At 7:15 AM the shuttle picks us up and takes us to the famous Hanauma Bay. This bay, a collapsed volcanic crater, offers a wonderful snorkeling and diving spot. Unfortunately, it also attracts huge crowds of tourists, so getting up early is well worth it. If you've already been snorkeling in the Red Sea or Indian Ocean, you might find it a bit underwhelming here — the Hawaiian Islands are relatively young, so coral growth and marine life are somewhat limited.

The Hilton Hawaiian Village is well worth a visit. Spread across an incredibly large area, it has plenty to offer and provides direct access to Waikiki Beach.

In front of the hotels along Waikiki Beach, you'll find a bit more peace and quiet than in the Beach Park. Here's the beach right next to the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

After a quick 30-minute flight with Hawaiian Airlines to Kauai, we enjoy a spectacular view of the island's dramatic cliffs. At the airport, we pick up our rental car and head to the Hotel Plantation Hale in Wailua. We have a spacious two-bedroom apartment with a kitchen.