Aboard the Star of Honolulu, lei is a common sight. From our dancers who wear lei to greet you onboard to our spring holiday cruises, where we teach you how to sew lei for yourself, we love embracing this symbol of love, affection and aloha.
The tradition of giving lei first began with the early Polynesian voyagers, and still continues today. Traditionally made with flowers, leaves, vines, shells and even feathers, lei are often used to commemorate special occasions, like weddings, graduations, and birthdays. We also give lei to greet visitors when they first arrive in Hawaii.
Our friends at Royal Star Hawaii recently unveiled their new Lei Greeting services, offering the following four comprehensive packages to cater to all group sizes on all budgets:
- Shell Lei Greeting: A Royal Star driver will welcome your group with a beautiful shell lei as soon as you arrive at your vehicle. This is the perfect way to begin your memorable Hawaii vacation!
- Fresh Flower Lei Greeting: A friendly wahine (girl) will kick start your journey with a fresh orchid lei greeting.
- Hawaiian Greeting, Ukulele, Hula & Lei: Your authentic Hawaii experience begins with a talented hula dancer as she welcomes you with a fresh flower lei and hula accompanied by talented ukulele players.
- Hawaiian Greeting, Deluxe: A breathtaking hula and ukulele show will serve as the perfect backdrop for a fresh flower lei greeting.
Join us here at Star of Honolulu and our friends at Royal Star Hawaii and indulge in the aloha spirit! For more information on the new lei greeting services, call (808) 841-7827 or visit royalstarhawaii.com/lei-greeting.
Celebrate Independence Day in style aboard the Star of Honolulu! When you join your friends onboard, you’ll be treated to the best views of the iconic fireworks show while indulging in good food, drinks and company.
We offer the following three cruise options to cater to all sizes and budgets:
- Party Sunset Dinner, Show & Fireworks cruise: Enjoy a 3-Course crab and tenderloin of beef dinner, Star Signature Mai Tai, the new largest cast on the ocean “60 Years of Aloha” show and the breathtaking sunset and fireworks views
- Celebration Sunset Dinner, Show & Fireworks cruise: Treat yourself to an exciting evening at sea with a 5-Course whole Maine lobster and tenderloin of beef dinner, champagne toast, 2 premium beverages and the new “60 Years of Aloha” show
- Admiral’s Sunset Dinner, Jazz & Fireworks cruise: Celebrate in style in the Super Nova Room with a 7-Course signature live Maine lobster and USDA prime tenderloin of beef dinner served at your private table, Hawaiian Bellini, 3 super premium beverages, and live jazz
The Independence Day cruise departs on Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at 6:15 p.m. Special kamaʻaina rates and transportation from Waikiki via Royal Star Hawaii motorcoach are also available. Tickets go fast, so book now for an Independence Day you won’t forget!
For more information or to book your cruise today, call (808) 983-STAR (7827) or visit StarofHonolulu.com.
In the spirit of our 60th anniversary milestone, we recently debuted a brand new “60 Years of Aloha” show aboard the Star of Honolulu, featuring fabulous new costumes, dazzling choreography and impressive special effects!
We’re going back in time to celebrate a couple’s journey from Hawaii and across the Pacific Ocean. Thanks to the stunning work of Honolulu-based designer Kathe James, the new show features the largest cast on island waters decorated in beautiful, brand new costumes. We also enlisted a talented team of professionals from Hawaii, Tahiti and New Zealand to choreograph new, authentic dances to keep our guests moving and grooving throughout the evening!
Climb aboard the Star of Honolulu to experience the magic of our 60 Years of Aloha show for yourself! To learn more about the show or to book your cruise today, call (808) 983-STAR (7827) or visit StarofHonolulu.com.
Show dad how much you care this Father’s Day by treating him to a memorable evening out at sea aboard the Star of Honolulu. The two-hour, family-friendly voyage features live music, gourmet dinner and breathtaking views of the Waikiki coastline.
Families begin their fun and tropical evening with a welcome hula, relaxing Hawaiian music and the exciting “Polynesian Journey” show, perfect for keiki and adults alike! Festivities continue with the delicious Pacific Rim Dinner Buffet, featuring local favorites like roast beef carved onboard, steamed Pacific white fish, fire grilled guava BBQ chicken, and many other treats! Dads will also enjoy a free beverage of choice in honor of their special day!
Let Star of Honolulu spoil dad this Father’s Day on Sunday, June 18. For more information or to book your cruise today, call (808) 983-STAR (7827) or visit StarofHonolulu.com.
Treat mom to a relaxing day in paradise aboard the Star of Honolulu’s Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch Cruise! From a gourmet meal to breathtaking ocean views, each and every mom is guaranteed to enjoy an extra special day fit for a queen.
The voyage begins with a special champagne toast to all moms onboard. Throughout the cruise, Mom and her guests will indulge in a delicious buffet featuring island favorites like USDA choice top round grade roast beef, teriyaki chicken, citrus miso glazed white fish, and much more. Mothers will love the door prize giveaways, and families will have a blast participating in an afternoon of lei making, hula and ukulele lessons.
Show your hardworking mom just how much you love her and book your Mother’s Day voyage today! The family-friendly cruise departs from Pier 8 at Aloha Tower Marketplace on Sunday, May 14 at 12:00 p.m. and returns at 2:30 p.m. For more information or to book your cruise today, visit StarofHonolulu.com or call (808) 983-STAR (7827).
