summit mirrors the shape of an Ahi’s dorsal fin. Le’Ahi is also believed to mean “Ring” or “Wreath of Fire.” The native Hawaiians built five heiaus (or temples) out of lava rocks, each with a fire burning used to help navigate outrigger canoes for the Polynesians traveling north from Tahiti and other Pacific islands. The summit housed a special heiau (or temple) dedicated to the god of wind. Human sacrifices were often performed at this location to please the god of wind so that the fires at the heiaus would not be blown out.

With the arrival of British explorers in the early 1800s, Le’Ahi’s name was changed forever. The British found shiny white crystals embedded in the rocky slopes of the crater. The calcite deposits were mistaken as diamonds which gave the crater its modern day name, Diamond Head.

We invite you to discover this magnificent landmark on our new Diamond Head Guided Eco-Hike, Tour 15A. Relax and let one of our professional ecologist guides pick you up from your hotel and guide you along the trail to the summit. Along the trail you will learn about the flora and fauna found inside the crater. Our knowledgeable guides will teach you about the geological, natural, and cultural history of Diamond Head while making sure you have the best experience possible at this iconic location.

North Shore's Waimea Beach

When you hear the word “Waimea” the first things that come to mind might be, world class big wave surfing, cliff jumping, or maybe just scenes of an endless white sandy beach.  From this north shore beach you might not even notice the lush rainforest that fills the valley behind the beach.  Take the time to learn about and explore the valley on your own, or let us share the beauty of this valley with you on any of our following  north shore tours: Tour 4A: Lost and Famous Films Experience, Tour 5A: Pearl Harbor/North Shore Combo, Tour 7A: Pearl Harbor/Circle Island Tour, Tour 9A: Full Day Scenic Island Oahu Tour, Tour 10A: Discover the North Shore Tour, Tour 11A: Pearl Harbor/Dole Pineapple Plantation/Polynesian Cultural Center Tour, Tour 13A: Polynesian Cultural Center & Deluxe Circle Island Tour, and Tour 14B: North Shore and Twilight Ali’i Luau Package.

Waimea Valley - "Valley of the Priests"

Oahu’s north shore is full of hidden gems rich in Hawaiian culture, history, legends, flora, and fauna, but none seem to compare to Waimea Valley.  Historically, Waimea was known as the “Valley of the Priests.”  With a history dating back more than 700 years ago, archeologists have uncovered over 78 sites of interest including religious areas and shrines on the valley floor.  Although few sites still remain, the Hale o Lono Heiau, (Hawaiian temple), can still be seen today.  Dedicated to the god Lono, or god of harvest, this temple dates between 1470 A.D. and 1700 A.D.

Waimea's jumping rock

Waimea valley is also home to a 150-acre arboretum and botanical garden area which is filled with over 5,000 species of tropical plants.  Of these plants there are 437 species of the known 1,200 Hawaiian plants, making it one of the most extensive collections of native plants anywhere.  Take the time to explore the back of the valley where you will find a 45 foot high waterfall.  Modern day conservation efforts are aimed at reclaiming the valley and transforming it into a more native environment filled with Hawaiian cultural activities, games, and agriculture.

According to the most recent publications from the popular travel magazine, Recommend, Hawaii was named the “Best Selling Destination” in North America in its 13^th Annual Reader’s Choice Awards. 

For those who have ever visited the island state already know how special of a destination Hawaii truly is.  Whether you are a local or visitor alike, there is always something to do on the islands.  Not only does each of the islands have their own “personalities” but each also has their own unique adventures waiting for you.  Exploring the islands on your own can be fun, but if you want to truly relax and enjoy yourself let one of our professional guides show you only the best spots to visit. 

Here are some of the most popular “not-to-be-missed” activities in Hawaii.

