Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/162471
destination+honeymoon Top: At the Sheraton Kauai, you can choose to laze on sandy Poipu Beach or the resort's extensive pool area. Middle: RumFire offers fine dining coupled with spectacular ocean views. Bottom: The Sheraton Kauai provides a variety of site options for a dazzling sunset ceremony. 98 Just as fascinating as the culture of the Big Island is its natural history. Thrust above the ocean surface by massive eruptions, the Hawaiian island chain owes its very existence to rumblings deep in the earth millions of years ago. One exceptional way to experience the island's volcanic history is on a Hawaii Forest & Trail guided tour. On daylong excursions, the company's enthusiastic guides lead guests into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to view sprawling Mauna Loa, the world's most massive mountain; and the still-active Kilauea volcano, home of the wrathful fire goddess Pele, according to ancient Hawaiian mythology. If you're lucky, you might even glimpse glowing lava as it flows down into the sea, in a vivid reminder of the awe-inspiring forces still shaping the Big Island today. Geography and history lessons aside, all that volcanic activity can also provide a picture-perfect setting for your wedding day. Perched on dramatic black lava cliffs, the Sheraton Kona offers numerous scenic sites for a memorable ceremony and reception. Whether you opt for the picturesque wedding chapel, a sweeping velvet lawn overlooking the brilliant blue bay or an intimate garden at sunset, the resort's professional wedding coordinators can help you put together every detail of your day, including traditional touches such as a lei exchange or live Hawaiian music, to further connect you to the island's colourful past. Offering a distinct contrast to the Big Island is Kauai at the northwest end of the Hawaiian island chain. One of the smallest islands, it's also the oldest at some five million years in age. Volcanic activity here ceased long ago, leaving in its wake scenic mountains at the island's centre, surrounded by a shoreline of sandy beaches and dramatic cliffs. With breathtaking waterfalls and pristine green valleys, it's no wonder that films like Jurassic Park and TV's Lost have chosen to shoot on location in Kauai. There's an otherworldliness to the island that can easily set you to imagining dinosaurs and mythical creatures roaming the landscape. In more recent history, it was on Kauai's western shore that Captain Cook first landed in 1771 and "discovered" Hawaii, and his arrival is commemorated with a statue in the town of Waimea near spectacular Waimea Canyon. A short drive east from Waimea brings you to the Sheraton Kauai, a luxurious resort located on sun-drenched Poipu Beach, once named America's Best Beach by the Travel Channel. A sunbather's paradise, the hotel's spacious modern suites with private lanais offer inspiring close-up views of crashing ocean waves. If you can drag yourself away from your comfy beachfront room, you can enjoy some of the resort's numerous recent renovations, such as the expanded multi-level pool with private cabanas and beach bar, or new open-air courtyard lounge complete with tiki torches and fire pits, perfect for sipping cocktails under the stars. The crowning jewel of the Sheraton Kauai's refurbishments, however, would have to be RumFire, a glamorous new dining spot serving up ocean views along with handcrafted cocktails (the frozen RumFire Mango Mojito is a must-try) and a gourmet menu inspired by both traditional Hawaiian cuisine and global flavours. Conveniently located near two shopping and dining centres, the Sheraton Kauai is also a quick drive from Old Koloa Town, a restored 19th-century sugar plantation community now home to a cluster of lively boutiques and eateries. PHOTOS COURTESY SHERATON KAUAI The beauty of Hawaii is that each island has its own unique character R E A L WEDDINGS pg90-100_Honeymoon.indd 98 12-09-24 1:26 PM