{"id":139939,"date":"2019-01-03T15:19:29","date_gmt":"2019-01-03T20:19:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fourseasons.com\/magazine\/?p=139939"},"modified":"2020-03-11T13:57:13","modified_gmt":"2020-03-11T17:57:13","slug":"hawaiian-island-experiences-itinerary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fourseasons.com\/magazine\/discover\/hawaiian-island-experiences-itinerary\/","title":{"rendered":"The Hawaiian Islands as You\u2019ve Never Seen Them Before"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Hawaii is a land of perpetual enchantment, and even for an island native, there are new ways to discover its secrets. That\u2019s what Kauai-born Chelsea Yamase found when she dove into Hawaii by Four Seasons<\/strong><\/a>, which combines exclusive experiences on four Hawaiian islands into one 12-day itinerary. She and the equally intrepid Sam Kolder helicoptered through clouds of smoke over an active volcano, took a sunrise hike to Sweetheart Rock and picked exotic fruit on an organic farm with an executive chef. Flying high and diving deep, Yamase and Kolder immersed themselves in the rich culture and dramatic geography of this Polynesian paradise for an experience you won’t want to miss.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Volcano Helicopter Tour<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n
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To devise a private aerial tour of the Big Island, Four Seasons turned to revered Hawaiian kumu<\/em> (teacher) Kamakaonaona\u00a0\u201cUncle Earl\u201d Regidor, manager of\u00a0Ka\u2019upulehu Cultural Center<\/a>, which is on the same site as Four Seasons Resort Hualalai<\/a>. He designed the ride to showcase the sheer forces of nature still sculpting the Big Island. The helicopter picks up passengers on the 14th fairway of the Hualalai Golf Course and then flies them into the steamy sky above Mauna Loa, one of the world\u2019s most active volcanoes. From there, guests touch down at a secluded black-sand beach and spend the afternoon exploring Halema\u2018uma\u2018u Crater, recently reshaped by the 2018 eruption of neighbouring Kilauea.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Four Seasons Resort Hualalai<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\u201cWe were very blessed to fly over Mauna Loa and the adjacent fissure when the flow was at the height of its activity last year,\u201d Yamase says. \u201cSeeing rivers of molten lava forming brand-new land gave me this overwhelming sense of awe. Even hundreds of feet away the heat hit us like a wall. We flew around columns of smoke, and you could smell the sulphur and hear the crackling and crunching of hot meeting cold. It\u2019s a very primal experience. The colours and sights were stunning from the helicopter \u2013 it\u2019s really the only way you can fully grasp what you\u2019re seeing.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Sunrise Hike and Cave Diving<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n
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The terrain on Hawaii\u2019s secluded \u201cpineapple island\u201d is so diverse that guests invariably end up designing their own experience within the larger itinerary. Riding through upland trails and valleys on horseback, diving into Hulopo\u2018e Bay from the side of a luxurious catamaran that\u2019s yours alone \u2013 there\u2019s a thrill for every kind of adventurer. Kolder and Yamase kicked off their stay at Four Seasons Resort Lanai<\/a> with a sunrise hike to Pu\u02bbupehe (Sweetheart Rock), an 80-foot (24-metre) rock formation rising from the waters that separate M\u0101nele and Hulopo\u02bbe bays.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Four Seasons Resort Lanai<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\u201cMornings in Hawaii, particularly on Lanai, are so quiet and peaceful,\u201d Yamase says. \u201cWe decided to do the short walk up the cliff. My favourite moment was when we were up high on the edge, watching the sun make its way over the distant Maui mountains. It transformed the ocean from a reflection of gold to a deep turquoise and painted Sweetheart Rock ochre red. Seeing these same cliffs, as well of the rest of the coastline, from the deck of the catamaran later that day was a delightful mix of luxurious, relaxing fun. We lazed in net hammocks in the sun and did a bit of cave diving near a rocky island that juts out from the water like a shark fin.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Hula Performance<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n
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A hallowed tradition older than the written word, hula keeps the history of ancient Hawaii alive. Through movement and chants, dancers \u2013 who train by climbing lofty palm trees and swimming with boulders \u2013 recount the stories of this divine land and its people. On Ka\u2018ena Point, the westernmost tip of Oahu\u2019s wild western coast, guests at Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina<\/a> experience a mesmerizing display of storytelling with physical strength. Here,\u00a0Kumu hula<\/em> La\u2018akea Perry shares the story of this spot, also known as Leaping Rock, a sacred\u00a0setting where mortal souls jumped from earth into the realm of the gods.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\u201cOne of my favourite things about growing up in Hawaii is how meaningfully people engage with the land here,\u201d says Yamase. \u201cFor me, it\u2019s always been true that perception of a place can change with one\u2019s knowledge of it. The myths and history of Ka\u2018ena Point added a layer of sacredness to the hike and to the trip overall. The chance to interact with a kumu hula<\/em> as knowledgeable as La\u2018akea is a rarity even for someone like me who was born and raised in the islands. Hearing his oli<\/em> [chant] gave me goose bumps.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Farm Visit and Personalized Dinner<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n
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For this hands-on culinary adventure, Executive Chef Craig Dryhurst of Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea<\/a> joins guests on a helicopter ride above Maui\u2019s coast. The flight path sweeps over Haleakala and lands at ONO Organic Farms, where lifelong farmer Chuck Boerner blazes an edible trail on the verdant hillside. As Dryhurst returns to the kitchen to spin the fresh-picked ingredients into dinner, guests head to Hana, terminus of the scenic Road to Hana<\/a> and site of many sought-after food trucks (think fish tacos and barbecue chicken). You\u2019ll choose what\u2019s next \u2013 floating through lava caves or hiking through a bamboo forest in search of serene waterfalls. Either way, you\u2019ll make it back to the Resort in plenty of time to feast on an unforgettable meal prepared from the farm basket you picked only hours earlier.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\u201cThe dinner on the beach was closer to a sumptuous feast, with ingredients collected primarily from that ahapua\u2018a<\/em> [parcel of the island],\u201d Yamase says. \u201cThat whole day was one delight after another. The thought put into that meal and experience is something I\u2019ll cherish forever.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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For more information about Hawaii by Four Seasons, visit our website<\/a> or contact our reservations team<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Your Journey Begins Here<\/h2>\n

Discover the islands<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\"Four <\/picture>\n

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