Exeter, ON, Canada N0M1S7
Tel: 519-235-2000 Fax: 519-235-2061
TICO #2392471 / / Suite #303 - 267 West Esplanade
North Vancouver, BC, Canada V7M 1A5
Tel: 604-983-2470 Fax: 604-983-2471
BPCPA Registration #37951
DAVIDTHOMPSONSECONDARY SCHOOL
8 DAY / 6 NIGHT SOCIAL STUDIES TOUR TO HAWAII
MARCH 16 – 22, 2013
Preliminary Itinerary – October 16, 2012
Note: It is the responsibility of all participants to be in possession of the correct documentation to travel out of the country. Failure to do so will result in participants being denied entry/boarding and returned home at the expense of the individual. Canadian citizens 18 years of age or under who are travelling with a school or other organized group, under adult supervision and with parental/guardian consent may present proof of citizenship alone, such as an original or copy of birth certificate, or a Canadian citizenship card. Canadian Citizens 19 and over require a valid passport (the Canadian Government recommends that passports are valid at least 6 months beyond your return date). Groups are advised to obtain notarized letters of consent for persons under 18 years of age.Non-Canadians must check entry and transit requirements.Please notify the group leader at time of booking if you will be traveling with a passport from another country so we can check requirements and advise you accordingly.
Day 1 – Saturday, March 16 - ALOHA AND WELCOME TO HAWAIID
10:30am-1 – 47 passenger coach to arrive at DavidThompsonSecondary School for loading of luggage
11:00am-depart Vancouver, BC for Seattle, WA(have documents ready for boarder crossing)
2:45pm-arrival at the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, where you will check in at the Delta Airline Counter (we highly suggest you check in 3 hours prior to scheduleddepartures – 2 hours minimum)
5:45pm-scheduled departure time of Delta Airlines Flight #2237to Honolulu
-remember to set your watches back 2 hours
8:59pm -scheduled local time of arrival at the HonoluluAirport, collect your luggage and proceed to the arrival hall where you will enjoy a Traditional Lei Greeting
-board your coach and depart for your Waikiki Hotel, where you will check in for 6 nights accommodation(the hotel has inside corridors with girls and boys on separate floors, chaperones intermingled between - key packets will be ready upon arrival and porters will deliver luggage)
-tonight you will have a Pizza Party with your local Tour Director, this will include an informative briefing to go over hotel rules, local area shopping and safety.
-retire to your rooms for the evening
Day 2 – Sunday, March 17 - WIKI WACKY IN WAIKIKIB/D
-your first waking experience in Hawaii will be spent enjoying an all you can eat Breakfast Buffet at an Oceanfront Restaurant
Various-today you will say Aloha as you set sail on a Barefoot Beach Catamaran Cruise
-you will board a 40-foot sailing catamaran right on the beach in Waikiki, sail out past Diamondhead listening to jamming tunes as waves splash the decks
Various-travel to Hawaii’s most famous landmark Diamond Headwith the experience of climbing to the summit is exhilarating – only 99 stairs and a 1.4 mile trail separate you from the 763ft. summit where you’ll experience a spectacular 360 degree panoramic view
6:00pm-tonight is your chance to get Wiki Wacky in Waikiki
-you’ll be separated into teams with chaperones (who must participate), given a treasure map, clue sheet and a dinner allowance - now it’s off to scavenger Waikiki, gaining knowledge of its history and culture
10:00pm-return to your hotel for overnight accommodations
Day 3 – Monday, March 18 - PEARL HARBOR WWII EXPERIENCEB/L/D
6:30am-today we are going to get you started like a real Rock Star with a Full American Breakfast at the out of this World Hard Rock Café Honolulu
7:30am-depart for Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, where you will learn one of the country’s most valuable history lessons: how men and women gave their lives on December 7, 1941 “The Day of Infamy”
-information on the USS Arizona Memorial’s “Witness to History” program can be found at
11:00am-now that you have seen the reason for the United States’ entry into WWII, let’s go see the end
-you will eat your Deli Style Lunch under large Chinese Banyan Trees with a spectacular view of The USS Battleship Missouri
12:00pm-upon finishing lunch, your group will have the chance to tour the “MightyMo”- enjoy exploring this enormous ship and walk on the surrender deck where General MacArthur signed the treaty to end WWII in TokyoBay
2:00pm-depart for your hotel with a Narrated City Tour, driving through The National Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl), Washington Place -which is the Governor’s Mansion, The State Capitol Building, IolaniPalace and the King Kamehameha Statue
5:30pm-seeing as Hawaii is a cultural melting pot, tonight you’re going to learn how to dine Japanese style – you will sit in tables of 10 as your Teppanyaki Chef prepares Japanese Steakhouse beef and chicken right before your very eyes. Your group can cheer him on as flames fly to the ceiling
7:00pm-return to the hotel for an early evening as you have an early rise tomorrow
Day 4 – Tuesday, March 19 - WONDERS OF NATURE AT VOLCANOESNATIONAL PARKB/L/S
4:00am-depart for HonoluluInternationalAirport for a short flight to the Big Island of Hawaii
5:50am-arrive in Kona and depart for HawaiiVolcanoesNational Parkwith a stop for a Continental Breakfast at Punalu’u Black Sand Beach – you will be able to explore the volcanic reef and see Gigantic Green Sea Turtles as you enjoy breakfast
8:00am-arriving at Volcanoes National Park you will head directly to the Thurston Lava Tube(Don’t forget your flashlight)in the middle of a tropical rain forest where you will actually walk through this 300ft. cavern where lava flowed thousands of years ago – you will use your flash light to go even deeper where the light disappears to explore the sounds of this amazing cavern
Day 4 – Continued…
10:00am-it’s now time to see the “Wonders of Nature”! This is where you will have the experience very few people can only imagine. You will travel 26 miles to the end of Chain of Craters Road and walk approximately a mile to red-hot lava (if it’s flowing) flowing into the vast Pacific Ocean. It truly is an amazing site!
