Hawaii Cruise Guide

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Why go?
When to go

Why go?

From the moment the first lei is placed over your head and the smell of orchids wafts up to your nose, you’ll agree: Hawaii may just be the most romantic place in the United States. This series of tropical islands has it all: white-sand beaches, palm trees, tropical fruit drinks with paper umbrellas, and a rich local culture of food and music. Each island has its own personality, so a cruise is a great way to sample them all and decide which one is right for your next vacation.

While you’re there, you must — repeat after us — must see a luau, where you can watch a whole roasted pig being pulled out of an underground oven (called an “imu”) and see the local girls swing their grass skirt-clad hips. That’s also the place to try poi (pureed taro), hopia (coconut pudding), and lau lau (chicken) that’s been steamed in taro leaves.

Whatever you do, don’t overschedule yourself with sightseeing. To get the real sense of the islands — and the magical pull that brings people back year after year — you have to set aside plenty of beach time. Plan to spend a whole day on the sand on some islands, watching the surfers ride the waves and enjoying lunch from one of the state’s famous food trucks.

When to go

Hawaii is blessed with sunshine, and the temperature doesn’t drop much below 72 degrees throughout the course of the year. The high season is defined by when the rest of the country is facing cold weather, which means that mid-December to mid-April is the time most people like to flock to the islands. Within those months, the last two weeks of December and the weeks around spring break, Easter, and Passover are the busiest. (The end of April also sees a lot of Japanese visitors, so expect crowds.) Spring (mid-April to mid-June) and fall (September to mid-December) are the shoulder seasons, and a great time to visit the islands.