Pearls of the Pacific: Line Islands, Hawaii to Tahiti

This tropical Pacific adventure showcases the stunning beauty of idyllic islands and the warm, traditional hospitality of the people who live there.

Aboard the elegant expedition ship, Clipper Odyssey, you'll travel between two hemispheres to some of the most remote islands on earth and visit places immortalized by explorers, writers, and painters.

The voyage sails southward from Hawai’i to Tahiti and, along the way, introduces us to islands almost unvisited by any means other than expeditionary ship—the captivating, nearly unpopulated islands of eastern Kiribati, also known as the Line Islands. On Christmas Island we stroll palm-shaded village lanes, meet the residents, greet elders in the traditional meeting house, and enjoy local dancing and music. By contrast, Malden, Starbuck, and Flint are small uninhabited coral islands, among the most remote on earth, where sooty and fairy terns, frigate birds, and boobies nest amid the tropical flora, while enormous coconut crabs zealously guard their palm trees.

This voyage comes to a close in the legendary islands that for centuries have bewitched all who have laid eyes on their magical silhouettes: Bora Bora and Moorea, both vying for, and both deserving, the title “world’s most beautiful island.”

Itinerary:

Day 1 — USA Mainland / Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i Island, Hawai’i
Depart on your independent flight to Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i. Transfer to our hotel on the Kona Coast for dinner and overnight.

Day 2 — Kilauea Volcano / Hilo / Embark Clipper Odyssey
After breakfast we drive along stunning coastal and inland roads from the west to the east side of the “Big Island.” Leaving Kona’s coffee-growing terrain, we pass through Kealakekua where in 1779 Captain Cook was slain by locals due to an unfortunate misunderstanding. Kealakekua Bay, a Marine Life Conservation District, is home to a healthy coral reef system and we watch for the pod of spinner dolphins often spotted in these waters.

The centerpiece of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is the world’s most active volcano—Kilauea— which erupts about once a month, spilling fresh lava into the sea and building up the already existing fields of solidified lava. A spectacular high-altitude rainforest of thick ferns surrounds the park. We visit the park’s visitor center and walk to the rim of the crater for incredible views of the lunar landscape, complete with steaming fumaroles.

The small town of Hilo, on the windward side of the island, is surrounded by one of the most lush landscapes on earth; the varieties of tropical flora here surpass the imagination in color and prolific propagation—orchids, hibiscus, giant ginger, anthuriums, and huge gnarled banyan trees, among hundreds of other varieties. In the late afternoon we embark the Clipper Odyssey.

Day 3 — Sailing the North Pacific Ocean
As we sail southward, our lecturers introduce the culture and topography of Kiribati (pronounced keer-ih-bahs). The remote nation is made up of 32 low-lying atolls and one raised island, and spans a distance of 2,000 miles from the Western to the Eastern Pacific, straddling the Equator. We learn about the volcanic origin and formation of coral atolls of the Line Islands and watch for whales in these sunlit waters.

Day 4 — Cross International Date Line
As we enter the Kiribati Nation, we lose a day. In 1995 Kiribati made a unilateral decision to move the Date Line to incorporate all of its islands, so that the eastern Line Islands’ day of the week is the same as the far western capital of Tarawa. We regain the day later as we enter Polynesia.

Day 5 — Tabuaeran (Fanning Island), Kiribati
Villagers warmly welcome us to Fanning with superb dances. The Kiribati name for Fanning, Tabuaeran, translates into “heavenly footprint” and reflects the shape of the island. As we walk about the village, we are likely to see craft-making demonstrations, including frond weaving, and possibly a canoe demonstration. Those who wish may take a longer Zodiac ride across the picture-perfect lagoon to explore and visit another village, a quintessential slice of paradise. After lunch on board enjoy snorkeling or diving with our dive masters, watching for giant parrotfish and butterflyfish among the colorful corals.

Day 6 — Kiritimati (Christmas Island)
Discovered and named by Captain Cook on 24 December 1777, Christmas Island is the world’s largest atoll in terms of land mass—and it comprises 70 percent of the total land mass of the country of Kiribati. We go ashore at the village of London for a welcome greeting by the elders, and enjoy local entertainment. We take an excursion to visit the school, a tern colony, and the Philatelic Center, with its colorful stamps. We then spend time at leisure, visiting a small islet for birding, or snorkeling from the beach or Zodiacs.

Day 7 — Sailing the Pacific Ocean / Cross Equator
Early in the morning, we cross the equator and head into the southern hemisphere. We continue discussions with our onboard experts about the tropical flora, fauna, and rich underwater life that awaits our discovery.

Day 8 — Malden Island
Remnants of old maraes (sacred altars) attest to an early Polynesian presence on Malden. This was also once the site of a small British base, but today the island is deserted. We land on a sandy beach to explore the flora, watch for boobies and fairy terns, and enjoy snorkeling and diving amid large pelagic fish.

