After several months of detailed planning, this trip played out just as it was scripted. Rather than a 10 hr. flight from ATL, we chose San Diego as an overnight stop to take a break both going to and coming from Honolulu. We also added one day before and after the cruise to tour in and around Honolulu. Norwegian's "Pride of America" proved to be a very effective way to visit O'ahu, Maui, Hawaii (Hilo, Kona), Kaua'i all in seven days. Island-hopping was made easy with the ship moving us while we slept. The ship's sightseeing detour to view the Na Pali Coast was a special treat. We also decided to pick up (5) rental cars, use our GPS and explore at our own pace rather than take part in the much-too-structured organized tours that were offered. We were never lost.....just exploring areas that others did not get to see!
Overnight stop in San Diego-A few residents own boats!
San Diego from atop the Coronado Bay Bridge
Our evening walk on Waikiki Beach
The remains of the USS Arizona at the Memorial
Drops of oil as they rise to the surface
Diamond Head and Downtown Honolulu from the Punchbowl National Cemetary
Unimproved portion of "Highway to Hana"
Rocky shoreline along the Hana Highway
Beautiful beach along Maui Highway
Lava at Volcano National Park
Spouting Horn Blowhole
Shipwreck Beach
Cruising along the Na Pali Coast, Kaua'i
(The mountains are real, not a photographer's canvas background!)
Along the North Shore of Oahu
Presentation of pig at Luau
Luau at Polynesian Cultural Center
Wiamea Canyon
(Scenes from Jurassic Park were filmed here)
Wailua Falls