-you can now sit back and eat your Deli Style Lunch as you watch the steam ploom rise into the atmosphere
1:00pm-returning back on Chain of Crators Road you will visit a Baron Field of Cinder to look for Pele’s Tears, Pele’s Hair and Pumice. You will learn how each of these is created from the volcano and discuss the two types of lava found in Hawaii.
2:30pm-arriving back at Kilauea Caldera you will visit Steam Vents where moist air will warm your face, tour the Jagger Museum where you can watch seismographs record earthquakes right under your feet and walk to the edge of Halemaumau Crator to look down and across this massive opening in the earth
3:30pm-depart the park for beautiful scenic coastal vistas driving through OnameaBay and then on to stroll through a tropical rain forest atAkakaFalls which is one of Hawaii’s highest waterfalls at over 400 feet
4:30pm-depart for Kona while learning about Parker Ranch which is the Largest Privately owned Cattle Ranch in the US – you will also make a stop to get a piping hot cream filled Malasada at Tex Drive Inn
7:30pm-arrive at KonaInternationalAirport for your flight back to Honolulu.
9:35pm-arrive in Honolulu and transfer to your hotel.
Day 5 – Wednesday, March 20 - PANORAMIC VIEWS OF THE ISLANDSB/D
-full American breakfast is at your leisure
Various-today you will have a chance to learn about Hawaii’s delicate coral reef system and colorful tropical fish with a visit to snorkel at HanaumaBay
-the Bay is a marine preserve and you will travel in small groups as not to disturb this tranquil environment
5:00pm-tonight you’ll say Aloha as you Hang Loose, watching the sun drop off into the Pacific at your own Beach BBQ with Hawaiian flare
-we will also announce the winner of the Wiki Wacky Scavenger Hunt with a truly Authentic Hawaiian Trophy
-following dinner, you will have the remainder of the evening at your leisure
Day 6 – Thursday, March 21 - POLYNESIAN EXPLORATIONB/D
-full American breakfast is at your leisure
10:00am-today, you’ll travel to the central valley pineapple fields where you will make a stop at Dole Plantation to tour the pineapple garden and try a pineapple whip
-depart for PolynesianCulturalCenter, you will take an adventure into the cultures of Polynesia as you visit the seven villages that represent the islands. Enjoy the shows at a leisurely pace during the day and don’t forget to stop and catch an IMAX Movie of your choice.
5:00pm-gather together for an all you can eat Polynesian feast at the Ali’i Luau Grounds
-everyone will be greeted with flower lei and enjoy traditional Hawaiian song, chants and of course the famous Hula Dancing
-Menu Includes: Kalua Pork, Poi (the purple stuff), Lomi Lomi Salmon, Teriyaki Chicken, Fresh local Fish, full salad and fruit bar and all you can drink soda.
7:00pm-move from dinner into the 3,000-seat open-air theatre for the best show in the islands, “HA the Breath of Life”. You will be amazed as performers enlighten you of their island dances and music.
9:00pm-depart for your Waikiki Hotel for overnight accommodations
Day 7 – Friday, March 22 – ALOHA AND GOODBYEB
-full American breakfast is at your leisure
-hotel check out (checked bags will be moved into secured storage at the hotel)
-change rooms will be provided today
-the remainder of the day will be at your leisure for any last minute shopping or just to sit back and relax, having some fun in the Hawaiian sun
-purchase lunch and dinner on your own
5:30pm-meet as a group in the lobby to claim your checked bags
6:00pm-board the coach and depart for the airport
6:30pm-estimated time of arrival at the Honolulu Airport, where you will check in at theDelta Airline Counter(we suggest you check in 3 hours prior to scheduled departures – 2 hours minimum)
9:17pm -scheduled departure time of Delta Airlines Flight #2246to Seattle
-remember to set your watches ahead 2 hours
Day 8 – Saturday, March, 23 – HOME
6:00am-scheduled local time of arrival at the Seattle–Tacoma International Airport, collect your luggage and proceed to the arrival hall
6:30am-board your 1 – 47 passenger coach and depart for Vancouver, BC (have documents ready for boarder crossing)
10:00am-estimated time of arrival in Vancouver at DavidThompsonSecondary School
-Welcome Home!
B - Breakfast / L - Lunch / D - Dinner - denote meals included in tour cost
*Itinerary is tentative and subject to final confirmation*
Ellison Travel & Tours is giving away Four $500 SCHOLARSHIPS in 2013.Are you a secondary school student who has travelled on an Ellison Travel & Tours school trip (this year)and are graduating from secondary school in Spring 2013? See our website for more details.
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