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(TOP) BARRY MARTIN, HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY S U M M E R 2 0 1 5 | W E S T W O R L D 51 "We really learned about all of Polynesia [at the cultural cen- tre]," says Barry. "You don't learn about that in history class, so I never appreciated Hawaii as a country or state, or all the other countries that were a part of Polynesia. But they intermin- gled because they followed the trade winds, and traded between each other." e aptly named Hawaii, Land & Sea excursion then called the Martins away for the "sea" portion. On Day 7 in Honolulu, they boarded the lux- ury ship, Pride of America, where they would spend the next eight days, rst steering a southerly course through the islands of Lanai, Molokai and Maui before turning 180 degrees at the big island where it would steam toward Kauai, the most northerly of the Hawaiian Islands. From Kauai, the ship would ultimately return to Honolulu, where the Martins would spend their 15th and nal day before ying home. Time spent with the Pride is like a vacation within a vacation. e 2,500-passenger vessel with a crew of 900 is out tted with enough pure luxury to make a hedonist of Bligh. With 19 dining options, 10 bars and lounges, private balconies for whale or volcano watching, pools, hot tubs, discos, a Hollywood theatre and a grand staircase for, well, grand entrances, you might be excused if the very point of your personal journey to Hawaii was simply to be on this grand boat. "Being a prairie farm boy, I was in awe of the ship," says Barry. "We had a room that was like having an apartment with a balcony where you can sit up there and have a glass of wine. My wife, Margaret, always got up early, had a co ee and watched us coming into port." e rst port of call after Honolulu was Kahului on Maui, where other passengers toured the historic town of Lahaina while the Martins hopped aboard a 48-passenger submarine with large picture windows that o ered ne, crystal-clear views of an ocean teeming with schools of exotic sh. It was an experience not unlike being in a large, oat- ing aquarium, say the Martins. From Maui, the Pride pro- gressed toward the big island, Hawaii, with stops at Hilo and Kona. is is the island famously dominated by Mauna Kea, the dormant volcano that rises almost four km above sea level; though the last eruption is said to have occurred in 2460 BC, long before those rst Marquesas sailors arrived, its presence must have given them something to think about. For many visitors, Hawaii's Volcanoes National Park is their go-to destination in the state. But the Martins discovered a feature of Hawaii with far less spectacle than volcanoes: the Ocean Rider Seahorse Farm at Kailua Kona. "If I was doing a bro- chure [of Hawaii], I would de - nitely highlight the seahorse tour," says Margaret, who was captivated by the backstory of wild seahorses, which are monogamous and mate for life. When one is harvested in the wild, the other will become depressed and die. But facilities such as Ocean Rider are selec- tively breeding them to accept new friends and new mates, thus restoring some balance to their world numbers. " e most spectacular scenery is at the end of the cruise at Kauai," says Barry. "It's the most rugged and has the active volcanoes." But the Martins decided to relax aboard the Pride, while others went on a helicopter tour of the Waimea Canyon – at 23 km long and 1,080 metres deep, it's often called the Grand Canyon of the Paci c. ough Barry and Margaret may kick themselves now for missing out on the canyon, the reality is, between the world-class surf, seductive beaches, rugged geology and conch call of the sea, even with 15 days to spend, you'll never see all Hawaii has to o er. Just ask the Polynesians. ey've been trying now for 1,500 years. Enjoy Hawaii, Land & Sea in 2016 with WestWorld Tours. Two exciting excursions to choose from: January 17-31, 2016; January 24-February 7, 2016, for the 11th Annual NewsTalk Listener Cruise with John Gormley. westworldtours.com TAKE FIVE The rugged coastline of Kauai. Learning a ceremonial welcome at the Polynesian Cultural Center (Barry Martin is second from right).

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