Kilauea – The World’s Most Active Volcano

Located on the island of Hawaii, also known as the Big Island, Kilauea truly is one of the most “jaw-dropping” attractions in the state.  Let us take you on our Hawaii Volcano Night Eco Tour – Tour 33, (available from all islands) where you can witness nature’s fury upfront and personal.  Explore the only national park on the islands, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where you learn all about Hawaii’s fiery origin.  Get a chance to see black sand beaches, jungle waterfalls, gardens, and historic Hilo town.  Join us on a fun filled fiery day which is “not to be missed” by anyone!

Pearl Harbor War Memorial Tour

USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri

Learn about a day in history that changed the world forever as you re-live the day that started WWII for America.  Enjoy a professional guided tour that depicts the opening scenes of Pearl Harbor and witness first hand the devastating repercussions of the Japanese Naval and Air force attack on Pearl Harbor.  Join us on any of our Pearl Harbor tours including: Tour 2: A Day at Pearl Harbor Tour, Tour 3: Pearl Harbor and Historic Honolulu, Tour 5: Discover the North Shore and Pearl Harbor Combo Tour, Tour 6: Arizona Memorial/Aloha Stadium Flee Market Tour, Tour 7: Circle Island Tour with Pearl Harbor, Tour 8: WWII From Beginning to End, Tour 11: Pearl Harbor/Dole/Polynesian Cultural Center Tour, Tour 19: Dolphin Swim, Pearl Harbor, and Scenic Oahu, Tour 41: Pearl Harbor Tora Tora Tora, Tour 42: Pearl Harbor War Memorial Tour, Tour 50: Hawaii Experience Package.

Road to Hana – Maui

Wailua Falls from the road to Hana

No trip to Hawaii is complete until you’ve been on the Road to Hana.  Experience one of the most scenic drives on earth where every turn offers an even more amazing view than the last.  Complete with more than 615 curves, the road to Hana stretches all the way from Kahului Maui to Hana town and offers amazing scenery the whole way through. From this incredible roadway, see black sand beaches, great views of the Pacific Ocean, waterfalls, and beautiful green landscapes.  Join us on our Tour 21A, Discover the Road to Hana Tour From Waikiki and enjoy a free complimentary breakfast and a gourmet picnic lunch.

Kalaupapa Peninsula on Molokai is a truly unique spot on the Earth in terms of its stunning geography and natural beauty. Historically, this place has an amazing story to tell as well. During the time of the Hawaiian Monarchy in 1866, King Kamehameha V authorized the establishment of a settlement of leprosy patients at Kalawao on the eastern end of the Kalaupapa peninsula. Saint Damien arrived in 1873 to care for the patients before contracting and succumbing to Hansen’s Disease himself in 1889.

Trace the path of Saint Damien in Kalaupapa

With this background information in mind, my day began with a flight on a private chartered plane departing from Honolulu. The aircraft had wide windows on both sides of the plane, offering a panoramic view of the Hawaiian Islands on the way to Molokai. The sights of Oahu’s leeward coast stretched underneath, and the islands of Molokai, Lanai, Maui, and the Big Island were all visible ahead. My final destination of course was Molokai; after stopping in Kapalua on Maui to pick up some more guests we took off toward Molokai’s northern coast.

The northern coast of Molokai, home to the tallest sea cliffs in the world

On our approach to Kalaupapa, even at an altitude of 1500 feet the tallest sea cliffs in the world stood high above me. The sheer rock face to the left of the aircraft gave way to valleys cut into the ancient volcano and in the distance was Kalaupapa. Upon exiting the plane, I had ample opportunity to snap photos of the Molokai Lighthouse, all while waves crashed into the coastline surrounding the airstrip. The Saint Damien tour bus pulled up to the airport and the ground tour began. On the road to the Kalaupapa settlement, the guide pointed out a beach where endangered Hawaiian Monk Seals like to rest; we were lucky enough to see a couple!