Day 9 — Starbuck Island
This low coral island has only a very narrow pass that is sometimes inaccessible due to the sea conditions. The island was discovered by English whaling captain Valentine Starbuck in 1823; because of the large concentration of seabirds, it became a prosperous phosphate mining community. It was later abandoned in 1893. We become true explorers as we attempt a landing where very few have gone before us. Watch for sooty terns and the remains of the former community.

Day 10 — Sailing the South Pacific
Relax on deck today as we scan the horizon for marine mammals and seabirds.

Day 11 — Flint Island / Cross International Date Line
Explore the lovely shoreline of Flint today. As we hike around the fringes of the island watch for glass fishing floats and the enormous coconut crabs that proliferate here. Or, explore the interior and search out the remains of an old abandoned settlement. Diving and snorkeling in the area get rave reviews, both for the clarity of the water, and the vast variety of marine life. Upon leaving, we cross the Date Line into the waters of French Polynesia, this time gaining a day.

Day 12 — Mataiva, Tuamotu Islands, French Polynesia
Mataiva means “nine eyes,” it was named for the nine narrow channels around the encircling reef that connect the lagoon to the sea. Visitors are infrequent in this northern atoll, and we experience Polynesian hospitality at its finest. The villagers greet us warmly with vibrant singing, as we go ashore at Pahua. This village is perched on both sides of a narrow pass which is spanned by an unusual bridge—the only one of its type in the Tuamotu Islands. Join our naturalists for village walks then spend the afternoon on additional hikes learning about copra and native vegetation. Snorkeling at the pass reveals triggerfish, jacks, and goatfishes, among many others.

Day 13 — Vaitape, Bora Bora, Society Islands
We arrive in the afternoon, sailing through Bora Bora’s narrow pass into a spectacular sapphire lagoon ringed with motus, tiny sand islets. Its interior is crowned by majestic eroded volcanic formations and a distinctive black basaltic peak—our first “high” island since Hawai’i. As the sun sets it illuminates the jewel-hued lagoon before disappearing below the horizon—watch for the elusive green flash.

Day 14 — Vaitape, Bora Bora, Society Islands
We board “les trucks,” colorful open-air minibuses, to circle the island’s 17-mile perimeter. Our guides discuss the island’s history from the past to the present, and regale us with amusing anecdotes unique to Bora Bora. Along with stunning views of the island, we see the churches of Vaitape, a sacred marae, Matira Beach, and old WWII remnants from the former American base. Spend your afternoon at leisure, exploring further by le truck, rental bicycles, on foot, or join a Zodiac and snorkeling excursion.

An optional 4WD excursion features a high viewpoint with a panoramic view of the lagoon and nearby islands. Birders keep an eye out for unusual, and endangered, species such as the green-backed heron, Tahiti reed warbler, Tahiti swiftlet, and the Tahiti monarch.

Day 15 — Cook’s Bay, Moorea / Papeete, Tahiti / Disembark / Homeward
Join us on deck early as the sun’s first rays touch dramatic Moorea. The island’s soaring peaks are the eroded remnants—sculpted by wind and rain over millennia—of now-dormant volcanoes. We take a drive around the island, visiting nearby Oponohu Bay and its scenic Octagonal Church, the South Pacific’s oldest European building and a reminder of the 19th-century missionary heritage. From the high Belvedere viewpoint, established centuries ago, we view an ancient marae while below, a fringe of palm trees waves in the coastal trade winds, and fields of pineapples carpet the hillsides.

During lunch we sail the short distance to Tahiti’s island capital of Papeete. The afternoon is at leisure with time to explore this energetic city. Stroll through the colorful market, its packed stalls selling everything from fresh fish to hand-dyed pareos skirt-wraps; witness the eclectic jumble of vessels that hail from everywhere on earth; or enjoy the local art galleries. After our farewell dinner on board the ship, we transfer to Faa’a Airport for a late evening independent flight to the USA, or continue on Voyage II.

Day 16 — USA
Arrive in the morning to continue your flights homeward.

What's Included:

• Accommodations in hotels and on board Clipper Odyssey as outlined in the itinerary
• All onboard meals
• All group meals on land
• Group transfers
• Services of the expedition staff, including lectures, briefings, slide/film shows
• All group activities and excursions
• Landing and port fees
• All gratuities.

What's Not Included:

• All air transportation
• Excess baggage charges
• Airport arrival and departure taxes
• Transfers for independent arrivals and departures; passport and/or visa fees
• Travel insurance
• Items of a personal nature such as laundry, bar charges, alcoholic beverages, e-mail/fax/telephone charges
• Scuba diving fees and equipment where required

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