Hawaii Small Ship Cruises

Outfitted in snorkeling gear, you’re ready for a little nightlife. Underwater “campfire” lights at the bottom of the ocean face up to attract plankton, which lures Giant Pacific Manta rays—the guys you’re here to party with. Just as you exchange anticipatory looks with your shipmates, a manta rises up from the dark, feeding a few feet away. Come daylight, you’ll snorkel, kayak, paddleboard, or sail past green sea turtles, pink tail triggerfish, “gentle giant” whale sharks, or spinner dolphins leaping alongside the bow. A marine sanctuary like no other.

It’s true that the island vibe wafts across Molokai, Hawai‘i, Lana‘i, and Maui like the sweet fragrance of plumeria. But these scents and sights are more than paradise; they’re part of tradition and culture for Native Hawaiians. The same plumeria is turned into your welcome lei. The taro plant—grown in patches beneath heart-shaped leaves—pounded into poi. You learn all about this ancient tradition as you “talk story” with the locals. It’s just Hawaii’s way of saying ‘aloha’—which is basically love. All year long!

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