Reserve Your Vacation Home

January 22 – February 2, 2019
An active tropical adventure for Quintess members!

January 22 / Arrive Hawai’i, the Big Island
Upon arrival at Kona airport, you are met and transferred to the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai. The afternoon and evening is free for you to enjoy this tropical paradise!

January 23 / Helicopter Tour of the Kona coast / Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods Tree Planting
Quintess members will be met by your local guide and transferred to a breathtaking helicopter tour over scenic areas of the Kona coast to view green and black sand beaches, active lava flows, the lush Hamakua coast and the Kohala waterfalls. Upon landing, you will be transferred to the slopes of Mauna Kea for an ATV tree planting experience, a deeply authentic and meaningful experience with the native plants and animals of Hawai’i. Located on the slopes of Mauna Kea, this historic site was once the personal koa forest of King Kamehameha the Great – the 1st King of Hawaii. Sadly, this land was cleared nearly a century ago to make room for farming and ranching. Fortunately, some of the old growth koa trees still reside on the property. These rare trees grow nowhere else on Earth and are being utilized as a seed source for all Legacy Trees to bring the forest back to its former glory. Quintess members will be a part of Hawaii’s history and create the memory of a lifetime by participating in this reforestation project while spending time on this beautiful land and planting a King Koa Legacy Tree. Your tree will be tagged with a GPS chip so you can watch it grow when you get back home!

After lunch at Hawaiian Legacy Hardwoods or a local restaurant, you will be transferred to the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, your home for the next four nights. Your afternoon is free to settle into Prime Ocean View rooms and enjoy the beautiful beach and the resort. Dinner is on your own this evening.

January 24 / Mauna Kea Summit and Stargazing
This morning is at leisure to enjoy the beautiful beach and Four Seasons resort amenities. Lunch is on your own today. Quintess members will depart as a group at 2pm this afternoon and journey from sea level to reach the Mauna Kea summit for world class stargazing. Traditionally the home of Hawaiian deities, today Mauna Kea also hosts the greatest astronomical complex on earth. Enjoy a hot picnic style dinner at Historic Humuula Sheep Station, located at 7,000 feet elevation before making your way to the summit to delight in the awe-inspiring sunset at the top of Mauna kea, the highest point in the Pacific. While standing amidst the world’s largest collection of research telescopes, you will sip hot chocolate during your private star show at 9,000 feet elevation with an 11” Celestron telescope before descending to a lower elevation where your guide will share the wonders of the Hawaiian night sky. Important note: children under 13 and guests with respiratory or heart conditions or in poor health are not permitted on summit tours.

January 25 / Farm to Table Tour and Dinner
The morning is free for you to enjoy the natural beauty of the area, with lunch on your own. Mid-afternoon, embark on a farm to table tour with a local chef, visiting 2-3 farms specializing in organic vegetables, exotic fruit orchards and Polynesian style agroforestry. Enjoy a specially prepared dinner on the farm, a fresh and tasty organic meal featuring many of the fruits and vegetables from the farms visited.

January 26 / Hawai’i, the Big Island / Set Sail aboard Safari Explorer
A final morning at leisure to pack up and continue to enjoy the beach and the lush resort grounds. A private transfer is provided to Kawaihae Harbor to our hospitality area to gather with fellow travelers. The Captain and crew greet you with smiles and festive mai tais as you board the awaiting Safari Explorer. Set sail and enjoy the sunset before dropping anchor for the evening.

January 27 / Honomalino Bay
The search is on as you set sail through an area known to be favored by marine mammals. Lava tubes, skiff tours, and kayaking are in store for a day of ultimate adventure. Fringed by coconut palms, Honomalino Bay offers opportunities for snorkeling, paddle boarding, and more kayaking. The bay reveals a diversity of colorful corals, sponges, and tropical fishes. This evening you’ll anchor at an offshore location to search for and night snorkel with Giant Pacific Manta rays.

January 28 / Kealakekua Bay / Kailua-Kona
Skiff to Kealakekua Bay, where Captain Cook was slain in 1779, for some of the island’s best snorkeling. On a guided exploration by kayak and skiff, your expedition team shares their knowledge about the marine life and history of the bay. At Kailua-Kona, stroll through town at your own pace, and uncover the charm of this historic town.

Leave it to your Captain and crew to seek out and unveil the best opportunities the islands hold in store today. Dramatic volcanic backdrops, marine life sightings, and chances for snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boarding are all possible!

January 30 / Lānaʻi
Gear up for a day of play on the “Private Island.” Thousand-foot sea cliffs line the shore and ancient volcanic plugs sit both above and below the water’s surface as host to a wide diversity of marine life. Snorkel, paddle board, kayak, explore by skiff, or stretch your legs on hike—whichever activities suit your fancy. Take a stroll to Sweetheart Rock, a sea stack jutting 80 feet above the crashing surf, and discover the legend of the princess Puu Pehe. Learn about the islands plantation days with a visit to the quaint Lānaʻi Culture and Heritage Center.

January 31 / Olowalu / West Maui
In ancient times, Olowalu was considered a place of refuge. Today, it delivers a treat of snorkeling among coral gardens teeming with underwater life and a known sea turtle habitat. The Humpback National Marine Sanctuary—located between Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi, and Maui—provides front-row seats as you cruise through these productive marine breeding grounds searching for dolphins, whales, and other marine life. Cap off the day and celebrate this evening with the Captain’s Dinner.

February 1 / Molokaʻi
A warm Aloha spirit gives you a sense of Hawaii long ago. No stop lights, no high-rises, just a welcome slower pace. “Talk story” with locals and experience their land and traditions as few visitors do. You’ll hear legends and lore, then take in a cultural lesson in taro patches and poi making, or hike to a towering waterfall in Halawa’s cathedral valley— one of the island’s most historic places. At the Molokaʻi Museum, discover the history of this ancient homeland as you enjoy an evening paʻina (feast), complete with a home-style Hawaiian jam session.

Feb 2 / Moloka’i – Disembarkation
Gather for breakfast before the Safari Explorer docks at Molokai. You will be transferred to the Molokai airport for onward flights.

Cost will be 15 to 17.5 base plan nights per person, depending on the lodging chosen for both the cruise and land portions of the trip. Airfare to Hawaii is excluded.