We’re inviting all of our friends to hippity hoppity aboard the Star of Honolulu and enjoy an egg-cellent Easter Sunday with our Easter Champagne Brunch cruise.
Throughout the cruise, guests will enjoy a fun Easter egg hunt, prize giveaways for keiki and authentic Hawaiian cultural activities that include lei making, Hula and Ukulele lessons. Keiki will love searching for eggs, and parents will indulge in a champagne toast and gorgeous ocean and coastline views.
Of course Easter isn’t complete without a delicious brunch, and Star of Honolulu has got you covered with its delicious Taste of Hawaii buffet featuring a roast beef carving station, teriyaki chicken, citrus miso glazed white fish, and many other local favorites!
For more information or to book your Easter Champagne Brunch cruise today, call (808) 983-STAR (7827) or visit www.StarofHonolulu.com.
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The humpbacks are here! Our favorite ocean visitors have returned to Hawaii’s warm ocean, where they spend the winter months breeding, giving birth, and nursing their young before returning to the cold Alaskan waters.
In Hawaiian, humpback whales are called kohala. These magnificent creatures have a special significance to Native Hawaiians, who view kohala as a family aumakua, or spiritual ancestor who takes the form of an animal. Many Hawaiians today still honor their aumakua and treat them with the utmost respect.
When watching these enormous marine mammals, it isn’t hard to understand why they deserve this respect. Humpbacks can range in size from 40 to 50 feet and weigh up to a whopping 45 tons. At the same time, they are remarkably graceful creatures, and can thrust nearly half of their bodies out of the water in a grand gesture known as breaching. Humpbacks are also very strong swimmers and use their flukes, or large tail fins, to drive them through the water.
Want to learn more about humpbacks? Ask our certified Naturalists during your next Star of Honolulu whale watch cruise! For more information, call (808) 983-STAR (7827) or visit StarofHonolulu.com.
With almost 90 species of whales and dolphins in the world, it’s hard to keep up with these magnificent creatures! We’re shining the spotlight on some of the more common species, from our beloved Humpbacks to the impressive Orcas:
Humpback Whales
Humpbacks, or Kohala in Hawaiian, are impressive marine mammals that can range in size from 40 to 50 feet and weigh up to 45 tons. Every winter, these mammals make their annual trek from Alaska’s cold waters to Hawaii’s warm ocean, where they breed and nurse their calf throughout the season.
Beluga Whale
Beluga whales are distinct marine mammals with bright white skin. While a beluga calf is born a dark gray shade, its skin turns pure white over the next five to ten years. As one of the more vocal whale species, belugas can often be heard “singing” their very distinct song from above the ocean waters.
Sperm Whale
These grand toothed whales are very easy to identify. Equipped with a uniquely angled blow and a single blowhole on the left side of their body, sperm whales can be quickly spotted at sea. They are also one of the deepest diving mammals in the world, reaching impressive depths of nearly 3 kilometers and holding their breath for up to 2 hours.
Fin Whale
Second to the blue whale, the fin whale is one of the largest animals in existence. They can measure up to 27 meters long and weigh up to 120 tons! This species rarely breaches and typically resides in the Gulf of California and the Mediterranean. They are incredibly fast, and feed mostly on plankton and large schools of fish.
Though many whale species reside in waters far from Hawaii, we are lucky enough to spot humpbacks every winter and spring seasons aboard the Star of Honolulu! For more information or to book a cruise today, call (808) 983-STAR (7827) or visit StarofHonolulu.com.
Here in Hawaii, we’re lucky enough to enjoy fireworks every week! On Friday evenings, Hilton Hawaiian Village hosts a weekly fireworks show that illuminates the sky above Waikiki Beach, and there’s no better place to view them than aboard the Star of Honolulu.
This year we’re dubbing Fridays, “Fireworks Fridays!” We stay out an extra hour to view the spectacular fireworks show in the best spot on the island—the Star of Honolulu viewing decks. Whether you’re enjoying the fun and tropical Pacific Star Sunset Buffet & Show or indulging in the Five Star Sunset Dining & Jazz cruise, you’ll be treated to amazing views of the fireworks every Friday evening aboard the Star of Honolulu.
Entertaining guests for over 60 years, our ohana at Star of Honolulu host nightly dinner cruises aboard our award-wining, 1,5000-passenger tour vessel. We offer a variety of dinner packages to cater to every guest on every budget.
For more information or to book your Friday Fireworks cruise today, call (808) 983-STAR (7827) or visit www.StarofHonolulu.com.
Have you ever wondered why humpback whales visit us at the same time every year? It’s all in the name of love!
Every winter, humpbacks migrate away from the frigid Alaskan waters to our pleasant, warm ocean, spending their “vacation” traveling in pods as they breed, give birth, and nurse their young. To humpbacks, Hawaii is their breeding grounds, and they travel over 3,000 miles every year to enjoy this much-needed season of love.
When you climb aboard the Star of Honolulu for one of our popular whale watch cruises, you may have the chance to observe majestic humpback whales as they swim along with their calves. Keep your eyes out for gorgeous sights like these aboard the STAR!
To book a cruise today, call (808) 983-STAR (7827) or visit StarofHonolulu.com.