Locals will tell you that if you want to truly experience the wonders of Hawaii you need to ditch the tourist traps and travel on the islands’ back roads. I should know; the street I lived on in Hilo, Hawaii is often mistaken for a famous back road that leads to one of the best surfing spots on the island.
But now, instead of renting a car and getting lost on streets like mine a local tour company is giving you the opportunity to sit back and leave the navigating to them. Roberts Hawaii is offering a variety of “Back Roads” tours on different islands. It gives you the chance to visit Hawaii’s quiet, untouched areas and see how locals really live.
For example, the Roberts Hawaii Upcountry Maui tour takes visitors to the Ali’i Kula lavender farm. While there you get the chance to sip lavender teas and eat scones, then wander among the farm’s 25,000 lavender plants. Meanwhile, the Back Roads of Upcountry Maui tour travels to the Surfing Goat Dairy where you will get to meet its owner and the band of goats that provide the milk to make 25 different goat cheeses. The tour also visits the Tedeschi Vineyards, Maui’s only commercial vineyard, at Ulupalakua Ranch, which sits 2,000 feet above sea level on the slopes of Haleakala.
Speaking of Haleakala, the world-famous dormant volcano is one of the premiere spots on earth to watch the sunrise. To that end, Roberts Hawaii offers a “Sunrise Tour,” which includes transportation to the summit and a stop for breakfast at the Surfing Goat Dairy on the way back down the mountain.
If you are staying in Waikiki or somewhere else in Honolulu you might consider taking the Back Roads on Oahu tour. It stops at local farms and plantations where you are allowed to sample a variety of fresh produce, including pineapple, apple bananas, papayas, and macadamia nuts grown right before your eyes. There is a lunch stop included in this tour. It takes place at Kahuku farms where you will dine on ingredients that are picked minutes before your arrival. The tour also explores Waikane Tropical Farm, Helemano Plantation and more.
Visiting Hawaii? Check out these other related articles:
Traveling To Hawaii—With Your Pet
Hawaii–Visiting the Big Island’s Best Waterfalls
Hawaiian 101: “Was that Mauka or Makai?”
Adventure Travel–Swimming With Sharks
Adventure Travel–A Trip to the “Valley of the Kings”
Visiting the World’s Largest Outdoor Shopping Center
Destination: Hawaii–A Great Family Beach
Visiting Hawaii’s “White Mountain”