Hawaiian cruise ideas

Oahu
Despite the crowds, Pearl Harbor continues to be a fascinating and moving experience for visitors - even school-age kids - but typical shore excursions only include the USS Arizona Memorial. If you can tack on a day or two and go on your own, be sure to add visits to the USS Bowfin and the Mighty Mo to complete the experience. Get there early, though, to beat the crowds, and unless you like hot dogs for lunch - the menu at the Arizona/Bowfin site is limited - plan to brown bag it.

The Big Island
There is a reason the Island of Hawaii is called the Big Island - it's big enough to have two ports - which means that when scouting out great shore adventures, you need to plan accordingly. In Kona, passengers arrive by tender into a small village-like setting where they can set out on a self-guided tour of historical sites near the port. The big three are: Ahuena, King Kamehameha's temple; the Mokuaikaua church, the first Christian church on the Big Island; and Hulihee Palace, the summer palace for Hawaiian royalty.

In Hilo, the Volcanoes National Park, with its starkly beautiful green and black landscape, is a must-see and is accessible by shore excursion or rental car. Keep in mind that the park is huge, so you won't see it all. Try to get a look at a lava tube, to see the steam vents rising from the ground and, if at all possible, witness the lava flow into the sea.

Maui
This island also offers two ports: Lahaina and Kahului. Its biggest natural attraction is Haleakala Crater, which you can visit from either port if you don't mind the drive (about three hours round-trip from both). Accessible by tender, Lahaina offers an arty, historic ambience that draws crowds as well as proximity to the popular Kaanapali Beach.

Kahului, on the other hand, is less atmospheric; considered the financial center of the island (and lacking the shopping venues and beaches near Lahain), the port offers the advantage of a docking facility for large cruise ships.

Kauai
Waimea Canyon - called the Grand Canyon of the Pacific - is worth a day unto itself, but you can combine a visit with a trip up the Wailua River to the Fern Grotto. Or drive up the canyon road to the summit and don't forget to check out Lihue (Kauai's main town). Don't miss the sugar cane fields of Koloa and the eye-popping flora along the way.

Lanai
In Lanai it's all about scuba, and once you've seen the miraculous underwater formations formed from lava -- known by dive aficionados as cathedrals - you'll see why. There are shore excursions from Maui that include visits to Lanai, accessible by boat.

Molokai
There are just over 7,000 inhabitants on this island, probably most famous for its haunting past as a leper colony. Nowadays, its beautiful beaches - some accessible only by boat - are worth the price of admission.

Fanning Island
If your itinerary includes a visit to Fanning Island, Republic of Kiribati, your choices aren't so much "what to do" as "which beach." There are two locations local elders have OK'd for use by NCL passengers: the Fanning Island beach and Napali Beach. The main beach offers such inducements as food and bathroom facilities - and it's free - but the facilities and beaches are crowded with fellow cruise passengers.

Napali Beach offers more scenery and fewer crowds - for a price. NCL charges $20 a head to visit Napali, which has no food outlets (other than drinks and bottled water) or bathrooms. You can rent paddle boats, though, and shop for island crafts and knick-knacks from locals who line the walkway from the tender station to the beach. Your admission to Napali Beach also allows you to come and go between the two beaches (for lunch or bathroom breaks) by tender. Keep in mind that the island is near the equator, so stay hydrated and slather up.

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