Our cruise ship departed from Honolulu and docked at four other islands on the seven-day cruise. At Hilo, HI, we hired a taxi with a driver. He took us to Akaka Falls State Park. It was breathtakingly beautiful, with lush vegatation, trees, good hiking trails and, of course, the falls.
On Fanning Island we ventured out on our own with a little native girl who wanted to show us her school. A tropical downpour, however, cut our visit short and we did not get to see the school. We enjoyed seeing the native dances and crafts made from sea shells. The Monkey Pod trees on the island were magnificent.
While we were docked at Maui, we took the cruise ship's shuttle to downtown Kahului. There we saw the most fascinating tree I have ever seen: a Banyon Tree that covered the entire block. Roots come down from the branches and form new trunks that continue horizontally.
We also shopped at Hilo Hattie's while we were on Maui. The beaches were beautiful.
Quick Tips:
We did not book any of the shore excursions through the cruise line (but you take your chances doing this). The taxi driver we hired in Hilo was really good; he narrated the tour and made the trip very interesting. The guide we hired in Kaui was not good, however, and we cut our trip short as it wasn't interesting. Probably booking through the cruise line is a better way of getting more for your money.
Best Way To Get Around:
In Honolulu, we walked and used public transportation. They have buses to most destinations. The buses run often and cost only 75-cents for senior citizens.