Kalaupapa settlement viewed from the sea cliff above

The tour itself includes a number of stops, starting with St. Francis Church, a Catholic church built in 1908 that has beautiful gothic-style stained glass windows. Continuing with the drive around the small town our guide pointed out various important buildings, including guest residences and the recently-constructed health clinic; the old one burned down almost two decades ago and some of its remnants still stand. Across the street from the ruined hospital is the monument to Mother Marianne. She is not as well-known as Saint Damien, but she worked just as selflessly for the patients of Kalaupapa and she carried on Damien’s work after he had passed. The last stop here is at the local bookstore, which gave everyone a chance to buy some souvenirs and books about Kalaupapa and Saint Damien to take home.

St. Philomena Church, built by Saint Damien

The tour then shifted, taking us to the other side of the peninsula to the old settlement location at Kalawao. On the way the guide made sure to dispel some misconceptions regarding Hansen’s Disease, and also enlightened us as to the possible future of Kalaupapa once the remaining patients pass away. One stop on the road included the remains of an ancient Hawaiian heiau, an important place of worship, before we finally arrived at St. Philomena Church. Saint Damien himself erected a portion of this church, and this is where he was initially buried following his death; no doubt devout Catholics may take the opportunity to pay their respects at his grave marker in the cemetery. The final stop for lunch offered everyone on tour some time to think about what they had seen and experienced that day, all in the very location where Hansen’s Disease patients over a century ago came ashore after being dumped into the rough waters.

Over the past month, we have been adding new tours for guests to enjoy on a regular basis.  One that we are particularly excited about is the Tour 19: Dolphin Swim, Pearl Harbor and Scenic Oahu.  This tour is available with hotel pick up in Waikiki or as a 19M, 19H, or 19K with airfare provided from Kahului, Maui, Kona, Big Island, and Lihue, Kauai respectively.  Swimming with dolphins is a wonderful activity for families, couples, and individuals and often appears on personal bucket lists.

A happy dolphin at Sea Life Park

So let us take you on a tour that you are sure to remember for the rest of your life.  The dolphin swim on tour is entitled the “Dolphin Swim Adventure” and is 45 minutes in length.  You will kiss, play and learn about the dolphin.  You will also have the exciting opportunity to partake in a dolphin handshake and a dorsal fin ride.

Dolphin and new best friend

Your Dolphin Swim Adventure will take place at Oahu’s Sea Life Park which is situated on the south shore.  Also available for viewing while stopped at this location will be various shows and attractions featuring sea creatures such as penguins, sting rays, sea lions, and more.

Dancing Penguins

In addition to your Sea Life Park excursion, your tour will include a visit to the USS Arizona site at Pearl Harbor as well as a tour of Oahu’s south shore.  A no-host lunch will also be included in the tour at Honey’s Restaurant on the Koolau Golf Course.

We are currently selling this tour for a special introductory rate.  Become friends with a dolphin and witness must-see sites on Oahu.  Our special introductory rate won’t be available for long so we encourage you to book ASAP.  You’ll be sure to enjoy every moment!

Please note: If you are traveling with children under the age of 8 and are interested in this tour, please contact us about other dolphin swim options.  The “Dolphin Swim Adventure” requires that participants be at least 8 years of age.

Beginning on October 10^th, 2009, the USS Missouri Battleship will be closed for repairs. It is expected to reopen mid-January.

To take the place of our Tour 2: A Day at Pearl Harbor and our Tour 8: WWII Beginning to End while the USS Missouri is dry-docked, we would like to introduce the 42: Pearl Harbor War Memorials Tour. This tour is available as either an inter-island tour with roundtrip airfare from Lihue, Kapalua, Kahului, or Kona included or as an on-island tour with pick-up from Waikiki Hotels included. Visits to the USS Arizona Memorial and Visitors Center, the USS Bowfin Submarine, and the Pacific Aviation Museum are all included in this affordable one-day excursion, as well as a historic Honolulu city tour and an exploration of Barack Obama’s childhood homes and schools.

