Grab a bite of the Sandwich Islands

When Captain Cook first made contact with Hawaii in 1778 he named his discovery the “Sandwich Islands” after the Earl of Sandwich who sponsored his expedition. Although this name has since been discarded, Hawaii’s links with Britain remain strong; the state flag still retains the Union Jack.

I met up with representatives from Hawaii’s island chapters, who came to London for a sales mission this month. I learnt there are more than 100 islands in total, but six main ones devoted to tourism; Kauai, Oahu (pictured right), Molokai, Lanai, Maui and Hawaii Island (also known as Big Island), all offering an eclectic range of experiences. For example, on Hawaii Island clients can visit the Hawaii Volcanoes national park, home to two active volcanoes (Kilauea and Mauna Loa) and go hiking across volcanic craters, deserts and rainforests. On Maui, visitors can drive the 52-mile coastal route from Kahului to Hana and marvel at its narrow one-lane bridges, hairpin turns and incredible island views. Hana itself is worth the trip, with its quaint small-town feel, and nearby Waianapanapa state park is famed for its black
sand beach.

“We aren’t simply just a flop and drop destination,” explained Noelani Schilling-Wheeler, director of sales and marketing at Oahu Visitors Bureau. “We have loads to offer, from whale watching in Maui to visiting contemporary art galleries in Hanalei on Kauai. And with the new GoHawaii app clients should find it even easier to discover what the islands have to offer.”

There are no direct flights from the UK to any of the six islands. However, there are plenty of ways to get there including transfers from Los Angeles, Dallas and Vancouver. Daily ferries are also available to help clients journey between the islands.