Capturing the Moment

  We were so lucky to get a clear morning at the top of Waimea Canyon here on Kauai. Looks at this view! Kalalau Valley expands below us, all the way to the ocean. This is where the famous Na Pali coast trail ends, 11 miles later. If you aren't going to hike into it, standing above it is the next best thing. And you can just drive up Waimea Canyon, park, and this view is only a few steps away from the parking lot. Last time I was on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, I missed the opportunity to drive up to Waimea Canyon. The rain and low clouds had settled in by the time I was there. So this time, it was high on my list. I was there with a film crew, getting material for an UnCruise Adventures promotional film for a new land-based extension for our Hawaii cruise. After coming with us on a seven day expedition cruise to the Big Island, Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, guests could then opt to fly to Kauai for an extra five night package. We needed to get all of Kauai's best attractions and ...

  The payoff at the end of the hike, Manoa Falls. It is a slippery, but beautiful trek through the rainforest, ending at this picturesque waterfall. The trail used to go right down to the pool, but after some rock fall injuries at a nearby waterfall, the authorities have signed off getting that close. We also noticed a huge mesh net up the hill, designed to catch any falling rocks before they hit the crowd. One of the closest hikes to Waikiki, besides the very popular Diamond Head Hike, is the Manoa Falls Hike. It is a family friendly, 1.8mile roundtrip hike through a lush rainforest. Once you enter the jungle, you instantly feel miles away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. And the surroundings also might look familiar, if you are a fan of the TV show Lost, or the first Hunger Games movie. This was the rainforest setting for both. Huge fern line the stream, while tall trees form a canopy above. Sturdy shoes are very helpful, since it is almost always muddy and slippery on the ...

  The ascent on the Diamond Head Crater trail is no joke. It'll get your blood pumping. The story of Waikiki, the most famous of places in the Hawaiian Islands, is an interesting one. You might find it hard to believe that this tropical beach vacation destination, was historically swamps and duck ponds, before being drained and filled in. Sand was imported to create a beach, and the hotels and resorts followed, as well as some of the highest priced real estate in the islands. However, through all the changes, one thing remained the same...at the end of Waikiki, a familiar geological feature loomed large, known now as Diamond Head Crater.

  A surfer uses every bit of light before finally paddling in to the shoreline of the famous Waikiki Beach on Oahu. After a wonderful few days on the island of Kauai, Dan and I flew to Oahu to get some answers. Answers like, where would we base our hospitality out of, and where can our ship dock. The plan is to add a couple of days to our Hawaii itinerary and bring Oahu into the mix. We arrive midday at Honolulu airport, but had meetings with harbormasters all day. So it was pretty late when we got all checked in at the Surfjack Swim Club and Hotel here in Waikiki. In typical Dai Mar fashion, I hit the ground for some exploration with my camera. It was just after sunset, which is always a good time for photos.

  Feeling good after climbing to the top of the Sleeping Giant here in Kauai. Looking down at Wailua along the coast. I can see for miles from up here! I always think that finding some good hiking trails can be one of the best ways to really get to know a new place. Since I was here exploring Kauai Island with Dan, I decided to take him on a few hikes. But first we had to decided which was to try out. I had remembered passing one called the Sleeping Giant during our driving tour, so we decided to go check that one out first. It was just perfect for what we were looking for. It is relatively short, but a good climb, and wonderful views from ontop.

  A school of goatfish glide next to the sunken hull of the shipwreck off the coast of Lana'i. Today was a blustery day in the Hawaiian Islands. All of the snorkel and whale watching boats canceled for the day, but not us. We are an expedition ship, so we can operate in conditions that others deem undoable. We spent the morning cruising under 3,000ft sea cliffs on the North side of Molokai. These cliffs are some of the tallest in the world, and there are numerous waterfalls tumbling off of them into the ocean. Snorkeling at a shipwreck off the coast of Lana'i. This is a rare adventure, as this coastline is usually pounded by surf and high winds. The wildlife was out in abundance. It is the time of year when humpback whales migrate here, so we had plenty of encounters throughout the day. We had several brown footed boobies flying by, as well as a mom and baby bottlenose dolphin swim over for a visit. But the big adventure of the day, was snorkeling at a huge shipwreck off the No...

  The humpback whales are here in force right now. Maui is the epicenter of the humpback migration. It where many of the North Pacific humpback population comes to mate and have their babies. My kayak team got an amazing look at this surfacing whale. I've had some pretty amazing weeks aboard the Safari Explorer, here in the Hawaiian Islands, but this past week may have taken the cake. We had manta rays show up during our night snorkel on the Big Island, we had sunrise humpback whales swimming under our small boats at Maui, we discovered rare nudibranchs while snorkeling in Lana'i, and hiked to secret waterfall pools through the rainforest of Molokai. Our guests were able to meet interesting and passionate locals on the different islands, helping to immerse into these amazing locations. We are only expedition ship that sails between the Hawaiian Islands, so we are able to provide a very unique adventure. Most people stay in Waikiki, and don't make it far from the hotel pool....

  Enjoying beautiful views, 6000ft up the side of Hualalai Volcano. This is a high ridgeline next to a massive volcanic fissure. In 1800 the land split apart and lava came fountaining out, creating this ridge we are on. Hawaii is filled with amazing hikes. There are hikes to waterfalls and up steep hills to WWII bunker relics. But some of my favorite hikes are well off the beaten path. That definitely describes the hike we went on today. Way up the side of the Big Island's Hualalai Volcano, behind closed gates, is a wonderful hike that passes interesting volcanic geology, through pristine native Hawaiian forest, all while being serenaded by endemic honeycreeper birds. All of these things are seldom seen by locals, and almost never seen by tourist visiting the islands. You need special permission to access these ancient royal lands, but that is why I wanted to take you with me through photos and stories into this wonderful, wild, place. Known as the 'Hidden Craters' hike, on...