Our Pearl Harbor War Memorials Tour is our first Pearl Harbor excursion to involve an exploration of the USS Bowfin Submarine. The USS Bowfin found its place in the Naval Fleet in the year 1943. After a short time in service, it was decommissioned in the year 1947. Yet, with the start of the Korean War in 1950, the US realized the USS Bowfin was an integral member of the fleet. Therefore, it was recommissioned in 1951. Used primarily for training purposes, the submarine held its place as a commissioned vessel for another 20 years, finally closing down in 1971. It was named a National Historic Landmark in the year 1986, and is currently one of the most popular war museums open for tours at Pearl Harbor. With the intrigue of its narrow hallways, mess halls, and sleeping quarters, the Bowfin is sure to be a pleasurable tour portion.

USS Bowfin Submarine

For further information about our new Pearl Harbor War Memorials Tour, visit its description page. We would be happy to bring you along on this one-day exploration of three phenomenal Pearl Harbor museums, so go ahead and click on the “Make A Reservation” button and join us soon!

Here at Discover Hawaii Tours, we are always thinking of new and stimulating tours to introduce to our guests. So just recently we added two Eco Adventure tours to our list of Oahu excursions. Eco Adventure tours combine sightseeing with light exercise and education in a fun and exciting way.

Our two new tours are the Tour 15A: Diamond Head Guided Eco Hike and Tour 16B: Hidden Waterfall Eco-Adventure Hike. The Diamond Head Guided Eco Hike, as the title would suggest, is a visit to the famous Diamond Head volcano in south Oahu. Your guide will pick you up from your Waikiki hotel, take you along the scenic and easy hike to the 760 ft summit of the volcano, and educate you along the way about Hawaiian traditions, ecology, and more. Views from the summit are breathtaking and absolutely worth seeing on your Hawaii vacation.

View from Diamond Head Hike Summit

Tour 16B to the hidden waterfall also involves a leisurely hike, this time through the Ko’olau mountain range. Along the hike, listen as your naturalist guide teaches you about Hawaiian flora and fauna and much, much more. And the best part of this tour will surely be the hidden waterfall nestled deep in the Ko’olau mountain range. See what it is like to take a dip in the pool of this enchanting, hidden waterfall.

Nature Hike to the Waterfall

In addition to providing you with the opportunity to see even more sites on Oahu than before, these two tours are great because they are half-day tours. This way you can enjoy a relaxing break from Waikiki, and still have much of the day to schedule other Oahu activities. So join Discover Hawaii Tours on our new Eco Adventure tours and see how perfectly touring and exercising go together.

Kilauea lava glow

The notorious Mount Kilauea in Hilo, Hawaii was formed anywhere from 300,000 to 600,000 years ago. Since its inception, there has never been a period of inactivity. This particular volcano, in fact, is mostly composed of lava flows infused with explosive deposits, making it prone to frequent eruptions.

Most of Kilauea’s eruptions occur along its long rift zones and sometimes spread along distances reaching to an impressive 125 km. At the summit, there is not an incredible amount of lava activity at the surface, but there are several active steam vents.

Throughout Kilauea’s history, the majority of its eruptions have been gentle, with lava oozing out from the mountain, spreading along its surface and drifting into the ocean. On occasion however, powerful eruptions have turned much of the Hilo landscape into molten lava fields.

Even with its non-stop activity, several areas along Kilauea’s surface are safe for visitors. In fact, Kilauea is one of the most popular volcanic attractions in the world. Some of the most frequented areas around Kilauea are the summit caldera home to the Hale’mau’mau Pit Crater and the Kilauea Iki Crater, the Jaggar Museum with active seismographs that measure the volcano’s activity, and the Thurston Lava Tube which is a large walkway within Kilauea open to visitors.

One of the most attracting areas though is the Kalapana Lava Viewing Area. Only open to visitors between 5-7pm, this region offers the best lava views of the volcano depending on its activity each day. Only Discover Hawaii Tours offers an extended one-day tour of Hilo allowing for twilight lava views from Kalapana. Because of this, our volcano tour in Hilo is extremely popular and sells out fast on a daily basis. Join us for a tour of a lifetime. With airfare available from Kauai, Maui, and Oahu as well as hotel pick ups in Hilo, this tour is convenient and extremely memorable.