Heavenly Hawaii: Smoking volcanoes, steep canyons and soft sands on a …

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The first thing you notice about Hawaii is the people. They are not just friendly, or even super-friendly. They redefine affability with an easy-going acceptance that seems too corny to be true but is as real as the lei they have just placed around your neck.

When these people say they count you as ohana, or family, they really mean it.

Permanent fixture: The Pride of America sails between the Hawaiian islands throughout the year

The second thing you notice is the view. Wherever you look it’s simply stunning, not to mention varied. You want mountains? Tick. Volcanoes? Got those too. Tropical rainforests? No problem.

Amazing beaches? Goes without saying.

An ideal way to explore Hawaii is through a cruise-and-stay package taking in all four main islands – Maui, Kauai, Oahu and the Big Island – which are situated 2,390 miles from the US mainland.

As it flies the Stars and Stripes, Norwegian Cruise Line’s 2,000-passenger capacity Pride of America is the only ship that can sail year-round in Hawaii.

We started our adventure with the cruise, followed by two days on Maui, exploring its marvellous coastline. We toured the historic whaling village of Lahaina, dropped in on the swanky resorts of Wailea, and visited the stunning Haleakala Crater, a dormant 10,000ft volcano that you can trek through and witness at first hand how primeval this landscape can be.

Next up was the Big Island, featuring a number of volcanic peaks. Mauna Kea is the tallest in the Hawaiian range at 13,803ft but hasn’t erupted in more than 4,000 years – but the 13,680ft Mauna Loa is a different story. It has erupted 39 times since 1832 – most recently in 1984 – and you feel it is just biding its time before proving its dominance once more.

And then there is Kilauea.

Although it is a relative tiddler at barely 4,000ft, it is the world’s most active volcano, and the only one with ‘drive-up’ accessibility. It has been steadily oozing lava and ash for the past 29 years and, from the Jaggar Observatory, its awesome lava fields and smoking crater are a sight to behold.

Back on board the ship that night, we sailed past the Big Island’s south coast where Kilauea’s lava flows into the sea. Spectacular. Kauai is known as The Garden Isle but that florid description belies its central attraction – a 14-mile chasm called the Waimea Canyon.

It beguiles visitors with the deceptive nature of its interior splendour, then whacks them in the eye with its full, extensive expanse, fully justifying its reputation as the Grand Canyon of the Pacific.

Fire in the sky: Kilauea provides very visible evidence of Hawaii’s volcanic origins

Once again, we had an overnight stop on Kauai, which meant we could not only explore the Waimea Canyon but also visit the huge Kauai Coffee Company plantation, marvel at the rugged Na Pali coastline, paddle along the Wailua River and indulge in some whale-watching from Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge. In truth, we needed a week on this island to truly do it justice.

During our various times on Pride of America, we could take our pick of 11 restaurants and nine bars. There was also the chance to watch some big-production stage shows, listen to a wide array of live music and enjoy some relaxing spa treatments.

The voyage concluded at Oahu, where we had booked an additional four days and stays at two of the island’s most distinctive resorts. Waikiki’s Kahala Resort is the kind of tropical paradise you would be delighted to wash up at any day of the week – a beachfront creation with massive rooms, stylish restaurants, a blissful spa and a dolphin interaction programme.

We followed that up with a stay at Disney’s latest offering, the Aulani Resort. It’s the kind of South Seas idyll that is hard to define yet easy to enjoy. Here Disney’s ‘imagineers’ have distilled the very essence of Hawaii, filled it with glorious views and amenities, and topped it off with the kind of delectable dining that made our mouths water before, during and long after every meal.

Yes, it’s a long way to go (more than 17 hours by air from the UK) and yes, there are parts of it that are reminiscent of the Caribbean. But if the Caribbean feels like a party, then Hawaii is more like a way of life. Because the last thing you notice about Hawaii is that you want to go back, and soon.

It gets under your skin in a way that is almost unnoticeable at first but then eases its way into your subconscious, wraps itself around your heart and soul and whispers: ‘Come back, now! Come back.’

And we will, you know.

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