Day 4 — Rarotonga → Aitutaki
Flight to Honolulu. Located on the south shore of Honolulu, the world-famous neighborhood of Waikiki is most famous for its beaches. With Leahi (Diamond Head) as your backdrop, the calm waters of Waikiki are perfect for a surfing lesson. But there’s more to Waikiki than just the beach. Attractions like the Waikiki Aquarium offer fun for the whole family. High-end boutiques, shops, and restaurants can be found all along Kalakaua and Kuhio Avenues and at the Royal Hawaiian Center, the Waikiki Beach Walk, the International Market Place and the massive Ala Moan Shopping Center. After the Waikiki sunset, the fun continues with amazing nightlife and live music. Best of all, Waikiki is within a half hour of a variety of Oahu attractions, including Pearl Harbor, the Nuulani Pali Lookout and Hanauma Bay. Not to be missed are the superb beaches of the windward coast, notably Kailua, Waimanalo and Lanikai. As you drive over the Pali Highway, it feels as if you’re entering a different world and a turquoise ocean shimmers in the distance, revealing some of the most stunning natural beauty anywhere in Hawaii. Driving along the two-lane highway you can't miss Mokolii, the tiny island fondly known as “Chinaman’s Hat.” Just across the highway you’ll find one of Hawaii’s most seen but least-recognized locations: Kualoa Ranch; its scenic valley has provided the backdrop for countless movies and TV shows, including "Jurassic Park" and "Lost". Here visitors can enjoy horseback riding, ziplining, ATV tours and host of other activities. From here, the highway meanders around the northernmost tip of the island to Oahu’s North Shore, home of the best surf spots in Hawaii—and some say—the world. But even if you are not a surfer, in the summertime you don't want to miss the beautiful Waimea Beach.
