For many years I could not think of a good reason to cruise to Hawaii because I lived in South Florida. I just couldn’t imagine spending a week of my vacation in another hot, tropical climate. Surely, Hawaii would just be more heat, ocean and palm trees. Of course, I had cruised the Caribbean many times but that seemed different because it was so close to home. The cruise port was an easy drive with no air flights needed. In contrast, Hawaii required a 6 hours cross-country flight followed by another 5 ½ hours between Los Angeles and Hawaii.
On the other hand, no one ever told me they did not like Hawaii, even the Florida residents. In fact, they raved about it so much that I eventually gave in and booked an 18 day “Circle Hawaii” cruise on Holland America Statendam out of Los Angeles.
As it turned out, I found 16 good reasons why you should cruise to Hawaii even if you live in Florida. None of the things listed are available on the mainland or if they are, not in the same, unique way.
1. Leis
Only in Hawaii can you receive a live orchid lei upon arrival at the airport. Although they were included as part of our tour, currently, you must order and purchase them in advance or buy them at the airport. My lei contained many beautiful orchids and I loved wearing it around my neck.
2. Lu’ au on the Beach
A lu’au is a traditional Hawaiian party or feast that is usually accompanied by entertainment. Ours featured an underground oven that roasted a pig. In addition to the pig, the buffet served poi, ( a Hawaiian dish made from the fermented root of the taro which has been baked and pounded to a paste) salmon, fruit and other food items. The entertainment included traditional Hawaiian music and hula.
3. Hula Show
The hula is Polynesian dance form accompanied by chant or song. It was developed in the Hawaiian Islands by the Polynesians who originally settled there. The hula dramatizes or portrays the words of the song in a visual dance form.
4. Royal Kona Coffee
An Arabica or Arabian coffee from Kona on the Big Island. It is one of the most expensive coffees in the world. It is often described as silky, soft and aromatic. Prices start at $24.99 for 1 lb. of Kona coffee and go up from there.
5. Hilo Hatties
Everyone seems to bring a Hawaiian shirt back home from a visit to Hawaii. Without a doubt, Hilo Hatties is the place to buy one. These stores have been an institution in Hawaii since 1963. They are the world’s largest manufacturer, distributor and retailer of “Made in Hawaii” fashions, gifts, food and jewelry.
Wearing Leis 
Hilo Hatties 
Kona Coffee
6. Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach is the famous beach in Honolulu with white sand and teal water and a view of Diamond Head. The Waikiki skyline is filled with high-rises and resort hotels. Half of the beach is marked off for surfers.
7. Diamond Head
This saucer shaped volcanic crater is Hawaii’s most recognized landmark. Diamond Head is a defining feature of the view known to residents and tourists of Waikīkī, and is also a U.S. National Natural Monument.
8. Pearl Harbor Memorial
This took me by surprise. I don’t know what I expected but it was not this. We entered through the USS Memorial Visitors Center and viewed the pictures and history of the attack on Pearl Harbor where 2400 members of the U.S. military died. A shuttle boat playing somber music took us to the memorial as it is accessible only by boat. The Memorial structure straddles the sunken hull of the battleship without touching it. Heartbreakingly, there is a wall listing the names of those killed in the attack December 7, 1941. It is the most visited destination in Hawaii. The thing I remember most was the solemn music playing that created a sad, chilling, respectful atmosphere. Visitors spoke in hushed tones. Tears formed in my eyes as I looked down into the dark water at the hull of the USS Arizona where 1177 crew members died.
Pearl Harbor Memorial 
Na Palli Coast 
Wailua Falls
9. Cruising the Na Pali Coast
“Na Palli” means the “the cliffs”. The Na Palli Coast is a rugged 22 mile stretch stretch of the most sharply fluted coastal cliffs in Hawaii
10. Famous Wailua Falls
Wailua Falls is a scenic 80 ft. waterfall meaning “two-waters”. After a heavy rainfall it becomes one wide rushing waterfall. If it looks familiar, it is because it has been featured in many movies such as Bali-Hai in South Pacific, Blue Hawaii, Fantasy Island, The Thorn Birds, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Jurasic Park.
11. The Fern Grotto
The Fern Grotto is located in the Wailua State Park in Kauai. We took a boat ride there on the only navigable river in Hawaii. The grotto is a huge rock amphitheater, whose ever misty walls create the conditions for ferns to grow, wildly and with abandon, filling the cavern with their musty smell and green beauty. The grotto is the setting for many visitor weddings. We were serenaded with “The Wedding Song”. On the boat ride back, a young woman accompanied by musicians, performed a hula dance for the passengers
12. Volcano National Park
Here we walked on the hard rock lava and viewed the 11-mile crater rim of Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano.
The Fern Grotto 
Hard Rock Lava-Volcano National Park 
Macadamia Nut Factory
13. Mauna Loa Macadamia Nuts
Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii produces 90% of the world’s macadamia nuts. The Mauna Loa Company processes some 32 million pounds of the sweet, white nuts per year. It was difficult to control myself from buying out the entire inventory of chocolate covered macadamia nuts.
14. Black Sand Beaches of Hawaii
Punalu’u beach is the most famous black sand beach on Hawaii. It is even known as ‘Black Sand Beach’. The beach has black sand made of basalt and created by lava flowing into the ocean which explodes as it reaches the ocean and cools
15. Volcano National Park
A small group of us from our tour made the 15-minute walk from the road to the shore. It was treacherous, over mounds of hard lava but worth it when we saw a beautiful rainbow over the sea. When we reached the ocean, the rain poured from the sky and we returned to the bus completely drenched after the return walk.
16. Kilauea Volcano
The Kilauea Volcano will always be my most vivid and lasting memory of Hawaii. We departed from Hawaii at 5pm and it grew very dark at sea. Suddenly, we noticed an erupting volcano, brilliant red against the black sky. The captain slowed the boat down so we could gaze at this beautiful and powerful demonstration of nature. That image will stay with me forever.
Black sand beaches 
Kilauea Volcano
Delay Due to Medical Evacuation
Our 18-day cruise turned into a 19-day cruise due to a medical emergency. On the day after we left Hawaii one of the passengers developed a medical condition that required evacuation. We were too far at sea for a helicopter to reach us so the captain turned the ship back until we were in range for a helicopter evacuation. The helicopter hovered above our ship while the crew lifted the patient up in a basket. After this dramatic incident, it took 5 days instead of 4 days to reach Los Angeles.
Fly or Cruise to Hawaii?
If you choose to fly there will be a lot of getting on and off airplanes. First, you must fly from the mainland to Hawaii then fly to each of the main islands then back to the mainland. By comparison, cruising allows you to unpack once and enjoy the ship and your cabin as you sail to the next island.
In Conclusion: Cruising to Hawaii
On the negative side, the 1998 Statendam ship held only 1250 elderly passengers who generally retired early. Since there were 9 sea days with minimal entertainment, the cruise often dragged.
Instead of cruising both ways, I would recommend an itinerary where you fly one way and cruise the other or one where you fly to Hawaii, cruise around the islands, then fly back to the mainland.
The Nieuw Statendam replaced the Statendam in 1998. It carries 2600 passengers and provides a wide range of evening entertainment. There are many other ships and cruise lines sailing to Hawaii giving passengers a variety of options.
As you can see from the above list there are many reasons to cruise to Hawaii that are unique from anything you might experience on the mainland even if you live in Florida! It was a memorable trip and I highly recommend it.
